Chapter 131: Meeting Nan Ling
The group approaching Mu Feng consisted of members from the Northern King's Manor. Among them was Nan Ling, whom Mu Feng didn't recognize, but Yun Yi, his "future brother-in-law," was all too familiar. Mu Feng had little fondness for him.
"Mu Feng, I didn't expect to see you here at Tianyun Academy. Weren't you supposed to be dead?" Yun Yi sneered coldly.
"Whether I'm dead or alive has nothing to do with you, Yun Yi. And though you're Wan'er's brother, don't think you can push me around," Mu Feng replied icily.
"Brother, what are you doing here?" Yun Qingwan clutched Mu Feng's hand tightly, her expression cold toward her brother.
"What am I doing? Do you even understand your position now? Father has already betrothed you to the Northern King's Manor. You're to become Prince Nan Ling's consort. How can you still be with this nobody? You should consider your status!" Yun Yi scolded harshly.
"Yun Yi, what did you just say? The Yun family has betrothed Wan'er to the Northern King's Manor?!" Mu Feng's gaze turned sharp as ice.
"That's right," Yun Yi sneered. "Wan'er is no longer your fiancée. Stay away from her!"
"Big brother," Yun Qingwan's voice rose angrily, "Father may have arranged the betrothal, but he did so without my consent. If anyone should marry into the Northern King's Manor, let it be you. I will only ever acknowledge Mu Feng!"
"You shameless wench!" One of Nan Ling's attendants, a burly youth, barked angrily. "You should be grateful to marry Prince Nan Ling—it's a blessing!"
Smack!
The next moment, Nan Ling's palm struck the man, sending him flying and spitting blood. "How dare you insult the prince's consort?" Nan Ling said coldly, his voice chilling the air.
He turned his attention to Mu Feng. The two men locked eyes.
"Mu Feng, it's amusing. Word was that you were dead, yet here you are. I am Nan Ling. Surely, you've heard my name?" Nan Ling's tone carried arrogance and condescension.
Mu Feng's heart stirred. Nan Ling—the heir to Nan Hao, the Northern King. Examining the man before him, Mu Feng found traces of his hated enemy, Nan Hao, in his features. A surge of cold anger swept over him.
"Nan Ling, the son of Nan Hao. A so-called genius with a Spirit Bone who joined Tianyun Academy six years ago," Mu Feng said coolly.
The Northern King's men bristled in fury. Mu Feng's words—particularly the term "son of a dog" implied by "son of Nan Hao"—were a blatant insult to both father and son.
"You little—!" One of the Northern King's guards moved to strike but was halted by Nan Ling's raised hand.
Nan Ling's eyes narrowed. "Wan'er is now my fiancée. You would do well to stay away from her."
"Nan Ling," Yun Qingwan said firmly, "I've already told you—I don't recognize this betrothal. If my father agreed to it, that's his business. I won't acknowledge it!"
Mu Feng added coldly, "Wan'er isn't some object to be bartered. Who she's with is her choice—neither her family nor you have any say in it."
Nan Ling's expression darkened, his killing intent palpable. The atmosphere grew tense as the two groups faced off. Behind Mu Feng, the dozen new recruits from the Mu family stood in solidarity. The Northern King's men gathered around Nan Ling.
The standoff drew the attention of many students in the plaza, both new and old.
"Isn't that Nan Ling from the Northern King's Manor? What's he doing clashing with a group of freshmen?"
"Yeah, and that girl over there is Yun Qingwan, the goddess of last year's new students! Mu Ling'er's there too. Things are getting interesting. Who's the guy with Yun Qingwan, though? Isn't she supposed to be engaged to Nan Ling?"
"That newbie must have a death wish, going after Nan Ling's woman on his first day."
Nan Ling's gaze grew colder. "Mu Feng, since it's your first day at Tianyun Academy, it seems I'll have to teach you the rules."
At his signal, a young man in a yellow robe stepped forward. He cracked his knuckles, a sinister smile on his lips, as he advanced toward Mu Feng. His body radiated a blue Qi aura—clearly a Condensed Qi Stage expert.
"Grrrr..."
Beside Mu Feng, the snake-tailed leopard growled lowly but instinctively backed away from the oppressive force emanating from the yellow-robed youth.
The aura pressed down heavily, forcing Mu Feng back a step. But before the youth could reach him, a slender figure stepped between them.
"Nan Ling, do you take the Mu family for cowards?" Mu Ling'er said coldly.
The yellow-robed youth halted, glancing at Nan Ling for further instructions.
Nan Ling sneered. "Mu Ling'er, step aside. Your brother doesn't understand the rules. I'm merely giving him a lesson."
"My brother doesn't need your lessons," Mu Ling'er replied, her body now cloaked in red Qi. She had also reached the Condensed Qi Stage—and at the Lesser Heaven tier, no less.
"Big sister, you...!" Mu Feng stared at her in shock. The last time they had met, two years ago, she had been at the third level of the Zifu Stage. Now, she had leapt to such heights in just two years.
"Don't think that just because you've apprenticed under Alchemist Leng, I won't dare touch you," Nan Ling growled as his own white Qi aura surged forth. The ground around him frosted over, a testament to his sixth-level Condensed Qi, Middle Heaven tier cultivation.
"Try it, then."
A loud, confident voice cut through the tension. A tall, rugged youth in a black combat robe, standing at nearly 1.9 meters, strode forward with a group of black-clad students in tow. His presence exuded strength and charisma.
"It's Yuan Hao from the Dayuan Gang! Things are getting even more interesting. He's one of the top-ranked on the Storm Leaderboard!"
Nan Ling's expression darkened as Yuan Hao approached.
"Mu Ling'er," Yuan Hao said with a warm smile, "long time no see."
Mu Ling'er huffed and turned her face away, ignoring him. Yuan Hao scratched his head awkwardly before turning to Nan Ling.
"Nan Ling, what's the meaning of this?" Yuan Hao asked, his tone laced with authority.
"This is between me and the Mu family. Stay out of it," Nan Ling replied coldly.
Yuan Hao chuckled. "Stay out of it? Everyone knows I'm smitten with Ling'er. If you mess with her, you mess with me."
His bold statement sent ripples of astonishment through the crowd. Mu Feng raised an eyebrow and turned to Mu Ling'er with a teasing smile. "Sister, who's this? Another admirer?"