Chapter 73: The Interruption of Wolf Sky Mercenary Corps (Part-4)

The one who spoke was obviously Ryan.

“Uncle Wang,” Ryan continued calmly, his voice carrying across the entire square, “they came for me. This is a private matter. Let me handle it myself.”

His words echoed through Wushuang Square.

Every candidate on the ring heard him clearly. Even the distant audience seats fell silent before erupting into renewed uproar.

“What? These people are here for Li Wei?”

“A Upper Exalt and a dozen Exalts… for a so-called waste? Are you kidding me?”

“This is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. An Upper Exalt for Li Wei? I don’t believe it.”

“He must be trying to draw attention to himself. Private matter? With a Upper Exalt? Who would believe that?”

“To deal with Li Wei, a single warrior would be enough. Sending a Upper Exalt is absurd.”

Disbelief filled the air, drowning out reason.

Wang Zongyao frowned deeply. He looked back at Ryan, who met his gaze without the slightest hint of fear. Ryan’s expression was calm, confident, as though the terrifying group before him were nothing more than passersby.

That composure unsettled Wang Zongyao even more.

Shen Yu, on the other hand, was momentarily stunned. He had not expected Ryan to step forward of his own accord, abandoning Western Mansion’s protection.

But the surprise quickly turned into satisfaction.

He assumed Ryan simply did not want to drag Western Mansion into his personal affairs.

Shen Yu turned back to Wang Zongyao and said lightly, “You see, Examiner. The person we are looking for has spoken for himself. Is it still appropriate for you to block our way?”

Wang Zongyao snorted coldly. He turned once more to Ryan and asked in a heavy voice, “Li Wei, are you certain?”

“I am,” Ryan answered without hesitation.

Silence followed.

Wang Zongyao lowered his head, thinking rapidly. Finally, he lifted his gaze, his expression grim, and faced Shen Yu.

“If that is the case,” he said slowly, “then go in.”

Seeing Wang Zongyao step aside and avoid further confrontation, Shen Yu cupped his hands politely and smiled. “Then many thanks to Examiner Wang for showing understanding. Our purpose here is only for this young man. Once the matter is settled, we will leave immediately and personally offer an apology to Western Mansion.”

Wang Zongyao merely snorted in response and said nothing.

He silently withdrew from their path, his expression cold and restrained.

In his heart, however, his thoughts were sharp as a blade. He knew he could not stop them from entering, but whether they could leave after this was another matter entirely. Such words, of course, were never meant to be spoken aloud.

Seeing no further resistance, Shen Yu did not linger. He waved his hand, signaling the black-clad men behind him to follow, and led the group forward openly and without concealment, striding straight toward Ryan’s ring.

The moment they moved, Wushuang Square erupted into another wave of noise.

“Western Mansion actually let those people in!”

“They’re really heading toward Li Wei. Are they truly here for him?”

“Is Li Wei insane? These people are clearly dangerous. Why would he give up Western Mansion’s protection and face them himself?”

“What protection? Even the examiner couldn’t beat their leader!”

“Then it’s obvious Li Wei offended someone he shouldn’t have. If I were Western Mansion, I wouldn’t shelter a troublemaker either.”

“That makes sense.”

“I have a bad feeling. Li Wei is about to be beaten badly.”

“I think he’ll be dragged away like a dead dog.”

Speculation spread like wildfire, every sentence more vicious than the last.

On the high platform, the heads of the great families stared in shock. The situation had changed too quickly, piling one surprise atop another. First, Su Jian’s humiliating defeat.

Then, the clash between an Upper Exalt in black and the Western Mansion’s examiner. Now, those same black-clad figures were marching straight toward Ryan.

Nothing was unfolding as expected.

What exactly was going on?

Why would Ryan voluntarily step forward instead of remaining under Western Mansion’s protection?

Was this arrogance, recklessness, or something else entirely?

Among the Li Clan, anxiety could no longer be suppressed.

“Patriarch… this doesn’t look good,” an elder whispered urgently into Li Gengxin’s ear. “Those people are clearly dangerous. I fear this will be disastrous for Young Master.”

Li Gengxin’s heart tightened.

As a father, how could he not worry? He knew his son possessed strength and had once claimed to be at the Exalt realm, but the men approaching now included an Upper Exalt, along with several others who were likely Exalts themselves. No matter how one looked at it, the odds were grim.

Before he could speak, a mocking voice cut in.

“Patriarch Li, it seems your son has stirred up quite the trouble,” the Su Clan patriarch said with thinly veiled malice.

Ever since Su Jian’s humiliation, the Su Clan harbored deep resentment toward Ryan and the Li Clan. Now that Ryan appeared to be in grave danger, the chance to gloat was irresistible.

“Not just trouble,” the Fan Clan patriarch added coldly. “I’d say the Li Clan’s downfall begins today.”

“With a disgrace like Li Wei,” the Yuan family patriarch sneered, “how could the Li Clan survive? Buying exemption qualifications, embarrassing the examiner… truly laughable.”

Voices followed one after another, each sharper than the last.

“If I were from the Li Clan, I’d dig a hole and hide. This is beyond embarrassing.”

“Compared to Fan Wei or Su Sidao, Li Wei is nothing.”

“I heard only six Li Clan members joined the exam, and half were eliminated. What a joke.”

“Our Su Clan has seven in the third trial.”

“The Fan Clan has eight.”

“The Yuan family has six.”

“Is the Li Clan still worthy of being called a top family of Fengyue City?”

“With Li Wei in trouble, the whole Li Clan might be dragged down.”

“Better cut ties quickly, or you’ll all be wiped out.”

Laughter and ridicule echoed across the high platform. Seeing the Li Clan seemingly cornered, even smaller families joined in, eager to trample the fallen.

Li Gengxin’s face turned pale, then flushed with anger. His fists clenched, but he found no words sharp enough to strike back. The suffocation in his chest was almost unbearable.

At that moment, a different voice spoke up.

“Why would Li Wei provoke such a powerful force?” the Mu family patriarch asked calmly. “Patriarch Li, perhaps there’s been a misunderstanding. Shouldn’t we go down and see what’s happening?”

Li Gengxin was startled. He had not expected the Mu family to speak on their behalf at such a time. His heart warmed slightly.

Ignoring the sneers of the Su, Fan, and Yuan families, Li Gengxin cupped his hands toward the Mu family patriarch. “Thank you for your concern. I don’t yet know the full story, but Li Wei is my son and a member of the Li Clan. I will not stand by and watch him be harmed.”

He turned to the elders behind him. “Stay here. I’ll go down and see what’s going on.”

He paused, then his gaze hardened with unshakable resolve. “If something happens to me, the Third Uncle will take over as patriarch.”

Despite his faith in Ryan, Li Gengxin could not ignore the fear gnawing at his heart. A father could not remain seated while his son stood alone before danger.

“I’ll go with you!”

“Yes, we’ll go together!”

“If we die, we die together!”

The Li Clan elders spoke in unison, eyes blazing.

“No,” Li Gengxin said firmly, cutting them off. “None of you is going. I’ll go alone. The situation may not be as bad as you think.”

“Patriarch—!”

“This is an order,” Li Gengxin said sharply.

The elders froze, unable to argue further.

Without another word, Li Gengxin turned, leapt from the high platform, and headed straight toward Ryan’s ring, his figure resolute and unyielding as he moved to stand beside his son.

Ryan had been calmly waiting for the men in black from the Wolf Sky Mercenary Corps when he suddenly noticed a familiar figure rushing toward him. When he saw that it was his father, Li Gengxin, his expression froze for a brief instant before warmth surged in his chest and a smile naturally spread across his face.

“Wei’er!”

Li Gengxin arrived behind Ryan in a hurry, his brows tightly knit, worry written plainly across his face. Because the high platform was closer to Ryan’s ring than the position of the men in black, Li Gengxin had reached him first.

“Father, why did you come down?” Ryan turned around and spoke gently, his tone confident and reassuring. “Don’t worry. I can handle what’s happening here.”

Li Gengxin studied his son carefully, still unable to fully relax. “You say that so lightly, but do you really have confidence? You’re only at the Exalt realm. The man in black leading them is an Upper Exalt. Even Examiner Wang was no match for him.”

Li Gengxin feared that Ryan was merely putting on a brave front to ease his worries. After all, the difference between an Exalt and an Upper Exalt was like heaven and earth.

Ryan nodded without hesitation, his gaze steady. “Yes, Father. I’m confident.”

Seeing his son’s firm expression, Li Gengxin paused, then asked doubtfully, “Confident… because you’re prepared?”

“That’s right,” Ryan replied, a mysterious smile tugging at his lips.

“You sure?” Li Gengxin echoed, his confusion deepening.

Ryan did not answer immediately. Instead, he raised his hand and gestured toward the ring. In the next instant, a small figure leapt forward at astonishing speed. Before anyone else could react, it had already landed beside Ryan.

Li Gengxin stared at the newcomer in astonishment. “This is…?”

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