Li Wei strode out of the restaurant with his usual air of calm indifference, flanked by Leng Yue and the three new disciples who trailed behind like fledgling birds unsure of their footing. Crescent Moon City buzzed around them—street vendors hawking their wares, cultivators boasting loudly at tea stalls, the occasional flash of spiritual energy sparking small scuffles in the crowd. It was a backdrop of chaos, but none of it touched Li Wei.
His mind was elsewhere. He was well aware of the dynamics in play. His so-called disciples had agreed to follow him far too quickly, and he knew exactly why. He had seen the look in their eyes—calculating, opportunistic.
"Women in any world are the same," he thought bitterly. "They see power and latch onto it. It's not about loyalty, it's about what they can take for themselves."
The cynical thought brought a faint smirk to his lips. He had no illusions about their motives. The cultivation world, brutal as it was, stripped away pretenses. At least with selfish allies, you knew exactly what to expect. "Better snakes at your side than saints who stab you in the back."
Leng Yue walked silently beside him, her sharp gaze flicking toward the women with barely disguised disdain. In her eyes, they were parasites—weaklings hoping to ride on Li Wei's coattails. It disgusted her, though she kept her expression neutral. "They're leeches," she thought coldly. "Useless in a fight and a liability to protect. If it were up to me..." Her fingers itched to rest on the hilt of her sword, but she refrained. She had her own reasons for staying at Li Wei's side, but unlike the others, she wasn't foolish enough to underestimate him.
Li Wei's voice cut through her musings. "Lead the way to the Liu residence," he said, glancing back at Jia Lin, Mei Yu, and Ning Xue.
Jia Lin hesitated. The Liu residence wasn't exactly an inn where one could simply walk in unannounced. Still, she nodded and stepped forward. "This way, Master Li Wei," she said reluctantly, leading the group through the bustling streets.
As they walked, Li Wei surveyed Crescent Moon City, his sharp eyes taking in the chaos with amusement. The city's streets were alive with movement, cultivators in fine robes striding alongside beggars and merchants. Occasionally, spiritual energy flared in the distance—duels fought in alleys or arenas—but none of it held his interest. His focus was on the Liu clan.
"This will be entertaining," he thought. "Let's see how the mighty Liu family reacts to my arrival. They'll learn soon enough that I'm not someone to ignore."
At the Liu residence, turmoil were already brewing.
The estate sprawled like a jewel at the heart of the city, its high walls and imposing gates a testament to the clan's power. Inside, the manicured gardens glimmered in the late afternoon light, flowers imported from distant realms lining the stone pathways. Servants moved briskly between the pavilions, heads bowed, their faces pale with tension.
In the grand hall, the patriarch, Liu Feng, stood at the head of a long table. His aura radiated fury, the air in the room heavy with the weight of his mid-Nascent Soul cultivation. A tall man with piercing eyes and streaks of silver in his black hair, Liu Feng commanded attention without effort. But now, his stern face was contorted with rage as he turned to Zhou Wen, his most trusted retainer.
"Repeat what you just told me," Liu Feng growled, his voice sharp enough to cut glass.
Zhou Wen remained calm, though a faint tension betrayed his unease. "Patriarch, the man who calls himself Li Wei insulted Lady Liu Mei in front of the entire pavilion. He mocked her... and claimed to have committed indecent acts against her honor."
The temperature in the room seemed to plummet.
"How dare he!" Liu Feng's voice thundered, shaking the crystal chandeliers above. "This dog slanders my daughter and expects to live?!"
Liu Mei's mother, Chen Xi, placed a hand on his arm. Her beauty was striking even in maturity—graceful features, emerald-green eyes, and hair like a cascade of midnight. Her crimson-and-gold robes only accentuated her regal bearing.
"Calm yourself, Feng," she said gently. "We must handle this delicately. There's no need to act rashly."
Her words barely seemed to register.
"Mei'er," she said, turning to her daughter, "tell us the truth. Did this Li Wei harm you? What happened?"
Liu Mei, standing near the back of the room, looked as though she wished the floor would swallow her whole. Her face burned with humiliation, her fists clenched at her sides. How could she possibly admit the truth? That this arrogant man had forced her to kowtow completely naked, stripped of all dignity? She bit her lip, her silence speaking louder than any words.
Chen Xi's expression darkened as she studied her daughter's reaction. Around the hall, the elders began to murmur.
"He's taken her purity!" one whispered, his voice trembling with anger.
"She's ruined. The Zhou clan won't accept her now," said another.
Liu Feng's rage boiled over. His powerful Nascent Soul aura exploded outward, causing the air to ripple and crackle. "I'll kill him!" he roared. "I'll hunt him down myself if I have to!"
Before Chen Xi could calm him again, a servant burst into the hall, his face pale and drenched with sweat. "Lord Patriarch!" he cried. "The man calling himself Li Wei is at the gates. He... he demands that you come out to greet him."
The room fell into stunned silence.
"And—" The servant swallowed hard. "One of the women with him stripped the guards of their armor and threw them into the street."
The audacity of it left even the elders speechless.
"He's mocking us," Liu Feng growled, his voice dangerously low. His eyes burned with unholy light. "He insults my daughter, shames my family, and now he dares stand at my gates?!"
Chen Xi stepped back, worry etched across her features. "Feng, think carefully. If we act rashly, this could spiral out of control."
But Liu Feng was beyond reasoning. "Summon the Black Iron guards," he barked. "I want this insolent fool dragged in. Let's see if he still dares run his mouth when I'm done with him."
Outside the gates, Li Wei stood calmly, hands clasped behind his back, as if the scene before him was a mild curiosity. Leng Yue stood just behind him, her expression unreadable but her posture alert. The three disciples hovered nervously nearby, clearly uncomfortable with the growing tension.
"What's taking them so long?" Li Wei muttered, his tone laced with amusement. "Surely the great Liu clan wouldn't keep a guest waiting."
At his words, the gates began to creak open, and a squad of guards in black armor marched out. Their leader pointed his spear at Li Wei. "By order of the Patriarch, you are to surrender and—"
Before he could finish, Leng Yue moved. In a blur of motion, her sword flashed, and the tip of the spear fell to the ground, severed cleanly.
The guards froze.
"I wouldn't do that," Leng Yue said coldly, lowering her blade. "Unless you want to lose more than your weapons."
Li Wei chuckled softly, as if thoroughly entertained. "Now, now, Leng Yue. Let's not scare them too much. It's rude to intimidate the help."
Turning back to the guards, he smiled faintly. "Take me to your Patriarch. I believe he's been expecting me."