Chapter Twelve: The Two Elders

Suddenly, a shocking change occurred. Over a dozen burly men were subdued simultaneously, completely losing their ability to fight. This caused the onlookers to scatter like startled birds, and the small street was empty in a short time.

The diners at other tables in the food stall also flipped over their tables. Several people huddled together, seeking warmth and a sense of security.

"Who dares to oppose my Zhou family? Do you not wish to live?"

Facing the sudden turn of events, Young Miss Zhou displayed extraordinary courage. Instead of flinching, she spoke sternly in a specific direction, which turned out to be directly above the food stall.

Duàn Yì turned his head and saw that two people were standing on the cloth canopy above Old Wang's stall without him realizing when they had arrived.

The two elders moved lightly, as if weightless, and appeared silently. No one noticed when they had positioned themselves there.

Experts, absolute experts, Duàn Yì shouted internally, but he had no idea how profound their martial arts or internal cultivation were.

One of them was a short old woman, about sixty or seventy years old. She wore simple clothes and a hairpin, and carried a refined wooden staff. Its head was shaped like a cobra with a thickened neck, looking peculiar and terrifying.

Looking at her appearance, her eyes were small like beans, yet they were captivating, sharp as lightning. It was clear that even if she wasn't a beauty in her youth, she possessed a unique charm.

The other person was completely the opposite. He was tall, dressed in brocade, and his square face, though covered in wrinkles, had well-defined features. His eyes were like knives and swords, extremely sharp, indicating he must have been an exceptionally charming man in his youth.

In response to Young Miss Zhou's question, the two elders paid no mind, or rather, they didn't take it to heart. They simply leaped forward simultaneously from the canopy, landing without a sound, further showcasing their unfathomable skill.

"Yuè'er, you've been naughty again, running off alone and making people worry. When we return to the manor, I will definitely report this to Madam and confine you for three days. Let's see if you dare to do it again."

The old woman was the first to enter the food stall. Holding her Serpent Cane, she grabbed the beautiful young girl, who looked rather displeased, and examined her thoroughly. Seeing that she was unharmed, she then feigned anger.

As for why she feigned anger instead of being genuinely angry, the doting affection and smiles on her aged face, and her concerned gaze, were obvious to anyone with eyes.

The young girl, held by the old woman, first cast a pitiful glance at the elder who seemed to be wishing her good luck. Then, she forced a smile, like a radiant flower, and nuzzled against the old woman, twitching her nose and acting spoiled to appease her.

"Granny An, Yuè'er knows she was wrong. Please don't tell Mother. She doesn't dote on me as much as you do, and she'll definitely teach me a harsh lesson. And Father, he's so busy; if he worries about me, it will delay his important matters. Granny An, please, okay? At most, I'll tell Granny An before I go out next time. How about that..."

If you want to know how exquisite a person's appearance can be, look at this beautiful young girl. If you want to know how much a person's expression can change, look at this beautiful young girl as well.

Duàn Yì chuckled inwardly. You little brat, bossing me around with that arrogant young lady demeanor, and then you turn into a good girl in front of these two? And you're acting spoiled, dragging out those end syllables, so sweet and charming, you've got some real talent from those internet celebrities of your past life.

However, to be fair, Duàn Yì felt envious. As expected of a young lady with a strong background and origins. If the Moon Worship Palace hadn't had trouble, he might have had such a powerful backer.

"I've seen the entire situation unfold. How dare the relative of a mere outer disciple of the Golden Cauldron Sect be so arrogant. When we reach the Golden Cauldron Sect, I will definitely ask Qū Dōng Liú how he teaches his disciples as the sect leader. As for you, you didn't intend to kill just now, so consider yourself lucky to have saved your life. Scram."

While the old woman and the beautiful young girl were dallying, the old man with the square face spoke directly to Young Miss Zhou.

As he spoke, his eyes gleamed, exuding immense pressure. Not only Young Miss Zhou, who was facing him directly, but even Duàn Yì, who was observing from the side, felt his heart pounding as if it would leap out of his chest.

Moreover, setting aside the old man's imposing aura, the content of his words alone was terrifying.

Let's think about it carefully. Young Miss Zhou's arrogance and domineering attitude stemmed from her brother, Zhou Xiong, the eldest outer disciple of the Golden Cauldron Sect. However, Zhou Xiong would likely be significantly weaker when facing an inner disciple. Those inner disciples would respectfully address Qū Dōng Liú as Sect Leader or even Master. Yet, this old man could directly call Qū Dōng Liú by name and dared to question his ability to teach disciples. He was at least on the same level as Qū Dōng Liú. Therefore, Zhou Xiong would probably be terrified to the point of wetting himself upon meeting this person and couldn't afford to offend him, let alone Zhou Xiufen.

"You... fine. You're tough. Let's go." Judging by her previous behavior, this Young Miss Zhou, when not infatuated, was quite sensible. Thus, realizing she couldn't regain her dignity, she first glared at Duàn Yì, as if to say their score wasn't settled. Then, she instructed her subordinates and turned to leave, followed by the stout shopkeeper and the household servants who had gotten up from the ground.

The diners in the food stall also fled in a flash, likely without paying. The stall owners' eyes twitched, but they dared not stop them. Was their money or their lives more important? When even the young lady of the Zhou family dared not provoke someone, how could they possibly survive if they offended them?

However, the beautiful young girl was not a freeloader. She directly tossed a piece of silver from her money pouch to the stall owners, compensating them for their losses. With that, the matter was concluded.

Suddenly, the previously bustling small street became much quieter. Coupled with the darkening sky, it felt even more desolate.

"Kid, you remained calm in the face of danger and protected my young lady. You have some courage. What reward do you desire?" After pacifying the young girl, the old woman finally had the leisure to observe Duàn Yì. She was secretly surprised by the young man's handsome appearance, realizing it was no wonder Yuè'er was willing to dine with him and even spoke up for him several times.

The old man with the square face, though expressionless, also showed a hint of approval towards Duàn Yì. He had observed Duàn Yì's actions when he intervened. His martial arts were weak, but his reactions were good, and his movements were decisive. With proper training from a master, he might achieve something.

"No reward is necessary. Yuè'er and I met by chance. She invited me to eat, and I offended that Young Miss Zhou for her. It was only right for me to act. If there's nothing else, I shall take my leave." Duàn Yì was uninterested. He cupped his hands in a salute to the old woman and prepared to leave. To be precise, he intended to leave the presence of these two unfathomable elders.

When facing the beautiful young girl, even knowing her extraordinary background, Duàn Yì dared to tease her because she was young, outwardly cold but inwardly warm, a person with a sharp tongue but a kind heart.

When facing Young Miss Zhou and the Zhou family's guards, Duàn Yì dared to resist. Besides relying on his Minor Capturing Hand for protection, the more important reason was that he was confident he could retreat safely.

Only when facing these two elders did Duàn Yì feel uncertain. He had no idea of their origins or temperaments, yet they possessed the absolute ability to kill him in an instant. In such a situation, the best way to ensure his own safety was to stay far away from them.

Just like the law of the jungle, herbivores need to stay far away from carnivores if they want to survive, regardless of whether the carnivore is full or has any intention to kill. This is the best approach.

As for the beautiful young lady, while he also enjoyed the relaxed feeling of being with her and even saw her as a sister, he couldn't continue to get close.

"Hey, are you leaving? I mean, if you really want to learn martial arts, I can help you."

Seeing Duàn Yì about to leave, the young lady felt a sense of reluctance. She stepped forward, looking at Duàn Yì's retreating back, and spoke out, wanting to keep him there.

If Zhou Xiufen could get Duàn Yì to join the Golden Cauldron Sect, she could too. While the former couldn't guarantee Duàn Yì would become a direct disciple, she could. In fact, she could even arrange for Duàn Yì to be personally taught by the sect leader of the Golden Cauldron Sect.

Moreover, if Duàn Yì didn't want to learn at the Golden Cauldron Sect, she could have the two elders by her side teach him martial arts. She just wanted him to continue accompanying her, even if it was just to talk.

The young lady's reaction caused the old woman beside her to frown, her small eyes narrowing as if she had thought of something unpleasant. Her gaze towards Duàn Yì also turned unfriendly.

"Young Miss is still young and inexperienced, easily deceived. We cannot let her interact with this brat anymore."

Duàn Yì didn't look back, but he could feel two unfriendly gazes appraising him. He shivered involuntarily, continuing to walk forward while waving his hand backward, no longer replying.