All eyes were on Ning Jiang. As the one who had accepted a life-and-death duel with Zhou Wenhao, his name had been mentioned repeatedly in recent days, earning him a fair bit of notoriety.
However, no one had expected that this person, who had caused such a stir among the younger generation, only possessed a cultivation at the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer!
With such a low cultivation, he wouldn't be able to withstand a single blow from Zhou Wenhao.
"Another one who's gone crazy trying to get famous."
"He's courting death. There's no other way to put it."
Quite a few people were secretly shaking their heads.
"So, Liu Ying, a few days ago you said that anyone who dared a life-and-death duel with Zhou Wenhao must be a remarkable talent. You even said you were interested in meeting him. Now that you've seen him, what are your thoughts?"
Several attractive young women were gathered together, talking in low voices as they sized up Ning Jiang.
"Hmph, it seems I overestimated him." A pretty young woman named Liu Ying withdrew her gaze, her eyes full of disappointment.
Indeed, she had been very curious about Ning Jiang, but now she was utterly crestfallen. A Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer disciple challenging Zhou Wenhao wasn't courage; it was foolishness.
Hearing the jeers rising around them, a cold sneer appeared in Liu Feng's eyes. He had tricked Ning Jiang into coming here with the promise of burying the hatchet, but it was just a ruse. Given his personality, how could he possibly let go of the grudge from the Drunken Moon Pavilion?
"Liu Feng, how dare you!"
Liu Xianyu's face turned cold. No one here knew how important Ning Jiang was, but she knew perfectly well. Right now, even Liu Yuanlong needed Ning Jiang's help. If they angered Ning Jiang and he refused to perform alchemy for Liu Yuanlong, what would they do?
"Liu Xianyu, don't think you can look down on everyone just because Grandfather favors you. You call me insolent? I think you're the one being truly insolent."
Liu Feng's voice grew louder as he announced venomously, "Everyone, Liu Xianyu actually gave the Jade Order, which represents Grandfather's authority, to this person! Just yesterday, this man used the Jade Order to wreak havoc in the Drunken Moon Pavilion, and even smashed the Drunken Moon Painting Wall with a single punch!"
"Bastard."
"Insolent whelp."
"Arrogant thug."
Instantly, a barrage of hostile curses was aimed at Ning Jiang.
Although the Drunken Moon Pavilion was managed by Liu Zhengkun and had nothing to do with most of them, it was still the Liu Family's property. As members of the Liu Family, they naturally banded together against a common foe.
"He dared to cause a scene at the Drunken Moon Pavilion yesterday with the Jade Order. Who knows which brother or sister's business will suffer next?" Liu Feng deliberately stirred up everyone's hostility toward Ning Jiang.
As expected, the animosity in the air intensified.
"Liu Xianyu, the Jade Order was a gift from Grandfather to you. What right do you have to hand it over to an outsider?"
"Liu Xianyu, he smashed the Drunken Moon Painting Wall! His actions have brought shame upon our Liu Family, and it's all your responsibility!"
It wasn't just Ning Jiang; Liu Xianyu also found herself the target of pointed accusations.
In that moment, she and Ning Jiang felt as if they were being condemned by everyone.
Liu Xianyu's expression grew colder and colder. She never expected to be subjected to such an interrogation after accepting an invitation to a banquet. How could she not understand by now? This was clearly a setup.
What gave her a headache was that most of the people here already held a grudge against her. She could have handled a few of them, but now she was facing over a hundred members of the Liu Family's younger generation, each with the backing of their elders.
There was strength in numbers. With so many of them united, only Liu Yuanlong himself could keep them in check.
"Everyone, this is my banquet tonight. Please do me the honor of letting me say a few words."
Just as the insults were flying, a man of about twenty-three walked out. His features resembled Liu Feng's, but he looked more resolute and mature, and his gaze was sharp.
'Liu Yun. He really has reached the Innate Realm,' Liu Xianyu thought, sensing Liu Yun's aura.
"Liu Xianyu, I've also heard about what happened at the Drunken Moon Pavilion. I think you owe us an explanation, but today is my celebratory banquet, so we'll let the matter rest for now."
As soon as Liu Yun appeared, he displayed a magnanimous air that won people over. "You are a member of our Liu Family, so you may stay for the banquet tonight. But as for this person…"
Liu Yun's gaze shifted to Ning Jiang, his expression instantly turning cold. He said, word by word, "You are not welcome here. Please leave."
"Big Brother, why be so polite?" Liu Feng sneered coldly. "Get lost!"
"That's right, get out of here."
"This is a Liu Family banquet. An outsider has no right to be here."
"He's facing Zhou Wenhao in a life-and-death battle. He's practically a dead man walking. Having him here is just bad luck."
Jeers and mockery filled the air.
"Good. Very good. All of you!"
Liu Xianyu's face was livid, her eyes blazing with fury.
Today's setup wasn't just to humiliate Ning Jiang; it was also an attack on her authority within the Liu Family, designed to make her an object of everyone's contempt. Meanwhile, Liu Yun's prestige would soar because of it.
"Mr. Ning, please don't be angry. I will make this right," Liu Xianyu said in a low voice, afraid that Ning Jiang would break ties with the Liu Family in a fit of rage.
"Why would I be angry? You're the one who's furious," Ning Jiang said with a casual laugh. "Remember, getting angry easily is a major weakness. A Martial Artist must have composure and a broad mind. If you can't handle a few insults, it shows a lack of character. Being petty is never a good trait."
"Anger is a fire in the heart that can burn down a forest of merits."
"To remain calm as a mountain collapses before you, to jest and laugh even with a blade at your neck—that is a truly strong person. Their heart is impregnable and unyielding."
"Of course, while a Martial Artist must be composed, they shouldn't suffer humiliation in silence. Enduring disgrace is for the powerless. Those with power should speak out against injustice."
Even in such a predicament, Ning Jiang still took the time to instruct Liu Xianyu. His tone, expression, and eyes betrayed no hint of emotion.
This shocked Liu Xianyu. 'To remain so calm after such humiliation… What incredible self-control!'
Influenced by Ning Jiang, much of her anger also subsided.
"Shiyi, what do you think of him?"
In a corner of the bamboo grove, several beautiful young women were gathered. Among them was a young lady in a sleek silk dress. She had pearly teeth and bright eyes, brows like crescent moons, and hair that cascaded like a waterfall.
Her presence seemed to reduce the other young women to mere foils.
She was the flower, and the others were the green leaves.
Liu Shiyi of the Liu Family. Seventeen years old, and one of the family's two "Ming Zhu."
At the same time, she was also one of Luoyang City's four great beauties, on par with Liu Xianyu!
Of the four great beauties, the Liu Family claimed two.
Compared to Liu Xianyu, Liu Shiyi possessed a more subtle and elegant beauty, like a lone orchid in a secluded valley. Her disposition was exceptional. The only aspect in which she was inferior to Liu Xianyu was her cultivation.
Liu Xianyu was in the Innate Realm and one of the Luoyang Ten Heroes. Liu Shiyi, however, was two years younger. It was highly likely she would also reach the Innate Realm by the time she was Liu Xianyu's age.
"To remain so composed after such an insult… He must be a very broad-minded person."
Liu Shiyi's voice was clear and elegant as she sized up Ning Jiang.
"Broad-minded? I think he just can't refute them and doesn't dare to get angry," another young woman beside her said, shaking her head. "Shiyi, what do you think he'll do next? Seeing as he accepted a life-and-death duel with Zhou Wenhao and dared to cause a scene at the Drunken Moon Pavilion, he's probably a reckless brute who acts on impulse. He might even start a fight right here."
"In this situation, a strategic retreat would be the wisest move. He should leave," Liu Shiyi said seriously after a moment of thought. "Otherwise, if a real conflict breaks out, not even Liu Xianyu will be able to quell the anger of so many people."
At the same time, she continued to study Ning Jiang.
'What's so special about him? Why would Grandfather want me to get closer to him?'
Liu Shiyi was filled with doubt. Just this afternoon, Liu Yuanlong had summoned all the children of the second generation and ordered them to mobilize all their resources to find some medicinal herbs.
Afterward, everyone left except for her father, whom Liu Yuanlong kept behind for a private conversation.
It was then that Liu Yuanlong told her father to have her get closer to Ning Jiang, saying that Ning Jiang was an extraordinary person.
But Liu Yuanlong refused to give any more details.
Of course, Liu Shiyi had no way of knowing that Liu Yuanlong was a shrewd man. He intended to win Ning Jiang over, and he believed that making Ning Jiang a son-in-law of the Liu Family would be better than anything else.
In Liu Yuanlong's view, although Ning Jiang was friendly with Liu Xianyu, it wasn't a firm enough guarantee. That was why he wanted Liu Shiyi to get close to Ning Jiang as well.
If both of the Liu Family's great beauties formed a relationship with Ning Jiang, he refused to believe that Ning Jiang wouldn't be tempted by at least one of them.
But Liu Yuanlong's refusal to reveal the details of Ning Jiang's background was also a carefully considered decision. He was afraid that if he said too much, their attempts to get close to Ning Jiang would seem too purposeful, which would be counterproductive.
Therefore, Liu Yuanlong only said to "get closer," wanting to let things develop naturally.
But of course, Liu Shiyi knew none of this.
When she saw that Ning Jiang's cultivation was only at the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer, it would be a lie to say Liu Shiyi wasn't disappointed.
And after hearing that Ning Jiang had relied on the Jade Order to wreak havoc in the Drunken Moon Pavilion, her impression of him worsened.
So for now, she chose to stay out of it, with no intention of approaching him.
'I'm curious to see how you'll handle today's events.' Elsewhere, Liu Mi was also watching Ning Jiang.
Although she had been placed in confinement by Liu Xianyu, this only forbade her from leaving the Liu Family estate; she could still move about freely within it.
Facing the hostility of nearly ninety percent of the people present, Ning Jiang's expression remained unchanged.
"All of you seem to have a problem with me. There's no need for all these barbs and taunts. It's pointless, and frankly, it just makes you look petty."
Ning Jiang's voice was unhurried, each word as clear and rhythmic as a trickling spring. "We are all Martial Artists. Instead of having a war of words here, why don't we do something more fitting for Martial Artists? How about this: we play a little game to liven up the banquet."
"When you play a game, of course there have to be stakes. Anyone who can beat me can take the ten thousand Primordial Stones I have on me, as well as my head. How about it?"
A hush fell over the crowd.
"Of course, you'll have to put up a wager as well. I know you've all been pampered since birth, living lives of luxury, and you cherish those lives. I won't ask you to bet your lives. You just need to put up an equal amount of Primordial Stones," Ning Jiang said, standing as firm as a pillar in the sea, perfectly composed.
"You're courting death." A murderous glint appeared in Liu Feng's eyes. "What kind of game do you want to play?"
"I don't mind. Suggest whatever you like, as long as it's fair." Ning Jiang's voice was calm, but his next sentence instantly enraged the entire crowd. "After all, not a single one of you can win!"