The young man addressed as Brother Ziting sneered. "If he really had that kind of skill, I'd give him some respect. But he's just a weakling who's useless at both literature and martial arts—a strong gust of wind could blow him over. A Civil Servant's Rice Bowl? I think even that's giving him too much credit."
At that moment, the lavishly dressed youth in the center glanced at Xu Luo across from him and said coolly, "He does have some influence. For his sake, the usually low-key Eldest Prince, Huangfu Chongzhi, even got into a huge argument with the other Princes."
"Wow, as expected of Young Master Leng! You even know about things like that."
"Yeah, only Young Master Leng has that kind of access. How would people like us ever get the chance to hear about such high-level matters?"
"We can only hear such explosive rumors from Young Master Leng!"
The young men fawning over him showered him with flattery. Young Master Leng, for his part, wore an air of nonchalance and maintained a reserved smile, as if knowing such things was no big deal.
"Young Master Leng, are you saying that alchemist had the guts to argue with other Princes? Haha, that's incredible! Did the sun rise in the west?" the youth who had spoken earlier asked loudly, completely ignoring the presence of Huangfu Chongzhi across from them.
Huangfu Chongzhi, Xu Jie, and the others all frowned. Although many people had mocked Xu Luo behind his back in the past, no one had ever been so brazen as to taunt him to his face.
After all, there was no deep-seated hatred between them. To mock someone so openly was like a slap to the face; it was an act that would create a feud.
"Have you said enough?"
Xu Jie shot back, his face like ice. He stared at the most boisterous of the young men and said indifferently, "If you're done, then get the hell out of here. Stop buzzing around like a fly and making people sick."
"They're just a few bastards who are asking for a beating. What can they do besides run their mouths?"
Sui Yan took a step forward to stand beside Xu Jie, sneering at the group across from them. "If you've got a problem, come and fight!"
As scions of two great Military Families, they paid little mind even to Princes, so why would they care about some jumped-up minor noble? In their eyes, this young man's behavior was nothing short of clownish.
"Sui Yan, how dare you!"
The young man called Ziting shot them a frigid glare and sneered, "Not only did you insult us, but you even dared to curse Young Master Leng. Such arrogance! It seems your family's upbringing is nothing special after all."
"Wei Ziting, and who the hell do you think you are? Also, what did you mean by that just now? Are you implying that the two Generals, Xu Zhongtian and Sui Wanli, don't know how to conduct themselves or raise their children?"
Xu Luo, who had been silent all this time, suddenly lifted his head. He stared coldly at the young man opposite him and said sharply, "As the Prime Minister's son, to slander two loyal Generals who even now guard the Border Region, risking their lives every day... It's truly disheartening. I think you're tired of living!"
"You... You... Xu Luo, you're spouting nonsense! I didn't slander the two Generals!"
A flicker of panic crossed Wei Ziting's eyes. Compared to his own provocations, Xu Luo's words were far more vicious. Not only had he deflected the attack, but he had also viciously slung mud right back at him.
'Heaven have mercy.' He had only wanted to borrow Young Master Leng's influence to embarrass the arrogant duo of Sui Yan and Xu Jie. As for slandering two highly decorated Generals, he absolutely lacked the courage for that.
Wei Ziting couldn't help but turn to Young Master Leng with a pleading look.
Young Master Leng raised an eyebrow slightly. He was quite surprised, clearly not expecting the person he looked down on the most, Xu Luo, to say something like that.
At the same time, he was fuming internally. 'Wei Ziting is a complete moron. You can curse Xu Jie and Sui Yan all you want. You could even have your Guards give them a harsh beating and it wouldn't be a big deal.'
'But to actually imply something about their fathers…'
'Xu Luo was right. You're bringing disaster upon your family. You're courting death!'
'Even your father wouldn't dare to provoke Generals Xu Zhongtian and Sui Wanli, yet you dare to mock them?'
Young Master Leng was particularly displeased that Wei Ziting had dragged him into this. But Wei Ziting was his man, after all. Even if he wasn't thinking of himself, he had to consider his master.
Under the watchful eyes of so many, he couldn't just let his followers' hearts grow cold. Otherwise, if his master were to blame him for it, he, Young Master Leng, wouldn't be able to bear the consequences.
With these thoughts in mind, Young Master Leng gave a faint smile. "Xu Luo, your words are a bit too harsh. Ziting was just speaking carelessly, and Sui Yan was indeed a bit out of line. The way I see it, let's just drop the matter. We're all sons of nobility. There's no need to cause a scene here and become a laughingstock."
Xu Luo glanced at Young Master Leng, who was handsome, well-dressed, and stood with a graceful, commanding presence. His eyes were filled with puzzlement, as if he wanted to see right through the man.
"What, Xu Luo? Do you disagree?" Young Master Leng felt a little uncomfortable under Xu Luo's scrutinizing gaze. He frowned in annoyance and stared back at him.
"I was just wondering, who the hell do you think you are, Leng Xiaoping? Just how thick-skinned do you have to be to say something so shameless to my face?"
Xu Luo looked at Young Master Leng with a serious expression and continued, "You people dare to spout slander, insults, and even treasonous words. Now that you've had your fun, you want to just walk away? You act like you're deigning not to stoop to our level, using that patronizing tone, that high-and-mighty attitude... Tell me, classmate Leng Xiaoping, do you have any shame at all?"
Young Master Leng's real name was Leng Ping. He had once been a student at the Royal Academy with Xu Luo. Others might fear him, but Xu Luo didn't mince words when facing Leng Ping.
Their family backgrounds were originally on par with each other. Leng Ping was used to being high and mighty and never expected that Xu Luo, someone he'd never given a second thought, would actually speak to him in such a tone.
Leng Ping's face darkened, and he was furious. 'If it had been Huangfu Chongzhi mocking me, I would have felt a little better.'
'After all, no matter how disliked the guy is, he's still a Prince, a member of the Royal Family.'
'But of all people, the one mocking him was Xu Luo!'
This caused an irrepressible rage to surge within the normally composed Leng Ping. But when he thought of a certain other person's face, the anger in his chest was instantly doused as if by a bucket of cold water.
"Go test the depth of those from the Military Families. While you're at it, take a look at the Xu Family's Xu Luo. He may be a bit of a waste, but Xu Ji dotes on him..."
Thinking of that completely emotionless face, Leng Ping felt a chill run down his spine. He just stared coldly at Xu Luo but said nothing more.
Because Leng Ping knew very well that there would always be some brainless idiot who would try to show off at a time like this.
And the young man who had been jumping around making a scene felt that his chance to shine had finally arrived.
He raised his hand and pointed at Xu Luo. "How dare you insult Young Master Leng? You Civil Servant's Rice Bowl, I think you're tired of living!"
At that moment, the young man felt like the very embodiment of justice. Pointing at Xu Luo, he roared furiously, then charged forward, swinging a palm toward Xu Luo's face.
"You piece of trash who only knows how to hide behind others! Let me teach you a proper lesson today!"
'This is a rare opportunity to prove myself!'
'If I can satisfy Young Master Leng, why would my family and I have to worry about our future prospects?'
'I might even be able to use Young Master Leng as a connection to reach that supreme line!'
'If that day ever comes... I'll be considered a Minister of the Dragon!'
The young man felt the blood in his veins begin to boil.
His face was alight with excitement... Staring at the nearby Xu Luo, it was as if he could see his own glorious future!
SLAP!
A crisp smack echoed.
Sui Yan and Xu Jie, who had just rushed to Xu Luo's side, froze in place.
Liu Feng and Huangfu Chongzhi, who had been a half-step behind but were also charging forward, froze as well.
Everyone was stunned.
The young man clutched his face. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, running down his wrist and dripping to the ground.
The hand he had raised to slap Xu Luo's cheek was still in the air. His entire body was stock-still, as if he'd been hit by a Body Fixation Technique.
The entire scene fell deathly silent.
No one could believe their eyes.
'That weakling from the Xu Family, the piece of trash who faints just from beating a drum, actually slapped a Tier Nine Sword Disciple into a stupor…'
'How... How is this possible?'
Xu Luo pulled back the hand he had used for the slap, turned it over, and examined his palm seriously for a few moments before remarking with a sigh, "So this is what it feels like to slap someone... It's so satisfying!"
With that, he glanced at the young man clutching his face and asked coolly, "Who's the piece of trash?"
BOOM!
The surrounding crowd of onlookers erupted.
To them, this scene was even more bizarre than the failure of the Star Festival!
'Who's the piece of trash? What a sharp question!'
'Especially after slapping someone into that state. The words carried so much weight!'
"Who was it that said the Xu Family's second young master was a frail piece of trash? Damn it, can a piece of trash slap someone stupid with one blow?"
"Doesn't he faint all the time? Look at him now, so full of life... it doesn't seem like it!"
"Could it be that the rumors all these years have been wrong?"
"Maybe General Xu Ji found some kind of Miracle Elixir, you never know!"
The crowd chattered amongst themselves, staring at the scene in disbelief.
The beaten young man finally came to his senses. As he slowly lowered the hand covering his face, the crowd let out another collective gasp.
His once-handsome face was already badly swollen. In just a moment, it had puffed up like a steamed bun, swelling his eye completely shut on that side.
The young man opened his mouth and with a GAG, spat out a large mouthful of blood mixed with over a dozen white teeth. It was a gruesome sight.
Then, whether from anger, shame, or pain, the young man's eyes rolled back in his head, and he actually fainted.
From all directions, the crowd once again exploded into an uproar.
He really was knocked out by a single slap!
Most importantly, many people recognized the one who had been knocked out.
He was a genuine Tier Nine Sword Disciple!
Everyone turned their gazes, filled with shock and doubt, toward Xu Luo, who stood there looking perfectly calm.
As for Xu Luo, he simply stood there, expressionless.
As if he wasn't the one who had just struck the blow.