Conflict

On a street in the capital, Li Ziye and Yan Xiaoyu met for the first time, and it did not seem particularly friendly.

At least, Yan Xiaoyu disliked Li Ziye very much.

Of course, Li Ziye disliked Yan Xiaoyu just as much. Or rather, he hated every man more handsome than himself.

Except for adorable Little Red Riding Hood.

In the middle of the street, the Divine Hall procession rumbled past. Beside the carriage, Liu Rongnü, the Divine Hall's red-robed archbishop, walked forward without a word. Were it not for his conspicuous red robe, no one would have believed that this withered old man was a peerless expert who had opened five divine repositories.

"Liu Rongnü."

Behind the crowd, Bai Wangyu spotted the old man beside Yan Xiaoyu's carriage at first glance and spoke with a grave expression.

"That old man is the Divine Oracle Hall's red-robed archbishop?"

Li Ziye followed Little Red Riding Hood's gaze, then asked in astonishment.

He really did not look the part. This old man's appearance was even less impressive than that of Zhang Lata, the Sword Maniac back at his home.

"Keep your voice down, Brother Li!"

Bai Wangyu's expression shifted slightly at his words. "A great cultivator of the fifth realm has senses far beyond those of ordinary people. He can hear everything we say."

Sure enough, just as their words fell, Liu Rongnü looked toward them from beside Yan Xiaoyu's carriage, a dazzling radiance bursting from his aged eyes.

Behind the crowd, Bai Wangyu's expression changed. He pulled Li Ziye behind him, and Vast Righteous Qi surged violently from his body.

Bang!

The next instant, a tremendous impact erupted. Bai Wangyu shuddered and retreated half a step, a trickle of blood silently slipping from the corner of his mouth.

"Old Bai!"

Li Ziye's expression changed, and he stepped forward. When he saw the blood at the corner of Little Red Riding Hood's mouth, a rare flash of anger appeared on his face.

This was going too far!

Li Ziye looked at Liu Rongnü amid the Divine Hall procession, fury blazing in his eyes, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles cracked.

To dare act so outrageously here in his Great Shang-the Divine Oracle Hall truly knew neither law nor heaven.

"Oh?"

Beside the carriage, Liu Rongnü sensed the boy's furious gaze, and a peculiar look crossed his face. Knowing he was a great cultivator of the fifth realm, the boy still dared respond so openly. He did have some courage.

On the carriage, Yan Xiaoyu also recognized Bai Wangyu at that moment, and his lips curved into a strange smile.

So it was the Confucian School's eldest disciple. To think he had come too.

"Brother Li, don't."

Behind the crowd, Bai Wangyu reached out and caught Li Ziye beside him. He shook his head and said softly, "We were rude first. The Divine Hall's envoys are guests from afar. We must not forget our manners."

Li Ziye frowned slightly, then withdrew his gaze and said with unprecedented seriousness, "Old Bai, I promise you, I'll settle today's score for you one day. I won't let you suffer this for nothing."

Bai Wangyu stared at the unprecedentedly serious expression on the boy's face, momentarily stunned. A moment later, a gentle smile appeared on his face. "I believe you, Brother Li."

A breeze swept past. Both withdrew their gazes at the same time, and the atmosphere that had finally grown solemn shattered in an instant.

Disgusting!

Li Ziye pinched his own thigh, a lingering fear rising within him. He hadn't turned bent, had he?

Beside him, the corners of Bai Wangyu's mouth twitched as well, and he silently recited the scriptures of the sages.

"Wangyu, etiquette is meant for people with breeding. When others have none, why should you still stand on ceremony?"

Just then, an aged voice rang out beside everyone's ears like a thunderclap, shaking everyone present.

"Head of the Confucians!"

At that moment, everyone's expressions changed, including those of the Third Prince, Liu Rongnü, and Yan Xiaoyu.

Bai Wangyu's expression grew solemn at the voice, and he immediately bowed with a disciple's salute.

"What happened? What happened?"

Of everyone present, only Li Ziye had not grasped what was happening. Where had that voice come from? Why were these people reacting so strongly?

The next instant, Vast Righteous Qi surged between heaven and earth, and an invisible force erupted with a crash.

Pfft!

Within the Divine Hall procession, Liu Rongnü spat out a mouthful of blood and staggered back several steps.

Everyone present was instantly shocked.

Third Prince Mu Yao and Divine Son Yan Xiaoyu looked toward the distant Imperial Academy, horror appearing on their faces.

They truly had not expected the Head of the Confucians to strike here.

"Liu Rongnü, at your age, you're still so petty. Aren't you ashamed of bullying two juniors?"

Under everyone's shocked gazes, the Head of the Confucians' voice rang out, echoing between heaven and earth.

"Head of the Confucians!"

Liu Rongnü steadied himself and wiped the blood from his mouth, his fists clenching with a series of cracks.

Behind the crowd, Li Ziye finally realized who had struck, and excitement appeared on his face.

Was the big shot finally going to show himself and sweep everything aside?

Fight!

Start fighting!

Then he could fish for bargains amid the chaos and seize his King of Herbs.

And while he was at it, ask the Head of the Confucians whether Old Qin was at the Imperial Academy.

To Li Ziye's disappointment, however, after teaching Liu Rongnü a lesson, the Head of the Confucians did not strike again, nor did he show any intention of appearing.

As for Liu Rongnü, he dared not offer the slightest provocation. He forcibly swallowed his anger and said nothing more.

The Divine Hall procession continued forward in silence, visibly more restrained this time.

"Head of the Confucians, where's my master? Let her come back!"

Seeing that no fight was breaking out and the Head of the Confucians was not showing himself, Li Ziye grew somewhat anxious and shouted toward the Imperial Academy.

Beside him, Bai Wangyu jumped in fright and hurriedly tugged at the boy, signaling him not to be rude.

Everyone present looked over when they heard Li Ziye's shout.

Liu Rongnü remained silent, not daring to make another move for the time being.

On the carriage, Yan Xiaoyu looked at the boy beside Bai Wangyu and frowned again. Who exactly was this person, daring to speak to the Head of the Confucians like that?

Moreover, Bai Wangyu had been protecting him all along. Their relationship seemed unusual. Could this boy belong to Great Shang's imperial family?

But the Divine Hall had dossiers on every prince of Great Shang. He had seen their portraits, and none seemed to be this person.

If he wasn't a prince, could he be the heir of some imperial relative or martial king?

Thoughts flashed ceaselessly through Yan Xiaoyu's mind, but for the moment, he truly could not figure out the identity of the boy beside Bai Wangyu.

Amid the crowd, Li Ziye could feel everyone's gazes, but he paid them no mind at all. He watched the direction of the Imperial Academy, waiting for the Head of the Confucians' response.

He really was a little worried about his fairy master.

Yet the Head of the Confucians seemed not to have heard Li Ziye's questioning and gave no reply.

And so, Li Ziye grew anxious.

Beside him, seeing that Li Ziye was about to erupt, Bai Wangyu hurriedly grabbed him. "Brother Li, the Plum Blossom Sword Immortal should be fine. Don't panic!"

"Head of the Confucians!"

Ignoring Little Red Riding Hood's attempts to stop him, Li Ziye continued shouting, "Give me an answer!"

On the street, everyone looked at the somewhat crazed boy behind the crowd, bewilderment on their faces.

Who was this person? Had he gone mad, daring to be so disrespectful to the Head of the Confucians?

Under everyone's eyes, Li Ziye kept waiting anxiously for the Head of the Confucians' reply.

He believed the Head of the Confucians could hear him. But why would he not answer? Had something really happened to his fairy master?

The more he thought, the more worried and frightened he became. At last, Li Ziye could bear it no longer. He flung off Bai Wangyu's hand and shouted angrily, "Old man, can't you even let out a fart?!"

The street instantly fell silent.

Even the people in the Divine Hall procession jumped in fright and all stopped.

Beside Li Ziye, Bai Wangyu's face changed in alarm, cold sweat covering his head. He feared the Head of the Confucians would strike and slap this fellow to death.

At the Imperial Academy, in the small courtyard to the east.

Hearing Li Ziye's outrageously disrespectful words, Kong Qiu could not help laughing. "This disciple of yours really has gall enough to swallow the heavens!"

"He's getting a little anxious," Qin Enuo said.

Yet she felt somewhat moved.

She knew that although Li Ziye was utterly lawless, he was extremely clever. He could not possibly fail to understand how exalted the Head of the Confucians' status was.

He had probably lost his composure like this because he was genuinely worried about her safety.

"The boy is good. You judged him correctly."

Kong Qiu smiled. "Plum Blossom Sword Immortal, you should answer him yourself. Don't let your disciple worry too much."

"Mm."

Qin Enuo nodded and swept her slender hand. The Azure Frost Ancient Sword sprang from its sheath in response. In an instant, heaven and earth seemed to stall, and the temperature plummeted.

Whoosh!

The next moment, the Azure Frost Sword sliced through the void, and a brilliant, powerful streak of Sword Qi tore through the air toward the distance.

In that instant, every martial artist in the capital sensed it and looked toward the sky in shock.

Sword Qi!

On the street, within the Divine Hall procession, Liu Rongnü sensed that astonishing sword strike in the sky, and his expression changed again.

Sword Qi like frost-it was the Plum Blossom Sword Immortal!

On the carriage, Yan Xiaoyu also recognized the owner of that sword strike, and his expression grew slightly solemn.

The Plum Blossom Sword Immortal was actually in Great Shang's capital too.

"Fairy Master!"

Behind the crowd, Li Ziye sensed that familiar Sword Qi, and excitement appeared on his face.

Wonderful. Old Qin was fine.

Beside him, Bai Wangyu also breathed a sigh of relief. With the Plum Blossom Sword Immortal safe, Brother Li could calm down a little and stop going mad.

He had truly been worried just now that the Head of the Confucians would lose patience and slap this boy to death.

"The Plum Blossom Sword Immortal has struck. Could that boy be..."

At that moment, on the carriage, Yan Xiaoyu seemed to realize something. He looked toward Li Ziye behind the crowd, his eyes narrowing slightly.

The legitimate son of Yuzhou City's Li Family, Li Ziye!

So he was Li Ziye, the Plum Blossom Sword Immortal's personal disciple.

Pardon the discourtesy.

Yan Xiaoyu's lips curved into a cold smile. It seemed this trip to Great Shang's capital would not be too lonely.

Behind the crowd, once Li Ziye knew Old Qin was safe, he breathed a sigh of relief and calmed down. Looking at everyone staring his way, he grinned. "Sorry, I lost my composure. I have hysteria and go mad at unpredictable intervals. I've made a spectacle of myself."

With that, Li Ziye grabbed Little Red Riding Hood beside him and hurried away.

He'd embarrassed himself again!

At the head of the Divine Hall procession, Third Prince Mu Yao watched Li Ziye's departing figure, an unusual light flickering in his eyes.

This legitimate son of the Li Family truly overturned his understanding time and again.

He defied common sense and followed no rules whatsoever. If he could not be won over, he would become a very troublesome opponent.

The Yin Family Bank and the Merchant Alliance were truly useless. They knew only how to fight among themselves and could not even handle a trivial matter.

"Divine Son."

Beside the carriage, Liu Rongnü spoke in a hoarse voice. "If an opportunity arises, eliminate this person. I have a premonition that this boy will become a major problem for the Divine Hall in the future."

"I understand."

Yan Xiaoyu nodded, a dangerous gleam flashing through his eyes.

People who did not follow the rules should not exist in this world.

The God of Light did not like them.

Neither did he!