Old Bai said, "Boss, what are we going to do about this? The Great Battle Heaven bunch are all lunatics. What good can come of Yang Kai being dragged off by them?"
The Boss replied, "I'll go take a look!" With that, she vanished in a flash, disappearing from sight almost instantly.
Old Bai and the Chef exchanged a glance, then both let out heavy sighs. Yang Kai hadn't been outside the Void for long — he didn't know the fearsome reputation of the Great Battle Heaven. But they had heard plenty over the years. They knew that even with the Boss stepping in, Yang Kai was bound to suffer some hardship. The only question was whether he could endure it.
A short while later, in a grand hall within the Governor's Manor, a middle-aged man sat behind a desk reviewing official documents. He sat ramrod straight, his posture as rigid as a spear. His expression carried a natural gravity that commanded fear without anger. A golden crown held his hair in place, and his eyes gleamed like stars. Though he merely sat still, a chilling aura of slaughter clung to him, as though he had just fought his way out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.
This was none other than the Grand Governor the Great Battle Heaven had installed in the Star Market — Ye Tianxiong.
A young officer in silver armor hurried in from outside, stopped before the dais, and bowed. "Reporting, Grand Governor! Madam Lan of the First Inn requests an audience!"
The Grand Governor's eyelids rose and fell, faint sparks of lightning flickering in his gaze. He held his brush suspended midair and narrowed his eyes slightly. "Madam Lan? What does she want?"
The silver-armored officer replied, "It likely concerns her First Inn employee." He gave a brief account of the arrests. It had been a long time since anyone had dared cause trouble in the Star Market, and the Great Battle Heaven hadn't detained anyone in ages, so word had spread quickly. Everyone in the Governor's Manor had already heard about the incident.
Upon hearing this, Ye Tianxiong set down his brush. "Show her in."
"Yes, sir!" The officer turned and swiftly departed.
Moments later, a white figure flashed past, and the Boss burst through the door riding a gust of cold wind. She charged straight up to the Grand Governor and slapped his desk with her palm, her teeth clenched as she snarled, "Ye Tianxiong, release my people."
The blow sent countless cracks running through the sturdy desk, and every document on its surface went flying into the air.
A clatter of armor rang out as a large group of Great Battle Heaven disciples poured in through the main gate. Their auras surged as they simultaneously summoned their Artifacts, their hostile gazes fixed on the alluring figure standing before the desk.
In an instant, the hall brimmed with killing intent, swords drawn and bows bent.
Even so, the Boss ignored them completely, her eyes fixed only on Ye Tianxiong. The Grand Governor simply gave a slight shake of his body, and every one of those flying documents drifted back down, landing in precisely the positions they had occupied before. He then waved a hand toward those below.
The disciples who had charged in at the commotion withdrew without a single word, gone as swiftly as thunder and as silent as wind.
Only then did Ye Tianxiong slowly raise his gaze and glance at the Boss. "It's been three hundred years since we last parted, and Madam Lan's grace remains as radiant as ever. I'd heard that the Madam had opened a branch of the First Inn in my Star Market. I assumed it was just a rumor, but it seems it was true after all."
The Boss said, "I didn't come here to reminisce. Let my people go!"
Ye Tianxiong replied, "What people?"
"Drop the act!" The Boss slammed the desk again. "My people were arrested by yours. Don't tell me you didn't know."
"I have heard nothing of the sort," Ye Tianxiong responded evenly. Then his tone shifted. "However, those under my command never arrest innocent people. If the Madam's people hadn't broken any rules, they wouldn't have been brought in."
The Boss retorted, "I don't care whether he broke any rules or not. He's been seized by your people, so release him — now."
Ye Tianxiong narrowed his eyes. "Does the Madam take this place for some roadside inn, where she can come and go as she pleases?"
"Are you going to release him or not?" The Boss stared him straight in the eyes.
The corner of Ye Tianxiong's mouth twitched upward. He lowered his head and resumed reviewing his documents.
The Boss turned to leave. "Fine. Eight hundred years ago, the incident at the bamboo grove in the Purple Jade Cave Heaven — I'll go broadcast it to the world right now!" No sooner had the words left her lips than a figure materialized in her path. Ye Tianxiong had already blocked the doorway.
Their eyes met. The Boss lifted her smooth chin high, a triumphant look on her face, while Ye Tianxiong's cheek muscles twitched ever so slightly.
A long moment passed before he finally spoke. "You're still the same as you always were — utterly shameless. For a woman to carry on like you, it's truly one of a kind!"
The Boss smiled sweetly. "If you don't want people to know, don't do it in the first place! So what do you say now?"
Ye Tianxiong replied, "Until the matter has been fully investigated, no one may break the rules of this Star Market. Otherwise, what authority would my Governor's Manor have?"
"So you're refusing to release him?" The Boss's phoenix eyes narrowed slowly.
Ye Tianxiong said, "If the investigation proves that your people truly had nothing to do with it, I will handle matters fairly and by the book."
The Boss considered this, then nodded. "Fine. I'll wait right here and see exactly how you handle things fairly." She spun around, dropped into a chair nearby without the slightest ceremony, and slapped the side table. "A guest arrives and no one offers tea? Is this how the Great Battle Heaven treats its visitors?"
A flicker of resignation passed through Ye Tianxiong's eyes. He clapped his hands, and someone immediately rushed in from outside, fists clasped in salute. "Grand Governor!"
Ye Tianxiong pointed casually at the Boss. "Serve tea."
The man turned to look at Madam Lan, his face full of disbelief, but he still answered, "Yes, sir!" and withdrew.
Ye Tianxiong then sent out a pulse of divine sense, transmitting a message to someone unknown.
After a short while, a half-aged elder walked straight in and greeted the Grand Governor. This was the very same Elder of Punishment who had previously questioned Yang Kai and the others.
Ye Tianxiong asked, "Has the one who caused the incident been questioned?"