I Can See Your Combat Power

Translator: 549690339 I

With XU Laoying’s sharp senses, he could clearly hear the complaints of the onlooking citizens of Xiling directed at him.

“However, this might be for the best. If they direct their resentment at me, the girls won’t have to die,” thought Xu Laoying. Although he knew he’d been set up, he didn’t harbor any resentment against the four girls. He just wanted to shoulder the responsibility himself and let everyone disperse.

in order to reinforce this impression, the Saint’s Son held his head high, feigning indifference, causing the spectators to grind their teeth in anger, their voices growing louder with discontent.

Catching Xu Laoying’s reactions from the corner of his eyes, Tang Luo could grasp his intentions and couldn’t help shaking his head in disappointment. Xu Laoying’s understanding of human nature was simply too shallow. Even after being cunningly trapped by four families, his pity for the helpless girls led him to have a forgiving attitude. He even desired to shoulder all the blame alone. His nobility was dazzling, and it made people involuntarily want to commend him as a true gentleman.

However, what he failed to understand, was that when dealing with such devious characters, any hint of weakness was like a tear in a cloth that they’d used to rip his world apart. When the tables turn, it’d be like mud in their trousers, impossible to clean.

Beneath the stairs

When the young mistresses heard Tang Luo’s dismissive rejection, they felt as if they had plunged into an ice cave. They believed their only path was death at the entrance of the Tang Mansion. But once they came back to their senses, they found that the surrounding Xiling citizens had all sided with them, giving them a sudden desire to live on.

They seemed to have forgotten how they’d schemed Xu Laoying the day before, and perceived themselves as real victims. The onlookers how had come to uphold justice seemed like good people now.

However, as Xu Laoying adopted an indifferent expression, the public’s accusations grew louder. Seeing this, Miss Wan Ling’er quickly stood up and shrieked at the crowd, “Don’t you dare insult Mr. Xu like this!”

The sudden scolding from Miss Wan silenced the bustling crowd outside Tang Mansion, and their hearts went out to her.

Even though the Saint’s Son refused to have them as servants, the lady, who was head over heels in love, couldn’t stand anyone accusing him. Normally, Miss Wan was known to be domineering, but today her utmost sincerity was uncovered.

Holding back the crowd, Miss Wan seemed to be bathed in light. She turned to Xu Laoying on the platform, looking utterly pitiful, her voice filled with moving entreaty, “I know you’re a man of the most sincere feelings. All I want in this life is to follow you. If you don’t trust me, I can only prove my sincerity through death!”

Having said this, Wan Ling’er pulled out a golden pair of scissors from her sleeve and placed them against her slender, white neck, gazing at Xu Laoying with a look of desolation.

Seeing Wan Ling’er’s actions, the other three young women followed suit as well. Pulling out golden needles or daggers from their sleeves, they put them to their throats, looking equally earnest.

Seeing the daughters of Xiling’s most prominent families threatening suicide the spectators were greatly moved. They felt sympathy for the women who had fallen so deeply in love with the Saint’s Son that they were ready to die for him Not seeking a formal relationship, only to stay by his side forever, willing to die to show their sincerity, the audience couldn’t help admiring their deep affection.

However, they could see the Saint’s Son was indifferent to the girls’ desperate behavior. As the crowd’s angry gazes focused on him, they couldn’t help but curse him in their hearts.

“Believe in her!” No one knew who started it, but soon, the place was filled with similar cries.

“Believe in her!”

“Believe in her!”

The voices were like a tidal wave, demonstrating the unity of the people, finally forming a crashing wave of sound that engulfed Xu Laoying and Tang Luo. Xu Laoying looked helpless. He didn’t know how the situation had turned out this way. Wasn’t it just a moment ago that he was being cursed at? How had it abruptly changed to pleas for accepting the four girls? He was at a loss. Tang Luo, observing the scene before him, snorted coldly. He leaned towards Xu Laoying and whispered, “As you see, they’re resorting to pushing you around.”

Tang Luo understood this kind of manipulation by the noble families all too well. They would play the saint after resorting to underhanded tricks as if their actions were in the right, depicting the situation in a way where Xu Laoying seemed indifferent and the young mistresses were victims. Their integrity and courage were highlighted as they attempted to demonstrate their earnest desires. This was their payback for the tolerance that Xu Laoying had shown. A flame of nameless anger ignited in Tang Luo’s heart. He decided to return their favor. “If they are so determined to devote themselves to you, why not accept them and then propose a minor requirement, how’s that?” ■■No, any requirement won’t work,” Xu Laoying replied with a bitter smile. “I can’t marry them!”

“This minor requirement can ensure you don’t have to marry them.”

■■Oh? What minor requirement?” Excitement surged in Xu Laoying’s heart as he asked quietly.

“It’s not unreasonable to request our young mistresses to be virtuous, is it?” Tang Luo’s smile was unusually wicked. He thought to himself: if these families dared to gather half of Xiling to force me right at the door of my mansion while pretending to be heroic, they couldn’t blame me for exposing their sham!

Xu Laoying was slow to understand. “But they are virtuous.”

They were all virgin whom he himself had deflowered. Xu Laoying, a veteran of the red-light district, was confident in this. Therefore, he didn’t understand Tang Luo’s meaning.

■■Apart from you, who knows that?” Tang Luo gave him a side-glance, coldly stating.

They were pure yesterday, but since they chose to scheme against Xu Laoying at the Qinglou, their purity must have been tainted. That could be verified by a doctor.

It was understandable and sympathetic if four virtuous maidens claimed to admire the Saint’s Son to the point of following him forever. But what if the four maidens on the stage were not virtuous? That would be a disgrace to the Saint’s family, because a saint mustn’t chose to keep an impure woman by his side.

“This can’t be done!” As soon as Xu Laoying understood, he immediately refused, “Doing this would ruin the reputation of the girls and their families. Why should we bear such a grudge!”

If they took Tang Luo’s action, not only would the four maidens be cursed by the people, but their families would also lose their reputations. Although the tactics of these four families were somewhat sleazy, it was he who had taken away the girls’ innocence. If he followed Tang Luo’s proposal, it would mean denying this fact, something Xu Laoying couldn’t do. Considering this as having no grudge, then what could be called as having a grudge⁷ Tang Luo was somewhat speechless. “Some people are setting you up, and you’re thinking of retreating and keeping things quiet. What will you do when you can’t retreat anymore?”

“I don’t care, you’re so smart, you can find another solution. You can’t damage their reputation!” Xu Laoying shook his head repeatedly, stubbornly refusing to accept Tang Luo’s proposal.

“Hehe ” Tang Luo curled his lips, feeling as if he had been given a difficult task. He was amazed how Xu Laoying could be so warm towards his enemies, yet demanding with his friends.

As the crowd’s shouts and cheers escalated, the expressions of the four women with weapons pointed at their throats became increasingly holy, like celestial maidens arousing no disapprobation.

Seeing the increasingly radiant maidens, the spectators could only express their adoration in louder cheers and appeals, directed at the Saint’s Son. The noise outside Tang Mansion had never been louder. The shouting crowd saw the two young masters whispering to each other and assumed they were considering their pleas. They waved their flags, standing on the side of love and justice, in an apparent act of intimidation..