Clash at the Night Banquet

Tonight, Cloud Mist Sect is exceptionally lively.

The Welcoming Guest Peak was decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and the sound of gongs and drums filled the air.

The high-ranking members of the Cloud Mist Sect gathered here to welcome Unrivaled Tyrant Fist Cao Youqian, and to leave a good impression on this one of the two greatest prodigies of the era.

Apart from the disciples brought by the elders, only true disciples were qualified to attend the banquet.

When Elder Chen arrived with the herdsmen, a large number of people had already gathered at Welcoming Guest Peak.

Elder Chen greeted his fellow disciples familiarly. The two walked to a secluded spot, and Elder Chen turned to Fang Mu, asking, "Little Mu, aren't you envious of that Heavenly Genius Cao?"

Fang Mu nodded slightly. "I am indeed somewhat envious, but I firmly believe that one day I will also be as famous as that Senior Brother Cao."

"Good!"

Elder Chen was very satisfied with Fang Mu's answer and said with a smile, "I'm relieved that you have such ambition. I'll go and exchange a few pleasantries with some friends first. You stay here, and we'll all take our seats together in a bit."

Yes, sir.

Although it was Fang Mu's first time attending a banquet of this caliber, he felt no nervousness whatsoever, nor did he wander around aimlessly. He simply occasionally searched for Fang Linglong's figure in the crowd.

"Junior Brother Mu, you're here too?"

A slightly surprised voice suddenly came from behind Fang Mu. He turned around and saw Fang Linglong, dressed elegantly and gracefully, smiling at him.

Beside Fang Linglong stood a tall and beautiful woman with an arrogant expression, looking down on everyone.

"Senior sister, you're here too?"

Fang Mu ignored the arrogant woman and greeted Fang Linglong politely.

The woman beside him carefully examined Fang Mu, then frowned. "Junior Sister Qinghe, who is this?"

Upon hearing this, Fang Linglong immediately introduced, "Senior Sister Song, this is Fang Mu, Junior Brother Fang. Little Mu, quickly bow to Senior Sister Song; she is one of the Ten Great Disciples of our Cloud Mist Sect."

Senior Sister Song was about to bow when Fang Mu Sister Song spoke coldly, "No need. For the sake of Junior Sister Qinghe, I'll give you some advice: this is not a place for lowly servants like you. Whoever brought you here, I will have the sect leader investigate their wrongdoing later."

Her tone was very flat, but it carried an air of superiority that made people extremely uncomfortable just listening to her.

Upon hearing this, Fang Linglong immediately stood up for Fang Mu: "Senior Sister Song, how could you do this? Junior Brother Mu is..."

"Enough!"

Senior Sister Song interrupted her directly, "Qinghe, don't forget your place. Besides, what I said is wrong. This kid is just a servant. No matter how talented he is, he has no right to attend such a banquet. If you want to protect him, then get out of here with him."

Fang Mu snorted coldly upon hearing this, "Hmph! Cloud Mist Sect has quite the airs. Fang Mu, have long since given up on staying in the Cloud Mist Sect. Since you don't welcome me, then I'll leave. Farewell, Senior Sister Qinghe."

"Junior Brother Mu, I'll go with you."

Fang Linglong didn't want to stay here and be subservient. Besides, Song Zhaoyuan would definitely use Heavenly Genius Cao's influence to force her to agree to his demands tonight. Thinking of this, she took a step forward, a slight smile playing on her lips.

That smile was like a ray of warm sunshine in spring, warming Fang Mu's heart.

Fang Mu, emboldened by some unknown source, took Fang Linglong's hand and turned to leave.

"Stop!"

An angry voice stopped the two in their tracks.

Fang Mu and his companion turned around simultaneously, only to see Song Zhaoyuan staring at them with murderous intent, his eyes bloodshot.

When Fang Linglong and her Lineage appeared at the banquet, Song Zhaoyuan walked towards the two women. Seeing her cousin humiliating Fang Mu, this little servant, Song Zhaoyuan felt extremely pleased. He never expected things to turn out this way.

The surrounding young people also turned their attention to the commotion. When they saw Fang Mu holding Fairy Qinghe's hand, they subconsciously looked up at Song Zhaoyuan's head. In the candlelight, Song Zhaoyuan's hair looked exceptionally green.

This is going to be interesting!

The thought that flashed through the minds of everyone present was that, over the past few years, the Song Clan members had become arrogant and domineering in the Cloud Mist Sect Yunlan Sect because Song Zhaoyi had become Cao Youqian's Daoist partner, making the other disciples feel suffocated.

Now everyone is secretly delighted to see the Song Clan's sons getting their comeuppance.

Fang Mu looked at the furious Song Zhaoyuan and asked calmly, "Senior Brother Song, do you have any further instructions?"

"You can leave, but Qinghe isn't allowed to leave. Remember, you're going to roll!"

Every word Song Zhaoyuan uttered was filled with intense anger. If looks could kill, Fang Mu, that damned guy, would have been torn to pieces long ago.

"What if I insist on taking Senior Sister Qinghe with me?"

"I'm sorry, I have to leave with my Junior Brother Mu."

Fang Mu and Fang Linglong spoke almost simultaneously, and then exchanged a smile.

To everyone else, this scene suggested that the two had developed feelings for each other, and that tonight's fun was about to get even bigger.

The way the crowd looked at the three of them was a mix of mockery, amusement, and regret.

"Yes, very good!"

Song Zhaoyuan said sternly, "Today I'll see how you manage to leave here!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he exuded the pressure of the True Fate Realm expert. His powerful aura caused the surrounding onlookers to instinctively take several steps back, clearing a huge stage for him.

Seeing this, Fang Mu and Fang Linglong were not afraid at all and released their auras in preparation for a battle. Fang Mu even thought to himself: If things get to the point where there is no way to salvage the situation, then he will use the Sword Jade left to him by his master to fight his way out!

"Stop!"

A loud, middle-aged man's voice broke the tense atmosphere. Everyone present subconsciously looked in the direction of the voice and saw Elder Chen and several other elders hurrying towards them. The person in the lead was an elder of the Fang Clan family, who was also Fang Linglong's uncle.

Upon seeing the elders appear, the disciples bowed and said, "We pay our respects to the elders."

No need for formalities.

Elder Fang, the leader, walked towards Fang Linglong and the others with a gloomy face. When he saw Fang Mu holding Fang Linglong's hand, he said sternly, "Nonsense! Where is Qinghe? This is nonsense! Quickly apologize to Junior Nephew Song! As for Fang Mu, get out! Neither the Cloud Mist Sect nor the Fang Clan needs a disciple like you who doesn't know your place."

Elder Fang is mistaken.

Elder Chen immediately stepped forward to defend Fang Mu, saying, "You haven't even asked who is right and who is wrong, how can you make a hasty judgment?"

"Um..."

Elder Fang frowned and asked, "Elder Chen, when did your reach become so long that you even have to meddle in the affairs of our Fang Clan?"

Elder Chen smiled and said, "Brother Fang, I'm not interested in your Fang Clan's affairs, but as long as Fang Mu remains in the Cloud Mist Sect, he will be my disciple. Although I cannot teach Fang Mu supreme techniques, I can still protect him from being bullied."

"Hehe."

Song Zhaoyuan chuckled, "Elder Chen, you really think you're something special. My brother-in-law is coming soon. If he intervenes, are you sure you can protect this lowly servant?"

"If Heavenly Genius Cao hadn't come today, I really wouldn't have dared to say that. It's precisely because he's coming that I'm saying none of you can touch Fang Mu today."

Elder Chen paused deliberately halfway through his sentence, stroked his beard, and continued, "Now that things have come to this, I will no longer hide it. Fang Mu's other identity is that of Half-Saint Chu of the Dao-Seeking Academy, Heavenly Genius Cao's junior brother!"