Xiao Liuzi's tone left Zhang Teng's grandfather somewhat taken aback.
"Do you know me?" Zhang Teng's grandfather asked, his face full of confusion.
Xiao Liuzi could not hold back a torrent of curses.
"I thought that, since Senior Brother Zhang was your own flesh and blood, at least you wouldn't be among the people coming to seize him. Who would have thought you'd actually come!"
There was a trace of anger in Xiao Liuzi's voice.
Zhang Teng's grandfather froze for a moment, then sighed.
"So he knows Xiaoxiao notified me. Where is Xiaoxiao? Is she all right?"
At those words, Tieniu sneered from nearby.
"What? In your eyes, Zhang Teng is some cold-blooded, heartless man who would hurt his own little sister?"
Zhang Teng's grandfather fell silent...
Just then.
Lin Bei's voice rang out.
"Let him through!"
At those words, the apprentices of the Martial Arts Grounds stepped aside to clear a path.
"My master is calling you!" Tieniu said.
Without hesitation, Zhang Teng's grandfather walked past the many apprentices of the Martial Arts Grounds toward Lin Bei.
Tieniu and the others followed close behind.
Soon, Zhang Teng's grandfather reached Lin Bei's stone table.
When he saw Lin Bei, surprise came first, followed by bewilderment.
He was surprised because he had never expected Lin Bei to be so young.
He was bewildered because he could not sense any true qi from Lin Bei.
What did that mean?
Was the man before him not even in the Dantian Sea Realm?
Granted, Zhang Teng's grandfather knew Lin Bei called himself an Immortal Cultivator and belonged to a new school.
But... whatever the school, the principles of cultivation were the same.
Without true qi in his body, he was only in the Body-Tempering Realm!
While he was still dazed, he heard Lin Bei tap the stone table.
Zhang Teng's grandfather took the cue and sat down.
"I am Zhang Yong. How may I address you?"
"Lin Bei."
As he spoke, Lin Bei looked Zhang Yong over carefully.
"What brings you to my Martial Arts Grounds?"
Zhang Yong was silent for a moment before speaking. "I've come for Zhang Teng."
Agitated and somewhat angry, Xiao Liuzi said, "What do you want with Senior Brother Zhang? You're not welcome here!"
"To bring him home."
Before Lin Bei could speak, Tieniu burst out angrily.
"Well, Zhang Yong, your name certainly fits-a spineless mediocrity! Bring him home? I think you want to take Zhang Teng back to claim credit!"
A trace of pain flashed through Zhang Teng's grandfather's eyes.
"I had three sons, and all of them died protecting the lineage. I cannot stand by and watch him destroy the Zhang Household. Since ancient times, loyalty and filial duty have never been easy to fulfill together. Master Lin, this is a family matter. Please do not interfere."
Lin Bei took a small sip of bitter mountain tea and replied calmly.
"Why did I hear that Zhang Teng has already severed all bonds with the Zhang Household? If so, this can hardly count as a family matter. Besides... he is my disciple. The Martial Arts Grounds is his home now."
"On what grounds do you call this a family matter?"
Zhang Yong replied calmly, "Blood cannot be changed. How could it not be a family matter?"
"Not so. Zhang Teng risked his life for the Zhang Household time and again, earning many treasures that he contributed to the lineage. He has already repaid his debt."
"Please leave," Lin Bei said mildly.
Then Lin Bei's tone abruptly changed, and a sharp gleam flashed through his eyes.
"If you refuse to leave, I will consider it a provocation against the Martial Arts Grounds. I wouldn't mind teaching you a lesson."
However.
Lin Bei's words clearly did not frighten Zhang Yong.
He had initially been deeply wary of Lin Bei. After all, Zhang Xiaoxiao's letter had described him as utterly mysterious: just a few words of guidance had allowed Zhang Teng to turn defeat into victory and beat Zhang Tao.
But after seeing him in person, he felt Lin Bei's reputation was hollow.
With no sign of true qi and no martial intent, what kind of expert could he be?
Perhaps Zhang Teng had defeated Zhang Tao because of Lin Bei's guidance.
But Zhang Yong felt that Zhang Teng's talent for combat was the greater reason for his victory over Zhang Tao.
"So you insist on interfering in our Zhang Household's family affairs?"
Zhang Yong's gaze instantly sharpened.
Then he slammed a hand onto the table, and martial intent erupted from his entire body.
Powerful martial true intent mingled with true qi, creating an oppressive weight.
Many apprentices of the Martial Arts Grounds paled slightly and struggled to stay upright. Some even felt their legs turn weak.
The terrifying fist intent gave everyone the same illusion.
It was as though a fist was hurtling straight toward their faces and could strike them at any moment.
"Hmph!" Lin Bei snorted coldly.
In an instant, the oppressive martial intent was swept away.
The surrounding apprentices of the Martial Arts Grounds felt their bodies grow light.
To dispel the martial intent, Lin Bei had directly activated the Tai Chi Breath-Absorbing Art, using Heaven-and-Earth spiritual power to disrupt Zhang Yong's gathering martial intent.
Zhang Yong visibly froze. He knew nothing of Heaven-and-Earth spiritual power.
All he knew was that the martial intent he had gathered had collapsed under a single cold snort from the other man.
His entire understanding of Lin Bei was overturned. All he could think was...
This man.
He's so strong!
Just then, an angry shout rang out.
"Enough! Zhang Yong, why haven't you left? Do you really want to refuse the toast only to drink the penalty wine?"
At some point, Zhang Teng had arrived at the Martial Arts Grounds.
Zhang Yong's pupils contracted as he looked at Zhang Teng, a hint of sorrow in his eyes.
"Teng'er, are you not even willing to call me Grandfather?"
Zhang Teng said coldly, "All bonds between us were severed long ago. I hope you will conduct yourself accordingly!"
"Ah!" Zhang Yong sighed and slowly rose, glancing at Lin Bei.
"Although I don't know how you did that, I admit I underestimated you."
With that, he turned to Zhang Teng.
"Teng'er..."
"Shut up. Address me by my full name!" Zhang Teng snapped.
Zhang Yong paused, then finally said despondently, "Let me take Xiaoxiao away. Your affairs are beyond my control! I will return and report to the lineage that you have a good master willing to protect you."
Then he said earnestly, "The lineage will report this to the Nanyang Zhou Clan. I believe the Nanyang Commandery Prince will weigh the gains and losses."
"If you truly merit special consideration from the Nanyang Commandery Prince, this major matter will naturally become a minor one, and the minor matter will dissolve into nothing."
At those words.
Zhang Teng suddenly burst into laughter, filled with mockery and bitterness.
"Ridiculous! Utterly ridiculous, Zhang Yong! Every word you say reeks of arrogance, of looking down from above! What right does the Zhang Household have to look down on our Martial Arts Grounds? What right does the Nanyang Commandery Prince have to stand so high above us?"
"Zhang Yong, the way you bow and scrape before the Nanyang Commandery Prince makes me sick!" Zhang Teng roared.
Zhang Yong gave Zhang Teng a long, searching look.
"Zhang Teng, you know nothing of power. So what if your master is strong? In the end, he is only one man. At worst, he can flick his sleeves and leave. What about you? What about these people at the Martial Arts Grounds?"
Red-faced, with his neck flushed, Zhang Yong argued, "You cannot escape! Even your master will be hunted like a rat scurrying across the street!"
Before his words had finished ringing out.
Zhang Teng flew into a rage.
"Shut up!"
Zhang Teng shouted angrily.
"Your servility has sunk into your very bones, yet you remain oblivious and even smug about it!"
"That alone would have been bad enough, but you actually dared disrespect my master!"
Fury blazed in Zhang Teng's eyes.
"Forget taking Zhang Xiaoxiao away today!"
"You won't be taking a single step out of here either!"
Before you continue