Xu Yi was gradually losing patience. He sneered, "You two have put on quite a show. Should I invite Director Feng over? Oh, right—now he's Steward Feng."
At those words, everyone finally caught on. They cursed Gong and Jia for their slyness. What a fine opportunity—how had those two slick operators managed to seize the initiative?
The Bearded Middle-aged Man remained unfazed. He sneered, "Why bother with Steward Feng? Gong can take you on himself and spill your blood within five paces."
Xu Yi was utterly speechless. He saw it clearly now: the Bearded Middle-aged Man was using Xu as a prop to build his own reputation and curry favor.
All that thunderous bluster was just talk. There was no way he'd actually follow through and fight Xu.
And in this small hall, Xu had no room to make a move. If he responded, he'd only fuel the man's arrogance and make him shout even louder.
So Xu simply shut off his senses and treated it all like the barking of a wild dog.
The Bearded Middle-aged Man was left fuming. Those who had been preparing to follow his lead were even more at a loss for words, though the jeers from the crowd still rang out without end.
After all, whatever happened, today's events would reach Steward Feng sooner or later. Making a show of themselves and doing nothing were two entirely different things.
A short while later, an old man in green robes entered the courtyard and declared, "You've got some nerve, making such a racket here. Are you all itching for trouble? Fine, we'll start assigning missions now. Take yours and get on your way."
The old man then produced a piece of jade in his palm, just like the one they had used to receive their