"Miss Feng arrived at such a sensitive juncture as the Coming-of-Age Ceremony. She must have spotted some of the Yang Lineage's geniuses."
"I wonder which outstanding young man of the Yang Lineage is so exceptional that he managed to climb the Feng Lineage's lofty branch!"
"The Feng Lineage is a major clan. Whoever can latch onto a young lady from a major clan will surely soar to great heights."
"And she is the Feng Lineage's eldest young lady!"
The women of the Feng Lineage held different statuses as well, and Feng Xuewu was the highest-ranking woman in the Feng Lineage. In the future, she would certainly become a heroine among women in the Land of a Hundred Clans. Even within the Feng Lineage, given her current strength, she already had considerable say.
When Yang Heng saw Feng Xuewu arrive, his heart surged with excitement. "Brother, Feng Xuewu probably came looking for you, right? Look, she's looking this way—at us."
Yang Heng did not know whom Feng Xuewu was looking at. He only knew that the direction of her gaze was indeed where they stood.
Yang Wu was equally excited, but he did not lose his composure. "Miss Feng probably didn't come to the Yang Lineage looking for me. Perhaps she came to see one of the Lineage elders?"
He had at least some self-awareness. Though he was a favored son of heaven in the Yang Lineage, compared with Feng Xuewu, the gap between them was vast.
"Brother, stop overthinking it. Feng Xuewu is already looking our way. Who around here could be more outstanding than you? Miss Feng must really have come for you. After all, your excellence is renowned throughout this region," Yang Heng hurriedly said.
If his brother could cling to Feng Xuewu's thigh, it would be an entirely different matter. He would benefit endlessly as well. Then, who in the Yang Lineage would not have to watch his expression before acting?
Miss Yu, standing beside Yang Wu, saw her expression shift slightly as venom slowly filled her eyes.
If Yang Wu latched onto Feng Xuewu, what would be left for her?
Yang Wu paid no attention to Miss Yu's feelings. He released her hand, turned, and walked toward Feng Xuewu with a smile. "Hello, Miss Feng."
"Oh? Who are you?" Feng Xuewu gave Yang Wu a faint glance.
Yang Wu froze. Was Feng Xuewu not here for him? How could she not even know who he was?
Yang Wu felt unbearably awkward, yet still said, "Um... Miss Feng, I'm Yang Wu."
"Yang Wu? I don't know you," Feng Xuewu said calmly.
Yang Wu's scalp went numb, and his face gradually turned ugly. He had known Feng Xuewu was not here for him. Though he was outstanding, there was still a difference in status between him and Feng Xuewu.
Still unwilling to accept it, he said, "Then which Lineage elder did Miss Feng come to see? Perhaps Yang Wu can lead the way for you."
From the bottom of his heart, he believed that among all the Yang Lineage's young talents, no one besides himself was worthy of Feng Xuewu.
Feng Xuewu did not answer immediately. She merely cast Yang Wu a half-smiling glance.
That smile was like flowers blooming in full splendor, yet upon closer thought, one could detect another layer of meaning within it.
Having sensed that hidden meaning, Yang Wu felt his hair stand on end.
The moment Feng Xuewu arrived, she had noticed Yang Chen. She had also noticed Yang Wu and his brother Yang Heng causing trouble for Yang Chen.
Yang Chen was the savior of Feng Xuewu's mother. She did not fear Yang Wu's status, so naturally she would not show him a pleasant face. She was more than willing to help Yang Chen out.
Unhurried and unflustered, Feng Xuewu said, "Who told you I came to see one of the Yang Lineage's elders? I came here today to find one of your Yang Lineage's younger generation. His name is Yang Chen."
"Yang Chen?" Yang Wu was suddenly stunned, and his expression changed drastically. "Miss Feng, surely you misspoke?"
"What? Are you questioning my words?" Feng Xuewu asked at an unhurried pace.
That seemingly weightless sentence made Yang Wu tremble all over. How could he dare to be careless? "I wouldn't dare."
He dared to provoke others, but he did not dare provoke Feng Xuewu.
If he provoked Feng Xuewu, even his father would not speak up for him.
"Little Brother Yang Chen." Without sparing Yang Wu another glance, Feng Xuewu clasped her hands behind her back and walked toward Yang Chen. Her lotus steps moved gracefully, like a fairy amid a sea of flowers—beautiful yet elegant, dignified yet playful, with tranquility in her smile. The Yang Lineage disciples nearby stared, dumbfounded, their bodies stiff with astonishment.
This was true peerless beauty, a maiden who could topple cities. Compared with Feng Xuewu, the women of those minor clans could only be called gaudy powder and vulgar rouge.
Yang Chen truly had not expected Feng Xuewu to suddenly appear at the Yang Lineage, much less to help him out today. Naturally, he did not dare slight her and cupped his hands. "Miss Feng."
Their exchange caused the young talents of the Yang Lineage and the visiting clan members nearby to suddenly freeze.
"What is going on?"
Someone could not believe his eyes. "Why would Miss Feng strike up a conversation with that trash? And it looks like she actually knows that trash."
Feng Xuewu's opening address of "Little Brother Yang Chen" undoubtedly made Yang Chen the target of everyone's attention.
Yang Chen smiled bitterly to himself. According to his plans, he had not wanted to attract too much attention before the Coming-of-Age Ceremony. But now, with Feng Xuewu appearing today and waving at him, it would be difficult not to become famous. Within a few days, news that he knew Feng Xuewu would likely spread not only through the Yang Lineage, but through the nearby clans as well.
Feng Xuewu's status was simply too sensitive.
Standing beside Yang Chen, Feng Xuewu swept her gaze over Yang Heng and Yang Wu before saying lightly, "Just now, I seem to have heard someone say that no girls from other clans would ever take a liking to Little Brother Yang Chen. I, Feng Xuewu, admire Little Brother Yang Chen very much. I wonder whether someone of my status is worthy of entering your eyes? Or do you think that I, Feng Xuewu, am inferior to those other women?"
Yang Heng and Yang Wu stood dumbstruck, like wooden chickens.
What was going on?
Feng Xuewu had heard their conversation, and it seemed she was even standing up for Yang Chen.
Most crucially, there was that word—"admire."
For a woman to travel all the way to the Yang Lineage and say something like "I admire you" to Yang Chen—even if it was not a confession, it could still be said that Yang Chen and Feng Xuewu had a real chance.
Their expressions changed at once.
Yang Wu in particular felt a surge of jealousy rise from deep within his eyes. Compared with Feng Xuewu, what the hell was Miss Yu beside him? In martial cultivation, status, appearance, and bearing—this Miss Yu in his arms was not even qualified to carry Feng Xuewu's shoes as a maid.
The only thing that seemed somewhat discordant was that Feng Xuewu was nearly five years older than Yang Chen.
But on this continent, five years could be called a golden age difference.
People said that when a woman was three years older, she brought a gold brick into the marriage; when she was five years older, she entered a golden house.
Feng Xuewu happened to be five years older than Yang Chen, and she kept calling him little brother.
Once this worked out, Feng Xuewu would definitely treasure Yang Chen like a jewel. Why? Because she was older and knew tolerance, knew understanding. After marriage, she would surely know how to cherish Yang Chen and dote on him. Just look at Yang Chen's sister, Yang Caidie, and how she took care of him. That was the advantage of an older woman. Unlike the one in his arms, who was the same age as him—her pile of problems was enough to worry him to death.
Yang Chen remained calm and composed. He did not have much objection to Feng Xuewu's actions in standing up for him.
When Sun Qiaomei, whom Yang Heng pursued, saw Feng Xuewu, her face went pale. Now, at Feng Xuewu's words, she was so frightened that it was as if her tail had been stepped on. She hurriedly dipped into a curtsy. "Miss Feng..."
"I heard you seemed to call Yang Chen trash just now?" Feng Xuewu did not let them off merely because they had outwardly softened. Her tone was hard as she said, "I'll make this clear today. Yang Chen is my little brother. Calling him trash means calling me trash. Do you understand?"
"Miss... Miss Feng."
Yang Heng, Yang Wu, Sun Qiaomei, and Miss Yu all wore embarrassed expressions.
Feng Xuewu did not intend to press them too hard. She had merely wanted to help Yang Chen vent his anger. Now that she had made herself clear, she said warmly, "Little Brother Yang Chen, do you have time to show me around the Yang Lineage? This is my first time here."
Yang Chen felt extremely awkward, but he still replied respectfully, "Nothing could please me more."
Feng Xuewu smiled brilliantly, then turned and left with Yang Chen.
Watching Feng Xuewu depart, Yang Heng and Yang Wu fell silent. The words reached their mouths, yet they had no idea how to say them.
This was a naked slap across the face.
They had just said that no one would fancy Yang Chen, and what happened? Feng Xuewu appeared the very next moment. Was one Feng Xuewu not far better than all those gaudy powders and vulgar rouges?
"Brother..." Yang Heng said, filled with grievance.
Yang Wu snorted coldly. "Look at how little backbone you have. You were scared by that? I don't know exactly how that fellow managed to climb Feng Xuewu's lofty branch and gain her favor. But trash is still trash. He can't cultivate martial arts, and at the Coming-of-Age Ceremony, he'll immediately reveal his true colors. Then I'll let him know that between him and Feng Xuewu, it has always been nothing more than his one-sided fantasy."
"Beautiful dreams will shatter sooner or later. Do you think the Feng Lineage would let Feng Xuewu marry a trash who cannot cultivate martial arts?"
Before you continue