"Why are you still following me?"
"Who's following you? My house is this way too."
Ever since Liu Hao and Wu Qi had left the Drunken Immortal Tower, their already poor relationship had taken a turn for the worse.
If they could, each would have stabbed the other to death.
They bickered as they walked, and with all the wine they had drunk, neither paid much attention to the road ahead.
As a result, they crashed straight into a group of people.
Liu Hao's cultivation was relatively high, so he steadied himself after stumbling back a few steps.
Wu Qi might have drunk too much, leaving him unsteady on his feet. He felt as though a raging bull had rammed him, and the tremendous force knocked him flat on his backside.
The sight of the men before them sobered them halfway.
The two men stood tall and straight, every movement revealing formidable strength and authority. Most striking was the faint killing intent hanging about them-proof that they had carved their way through battlefields.
Their clothes combined thick beast hides with precious silk. Intricate, mysterious totems were painted on the hides, symbols of the faith their ancestors had followed for generations.
Exquisite sheaths hung at their waists, each holding a sharp dagger.
Though the daggers remained sheathed, everyone nearby could still sense their biting chill.
Seeing a confrontation brewing, the onlookers stopped in their tracks. Even people on the second floor of a nearby restaurant were looking down.
Having spent so many years in the Imperial Capital, Liu Hao and Wu Qi could tell that these men were probably from the Northern Court. Judging by their clothes, they were nobles as well.
With so many people watching, the two of them had certainly lost face.
Under ordinary circumstances, their tempers might already have driven them to blows.
But today's opponents were different. Deciding that one less problem was better than one more, Liu Hao helped the disgruntled Wu Qi up and prepared to leave.
Seeing the two young gentlemen back down, the onlookers decided there would be no show worth watching and began to disperse.
Just then, however, the two Northern Court nobles refused to let the matter drop and closed in on them.
"Oh? Are all you people from the Heavenly Strategy Dynasty so ill-mannered? You bump into someone, then try to leave without apologizing?"
The leading court noble was tall and imposing. A gleaming eagle ring adorned one of his strong, powerful hands.
The ring was made of an exceptionally precious material, painstakingly fashioned from the finest gold. Every detail of the eagle was vividly carved, from its sharp beak to its pointed talons, all displaying its valor and fearlessness.
It was a symbol of his standing.
Even the more even-tempered Liu Hao found those words grating.
"Does your family own this road? Who the hell are you to lecture me about manners?"
Liu Hao's ancestors had earned illustrious military honors, and he had looked down on these foreigners since childhood.
Now that a foreigner was bullying him to his face, how could he swallow his anger?
Yet his words made the leading court noble, Altai, and his younger brother Atad burst out laughing.
Since arriving in the Heavenly Strategy Dynasty's Imperial Capital, this was the first time anyone had dared speak to them like that, let alone a young man.
They had come here today to buy a few things to take back, only to find that many shops had been swept clean.
Already in a foul mood, they had then run into these two blind fools.
In truth, they had seen Liu Hao and Wu Qi approaching, but in their arrogance, they had never intended to give way.
Back home, everyone else had always stepped aside for them.
In other words, they had deliberately knocked into Liu Hao and Wu Qi.
Altai had not demanded much. So long as the two brats apologized, he could display the magnanimity of a court noble without dwelling on such a trivial matter, and vent the day's frustrations on them.
Who would have thought one of the brats would actually ask who the hell he was? Altai was furious.
On this diplomatic mission to the Heavenly Strategy Dynasty, he could not let his people's prestige suffer.
"You undisciplined wretch! Today, I'll teach you a lesson in your father's place!"
As he spoke, Altai swung a hand at them with the force of a thousand tons.
In an instant, a powerful blast of air forced the surrounding pedestrians back.
Liu Hao and Wu Qi's expressions changed sharply. Realizing that this court noble possessed considerable strength, they both drove power through their meridians, unleashing a mighty surge that tore them free of Altai's oppressive aura.
Bang!
A huge handprint appeared in the ground, sending dust billowing and rubble flying!
Now Liu Hao and Wu Qi were completely sober. Looking at the shattered ground, they knew that if they had not dodged quickly enough, that blow would have left them dead or crippled.
The court noble's provocation fully roused their ferocity.
"You have a death wish?"
"Why waste so much breath on him? If we don't teach him a lesson, how are we supposed to show our faces in the Imperial Capital again?"
"Not bad. You've got some strength. No wonder you dare spout such arrogant words. But you're still green!"
"Brother, leave this brat to me!"
A fierce clash erupted between the two groups, sweeping through the entire street like two raging tempests.
Atad struck first, lunging at the stronger Liu Hao. He seemed more inclined to fight a powerful opponent.
Liu Hao abruptly drove power through his meridians. Pure energy flowed through his body, and an astonishing aura erupted around him.
Not to be outdone, Wu Qi swung his mighty fist, unleashing a brilliant streak of fist energy. The wind howled in its wake as it shot straight toward Altai's head.
Altai remained unruffled. Keeping one hand behind his back, he casually circulated power through his meridians, making the muscles in his other arm bulge. His fist slammed down like a heavy hammer, carrying an even mightier force.
Their brutal, flesh-pounding collisions sent ripples through the surrounding air.
Wu Qi was driven back several steps, while Altai did not budge, fully displaying the bearing of a powerful fighter.
At that moment, Wu Qi began to realize that his opponent had been concealing his strength.
Since the fight had already begun, there was no point holding anything back. Wu Qi bit his lip and used his Lineage's secret art to gain greater strength.
Yet he soon fell into a disadvantage, for his opponent stood an entire realm above him.
Altai had deliberately waited for him to increase his strength before revealing an even higher level of power, always staying just a little above Wu Qi.
Now that Altai unleashed his full strength, Wu Qi was beaten back again and again, his handsome face already battered out of shape.
Knocking Wu Qi away with an Iron Mountain Lean, Altai prepared to end the one-sided beating by driving a palm toward Wu Qi's chest.
If that palm landed, it would probably shatter most of Wu Qi's ribs and leave a severe wound in his chest.
The problem was that he was off balance and had no time to dodge. Liu Hao was also locked in a bitter struggle nearby and could not come to his aid.
Wu Qi's face turned ashen. He had never imagined that this despicable outsider would play the pig to devour the tiger!
If you'd told me you were this strong, I never would have dared fight you!
I'm done for. Even if I survive this, I'll need a year or two of recuperation to recover.
Just as Wu Qi sank into despair, a white-robed figure appeared before him.
The man in white reached out with one hand and clamped down on Altai's wrist, instantly neutralizing the tremendous force.
As the white-robed man tightened his grip, a crisp crack rang through the entire street.
The court noble who had been so ferocious a moment ago was now twisted to his knees by a single hand, letting out agonized howls.
Like a little chick pinned down, he had no strength to fight back.
Every onlooker was stunned by the white-robed man's formidable strength, and they began speculating about his identity.
"What happened?"
The familiar voice reached Wu Qi's ears.
The person who had blocked that blow for him was none other than Li Chen, whom he had been trying so hard to please earlier.
Li Chen's perception was exceptionally keen. Whenever someone channeled power through their meridians and released energy fluctuations, he could detect it almost immediately.
That white-clad figure standing with his back to everyone left Wu Qi spellbound, as though he were gazing upon a god!
Whether from too much wine or something else, a faint blush appeared on his handsome face. His heartbeat quickened, and even his gaze grew dreamy.
No wonder women all like powerful men, he thought.
This sense of security is beyond compare. If I were a woman, I'd have married him already.
Fortunately, Chu Ruoyan, who had just arrived, had no idea what he was thinking. Otherwise, she would surely have slaughtered him.
Stealing my thunder at dinner was bad enough, but now you're even stealing my "hero saves the beauty, and she offers herself in marriage" script?
Liu Hao also stopped fighting and came to Li Chen's side.
He knew that with His Majesty standing here, the outcome was beyond doubt.
This court noble, Altai, was at most in the Six Harmonies Realm. He could only bully someone like Wu Qi.
Liu Hao could even tell that His Majesty was already holding back considerably. Had he used a little more force, Altai would probably have suffered more than a broken wrist.
Liu Hao gave a brief account of what had happened, and Li Chen understood why the two groups had come to blows.
Just as he was considering how to handle the matter, the court noble he had pinned to the ground spoke first.
"Let go of me! I'm an envoy of the Northern Court! Do you know the consequences of laying a hand on me?"
Sure enough, after he declared himself an envoy of the Northern Court, the white-robed man released him.
Then the white-robed man yawned, said, "See you another day," and left with the others.
Altai's younger brother Atad thought Li Chen was trying to flee out of fear and moved to stop him.
To his mind, that supposed "See you another day" was nothing more than a threat along the lines of "Just you wait."
Altai waved his unbroken arm, signaling Atad not to act rashly.
"That fellow's strength was terrifying. Don't provoke him now. If I hadn't used my status as an envoy to pressure him, this might have ended badly today."
"So we're just letting it go?" Atad was reluctant.
Especially when he saw the contempt in the onlookers' eyes, he felt he had lost face. If they returned like this, wouldn't the khan punish them?
Rather than growing angry, Altai laughed, revealing a sinister smile. "Hmph. Since he fears my status as an envoy, when we meet the Heavenly Strategy Dynasty's emperor tomorrow, I'm sure His Majesty will see justice done for me!"
Only after hearing that did Atad let the matter rest.
His older brother really was the clever one, knowing how to seize their opponent's weakness and make the people of the Heavenly Strategy Dynasty fight among themselves!
Before you continue