Seeing him like this, the contempt in the black-clad man's eyes deepened.
"Who knows what evil spell Miss Chen fell under to take a fancy to trash like you? A pearl cast into the dust."
He leaned forward, an oppressive air about him, and said each word distinctly, "Remember this: keep yourself in line. Do not vainly covet things that do not belong to you!"
"Yes, yes, yes! I understand! I understand!" Liu Chengfeng nodded repeatedly, bending even lower.
Only then did the black-clad man lean back slightly, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You need not attend tonight's meeting."
Liu Chengfeng abruptly raised his head, his face full of shock and unwillingness. "Wh... why?"
A flash of resentment crossed his eyes, but he swiftly buried it, leaving only obedience on his face.
The black-clad man paid no heed to his reaction and continued, "The Young Master will go in your place."
He paused, as if suddenly recalling something, then added:
"Also, that boy Chen Zhengyang brought back to the Martial Arts School—Fang Yuan. He is from a place called Fang Family Village. The Young Master has ordered us to keep an eye on him."
The Young Master was afraid—afraid that Chen Zhengyang's luck was too good, that he might take in another peerless genius as a disciple, just like back then...
The thought inexplicably sent a chill through his heart.
The black-clad man's words exploded beside Liu Chengfeng's ears like thunder.
"Y-you said he is from where?" Liu Chengfeng's voice trembled almost imperceptibly as he jerked his head up, disbelief written all over his face.
The black-clad man narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Fang Family Village. What, do you know him?"
"No! I don't!" Liu Chengfeng denied it almost instantly, shaking his head like a rattle-drum as he forcibly