“Ah!” A shoe print was stamped right onto Murong Dawei’s melon-seed face, and he yelped in pain. Only then did Wu Tian lower his foot. That was just a light tap. If he had gotten any more out of line, I would have taken his worthless life.

Murong Ziqi stopped in his tracks but didn’t turn back. He didn’t think these minor squabbles were worth his intervention; it was just his brothers roughhousing.

The Murong Family’s policy was to let disputes among brothers run their course, because only the one who emerged victorious was considered a true expert.

Murong Dawei crouched on the ground in pain, unable to speak. The other family disciples didn’t get angry. Instead, they just watched the scene with sneers.

“Dawei, you really are useless.”

“Yeah, what a piece of trash.”

“Cousin Wu Tian, I didn’t expect you to be so formidable.”

This was the nature of the Murong disciples. Murong Dawei didn’t dare to utter a word.

“Wu Tian, it seems you have some foundation in Martial Skills. Why not come and learn the martial arts of our Murong Family? We are proficient in ten martial disciplines: saber, spear, sword, halberd, staff, fist, palm, leg, claw, and finger techniques. We have a Secret Scroll for every one of them.”

“That’s right, Cousin Wu Tian! Which style would you like to learn?”

“Cousin Wu Tian, there’s one more thing you should remember. Since you’re now considered a Murong disciple, you can only study one type of Martial Skill. Apart from Big Brother Ziqi, anyone else would just be biting off more than they can chew.”

The Murong disciples spoke of their family’s many martial arts with faces full of pride.

Murong Ziqi was the same. He was compared to the most outstanding figures in the Murong Family’s history because he was only the second person to have mastered all ten of its martial disciplines. The first to do so in the family’s history had become the most famous expert in the South.

If Wu Tian were to learn the Murong Family’s martial arts, he would be implicitly indebted to them. In the future, if they asked him for help with strategies and plans, how could he possibly refuse? This was the Murong Family’s scheme.

“Hmph, my dad wouldn’t even want to learn your Martial Skills. Don’t think you’re all that great. With one punch from my dad, the Murong Family would be history,” the little girl retorted, displeased.

“Little one, you’re mistaken. Your dad might be very strong, but he’s just a man from the city. What good Martial Skills could he possibly learn? Even if he has a good constitution, he could only become a true master here at our Murong Manor,” a Murong disciple said, unable to get angry with the child and merely chuckling.

Though they couldn’t scold the little girl, they still had to reason with her and make sure they won the argument. Whether dealing with the old or the young, they wouldn’t yield a single step. If they lost, they would be looked down upon by their own family.

The little girl said Wu Tian was formidable, but the Murong disciples didn’t believe it for a second. To them, Wu Tian was just some city dweller who ran a martial arts dojo, possessing nothing more than rudimentary skills. True skills were only possessed by the sects of the Jianghu, the Five Surnames and Seven Families, and a few declining aristocratic families. How could this Wu Tian possibly have what it takes to learn their true teachings?

“You’re too arrogant. You’re a lost cause,” the little girl said, shaking her head in disappointment.

In the little girl’s eyes, these elders were nothing special; she could probably beat them herself. Yet they were so full of themselves. One day, when they met someone truly formidable, it would be a classic case of “if you don’t court death, you won’t die.”

“We’re arrogant?”

“Little sister, you’re wrong again. This is confidence.”

“That’s right.”

“Arrogance without strength is just arrogance. But arrogance backed by strength is confidence. Understand?”

The Murong disciples all started laughing, thinking this little girl was naive and had no idea how formidable they truly were.

“All of you, shut up. Walking with you is incredibly boring,” Wu Tian said suddenly.

The Murong disciples’ laughter froze.

Wu Tian picked up the little girl, and together with Qin Yuhan, he headed home, leaving Murong Ziqi and the other disciples on the road.

After Wu Tian had disappeared from view, one of the disciples spoke up.

“Big Brother Ziqi, isn’t our cousin a bit too arrogant?”

“He is. He’s so full of himself, completely unaware of how high the heavens are.”

“If I weren’t his cousin, I would’ve taught him a lesson long ago.”

Every one of the Murong disciples wore a displeased expression.

Murong Ziqi nodded in agreement. “Fine steeds are common, but a Bole is rare. His business acumen is rated SSSSS, which proves he’s an extraordinary man with considerable ability. It’s inevitable for someone like that to have a bit of pride. I, however, am the Bole. My task is to tame him, to make him understand that he will only be safe if he follows me. That way, everything will go according to my will. You, come here.”

He beckoned to a Murong disciple. The man came over, and Murong Ziqi whispered a few instructions. The disciple nodded and departed to handle the matter.

By the time Wu Tian and the others had returned home, Murong Yezi’s expression was already heavy. She had prepared a meal, but there were no portions for the Murong Family members. She hadn’t even made any for her own father.

She was deeply disappointed. This time, her older brother had tasked her with persuading Wu Tian and Qin Yuhan. He wanted Wu Tian to follow Murong Ziqi, claiming it could very well lead to him being granted a noble title and a high position in the future. He also wanted Qin Yuhan to mobilize all of the Qin Corporation’s funds to support the Murong Family, promising that the family would repay her generously in the future. A chill crept into her heart. The Murong Family was so large, so why, even today, had it not given up on the dream of restoring their ancient kingdom?

When Murong Zhongzheng and Murong Guangfu saw that Murong Yezi hadn’t prepared any food for them, they knew it wasn’t right to stay and had no choice but to leave.

But before leaving, Murong Guangfu cleared his throat and then said solemnly, “Little sister, let me remind you one last time.”

Hearing Murong Guangfu’s words, the little girl began to mutter uncomfortably, “What kind of elder is this? He’s nothing special, yet he speaks as if he’s the Emperor.”

Her voice was very quiet, but Murong Yezi, Wu Tian, and the others all heard her. Murong Guangfu heard it too, but his expression didn’t change in the slightest. In his mind, he truly did have the destiny of an Emperor; it was merely that the times were against him.

“Yezi, this city isn’t safe. Huang Xuantian was killed, and who knows by whom. You see, without a patron, you might be the next one to find trouble. I think you should return to the family,” Murong Guangfu said with a righteous expression.

Murong Ziqi and his brothers had also returned. Upon hearing this, Ziqi added, “Aunt, my father is right. You should come back to the Murong Family now for your own safety. Cousin Wu Tian, you should come back too.”

Murong Yezi just snorted and remained silent.

How could she fail to see the wolfish ambition of Murong Guangfu and his son? They were just after the money, that’s all. It would undoubtedly be a complete loss, and all this talk of future repayment was nothing but a joke. Trying to restore a kingdom in this era? Were they out of their minds?

Seeing Murong Yezi remain silent, Murong Guangfu grew angry. “Are you going to ignore your own brother’s words?”

Murong Yezi clenched her teeth, unable to tolerate it any longer. But just as she was about to retort, Wu Tian spoke up first.

“Get lost!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep