Hiss!
The gasps from the crowd were louder this time. To call one of the most powerful sects in the Great Han Kingdom "insignificant" was a level of arrogance they had never witnessed.
Rong Yanan was not finished. Her smile remained, but it was now the smile of a predator toying with its prey.
"On the contrary, Elder Jian," she said, her head tilting inquisitively, "I am curious. Does your esteemed Sect Master know that you are here, using the name of the Sky Sword Sect to make such outrageous demands? Does he know you are threatening my master's disciple?"
The color drained from Jian Zihan's face. The cold arrogance was completely gone, replaced by a stark, calculating alarm.
Rong Yanan had turned the tables perfectly. She was no longer defending; she was accusing. She was questioning his authority and implying that his actions were unauthorized and could bring catastrophic repercussions upon his own sect.
Behind him, Patriarch Ji Shan's face turned ashen and deeply gloomy. He had known about Lin Feng's master, of course. His intelligence had suggested that the master was a reclusive expert who rarely interfered in his disciple's worldly struggles. He had calculated that the master would not step in over a business dispute, even a forceful one.
This was a grave miscalculation.
He had not anticipated that the master valued Lin Feng so highly, nor that he would send a representative as formidable as this woman, who dared to speak to a Sky Sword Sect Elder with such blatant contempt.
The entire dynamic of the power struggle had shifted in a single moment. The Lin Clan was no longer a local power facing a mighty sect; they were now the protected party of an even more mysterious and terrifying power.
The avenue was utterly silent, every person holding their breath. The fate of Fortune City's balance of power seemed to rest on the next words spoken between the woman in white and the shaken sword cultivator.
"Hahaha!"
Suddenly, the tense stalemate was broken by a hearty, booming laugh that seemed to dispel the lingering frost in the air. All heads turned to see a dignified middle-aged man walking into the avenue, followed by a small, elite delegation of city guards.
He wore robes of deep azure, embroidered with the symbol of Fortune City—a coiled dragon clutching a golden coin. His aura was vast and deep, not sharp and aggressive like Jian Zihan's, but heavy and authoritative, like the weight of the city itself.
This was City Lord Su.
Lin Zhen and the other patriarchs immediately stood up from their seats, offering respectful bows. "City Lord Su! Welcome!"
City Lord Su smiled genially, his eyes crinkling at the corners. He first looked at Jian Zihan, his expression polite but devoid of any particular deference.
"This must be an elder from the prestigious Sky Sword Sect. Welcome to our humble Fortune City."
Jian Zihan, whose arrogance had been thoroughly checked by Rong Yanan, merely gave a curt, silent nod. He could afford to be haughty with the local clans, but not with this man.
As an elder of the Sky Sword Sect, he was privy to certain intelligence. He knew that City Lord Su's background was… complicated. He was not just a simple city administrator; he had connections that reached into the highest echelons of the Great Han Kingdom's imperial court.
This was a man who could not be offended in the slightest.
Satisfied with the acknowledgment, City Lord Su then turned his warm smile towards Rong Yanan. His demeanor shifted subtly, becoming more familiar. "Miss Rong, it has been a long time since I last had the pleasure of meeting your esteemed master. I wonder if the old man is doing well?"
Rong Yanan, who had been cool and aloof with Jian Zihan, responded with polite respect. "City Lord Su. My master is doing well, thank you for your concern. He is, as always, busy with his pursuits."
City Lord Su let out another booming laugh. "Haha! It would be a surprise if he wasn't busy!"
His words, light and cheerful, carried a heavy implication for those listening closely. He was openly stating his familiarity with Lin Feng's master, reinforcing the Lin Clan's suddenly formidable backing.
The patriarchs of the Ji, Nangong, Wang, and Zhou Clans exchanged looks. Their expressions were a mixture of frustration, anger, and grim acceptance. Their plan for a swift, overwhelming takeover was in shambles.
The Lin Clan was no longer isolated. They had the mysterious backing of Old Man Tian, demonstrated by Rong Yanan's power and attitude, and now the clear, public support of City Lord Su.
However, all was not lost. The political and military pressure had failed, but the planned competition was still on the table. They could still achieve a measure of victory and humiliate the Lin Clan on their own turf.
Seeing the immediate crisis defused, Lin Zhen smoothly stepped forward. "City Lord Su, please, your seats are prepared. Let the banquet begin!"
The atmosphere, while still charged with underlying tension, shifted into a more festive, if strained, mood. The guests were seated according to their status. Delicate dishes and fine spirit wine were served. Laughter and conversation resumed, though it was more guarded and observant than before.
It was during this lull, as the third course was being cleared, that Patriarch Nangong Yi stood up, a cup of wine in his hand. He wore a benign, grandfatherly smile.
"Patriarch Lin, City Lord Su, honored guests," he began, his voice carrying across the tables. "To liven up this celebratory atmosphere and to foster a spirit of friendly rivalry, I have a proposal. Why don't we let the younger generations of our seven clans engage in a few friendly spars?"
He spread his hands magnanimously. "It will be a wonderful spectacle for us elders, and it will help the younger generation gain experience and improve their relationships. What do you say?"
City Lord Su, who had been watching the proceedings with an amused glint in his eye, took a sip of his wine. "A fine proposal, Patriarch Nangong. A little friendly competition never hurt anyone. I have no objection."