Too Much of an Insult!

"How could you be here?"

Chang Huai's eyes went wide, his face a mask of disbelief.

He never imagined that the person he least wanted to see during the day would show up again at night, and in such a manner.

Aren't you supposed to be the young elite of the younger generation, protecting your reputation? What business do you have in a place like this?

"This is my family's establishment. The question is, what are you doing here?" Fang Yuan said calmly, his tone indifferent.

Oh, right!

Chang Huai suddenly realized.

The Drunken Dream Pavilion was Fang family territory. He was the one who should leave.

Just as Chang Huai was about to step out the door, he suddenly felt something was off, and his face darkened.

"Fang Yuan, don't push me too far!"

"And what if I do?" Fang Yuan's expression was cold, showing no regard for the Prefect's Son.

"Have you forgotten what I told you back then?"

Chang Huai glanced at Xiao Zi beside Fang Yuan, and a wave of unpleasant memories surged into his mind.

Three years ago, he hadn't known Xiao Zi's identity and tried to harass her on the street, only to get beaten black and blue.

The one who struck wasn't someone else—it was Fang Yuan!

Later, Fang Yuan had even publicly declared that if they met again, he'd beat him every single time.

"Get out now, before I make you."

"Quite the bold talk. In the Drunken Dream Pavilion, I'd like to see who's getting thrown out."

Just then, a vigorous voice came from outside the door.

The Madam, knowing she couldn't control the situation, quickly went downstairs and brought Fang Qian up.

Fang Qian had just arrived and heard that remark, so he shot back, saying the Drunken Dream Pavilion was Fang family territory and no outsider could act arrogant here.

But when he stepped into Dream Room No. 1, he was completely dumbfounded, frozen like a statue.

"Young... Master..."

Fang Qian's body trembled, his speech faltering as he hurriedly bowed in salute.

"I didn't know the Young Master was coming. I failed to welcome you from afar. Please forgive my offense."

The situation was no longer something Fang Qian could meddle in. As for his usual good buddy, he didn't dare say a single word in Chang Huai's defense.

"Is he the number one genius of the Prefecture City, Fang Yuan?"

The Flower Queen, Miao Yunshang, held her pipa, her beautiful eyes shimmering with admiration, a look of reverence for the strong.

"Good thing I didn't slight this young gentleman in the slightest earlier."

The Madam breathed a secret sigh of relief. She never expected that the elegant young man was the Young Master of the top family backing her boss—what a heavyweight.

"Fang Yuan, we'll meet again!"

Enduring the humiliation, Chang Huai, though filled with endless resentment, could only drop a harsh parting line and turn to leave.

One of his attendant guards wanted to stand up for his master, but before he could even speak, a slap sent him sprawling.

In Clear Sea City, the Three Great Families were the absolute local powers, controlling most of the resources.

And the position of Prefect wasn't one you could hold forever. Offending the Three Great Families brought no benefit at all.

As the saying goes, prefects come and go, but the great families stand eternal.

What's more, Chang Huai's standing in his own family was far inferior to Fang Yuan's—he had plenty of brothers vying for position.

"Fang Qian, you've gotten quite full of yourself, haven't you?"

Fang Yuan spat out a fruit pit, looking at the cowering Fang Qian with a faint, mocking smile.

"Have you forgotten the family rules now?"

These words truly startled Fang Qian. Baffled, he quickly knelt on the ground. "Please, Young Master, enlighten me."

"I don't meddle in the business you run," Fang Yuan said flatly. "But forcing girls into prostitution and openly abducting people—what's the meaning of this?"

Fang Qian was stunned for a long moment, then jolted with alarm, wondering how the Young Master had found out.

Was this worth him personally showing up to demand an accounting?

"Please, Young Master, calm your anger. Everything we do is for the family's benefit. We were left with no choice." Fang Qian put on a pitiful act.

"For the family's benefit?" Fang Yuan sneered. "You've disgraced the family name. There's no forgiving that."

The moment the words fell.

Fang Yuan gathered true qi at his fingertip, flicked it, and it shot swiftly into Fang Qian's dantian, producing a crisp cracking sound.

"No..."

Fang Qian let out a wail, his face twisted in agony. He clutched his abdomen with both hands, rolling on the ground in torment, wishing he were dead.

A cultivator's foundation lies in their dantian; once the dantian is crippled, their entire cultivation will be completely dispersed.

Those sent by the Fang Family to manage external family businesses were generally individuals with low martial talent.

In an instant, decades of Fang Qian's arduous training were rendered utterly futile.

"A minor punishment as a warning. If you offend again, I'll take your life."

"Thank you... Young Master for sparing my life..."

Fang Qian endured the pain, standing with the Madam's support, and forced out his thanks through humiliation.

"Send over all the women you've recently abducted. Xiao Zi, you go supervise."

Fang Qian nodded in acknowledgment. Unable to move easily, he could only let the Madam handle the arrangements.

Before long, over a dozen young women of various ages were brought in, the youngest twelve or thirteen, the oldest seventeen or eighteen.

Dream Room No. 1 was very spacious; even with over a dozen people crowding in, it didn't feel cramped.

They huddled close together, curling up like ostriches, their gazes toward Fang Qian filled with fear.

But Fang Yuan, seated calmly in the main seat, sparked their curiosity.

"Bai Yun, why haven't you come to thank the Young Master for saving your life?"

Xiao Zi pulled over a girl of fourteen or fifteen and quickly knelt before Fang Yuan, her attitude respectful.

"Damn it, what kind of blind eyes do those bastards below have, daring to touch someone close to the Young Master?"

At this moment, Fang Qian fully understood why the Young Master had come here and even crippled his dantian.

Thankfully, the girl was unharmed, or he might not have survived.

Thinking of this, Fang Qian broke out in a cold sweat, soaking his back.

The Young Master had always been protective of his own; those who offended people close to him never ended well.

Chang Huai was the best example.

Fang Qian silently resolved that everyone involved in this matter must die.

Fang Yuan swept his gaze over the dozen or so women before him, noting that a few had decent aptitude, and said calmly:

"I'll give you travel money to return home, but if you're willing to follow me, you can stay."

Fang Yuan waved his hand, and the Madam understood, immediately going to prepare the silver.

After a brief moment of thought among the dozen women, only four or five chose to leave—they still had parents at home.

The rest clearly had no one to rely on. Born into chaotic times, leaving a wolf's den might mean walking straight into a tiger's lair.

Fang Yuan had a handsome face and an extraordinary bearing, easily inspiring goodwill.

That was the key reason most chose to stay.

Fang Yuan nodded slightly. The few good prospects had stayed, so there was still a gain.

"This servant also wishes to leave with the Young Master!"

Miao Yunshang, seeing Fang Yuan about to depart, quickly set down her pipa, pushed aside her thin veil, and pleaded.

At this sight, the Madam and Fang Qian's expressions changed.

The Flower Queen was the Drunken Dream Pavilion's flagship; her departure would cause no small loss.

Fang Yuan had never been one to overflow with kindness. He glanced at Miao Yunshang—her appearance was indeed exquisite, her figure well-proportioned.

"Give me a reason for you to leave."