C20 Wang Yi

"You seem to have taken a liking to that necklace, young lady, and as it happens, I've come across quite the gem."

The playboy ogled Lau Miaoyi without restraint. At his side, a servant hastily presented a box, which he accepted and opened with deliberate slowness. A wave of gentle, healing energy immediately unfurled, causing onlookers to narrow their eyes in avaricious wonder.

"This treasure, which I've gone to great lengths to acquire, is known as the Bright Moon Pearl of the East Sea," Wang Yi boasted, a smug look on his face. "Surely, you've heard of the East China Sea, a place beyond the reach of many. This Bright Moon Pearl is a rare find from the East Sea, known for its soothing properties. Wearing it can shield you from external disturbances during meditation, greatly enhancing your focus and efficiency."

"Do you fancy it?" he inquired, stepping closer to present the East Sea Bright Moon Pearl directly before Lau Miaoyi.

Captivated for a moment by the pearl's azure allure, Lau Miaoyi felt a fleeting desire. However, the playboy before her didn't strike her as trustworthy, and Lau Qing had warned her against stirring up trouble. With measured grace, she replied, "I appreciate the gesture, but I must decline the offer."

At her response, Wang Yi's demeanor shifted abruptly, his expression souring. "Do you have any idea who I am?" he demanded.

"I do not," Lau Miaoyi replied, her brows knitting together.

"Our young master here is the renowned Wang Yi, Young Master Wang himself!" the servant at Wang Yi's side declared with a hint of pride. "The Wang family of True Martial City—does that ring a bell?"

Lau Miaoyi's blank expression only elicited scorn from the servant, who sneered, "The Wang family is a household name in True Martial City. Young Master Wang is the favored youngest son of the family patriarch!"

The crowd, recognizing Wang Yi's influential background, exchanged looks of sympathy for Lau Miaoyi. Falling into the sights of the Wang family could spell disaster for the young woman.

After all, Wang Yi's notoriety was well-earned; he was infamous for exploiting his status to prey upon virtuous women.

"Go warm the bed in my young master's room like a good girl, and you'll be guaranteed a life of endless riches and splendor."

Feeling the awe-filled stares of those around him, the servant's arrogance grew, and he warned, "If you resist, don't blame us for resorting to force to take you back."

"Darling, I'm not fond of violence."

Wang Yi boasted with confidence, "If you're compliant, the Eastern Bright Moon Pearl will be yours, along with a fortune beyond your wildest dreams."

Lau Miaoyi's heart pounded with fury at the threat, but she restrained herself from acting out, recalling Lau Qing's advice to avoid trouble.

"Xiao Ling, we're leaving."

She said, taking Xiao Ling's arm, ready to walk away.

She silently hoped that Wang Yi and his powerful entourage wouldn't pursue them, as causing problems for the Dragon Sect Escort Agency was the last thing she wanted.

But try as she might, she couldn't budge Xiao Ling, which only added to her urgency.

"How much for this necklace?"

Xiao Ling, unfazed, inquired about the simple red necklace Lau Miaoyi was wearing.

"One Essence Stone," replied the vendor.

"I'll take it."

Tossing an Essence Stone to the vendor, Xiao Ling placed the red necklace around Lau Miaoyi's neck and asked with a smile, "Do you like it?"

Caught off guard by his gesture, Lau Miaoyi blushed and nodded in agreement.

"Hmph, a mere trinket worth an Essence Stone. How could it possibly compare to my East Ocean Bright Moon Pearl?"

Wang Yi's eyes darkened with malice as he sneered, "My East Sea Bright Moon Pearl could buy you a whole houseful of such trinkets!"

Wang Yi's face contorted with displeasure as he saw Lau Miaoyi reject his precious pearl for a simple Essence Stone necklace.

It was the first time a woman had ever turned him down.

"Miaoyi, if you don't care for my 'trash,' shall I take it back?" Xiao Ling teased, looking at her.

"No."

Clutching the necklace at her throat, Lau Miaoyi's face radiated joy as she declared, "This is the most precious gift I've ever received, and I won't let anyone take it from me!"

The floorboards creaked ominously as Wang Yi clenched his jaw in rage. To him, Lau Miaoyi and Xiao Ling were flaunting their affection right before his eyes, making his prized East Sea Bright Moon Pearl seem as worthless as dung, failing to capture Miaoyi's attention. His anger blazed, and his ego took a severe hit.

"It appears that without resorting to brute force, some have the audacity to overlook my presence," he sneered.

With a dismissive wave of his hand, his underlings encircled Xiao Ling and Lau Miaoyi, their stares predatory and unrelenting.

At Wang Yi's command, they would leave the man crippled and deliver the woman to the young master's chambers.

"What do you say, my dear? If you wish to spare this boy a life of helplessness in his next incarnation, you'd best come with me willingly," Wang Yi taunted, arms folded across his chest as he looked down at Xiao Ling. "Otherwise, you'll find my methods quite terrifying."

"I've dealt with a couple just like you before. I left the man broken, discarded in my room, forced to watch as I claimed his woman," Wang Yi boasted with a twisted sense of pride, reveling in the memory.

Lau Miaoyi's complexion drained of color, and she instinctively stepped back.

"I'm here," Xiao Ling declared, positioning himself protectively in front of Miaoyi. His gaze was cool and detached, as though he was staring down a corpse. Wang Yi shivered under that look, his embarrassment quickly turning to fury. "It seems I can't escape using force today!" he bellowed.

"Take down the man," he ordered his henchmen. "And the woman—bring her to my room. Once I'm satisfied, she's all yours."

At Wang Yi's command, the servants leered at Lau Miaoyi, their eyes filled with depraved intent.

"Such a shame for the young lovers," one bystander murmured.

"Who can count the number of couples that have fallen prey to Young Master Wang? It's beyond me," another sighed.

"Poor souls. Crossing paths with Wang Yi is a sign of past misdeeds," a third commented.

The onlookers shook their heads and whispered among themselves, their eyes brimming with sympathy for Xiao Ling and Lau Miaoyi. Yet, none dared to intervene, all too wary of incurring Wang Yi's wrath.

It was common knowledge that the Wang family was a prominent clan in True Martial City, with ties to the City Lord's Mansion. The sister of the Wang family patriarch had become the City Lord's concubine, a fact known to all.

As a result, when Wang Yi caused trouble, the city enforcement officers often looked the other way.

"Kid, if you kneel and beg now, you might just have a slim chance," the lead servant sneered. "But if you resist and we accidentally kill you, well, that's just your bad luck."

"Come at me," Xiao Ling challenged, his eyes flashing with a hint of lethal intent. Had they been in the wilds, these men would have already fallen to his sword.

"It seems I need to give you a harsh lesson before you understand the gravity of your situation!" The servants lunged at Xiao Ling, their Yuan Qi bursting forth and swirling around them.

"They're all Nine-star martial cultivators!" The onlookers gasped, stunned that Wang Yi's servants all possessed such formidable strength. It was truly awe-inspiring.

"Boy, you're done for!" they taunted.

Xiao Ling's lips curled into a frosty smirk. He sprang into action, weaving through the crowd.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The servants felt a breeze before a crushing blow to their midsections. Their eyes bulged, and they crumpled to the ground like kites with severed strings, clutching their bellies and retching up their last meal.

The crowd was taken aback by the display. They hadn't expected Xiao Ling's slender frame to harbor such immense power.

Moreover, Xiao Ling's strikes were precise and fierce, targeting vital points without taking lives, rendering his opponents powerless. This earned him silent nods of approval from the martial cultivators watching.

"You're committing an act of rebellion!" Wang Yi's face turned a livid shade of green as he watched his men fall. "Boy, kneel and bow your head in apology, bring her to my chamber, and I might just let you live!"

After his declaration, he unleashed a formidable aura that drew startled glances from the onlookers, their faces a mix of astonishment and disbelief.

"I can't believe Wang Yi has reached the Martial Master Stage—that's just incredible!"

"He's always out drinking and carousing, yet he still managed to break through to the Martial Master Stage. It's enough to make you green with envy."

"If I had access to the Wang family's resources, I'd probably be at the Martial Spirit Stage by now."

The crowd murmured among themselves, their eyes brimming with envy as they looked at Wang Yi.

It's all thanks to having a powerful father, isn't it?

Basking in the envious and resentful stares, Wang Yi couldn't hide his smugness, thoroughly reveling in the attention.

He relished being the topic of conversation!

"Make your move."

Xiao Ling spoke with a calm detachment, eyeing the self-satisfied Wang Yi.

To him, Wang Yi was a simple conquest, his aura betraying his reliance on an abundance of spirit medicine to achieve the Martial Master rank.

"Hurricane Kick!"

Irritated by Xiao Ling's nonchalant demeanor, Wang Yi channeled his Essence into his legs, leaping forward with a ferocious kick aimed at Xiao Ling. The fierce wind from his legs whipped around, drawing the rapt attention of the crowd.

"Such an impressive Martial Skill."

"That Tornado Kick must be at least of the Advanced Yellow Rank."

"After a kick like that, the poor kid's probably done for."

Envy, jealousy, and resentment filled the onlookers as they considered the vast resources at Wang Yi's disposal, enabling him to practice such formidable Martial Skills.

Whoosh!

As Wang Yi's Tornado Kick neared, Xiao Ling finally made his move. With a slight shift of his body, he effortlessly sidestepped the strike.

But he didn't stop there; as he passed by Wang Yi, Xiao Ling delivered a fierce punch that connected squarely with Wang Yi's abdomen.

Puchi!

Wang Yi plummeted from mid-air, clutching his stomach and retching up his last meal, his eyes wide with shock.

He, a formidable Martial Master, had been bested by a mere martial cultivator!

"You!"

Wang Yi glared at Xiao Ling with venomous eyes, his voice laced with menace: "You dare to strike me? You've just signed your death warrant. There's no escaping it now!"

After all, he was the youngest son of the Wang family's patriarch. To strike him was to slap the Wang family itself in the face.

Wang Yi exuded confidence, certain that even if he couldn't best Xiao Ling in combat, the Wang family's mightiest would surely slay him.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

As Wang Yi's threat reached his ears, Xiao Ling let out a cold snort, planting his foot firmly on Wang Yi. "Your background means nothing to me. Make a move against anyone close to me, and your fate is sealed!"