Chapter Fifty-One: The Woman of the Bai Family, Zhuluo

During this period, Yang Cheng made several trips to the Yang Family Furniture Shop, confirming various details of the renovation and display with Zhu Buhuo. He also instructed old Zhu to hire around ten articulate and charming young women as sales assistants, explaining the importance of their role. He handed over a piece of cloth filled with notes, detailing the explanations and introductions of each item of furniture.

Afterward, both Yang Cheng and Zhu Buhuo finally felt relieved, certain that the shop could open on schedule without any issues.

As Yang Cheng wandered the streets, he noticed that Wuzhou City had become much more crowded. Most of the newcomers wore uniform attire and carried magical implements—clearly cultivators from the various sects spread across the thousands of miles around Wuzhou. Old Zhu explained that these were disciples who had arrived early to watch the upcoming battles. Usually secluded deep in the mountains, these young men and women rarely had a chance to witness the city’s bustle, and everything seemed novel to them.

Although these sect disciples were no longer under their elders’ strict supervision and many of them looked rather naïve, no one dared to look down on them. They wandered about, each with an air of pride.

Zhu Buhuo spoke in a low voice, “These days, Wuzhou isn’t exactly peaceful. Who knows which two sects have grudges between them? When those arrogant disciples cross paths, a fight is almost inevitable. Even though the city’s laws are strict and the sects dare not openly offend the authorities, if some hothead starts a brawl without thinking of the consequences, ordinary folks caught up in the mess can only blame their bad luck—there’s nowhere to go for justice.”

Meanwhile, Hua Mingzhu was at the martial arena, watching the matches with her three junior brothers. She had joined the sect earlier than the others, so although she was younger than Li Tianxing, everyone called her Senior Sister. Mei Chenyu, the adopted son of their master, was treated as part of the family, with the four of them addressing each other according to age and seniority.

On the stage, two masters at the Fusion Stage—one from the Bai family and one from the Sima family, the two most powerful clans in the city—were locked in fierce combat. The family techniques were indeed profound, and their battle was so intense that the spiritual power fluctuations could be felt even through the protective array.

Among the young spectators, Hua Mingzhu watched the fight in rapt concentration. The three Li brothers, country lads unused to such spectacles, were still in shock. Mei Yuchen, however, still full of youthful bravado and eager to impress his brothers, was enthusiastically critiquing the fighters’ techniques, especially since Hua Mingzhu didn’t seem to be paying him any attention.

His remarks quickly drew irritated glances from those seated nearby.

“Huzi, if it were me, I wouldn’t use that move,” he said. “Tianxing, look, that Bai clan guy shouldn’t have tried this technique—it’ll definitely give the Sima guy an opening.”

No sooner had he spoken than the Sima fighter struck at the Bai fighter’s exposed flank. The Bai fighter dodged just in time, but looked utterly disheveled, his composure gone.

“See? Didn’t I say so?” Mei Yuchen said smugly, giving Li Tianhu and Li Tianbiao a knowing look.

“Ah, no need to watch anymore,” Mei Yuchen declared confidently. “The Bai clan’s definitely going to lose...”

“Enough! Will you ever shut up?” A sharp, girlish cry cut him off, making the group look around in surprise.

Not far from where they sat, a stunningly beautiful young woman stood among a group of elegantly dressed youths, shining like the moon among stars. Her hair was done up in twin buns, with a silver-gilt, gemstone-studded hairpin set at a slant. She held a gold-embroidered ivory-handled palace fan, wore a moon-blue floral-embroidered jacket, and her feet were shod in peacock-threaded, bejeweled lotus shoes. She was, in every sense, a beautiful maiden—yet at that moment, one hand was on her hip and the other pointed straight at Mei Yuchen.

From the way the dozen or so young men and women clustered around her in admiration, it was clear that she held a position of considerable importance. Her companions also turned to glare at Mei Yuchen, shouting insults at him.

Mei Yuchen, who had once led a raid on the Xiaodao Gang, was not one to back down. As soon as he was berated, he was ready to retort. Li Tianxing, hot-tempered and not much of a cultivator but fiercely protective of his friends, immediately stood up and shouted, “We’re just chatting among ourselves—what business is it of yours?”

At that moment, a crash from the arena drew everyone’s attention. The Bai family fighter had fallen to the ground, coughing blood, obviously gravely injured.

Seeing this, the young woman’s delicate features twisted in fury. “How dare you argue with me! Do you know who I am?” she demanded loudly.

Li Tianxing, never one to bow to bullying, raised his voice in reply. “I don’t care who you are! We haven’t done anything to you.”

At this, the well-dressed youths around her burst into laughter.

“Ha! So it’s just a bunch of country bumpkins.”

“That explains it! Who else would dare talk to Sister Luo like that?”

A voice rang out, “Don’t say we didn’t warn you. This is Miss Bai Zhuluo of the Bai family. You’d better kneel and apologize, or you’ll get beaten.”

“That’s right! You’re the first to ever speak to our Sister Zhuluo like that in Wuzhou.”

Bai Zhuluo stood with arms crossed and a proud expression, clearly waiting for Li Tianxing to come forward and apologize.

Hua Mingzhu and Mei Yuchen both paled slightly at the name. The Bai family was renowned throughout the region. No wonder the girl was angry; after all, they’d been openly critiquing a Bai family fighter, and with the Bai clan just having suffered defeat, Miss Bai had lost face and needed someone to vent her anger on.

Bai Zhuluo’s reputation was well known—rumored to be the niece of Bai Muyun, raised by him as his own after her parents died, spoiled and willful, feared by all in the Bai household. The other youths, even if not from the Bai family, were certainly from allied clans, each with no small status.

This was trouble, Mei Yuchen thought to himself.

But Li Tianxing showed no sign of fear. “I don’t care if you’re from the Bai family or any other! If you can speak rudely, why can’t I talk back? Draw your line—what do you want?”

His boldness only infuriated the others further. The group of young men and women immediately stood up, ready to teach Li Tianxing a lesson.

Li Tianhu and Li Tianbiao also sprang to their feet, eyes blazing. Hua Mingzhu and Mei Yuchen rose as well, preparing for a confrontation. Hua Mingzhu, by nature cautious and used to weighing consequences, had no time to think—she couldn’t abandon her junior brothers. Mei Yuchen, though aware of their opponents’ strength, was unbothered. Cheng had told him: “Fight if you can win, run if you can’t. If things get out of hand, just hide out in the Li family village for a few days, as long as you don’t bring trouble to Cheng.”

Seeing the group’s determined stance, Bai Zhuluo let out a furious laugh. “I suppose it’s your first time here. Who would dare start a fight in the grandstands? Since you refuse to apologize, this can’t end here. Tell me, do you want to settle this in the arena or outside the city?”

She continued, “There’s a long queue to fight in the arena—it might be months before it’s our turn. I’m busy these days, but after my uncle defeats Liu Changqing at the end of the month, I’ll teach you a lesson outside the north gate. Five against five, I won’t bully you.”

“Whoever doesn’t show up is a coward!” Li Tianbiao shouted, his neck stiff with defiance. He’d only been cultivating for a little over ten days; whether he could win or not was one thing, but he wouldn’t lose face.

“Very well, we’ll see!” Bai Zhuluo snorted coldly and turned away. With the Bai fighter defeated, she had no reason to stay and no wish to see the Sima clan gloat. The other young men and women followed her out.

As soon as their adversaries left, the five no longer felt like watching the matches. Just as they were about to leave, a figure blocked their path.

The newcomer swept them with a cold glance. “You’ve angered Bai Zhuluo—you’re in for serious trouble. On your own, you won’t stand a chance. As it happens, my young master Sima dislikes her as well. Why not go ask for his help? He’ll surely lend you a hand.”

The five exchanged a look of distaste at the man’s haughty demeanor. Following his gesture, they saw a young man in luxurious clothes sitting at the main viewing platform, sipping tea with an air of confidence, as if he already knew the five would come to beg for assistance.

The group glanced at one another. Mei Yuchen, who had heard plenty about the intrigues of noble families, was wary of becoming someone else’s pawn. He cupped his fists and said, “Thank you for your kind offer, but we can handle this ourselves. Farewell.”

With that, the five strode off without a backward glance.

Sima Yaoyang, left behind, felt deflated and annoyed. He’d thought he could use these inexperienced country youths as pawns—if nothing else, it would have been a way to vex Bai Zhuluo. He hadn’t expected them to refuse, unafraid of offending both powerful clans at once.