"Zhou Chong."
Ouyang Xue flew straight into his arms.
Zhou Chong?
Yang Cheng's eyes flickered strangely.
It really was him.
This man would later become one of Zuo Qiuming's dogs.
It was also him who revealed Jiang Hengwu's existence to Zuo Qiuming.
Later, he even helped Zuo Qiuming seize Jiang Hengwu and humiliate Yang Cheng countless times.
Yet the system didn't issue any mission about this man.
That made Yang Cheng thoughtful.
Zhou Chong's talent wasn't great. Even after 500 years, he had only just stepped into Insight God.
Most likely the system judged that dealing with such a person was too easy, not even worth a mission.
Because of that, Yang Cheng had no interest in stepping on him now.
At a glance, he could see Zhou Chong, now 20 years old, had only reached the sixth stage of Martial King.
This was all because the Zhou clan had stuffed him with heavy medicines, draining his future potential.
Zhou Chong held Ouyang Xue in his arms, but his gaze went past her, landing on Tang Xingyu and Jiang Hengwu.
His eyes clearly lit up with amazement.
If Ouyang Xue was first-class in beauty, then Tang Xingyu and Jiang Hengwu were simply beyond class.
And both were still young, not yet fully grown. When they did, they would definitely be stunning enough to topple kingdoms.
What displeased him was spotting a boy between the two girls.
"Who's this?" Zhou Chong's tone was laced with scrutiny.
"He's Tangtang's junior brother, surname Chen," Ouyang Xue said.
The moment Zhou Chong heard that, his disdain grew.
There wasn't a single great clan in all Great Zhou with the surname "Chen."
At once he turned to Yang Cheng. "I am Zhou Chong, of the Zhou clan of Lancheng. And you, little brother, where are you from?"
Yang Cheng instantly knew Zhou Chong was trying to belittle him.
This man loved to flatter the high and trample the low, just like in his past life.
Yang Cheng couldn't be bothered to answer.
"Oh, still acting proud, are we?" Zhou Chong sneered.
His followers burst out laughing, treating Yang Cheng as a joke.
"Young Master Zhou, the Buddha statue you wanted has been found," someone reported.
"Count yourself lucky. I don't have time for you right now," Zhou Chong said, pointing at Yang Cheng with a casual flick of his finger before swaggering off with Ouyang Xue.
Fo Ye loved Buddha statues most.
Zhou Chong had heard that someone was selling a 'Diamond Jade Buddha.'
He wanted to buy it as a gift for Fo Ye.
"Come on, let's go watch the fun," Ouyang Xue called, waving Tang Xingyu and Jiang Hengwu along.
Inside the manor, it was indeed a black market.
There weren't many people, but everyone present was a power in Chanzhou.
Clearly, this wasn't a place ordinary folk could enter.
As soon as Ouyang Xue, Tang Xingyu, and Jiang Hengwu stepped inside, countless gazes turned toward them.
The three girls were simply too beautiful.
So young, yet already blooming vividly.
By then, Zhou Chong had already approached a fat, big-eared middle-aged man.
Behind him, one of his attendants was holding a flawless jade Buddha.
"Brother, how much for the jade Buddha?" Zhou Chong cupped his fists.
"300 superior-grade spirit stones. No bargaining," the middle-aged man said.
Zhou Chong frowned.
That was steep.
But thinking of currying favor with Fo Ye, he gritted his teeth. "Deal."
"Not so fast."
The middle-aged man squinted lewdly at Ouyang Xue. "Is this your dao companion? Lend her to me for one night, and the deal's done."
Zhou Chong's face changed drastically.
Before he could react, Ouyang Xue had already slapped the man across the face.
The man hadn't expected to be hit. Caught off guard, he took the full force of the slap.
When he came back to his senses, his face twisted with rage. "Bitch!"
"You dare curse me?" Ouyang Xue grew even angrier.
"Not only will I curse you, I'll execute you on the spot!" the man snarled.
"Zhou Chong, are you even a man, letting someone insult your woman like this?" Ouyang Xue snapped.
Zhou Chong's pride wavered.
He wanted that jade Buddha to win over Fo Ye, but he also couldn't stand being humiliated.
"Sir, don't you think you've gone too far?" Zhou Chong said.
"Pah!"
The man spat thick phlegm right onto Zhou Chong's face. "Hand over your dao companion to serve me, or you won't bear the consequences."
"You dare!" Zhou Chong roared.
He had been spoiled all his life. How could he take this?
He swung a punch at the man.
But he'd hit iron. The man was a seventh-stage Martial King.
Bang!
In an instant, the man caught Zhou Chong's fist and kicked him flying.
"All of you, attack!" Zhou Chong shouted furiously.
Together, his men swarmed. Four fists against two—soon the middle-aged man was beaten half to death.
"Get lost!" Zhou Chong spat back at him, even spitting phlegm in return.
Not only that, he snatched the jade Buddha and tossed 300 superior-grade spirit stones at him.
The man didn't even bother picking them up. Terrified, he scrambled away.
"Hahaha!"
Laughter rang out from Zhou Chong and the others behind.
Ouyang Xue shot Yang Cheng a look of disdain. "Just now, all the other men stood up and fought, only you hid in the back. Are you even a man?"
Tang Xingyu's jade-like face turned cold. "Ouyang Xue, if you speak to Cheng Cheng like that again, we are no longer friends."
"You…"
Ouyang Xue stared in disbelief. "Half a year now, how have I treated you? Yet you'd turn on me because of him?"
"Not just you. Anyone who disrespects Cheng Cheng will get the same from me," Tang Xingyu said bluntly."
Ouyang Xue wanted to snap back.
But she knew Tang Xingyu's temper well.
If she pushed further, Tang Xingyu really would break off their friendship.
That wasn't what she wanted.
Her elders had warned her—Tang Xingyu's martial talent was frightening. She must keep good ties with her.
Besides, she knew herself that Tang Xingyu and Jiang Hengwu were the highest in standing among her friends.
With friends like that, she too looked good.
So she could only lower her tone. "Fine, I won't say it again."
For the moment, Zhou Chong and the rest had nothing more to say to Yang Cheng.
But the looks they gave him grew darker.
They couldn't figure out what this boy had, to make a peerless beauty like Tang Xingyu defend him so fiercely.
Just then—
Thud, thud, thud…
The sound of hurried footsteps filled the hall.
A large group of martial artists appeared, surrounding everyone.
At their head was a burly man.
That middle-aged man from earlier trailed behind him.
"Brother Bai, it was them who ganged up on me," the man said hatefully.
Zhou Chong and the others tensed.
These people were clearly not small fry.
But Zhou Chong forced himself forward. "Esteemed sir, I am Zhou Chong, direct son of the Zhou clan. My father is Zhou Xiong, president of the Zhou Merchant Association."
He was clever—first thing, show his backing.
"Zhou Xiong's son?"
The burly man's eyes were cold. "Last year Zhou Xiong bowed and scraped before me. Since when does his son dare beat my guests on my turf?"
Zhou Chong stiffened. "Sir, th-this is Fo Ye's territory…"
"Idiot, Brother Bai is Fo Ye," the middle-aged man spat.
Zhou Chong's face drained of color. The people behind him felt ice run down their backs.
He'd come to Wanlu Manor to buy a jade Buddha to please Fo Ye.
Now, instead, he had offended him.
With Fo Ye's status, even Zhou Xiong had to bow and scrape.
"Brother Lu, I leave these people to you. Handle them however you like," Bai Lifuo said indifferently.
"Much obliged."
Lu Chengming grinned viciously, stepping forward and slapping Zhou Chong across the face.
The blow left Zhou Chong's ears ringing, his mind blank.
None of his men dared move.
Fo Ye's people were all watching.
Lu Chengming struck again and again, in moments leaving Zhou Chong's cheeks swollen red.
"Senior Lu, I was blind, I didn't recognize your greatness. Please, what must I do for you to forgive me?" Zhou Chong pleaded.
"Simple."
Lu Chengming pointed at Ouyang Xue. "Hand her over to me for seven days, and this ends."
Zhou Chong forced himself to say, "Senior Lu, I have no right to decide for her."
"That's your problem."
Another slap came, this time knocking out one of Zhou Chong's teeth.
His face twisted in pain.
"You toad, still dreaming of swan meat? You make me sick," Ouyang Xue spat at Lu Chengming.
Zhou Chong's heart sank.
Even if there had been a chance to smooth things over, Ouyang Xue's insult had shattered it.
"Hahaha," Lu Chengming sneered. "Brother Bai, seems your majesty on your own turf isn't so impressive."
Bai Lifuo's gaze chilled. "I said it already—Brother Lu, deal with them however you wish. If anyone resists, break their legs."
"Fo Ye!"
Zhou Chong begged, "She's Ouyang clan's daughter, not some cheap woman. Please, for the Ouyang clan's and my Zhou clan's sake, spare her."
"Ouyang clan? Zhou clan?"
Bai Lifuo snorted. "Sorry, but to me, Ouyang Zhen and Zhou Xiong aren't worth a damn."
Seeing Bai Lifuo back him so firmly, Lu Chengming grew bolder.
His eyes slid over to Tang Xingyu and Jiang Hengwu.
Clearly, he had already noticed the two were even more exquisite than Ouyang Xue.
But he also knew such girls often caught the eye of true big shots. That was why he'd held back.
Now, with Fo Ye behind him, his lust swelled further.
"I've decided. Not just that girl, these two also stay with me," Lu Chengming said.
Bai Lifuo's brows furrowed. He hadn't expected Lu Chengming's appetite to be this huge.
Then he said, "Brother Lu, those two, forget it."
He could see. Unlike Ouyang Xue, who threw herself into men's arms so young, these two were pure and untouched.
Bai Lifuo wasn't a good man, but he wasn't so shameless either.
Lu Chengming gave an awkward laugh.
But before he could speak again, a voice rang out suddenly: "Bai Lifuo, your words just saved you. For that, you should be grateful."
The words dropped like thunder.
Everyone's faces changed instantly.
Who dared speak to Fo Ye like that, here on his turf?