Chapter Thirty-Two Conflict (Second Update!)

If one were to say that Second Brother Xiao’s outrageous antics had any effect at all, it would be that Ye Feng was forced to leave his quarters for a walk. At this moment, Ye Feng lounged lazily in a grand armchair in the garden of his private courtyard, seething with indignation.

“Damn it... Utterly ridiculous! This is infuriating! Why should I go out, just to be gawked at like some animal? I’m not going, not even if they drag me out. If anyone dares to bother me again, I’ll beat him so badly his own mother won’t recognize him…”

Chitter, chitter…

Not far away, a monkey with silvery fur sprawled comfortably on another grand armchair, echoing Ye Feng’s complaints with a few approving squeaks. In its opinion, these days of food served at will and basking in the sun beside Ye Feng were truly idyllic.

While Ye Feng and the monkey soaked up the sunlight, stewing in their discontent, a figure darted through the gate of Ye Feng’s courtyard. Upon closer look, it was a family peer named Ye Hong. Thanks to Ye Feng’s spiritual fruits, dozens within the Ye family had now advanced to the Postnatal Realm, and Ye Hong was among those who had benefited.

When Ye Feng spotted Ye Hong, the latter saw him too. Ye Hong’s eyes first flashed with delight, but then, recalling something, his expression shifted uncertainly, and he froze in place.

Glancing at Ye Hong, Ye Feng noticed his face was bruised and swollen, as if he’d just taken a heavy beating—he looked utterly disheveled.

Ye Hong stood there, looking at Ye Feng, wanting to approach, but having overheard Ye Feng’s muttering earlier, he hesitated, caught in a dilemma.

With a sigh, Ye Feng rose and walked over. “What’s happened?” he asked.

Ye Hong cast Ye Feng a slightly fearful glance, hesitated, then said, “Xiao Ying was bullied by some young members of the Sun family from the capital. I came to find you... to ask for your help…”

As he spoke, Ye Hong’s face flushed red with shame, and he couldn’t help but lower his head.

“There were about ten of you out today, right? And three who’ve reached the Postnatal level. How could you get bullied? Wasn’t Long with you?” Ye Feng was surprised and questioned further.

At this, Ye Hong’s cheeks reddened even more. He himself was one of the three who had reached the Postnatal Realm, but now was not the time for explanations. He hurriedly replied, “Young Master Long went out with the family head, so he wasn’t with us. And… the one who clashed with us was Sun Dao. He’s the third-ranked among the Sun family’s younger generation and has reached mid-level Postnatal strength. We three stood no chance against him.”

Ye Feng’s brows knitted in thought. After a moment’s pause, he beckoned to the monkey. “Take me to see.”

No matter what, he was still a member of the Ye family—especially after the ambush by the other two great clans, his aversion toward his own kin had greatly diminished.

Chitter, chitter…

With a flash of silver, the monkey zipped onto Ye Feng’s shoulder.

Seeing this, Ye Hong’s face lit up with joy. He knew that even this strange monkey alone could send innate-level experts fleeing in defeat. And the ones causing trouble today were only Postnatal-level cultivators.

“We were just strolling about, when we ran into those bastards from the Sun family. Miss Xiao wanted to visit ‘Moon Pavilion,’ but those jerks mocked us, saying our cultivation was too low and we weren’t allowed in. They insisted that Xiao Ying drink a toast with them before letting us enter. We couldn’t bear it, so Ye Mo fought them…”

Leading the way, Ye Hong recounted the incident. “But they had the numbers—five or six of them were at the Postnatal level. And there was Sun Dao…”

The two of them hurried toward Moon Pavilion, one of the most prosperous districts in all of Shrouded Heaven City, though quite some distance from the Ye estate.

About fifteen minutes later, they arrived at Moon Pavilion, which stood atop a manmade lake spanning several hundred acres. In the heart of the lake, pavilions surrounded by lotus blossoms created a poetic scene. Corridors connected the buildings, and the dozens of pavilions forming a great circle were collectively called the Moon Pavilion. Outside, the lake was dotted with unknown flowers in full bloom, a breathtaking sight.

At the center of the circular pavilions was a massive martial arena called ‘Wild Battle,’ which would soon host the city’s upcoming sacred duel.

This was considered one of the high-end locales of Shrouded Heaven City—only those of some standing could enter.

At this moment, a crowd had gathered outside the ‘Wild Battle’ arena, watching two groups face off inside.

Both sides were young, but the tension was palpable.

The Sun family, a powerful clan from the capital, had always carried themselves with an air of superiority from the moment they entered Shrouded Heaven City. Even when visiting the Ye family, the Sun youths retained their arrogance, showing not a shred of respect.

“Miss Xiao, just agree to share a drink with me, and I’ll let today’s matter rest! Otherwise, I won’t mind tossing these savages into the lake,” declared a youth dressed in splendid clothes, standing proudly among the Sun family’s group, addressing the Ye family’s young members surrounded in the center.

“Sun Dao, don’t go too far!” Across from him, the burly Ye Mo pointed angrily. But he too looked a bit battered, clearly having just been in a scuffle.

“And what will you do about it? Among your Ye family’s younger generation, how many are worth anything at all? In my city, even a random youth could take on all of you together. Not just your Ye family—among all the young people of Shrouded Heaven City, who could compare to my eldest brother? A bunch of country bumpkins!” Sun Dao’s lips curled into a mocking sneer.

“I say, just toss them in the lake. Next time they see a Sun, maybe they’ll think twice,” added a youth in yellow beside Sun Dao.

“Exactly, why waste words with them? Of all the Ye family’s younger generation, only that Ye Long is half decent, but he’s just like his useless brother—always off playing somewhere. I heard he’s gone off on another jaunt recently,” the boy in yellow finished, and the youth beside him nodded in agreement.

Hearing this, Ye Mo’s face darkened. Among their group, only he and Ye Hong had barely reached the Postnatal level, while the other side boasted five or six such cultivators.

Not to mention Sun Dao, who had already reached mid-level Postnatal strength—they stood no chance.

“Boring. Since Miss Xiao won’t oblige, toss these Ye family wastes in the lake and let’s get on with our fun. The younger generation here is so feeble—I wonder what was going through Uncle Xiao’s mind, arranging a marriage alliance with them…” Sun Dao waved his hand, losing interest.

At his words, Xiao Ying, dressed in a pale yellow gown, her cheeks flushed with indignation, suddenly burst forth, charging at Sun Dao. “Don’t you dare insult my father!”

“Miss, save Miss Xiao—” Ye Mo and the others, seeing the scene unfold, quickly gathered their spiritual energy and rushed forward.

But the gap in strength was too great. The two Sun family youths who had spoken earlier erupted with faint auras of spiritual power, faces full of disdain as they advanced on the Ye family youths.

“Ha! Miss Xiao, have you changed your mind and decided to throw yourself at me?” Sun Dao blocked his guards with a wave, rubbing his hands together with a leering grin as he stepped forward to intercept the furious Xiao Ying.

“If you so much as lay a finger on her, I’ll cut off that hand,” came a languid voice from behind, just as Sun Dao was about to reach Xiao Ying.