The young nobleman gazed at his father’s retreating back, his expression darkening considerably. “Hu Er, let’s go!” The young nobleman, his face grim, departed the Wang manor with his four retainers.
The youth with sunken eye sockets murmured quietly, “Young Master, if you ask me, the Patriarch is truly unfair! Matters of the clan are all handled by the Eldest and Second Young Masters.
Yet, towards the Third Young Master, he is excessively harsh. Just a few days ago, you merely took a woman, and the Patriarch flew into such a rage.
The Second Young Master last time executed all five maids by his side, and the Patriarch didn’t utter a single word.” “Hmph, in Father’s eyes, I am just a useless profligate!” the young nobleman ground out through clenched teeth. The Wang Family!
They controlled ‘Black Flood Dragon City,’ one of the nine main cities in the Southern Mountain Domain, governing lands spanning hundreds of miles and ruling over nearly ten million subjects. This Wang Family was essentially a small nation!
For the prince of a small nation, taking a woman was nothing more than an insignificant trifle. His elder brother commanded armies, his second brother managed governance, handling countless human lives.
But him? He held no authority whatsoever!
In the eyes of others, he was nothing but a spoiled wastrel. How could Wang Hong ever be content with that?
“Hmph, since he believes I am a profligate, then I shall be one!” Wang Hong stroked his chin, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. “Since Eldest Brother and Second Brother wish to manage the estate, let them fight over it.
This old man will just enjoy some pleasures! By the way, Hu Er, have there been any good catches lately?” Hu Er shook his head.
“Young Master, most of the good catches have some background; they are hard to obtain.” “Useless!” Wang Hong snapped. Southern Mountain City, the second floor of the Rising Sun Tavern.
Teng Qingshan and his party were seated near the window; even the savage beast youth, ‘Teng Beast,’ was dressed neatly, sitting quietly. Although Teng Qingshan’s carriage was quite valuable, Teng Qingshan was completely at ease...
Firstly, the Rising Sun Tavern took great care in safeguarding guests' belongings, and secondly, inside the carriage resided a powerful demonic beast—the Azure Luan. If anyone dared to break into the carriage intending theft, there would only be one outcome— Death by the Azure Luan!
“Last time we wanted to eat on the third floor but couldn't. This time, we still haven't eaten,” Li Jun said, looking up helplessly at the stairs leading to the third floor.
“The third floor has been booked entirely by that Wang Family.” Old Wang lowered his voice. “Miss Li, the Wang Family is a major lineage that ranks highly across the entire Duanmu Continent.
When I was out wandering, I heard... it seems three or four families are currently vying to seize control of Southern Mountain City.
However, this piece of meat that is Southern Mountain City isn't easily swallowed. These few families are all contending for it, and the Wang Family is one of them!” “Let them be whoever they are.” Teng Qingshan smiled.
“Eat well. After we finish, we’ll head to Divine Axe Mountain.” What damned families?
Teng Qingshan paid them no mind whatsoever. Tap!
Tap! Tap!
Footsteps sounded on the staircase. “Third Young Master, there are two tables left upstairs,” a young tavern server said respectfully.
“Which one would the Third Young Master prefer?” Teng Qingshan noticed out of the corner of his eye. A youth dressed as a nobleman was holding the tavern server girl’s small hand, a playful smirk on his face.
“I’ll take both tables today. You will dine with me at one table, and my subordinates at the other.” The tavern maid’s face flushed crimson, but she dared not resist, for she was acutely aware of this young nobleman’s identity!
Wang Family’s Third Young Master, Wang Hong, a terrifying figure capable of turning young women pale with fear. Countless women had been defiled by him.
If they complied quietly, they might escape disaster, but any resistance... would result in utter misery!
“Yes, Third Young Master,” the tavern maid dared not resist. “You don’t need to accompany me today,” the Third Young Master said, groping the tavern maid’s waist with a grin.
“As for the banquet this noon, it will be according to the usual arrangement.” The tavern maid, her face blushing, hurried downstairs, feeling an unexpected wave of relief in her heart, yet she was also puzzled. “Why is the Third Young Master being so agreeable today?” The Third Young Master glanced towards Teng Qingshan’s table, his gaze sweeping across Li Jun’s face, and his eyes immediately began to faintly glow red.
He looked like a starving wolf that had suddenly spotted a plump white sheep before him. “This young lady, tsk tsk...
such beauty, such bearing!” The Third Young Master became momentarily agitated. “Her looks are seven or eight parts similar to that Female Martial Saint.
Even her aura is so alike! Tsk tsk...
this is truly a gift bestowed upon me by heaven.” The Third Young Master, as a decadent rake—or rather, someone who had fully embraced the identity of a dissolute nobleman— had acquired countless women. But ordinary wares no longer interested him; good catches, however, were extremely hard to acquire!
And the Female Martial Saint! Not only was she beautiful, but she was also immensely powerful.
To certain influential figures holding great authority, beautiful women alone were not enough to capture their interest. What they most craved was the ability to control women who were both powerful and stunningly beautiful!
Much like ordinary people in Teng Qingshan’s previous life. Even if some stunning actresses might possess less natural beauty than some common beauties in the civilian world, it was their fame that made them objects of envy.
And the Female Martial Saint, on the Duanmu Continent, was the object of desire for countless men. Beautiful and incomparably strong!
Anyone who could acquire such a woman would gain immense prestige. The mere imagination of that scene was enough to make one’s blood boil.
“Tsk tsk, if I could get my hands on this young lady, dress her up to resemble the Female Martial Saint, and then toy with her…” Thinking of this, the Third Young Master’s breathing became somewhat ragged, and his face faintly flushed. Fortunately, he had already settled into his seat and wasn't staring continuously at Li Jun.
Otherwise, he would have immediately drawn the attention of Teng Qingshan and his group. The Wang Family’s Third Young Master sat in his spot, his fists sometimes clenching and sometimes relaxing.
Every time his eyes caught sight of Li Jun’s appearance, a consuming itch started in his heart! “Damn it, acquiring a woman like this would be far more satisfying than getting a hundred ordinary beauties!” “No matter what, this old man must have her!” The Third Young Master instantly made up his mind.
“But I need to be careful!” The Third Young Master looked towards Hu Er beside him. Hu Er’s eyes flickered with light, signaling a silent query about which young master was the focus of attention.
He clearly sensed that his Third Young Master had set his sights on that woman: “How could he not be moved? With the Third Young Master’s temperament, not obtaining such a woman… would be the greater sin!” Hu Er was the Third Young Master’s personal attendant, privy to all his affairs.
“Watch me,” Hu Er stood up. ...
Teng Qingshan and Li Jun were chatting and laughing, in very good spirits. “Gentlemen!” A sudden voice broke the air.
Teng Qingshan and Li Jun both looked up simultaneously. Teng Qingshan frowned, looking at the man before him.
The man's bearing and gaze naturally evoked a sense of disgust in Teng Qingshan’s heart. “Gentlemen, my Young Master is eager to make friends.
Why don’t you join my Young Master for a few drinks? Oh, and by the way, the meal you are having—we’ve reserved this area.” This Hu Er was beaming with a smile while pointing towards Wang Hong’s direction.
Teng Qingshan and Li Jun both turned to look. Wang Hong smiled gently and raised his cup in salute.
“We have matters to attend to after we finish eating,” Li Jun told Hu Er. “We don’t have time to keep your Young Master company.” “Whatever business you have, just say the word!
We can help you handle it,” Hu Er chuckled. “My Young Master is very fond of making friends.
Regardless, you must grant my Young Master this favor!” At this point, most other guests on the second floor, upon seeing Wang Hong, understood— This Wang Third Young Master was about to cause trouble again! However, none of the guests dared to speak.
The Wang Family was an absolute overlord in Southern Mountain City; only two other families in the city could be compared to them. “What, you won’t grant…” Hu Er said with dissatisfaction.
“Scram!” Teng Qingshan’s face darkened, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. Hu Er’s eyes immediately rolled back, becoming fierce and sharp.
He let out a few cold laughs. “I never thought in this Southern Mountain City someone would dare tell my Wang Family to scram!
Boy, let’s step aside and discuss this properly!” With that, Hu Er extended his slender arm, veins popping along the surface, and lunged toward Teng Qingshan. Whoosh!
A streak of cyan light shot out instantly from Hu Er’s sleeve, heading directly for Teng Qingshan. It was a small snake, about a foot long and as thick as a finger, colored cyan, with a golden line running along its back.
This venomous snake was the rather well-known ‘Five-Step Gold-Lined Serpent’ on the Duanmu Continent. Once poisoned, death would occur within the time it took to take five steps!
Hu Er had killed quite a few people with this move. Teng Qingshan opened his mouth and exhaled a breath like a sharp arrow— “Shhh!” The immense physical strength of Teng Qingshan meant that this single exhalation was more potent than the arrows shot by an ordinary soldier.
The Air Sword instantly sliced the venomous snake into two pieces, while also piercing through Hu Er’s shoulder. With a crisp sound, the flesh and blood around Hu Er’s shoulder were mangled, leaving a small hole.
The bloody aperture ran straight through to his back, penetrating both sides! “Ah!!!” Hu Er couldn’t help but let out a pained shriek, his face turning ashen.
“Roar~~” With a sudden, deep roar, the savage beast youth ‘Teng Beast,’ who had been sitting quietly beside them, upon seeing Hu Er dare to harm his teacher, instantly lashed out with a claw! “Not good!” This Hu Er was clearly an expert.
The Air Sword Teng Qingshan spat out had caught him completely off guard, and second, they were too close for him to react effectively. But Teng Beast’s claw strike was something Hu Er could manage to resist.
Thump! Hu Er barely managed to block it with his right hand, but the sheer force of Teng Beast’s claw, combined with its gripping power, was too great!
Squish! A chunk of flesh was ripped from Hu Er’s right arm.
Hu Er himself was slammed backward, crashing into the nearby wall, spitting out a mist of blood. The Third Young Master watching from the side had his expression darken.
“Daring to injure someone within the city!” A furious shout rang out. The Wang Third Young Master, accompanied by the other three servants, walked over, glaring darkly at Teng Qingshan.
“I graciously invited you for a few drinks to make friends. And what do you do?
You injure my subordinate and strike with such viciousness.” A servant standing behind the Wang Third Young Master spoke coldly, “Fighting is forbidden within the city. Come with us for questioning!” The current Southern Mountain City was managed under the joint rule of the three great families.
The so-called ‘Law’ was essentially dictated by these three powerful families. “I don’t care what damned Third Young Master you are,” Teng Qingshan remained seated, his face decidedly unpleasant, glancing coldly at the Third Young Master.
“Stop disturbing my meal. If you utter one more word of nonsense, have your family prepare joss paper for your memorial service by this time next year!” “Get lost!” Teng Qingshan commanded coldly.