Chapter 145: Get Out

Seeing once again the statues of sword-bearing guards before the Grand Imperial Court, Ling Tian felt a strange sense of déjà vu. It was here, on his very first day in Yunhai City, that he had met Mu Qingcheng for a matchmaking meeting—an arrangement made without his consent. Reflecting on it now, he found it somewhat amusing: the formidable King of Mercenaries, yet subjected to an arranged marriage.

Anqi looked at Ling Tian with suspicion and asked, “What are you thinking about? You’re smiling so brightly.”

Ling Tian was at a loss—he couldn’t very well confess to Anqi that he had once been the subject of an arranged marriage here.

“Nothing much. I just think you look particularly beautiful today,” he quickly changed the subject to avoid further questions.

Being complimented on her beauty by a man she liked was one of the most delightful experiences, and Anqi was no exception. A faint blush colored her cheeks as she forgot her earlier query.

Zhang Ding silently gave Ling Tian a thumbs-up, thinking, “The boss truly is impressive—fierce in battle, precise in judgment, and skilled with women. Not an ordinary man at all. I must learn from him to better please my own wife when I return.”

Ling Tian and Anqi stepped out of the car and headed straight for the grand hall, with Zhang Ding trailing eagerly behind. In such a luxurious place, Zhang Ding’s eyes darted around, overwhelmed by the extravagance. He marveled inwardly at the lifestyle of the wealthy—surely a meal here would cost no less than a thousand yuan.

Anqi had reserved the very table where Ling Tian and Mu Qingcheng had their matchmaking meeting. Ling Tian sighed silently—how uncanny it was that both times he came to the Grand Imperial Court, he sat at the same spot.

Not wanting to intrude on Ling Tian and Anqi’s private moment, Zhang Ding excused himself to a nearby table and ordered a lavish feast, determined to indulge since someone else was footing the bill.

Ling Tian gallantly pulled out a chair and gestured for Anqi to sit. “Miss Anqi, please, have a seat.”

Anqi gracefully settled down and thanked him softly.

Once seated, Anqi quietly gazed at Ling Tian. Faced with her clear, tender eyes, Ling Tian felt overwhelmed and smiled. “Anqi, just now in the car, I was staring at you. Now you’re staring at me—is this payback?”

Anqi smiled gently. “I’m not so petty. I’m just curious about what you really do. Sometimes you seem like a warrior, sometimes a thinker, and other times a gentleman. You’re so mysterious—I can’t figure you out.”

Ling Tian chuckled lightly. “We haven’t known each other long. Once we get to know each other better, you’ll discover more.”

He paused for effect, teasing, “You’ll find I’m even more mysterious.”

“You’re quite narcissistic,” Anqi teased, her playful smile softening her words. “Actually, sometimes you’re very cute.”

Ling Tian was momentarily stunned by that unexpected word. Cute? The King of Mercenaries, who had walked through mountains of corpses and seas of blood—a modern incarnation of the Grim Reaper—was hardly a word he ever imagined being applied to himself. If any of his enemies knew, they’d surely collapse in disbelief.

To express his gratitude, Anqi handed Ling Tian the menu, saying, “I’m planning to splurge tonight. Order whatever you like.”

Ling Tian teased, “I thought you were going to say, ‘To thank me, I’ll offer myself,’ but it’s just dinner.”

“You… bad boy!” Anqi blushed deeply, flustered and unsure, wondering to herself if he was hinting at something—did he have feelings for her as well?

Before long, a sumptuous banquet was laid out. The dishes were exquisitely prepared, and the tableware alone was stunning—crafted in the style of ancient royal dining sets, perfectly complementing the opulent surroundings.

No wonder they called this the Grand Imperial Court!

Ling Tian recalled that during his first visit with Mu Qingcheng, he hadn’t noticed any of this. This time, he was determined to savor every detail.

Suddenly, a frivolous voice called out from afar, “Isn’t that Young Master Ling?”

Hearing it, Ling Tian immediately recognized the speaker—it was Li Wenhao. What a coincidence, running into him again.

Li Wenhao strolled over with two bodyguards, stopping about three meters away, grinning. “Ah, Miss Anqi! Young Master Ling, your charm is quite something. Not long ago you were here on a date with Mu Qingcheng, and now you’ve moved on to someone else.”

Anqi already knew about Ling Tian and Mu Qingcheng’s past, so she remained calm.

“Miss Anqi, be careful not to be fooled by Ling Tian. He already has a fiancée. You didn’t know Mu Qingcheng is his fiancée, did you?” Li Wenhao, feeling frustrated for a long time, finally seized the chance to hit Ling Tian below the belt, exaggerating wildly.

Anqi sipped her wine coolly. “Did I say anything?”

“Of course I did,” Li Wenhao said with a malicious grin. As the playboy heir wandering among the socialites, he prided himself on knowing women’s hearts. He knew every woman shared a trait—they got jealous. Especially a beauty like Anqi; her jealousy would be terrifying.

Anqi replied calmly, “Then I know. You may leave now. Don’t disturb our meal.”

Li Wenhao was stunned. He had expected Anqi to lose her temper and storm off upon hearing about Ling Tian’s fiancée, but instead, she declared she was willing to share Ling Tian with Mu Qingcheng—a statement that nearly made Li Wenhao choke with rage. Was there justice left in the world? What was so special about Ling Tian that two celestial beauties vied for him and neither felt jealousy?

How was a man supposed to live in such a world?

Unwilling to concede, Li Wenhao tried to retort, but Ling Tian stood up and approached him, raising his hand.

Having taken many slaps from Ling Tian before, Li Wenhao panicked and dodged hastily, fearing another blow.

Ling Tian stretched and mocked, “Just stretching. No need to be so nervous.”

Li Wenhao awkwardly took a step back. “Young Master Ling, please focus on your business. I was just talking nonsense; don’t take it seriously.”

If Li Wenhao had held his ground a moment longer, Ling Tian might have regarded him a tad more respectfully.

“Get lost!” Ling Tian said coldly.

“I’m leaving right now!” Li Wenhao hurriedly said, regretting his foolishness. What was the point of showing off here? He had achieved nothing but lost face.

As Li Wenhao turned to flee, Ling Tian’s voice cut through coldly, “I said get lost, not just walk away. Are you stupid? Can’t you understand what I mean?”

Li Wenhao wished he could slap himself twice. His regret was overwhelming, but he dared not disobey.

“Ling Young Master, I’m the eldest son of the Li family. Have some respect—don’t make me leave like this,” Li Wenhao said with a sycophantic grin, like a begging dog. The dignity of a noble heir utterly vanished.

Anqi watched in surprise. She had long heard that among the four great families, the Li patriarch was a paragon of ability, but his eldest son, Li Wenhao, was the least competent of the young generation. Today, she had witnessed firsthand—not merely incompetence, but utter rubbish.

Ling Tian snorted in disdain. “I don’t want to repeat myself.”

Under Anqi’s bewildered gaze, Li Wenhao collapsed to the ground and rolled away. Even his two bodyguards scurried off on their backs.

Returning to his seat, Ling Tian was immediately asked by Anqi, “Ling Tian, did I see correctly? Was that really Li Wenhao, the Li family’s eldest son?”

“Yes, it was,” Ling Tian replied calmly.

“He’s notorious as a spoiled playboy, arrogant and overbearing. Yet in front of you, he’s so obedient—he actually rolled away when you told him to leave,” Anqi said curiously. The more she interacted with Ling Tian, the less she understood him; instead, he seemed to grow more mysterious.

Ling Tian smiled. “Would you believe me if I said I used to be a beast tamer?”

“A beast tamer?”

The elegant Anqi burst out laughing, nearly spilling her wine. “Sorry, I lost my composure.”

She struggled to suppress her laughter, her pretty face flushed crimson, but eventually gave in, laughing so hard she almost ached.

“You’re really bad. But be careful—Li Wenhao’s no good. Watch out for trouble from him,” she warned, still chuckling.

Ling Tian’s expression remained indifferent. “He’s not worthy of being my enemy. Maybe the entire Li family is, but he alone is insignificant.”

With his injuries healed and strength restored to the peak of mid-stage Qi refinement, Ling Tian was ready for a decisive battle against the Li and Gu families.

After dining, the three approached the cashier.

“That will be twelve thousand yuan exactly,” the waiter said.

Anqi took out a gold card and handed it over.

“Sorry, our POS machine is down. We can’t accept card payments at the moment. Please pay in cash.”

Anqi hesitated—who always carried tens of thousands in cash for dining out?

Ling Tian’s face darkened instantly. This had to be Li Wenhao’s doing behind the scenes.