“It seems this brother isn’t exactly welcoming me. They say guests should be respected regardless of how far they’ve traveled—won’t you at least invite us in for a cup of tea?”
Hong Zhong observed Xiao Yufan’s expression, a faint smile curling his lips. His handsome face, brimming with smiles, revealed no hint of his true emotions. This guy was no pushover either—he was clearly skilled at concealing his thoughts.
“Well, since Master An has come all this way, I wouldn’t mind inviting him in for tea. But as for this friend here, we’re hardly acquainted. I don’t think we have much reason to be on friendly terms.”
Xiao Yufan nodded slightly toward Master An before shifting his gaze back to Hong Zhong. Throughout their exchange, the latter had shown no sign of hostility, which only deepened Xiao Yufan’s curiosity. Could it be that this persistent fellow had come merely to see Yingluo?
“That’s true enough…”
Hong Zhong found himself agreeing with Xiao Yufan’s reasoning. After all, they barely knew each other and were, in a way, rivals in love. It was only natural for Xiao Yufan to act this way.
“If you agree with what my husband said, then why don’t you just go back where you came from? My heart has always belonged to the one I love, so you might as well give up!”
Yingluo chimed in at just the right moment. She knew Hong Zhong well—he was persistent and a bit of a nuisance, but not a bad person. Unless absolutely necessary, she had no intention of ruining their relationship entirely with this man who looked almost too feminine.
“Yingluo, you must know how deeply I’ve always loved you. Is it truly impossible for you to give me a chance?”
Facing Yingluo’s breathtaking beauty, Hong Zhong’s expression wavered for the first time. As the future heir of the Hong family, he had many admirers, but among them, only Yingluo had ever truly captured his heart.
Xiao Yufan’s eyebrows furrowed slightly, his lips twitching. Was this guy treating him like he wasn’t even there? It was one thing to confess feelings for Yingluo, but to do so while completely ignoring him?
“I really must thank you then. Until now, I’ve always regarded you as a friend. But if you insist on pursuing this path, I’m afraid even friendship will no longer be possible between us.”
Yingluo clenched her teeth in frustration, her eyes flickering toward Xiao Yufan. She feared that this man might get angry. Women are sensitive creatures, and she didn’t want any imperfection to stain her image in Xiao Yufan’s heart.
“I suppose I was just being foolish then. Very well, very well. Since you’ve already chosen someone you love, I’ll just offer you my best wishes.”
Xiao Yufan could sense that Hong Zhong’s feelings for Yingluo were genuine. Unfortunately, it seemed that while the prince had feelings, the fairy remained indifferent. Hong Zhong was indeed quite unfortunate, and Xiao Yufan inwardly felt relieved that he had acted first.
“So, it really turns you on to confess your feelings for my woman right in front of me, huh?”
Xiao Yufan wasn’t being petty—any man in this situation would feel the same irritation. Especially when this guy was brazen enough to completely disregard him.
“Of course it does, though I can see you’re a bit upset. I really feel like giving you a good beating!”
Hong Zhong’s eyes narrowed slightly, a strange smile creeping onto his face. Truthfully, his main purpose in coming here was to meet this renowned man from the north.
“Same here. I’d love to beat you senseless too, just to let you know—my woman is off-limits to you!”
The atmosphere grew tense as both men radiated their aura like surging springs. Yingluo opened her mouth but said nothing more. This was a matter between men, and she naturally didn’t want to interfere. Of course, if Hong Zhong dared to harm her man, she would never forgive this annoying stalker.
“Master An, you can just sit back and enjoy the show. I’m eager to test the strength of this man you’ve praised so highly.”
Hong Zhong was a man of passion and pride. At this moment, he had no intention of backing down. As their auras collided, neither gained the upper hand. Master An simply smiled, shook his head, and stepped back to stand beside Yingluo.
“I’m really curious to know how you managed to capture Yingluo’s heart, especially with other women by your side whom she doesn’t seem to mind at all. I hope you won’t disappoint me!”
Though slightly annoyed, Hong Zhong couldn’t help but admire Xiao Yufan. This man had so many outstanding women around him, and even the proud Yingluo didn’t mind his good fortune.
“You won’t be disappointed!”
As the words left his mouth, Xiao Yufan sprang into action. Since the other party had been so direct, he naturally had to show that anyone daring to challenge him on his own turf was merely indulging in a fantasy.
At the early stage of Qi condensation, Xiao Yufan was already considered an elite martial artist in the outside world—capable of easily defeating hundreds of ordinary men. However, for Hong Zhong, such strength was still insufficient to make him retreat.
Hong Zhong had long since reached the peak of Qi condensation. He was even bold enough to challenge experts on the verge of the late-stage cultivation realm.
Xiao Yufan’s expression twitched slightly as he took a deep breath. Though this guy was annoying, there was no denying that his strength was truly formidable.
The two men clashed quickly. Before the women could even see clearly what was happening, their figures had already crossed and re-crossed. Their fight was raw and unrefined—pure physical confrontation.
A low groan followed. Almost simultaneously, both Xiao Yufan and Hong Zhong took several steps backward. From that brief exchange, each had already tested the other’s strength.
The peak of Qi condensation—indeed, it was no match for ordinary Qi condensation experts. If Hong Zhong had exerted just a little more force, Xiao Yufan wouldn’t have merely stumbled back a few steps. This guy was even stronger than that old dog from the hidden Guo family.
As for Hong Zhong, his expression had also turned more serious. He hadn’t expected Xiao Yufan’s strength and physical endurance to exceed his expectations so greatly. Was this really only the early stage of Qi condensation?
“Your arm must be numb by now. If I’m not mistaken, you can barely lift it anymore, right?”
Leveraging his peak Qi condensation strength, Hong Zhong had clearly gained the upper hand. Seeing Xiao Yufan’s slightly furrowed brows, he allowed a faint smile to appear on his lips—not mocking, but teasing.
“And what about your arm? Don’t act so smug. If things turn out differently later, it’ll be quite embarrassing for you!”
Xiao Yufan shot back. If he was feeling discomfort, there was no way this guy could be entirely unaffected either. After all he’d experienced, his physical strength had long surpassed others at the same level.
“Heh, you really know how to get under someone’s skin. But this is only the beginning. Now, let me show you the true power of someone at the peak of Qi condensation!”
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