"Hah! Jiang Chen, who do you think you are?"Jiang Yunhong sneered, his voice dripping with disdain."Do you really think the alchemists of Baodan Pavilion listen to you?"
His hatred for Jiang Chen burned deep.If not for Jiang Chen suddenly appearing and stealing his opportunity to enter Lingyun Wufu, he would have been the family's rising star.
For his grandson's future, Jiang Qianhe had gone as far as to spend heavily and humble himself before the Baodan Pavilion.Finally, he managed to get the Pavilion's chief alchemist, Zhu Mingyuan, to agree to accept Jiang Yunhong as a disciple.
"Jiang Chen," Jiang Qianhe said with a forced smile, his tone laced with mockery, "Yunhong is about to formally worship the second-rank senior alchemist Zhu as his teacher. This is a great day for our Jiang family. Why don't you stay and witness it?"
Jiang Chen's expression didn't change. "Sure."
Even if Jiang Qianhe hadn't invited him, he had no intention of leaving.
People don't offend me, I don't offend them.But Jiang Yunhong?He had punched Jiang Chen in public, stolen his chance at Lingyun Wufu, and strutted around as though he was untouchable.
Now? It was time to return the humiliation.
Jiang Chen folded his arms across his chest and stood silently, waiting.
A few minutes later, a middle-aged man in an alchemist's uniform slowly walked toward them.
Zhu Mingyuan.
"Master Zhu, you're here!"Jiang Qianhe's eyes lit up as he rushed forward with an obsequious smile.
"Disciple Jiang Yunhong greets his teacher!"Jiang Yunhong quickly stepped forward and bowed deeply.
As he straightened, he glanced at Jiang Chen—still standing there, arms crossed, completely unmoved.
"Jiang Chen, why are you just standing there?" Jiang Yunhong barked. "Don't you know to salute Master Zhu?"
Jiang Qianhe's expression darkened. "Jiang Chen, you're far too bold! How dare you be so disrespectful to Alchemist Zhu? Kneel and apologize immediately!"
The scolding echoed sharply, but Jiang Chen didn't even flinch.
Instead, he turned to Zhu Mingyuan with a faint, mocking smile."Zhu Mingyuan, they're insisting I kneel and apologize to you. What do you think?"
The moment Zhu Mingyuan saw Jiang Chen, he had been about to step forward and greet him respectfully.
But then…he heard Jiang Qianhe's words.
His face instantly turned as black as thunder.
Yet Jiang Yunhong, oblivious to the shift in the air, doubled down."Jiang Chen, how dare you call my teacher by name! You—"
SLAP!
Before he could finish, Zhu Mingyuan strode forward and delivered a resounding slap across Jiang Yunhong's face.
The sound cracked through the air.
Jiang Yunhong froze, eyes wide in disbelief.
Even Jiang Qianhe stood stunned.
What… what just happened?
Shouldn't Alchemist Zhu be slapping Jiang Chen for his disrespect?
Why…why did he slap Jiang Yunhong instead?!