At Zhao He's roar, a tall man in a suit hurried forward from the crowd. He had a square face and a creepy scar on his left cheek.
This was Tian Shuang, Zhao He's bodyguard for this trip and a top master of the Zhao family.
Tian Shuang's eyes were cold as he strode toward Meng Wanyue.
"Stop! Today is my father's big day — please give the Nangong family some face," Nangong Hua immediately stepped forward to block them.
"Nangong Hua! What do you mean? I got hit — and you want me to give you face?" Zhao He spat, wiping blood from his mouth as he stood furious.
"Why were you hit?" Xu Mu set down Nangong Yao and rose with a smile.
"Dad! This man is a bad guy!" Nangong Yao scampered to Nangong Hua and pointed at Zhao He, accusingly.
Nangong Hua shot a glance at his sister Nangong Zhu, who understood instantly and scooped Nangong Yao away toward a distance.
In the adult world there are only interests and disadvantages; notions of right and wrong matter less.
Half a month ago, the Nangong family and the Zhao family had just reached a cooperation agreement — for reasons of propriety and interest, Nangong Hua sided with Zhao He.
"Don't worry, I'll see you made whole," Nangong Hua said, then walked over to Xu Mu.
Of course he knew who Xu Mu was — Xu Shou's son, a reputation not unlike Zhao He's.
He didn't know what tricks had been used to make his daughter like Xu Mu.
"You dared injure someone at my Nangong family banquet, Xu Mu — how bold of you!" Nangong Hua barked.
"Eh? Am I blind? That woman struck first," Dai Xingluo said, pointing at Meng Wanyue.
"That's right — I struck first. What has that got to do with anyone else?" Meng Wanyue said coldly.
Nangong Hua was at a loss for words.
"Hahaha — honored guests, let's keep calm," just then a portly old man in Tang-style robes, sporting a goatee, walked up. Everyone greeted him.
This goateed elder was Nangong Ping, head of the Nangong family.
"Master Nangong, I got beaten at your home — how will you deal with this? If you can't, my grandfather will have to take justice into his own hands," Zhao He said, turning respectfully to Nangong Ping.
"As they say, look at the owner when beating a dog," Nangong Ping said, staring at Meng Wanyue. "Who did you come with?"
"I came alone," Meng Wanyue said calmly.
"Then who are you? I don't recall inviting you." Nangong Ping's face cooled. "I'll give you five seconds to leave my sight — or don't blame me for being rude."
Meng Wanyue was about to speak when Xu Mu stepped forward: "She's with me. She came with me."
"Hahaha! That makes this easy. When beating a dog you look to its owner — Xu Shou! Your son beat my guest. How will you make this right?" Nangong Ping glanced at Xu Shou. "To be frank, this is the Zhao family, direct line of a Jiangnan hidden clan. Offend a hidden clan and you know the consequences."
The merchants watching fell silent with shock. No wonder Zhao He was so arrogant — he's a scion of a hidden clan. If the Xu family had offended a hidden clan, their ordinary commercial group might not have many lives to spare.
No wonder Nangong Ping sided with Zhao He from the start, purposely saying "look at the owner" — essentially calling Xu Mu a dog. Fang Chu wore a derisive sneer — he couldn't imagine how long the Xu family would survive.
Nangong Ping wasn't on the Xu side. Dai Dongyang also wanted to crush the Xu's; now the Zhao family was added to that list. Offend three hidden clans at once — that's like lighting a lamp in a toilet and looking for trouble.
Xu Shou couldn't help but smile inwardly. His son's pill had indeed stirred things up. Nangong Ping's words were clearly a threat to make him hand over the Yang Energy Pill.
At the edge, Zhang Que took a long drag of his cigarette, eyes cold as he watched the scene.
"Xu Shou! This matter has nothing to do with you — give me 70% of the pharmaceutical company's shares and I'll get you out of this," Dai Dongyang said with a smile, assuming both Xu Shou and Xu Mu would soon be dead. He also wanted to earn some favor in front of Xu Ningbing.
"Kid, what now? I'm listening to you," Xu Shou said, lighting a cigarette and smiling at his son.
"I think their path is narrowing," Xu Mu said with a smile.
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a flying knife shot out from the crowd, aimed at Xu Mu's head.
Crack! Jiang Huihui formed a blade with one hand and knocked the flying knife aside.
The crowd gasped. While every eye focused on Xu Mu, an ordinary-looking man suddenly appeared behind Xu Shou. He slashed his dagger toward Xu Shou's throat with merciless intent.
Swiftly, Xu Shou instinctively grabbed the blade.
Only then did Xu Ningbing react and throw a punch at the man.
Boom! The man punched back; Xu Ningbing's fist collided with his. The terrifying force sent her staggering backward.
"Dad!" a figure leapt in — the dagger spun in Dai Xingluo's hand as she blinked and arrived in front of the man.
"Ah?" Xu Shou was stunned. What was happening?
Bang! The would-be assassin's body was blasted away by a burst of Gang Qi.
Everything happened in the blink of an eye. The onlookers hadn't yet fully registered what occurred; they only knew someone had tried to assassinate Xu Mu and Xu Shou.
The hitman's eyes were full of shock; after a moment's thought he decided to flee. The client's information was clearly wrong — these two had masters nearby. He'd been underpaid and would demand more.
Dai Xingluo did not pursue; she stood guarding Xu Shou. This was Xu Mu's father — showing loyalty here would weaken other women's claims.
"Nangong Ping! How dare you — public assassination? Just wait!" Jiang Huihui shouted at Nangong Ping and rushed out in pursuit.
Nangong Ping looked dumbfounded — he'd only used Zhao He to intimidate the Xu's. He hadn't ordered anyone killed.
Meanwhile Zhang Que stubbed out his cigarette, ground it underfoot, eyes narrowing as he rose and headed down the mountain along with others.
Fang Chu cursed under his breath — what Death List No.8? Such a good opportunity and it failed.
Dai Dongyang glared hard at Dai Xingluo. What's that woman up to? If not for her, Xu Shou might be dead.
The environment calmed back down. The sudden appearance of assassins shocked everyone, but they concluded the Xu family must have powerful protectors.
Chen Xuan looked around whispering, "My word, this is exciting."
"Nangong Ping! You dare act against us and think hidden clans can do whatever they please?" Xu Mu bellowed, pointing at Nangong Ping.
"Sorry — hidden clans can do whatever they want," Nangong Ping said emotionlessly.
No matter what he did, someone like Xu Mu had no standing to object.
"Is that so? Then I'll play the heretic and let justice fall from heaven," Xu Mu said, hands in his pockets, expression unreadable.