Ye Chen must be planning to kill me, right!?
No way!
Tang Ao started to panic.
He wasn't worried about getting killed by Ye Chen; his real concern was...
He had the [Super Counterattack], so if Ye Chen attacked too hard, it could end up backfiring and kill Ye Chen instead!
That can't happen!
If the protagonist dies, the plot would collapse, and even the author wouldn't recognize it anymore!
Plus...
If Ye Chen leaves, he won't learn the [Nine Heavens Thunder Dual Kicks], which will severely strengthen his combat power. How will he dominate the world later?
Looking at Ye Chen's enraged, hateful expression, then at the sneers from the Li family members, and finally at Zhou Qiao'er's smug little smile, Tang Ao realized he couldn't sit back and let things get worse. He cleared his throat and spoke up:
"Everyone, do you have some misunderstanding about me, Tang Ao?"
Tang Ao's words immediately changed the cheerful atmosphere into one of tension.
Li Yifeng looked at Tang Ao with a serious expression. Anyone with half a brain could tell that Tang Ao wasn't happy at the moment.
This was the guest whom the Li family elder respected and valued, someone they had been specifically instructed to treat with great care!
Moreover, this was the guest who had brought so many valuable gifts, their "God of Fortune"!
After some quick thinking, Li Yifeng had an epiphany.
He completely understood what Tang Ao was implying!
Tang Ao was subtly pointing out something to him!
Li Yifeng quickly put on an apologetic face and said, "Young Master Tang, Miss Zhou, I sincerely apologize for keeping you standing out here for so long, and on top of that, you had to endure being stared at by that ill-fated thing!"
Hearing the words "ill-fated thing," the veins on Ye Chen's face, hands, arms, and entire body bulged in rage!
Life offers many firsts.
But as the Dragon King of the Dragon King Hall, to be humiliated like this while his identity was known—Ye Chen had never experienced such shame before!
And he swore he would never experience it again!
The members of the Li family instinctively parted into two lines, making a path leading into the Li residence, each one looking at Tang Ao and Zhou Qiao'er with utmost respect.
Tang Ao quickly shook his head. "That's not what I meant!"
"Hmm?"
Even Zhou Qiao'er looked at Tang Ao with confusion.
"What I mean is, I, Tang Ao, have never had any real grudges with Ye Chen over there. There's no reason for me not to like him, and if you let him inside, I certainly wouldn't be upset!"
Tang Ao's words left everyone in the Li family wide-eyed in disbelief.
Even Li Yifeng himself was stunned by what Tang Ao had said.
No grudges?
The Li family might have kept to themselves, but every prominent family in Longquan City knew that Ye Chen, the Dragon King, had repeatedly declared that he and Tang Ao were sworn enemies!
He had openly shown hostility toward Tang Ao on several occasions!
And everyone knew that Tang Ao was pursuing Lin Ruoxue, while Ye Chen, as the almighty Dragon King, had lowered himself to be a bodyguard—obviously to win Lin Ruoxue over.
On top of that...
The Tang family and Dragon King Hall had just finished a major business battle, one in which the Tang family had emerged victorious!
And today...
You've brought such valuable gifts and practically humiliated Ye Chen—flattening his dignity!
Whether emotionally, organizationally, or from a personal standpoint, Tang Ao and Ye Chen were sworn enemies!
Yet here Tang Ao was, blatantly claiming there were no grudges between them!
This was the epitome of a "call a deer a horse" situation!
What Tang Ao was saying now was like pointing at a white swan and declaring, "Look at how black this duck is!"
For a moment, everyone in the Li family was at a loss for words, unsure of how to respond.
Zhou Qiao'er's eyes were filled with complex emotions as she gazed at Tang Ao. At that moment, she was the only one who understood what Tang Ao was trying to do.
Since that's the case...
Zhou Qiao'er realized that Tang Ao had made up his mind. She couldn't stop him, even if she wanted to.
A man must be given face in public. Without waiting for Tang Ao to explain further, Zhou Qiao'er stepped forward and said firmly, "What we mean is simple: Ye Chen came with an invitation, and there's no reason to refuse him entry. If... you, the Li family, reject him because of us, then we'll have no choice but to leave as well."
Her words made Tang Ao want to applaud!
[Well said! Wonderfully said!]
[Qiao'er, you understand me! You're so considerate!]
[You're like a mind reader. Whoever marries you would be the luckiest person alive. You're the perfect wife!]
Zhou Qiao'er's face reddened slightly.
As the Li family stood in stunned silence, Tang Ao raised his voice and said, "Yes, that's exactly what I mean! If Ye Chen has to leave, then I, Tang Ao, will leave as well!"
Ye Chen stared at Tang Ao and Zhou Qiao'er, utterly perplexed by Tang Ao's intentions.
The situation had been crystal clear just moments ago. Ye Chen's face had been crushed into the dirt, and being kicked out by the Li family was almost a certainty. He had no face left to stay.
But why was Tang Ao trying to help him?
It didn't make sense!
Ye Chen would never be so foolish as to believe Tang Ao was genuinely helping him to achieve his goal of entering the Li family and learning martial arts. In Ye Chen's mind, Tang Ao was definitely plotting something against him!
Given everything that had happened recently, especially today, Ye Chen was convinced that his relationship with Tang Ao was like that of a dog with Lü Dongbin, a snake with a farmer, or a wolf with Dongguo!
Tang Ao must already be scheming something even more harmful to Ye Chen within the Li family!
It had to be that!
Ye Chen clenched his fists. At that moment, he desperately wanted to turn and leave, but...
If he missed this opportunity to enter the Li family and meet the Li family elder, it would never happen again.
Right now, Ye Chen urgently needed to improve his strength to face Tang Ao. Compared to the chance to meet the Li family elder...
What's a little humiliation and shame?
Only through enduring adversity can one grow!
Only by enduring unbearable humiliation can one make progress!
Only by bearing what others cannot can one slowly climb to the top, step by step, and crush the unfathomably powerful Tang Ao beneath them!
With these thoughts, Ye Chen decided to endure it!
Li Yifeng's initial surprise slowly turned into admiration.
So young, yet so magnanimous!
The Li family elder had judged him well—Tang Ao's future prospects were truly limitless!
Among the Li family members, Li Yifeng's son, Li Si, looked at Tang Ao with disdain and whispered, "Tang Ao is so fake. How can he say such things with a straight face? Does he even believe himself? If it weren't for his family's money... he'd be nothing. Is the elder getting senile, to think so highly of someone like him?"
Although Li Si's voice was low, more than half of the Li family members clearly heard what he said.
Hearing this, Ye Chen gave Li Yifeng's son a nod of approval, thinking to himself that at least someone in the Li family still had their head screwed on straight.
Li Yifeng quickly glanced at Tang Ao and Zhou Qiao'er, relieved that they hadn't overheard his son's remark. He shot a furious glare at Li Si: "You ungrateful brat! Get over there and kneel before Young Master Tang to apologize!"