Chapter 103: On the Warship (Part-2)

Mu Xianling, seeing Wang Bi’er sit beside Ryan, felt an inexplicable sense of crisis rise in her heart. Her brows knitted slightly, a hint of displeasure flickering across her face, though she remained silent.

Ryan, on the other hand, felt a faint headache coming on.

Mu Xianling was one thing. By the terms of their wager, she was technically his servant, so her sitting nearby wasn’t strange. But Wang Bi’er was different. She was Wang Zongyao’s daughter, and they weren’t particularly close. This sudden intimacy made Ryan feel awkward.

Just as he was pondering this, another voice called out.

“Li Wei!”

Ryan looked up again, feeling both surprised and helpless.

“Zhu Yin? Why are you here, too?”

He had only wanted a quiet conversation with his Clan. Yet, one woman after another kept appearing.

After approaching, Zhu Yin sat down beside Wang Bi’er and said bluntly, “I’m one of the twenty candidates from Fengyue City. Why wouldn’t I be here?”

Ryan nodded in understanding. Zhu Yin was under eighteen and, although she hadn’t participated in the qualification exam, her status as the daughter of the Fengyue City branch head granted her a quota. There was nothing strange about it.

Then Zhu Yin turned to Ryan, her gaze direct. “Li Wei, let me ask you something. My father went to your Li Clan to propose marriage the day before yesterday. Why didn’t your Clan give any reply?”

The question came without warning.

Ryan froze, momentarily at a loss.

He hadn’t expected Zhu Yin to be so straightforward. Before his transmigration, he had been a typical shut-in. Even now, despite his overwhelming strength and rapid rise, being surrounded by women and questioned so directly still made him panic.

Before he could respond, Mu Xianling spoke up first.

“It’s not just the Zhu Clan,” she said coolly. “My Mu Clan also went to propose, and the Li Clan didn’t give any answer either.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, Mu Xianling regretted them.

Why did she say that? Was she… jealous?

Realizing her own emotions, her cheeks flushed faintly.

That fleeting blush did not escape the eyes of a nearby candidate. Seeing Mu Xianling’s beauty and fairy-like temperament, he was instantly captivated. Without hesitation, he stood up, brought a few companions with him, and approached Ryan’s group.

“This young lady,” he said with what he believed was a charming smile, “my name is Ren Tianyu, son of the Ren Clan elder from Hangzhou City. When I saw you just now, I was deeply moved. I wonder if I might have the honor of knowing your name?”

Mu Xianling glanced at him coldly. “No interest. I don’t want to befriend you.”

Her tone was blunt, even hostile.

She was already irritated by the situation around Ryan. Now, a random man suddenly appeared, trying to strike up a conversation. How could she possibly be in a good mood?

“Miss, do you know who you’re speaking to?” one of Ren Tianyu’s companions said angrily. “This is Young Master Ren, first place in Hangzhou City’s qualification exam. His future is limitless!”

“I don’t care who he is,” Mu Xianling replied flatly. “Tell him to leave.”

Ren Tianyu’s expression darkened. In Hangzhou City, few people dared to speak to him like this.

But Mu Xianling was not someone who cared about such things. Even back in Fengyue City alone, there had been countless suitors chasing after her, all of whom she had rejected without mercy. If she didn’t like someone, she wouldn’t give them even a shred of courtesy.

Ryan had once been treated the same way. The only difference was that, over time, her attitude toward him had changed.

Now, Ren Tianyu had stepped into the same position, and being driven away so decisively was only natural.

Mu Xianling’s blunt refusal made Ren Tianyu’s face stiffen instantly. His expression darkened as he sneered, voice turning sharp and threatening. “Do you know who I am? Being noticed by me should be your honor. Yet you dare to treat me like this. Believe it or not, once we reach the Western Mansion headquarters, I can make you kneel and beg for mercy with a single word. Dealing with someone like you is effortless for me.”

Ryan frowned. His patience thinned, and he finally spoke, his tone calm but clearly displeased. “Brother, since she has already said she doesn’t want to make friends with you, why force the matter and waste your breath?”

His words were restrained, yet unmistakably firm.

Mu Xianling was his servant by agreement. Someone barging over to harass her, then turning hostile when rejected, already crossed Ryan’s bottom line. If Ren Tianyu continued to push, Ryan would not mind teaching him a lesson.

Ren Tianyu, already irritated, snapped back coldly, “Who do you think you are? My business has nothing to do with you. Mind your own affairs.”

“Oh?” Ryan narrowed his eyes. A faint pressure seemed to rise around him.

Li Wujie, standing nearby, shook her head inwardly. To her, Ren Tianyu was already half a foot into trouble.

“What? You want to fight me?” Ren Tianyu scoffed, completely unaware of who he was provoking.

The atmosphere tightened, sparks almost visible between the two sides.

Just then, a voice interrupted calmly, breaking the tension. “Brother Ren, Brother Li, why escalate things? If there’s something to say, let’s talk it out.”

Several figures approached from a distance.

They were familiar faces, not only to Ryan, but to nearly everyone from Fengyue City. Bai Ye, Fang Tian, Liu Yu, Hua Xiang, and the other candidates from Lingyin City walked over together, with Bai Ye at the front.

As Bai Ye arrived, Ryan’s gaze sharpened slightly. Among peers, strength commanded respect, regardless of past victories or defeats.

“Brother Bai?” Ren Tianyu looked puzzled. “Why are you getting involved?”

Bai Ye smiled faintly and leaned closer, whispering something into Ren Tianyu’s ear. No one else heard the words, but Ren Tianyu’s expression changed instantly. His eyes widened in shock.

“Is that really true?” Ren Tianyu exclaimed in disbelief.

“It’s true,” Bai Ye replied calmly, nodding.

“What?” Ren Tianyu gasped again.

Bai Ye was not someone who joked about such matters. As the recognized top genius of the thirty-six cities, his words carried weight.

Realization struck Ren Tianyu like a hammer. He immediately turned toward Ryan, his attitude changing completely. “So it’s Brother Li Wei of Fengyue City. I truly had eyes but failed to see Mount Tai. I was rude just now.”

Ryan only snorted lightly, offering no response.

If Bai Ye hadn’t intervened, Ren Tianyu would likely have already been lying on the deck.

Ryan was not someone who sought trouble, but he feared no one. If others crossed him, he simply treated it as practice.

Seeing Ryan’s indifference, Ren Tianyu clenched his teeth and turned to Mu Xianling, bowing slightly. “Miss, I was rude earlier. Ren Tianyu apologizes. This was entirely my fault.”

Mu Xianling waved her hand impatiently. “Fine. Just leave.”

Ren Tianyu felt a wave of relief. He nodded repeatedly. “Of course, of course. We’ll leave immediately.”

Before departing, he cupped his fists once more toward Ryan and Bai Ye. “Brother Bai, Brother Li, we’ll take our leave.”

Bai Ye nodded lightly.

Ren Tianyu then led the candidates from Hangzhou City back to their area. As he left, he couldn’t help sneaking another glance at Ryan, his expression complicated, but tinged with relief.

Once back among his own people, a candidate finally couldn’t hold back and asked in a low voice, “Brother Tianyu, what did Bai Ye say to you just now? Why did you suddenly change your attitude?”

Ren Tianyu replied calmly, “Guess.”

“Did Bai Ye say he has ties with that guy?” the candidate ventured.

Ren Tianyu shook his head. “He told me that Li Wei’s strength… is even stronger than his.”

“What?” The candidate was stunned.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep