Implicated? . . .
Cha Eun Xiao pondered for a while, considering the identity of the young man before him. He suspected that the brash young man was likely a member of the next generation of Song Jue and his brothers. He contemplated ignoring the young man's behavior out of respect for his Uncle Song.
He felt a sense of gratitude towards Song Jue, as he had been exceptionally kind and caring. In many ways, he was even closer than his own father, Cha Nantian. Cha Eun Xiao believed that starting a fight with the Song Clan's people upon his first arrival would be inappropriate.
With a sigh, he gently grabbed Han Bingxue's arm and began to step back quietly.
However, the third young lord of the Song Clan did not share Cha Eun Xiao's intentions of maintaining peace. He appeared to be a troublemaker, evident by his actions.
Suddenly, the young lord's horse became agitated, rearing up on its hind legs and turning back towards Cha Eun Xiao and his companions. Over a dozen other cavalry members followed suit, swiftly returning towards them in an overwhelming manner.
Although they believed they were acting powerfully, Cha Eun Xiao and his group were unimpressed by the display. What surprised them most was the reason behind the cavalry's sudden return.
Han Bingxue expressed his astonishment, "What is this? Do they know me?"
Cha Eun Xiao found himself speechless and responded in a low voice, "I mean... It's one thing to think you're incredibly attractive to women, but can you stop imagining things when we're discussing men? Are you turning homosexual now? If not, please be quiet. Do you have any idea where we are? These people have never left this district their entire lives. How could they possibly know you, brother?"
Han Bingxue stared at Cha Eun Xiao, searching for a retort, but found none. He huffed and scowled, "It's starting to ache again..." The pain in his body had returned.
The young lord of the Song Clan was swiftly approaching. As his horse nearly collided with Cha Eun Xiao's group, he finally reined it in, causing it to rear up once more, directly over them.
Cha Eun Xiao's eyes began to gleam with a cold intensity. He waved his sleeves, dispersing the dust that had piled up beside him. The young lord of the Song Clan was truly testing his patience.
However, Cha Eun Xiao was determined to avoid trouble and opted to clear the dust instead of returning it to the young lord. Yet, the Song Clan young lord seemed unwilling to let them depart peacefully.
The young lord, wearing a cold smile, scrutinized Cha Eun Xiao and inquired, "You're a cultivator, aren't you? Well done. Are you... from the outside?"
Cha Eun Xiao's frown deepened as he grew increasingly impatient. "What business is it of yours?"
The Song Clan young lord burst into hearty laughter before adopting a more sinister tone. "You know what? Regardless of your origin, you are currently in my domain. Everything is my business as I see fit! Do you understand?"
Cha Eun Xiao's smile gradually appeared as he responded, "Sometimes, life is unrelenting. No matter how hard you try to steer clear of trouble and distance yourself from it, trouble just has a way of finding you. It's a lamentable and helpless reality."
He truly felt helpless in the current situation. He didn't wish to initiate any conflict and had initially stepped back to avoid it. Enduring a bit of humiliation for the sake of Song Jue seemed like a small sacrifice. However, the young lord from the Song Clan appeared to be courting his own demise and refused to let them go.
Cha Eun Xiao couldn't help but feel embarrassed by the situation.
As expected, the young lord of the Song Clan erupted into laughter. He directed his gaze at Cha Eun Xiao and spoke with a hint of mockery, "Well, I didn't see that coming. You certainly have a penchant for philosophical chatter, don't you? That's intriguing. So, tell me your name. Inform your dear Uncle Third of your identity."
While he maintained a smile, there was a chilling undercurrent in his eyes, apparent to anyone discerning enough.
"The three outsiders. You want to engage in games within this territory? Displaying no respect for me?" he sneered. "Tough? I don't care how tough you think you are. Just remember to bow low in my presence. Let me make one rule abundantly clear. Do not cross the young lord of the Song Clan."
The situation was teetering on the brink of confrontation, with a fight appearing inevitable. However, in the midst of this tense standoff, a voice from behind Cha Eun Xiao rang out loudly, "Song Fei! You simply seek trouble wherever you go! Why must you target these individuals? They're newcomers from distant lands. It's not honorable to demean outsiders, is it?"
This unexpected interruption surprised Cha Eun Xiao and his companions. "Hmm, an unexpected turn of events," he thought. "A glimmer of hope in the darkness."
Moments earlier, Cha Eun Xiao had braced himself for a potentially violent confrontation, and he wasn't alone in this readiness. Xuan Bing and Han Bingxue, with their fiery tempers, were equally prepared for conflict. However, as they stood poised for a brawl, an unexpected third party entered the scene.
"Is it a third party that has emerged?" they collectively pondered. "Wait, aren't we the third party? Have we been unwittingly drawn into this?"
All eyes turned towards the direction from which the intervening voice had come. A young man, dressed in humble attire and carrying a basket of medicinal herbs on his back, emerged from behind Cha Eun Xiao. His eyes gleamed with clarity and vigor, despite his slight frame and square-shaped face.
Although he appeared to have a modest cultivation level, his spirit and courage were undeniable. He confronted Song Fei, the young lord on horseback, without a trace of fear.
Cha Eun Xiao, Xuan Bing, and Han Bingxue were quick to notice the similarities between the two, despite their differing attire. It was clear that they were related in some way.
Their initial intent to teach the brash young lord a lesson was put on hold as they were consumed by curiosity. They wanted to understand the unfolding events and witness how the situation would evolve.
"Wait, let's exercise patience and see what unfolds next," it wasn't Cha Eun Xiao who suggested this but Xuan Bing.
Although it surprised her companions, they agreed. Cha Eun Xiao wondered why Xuan Bing had suddenly adopted such a composed demeanor. After all, their time together had revealed her fiery and unyielding nature, and he had expected her to at least give Song Fei a stern rebuke. Yet, here she was, advocating patience and waiting for further developments.
What Cha Eun Xiao didn't realize was that Song Clan held a special significance to Xuan Bing. While Cha Eun Xiao was undoubtedly the most important person in her life, Song Jue held the second-most important place in her heart. Moreover, they currently found themselves in the domain of the Song Clan. It was clear that the young lord was a member of the Song Clan, and, for the sake of Song Jue, Xuan Bing chose to exercise restraint. This consideration was entirely reasonable.
"This is Steward Song's home," Xuan Bing mused, lost in thought.