Master Kong walked over. When he saw Jiu Lingyun, he made no effort to hide the disgust on his face. Even though she didn't smell bad in the slightest, her plain clothes alone made him feel as if he'd swallowed a fly.
When he saw Yi Tianyun, he was slightly stunned, and his eyes flashed with anger. "I didn't expect to see you here! What are you doing here?"
Upon seeing Yi Tianyun, he couldn't help but clutch his rear, which still throbbed with a dull ache. Even though the injury from Yi Tianyun's heavy kick had long since healed, the humiliation hadn't faded.
"Is there a problem with me being here?"
Yi Tianyun's gaze turned cold. 'This Master Kong is just as arrogant as ever. He thinks he can walk around like he owns the place just because he has some Forging Ability?'
"Of course there is! Guards! Get them out of here! They're not welcome!"
Master Kong shouted at the nearby guards, "And how did someone from the slums even get in? It's disgraceful, lowering the class of this establishment!"
"My apologies, Master Kong. I'll have them leave right away!"
The guard's expression changed instantly. He turned to Yi Tianyun's group and said coldly, "We have a rule here. People from the slums are not allowed. Please leave!"
Master Kong was an Honored Guest Elder here, so of course the guard would listen to him rather than try to curry favor with Yi Tianyun and his companions.
Anger flared in Yi Tianyun's heart. 'What gives them the right to assume she's from the slums? Can't a person wear simple clothes?'
"Anyone who can't afford to shop here is from the slums. Please leave," the guard said, his face cold.
Beside him, Jiu Lingyun bit her lip. Her biggest fear was being thrown out and embarrassing Yi Tianyun, who had brought her in.
"I... I'll go outside..."
Just as Jiu Lingyun started to speak, several pieces of Gold landed in her hands, worth tens of thousands of taels.
"How about now?" Yi Tianyun said, suppressing the anger in his heart.
"This..." The guard was at a loss for words at Yi Tianyun's action and turned to look at Master Kong.
"We don't welcome you here. It doesn't matter. You're from the slums to the bone. Trash is trash, and that's all there is to it," Master Kong sneered.
At his words, Jiu Lingyun trembled and her eyes reddened. She desperately wanted to retort, but how could she dare talk back to a person of his status?
"Is that so? At least that's better than some people who are worse than beasts, even when dressed in lavish clothes."
Yi Tianyun smiled nonchalantly and patted her shoulder, signaling for her not to worry so much.
"Who are you calling a beast?!"
Master Kong's face flushed with fury as he pointed at Yi Tianyun.
"If you think I was talking about you, then I guess I was. I can't control what you think."
Yi Tianyun turned to the guard and said in a low voice, "Speaking of which, who is he to you people? Are you treating us this way just because he's an Honored Guest Elder?"
"So what if I am? I am an Honored Guest Elder here, and I have the authority to make you leave!"
Master Kong snorted. "Throw them out!"
He gestured for the guards on both sides to rush forward and drive them out. 'I'd love to beat Yi Tianyun to a pulp,' he thought, 'but if Shi Xueyun found out, I'd be in deep trouble. My status isn't low, but that doesn't mean I can contend with Merak Palace!'
"He's just an Honored Guest Elder. Where is the manager here? I have something to discuss with him!" Yi Tianyun said calmly.
"You? You want to see the Pavilion Master?" Master Kong sneered, filled with disdain.
"What's going on?"
Just then, an old man walked over from the side. With such a big commotion, it was impossible not to attract attention.
"Pavilion Master Liang, you're just in time. Not only did he injure me before, but now he's brought someone from the slums in here. I feel like it brings a bit of bad luck to the Celestial Phoenix Tower and will affect the other customers!"
Master Kong snorted. "Please, throw them out!"
"Hm?"
Pavilion Master Liang looked toward Yi Tianyun's group and frowned. He was about to say something when he saw An Ling and Qin Xue, and a hint of surprise appeared on his face.
"Pavilion Master Liang, don't you think your Honored Guest Elder is being a bit too rude? We're from Merak Palace. What's wrong with us bringing someone in? Are we not customers?" Qin Xue couldn't help but step forward and speak out.
Master Kong's words were simply too vile. They themselves didn't mind, yet he was the one who took such great offense.
"So you are from Merak Palace. No wonder you two have such an extraordinary air about you."
Pavilion Master Liang smiled, then said to Master Kong, "All who come are guests, and they're from Merak Palace, no less. Why get so angry? Harmony brings wealth, harmony brings wealth."
Pavilion Master Liang didn't want to offend either side. On one hand was Master Kong, their Honored Guest Elder; on the other was Merak Palace, which, while not a massive power, was still a respectable faction and not to be trifled with.
Celestial Phoenix Tower was a powerful entity in its own right, but it maintained a neutral stance and didn't want to stir up trouble or have friction with any sect.
"Pavilion Master Liang, I'll make myself clear. If they are allowed to stay here, then I'm leaving!"
Master Kong was furious, laying down an ultimatum and forcing Pavilion Master Liang to choose.
Pavilion Master Liang's expression changed. 'Isn't this putting me in a difficult position?' He didn't hesitate for long, however, before turning to Yi Tianyun's group and saying, "I'm very sorry about this, but I must ask you to leave..."
He was already speaking quite politely, but his words made Qin Xue and An Ling so angry they wanted to draw their swords. To think the name of Merak Palace wasn't even worth as much as this Master Kong!
In reality, the name of Merak Palace was certainly more renowned than Master Kong's. However, Master Kong was an Honored Guest Elder who could forge Spiritual Artifacts for them, which made him far more valuable.
"You're... you're bullying us..."
"It's fine. It's no great loss if we don't come here! Pavilion Master Liang, remember the choice you made today. Keeping some people around might not necessarily be good for you!"
Yi Tianyun held Qin Xue and the others back, signaling for them not to be impulsive, then led his group away.
"Hmph. Trying to fight me? The Celestial Phoenix Tower is my turf!"
Master Kong's face was filled with delight. Seeing Yi Tianyun's group so thoroughly thwarted was exceptionally satisfying.
Pavilion Master Liang frowned, then simply shook his head without saying anything.
After they left, Jiu Lingyun was on the verge of tears. She said apologetically, "I-I'm so sorry. This all happened because of me..."
"This isn't your fault. The truth is, that Master Kong has a grudge against us. It has nothing to do with you."
Yi Tianyun looked up and saw another building ahead. Compared to the Celestial Phoenix Tower, this one was clearly not as luxurious, but it was also a shop, called the "Rainy Day Tower."
The two had always been rivals, but it was clear that the Celestial Phoenix Tower currently had the upper hand. Since they couldn't enter the Celestial Phoenix Tower, they would just shop at the Rainy Day Tower instead.
"Let's go to this one. I'll make them regret their choice!"
Qin Xue and An Ling looked at each other, unsure what Yi Tianyun was planning, but they had no choice but to follow their junior brother.
When they arrived at the Rainy Day Tower, just as an attendant came forward to greet them, Yi Tianyun tossed ten mid-grade Spirit Swords onto the counter and said in a low voice, "I'm here to sell these. At the same time, I plan to use your Rainy Day Tower to do some major promotion!"
His eyes gleamed. 'My plan is simple. Since the Celestial Phoenix Tower won't have me, I'll use the Rainy Day Tower to crush them!'