"The one who is disgracing himself is you!"
A calm voice suddenly rose, halting the smug smile on Lu Chen’s face abruptly.
With a darkened expression, Lu Chen turned toward the source of the voice.
There stood Xiao Yi, hands behind his back, his face showing tranquility. Yet his eyes, still as an ancient well without a ripple, seemed as if they could see through the human heart, giving Lu Chen the feeling of being stripped bare before him.
This caused Lu Chen’s complexion to fluctuate between dark and light, as he forcefully said, "Who do you think you are? What right do you have to speak here?"
No sooner had the words left his lips.
Than a wave of murmuring arose from the crowd around them, "I remember now, he is the head of Xiaoshanhe Institute!"
"That’s right, I saw him once at the Nangong Family previously!"
"Lu Chen has really hit a snag this time..."
The conversations of the crowd, like knives, caused Lu Chen’s complexion to stiffen suddenly.
He looked at Xiao Yi in disbelief.
Gululu!
Lu Chen’s face turned somewhat unsightly, "Are you Xiao Yi?"
Xiao Yi nodded lightly and said indifferently, "Yes, it’s me!"
"You..."
Lu Chen’s face grew darker as his eagerness to join the Xiaoshanhe Institute was met with Xiao Yi’s dismissive attitude. His eyes darted about before he said in a heavy tone, "Head Xiao, I am the nephew of Minister of War Xu Wengang. I believe you have surely heard of my uncle’s great reputation. I am his..."
A Minister of War, a second-ranked official.
Even within the entire Great Qian Dynasty, this was considered a prestigious family background.
And Xu Wengang, being young, was highly valued by Emperor Qian and likely to assume the position of Minister of War in the future.
For this reason.
Even some prominent families and royal relatives were extremely polite toward Xu Wengang. By association, Lu Chen, Xu Wengang’s nephew, found success and influence in the capital city, as everyone sought his favor. Continue your saga on freewebnovel
In public, Xiao Yi reprimanded him and declared that he was not qualified to enter Xiaoshanhe Institute.
Wasn’t this a slap in the face?
How could Lu Chen swallow such an insult? That’s why he brought up his uncle, trying to use Xu Wengang’s reputation and influence to press Xiao Yi.
However.
Xiao Yi did not wait for him to finish and cut off Lu Chen’s words directly, speaking with a detached look, "It doesn’t matter that you are merely Xu Wengang’s nephew. Even if Xu Wengang himself were here today, he also would not be able to set foot within my Xiaoshanhe Institute."
"You..."
Lu Chen’s face darkened further.
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Just as he was about to speak again.
A loud voice suddenly rang out from the crowd, "Head Xiao, who is this ignorant fellow that has drawn your ire?"
Xiao Yi looked toward the voice.
He saw Xu Wengang, dressed in green silk, emerge from the crowd. He had accompanied Lu Chen here but had fallen behind due to conversations with some acquaintances. He hadn’t expected to hear the news that Lu Chen had clashed with Xiao Yi, and hurriedly followed, smiling as he said, "Head Xiao, I am Minister Xu Wengang!"
"Minister Xu!"
Xiao Yi greeted him with a bow, his manners impeccable, leaving no room for criticism.
Xu Wengang’s face was radiant with success and pride.
In response to Xiao Yi’s greeting, he simply nodded and then spoke, "Head Xiao, this is my nephew, Lu Chen. It seems there has been a misunderstanding between you two..."
"A misunderstanding?"
Xiao Yi smiled faintly and said, "There’s no misunderstanding. It’s just that your nephew indeed does not qualify to enter my Xiaoshanhe Institute!"
"Hm?"
Xu Wengang frowned.
Almost assured to be the next Minister of War and courted by even the Unparalleled War King, he saw Xiao Yi as merely the head of a minor institute with no power or status in the court and who could not afford to disregard him.
Yet, even with his own intervention, Xiao Yi had still not yielded.
This caused Xu Wengang’s expression to sour, and his voice dropped somewhat, "Head Xiao, are you sure you want to trouble yourself with me over such insignificant ants?"
His gaze, filled with disdain, fell upon Ruan Yunyi and Xiao Yun.
One an old man with one foot in the grave, the other a jinx shunned by all powers.
In his eyes...
they were nothing more than ants that wouldn’t merit the blink of an eye even if crushed to death.
How could they compare with someone as exalted as him?
How dare Xiao Yi stand up for these two and have the audacity to challenge him?
This was something Xu Wengang couldn’t comprehend.
At that moment,
Xiao Yi was already helping Ruan Yunyi and Xiao Yun to their feet, infusing them with vital energy to stabilize their injuries somewhat.
Facing Xu Wengang’s ridicule, Xiao Yi said indifferently, "Even a golden scale can transform into a dragon... Despite their humble origins and the many hardships they’ve faced, their resolute pursuit of the martial path with such tenacious hearts means their future accomplishments needn’t be inferior. As for your nephew, he’s arrogant and complacent, indifferent to others. He will likely lead a mediocre life forever!"
These words exploded like thunder from a clear sky.
Ruan Yunyi’s cheeks flushed crimson, and he looked at Xiao Yi with eyes brimming with profound emotion.
From birth until now...
He had never received such a solemn appraisal and attention.
Ruan Yunyi’s gaze towards Xiao Yi was filled with fervent worship and gratitude. He whispered to Xiao Yun at his side, "Ren, you were right. Director Xiao doesn’t disdain me!"
"Of course!"
Xiao Yun smiled faintly, his eyes on Xiao Yi, showing a trace of inexplicable complexity. "No matter how much time has passed, you are still the same, unchanged!"
Of course,
Xiao Yi didn’t hear this, for at that moment, he was looking at Lu Chen.
"What did you say?"
Lu Chen’s face alternated between shades of green and white. He couldn’t bear Xiao Yi’s words any longer, pointing at Xiao Yi with his right index finger and yelling angrily, "You dare say I am inferior to these two ants? Xiao Yi, don’t push your luck, I..."
Before he could finish,
Xiao Yi was already shaking his head slightly. "I don’t like people pointing at me."
"So what if I’m pointing at you? My uncle is a high-ranking official of the second rank in the Great Qian, the future Minister of War. Do you think I’m afraid of you?" Lu Chen said defiantly.
Xu Wengang’s expression changed abruptly. "This is bad!"
Almost at the same time,
Xu Wengang saw a flash of black dart past him—it was Xiao Yi brushing past him and appearing in front of Lu Chen. With a raise of his hand, he grabbed Lu Chen’s finger. A crisp snap, accompanied by Lu Chen’s hysterical scream, marked the moment Xiao Yi twisted his five fingers into a twisted shape, causing his entire arm to suffer a comminuted fracture.
In agony, Lu Chen knelt on the ground, howling in pain.
Xiao Yi looked emotionless as he addressed him, "Considering your uncle’s face, I’m only crippling one of your hands. If there is a next time, I will show no mercy!"
"No, I daren’t... I won’t dare again..."
Lu Chen knelt on the ground, cold sweat dripping profusely, pleading desperately.
Xu Wengang stood beside him, his face dark with anger but also filled with deep wariness. He had barely registered Xiao Yi’s move when it happened. If that blow had been aimed at a fatal spot on his body... Xu Wengang played the scenario out in his mind and realized that if Xiao Yi had targeted him, he would have had only death to look forward to.
Cold sweat rolled down his forehead as well.
Xu Wengang turned his eyes, and said in a grave voice, "Director Xiao, please, for my sake, let him off this time!"
Swish!
Xiao Yi let go of his hand.
Lu Chen, in a pitiful state, crawled to Xu Wengang’s side. Regaining his nerve with Xu Wengang close by, Lu Chen glared at Xiao Yi and roared, "Xiao Yi, today you cast me aside for the sake of two ants. This will be the biggest mistake of your life. It won’t be long before I trample both you and your Xiaoshanhe Institute beneath my feet..."
Xu Wengang’s face turned deathly pale. He was about to speak when a gust filled his mouth, silencing him abruptly.
Almost simultaneously...
A spray of warm blood splashed across his face.
Xu Wengang’s neck stiffened as he turned to look, only to see Lu Chen’s head flying high into the air, with blood spurting from the neck like a fountain.
Amidst the crowd,
Xiao Yi’s voice echoed like a demonic whisper from the netherworld, "I dare to hit Yang Yuhuan. Do you think I’d fear you, a mere Deputy Minister of War? Get lost with this idiot’s corpse. If you dare set foot in Xiaoshanhe Institute again, I will slaughter you as well!"
Xu Wengang’s face turned from pale to red, his arrogance gone, like a dog that has lost its home.
Carring Lu Chen’s body, he left in utter disgrace.
But Xiao Yi failed to notice the malice and hatred burgeoning within Xu Wengang’s downcast eyes, growing like bamboo after the rain. "Xiao Yi? You’d better not fall into my hands, or else, I will make you beg for life in vain and beg for death in despair!"