"Believe it or not, I'll break your arms and legs and throw you out of here."
As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere turned ice-cold.
Zhao Peng watched from the side, growing anxious. He knew Ma Hong wasn't joking; he really would dare to do it.
As for Ning Jiang, he didn't look like someone with any powerful backing. How could he possibly fight Ma Hong?
One had to understand that most of the people who set up stalls in this marketplace were ordinary Martial Artists, unlike Ma Hong, who had a powerful backer.
'This guy is so stubborn. I clearly told him about Ma Hong's background, yet he still won't back down. Forget it. We've met, after all. I can't just stand by and watch him die.'
The thought flashed through Zhao Peng's mind, and he forced a smile onto his face. "Brother Hong, my friend here is new..."
"Shut up, Zhao Peng. You're a familiar face on this Yang Liu Road, so I know you. As for him, I've never seen him before. He just got here, didn't he? You say he's your friend. Are you sure about that?!"
As Ma Hong spoke, his voice suddenly turned icy.
"This..."
Zhao Peng's heart trembled. He understood Ma Hong's meaning perfectly. The best thing for him to do now was to distance himself from Ning Jiang. That would be the wisest way to protect himself.
Otherwise, he might get caught up in Ma Hong's anger.
"Zhao Peng, don't get involved."
Someone nearby who knew Zhao Peng was already quietly advising him.
Zhao Peng's eyes showed hesitation. A moment later, he gritted his teeth. "Yes, he's my friend. He's young and doesn't know any better. Brother Hong, you're a magnanimous person. Please, I'm asking you to spare my friend this one time."
As soon as Zhao Peng finished speaking, beads of sweat broke out on his forehead, and his heart pounded with anxiety.
Ning Jiang gave Zhao Peng a deep look.
Ma Hong's gaze grew even colder. He was about to speak when a woman in blue robes suddenly walked over. Ma Hong glanced at her, his eyes showing surprise. Forgetting his anger, he quickly said, "Miss Liu Mi, what brings you here?"
Liu Mi was ranked among the top five of the Liu Family's younger generation. He had followed his older brother, Ma Yuan, and met her a few times, so of course he recognized her.
"What's going on here?"
Liu Mi asked him directly, so Ma Hong didn't dare to be slow, and he quickly explained the situation.
"I see. One hundred Primordial Stones for this Martial Technique is a bit low. No wonder he's unwilling. How about this: you pay four hundred Primordial Stones, and after you've copied the Martial Technique, you return it to him," Liu Mi said.
"I will naturally obey Miss Liu Mi's command."
Despite his arrogant posture in front of Ning Jiang, Ma Hong didn't dare utter a single word of dissent in front of Liu Mi.
Liu Mi nodded and was about to turn and leave.
"Eight hundred Primordial Stones. Not one less!"
Just then, Ning Jiang's voice slowly rang out.
From beginning to end, Liu Mi hadn't even given him a proper look. She didn't even bother asking his opinion, simply setting the price at four hundred Primordial Stones as if her words were law, her attitude full of arrogance.
It might have seemed like Liu Mi was making a concession by raising the price from one hundred to four hundred Primordial Stones, but in reality, she was still siding with Ma Hong.
If Liu Mi were truly fair, how could she tolerate Ma Hong's tyrannical behavior?
In the end, Ma Hong was a subordinate of the Liu Family. Logically and emotionally, Liu Mi was bound to favor him.
"Insolent! Who do you think you are, daring to defy Miss Liu Mi's words!" Ma Hong immediately snapped.
Liu Mi's pretty brows furrowed. She looked at Ning Jiang and said unhappily, "Four hundred Primordial Stones, and he only takes back a copy. My handling of this should be quite fair, don't you think? Besides, I'm already doing this for your own good. Compared to having your arms and legs broken, do you still feel wronged by a price of four hundred Primordial Stones?"
At this point, Liu Mi shook her head again, a trace of disappointment in her eyes.
In her eyes, Ning Jiang's current actions showed he was unable to read the situation and didn't know when to advance or retreat.
People with this kind of personality were all reckless brutes with courage but no strategy. She had never given them a second thought.
'A person with both courage and strategy would absolutely understand that the best option right now is to take a step back.'
'When the enemy is strong and you are weak, you must know how to compromise to save yourself.'
Speaking of which, she was completely different from Huang Qing of Treasure Herb Hall. Huang Qing thought Ning Jiang was a coward and that a Martial Artist should have the kind of spirit where a single man's fury can lead to bloodshed. She, however, held the opposite view.
Of course, this was also related to their respective positions.
If Huang Qing, with his Qi Cultivation Third Layer cultivation, were in that situation, would he really have dared to fight Zhao Feng, who was at the Postnatal Middle Stage? If that were the case, why didn't Huang Qing challenge one of the Luoyang Ten Heroes to a life-or-death battle?
Huang Qing was just talking big without having to bear the consequences.
"Fair? For my own good? If you were fair, you'd make him pay the full eight hundred Primordial Stones. If this were for my own good, you wouldn't be using such a condescending tone and not even bother to ask my opinion," Ning Jiang said coldly. "There's no point in talking further."
"Miss Liu Mi, since this brat doesn't know what's good for him, just leave him to me," Ma Hong said, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
"Sigh." Liu Mi sighed and glanced at Ning Jiang. "I hope that after this lesson, you'll understand the principle that what is too rigid is easily broken. Ma Hong, just teach him a small lesson. Don't take his life."
"Yes."
Ma Hong grinned at Ning Jiang, clenching his fist, and his knuckles cracked.
Zhao Peng's face was filled with helplessness. The situation had developed to a point far beyond his ability to control.
As for the many onlookers, they all murmured in disappointment, likewise thinking that Ning Jiang didn't know what was good for him.
Suddenly, an uproar erupted from the crowd not far away.
"Huh? What's she doing here?"
Liu Mi looked over in surprise. In her line of sight, a picturesque woman in green robes was walking in their direction. It was her arrival that had caused the commotion.
Qian Chuan and Chen Yang, who had come with Liu Mi, both had a strange light flash in their eyes as their gazes fixated on the woman in green.
From the Liu Family, Liu Xianyu!
Although both of them were pursuing Liu Mi, they had to admit that Liu Xianyu's beauty surpassed Liu Mi's.
However, they knew there was a significant gap between themselves and Liu Xianyu. For them to pursue her would only be asking for humiliation.
"Hmph."
Liu Mi noticed Chen Yang and Qian Chuan's gazes and couldn't help but snort coldly.
As soon as Liu Xianyu arrived, all eyes were on her. Liu Mi was also considered a Ming Zhu of the Liu Family, but in front of Liu Xianyu, her brilliance instantly dimmed.
'It's Liu Xianyu! Is she walking toward me? Huh? My brother is next to her. Could it be...?'
Ma Hong's attention was also drawn over. He immediately saw Ma Yuan beside Liu Xianyu, winking at him suggestively.
'Is it about the Liu Family's Black Guard Team? That's right, my brother recommended me a few days ago, and Liu Xianyu has always been in charge of the Black Guard Team. Does this mean... Liu Xianyu came here specifically for me?'
'That's right, she really is walking this way, and she's looking in this direction. I have to make a good impression!'
At this thought, Ma Hong's heart burned with excitement.
"Your subordinate, Ma Hong, respectfully greets Miss Liu Xianyu!"
Ma Hong hurried over and bowed respectfully to Liu Xianyu with his fists clasped.
This scene, however, made Liu Mi's expression turn even colder. Compared to how he treated her, wasn't Ma Hong's current enthusiasm several times greater?
However, Liu Xianyu walked past him hurriedly, not even glancing at Ma Hong as she strode right by his side.
"Huh?"
Ma Hong froze on the spot. 'Liu Xianyu... didn't she come for me?'
'Could it be for Liu Mi? After all, they're both from the Liu Family.'
Thinking of this, he spun around like lightning, only to see an unbelievable sight.
"Young Master, I've finally found you! Ever since we parted on Funiu Mountain this morning, I've been looking for you everywhere. I never expected to see you here. What a coincidence. This is also my Liu Family's territory. I think this must be fate, don't you?"
Liu Xianyu arrived in front of Ning Jiang, her beautiful eyes like pools of water, filled with joy. "Oh, right, my name is Liu Xianyu. May I ask your name, Young Master?"
At that moment, the surroundings fell utterly silent!
Ma Hong's eyes nearly popped out of his head. Liu Xianyu hadn't come for him, nor for Liu Mi, but for... Ning Jiang?
And just moments ago, he had confidently vowed to break Ning Jiang's arms and legs!
His face instantly turned pale.
Liu Mi's elegant brows also furrowed deeply. Liu Xianyu had a cold personality and rarely interacted with people in the Liu Family. Even she had barely spoken with Liu Xianyu. She had certainly never seen Liu Xianyu act so warmly toward anyone.
Not even the other Ten Heroes would receive such treatment from Liu Xianyu.
The chubby Zhao Peng's jaw dropped, and he stood there dumbfounded.
Who was Liu Xianyu? She was one of the Luoyang Ten Heroes, and on top of that, one of the four great beauties of Luoyang City. Countless people admired her; you could line them up from the entrance of Yang Liu Road to the exit and still have more.
In terms of both strength and beauty, Liu Xianyu was at the absolute top in all of Luoyang City.
Normally, Zhao Peng wouldn't even have the right to catch a glimpse of Liu Xianyu.
But now, this noble lady of Luoyang City was being so enthusiastic toward Ning Jiang!
"Young Master, this humble one is Ma Yuan. To find you, Miss Xianyu even had someone paint your portrait, intending to dig three feet deep into the earth if she had to."
Ma Yuan cupped his hands and smiled apologetically from the side. Although he didn't know why Liu Xianyu held Ning Jiang in such high regard, he understood that the Ning Jiang of this moment was not someone he could afford to offend. He had to be treated with courtesy.
After hearing Ma Yuan's words, the surroundings grew even quieter, and mouths gaped open in silence.
To find Ning Jiang, Liu Xianyu had specifically commissioned a portrait of him?
What in the world was going on?
What was Ning Jiang's background? Could he be Liu Xianyu's lover? This absurd idea popped into many people's minds.
Countless gazes filled with jealousy and curiosity were cast upon Ning Jiang.
"Oh, right, Young Master, this is my younger brother, Ma Hong. Brother, what are you standing there stunned for? Get over here and greet the Young Master."
Ma Yuan's brows knitted as he looked at Ma Hong with dissatisfaction.
But Ma Hong's expression was ashen and stiff, and he remained rooted to the spot.
"Hm?"
Ma Yuan was an astute man, exceptional at reading people and situations. If he weren't, he never would have reached his current position and obtained the lucrative post of overseeing Yang Liu Road.
He glanced at the expressions of the others in the crowd and immediately noticed that something was wrong with all of their gazes.
It was a look of... schadenfreude!
"What is it? Did something happen?" Ma Yuan suppressed the unease in his heart, his eyes fixed on Ma Hong.
Ma Hong's mouth twitched, but he couldn't speak.
"No need for introductions. We've already met. Your brother just said he was going to break my arms and legs and throw me out of here!"
Ning Jiang's voice was calm, yet it exploded like a sudden clap of thunder.
In an instant.
Liu Xianyu's brows furrowed, and her expression darkened.
And in Ma Yuan's eyes, a deep sense of shock and fury appeared!