"Aren't you shameless? It only took you one strike to start crying for your mommy," the young man from the Zhou clan sneered.
His gaze shifted to Xuan Yi's waist, but he couldn't spot a jade token that might reveal Xuan Yi's clan. Although Xuan Yi and Tian Wei were dressed relatively well, they still appeared less affluent than him.
"Shameless or not, you wouldn't want to pick a fight with my clan. I can assure you it won't end well for you," Xuan Yi asserted.
"Let Miss Xing come with me, and we can forget about this matter. It has nothing to do with your clan. This is between the Zhou clan and Miss Xing here. If you allow Young Master Zhou Baisheng to take her back, I will remember your cooperation," the young master Zhou Baisheng proposed.
Either this young master of the Zhou clan was truly formidable, or his clan held some terrifying power. Xuan Yi, being mischievous yet cautious, knew better than to engage in a battle without knowing the man's background.
Even though he had little information about Miss Qing as well, leaving her with these clearly intimidating individuals(the Wangs and Zhaos) did not sit well with him.
Even if he typically wouldn't bother to insert himself into other people's conflict, Miss Qing had proven to be a friend when she choose to go with Zhao Baisheng than cause further trouble for Xuan Yi and Tian Wei.
His thoughts raced, but he couldn't come up with a solution that would guarantee the safety of both himself and Miss Qing.
Having run out of patience, the young master of the Zhou clan lunged forward and rushed towards Miss Qing. At that moment, Xuan Yi made a swift decision. He gathered his energy, allowing it to erupt fiercely from his slender frame. He carried no weapon, but he wasn't too bad with fists and techniques.
His energy gathered before him, materializing into swirling tendrils of radiant light that assumed the shape of rattan vines. The multitude of vines intertwined and surged forward like a venomous serpent.
"Hmm?" Tian Wei, who had been standing on the sidelines with disinterest, looked up in surprise. Although it was still no match for his own abilities, he couldn't deny the strength of the technique. He realized that the reason Xuan Yi hadn't used it during their previous confrontation was because he had launched his attack too swiftly and forcefully, leaving no opportunity for Xuan Yi to retaliate.
In midair, Young Master Zhou Baisheng swiftly retreated, retracting his initial assault and shifting into a defensive stance. He unfurled his fan completely, summoning a shield of swirling chi that erupted before him, bearing the brunt of the vine's force. The rattan vines attack had caught him off guard, forcing him to exert more effort than anticipated in order to maintain his balance.
Young Master Zhou Baisheng took a deep breath and, with his other hand, gathered a formidable force before smashing his palm onto the unfurled fan. A seismic wave of energy erupted from the fan, surging through the air, and went rushing through the vine shattering where it touched into countless fragments.
Witnessing the sudden turn of events, Qing Fu swiftly summoned a long sword and, with all his might, slashed through the air. An arc of raw power surged forth like an intense storm, hurtling towards Young Master Zhou Baisheng.
The wave of energy unleashed by the young master collided with the combined force of the rattan vines and Qing Fu's sword energy. Though the impact slowed its momentum, it was not fully restrained. Breaking through their defense, it sent both parties flying backward, forcing them to take several steps back.
"Zhou Baisheng, please hold back. I shall go with you. Master Xuan Yi has offended you, please take it out on me," Qing Fu quickly cupped her hand and pleaded.
"You don't need to kiss up to a scoundrel like him. I do not know the trouble between you two, but I know a scum when I see one," Xuan Yi hissed through gritted teeth.
"You are too weak to speak to me like that. Since you don't know the height of the heavens, I shall teach you on behalf of your father," Zhou Baisheng cried out in anger and gathered his chi once again. He was going to ensure this Xuan Yi can't walk for days.
"You should make sure you are willing to accept the wrath of the Yang clan before you make your next attack," Xuan Yi said wryly. His fist didn't have the might to wound the foe before him, but his words might buy them some time.
Xuan Yi's words struck Zhou Baisheng with shocking surprise. He was all too familiar with the Yang clan.
Zhou Baisheng wasn't the only one taken aback. Xuan Yi's companions were also thrown off guard. Just moments before, he had been admonishing Tian Wei for assuming the identity of a Yang clan member, yet now he was openly flaunting it in public.
Whispers erupted among the onlookers who stood at a distance. They were frenzied by the possibility of what they thought they had heard. "Did he say Yang?" "Could this young man truly be from the Yang clan?" "What Yang clan? He's probably just pretending." "Oh, what a terrible fate awaits imposters of the Yang clan..."
After taking a moment to gather himself, Zhou Baisheng arrived at the same conclusion as the crowd. This young man was nothing more than an impostor.
"You have the balls, I'll give you that. You think that—"
"Whether I have the balls or not, why don't you give it a try? Perhaps then you will find out," Xuan Yi interrupted boldly.