The Bold Confrontation in the Hot Springs

Xiao Chen had Keke place the dazzling banknotes—seventy-nine thousand gold coins from Zhuge Kun and eighty-three thousand from Hoffmann—into his clothes nearby. A huge haul. His heart swelled with accomplishment, and his smile was particularly bright, but to Zhuge Kun and Hoffmann, it was as if their hearts were bleeding.

“As for the remaining gold coins, you can pay them back slowly. I trust your character, so I won't make you leave an IOU.” Xiao Chen's intention was not to blow things out of proportion. After all, this was a conflict among the younger generation. Collecting this many gold coins had already exceeded his expectations. He didn't really count on the rest; the last thing he wanted was to alarm the older generation. Little did this newcomer, only half-familiar with the Eternal Continent's customs, know that he had already broken the rules. But through a twist of fate, the fathers of these two scoundrels had become cautious of him for the moment.

Zhuge Kun and Hoffmann felt like vomiting blood at his words. More gold coins? Dream on! They had both sworn a solemn oath to find someone to destroy this insufferably arrogant bastard as soon as they got out.

“Their accounts are more or less settled. Now it's time to settle yours.” Xiao Chen turned his gaze to Li Dongbo and Luo Gu'ao.

Li Dongbo felt his scalp go numb. Two young masters from great families had been subdued and tamed. His own family was considerably weaker; he certainly didn't have that many gold coins.

“I... I don't have many gold coins,” Li Dongbo said, feeling particularly unlucky. Why had he stuck his neck out?

“I know you don't have much. Come over and write me an IOU. You now owe me twenty thousand gold coins.”

“I…” Seeing Xiao Chen's eyebrows rise, he quickly lowered his head. “I'll write it right away.”

“Good. I've prepared the brush and ink.” With a wave of his hand, Xiao Chen pulled the brush and ink from a short distance away. He had come fully prepared, leaving the few onlookers dumbfounded.

“Luo Gu'ao… you write an IOU too. You owe me twenty thousand gold coins.”

“I… why should I write one? I didn't provoke you,” Luo Gu'ao said, his confidence shaken after witnessing Xiao Chen's relentless methods.

“Hmph. Last time, if you hadn't been sowing discord, how would Kana Si have come looking for me? And how would Lumuda have ended up dueling me at the Beidou Academy? Write it now. You owe me thirty thousand gold coins.”

“Wasn't it twenty thousand just now?”

“Time is gold. If you don't write it now, it'll be forty thousand.”

“I'll write!”

The two young masters, while writing their IOUs, were burning with hatred for Xiao Chen. This was no small sum; their hearts ached to the point of death. But at least they didn't have to pay immediately. Maybe once they got out of here, this arrogant fool would be killed off, and they wouldn't have to worry anymore.

Xiao Chen had Keke stow the IOUs away in his clothes as well.

Suddenly, from the direction of VIP Zone Two came a burst of cheerful female voices, and then a beautiful blue-haired girl boldly barged in. Xiao Chen and the others were stunned, all sitting in the hot spring and staring at her, frozen.

“Kana Si!” Luo Gu'ao exclaimed. “How did you get in here?”

It was the precious daughter of the Mand family, who had audaciously charged into VIP Zone Two.

“I heard you were being dealt with by those two scoundrels, Zhuge Kun and Hoffmann, so I came to save you.”

The lively little girl was simply too bold! Facing several grown men in the hot spring, she showed no concern at all, and even compared whose chest muscles were more defined. Zhuge Kun and Hoffmann had once tried to court Kana Si, drooling over this fresh, youthful beauty, but they had failed after a few attempts. Now they felt like crying. How could they be caught in such an embarrassing situation by her? This was a complete loss of face. They no longer looked as proud as before and wished they could bury their heads in the water.

“Sisters, come on over! They're all dressed. The adorable little white beast is right here.” Kana Si's eyes sparkled with a sly intelligence.

Footsteps approached, and four beauties from the Southern Wilderness walked in.

“Kana Si, what are you doing?” Luo Gu'ao knew his cousin was always mischievous, but this wasn't helping him; it was clearly meant to humiliate the men here. But this little girl was getting bolder by the day—this was a men's hot spring!

The four Southern Wilderness beauties had, in fact, already arrived outside VIP Zone Two and had heard the news.

“Kana Si, you little devil, how dare you trick us!” The beautiful women scolded playfully, but none of them retreated. They all looked at the men in the water with smiles on their faces. Wrapped in bathrobes that accentuated their graceful curves, with slender figures and bare arms and legs faintly visible, they presented a hazy, seductive allure.

Zhuge Kun, Hoffmann, Li Dongbo, and Luo Gu'ao wished they could find a hole to crawl into. Their heads were almost completely submerged in the water. This was far too shameful—to be caught like this by them! They could have swallowed Xiao Chen alive.

Xiao Chen looked at Kana Si, Hai Yunxue, Yan Qingcheng, and the others, speechless. These women were simply too bold!

“Excuse me, this is the men's area. Ladies, you've come to the wrong place.” Xiao Chen didn't mind interacting with beautiful women—it was a pleasure. But being studied with obvious interest by several beauties was no longer enjoyable; it made him feel uneasy all over.

“Hehe…” Kana Si walked over with a giggle. Her water-blue hair was damp and naturally draped over her shoulders. She had just come out of a hot spring, her skin fresh and tender, exuding a unique youthful fragrance.

“Hey, Mr. Xiao, I didn't expect to run into you here. What a small world. What's the matter, scared?” Kana Si's expression was provocative, her beautiful large eyes casting a sideways glance at Xiao Chen, truly captivating.

“As if I'd be scared of you!” Xiao Chen laughed with ill intent. “Kana Si, you owe me twenty thousand gold coins. Write the IOU now.”

Upon hearing this, Zhuge Kun, Hoffmann, Li Dongbo, and Luo Gu'ao were dumbfounded. Was this guy crazy? Who dared to shake down like this? This wasn't just robbing people!

“Who owes you gold coins?!” The blue-haired beauty, Kana Si, pointed at Xiao Chen angrily. “Are you trying to extort me? I haven't even come looking for you, and you dare try to cheat me? How infuriating!”

“You've inexplicably come looking for trouble with me several times. And you once lost a bet to me and were supposed to be my follower for a month, but you reneged. Write the IOU now. Hand over twenty thousand gold coins, and we'll be even.”

“Go to hell!” The blue-haired girl reacted as if someone had stepped on her tail at the mention of the “follower” incident, looking like she wanted to pounce on him, claws bared.

“There's no way you're getting out of this!” Xiao Chen said. He remained seated in the hot spring, but his right hand waved, sending a bright, clear radiance toward Kana Si, trying to capture her.

Zhuge Kun and Hoffmann behind him were completely stunned. This guy was actually serious! He dared to lay hands on the precious daughter of the Mand family! This was… too crazy, too unbelievable!

Kana Si shrieked and hurriedly moved to block the attack. While she didn't mind looking down at the few men in the hot spring, being caught by Xiao Chen and pulled into the water would be the ultimate humiliation. Just the thought of it terrified her.

Behind her, Yan Qingcheng, Hai Yunxue, and the other two women quickly moved to help Kana Si. Red, blue, green, purple, and yellow—five dazzling beams of light collided with Xiao Chen's radiance, erupting in a brilliant flash above the hot spring, stirring up waves of surging energy.

Thanks to the timely rescue, Kana Si escaped being caught by Xiao Chen, which left her shaken. She glared at him, fuming. “Hey, Mr. Xiao, you actually went through with it! I'm not done with you today!”

“You're exposed,” Xiao Chen responded nonchalantly.

Kana Si's pure white bathrobe had flipped up, revealing a pair of snow-white, delicate legs—long, straight, and dazzlingly fair. Even a glimpse of a small yellow undergarment was visible.

Kana Si shrieked and hurriedly adjusted her clothes. Then she pointed a slender finger at Xiao Chen. “You bastard, you've got nerve! Daring to take advantage of me! I won't let you off!”

“Excuse me, who's taking advantage of whom? Is this how bold you ladies are? Bursting into my hot spring area?”

“You… I…”

“'You' what? 'I' what? You owe me twenty thousand gold coins.”

“You're infuriating me! Sisters, let's teach him a lesson together!” Kana Si's pretty face was flushed, her expression furious, but it only made her youthful innocence and charm even more captivating.

Just then, Li Dongbo, who had been keeping his head down, suddenly looked up and called out to Hai Yunxue, “Cousin, save me!”

“Li Dongbo, you… how are you here?” The graceful and beautiful Hai Yunxue was very surprised, having failed to notice her cousin, who had been bowing his head like an ostrich.

“I…”

“Enough, don't say anything. I understand.” Hai Yunxue, tall and slender, elegant and radiant, beautiful like the most exquisite jade maiden carved by the gods, turned to Xiao Chen. “Brother Xiao, may I ask Li Dongbo to leave?”

“Sure, no problem. My business with him is already settled.”

“Cousin, he made me write an IOU for twenty thousand gold coins.”

“Eh? Brother Xiao, what's this about?” Hai Yunxue had heard some rumors outside, but she hadn't expected her wayward cousin to be mixed up in this.

“Oh, nothing much. Just a debt to be repaid.” Xiao Chen replied carelessly. Then he turned to Li Dongbo with a cold smile. “You really are something, hiding in a hot spring and begging your cousin for help. Hah!”

At that moment, Kana Si, with a sly look, whispered to the two beautiful women behind her. Then they all began to circle around the little white beast at a short distance, seemingly ignoring the men in the hot spring.

“Swoosh!”

Keke dashed over to Xiao Chen in a flash, baring its tiny fangs and claws at the women, but the display wasn't frightening at all—it only made it look more mischievous and adorable.

“What are you doing? Keke is my companion,” Xiao Chen said, his eyes wary.

Kana Si's large eyes darted around, her long lashes fluttering. “Catch it! That little white beast is masterless. It escaped from the Beast-Fighting Street last time, and this guy snatched it away!”

Everyone knew this was a lie, but it was just the excuse the Southern Wilderness beauties needed. Not only did they like this little white beast, but they also felt that Xiao Chen was far too arrogant. Among those he had humiliated here were Kana Si's cousin, Hai Yunxue's cousin, and the cousin of a beauty from the Zhuge family. Add to that Yan Qingcheng's existing grudge against Xiao Chen, and the beauties had found a perfect justification to attack without hesitation.

Stealing the little white beast was the real goal; teaching Xiao Chen a lesson along the way was a bonus.

Clever and cunning, the beauties launched a coordinated attack on Xiao Chen, then quickly retreated. They grabbed his clothes, intending to toss them out of the hot spring area, deliberately trying to embarrass him.

“Damn it!” Xiao Chen couldn't help but curse. There were over a hundred thousand gold coins' worth of banknotes and tens of thousands in IOUs in those clothes. He absolutely couldn't afford to lose them.

You're bold? I'm bolder!

At that moment, Xiao Chen unleashed a stunning, earth-shattering technique that instantly left the Southern Wilderness beauties dumbfounded. Then, their faces drained of color, and they screamed in unison.

Xiao Chen stood up from the hot spring with incredible audacity and roared, “Leave those clothes behind!”

Such boldness struck Hoffmann and Zhuge Kun behind him like a thunderbolt, leaving them frozen like clay statues. This guy… was too damned! How could he… how could he do this?!

Hoffmann and Zhuge Kun admitted they weren't good people and had done plenty of bad things, but had they ever been this outrageous? The ladies before them were the most beautiful women in the Southern Wilderness. Who would dare to desecrate them on any normal day? But this guy was “reckless with everything,” “daring to be the first in the world”—too bold!

Xiao Chen leaped up, quickly threw on a bathrobe from nearby, and then gave chase.

Now, three parties were equally frantic. Hoffmann and Zhuge Kun were furious and anxious because that arrogant bastard had actually dared to be so disrespectful to the women they had been pursuing. Kana Si, Hai Yunxue, and Yan Qingcheng were enraged because Xiao Chen was such a scoundrel to be so “bold!” Xiao Chen was anxious because the women were fleeing but hadn't dropped the clothes—there were over a hundred thousand gold coins in there! He absolutely couldn't let them get away with it.