Chapter 130: A Sudden Turn of Events

In the inner courtyard, a tall, handsome man stood holding a glass of red wine, staring fixedly at Ling Xinyue and me. His gaze was heavy with suppressed rage and jealousy.

I caught his look immediately and glanced back. As our eyes met, he gave me a cold sneer. I raised my hand and gave him the middle finger. Seeing the sudden flash of murderous intent in his eyes, I smiled. What a pathetic, jealous idiot.

The time had not yet come, and the Ling family’s patriarch and matriarch had not yet appeared. Ling Xinyue had brought me to the back courtyard, an area reserved exclusively for the Ling family descendants.

"Master Shang, you still have the heart to drink? It seems my cousin isn't all that important to you after all," a delicate-looking young man in a white suit said, walking up to Shang Wuwei with a faint smile.

"Ling Xinyue is my woman. No one is going to take her from me," Shang Wuwei replied calmly.

"Confidence is a good thing, but the die is cast. Do you really think you still have a chance?" Ling Qingfeng chuckled.

Shang Wuwei stared at him and said coolly, "You can just sit back and watch the show. Furthermore, whether I, Shang Wuwei, am in the capital or not, I will always be the First Young Master. You, Ling Qingfeng, will always remain beneath my feet. You aren't qualified to mock me."

With that, Shang Wuwei turned and walked away. Ling Qingfeng’s expression flickered. While the capital had three famous socialites, there was only one "First Young Master" and the "Four Young Masters of the Capital." Shang Wuwei held the sky up on his own; beneath the First Young Master, there was no such thing as a "Second Young Master."

Dozens of Ling family descendants were in the back courtyard. Ling Xinyue had always been the standout among the younger generation, but she was like a high-pitched melody that few could harmonize with; it was clear she didn't get along well with her relatives.

There was a small lake in the back of the old Ling estate, its banks lined with weeping willows. We sat in a pavilion by the water, and I lit a cigarette. "Your siblings are just watching us. They aren't coming over to say hello?"

"Don't mind them," Ling Xinyue said quietly.

"This is a wonderful spot. Your grandfather certainly knows how to pick his locations," I said, looking at the lake. According to Feng Shui, this was a place where two dragons gathered energy—a truly auspicious site.

Just then, an elderly man who appeared to be the butler approached and said to Ling Xinyue, "Miss, the Eldest Young Master would like to see you."

Ling Xinyue nodded and said to me, "Wait here for a moment. I'll be back soon."

As she walked away with the old butler, I could clearly feel the younger Ling family members becoming restless. To be honest, I detested this so-called upper-class circle. All these "young masters" and "misses"—while so many were risking their lives in the Nether World, they lived lives of luxury and decadence.

I finished my cigarette and sensed someone approaching.

"So, you're Qin Feng?" A voice filled with arrogance rang in my ears.

I turned to see a young man standing outside the pavilion, staring at me. He was dressed in a vintage cyan robe with a cross-collar, wearing soft-soled boots, his long hair tied up in an ancient style. I immediately disliked the way he was looking at me.

"Something you need?" I asked flatly.

"I hear you're quite strong. Want to spar?" the youth demanded aggressively.

"Not every stray dog is qualified to spar with me. Go play somewhere else," I replied bluntly.

The youth’s face darkened instantly. He wanted to lash out, but to start a fight in the Ling family’s back courtyard would be a sign of disrespect.

"How insolent! Who do you think you are to talk to Brother Wu like that?" A young man in his early twenties walked over, shouting angrily.

"And what are you? If you’re a member of the Ling family, you should be calling me brother-in-law," I said calmly.

"That's right, I am Ling Xu. But as for you being my brother-in-law? Keep dreaming. In this world, the only one worthy of my sister is Brother Shang Wuwei," Ling Xu declared loudly.

Shang Wuwei, that "First Young Master" of the capital? I couldn't be bothered to pay attention to this brainless fool. Did he really think I was desperate to be tied to Ling Xinyue? Still, while I didn't care much, a man had his pride. Since Ling Xinyue was my public fiancée, I wouldn't allow anyone else to stake a claim.

*Slap.*

I swung my hand, catching Ling Xu square across the face. The sound was crisp and clear. Ling Xu clutched his cheek, stunned by the blow. The crowd of Ling descendants watching from a distance were all dumbfounded. This was the Ling family estate, and he… he had actually slapped Ling Xu in public.

"Ling Xinyue is my fiancée, Qin Feng’s fiancée. That is a matter of title. As her brother, you’re linking her to another man—do you think she’s a loose woman? You aren't just shaming Ling Xinyue, you’re shaming your own grandfather. You are an unfilial descendant, and as your brother-in-law, I am teaching you a lesson to keep you from going astray," I said coldly.

"You… you…" Ling Xu was at a loss for words, his chest heaving as if he might vomit blood.

"Brother Wu, beat him up! I’ll take responsibility for whatever happens!" Ling Xu turned to the youth and shouted.

The man surnamed Wu curled his lips. With that promise, he no longer held back.

"My name is Wu Qiyan, Shang Wuwei’s junior brother. You’ll remember this," Wu Qiyan said. He formed a seal with his hands, his magical energy surging as he lunged toward my chest.

I raised my hand and met him with a direct punch.

*Boom.*

A shockwave erupted. My body swayed slightly, while Wu Qiyan retreated two steps. His expression grew solemn. He knew I was a Level 6 Yin-Yang Master; he was one too. We were at the same rank, but he came from the Kunlun Sect, so he had always been confident that he could crush me.

Yet, this opening exchange had put him on the back foot. He gathered his focus—he had to be serious. Since it had come to this, he couldn't afford to lose.

Wu Qiyan let out a roar, his energy condensing into swords that whistled toward my upper, middle, and lower vitals. I sneered, my figure darting like a phantom. My fist, radiating a piercing light, collided with the sword energy aimed at my upper body with a loud *clang*.

The sword light shattered. Wu Qiyan was shocked, unable to understand how I had instantly identified the feint among his three strikes. Before he could react, I landed a "Yellow Springs Finger" directly on his chest.

He was struck as if by lightning, stumbling back three steps and spitting out a mouthful of blood. A second later, my hand was clamped around his carotid artery.

"You’re Shang Wuwei’s junior brother? Pathetic," I said coldly.

Wu Qiyan was actually quite strong, but he wasn't like me—someone who had roamed the Nether World and died twice on the Path of Trials. My internal energy and mental strength were superior to his, and my combat experience was far deeper. It was no surprise he fell to me in a few moves.

Wu Qiyan’s face turned from pale to green, filled with disbelief. He had been defeated in three moves; had this been a life-or-death battle, he would already be dead. Ling Xu, watching from nearby, was also stunned. He knew exactly who Wu Qiyan was—a disciple of the legendary Kunlun Sword Sect who claimed to be invincible among his peers in the secular world.

Invincible? What a joke. He’d been beaten in seconds.

Just then, the old butler reappeared. "The banquet is about to begin. Everyone, please head to the reception area."

I frowned. Why hadn't Ling Xinyue come back yet?

Before long, the Ling family members had all left, leaving me standing alone.

"Young Master Qin, please head to the banquet hall," the old butler said to me.

"Where is Ling Xinyue?" I asked.

"She will appear shortly with the Patriarch and the Matriarch," the butler replied.

I nodded and headed toward the banquet area. It was set up in a garden outside, decorated in a festive style with dozens of tables arranged for the guests. I saw the Ling Patriarch and Matriarch sitting on the dais in vibrant red robes, while the younger generation lined up to offer their birthday wishes.

I scanned the crowd, but Ling Xinyue was nowhere to be seen.

"Hey," a familiar voice whispered. I turned to see Xie Yanran standing beside me.

"You, the Ling family's son-in-law, seem a bit pathetic right now," she remarked.

I chuckled. The way the Ling family had treated me already felt wrong; as Ling Xinyue’s fiancé, there was no seat arranged for me, as if I were a complete outsider.

"Any inside information?" I asked calmly.

Xie Yanran looked at me with a complex expression. "You don't seem to care at all. Do you have any feelings for Sister Ling at all?"

"That’s not for you to ask," I replied.

Xie Yanran bit her lip, looking at my scar-covered face, and said softly, "You’d better watch yourself. I just heard that your engagement to Sister Ling is facing some changes."

"Thanks," I said simply.

Xie Yanran gave me one last look before heading toward the area where the Xie family was seated. Shortly after she left, another young woman approached me.

I looked at her and smiled. "Shangguan Qingwu, right? Where’s your brother?"

"My brother is afraid you’ll come looking for trouble, so he offered me to you as a consolation—but unfortunately, you’ve already got Ling Xinyue," Shangguan Qingwu said, wrinkling her nose.

"I wouldn't mind having a few more," I joked.

"In your dreams. If things fall through between you and Ling Xinyue today, I’ll take my brother’s advice," she laughed.

I raised an eyebrow. It seemed quite a few people were in on the news.

Just then, the birthday ceremony concluded. Shang Wuwei stepped forward, holding a box. "Junior Shang Wuwei of the Shang family wishes Grandfather Ling a life as vast as the Eastern Sea and as eternal as the Southern Mountains. This is a small token of my esteem; I hope you like it."

As he spoke, he opened the box. Eight Nether Crystals lay inside, radiating a ghostly glow, their potent energy filling the air.

"Intermediate Nether Crystals!" Several Yin-Yang Masters in the crowd gasped. Even primary Nether Crystals were rare treasures for practitioners, worth ten thousand contribution points at the Nine Bureau. An intermediate crystal was worth a hundred primary ones. Its value was, at this moment, a massive fortune.