Chapter 359: Indignant Xiao Ai
The astonishing art of stealth exhibited by the young girl with silver hair and beast-like ears left both Nangong Hao and Lie Yang utterly astounded.
Especially Lie Yang, who prides himself on his extensive knowledge and profound cultivation, had never witnessed such a formidable display of stealth as showcased by this young girl.
Among all the techniques of concealment he had ever encountered in his life, the method of concealing aura employed by this young girl can be hailed as unparalleled, claiming the foremost position.
...exceeding the second and third by an indeterminate margin.
And Nangong Hao's inquiry was also a hesitation in Lie Yang's heart.
Sitting at the main table, he observed from a distance the white-robed man sitting at the edge, engaging in cheerful conversation with the ordinary cultivators by his side.
At that moment, he found himself in a quandary, unable to make a decision.
The last time, in Zhuxian Town, he abruptly startled away the stranger.
If he were to startle the other party away again, it would be rather awkward.
Contemplating this, Lie Yang let out a sigh and conveyed through a voice transmission, "For now, let's set it aside. This cultivator disregards my position and authority. It would be inappropriate for us to intrude hastily, so we shall let him be."
In Lie Yang's heart, there was also a steadfastness.
Considering his distinguished status, how could someone like Lie Yang be neglected by anyone, not even a sovereign, in the past?
Since this Huo Feng of the Yun Sect looks down upon him, he is simply too indifferent to bother with.
Among the countless extraordinary individuals in the world, why bother getting on bad terms with a member of the Yun sect?
With a settled mind, Lie Yang no longer glanced at Lu Heng sitting on the periphery, but instead engaged in lively conversations with the cultivators nearby, creating a harmonious atmosphere.
Soon, exquisite dishes were brought up one after another.
In order to entertain this group of cultivators, the kitchen of Qushui Village has spared no effort to prepare the finest dishes to welcome the guests.
Lu Heng couldn't help but smile as he watched the array of exquisite dishes being brought to the table.
If Wuyou and Wuyu were to see it, they would undoubtedly be extremely excited. Unfortunately, both siblings are currently outside and are not qualified to attend the main event.
Not everyone possesses the audacity and determination like Xiao Ai, who disregards the astonishment of others and insists on joining in.
At the banquet, the atmosphere was harmonious. Amidst the clinking of goblets and the intertwining of toasts, there were various performances and entertainments for the guests.
While immersed in the midst of it, Lu Heng had no burdens to bear, delighting in a leisurely and joyful embrace of the current ease.
As for what this group of cultivators gathered here is doing, Lu Heng is too indifferent to bother about it.
However, Lu Heng remained apathetic, while the rest of the people never overlooked him.
After being well-fed and having their fill of wine, a cultivator sitting at the same table raised a glass to Lu Heng and said, "Esteemed fellow cultivator, you appear unfamiliar. Pray tell, from whence do you hail?"
Smiling, Lu Heng replied, "I am Huo Feng of the Yun Sect, a wandering cultivator who hails from the Fire Pass Country."
As soon as these words were spoken, a peaceful silence fell upon Lu Heng's table.
The previously enthusiastic cultivators, at this moment, all furrowed their brows and turned their gaze towards Lu Heng.
The cultivator who had spoken before was slightly taken aback and said, "the Fire Pass Country... Huo Feng... You are the presumptuous individual who had offended Lie Lao in the Zhuxian Town a few days ago?!"
This cultivator didn't lower his voice, and everyone present were accomplished cultivators who could not be deceived by any slightest movement.
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire courtyard fell into an instant silence.
The cultivators who were previously engaged in cheerful conversations and toasting, all turned their heads and looked in this direction.
Even Lie Yang and others at the main table, all looked over as well.
Upon witnessing such a situation, Lu Heng was slightly taken aback.
This... Huo Feng's reputation, has it deteriorated to such an extent?
Isn't it just the rejection of Lie Lao's invitation four days ago? How did everyone present become aware of it?
This Lie Lao, his position in the hearts of the crowd, isn't it too high?
It is quite evident that Lu Heng's refusal of Lie Yang's recruitment and his direct departure on that day has long been regarded as the acts of an arrogant individual, and his name has spread among this group of cultivators.
Perhaps this group of cultivators is secretly plotting, intending to find this arrogant Huo Feng in the future and teach him a lesson on behalf of Lie Lao...
Observing the unfriendly gaze of the cultivators, Lu Heng couldn't help but smile wryly in his heart.
If I had known about this situation earlier, I would have chosen a different alias.
Facing the cold gazes of the crowd, Lu Heng found himself in a difficult situation but could not retreat. He could only sigh and say, "Indeed, it is I..."
Lu Heng's acknowledgment instantly caused a tumultuous wave to surge throughout the courtyard.
The cultivators, who had originally displayed a friendly attitude, all now glared at him angrily.
Fiery words filled the air, resounding incessantly.
"You rejected the invitation from Lie Lao back then, and today you audaciously infiltrated our banquet... Are you bloody here to wreck havoc?"
"Damn it! This is an outrage!"
"The cultivators of the Fire Pass Country? Pfft! A bunch of forsakers of human decency, indulging in religious rituals... What gives you the audacity? Stop with the pretense!"
"You, surnamed Huo! Show some courage and fight me! I've been wanting to pummel you for a long damn time!"
In the courtyard, emotions are stirred fervently.
In an instant, the cultivators united in enmity, regarding Lu Heng as a reckless provocateur who came to disrupt the scene.
In regards to this situation, Lu Heng was quite helpless.
He stood up and said, "Examine my conscience, I truly had no intention of provocation in coming here this time. It was only upon the invitation of Master Qu that I attended this banquet, without any intention of provoking any of you."
Lu Heng earnestly offered his explanation.
And the gaze of the crowd immediately shifted towards the figure of Master Qu Min, seated at the head.
Qu Min was suddenly taken aback and quickly responded, "Mr. Huo's words are not false. He is indeed a close friend of my son, Gu Yin, who arrived at the estate a few days ago."
"Today, a grand banquet is being held in the estate. Out of courtesy, I extended an invitation to him. It is absolutely not Mr. Huo's intention to provoke anyone or cause trouble by infiltrating."
Qu Min's explanation brought a considerable improvement to the countenance of the cultivators.
However, the looks cast upon Lu Heng remained unfavorable.
The cultivator who had previously expressed the desire to have a match with Lu Heng stood up and proclaimed, "I don't give a damn whether you were invited or not. Since you dare step foot here today, you better step forward and fight me!"
"First, you declined Lie Lao's invitation, and now you've managed to sneak in... What exactly do you mean? Looking down on Lie Lao? Looking down on us, the Youxiong Clan?"
The cultivator angrily declared, "If I don't give you a good lesson today, you will surely go back with your tail between your legs, spreading rumors that the Youxiong Country is weak and defenseless!"
"Step forward! Fight me! My name is Hong Tianba! Today, I will loosen your bones and show you that there are realms beyond realms! The Youxiong Country is not a place where you can act recklessly!"
Hong Tianba provocatively shouted out, roaring in anger repeatedly.
Gu Yin, who was seated at the main table, instantly stood up, his expression turning icy cold.
"I challenge you," he replied.
The remark made by Gu Yin instantly diverted everyone's attention.
All eyes turned towards the son of the Qushui Village's proprietor, and then towards Qu Min, the village's owner himself.
In that instant, Qu Min was so frightened that he felt as if his very soul was about to flee.
He knew that his son had a solitary and peculiar personality, yet Lie Lao was right there beside him, not uttering a word. For you to forcefully intervene in such a moment... It is clearly seeking death!
Qu Min immediately stood up and angrily exclaimed, "Rebellious child! What nonsense are you talking about? Sit down at once!"
With these words, Qu Min reached out and placed his hand firmly on Gu Yin's shoulder, attempting to guide him back to his seat.
However, as Gu Yin caught sight of his father's outstretched hand and was about to resist, he suddenly heard the sigh of Lu Heng ringing in his ears.
"Brother Gu Yin, please have a seat. This matter is not suitable for your involvement; let it be handled by me."
Upon hearing this voice, Gu Yin's body stiffened slightly, and he ceased to resist, allowing his father to guide him back to his seat, where he sat quietly.
Qu Min was greatly astonished by his son's cooperation. In the moment when he reached out, he even thought that his rebellious and aloof son was about to strike him.
Now that Gu Yin was cooperating so well, he immediately heaved a sigh of relief in his heart.
After guiding his son back to his seat, Qu Min hastily turned to Lie Lao beside him and said, "I kindly request your discerning insights on this matter. Mr. Huo Feng is indeed a close friend of my son, and he has been staying at the estate for several days now."
"He came to the banquet tonight at my invitation, and truly without any intention of provocation. I hope that Lie Lao and all our esteemed guests are aware of this, and let us not spoil the harmony."
Qu Min spoke respectfully, intending to ask Lie Lao to use his profound wisdom to stabilize the situation and calm everyone.
At this moment, as long as Lie Lao uttered a word, those cultivators would naturally have to stop their actions as well.
However, after Qu Min finished speaking, Lie Lao didn't pacify the situation as he had anticipated.
Lie Lao smiled and glanced at Lu Heng, saying, "I dare not make rash judgments regarding whether he harbors provocations. After all, we can only know someone superficially, not their true intentions. Who knows what thoughts this Mr. Huo, who hails from the south, might hold?"
As soon as these words were spoken by Lie Lao, a sinking feeling seized Qu Min's heart, indicating that things were not going well.
Hong Tianba, who stood up and intended to attack Lu Heng, roared in anger and charged towards him.
"Damn bastard! Stand up and fight me, for heaven's sake! Don't behave like a coward, hiding like a timid turtle!"
Hong Tianba's fist thundered directly towards Lu Heng.
The ferocious true energy swiftly swept away the dining table in front of Lu Heng, disintegrating all the plates, bowls, and utensils on it.
The might of this punch was capable of obliterating everything, leaving not even a trace of residue behind.
Upon witnessing this scene, Lu Heng reluctantly closed his eyes.
"Xiao Ai," Lu Heng said slowly, "Be more gentle."
"Understood!"
Lu Heng's voice echoed, and behind him, the silhouette of a young girl with silver hair and animal ears suddenly materialized from the courtyard, appearing before everyone.
In Hong Tianba's utterly astonished gaze, the petite young girl, carrying a green ancient sword on her back, took a step forward and directly confronted his fist.
Amidst the watchful gazes of the crowd, the young girl raised her seemingly laughable small fist and fiercely directed it towards him.
Is she really planning to confront him head-on with her fist?
While anger surged in Hong Tianba's heart, he instinctively wanted to restrain his strength, lest he accidentally strike and harm the young girl with a single punch.
However, before he could even restrain his strength, the young girl had already collided with his force, moving at a speed that reached its utmost limit.
In an instant, the fists of the two, one large and one small, collided, and a surge of ferocious true energy instantly engulfed the surroundings.
*Rumble!*
Amidst the deafening explosion, the surging waves of true energy flattened everything within a radius of three meters.
And this was only possible because the residual shockwaves were individually blocked by everyone, preventing them from reaching even farther.
Inside the courtyard, the eyes of the gathered cultivators widened instantaneously.
After the dissipation of that gust of fist wind, Hong Tianba, who was originally fiercely aggressive, took half a step back, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, clearly indicating that he had been injured.
While the little girl who exchanged a punch with him stood coldly in indifference, completely unmoved.
The winner between the two sides was immediately determined.
The cultivators, all fell silent, unable to accept this reality.
Although Hong Tianba may not be considered exceptionally powerful among them, the raging force of his punches is not something that just anyone can withstand.
But how could this sudden appearance of a young girl, petite in stature, bravely withstand the force of Hong Tianba's punches and directly push him back, defeating him in the very domain he prided himself on?
Could this seemingly frail little girl also be a cultivator who has diligently trained in the art of boxing?
The expressions of everyone looking at Xiao Ai changed completely.
Lie Lao, who witnessed everything, furrowed his brow even further.
However, at this moment, the Hong Tianba, who had been pushed back by a punch and was left staggering half a zhang, suddenly spoke out in anger, exclaiming, "Damn it, this is an outrageous insult! If you have the guts, come forward yourself! What's the meaning of sending a little girl to fight me? Show yourself, surname Huo!"
Hong Tianba, filled with both frustration and anger, has become enraged.
Upon seeing him in such a state, Xiao Ai let out a cold snort and said, "If you can't even withstand a single punch from me, what right do you have to speak of maintaining appearances? If I were you, I would dig a hole and bury myself, so that I would never have to show my face to the world again!"
For the little girl, the majesty of the Wolf God was absolutely not to be offended.
However, this group of foreigners dared to hurl offensive words towards the Wolf God, and she could no longer bear it. Now that she had received the Wolf God's permission to take action, she retorted directly.
"Go away! With your level of cultivation, you shouldn't embarrass yourself by appearing in public."
As Xiao Ai uttered two cold and indifferent remarks, Lu Heng instantly covered his face, unable to bear witnessing such words.
This stubborn girl's temper is getting worse... With such words coming from you, how can tonight turn out peaceful?
Although this group of cultivators had no intention of letting Lu Heng off easily, but isn't this girl too arrogant?
Indeed, as Xiao Ai uttered these words, the cultivators once again erupted in excitement.
Everyone glared angrily at the little girl in the center of the field, united against a common enemy.
"Such arrogance from a child!"
An elderly cultivator with a head full of white hair, yet possessing the countenance of an immortal, stood up and exclaimed indignantly, "Even if your cultivation surpasses that of Hong Tianba, you should not stoop to such humiliation!"
"You are so disrespectful. Today, I will personally teach you a lesson on behalf of your elders! Let me make you understand the principles of being a decent person!"
With a swipe of his dusting tool, the elderly cultivator released a beam of sword light from the sleeve of his robe, suspending it by his side.
The surrounding cultivators cheered for him one after another.
"Buddhist Layman Sanye, quickly discipline this arrogant little girl!"
"Yes! Let her understand the significance of respecting teachers and upholding moral principles!"
The cultivators were filled with excitement, while the elderly cultivator arrived riding the winds and said, "I, as an old ascetic cultivator, call myself Sanye. Fair maiden, may I know your name and surname?"
Xiao Ai gazed at him coldly, and then emitted a radiance from her mouth, directly slashing towards the sword light beside the elderly cultivator.
A majestic sword aura swept across with determination.
Buddhist Layman Sanye was suddenly filled with a chilling dread, as if facing imminent disaster. Immediately, he summoned his lifebound flying sword and rushed forward to meet it.
In the moment when the two radiances collided...
Clang!
With a resounding clash of swords, Buddhist Layman Sanye let out a muffled groan, clutching his chest in pain as he took several steps back.
The sword light he summoned was instantly shattered, transforming into a palm-sized golden sword that fell to the ground.
And the sword energy that crushed this golden sword also revealed its true form.
--Surprisingly, it was saliva spat out by the young girl!
