Today, Tianjue City was buzzing with unusual excitement.
Especially around the Mu Residence, the streets were thronged with people.
Because today was the birthday celebration of Lord Mu Hongtu of the Mu Residence.
"It's really surprising. Ten years ago, the Mu Family was still of slave status, and in just under a decade, they have risen!"
"Shh, watch your words!" someone hissed, making a silencing gesture and whispering a caution, "You mustn't mention the Mu Family's history as slaves. They are much changed now. Mind you don't bring disaster on yourself for no reason!"
"The Mu Family has only been independent from the Qin Residence for a few years, going from being ignored, with sparrows standing at the door, to now, a house full of distinguished guests. What fortune they've had..."
"Isn't it because of their daughter's prestige? The Mu Family has produced an incredible gem of a daughter!"
"If you put it that way, Mu Yun Lan really has done the family proud, awakening a Seventh Rank Martial Soul. It's been years since our Tianjue City has seen a High Rank Martial Soul..."
"Right, did you hear about that matter concerning the Young Master of the Qin Residence?"
At this point, a middle-aged man with a thick mole on his chin and a squat figure brought up Qin Qing, instantly drawing laughter from the surrounding crowd.
In the eyes of these Tianjue City folk, Mu Yun Lan was an esteemed beauty, an untouchable figure like a crane in the clouds, while Qin Qing was nothing more than a worthless lump of mud, an utter waste despite his position as the Young Master of the Qin Residence!
"That waste, he has no sense of self-awareness. What kind of person is Mu Yun Lan now? And he still hopes to get his hands on her..."
"I heard that Mu Yun Lan taught him a lesson and even went to the Qin Residence yesterday to demand a dissolution of their previous engagement!"
"Oh? So that happened, what was the outcome?"
The middle-aged man with the thick mole grinned mockingly, revealing three gold teeth.
Because of these three gold teeth, people in Tianjue City called him Liu Sanjin.
With the crowd's attention on him, Liu Sanjin felt even more smug as he said, "I heard that Qin Qing shamelessly refused to break off the engagement, infuriating Mu Yun Lan. Furthermore, the patriarch of the Mu Family was very displeased with Qin Qing's behavior and wanted to cast him out of the Qin Residence."
"Hahaha..." Someone laughed loudly, "Getting cast out of the Qin Residence is what he deserves. Given Mu Yun Lan's current reputation, the Qin Residence wouldn't dare to offend her. Qin Qing really doesn't know when to advance or retreat..."
"Regardless, there's going to be a good show today. Just wait and see if that Qin Qing dares to show up at the banquet. If he does, it's likely that he'll have no choice but to call off the wedding. And from then on, that waste won't ever be able to hold his head up high again in Tianjue City!"
...
Qin Residence.
Qin Qing got out of bed early this morning.
To be precise, Qin Qing hadn't slept at all last night; he had been cultivating instead.
For Martial Cultivators, especially Heavenly Soul Martial Cultivators, it was possible to go long periods without sleep.
"Last night..."
Qin Qing washed his face, recalling the process of his cultivation the night before.
During that process, he had felt as if someone was spying on him.
Qin Qing stopped cultivating at the time to check his surroundings, but he found nothing unusual.
Yet the sensation of being watched lingered for a while before disappearing.
"Am I overthinking it?"
Qin Qing shook his head and called out, "Xiaoshuang, come wash up!"
Qin Qing fetched another basin of water, calling for Xiaoshuang to get up and wash her face.
Xiaoshuang sleepily rubbed her large eyes and obediently climbed out of bed.
"Brother, I can do it myself!" she said.
"What do you mean do it yourself? Look how dirty your face is. You never wash properly, do you?" Qin Qing said lovingly, pulling Xiaoshuang into his embrace and carefully wiping the blood and dirt from her face.
Just then, a reprimanding voice came from outside the courtyard.
"Qin Qing, you good-for-nothing. The Elder Ancestor calls for you to come to the front courtyard immediately!"
Qin Qing recognized the voice as belonging to a maid serving Qin Wujian.
Qin Qing answered coldly, finished helping his sister get ready, and then quickly prepared breakfast.
After finishing their meal, they brought Xiaoshuang to the front yard.
Qin Wujian had already been standing there with an icy expression, seemingly having waited for some time.
"Hmph! More and more disrespectful!" Qin Wujian coldly watched Qin Qing.
Standing beside Qin Wujian, his maid also pointed at Qin Qing and scolded angrily, "Qin Qing, the elder ordered you to come to the front yard. Why did it take you so long to get here?"
Qin Qing's eyes were sharp as swords, immediately sweeping over the maid: "Wench, what are you shouting for? I am the Young Master of the Qin Residence, and you're nothing but a lowly servant. How dare you question me? Do you believe I'll smash your mouth in?"
Intimidated by Qin Qing's authority, the maid unconsciously averted her gaze and bowed her head, but a look of contempt soon surfaced in her eyes.
"Qin Qing, did you go to the Mu Residence to apologize yesterday, as the elder ordered?" Qin Zhen asked again.
"I did not!" Qin Qing replied truthfully.
"You!" Qin Wujian pointed at Qin Qing, flames seeming to burst from his eyes, "Today is Mu Hongtu's birthday feast. I wanted you to go and apologize in advance so as to avoid embarrassing yourself in front of the entire Tianjue City!
To humiliate yourself is one thing, but to bring shame to our Qin Residence... You really are useless mud that won't stick to the wall!"
Qin Qing sneered, "Afraid I'll cause the Qin Residence to lose face? Then if I don't apologize, wouldn't the residence's reputation remain intact? Yet you are still afraid of offending Mu Yunlan, worrying it might affect your own interests. Heh, to coerce a member of your own blood into apologizing to a clan with a different surname, isn't that shameless enough?"
"You!"
At that, Qin Wujian's face flushed with embarrassment, cornered by Qin Qing's retort, unable to maintain his composure.
"The elder is merely looking after the overall interests of the Qin Residence. What do you know?" Qin Zhen rebuked.
"Is that so?" Qin Qing said with a sneer, "Elder, over these years, how many benefits have you stripped from the family to feed your own private coffer? Everyone is well aware of that."
"Presumptuous! Slap him!"
Qin Wujian roared.
At his words, a malicious grin spread across the face of the maid by his side. Named Chun He, she rose to her feet to give Qin Qing a welcoming slap across the face.
This maid, Chun He, wasn't young and she had served beside Qin Wujian for many years. As for her strength, it was extraordinary; over the years, under Qin Wujian's guidance and care, she had reached the late stage of the Soul Refinement Realm.
If her slap really landed on an ordinary ninth level Body Refining practitioner, they would likely be knocked to the ground, cheekbone shattered by the force of the blow.
But Qin Qing was no ordinary Body Refining martial artist. In terms of physical strength alone, he was by no means weaker than a Soul Refinement martial artist.
Qin Qing struck back with his hand, meeting Chun He's attack head-on.
"Snap!"
A crisp sound rang out.
Chun He was actually forced to stagger back several steps, her palm and wrist aching from the impact.
"Hmph! Wench, you dare to strike me?" Qin Qing looked at Chun He with a cold glance.
"You're asking for death!" Chun He gritted her teeth, drawing the sword from her back, her Martial Soul manifesting as a silver snake phantom appeared behind her.
"Do you really dare to be so ruthless towards me, without fearing that my father and mother might appear at any moment?"
Qin Qing suddenly shouted.
Qin Wujian couldn't help but frown slightly.
The whereabouts of Qin Qing's parents had been unknown for over three years, and nobody knew where they had gone.
Who's to say they wouldn't suddenly reappear?
And the strength of Qin Yi and his wife was unmatched within the Qin Residence.
This was precisely what Qin Wujian had always been wary of.
"Stop! Chun He!" Qin Wujian commanded in a low voice.
Upon hearing him, Chun He had no choice but to retract her Martial Soul, yet her eyes still brimmed with unconcealed murderous intent.
"Qin Qing, I'm giving you one last chance. Go immediately to the Mu Residence to apologize, or else — you will be expelled from the Qin Residence!" Qin Wujian barked again.
"To the Mu Residence to apologize?"
A mocking glint in his eyes, Qin Qing clenched his teeth, "Fine, I'll go to the Mu Residence right now to 'apologize'!"