41: Yingfeng Tower

The imperial capital of Yanshan Kingdom is a large city with millions of inhabitants.

The situation within the city is complex, with major powers establishing strongholds in the imperial capital.

The Luan Family is one of the seven major local families in the imperial capital.

Its industries span various fields, with service sectors like restaurants, inns, and brothels being particularly prominent.

Yingfeng Tower (Tower Facing the Wind) is located in a bustling area not far from the imperial city, making it the largest restaurant in the imperial capital and one of the Luan Family's core businesses.

Those who frequent this place are either incredibly wealthy, highly influential, or possess extraordinary power.

Inside a private room on the third floor of the restaurant, several scions of aristocratic families were repeatedly toasting one person.

This man had sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, an elegant demeanor, and his daoist robe gave him an ethereal quality.

"Brother Chen, I'll toast you again. It's truly a blessing to have you as our guest today."

The man addressed as Brother Chen was Chen Yuan, and he saw another person offering a toast.

He raised his wine glass in acknowledgment and then drained it.

It wasn't that he was arrogant; it was simply that he had spent many years cultivating in his sect and wasn't well-versed in social etiquette.

"Brother Chen truly has a remarkable capacity for drink."

The man offering the toast complimented him and refilled Chen Yuan's glass.

"It is said that at the imperial palace banquet, the nation's young talents will compete, and the winner will receive a mysterious grand prize."

"Brother Chen, your visit to the imperial capital this time must be for His Majesty's birthday banquet."

Chen Yuan heard this and replied, "It's not specifically for that reason. My main purpose for leaving the sect this time is to travel and gain experience. A few days ago, I coincidentally met the Third Prince and accepted his invitation to come."

The man who had just offered the toast was the owner of Yingfeng Tower (Tower Facing the Wind).

He was Luan Yuqing, the eldest legitimate son of the current head of the Luan Family, and also a follower of the Third Prince.

His invitation to Chen Yuan to this banquet was to win him over for the Third Prince.

Hearing Chen Yuan mention the Third Prince, he quickly stepped forward and chimed in:

"The Third Prince widely embraces heroes from all over the world. He is gentle, refined, and magnanimous. He treats his friends with courtesy and puts others before himself."

The other few individuals were also followers of the Third Prince, and seeing Luan Yuqing speak, they all rose and began to praise the Third Prince.

Suddenly, an untimely voice echoed in everyone's ears.

"To flatter like that, it's truly unprecedented and unmatched!"

Everyone stopped what they were doing, exchanged glances, and wondered who was so audacious.

Chen Yuan also stood up, pointing to the next room: "The sound came from over there."

Upon hearing this, everyone clearly showed expressions of disbelief.

This private room had been specially treated, and its soundproofing was excellent, making it very difficult for outside sounds to penetrate.

Yet, that voice just now seemed to have resounded in everyone's ears.

Luan Yuqing's eyes darted left and right, then he started walking towards the door.

"Someone, go find out who's next door."

The imperial capital is a place where dragons and fish are mixed, and one cannot act rashly before clarifying the other party's identity.

A moment later, a Xiao Si (Attendant) hurried over.

He respectfully bowed to Luan Yuqing and whispered:

"Reporting, Young Master, the manager said that person looks unfamiliar, he hasn't been seen in the imperial capital. The manager saw that he was generous and had an extraordinary demeanor, so he arranged for him to be in the VIP private room."

The manager of this Yingfeng Tower (Tower Facing the Wind) was well-acquainted with all the influential figures of the imperial capital's major and minor powers, yet he had never seen this person.

Luan Yuqing frowned and muttered to himself, "It seems like an outsider, a country bumpkin who doesn't know his place."

"You, go take a few men and drag him out for me. I want to see where he gets the guts to dare to criticize the Third Prince."

Xiao Si (Attendant) often handled such matters and skillfully led three men towards the private room.

Upon reaching the private room door, Xiao Si (Attendant) raised his foot and kicked the door open. As soon as he entered the room, he heard a shout: "Get out!"

No sooner had the voice fallen than Xiao Si (Attendant) flew out, his body bent, knocking down the other three men at the door.

The men lay on the ground, groaning in pain, unable to get up for a while.

Luan Yuqing, standing not far away, frowned even deeper: "He's a tough one."

While he was hesitating, Chen Yuan and the others also heard the noise and walked out together.

"Brother Luan, what happened just now?" Chen Yuan glanced at the few people lying on the ground in the distance.

"Brother Chen, I apologize for startling you. It's nothing major."

"I sent a few Xiao Si (Attendant) to investigate who was speaking presumptuously just now, but unexpectedly, the person inside attacked them without a word."

Luan Yuqing embellished the story.

"Under the Son of Heaven's rule, in broad daylight, there are actually such scoundrels."

"Brother Luan, please wait a moment. I will go and seek justice for you," Chen Yuan said, showing great loyalty.

Luan Yuqing feigned annoyance: "How could I allow that? Brother Chen is my esteemed guest; this matter should be handled by me."

"Brother Luan treats me as an honored guest. If Brother Luan is in trouble, how can I stand by idly? I'll be right back."

After speaking, Chen Yuan walked directly to that private room. Luan Yuqing and the others quickly followed behind him.

Chen Yuan had already prepared his words, but as he entered the private room and saw the person sitting inside, he was momentarily stunned.

He exclaimed in surprise, "It's you?"

"You recognize me?" the person in the private room said without emotion.

Chen Yuan composed himself and said, "That day on Heavenly Saint Mountain, I was also present."

The person in the private room was Lin Mu, who had just arrived in the imperial capital.

Hearing him say this, Lin Mu didn't respond further, but instead continued to drink his wine.

Chen Yuan was left standing there, unsure whether to advance or retreat.

That day on Heavenly Saint Mountain, Chen Yuan was the third person to cause the heavenly dao bell to vibrate.

Although he failed to ring the heavenly dao bell, in the younger generation, he was a figure comparable to the Ninth Prince of Yan Country and the princess of Wind and Snow Country.

It wasn't until Lin Mu's appearance that his sense of pride was shattered.

Although his talent was outstanding, and he was one of the top three prodigies in the entire Taixu Sect, he was only at the Flying Heaven Realm Ninth Heaven.

Lin Mu not only rang the heavenly dao bell but also repelled Xiao Zhantian, a Venerable Realm expert, with sheer physical strength.

What kind of person was Xiao Zhantian?

He was a Venerable Ninth Heaven Realm super expert who had long been famous throughout the world.

His own Taixu Sect, although also affiliated with the Taixu Sect, had a sect master who was only at the Venerable Eighth Heaven.

After Lin Mu entered Heaven Sect Academy, everyone sent this news back to their respective factions.

And they sent people to guard the mountain, but until today, Lin Mu hadn't been seen leaving, so they didn't expect him to appear here.

When Lin Mu left Heaven Sect Academy, he concealed his spiritual power and returned directly to his sect from high in the sky.

Those guarding Heavenly Saint Mountain, thinking that Heavenly Saint Mountain had an aerial restriction, didn't pay attention to the movements in the sky.

Thinking of this, cold sweat streamed down Chen Yuan's back; he had actually intended to cause trouble for such a figure.

Luan Yuqing, who entered a few steps behind, saw the scene of the two.

After a brief thought, he looked at Lin Mu, who was still drinking, and said:

"Who are you, sir? Why did you mock us without cause and injure my servants?"

Chen Yuan was about to stop him from continuing, but Lin Mu put down his wine glass and spoke with disdain:

"Filthy wretches, I say what I want to say, and I hit who I want to hit. Do I need a reason?"

Luan Yuqing didn't expect Lin Mu to be so arrogant, completely disregarding them.

As the eldest son of the Luan Family, one of the seven great families,

and an honored guest of the Third Prince, when had he ever been spoken to like this?

"Good, good, good!"

"An outsider, a country bumpkin, accustomed to being arrogant in his own small territory."

"Now he's come to the imperial capital to run wild."

"Today, This Young Master will make you pay for your ignorance."