Chapter Seventy-Four: To Forgive When Possible

Courtyard.

Wang Ran remained seated with an air of indifference, occasionally sampling a piece of fruit. At his feet sprawled Chu Yichen and a group of pampered young nobles, unable to move, their mouths busy with curses.

“You brat, I’m from the Northwest Fu family! If you dare touch me, you’re as good as dead!” snarled a tall, thin scion with a bruise on his cheek, his limbs pressed deep into the earth as he glared at Wang Ran.

The Fu family of the Northwest was on the same level as Zhu Tianyun and Qin Yu—ordinarily, they would never have crossed paths with Chu Yichen’s circle. But this particular wastrel was adept at currying favor, his temperament matching Chu Yichen’s, and had managed to worm his way into his entourage.

Now, he joined his companions in shouting threats at Wang Ran.

“Let us go, or the Qiao family won’t spare you!”

“That’s right! When I get home, I’ll have my grandfather see to it that you’re sliced to pieces!”

“Damn it, you dare force me to kneel? You’re dead meat!”

Faced with these threats, the onlookers could only click their tongues in amazement.

“He’s offending so many noble scions at once—what could he possibly be thinking?”

“Exactly. Any one of these young dandies alone is nothing to fear, but together, they’re a force to be reckoned with.”

“Besides the Chu family, several others here are Jindan clans, plus some prodigies from minor sects. Offending so many at once, unless he’s got serious backing, he’s doomed!”

Zhu Tianyun and Qin Yu watched anxiously, powerless to intervene, while the youngest disciple and Wang Ran appeared unconcerned, eating and drinking as if nothing were amiss.

Chu Yichen, still prone on the ground, sneered coldly, no longer bothering to curse. He suppressed his anger, waiting for his sister to arrive and rescue him.

Yet his gaze remained venomous, fixed on Wang Ran.

At that moment, a voice rang out from beyond the gates, carrying an irresistible aura that swept across the courtyard.

“I’d like to see who dares cause trouble at the banquet of prodigies!”

At the sound of this, faces changed, and the crowd settled in with the anticipation of a spectacle.

“Steward Huang has arrived!”

“Huang Hui Feng is a Jindan cultivator. With him stepping in, things are about to get interesting.”

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“Yes, Steward Huang might seem smooth, but he’s ruthless at heart. With the Chu family’s influence, he certainly wouldn’t wish to offend them. If you ask me, that boy is finished!”

“The last time someone caused trouble, their meridians were severed throughout their body!”

“Hmph, that’s what comes of sticking your neck out.”

“I told you, minding other people’s business will get you killed.”

The crowd stood aside, watching with cold amusement, as if viewing a play.

Chu Yichen, still prone, trembled, a spark of hope lighting his eyes as he called out as if seeing his savior, “Steward Huang, you’re finally here! Please help me! And that boy—he’s causing trouble at the banquet of prodigies, showing utter disregard for Luoyun City!”

“If you ask me, his meridians should be cut, his cultivation abolished, and he should be executed by slow slicing!”

Yet, despite Chu Yichen’s venomous words, Huang Hui Feng, whose Jindan pressure filled the air, remained unmoved. He stood there, a flicker of surprise deep in his eyes.

Suddenly, to everyone’s astonishment, Steward Huang, furious just moments before, switched instantly to a beaming smile. Without so much as a glance at Chu Yichen, he walked directly toward the smiling youth, his demeanor tinged with humility.

“I am Huang Hui Feng, steward of Luoyun City. Young man, are you Wang Ran, beloved disciple of Elder Chen?” Huang Hui Feng clasped his hands in greeting, then leaned in to whisper softly in the youth’s ear.

Wang Ran found it amusing. Huang Hui Feng was indeed smooth; had he not recognized Wang Ran, his attitude would have been quite different, perhaps already allied with the Chu family against him.

But Wang Ran kept his thoughts to himself, returning a mild smile, “Steward Huang, you know me?”

Huang Hui Feng laughed heartily, “How could I not, young Wang? Your esteemed master’s fame shakes the world. As his cherished disciple, those of us who have benefited from Elder Chen’s kindness would not dare fail to recognize you. Is your master well these days?”

His words flowed smoothly, and Wang Ran gave him face, nodding in return, “Thank you for your concern, Steward Huang. My master is well, currently traveling in Yunzhou.”

Upon hearing this, Huang Hui Feng became even more deferential. He knew that if he handled today’s events poorly and angered that Nascent Soul cultivator, no matter how vast Yunzhou was, he would not escape retribution.

He immediately adopted an even more intimate attitude toward Wang Ran.

Meanwhile, the surrounding cultivators were dumbfounded, their minds reeling.

“What... what’s going on?”

“Steward Huang isn’t angry? He’s treating that youth with such respect?”

“Who is this boy, really?”

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“Incredible! Could he have more sway than the Chu family?”

“No wonder, no wonder he’s so fearless!”

The crowd stared at Wang Ran with utterly transformed gazes, filled with awe and speculation.

At the same time, the cruel smile on Chu Yichen’s face froze, replaced by shock and fury.

“No, no, why is this happening? Steward Huang, this boy has violated the rules of the banquet—you should teach him a lesson! If you act, the Chu family will reward you handsomely!”

Chu Yichen’s outburst drew sympathetic looks from the crowd; the young master still hadn’t grasped the situation.

Among them, Bei Minglie’s expression changed dramatically. He hadn’t expected Huang Hui Feng to treat Wang Ran with such respect.

It made no sense—information about the Weiwo Sect was strictly contained; there was no way Huang Hui Feng could know Wang Ran was an inner disciple!

Bei Minglie puzzled over it, unable to unravel the mystery, and the failure of his scheme left his face dark.

At this moment, Huang Hui Feng turned to Chu Yichen, still prone on the ground, and exclaimed in feigned surprise, “Ah, isn’t this Young Master Chu? What are you doing down there? Who did this to you?”

The contrast between Huang Hui Feng’s theatrical concern and Chu Yichen’s humiliated, furious expression amused everyone present.

Finally, Chu Yichen realized the situation. He bit his lip, his face dark with rage, feeling as though he’d been slapped—his cheeks burning.

So much for the help he’d always relied upon—what a farce!

“A dignified leader of the Haoran Alliance, a prodigy of his generation—why bully my good-for-nothing little brother so? Would it not be better to show mercy where mercy is due? What do you say, Brother Wang?”

Just then, a cool, clear voice echoed from the doorway, ringing in everyone’s ears. Chu Yichen’s heart leapt with joy.

Wang Ran straightened, squinting toward the figure approaching from afar.

Chu Yingxuan!