Chapter 212: How Arrogant He Is!
The Nalan family hall was ablaze with light, filled with a bustling crowd, yet an eerie silence hung over the scene.
An old man in brocade clothes, gripping the shoulders of a young man with a pale face, radiated vigor despite his solemn gaze. His eyes were fixed on a little girl not far away.
The little girl, Zi Yan, eyed the delicacies on the table, swallowing hard, a flicker of disgust in her large black eyes.
"Little girl, are you going to kill my grandson?"
The old man's voice was low, laced with a hint of anger.
"Humph! Who told him to chatter beside me, spitting everywhere, making these things inedible? I told him to shut up, and he actually called me a bumpkin!"
Glancing at the old man, Zi Yan pursed her lips and retorted, "If I really wanted to kill him, do you think you could have saved him just now?"
The crowd snapped out of their daze, and whispers erupted around the hall.
"Who is this little girl? That punch that produced a sonic boom was terrifying. Even a master fighter wouldn't dare take it head-on, would they?"
"Looks like she came with Yafei. Judging by her age, she's probably only around ten. When did the Mitel family ever have such a formidable member?"
"Tsk tsk. Mu Zhan has always been so arrogant and domineering, treating everyone else like idiots and Yafei like a forbidden delicacy. Now he's hit a wall, hasn't he?"
"Haha, Old Mu, it's normal for young people to fight and quarrel. There's no need to get so angry!"
Nalan Jie, seeing Mu Chen's darkening face and surging aura, knew the old man was embarrassed. He laughed heartily, stepping between the two to smooth things over.
"Old Nalan, get out of the way. Today, I'm going to teach this little girl a lesson on behalf of Teng Shan. Don't think you can do whatever you want just because you have some strength!"
Mu Chen glared at the young man beside him, his annoyance palpable as he spoke.
"Haha. You think you can teach me a lesson? Who do you think you are?"
Zi Yan's eyes dimmed. Even the old man in her family would only gently reprimand her when she erred, yet this old man dared to lecture her so brazenly.
Mu Chen's face darkened further. It had been years since anyone had spoken to him so impudently, let alone a junior.
"Old Nalan, your injuries haven't healed yet. I don't want to fight you. Now, get out of the way. This little girl from the Mitel family, I'm going to teach her a lesson. Even if Teng Shan shows up, I won't be stopped!"
Tossing the young man aside, Mu Chen's rage surged, his body radiating the aura of a Dou Wang.
Sensing this aura, the surrounding young men retreated in panic, their breaths held.
"Master Mu, Ziyan isn't from the Mitel family; she's Master Hai's guest. You'd better think twice. Don't let your impulsive actions put the Mu family in danger!"
Yafei, pushed back by the overwhelming force, spoke with difficulty from beside Ziyan.
"Master Hai?"
The crowd in the hall gasped in astonishment. They had assumed this little girl was secretly trained by the Mitel family, not a guest of a Dou Huang master.
Their gazes shifted to Mu Chen, who froze mid-step, their eyes gleaming with amusement, eager for a spectacle.
Most had been bullied by Mu Zhan and held no fondness for the Mu family.
Just as the atmosphere grew tense, a powerful aura emanated from the direction of the palace.
A moment later, a white-haired elder in a simple linen robe appeared.
"Your Majesty!"
"Greetings, Master Jia!"
Everyone in the hall hurried to pay their respects.
"Haha. No need to be so polite!"
The old man in the hemp robe, Jia Xingtian, smiled and waved his hand. His gaze swept the crowd, lingering on Nalan Jie. He sighed, "It seems your branding poison has almost been dispelled. Very good. This way, the empire won't lose a marshal of such illustrious military achievements!"
"Your Majesty, you are too kind. This is all thanks to Your Majesty!" Nalan Jie bowed hurriedly.
"I didn't help much!"
Jia Xingtian shook his head slightly, a sharp glint in his cloudy eyes as he glanced at Nalan Jie and Mu Chen. He smiled faintly, "Tell me! Late at night, you two suddenly became so powerful that I couldn't even rest!"
"I didn't expect to alarm Your Majesty. It's my fault. It was just a misunderstanding." As the host, Nalan Jie recounted the incident.
"Oh?"
Jia Xingtian looked at Zi Yan in surprise. After a moment's scrutiny, a sense of shock welled up in his heart.
He couldn't discern her exact strength, but he sensed an immense energy within her tiny frame, a terrifying presence.
Feeling his gaze, Zi Yan's brow furrowed slightly. She felt this old man's strength was nearly on par with old man Hu Qian.
"I can't beat him!" she muttered to herself, her face alert.
Suddenly, her nose twitched, a flash of surprise in her large eyes, and her expression relaxed. Remembering Xiao Bai's warning, she shouted at the top of her lungs, "Brother Bai, there's an old man here I can't beat!"
Her tender, clear voice echoed through the quiet hall, startling everyone. They glanced around frantically, eager to see who this fearsome little girl was calling.
Only the three Nalan family members and Yafei knew who she meant.
"Uh, Zi Yan, Master Jia won't hit you. With me here, no one will. There's no need to call Little Friend Bai over!"
Nalan Jie spoke hurriedly, sweat dripping from his forehead. He didn't want to offend Xiao Bai; the poison in his body wasn't fully expelled yet!
If Xiao Bai thought the Nalan family had bullied Zi Yan and held a grudge, he'd be in trouble! Besides, if Master Jia really attacked, Xiao Bai's presence would be useless!
"That's right! Zi Yan, there's no need to alarm the master about this. Don't worry, I promise in the name of the Young Master of the Yunlan Sect that I won't let you suffer any injustice, okay?"
Nalan Yanran hurried forward, took Zi Yan's hand, and spoke softly.
Her eyes glared at the young man in green, burning with hatred. This barbarian's arrogance had caused all this.
Everything had happened too quickly. By the time she realized, the old man from the Mu family had already acted.
If her grandfather's health couldn't be fully restored because of this, she'd make this brute pay!
"Sister Yafei, please persuade Ziyan not to let the gentleman come over so late at night and cause trouble!"
".!" Yafei.
That guy was overbearing and protective, something the Mitel family knew well. Would her advice matter? Judging by Ziyan's expression, he might already be here!
Yafei's peach-shaped eyes cast a faint glance at the culprit, a flicker of disgust in her gaze.
She and Ziyan had been getting along peacefully, but when this bastard showed up, he clung to her like a leech, glaring at anyone who approached.
Several warnings proved ineffective, and Ziyan was disgusted by his incessant chatter and boasting.
Seeing the Nalan family's reactions, the hall buzzed with curiosity and fear. Who was this Mr. Bai that made Nalan Jie so wary and even the usually arrogant Nalan Yanran so cautious?
"He must be the one who provided Nalan Jie with the antidote!" Jia Xingtian observed the scene, his eyes thoughtful.
The Nalan family had been secretive about the antidote's provider, but as the empire's helmsman, he had intelligence suggesting it was this person.
Recalling the astonishing momentum from the Mitel family a few nights ago, he suspected it was this man.
He was deeply curious about him, especially given his connection to Old Man Hai, which wasn't good news for the royal family.
The Mitel family was growing too powerful!
His royal family's history—overthrowing a previous dynasty to establish the Jia Ma Empire—made him wary of powerful families.
Suddenly, Jia Xingtian, lost in thought, turned his head with a solemn expression.
The crowd followed his gaze, their faces filled with surprise and doubt.
A young figure in a black robe appeared at the hall's doorway.
A strange silver vertical line ran across his forehead, his brows exuding a majestic presence without anger. His expression was neutral, his deep eyes scanning the crowd indifferently.
"Haha, young friend Bai, you're here! Please come in!"
"Sir!"
The three Nalan family members greeted him warmly.
Xiao Bai nodded slightly and stepped into the hall. Ignoring the crowd's gazes, he went to Zi Yan's side, looked her over, and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Being wronged?"
"Yes!" Zi Yan nodded, took his hand, and pointed at a spot in the hall. Her clear voice echoed, "That person said I was a bumpkin, and that old man said he wanted to teach me a lesson. My old man at home never said he would teach me a lesson!"
Glancing where she pointed, Xiao Bai withdrew his gaze, touched her head, and asked softly, "Didn't I say we don't start trouble, but anyone who dares provoke you will be dealt with a fist?"
"Those two bastards who can be knocked down with one punch, how dare they wrong you?"
"!" The hall gasped.
How arrogant!
That was a Dou Wang powerhouse, a top figure in the Jia Ma Empire!
Yet in this black-robed young man's eyes, he was just a piece of trash that could be knocked down with one punch?
And his tone suggested this little girl could handle it herself. What kind of strength did she have?
Was this still the world they knew?
"Haha! Are young people these days so arrogant?"
Mu Chen's gloomy voice echoed, chuckling in anger. "In all my life, this is the first time I've heard someone call me a piece of trash. Young man, I have to say, you're quite arrogant, but in this Jia Ma Empire..."
"Shut up!"
A soft rebuke cut him off.
The others heard nothing extraordinary, but to Mu Chen, it was like thunder, shaking his soul.
"Puff!"
Blood spurted from his mouth, streaks trickling from his eyes, ears, and nose. His vibrant face turned as pale as paper.
"Grandpa!"
The young man in green cried out, horrified, rushing to support the fallen figure, his eyes filled with regret.
He had relied on his family background to dominate the Jia Ma Capital. Now, the pillar of his family was reduced to this by a single scolding. How could he not regret it?
"Such a powerful soul force!"
Jia Xingtian looked horrified, hurrying to check on Mu Chen.
He hadn't faced the force directly but sensed its might. Even he would have suffered without precautions.
"At your age, yet still only a mid-level Dou Wang, you dare to bully my people with your seniority and bark before me?"
Hearing Xiao Bai's calm voice and seeing Mu Chen's state, the hall gasped, shuddered, and fell silent.
Nalan Jie was stunned. This old man's cultivation was comparable to his, yet a simple scolding could injure him so severely. Wouldn't the same happen to him?
He recalled how Xiao Bai—Mr. Bai—knocked him unconscious each time, assuming it was his cooperation. He hadn't realized Xiao Bai's true power. If he hadn't been polite, Xiao Bai could have knocked him out without a word!
Nalan Su's hands and feet were icy, and he wiped sweat from his face. Thinking back to the contempt he'd shown initially, he was grateful he hadn't acted on it.
Otherwise, he'd be lying in bed like Mu Chen now!
"So strong!"
Nalan Yanran stared at the black-robed figure holding Zi Yan's hand, stunned. She'd thought he was just a master of medicine, not someone with such formidable cultivation! How old was he? Barely older than her, yet so powerful!
Her teacher had mentioned meeting a talented person in the Monster Mountain Range, a Dou Ling before twenty. But compared to Xiao Bai, what was that?
She wanted to drag her teacher here to show her what true exceptional talent was!
"Let's go!"
Glancing at the well-behaved Zi Yan, Xiao Bai led her out of the hall.
Yafei watched Xiao Bai, who hadn't glanced at her since arriving. She bit her lip, a trace of grievance in her eyes. Was he blaming her?
"This young lord has already paid the price. Can this matter be stopped here?"
Jia Xingtian called out, seeing Xiao Bai pause near Mu Chen. He stood, eyes narrowed, and spoke solemnly.
"It was because of his appearance that I didn't take action. His aura is comparable to old man Hu Qian. I can't defeat him!" Zi Yan whispered, shaking Xiao Bai's hand.
"Although your Dou Qi is as strong as a mountain, your vitality is dwindling. Your fading spirit is already setting in. Without a great opportunity, you, a peak Dou Huang, probably won't live much longer!"
"Do you really intend to stop me?"
Xiao Bai observed Jia Xingtian calmly.
The hall was startled, some eyes flickering. Rumors had circulated that Jia Xingtian would perish without breaking through to Dou Zong, but none could confirm it.
Now, if this Mr. Bai's words were true, the imperial family's pillar was crumbling!
Jia Xingtian's pupils constricted, his heart filled with astonishment. No one had discerned his condition before, only speculated privately.
Yet those deep black eyes seemed to see through him, stating it publicly.
This Mr. Bai wasn't just powerful and mysterious in cultivation but also masterful in technique!
With one sentence, he stirred everyone's hearts. Was he laying a trap for the imperial family?
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(End of Chapter)