What a load of hot air!
Xiao Yang raised an eyebrow. He hadn't expected Third Brother's banquet tonight to be an attempt to recruit him and start a venture together.
But back in his previous life, when he'd been a corporate wage slave, he'd heard more than enough promises from bosses and executives. He was immune to that kind of talk by now.
If that day ever came, Xiao Li wouldn't treat him well. He'd kill the donkey once the mill was ground, hiding the bow once the birds were gone...
No matter what, Xiao Yang didn't want to board that pirate ship!
"Third Brother, thank you for the offer, but I'm not interested in any of that." Xiao Yang shook his head and politely declined.
"Ninth Brother, you'd better think this through. I'm not just inviting you—I'm saving your life!" Xiao Li said coldly.
"What do you mean?"
"You offended Eldest Brother, then exiled Fourth Brother's concubine to the border. They hate you to the bone! If you don't find a powerful backer soon and join forces with me, then once Eldest Brother takes the throne, he'll only come after you twice as hard!" Xiao Li said.
His reasoning was perfectly sound.
And it was true. The Eldest Prince and Fourth Prince both viewed Xiao Yang as a thorn in their side, eager to be rid of him. They were even plotting to strip him of his title and drive him out of the prince's manor.
And the enemy of one's enemy was a friend!
From an outsider's perspective, siding with Xiao Li, who wanted to seize the throne, was the wisest choice Xiao Yang could make.
But then, in the next moment—
Xiao Yang shook his head and said proudly, "Third Brother, you're underestimating me! I don't need a powerful backer. I'm a mountain all by myself!"
He had every reason to say that.
Now that he had the Ten Thousand Times Return System, along with wisdom and knowledge far beyond this era, he naturally had no intention of becoming Xiao Li's lackey!
But those words enraged Xiao Li.
"Ninth Brother, your wings have certainly grown! Do you think you can strut around just because you've latched on to that Fiend Star Woman, Ning Hongye?"
"Haha!"
Xiao Yang burst out laughing. "Third Brother, aren't you the one with a fine little scheme of your own? You couldn't possibly be recruiting me just because I know a few martial arts moves and can write a few poems, could you?"
"What you really want is my fiancée, Ning Hongye, and the power of the Vermilion Bird Army behind her!"
Although King Zhenbei had nine sons, he had yet to name an heir.
As a result, the princes were locked in open and covert struggles, and King Zhenbei tacitly allowed it all.
Only through such a struggle could the most outstanding and capable candidate emerge to inherit the throne.
The power of each prince's maternal family was the key.
The Eldest Prince Xiao Junlin's maternal family was Medicine King Valley.
Behind Fourth Prince Xiao Chusheng stood East Pole Island.
The two had now joined forces and gained the upper hand.
Third Prince Xiao Li's maternal family was the Hong Alliance, the greatest power in the martial world.
Beneath its leader were four great elders, ten protectors, and tens of thousands of disciples.
That was what gave him the nerve to "compete for the throne"!
Now that Xiao Yang had been granted a marriage to Ning Hongye and gained the Vermilion Bird Army as his wife's family, he had naturally become a tempting prize in Xiao Li's eyes, well worth recruiting.
"Ninth Brother, you're right! I am interested in the Vermilion Bird Army's power. With three hundred thousand elite troops helping me, why would I worry about failing to seize the throne? Hahaha..."
Xiao Li roared with laughter, as if the throne already belonged to him.
"Third Brother, I'm sorry, but I still can't agree! I'm used to being free. I won't live my life working for someone else!"
"I'm no heaven-blessed genius, but I see farther than anyone!"
Xiao Yang's voice wasn't loud, yet it rang through the whole hall.
"How arrogant!"
Third Prince Xiao Li's face darkened as he weighed the meaning of those words.
He was saying that even if he wasn't a heaven-blessed genius, there was no one in the whole world who could match him.
What confidence and pride!
Could it be... that Ninth Brother also wanted to compete for the throne?
"Third Brother, thank you for your hospitality. I won't stay any longer! Huangli, Guard Zhao, let's go!"
Xiao Yang rose to his feet, ready to leave with the other two.
"Stop!!!"
Xiao Li roared, his gaze vicious, like a ravenous wolf ready to devour its prey.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The Blood Wolf Guard commanders, who had been enjoying themselves at their seats, pushed the women beside them away and stood up, blocking the way.
The atmosphere in the hall turned tense in an instant, ready to erupt at the slightest spark.
"Clang!"
One of them drew the War Saber at his waist and glared viciously at Xiao Yang.
"You little punk, you dared to refuse His Highness Third Prince! You don't know what's good for you! Let's see if you can walk out of Tianxiang Pavilion!!!"
His words seethed with killing intent, and his blood energy was astonishingly powerful. He was a Fourth Grade Spirit Refining Realm martial artist.
"Third Brother, are you going to kill me to silence me?" Xiao Yang asked.
Third Prince Xiao Li gave a sinister smile. "Ninth Brother, we're brothers, bound by blood. Of course I wouldn't kill you! But blades have no eyes, and my men are a little too hotheaded. If they accidentally sever an arm or break a few bones, well..."
It was an open threat!
Suddenly, Zhao Changkong charged forward.
With his good left arm, he drew his War Saber and stood in front of Xiao Yang, facing the dozen or so Blood Wolf Guard commanders alone.
"Your Highness, go! I'll cover you. Even if I die here today, I'll keep you safe!"
Zhao Changkong's eyes reddened as he prepared to fight to the death.
What a man!
Xiao Yang's opinion of him rose another notch. Only at the brink of life and death could a person's true heart be seen.
"Hmph, a cripple dares to act tough in front of us?!"
The Blood Wolf Guard commanders sneered, not taking him seriously.
Thump, thump, thump!
Xiao Li then strode forward, a sinister smile spreading across his face.
"Ninth Brother, I didn't expect your Guard to be so loyal. I'm almost touched!"
"Here's another choice for you. Give me one thing, and I'll let you leave. I'll even give you the Cloud Piercing Bow!"
"What do you want?"
Xiao Yang asked, still wary. He knew the man had no good intentions.
"I want her!"
Xiao Li suddenly pointed toward Huangli, standing in the corner.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Every gaze in the hall turned toward her.
"Ah..."
Huangli jumped in fright, shrinking back and trembling.
"Third Brother, what do you mean by that?"
Xiao Yang's face darkened.
"It's simple!"
Xiao Li smiled sinisterly and explained, "Your maid is quite pretty, and this prince happens to need a 'Beauty Paper' lately. Why not have her serve as one?"
Beauty Paper?!
A towering fury flashed in Xiao Yang's eyes.
In the Great Xia Dynasty, there was no modern toilet paper, and the rich and powerful found coarse paper too rough, so they made their maids serve as toilet paper.
The maids suffered humiliation and torment. If they dared to resist, they'd be lucky to escape with only a beating.
A dragon had scales that must never be touched.
To Xiao Yang, the people he cared about were his inviolable scales.
Third Prince Xiao Li's actions were just like those of the "super-alpha" men from his previous life. He had unquestionably touched Xiao Yang's most inviolable scales!
Thud!
Huangli immediately fell to her knees, weeping in desperation as she begged Xiao Yang, "Young Master, please... don't hand me over! I don't want to be violated..."
"Hmph!"
Third Prince Xiao Li sneered in contempt and threatened him. "Ninth Brother, you have only two choices now! Either resist to the bitter end and let me cripple you!"
"Or hand over this little beauty, take the Cloud Piercing Bow, and get the hell back home!"
He wasn't doing this because he particularly liked Huangli. He was deliberately humiliating Xiao Yang.
If Xiao Yang couldn't even protect the maid at his side, a crack would form in his Dao Heart. He could forget about competing for the throne in the future.
"Young Master, I don't want to be a burden to you, but I don't want to be violated by someone else either!"
Suddenly, Huangli climbed to her feet, death in her eyes.
"If there's another life... I'll serve you again then!"
As she spoke, she charged toward the wall, intent on smashing her head against it and dying in the hall.
She would prove her resolve with her death!
But the next moment, she didn't hit the hard wall. Instead, she crashed into a warm embrace.
"Young Master?"
Huangli looked up and saw Xiao Yang's handsome face before her.
"Foolish girl, you'll be my maid for the rest of your life! Without my permission, you're not allowed to die!" Xiao Yang ordered.
"Young Master, sob..."
Huangli was deeply moved and burst into tears.
"Ninth Brother, trading a maid for a Spirit Grade divine weapon is a deal that can only make you a fortune! But you refuse. Are you looking to get yourself killed?"
A cruel, icy gleam shone in Xiao Li's eyes.
The Blood Wolf Guard commanders drew their blades as well, waiting for the signal to attack.
"Hmph!"
Xiao Yang gave a cold laugh and swept his gaze across the hall, his presence as imposing as a dragon.
"'In all of Great Xia, only you and I are heaven-blessed geniuses'? You heartless wretch—you think you're worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as me?"
"As for those two choices, I refuse both!"
"I choose a third path: I'll fight my way out in a river of blood!!!"
Before you continue