8: Chapter 8 Huang Laifu's Surprise

Becoming more and more excited as he spoke, Shangguan Feng's expression gradually turned sinister:

"You want it? Fine, kneel down and kowtow properly to apologize for being so ungrateful at that day's gathering. If I'm in a good mood, I'll let you have a few sips!"

Xu Changsheng remained silent, his gaze looking at him as if he were a clown.

Seeing this, Zhao Wujiu, who was standing to the side, rubbed his hands excitedly and jumped out, intentionally spreading his legs and pointing at his crotch:

"Right, right, right, Brother Shangguan is correct."

"Xu Changsheng, if you want to apologize, just doing so to Brother Shangguan isn't enough. I want one too. My request isn't high; just crawl through here, haha!"

"Slap!"

Right then, Zhao Wujiu's vision went dark as he took a heavy blow to the cheek.

A red mark suddenly appeared on his face.

"Xu Changsheng, you dare hit me? See if I don't beat you to death!"

He jerked his head up, only to see Wang Ye's face.

"Shopkeeper Wang, why did you...?"

Wang Ye's face was frosty, no longer possessing his previous easy-going appearance.

"Xu Changsheng is a distinguished guest of my Hundred Treasures Pavilion. I will not allow you two to act so insolently here!"

He had just received a message from Xie Wantang, learning that Xu Changsheng had already agreed to become a Guest Elder of the Xie Family, so he naturally came out immediately to offer his congratulations.

He hadn't expected to witness this scene upon stepping out.

A First-rank Mid-grade Talisman Master like Xu Changsheng was a rarity even within the Xie Family. If he were to be mistreated in the Hundred Treasures Pavilion and decided to quit, Wang Ye would be the one to suffer for it.

Zhao Wujiu withdrew his raised hand and touched his crooked face, muttering like a mistreated little wife:

"Shopkeeper Wang, you must have seen wrong. Xu Changsheng is just a Spirit Farmer—no, a Spirit Farmer without any spirit fields. How could he be a distinguished guest of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion?"

Shangguan Feng sensed that something was wrong and hurriedly stepped forward to explain: "Shopkeeper Wang, is there some misunderstanding here?"

"Slap!"

Wang Ye slapped Zhao Wujiu's other cheek until it swelled:

"Whether there is or not, I know much better than you. Fellow Daoist Xu is a First-rank Mid-grade Talisman Master, not someone a practitioner of an unpopular immortal cultivation craft like yours can compare to."

As soon as these words were spoken...

"Hiss!"

Both of them sucked in a breath of cold air.

The smile on Shangguan Feng's face instantly shattered, his complexion turning pale. He subconsciously took half a step back, his lips slightly parted, but no sound came out.

His previous smugness, calculations, and sense of superiority were crushed to pieces at this moment.

Zhao Wujiu fared even worse; his legs went weak, and he collapsed directly to the ground. The pain in his cheeks was far less than the fear in his heart. He looked at Xu Changsheng as if he were seeing him for the first time.

In an instant, the roles of attacker and defender had swapped.

Wu Laoxie's old face first showed shock, then twisted into a smile that looked like a blooming chrysanthemum.

This boy could achieve great things; he really hadn't misjudged him.

In the corner, a somewhat dazed Wu Qingqing covered her vermillion lips in surprise upon hearing that Xu Changsheng was actually a First-rank Mid-grade Talisman Master.

The shock to her was no less than Shangguan Feng's earlier mention of her becoming a Concubine.

It seemed...

Every decision she had made was wrong. Fawning over Shangguan Feng and Huang Laifu while belittling Xu Changsheng—she had been too outrageously wrong.

Her beautiful eyes looked at Xu Changsheng, who stood in the middle of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion with a calm and composed demeanor.

A strange glint flashed in her eyes.

At this moment, Xu Changsheng's image grew much taller in her heart, as if returning to the time when he had brought her back to Liuyun Market years ago.

At that moment.

Wang Ye turned to look at Xu Changsheng: "Fellow Daoist Xu, I apologize for the display. I hope you weren't startled."

Xu Changsheng gave a faint smile: "Not at all, it was just some noisy chatter. However, what they said just now was truly unpleasant. Shouldn't I be given an explanation?"

Hearing this, Wang Ye immediately looked at Shangguan Feng with a serious expression: "Of course. You two, quickly offer your apologies to Fellow Daoist Xu."

"There's no need for gifts, as I haven't received any Spirit Wine after all. An apology will suffice."

Under Wang Ye's cold gaze, Shangguan Feng and Zhao Wujiu walked forward with awkward expressions.

"I'm sorry, Fellow Daoist Xu. I have offended you previously."

"Brother Xu, it was my, Zhao Wujiu's, foul mouth. I was blinded by greed. Please, as a person of great stature, don't lower yourself to my level."

The corner of Xu Changsheng's mouth curled up: "Is that all?"

"You... what else do you want?" Zhao Wujiu's lips trembled as he spoke shakily.

"It's simple. Just demonstrate what This Xu was asked to do just now."

"You dare!"

Hearing that he was expected to kneel, Shangguan Feng was instantly enraged. He had been born into a Mortal Imperial Family; when had he ever suffered such humiliation?

Zhao Wujiu also looked reluctant, showing no intention of kneeling whatsoever.

"How audacious!"

Wang Ye shouted sternly, while simultaneously releasing the full pressure of his Ninth Level of Qi Refining cultivation, weighing down on Shangguan Feng and Zhao Wujiu.

"Do you still want to stay in Liuyun Market? If you do, kneel down immediately!"

Feeling the immense pressure.

Zhao Wujiu was the first to give in, falling heavily to the ground with a "thud."

Shangguan Feng's knuckles turned white from clenching, and the corners of his eyes twitched uncontrollably. Unable to withstand the pressure, he dropped to one knee.

Xu Changsheng nodded in satisfaction.

Suddenly.

"Tap, tap."

Footsteps sounded from outside the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.

Shangguan Feng seemed to think of something and hurriedly pulled Zhao Wujiu up, looking toward the door.

A plump, oily figure just happened to step into the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.

It was none other than Huang Laifu.

Like seeing an oasis in a desert or catching a piece of rotten wood before drowning, the two rushed behind Huang Laifu.

"Senior Huang, you're finally here! This Xu Changsheng is too arrogant; he actually wanted the two of us to kneel and apologize to him."

"I don't know when he became a First-rank Mid-grade Talisman Master, and Shopkeeper Wang is even siding with him."

"Senior Huang, you must uphold justice for us! I have never been so humiliated in my life. It's one thing for me to kneel, but he doesn't even respect you, saying it would be useless even if you came!"

After hearing the context and the exaggerated account of events, a flash of surprise crossed Huang Laifu's eyes.

He hadn't expected that after just a few months, not only had this Xu Changsheng not been expelled from the market, but he had even become a First-rank Mid-grade Talisman Master?

Seeing Huang Laifu, Wang Ye reined in his previous arrogant posture: "Fellow Daoist Huang, you should properly discipline your people. What's the meaning of coming to my Hundred Treasures Pavilion to run wild?"

Huang Laifu responded sharply: "That's not right, Fellow Daoist Wang. From what I've heard, Fellow Daoist Zhao only used some sharp words, while Fellow Daoist Xu actually carried out the humiliation."

Seeing this.

Xu Changsheng's eyes narrowed slightly. He finally understood why the three of them had targeted him so aggressively at the gathering that day; it must have been under Huang Laifu's instructions.

Facing Huang Laifu's questioning.

Wang Ye didn't want to cause any more trouble. After all, Huang Laifu was his colleague in a sense, and his cultivation had reached the Late Stage of Qi Refining. It wasn't wise to openly fall out with him.

He intended to settle the matter: "How about this? Let's leave it at that for today. We'll both take a step back. My Hundred Treasures Pavilion still has business to conduct."

Huang Laifu pushed his luck: "No. Shangguan Feng and Zhao Wujiu are my people. Humiliating them is the same as humiliating me. You know the crime for insulting a Market Deacon, don't you?"

"What a baseless accusation. Fellow Daoist Huang, you are being somewhat unreasonable."

Wang Ye rubbed the token at his waist, quietly notifying Xie Wantang upstairs. In the current situation, even he found things a bit difficult to handle.

Huang Laifu chuckled: "Fellow Daoist Wang, you're overstating things. I'm merely acting according to the market's regulations."