Becoming a Saint From the Iron Armor Skill

Chapter 381: Chapter 197: Fraught with Danger

"Brother Liu, I’ll light the Beast-Attracting Incense."

Before Liu Ruolan could speak, a young man in a satin martial arts uniform, a longsword in hand, who had been by her side the whole time, cut in.

He then quickly took a stick of Beast-Attracting Incense from his robes, pulled out a Fire Stick, and prepared to light it.

Liu Ruofeng’s team had five members in total. Besides the Liu siblings, the other two were also disciples from lesser families affiliated with the Shen Family, both at the Great Success in Muscle Strengthening Realm.

The young man who had spoken was named Zhan Xinwu. He was one of the young talents who had joined the Shen Family’s Demon-slaying Team midway.

The Zhan Family was a minor clan that barely had a foothold in the Linji City Inner City, and the Martial Arts Resources they could obtain couldn’t compare to what Liu Ruofeng and the others had access to.

At twenty-three years old, Zhan Xinwu had only just managed to reach the Small Success in Muscle Strengthening Realm.

Like the other young talents, he had joined the Shen Family’s Demon-slaying Team with the express dream of currying favor with them.

If one of them happened to be noticed by the Shen Family’s peerless twin beauties, they could soar to new heights overnight, becoming a phoenix among men.

But at the South City Gate of Linji City, the dreams of all the young talents were shattered.

Like the others, Zhan Xinwu had come to terms with reality and shifted his target.

At first, Zhan Xinwu had his sights set on the three beauties among the eight-person group of Purple-clothed Guards from the Demon Suppression Department.

However, three other young talents, whose Martial Arts Power was slightly greater than his, had already joined Wang Xiongzhang’s team early on.

Zhan Xinwu figured he couldn’t compete with those three, so he joined Liu Ruofeng’s team, hoping to show off in front of Liu Ruolan.

’In my eyes, the Shen Family’s peerless twin beauties are high and mighty,’ he thought. ’Winning their favor is undoubtedly harder than ascending to the heavens.’

’And those three beauties from the Demon Suppression Department are all from the Four Great Clans of the Inner City; they won’t be easy to win over either.’

’Liu Ruolan’s looks and Martial Arts Power are in no way inferior to those three, but she’s just a Maid. That actually makes her an easier target to pursue.’

’If I act a little more attentive, I might just win her affection.’

’First we’ll be strangers, then acquaintances. After we slowly get to know each other, my chance will naturally come.’

Once they entered the mountain forest, Zhan Xinwu was extremely attentive, proactively clearing the thorns and weeds from their path with his longsword to open a way for Liu Ruolan.

He looked every bit the chivalrous protector.

Liu Ruolan didn’t reject this free laborer; on the contrary, she was quite polite to him.

Zhan Xinwu couldn’t help but rejoice inwardly. ’Choosing the beauty with the lowest difficulty level as my target was a truly wise move.’

’Among all the young talents, I might just be the first one to win the fair lady’s hand.’

’When I get back to Linji City, I’ll be able to boast about this and feel incredibly proud.’

Therefore, he put even more effort into his performance, rushing to light the Beast-Attracting Incense—a move he considered very perceptive.

"That’s fine," Liu Ruolan said without objecting.

Zhan Xinwu grew even more delighted. He scanned his surroundings, then leaped into the air, landing steadily on the branch of a large tree in a rather dashing pose.

Lighting the Beast-Attracting Incense was, of course, meant to attract beasts and Demon Beasts. Burning it at the highest point would undoubtedly allow its scent to spread farther.

Zhan Xinwu had even deliberately chosen a spot where the wind was blowing toward the depths of Evil Tiger Ridge.

This way, the scent of the Beast-Attracting Incense would ride the wind deep into Evil Tiger Ridge.

The probability of luring out a Red-eyed Striped Tiger would surely increase dramatically.

’If I successfully lure out the Red-eyed Striped Tiger, then I’ll deserve a good deal of the credit.’

’Afterward, I can casually brag about my expertise in lighting the Beast-Attracting Incense, win everyone’s praise, and capture the beauty’s heart.’

’At that time, the beauty will say something like, "Young Master Zhan, you are so clever! This humble girl is thoroughly impressed," and so on!’

Unfortunately, while the fantasy was beautiful, reality is often disappointing.

Zhan Xinwu, a smile on his face, was just about to blow on the Fire Stick to create a spark when the others below all frowned in unison.

Liu Ruolan said with a serious expression, "You can’t light the Beast-Attracting Incense up high. Young Master Zhan, please come down quickly."

"Huh?" Zhan Xinwu’s smile froze on his face.

Seeing the serious expressions on everyone’s faces, he scrambled down from the branch.

"Young Master Zhan, that’s not how you light Beast-Attracting Incense."

As Liu Ruolan spoke, she walked over to a corner sheltered from the wind and lit the Beast-Attracting Incense herself.

Zhan Xinwu still looked completely bewildered. ’What did I do wrong?’

The other two men glanced at Zhan Xinwu with strange looks before turning away to get busy with their own preparations.

Throughout the journey, Zhan Xinwu’s intentions had been written all over his face. How could they not know?

As disciples from families also affiliated with the Shen Family, these two had actually entertained ideas about Liu Ruolan themselves, but both had been rebuffed.

In their eyes, Zhan Xinwu would undoubtedly end up heartbroken as well.

They didn’t say anything to warn him. It was the feeling of a veteran who has just fallen into a pit and, upon seeing someone else about to fall into the same one, chooses to stay quiet.

That kind of feeling is often quite gratifying.

As the team leader, Liu Ruofeng’s perspective was much broader than the other two.

He smiled and explained:

"Young Master Zhan, although the Beast-Attracting Incense is specially refined to have a rich and long-lasting exotic scent, it can’t withstand being blown by the wind."

"When you light it, it’s best to do so in a place sheltered from the wind, allowing the aroma to spread out slowly, bit by bit. This way, it lasts longer and can also spread farther."

"Demon Beasts have extremely sensitive noses. They can smell even the faintest trace of it."

Zhan Xinwu had a sudden realization, and his face immediately turned beet red. He wished he could find a hole to crawl into and hide.

’So my attempt to act clever was actually just a joke in everyone’s eyes.’

After lighting the Beast-Attracting Incense, Liu Ruolan simply smiled at Zhan Xinwu and showed no other reaction.

A jolt went through Zhan Xinwu’s heart. He was a smart man, after all. ’How could I not sense that Liu Ruolan has no interest in me whatsoever?’

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