Yeop Hyeon, Shall We Take a Stroll and Talk?
Mo Sui Qing's lips were still curved in a smile, but her expression brimmed with killing intent. Everyone could sense that the Imperial City's number one beauty was furious.
At that moment, Mo Sui Qing extended her hand. A tremendous surge of qi erupted from her palm, swirling upward like a vortex.
Control Qi Realm!
The powerful technique she unleashed pulverized all the tables around them into dust. Yeop Hyeon didn't even blink as he threw a punch straight at her.
Boom!
In an instant, the qi vortex Mo Sui Qing had created scattered in all directions, forcing both of them back several steps.
"Not bad tricks you've got!"
As Mo Sui Qing moved to strike again, Han Hyang-mong stepped in front of her.
"Hyang-mong, get out of my way!"
"Sui Qing, at least consider my face and stop this!"
"Stop? Hyang-mong! Even after that bastard humiliated me, you're telling me to stop!?"
Han Hyang-mong grabbed Mo Sui Qing's hands with both of hers and pleaded.
"Please, just this once, do as I say?"
Mo Sui Qing furrowed her brows.
"Hyang-mong, just who the hell is this guy that you're so scared of him!?"
As Han Hyang-mong was about to explain, the Eldest Prince Gang Nian Sheng and Lu Xiaoruan appeared. Seeing the chaos unfolding inside, Lu Xiaoruan felt his heart sink.
Gang Nian Sheng glanced back and forth between Yeop Hyeon and Mo Sui Qing before approaching her with a smile.
"Lady Mo, what has you so angry?"
Mo Sui Qing shot Yeop Hyeon a cold glare in response.
"Did Your Highness invite that man?"
Gang Nian Sheng turned his gaze to Yeop Hyeon before replying.
"Lady Mo, is there some misunderstanding?"
"Misunderstanding? Hahaha!"
Mo Sui Qing let out a light laugh as she sat back down in her chair.
"The man you invited humiliated me in front of everyone. Is he a friend of Your Highness or something?"
Friend!
Lu Xiaoruan looked at the Eldest Prince with a serious expression. Whether he could pull Yeop Hyeon to his side hinged on his next words.
"Do you really think His Highness would befriend a scum like that?"
Someone shouted.
"That bastard spewed filth no one could repeat and insulted Lady Mo for no reason. He deserves to die as an example!"
"Right! I don't even want to share the same space as such a vulgar wretch!"
"Your Highness, to spare Lady Mo further distress, chase that scum out right now!"
"……."
Gang Nian Sheng fell silent for a moment before shaking his head.
"I don't know this man, and I certainly didn't invite him!"
Lu Xiaoruan sighed inwardly at his words. He'd half-expected this outcome. Behind Mo Sui Qing stood the Mo family. The Eldest Prince couldn't possibly side with Yeop Hyeon if it meant offending her.
Meanwhile, Yeop Hyeon impassively took Yeop Ryeong's hand and pulled her along.
"No wonder you were stuffing your face so greedily earlier—you snuck in here. What were these people doing, letting in filthy beggars like you?"
Unable to hold back at the mocking voice, Lu Xiaoruan stepped forward into the center. He cupped his fists toward the crowd and said,
"I am Tianshan City's lord, Lu Xiaoruan. That young friend is my guest. If I've caused any discomfort, I apologize here and now."
He flashed Yeop Hyeon a wry smile and added,
"I didn't expect this to happen. My apologies."
"You bear no fault, City Lord."
Lu Xiaoruan nodded and turned toward Eldest Prince Gang Nian Sheng. The prince glared at him and demanded,
"Lord Lu, do you realize what you've just done?"
"Your Highness, forgive my rudeness first."
Lu Xiaoruan turned to Yeop Hyeon.
"Let's go!"
Lu Xiaoruan had chosen Yeop Hyeon over the Mo family!
Everyone wore expressions of disbelief. The Eldest Prince was especially stunned. Just who was this man that Lu Xiaoruan would side with him in front of so many people?
At that moment, Mo Sui Qing's icy voice rang out.
"You think you can just leave like that?"
Lu Xiaoruan approached her with a stern expression.
"Lady Mo, what just happened seems to stem from a misunderstanding. For this old man's sake, why not let it end here?"
"Then have him kneel and beg my forgiveness. I'll pretend it never happened."
Lu Xiaoruan's face darkened at her words.
Just then, Han Hyang-mong walked up to Yeop Hyeon. She cupped her fists politely and said,
"Young Master Yeop, this wasn't my intention, but it might as well have been because of me. Please forgive us."
"Hyang-mong!"
Mo Sui Qing shouted in fury.
"Whose side are you on right now!?"
Han Hyang-mong gazed steadily at Mo Sui Qing.
"Sui Qing, if you're truly my friend, let this slide."
Mo Sui Qing's face twisted. Right then,
"How can we just let this go!"
A booming voice echoed as a young man climbed the stairs. He appeared around eighteen, with a sturdy build, short hair, and a fiercely rugged face.
"Cang Qi!"
He was the Cang family's genius, Cang Qi. An exceptional martial artist who had earned admission to Cangmu Academy without even taking the exam.
Among the many applicants to Cangmu Academy, a rare few passed without testing—those with extraordinary talents in specific areas. This year, five had been admitted early, and Cang Qi was one of them!
Everyone in the Imperial City knew Cang Qi was Mo Sui Qing's ardent admirer.
Cang Qi stood beside Mo Sui Qing, glaring at Yeop Hyeon as if he wanted to kill him.
"Sui Qing, I'll handle this for you."
"This has nothing to do with you!"
Cang Qi scowled fiercely.
"Insulting you is the same as insulting me!"
Cang Qi strode toward Yeop Hyeon and bellowed,
"Where'd a gutter rat like you crawl from to dare harass Sui Qing? Today, this young master will smash your skull!"
Cang Qi's figure shot toward Yeop Hyeon. Yeop Hyeon felt as if a tiger's massive aura was crashing down on him.
As Yeop Hyeon clenched his fist, Cang Qi's momentum vanished in an instant. Yeop Hyeon and Cang Qi exchanged punches to each other's chests.
Thud! Thud!
Yeop Hyeon's body slid back a few paces. But Cang Qi was flung over ten paces, slamming into the wall before finally stopping.
The onlookers gaped in shock.
Gang Nian Sheng's eyes trembled with astonishment. Even Mo Sui Qing unconsciously frowned.
Cangmu Academy had recognized Cang Qi's genius for his indomitable physique. In terms of bodily toughness alone, few in the same realm could match him.
Yet here he was, being overpowered.
Cang Qi stared in disbelief.
"How... how can this be...?"
Yeop Hyeon simply stood there, expressionless.
Bodily toughness? Yeop Hyeon had never yielded to anyone in that regard.
Moreover, he had cultivated the hidden Golden Body Scripture, making his flesh tough enough to clash with fierce beasts in close combat.
"Unbelievable!"
Cang Qi roared and charged at Yeop Hyeon again. Yeop Hyeon's figure blurred, reappearing right in front of him.
Their fists collided once more!
Thud!
Crack!
With the sound of shattering bone, Cang Qi's right arm exploded into fragments. His body flew through the air again, crashing into the wall.
Boom!
The wall shook violently as Cang Qi struggled desperately to rise from the debris. But he couldn't stand.
Yeop Hyeon cast a cold glance at the stunned crowd before taking Yeop Ryeong's hand.
"Let's go!"
"Hold it!"
Eldest Prince Gang Nian Sheng shouted.
Gang Nian Sheng slowly approached Yeop Hyeon and smiled at him.
"Brother Yeop, it seems you did indeed insult Lady Mo. So, I hope you'll apologize to her."
"As expected of Your Highness, upholding justice!"
Several people in the room cheered toward Gang Nian Sheng.
"Show us what true righteousness is, Your Highness!"
"That scum relied on brute strength to bully others and humiliate Lady Mo—a shameless villain! Issue the order and lock him in prison for life!"
"……."
Gang Nian Sheng cupped his fists toward the crowd.
"Rest assured, everyone. As long as justice lives, I won't turn a blind eye to injustice. Today, on Lady Mo's behalf, I'll show you what justice means!"
Gang Nian Sheng turned to Yeop Hyeon.
"Brother Yeop, if you refuse to apologize, you won't take a single step out of here!"
Yeop Hyeon chuckled in response.
"Your Highness, winning hearts with mere words—truly masterful tactics."
"Apologize! Kneel and show your sincerity!"
At that moment, warriors armed with long spears appeared behind the Eldest Prince. Their auras marked them as no ordinary fighters—elite soldiers every one.
'Kneel and beg forgiveness?'
"Hahaha..."
Yeop Hyeon burst into light laughter. He then turned to Lu Xiaoruan.
"City Lord, and Lady Han! Watch over my sister for a moment."
He asked Han Hyang-mong to stay as well because Yeop Ryeong needed at least one more person by her side for safety.
Lu Xiaoruan hesitated briefly before nodding. Han Hyang-mong let out a quiet sigh without a word.
Gang Nian Sheng narrowed his eyes and commanded his soldiers.
"Men! This intruder barged into Chwiseonru, insulted a lady, injured others, and shows no remorse. Execute him on the spot for his crimes!"
As soon as his words ended, the warriors charged at Yeop Hyeon.
Right then, the sound of someone ascending the stairs echoed through the room. Moments later, the crowd stared in stunned silence.
The person who appeared was a woman in robes as white as snow, looking for all the world like a heavenly maiden who had just descended from the skies.
An Ranxiu!
At An Ranxiu's arrival, the spear-wielding warriors hastily knelt. Everyone in the room paid their respects to her.
"We pay respects to the National Scholar!"
Even the Eldest Prince and Mo Sui Qing, seated beside him, shot to their feet, their faces paling as they bowed deeply.
"Mo Sui Qing of the Mo family pays respects to the National Scholar!"
An Ranxiu nodded lightly, dismissing their greetings. Amid all eyes on her, she walked straight to Yeop Hyeon. She gazed at his face for a moment, a strange look crossing her features.
"From before..."
A smile bloomed on An Ranxiu's proud face.
"You really have a talent for surprising people. To reach this realm in so short a time... Yeop Hyeon, shall we take a stroll and talk?"
Yeop Hyeon!
The crowd was dumbfounded as the word "Yeop Hyeon" left her lips so intimately. The lofty National Scholar An Ranxiu, addressing him so familiarly!