Everyone turned as one.
A muddy, soot-covered figure stepped inside, dragging his tired body with a casual stride. His clothes were torn, stained with dirt and dried blood, and his pants had more holes than fabric. He looked like he had rolled through a battlefield and survived.
Li Xue's eyes lit up instantly. "Brother Li Wei!"
Li Meiran's face stiffened like stone. His pupils shrank at the sight of Li Wei.
Impossible.
He sent Li Wang. Sent four warriors. Sent a whole group. And yet…
Li Wei walked in alive.
Li Gengxin couldn't hide the pride on his face. Even in this ruined state, Li Wei carried a sharp energy, an aura that made him stand out. Li Gengxin's chest swelled in pride.
That's my son.
The elders were less pleased, though. Their faces soured immediately.
How dare the patriarch's son walk into the main hall, covered in mud, ripped clothes, blood, and smelling like smoke? This was where honored guests were received. The dignity of the Li clan rested in this room.
The Shangguan guests' expressions were even worse.
The old man in white frowned deeply.
The young man looked irritated.
The gentle girl's expression twisted with disgust, as if she'd just seen a filthy stray dog wander in.
So this is the Li clan's eldest son?
This beggar-looking… waste?
That was clearly what they were thinking.
Elder Li Feiying slammed the table. "Li Wei! Do you know where you are? And what's with that disgusting display?"
Li Wei looked down at his appearance. His pants had three giant holes, his thigh was exposed, his sleeve was missing, and his arm was coated in mud from battling a mantis-like monster earlier.
Yes… he looked like a beggar.
Then he glanced at Li Gengxin. His father doesn't seem angry, not even a little. On the contrary, he just looked relieved and happy to see him.
Li Wei relaxed instantly.
He raised his head with a calm smile. "Father, do our house rules say that ragged clothes cannot enter the main hall?"
Li Gengxin shook his head. "No. There is no such rule."
Li Wei turned to the Seventh Elder. "Then, Elder Li Feiying, did I break a rule? Did I offend you personally?"
"You..." The elder pointed at him, frustrated by his behavior. "As a child of the Li clan, how can you be so shameless!"
Li Wei blinked. "Shame? Can shame be eaten?"
Li Feiying nearly fainted from anger.
Li Gengxin sighed. "Enough. It is indeed improper to appear before guests like this. Li Wei, go take a seat."
"Yes, Father."
Li Wei bowed respectfully and walked past the angry elders, completely unfazed. He found an empty seat and started walking toward it as if nothing had happened.
The hall was silent.
Some shocked.
Some furious.
Some were embarrassed.
Yet, one person smiled softly.
Li Xue didn't didn't care about his clothes; she cared that he came.
Li Xue pointed to the empty seat beside her and smiled gently. "Brother Li Wei, sit next to me."
Her voice was warm, almost soft enough to melt the air. But the reaction from the hall was immediate and explosive.
"No!"
"He cannot sit there!"
"That seat is not for him!"
The entire row of elders jolted as if Li Wei were trying to seize their thrones. Li Xue's seat was among the upper positions, where only elders or honored figures sat. For Li Wei to sit there meant placing him on the same level as clan leaders.
A "waste who cannot cultivate," sitting beside elders?
It was an insult to the Li clan.
The disciples murmured, angry and confused. Even the Shangguan guests raised their brows, finding the scene both amusing and embarrassing.
But Li Wei didn't hesitate for even one heartbeat.
Li Xue had spoken. How could he let the woman he liked lose face in front of everyone?
So he changed his decision and walked past every glare, every whisper, every insult, and sat down beside her.
He dropped into the chair with a thump.
The entire hall shook with rage as expected.
"Bold!"
"Presumptuous!"
"Li Wei, you dare?!"
Several elders shot to their feet. Their eyes burned. Their beards trembled. Their hands clenched so tightly their knuckles turned white. Li Wei had not only ignored their authority, but he had stomped on it.
To them, the scene was simple: A filthy, ragged, "useless junior" had seated himself among elders.
The Shangguan guests exchanged looks again. Their expressions showed disbelief.
To them, the rules of the continent were simple: The strong sit at the top. The weak kneel at the bottom.
But here, a powerless boy was acting as if he were a master. Even the Shangguan young lady looked at Li Wei with disgust, tightening her beautiful brows.
Li Wei blinked slowly at their anger and tossed his head lightly. "What? I can't sit where there's a seat?"
He sounded genuinely puzzled.
In his mind, sitting beside Li Xue was common sense. She was his woman; what was strange about sitting next to her?
"You are not qualified to sit here!" Seven Elder Li Feiying shouted, voice shaking with fury.
"Why not?" Li Wei asked calmly.
"Why not?!" Li Feiying laughed coldly. "You are a useless junior. A waste that cannot cultivate Qi. How dare you sit equal to the elders?"
He clearly looked like he wanted to drag Li Wei out by the throat.
Li Meiran stepped up immediately, seeing a chance to attack. "Li Wei, you've gone too far. You challenge the authority of the elders! Do you still want to stay in the Li clan?"
Li Wei's lips curled as he lowered his eyes, activating the Sky Eye technique.
Names and stats appeared clearly:
*
Li Meiran
Level: 16, Six-Star Elite
Threat level: Slight threat
*
Li Feiying
Level: 22, One-Star Exalt Warrior
Weapon: Wentian Sword
Threat level: Very dangerous
*
Li Wei raised his brows slightly.
Last night's nonstop monster-killing had raised him to a 2-star Elite warrior, yet Li Meiran's strength was still comparable. If Li Wei didn't have earth-grade martial arts and heavy-hitting skills, the difference in raw levels would be a problem.
But Elder Li Feiying…
That was another story.
An Exalt Warrior was on a completely different level. Even with the system and advanced skills, Liling with him now would be dangerous.
But compromise?
Move away from Li Xue?
Not a chance.
Li Wei leaned back in his seat, comfortable as if lying in warm sunlight, and ignored every glare in the room.
His silence, his confidence, and his refusal to budge... It infuriated everyone.
The elders trembled with rage.
The disciples' mouths twitched in disbelief.
Even the guests' eyes widened.
But before they exploded again, Li Gengxin finally spoke. "Enough."
His voice cut through the air like a blade. "We have guests here. If there is a problem, we will settle it after."
Elder Li Feiying opened his mouth to argue, but Li Gengxin shot him a glare. And the elder swallowed his anger and sat down heavily, grinding his teeth.
The hall grew silent again.
Li Wei smiled faintly.
Saved by his father again.
Meanwhile, the Shangguan Clan elder stroked his beard with a polite smile. "Patriarch Li, since everyone is here, shall we begin discussing business?"
"Go on..."
As Li Gengxin gestured, the Shangguan clan elder stroked his beard and smiled politely. "Patriarch Li, we came to the Li clan today because… we have a request."
Li Gengxin nodded, keeping his composure. "Master Yuda, you flatter us. Please, say whatever you need. The Li clan will listen."
He spoke warmly, pretending nothing unpleasant had happened earlier. But inside, he kept glancing at Li Wei. His son had once been timid, quiet, and full of shame for not being able to cultivate. As a father, that guilt had always weighed on him. Yet now, Li Wei stood tall, confident, and fearless. Even if he caused trouble, that spark of spirit warmed Li Gengxin's heart. It felt as if he was no longer worried about Li Wei's future.
A proud son was better than a broken one.
Master Yuda gestured to the soft-spoken girl beside him. "Patriarch Li, do you recognize this child?"
Li Gengxin frowned and studied the girl carefully. At first, he seemed confused, but as Master Yuda said, "She is Shangguan Siyu," The Patriarch of Li Clan's eyes widened. "Siyu?"