Ye Rou, a direct disciple of the Fenghui Sect—the number one sect in the Liuli Great Region—was also present today.
Those familiar with Ye Rou knew she was a bewitching figure, always the center of attention wherever she went.
Today, however, was an exception.
Since arriving at the garden, she had been extremely low-key, speaking only when absolutely necessary.
The reason was simple.
After emerging from the Black-Raven Secret Realm that day, she had led the Fenghui Sect disciples back in, only to encounter the realm's mutation, resulting in the deaths and injuries of over a dozen outstanding Fenghui disciples. She was severely punished by the sect afterward.
That was the first reason. The second was that with Shui Yunruo and Lan Feier present today, her own bewitching charm seemed rather vulgar and garish in comparison to the two goddesses.
The third reason—and the most important one—was that after coming to Liuren Mountain, she had learned from Zhuo Feng that the person who injured her in the Black-Raven Secret Realm that day was none other than the rumored Young Lord Chiyan, Gu Qingfeng, and that he was right here.
Since the two of them had previously cared about saving face and agreed to claim they were injured by Buddha's Breath—after all, it would be utterly humiliating to spread the word that they were injured by the Spiritual Power of a nouveau riche with only Purple Mansion cultivation—even knowing Gu Qingfeng was at Liuren Mountain, she had not made a fuss.
But now, with Xia Pan'er suddenly stepping forward and seeming to know something, not only was Zhuo Feng inwardly tense, but Ye Rou was also extremely nervous. She glanced at Zhuo Feng and finally stepped forward, admitting, "That's right. When we were in the Black-Raven Secret Realm, we were indeed injured by the Buddha's Breath inside."
"Oh!
So you two had already agreed on this story..." Xia Pan'er crossed her arms, looking at Zhuo Feng, then at Ye Rou, and laughed. "Then let me ask you another question. Who snatched the relic inside the ancient pagoda that day?"
Zhuo Feng cautiously replied, "It was taken by an evil cultivator."
"An evil cultivator?
Hah, you really know how to spin a tale, don't you? An evil cultivator?
Come on, I'm really impressed. Why cling to face so stubbornly? So what if you were injured by the nouveau riche? What's so bad about admitting it?"
Zhuo Feng's heart sank, and the corner of his mouth twitched uncontrollably. He steeled himself and responded, "Let me say it again: I have never fought that nouveau riche, much less been injured by him."
"Enough is enough!"
Seeing Zhuo Feng's hypocrisy, Xia Pan'er decided not to hold back any longer. "I've seen hypocritical people, but never one as utterly hypocritical as you! Hmph!
When competing for the relic that day, you, Ye Rou, and Young Lord Baihe of the Jiuhua Alliance—and Baihe even brought four experts with him—the several of you joining forces couldn't budge the nouveau riche an inch. The nouveau riche advised you to leave, but you wouldn't listen. Not only that, you all teamed up to surround and attack him. And then what? The nouveau riche just unleashed his Spiritual Power and crushed you all on the spot. Well? Is what I'm saying clear enough?"
Zhuo Feng's face changed color repeatedly. Though he tried desperately to conceal his inner panic, both his expression and his eyes were filled with alarm.
"You probably didn't know, did you?
This young lady was also present that day during the relic competition!"
With that, Xia Pan'er reached up and wiped her face, changing her appearance to the disguise she had used earlier in the Black-Raven Secret Realm. She smiled and said, "Well? Do you recognize me now? Hmm?"
"You!"
Although Zhuo Feng had already harbored some suspicion when Xia Pan'er stepped forward, it was only a suspicion. It wasn't until now, looking at the little girl's altered appearance, that he realized the little girl from the Black-Raven Secret Realm that day was actually Xia Pan'er!
"My apologies, Miss Xia Pan. I truly have no idea what you're talking about."
If there was one thing to be said about Zhuo Feng, it was that his mental fortitude was absolutely rock-solid. Even with Xia Pan'er laying everything out, he stubbornly held his ground, refusing to admit anything.
"Little sister, is this a dream you had? Hehehehe..." Ye Rou also pretended not to recognize Xia Pan'er, laughing as she said, "When that nouveau riche surnamed Gu was in the pavilion earlier, after being intimidated by Young Lord Kang's Ninefold Flowing Color Nature's Might, he couldn't even stand steadily. Do you really think a nouveau riche like him could be a match for your elder sister?"
"That I, Miss Ye Rou, and Young Lord Baihe of the Jiuhua Alliance joining forces couldn't do a thing to that nouveau riche surnamed Gu? And were crushed unconscious by his Spiritual Power? Really..." Zhuo Feng's face regained its smile. "I must say, Miss Pan'er's imagination is truly rich and colorful."
The crowd in the garden buzzed with discussion. Although Xia Pan'er's account was detailed and vivid, many simply thought she was joking, playing around for everyone's amusement.
Earlier in the pavilion, many had personally witnessed Gu Qingfeng unable to stand steadily before Kang Zhengqi.
Now Xia Pan'er was saying that Zhuo Feng and the other two joining forces couldn't budge Gu Qingfeng an inch.
Was that even possible?
And she even claimed they were crushed by Gu Qingfeng's Spiritual Power.
That was just too exaggerated.
The nouveau riche only had Purple Mansion cultivation. Although rumors said his Spiritual Power was bizarrely powerful, even if you talked until the sky fell, he was still only at the Purple Mansion realm. No matter how strong his Spiritual Power was, how strong could it really be?
Just think about it: Zhuo Feng, Ye Rou, and Young Lord Baihe of the Jiuhua Alliance's Tai Xuan branch—all three were first-rate geniuses. To crush them with Spiritual Power alone, forget about a Purple Mansion cultivator, even a Nascent Soul expert would find it difficult.
Of everyone present, aside from Shui Yunruo and Lan Feier, no one believed Xia Pan'er.
This infuriated the little girl immensely, especially seeing the hypocritical smiles on Zhuo Feng and Ye Rou's faces, which made her blood boil. She angrily declared, "Damn it! The nouveau riche is right here on Liuren Mountain. Do you dare to go confront him?"
Hearing this, Zhuo Feng's heart skipped a beat, though he maintained a calm facade.
"You don't dare, do you? You're scared, aren't you? Afraid of being exposed? Hmph!
And you have the nerve to claim it's out of respect for the old master that you don't want to fight the nouveau riche. I think you're just plain scared! What Young Lord Kang said was absolutely right—you're terrified!"
Seeing Zhuo Feng remain silent, Kang Zhengqi, standing nearby, mocked, "Confront him? Does he dare? Earlier, when facing that nouveau riche surnamed Gu, he was so scared he didn't even dare to fart. Little sister, if you ask him to go confront him now, Young Lord Zhuo would probably die of fright!"
"Heh..." Zhuo Feng gave a light laugh, straightened his robes, and smiled confidently. "Jingtao, do you remember what I told you? I said I'd make that fellow surnamed Gu kneel before you. I also said that however he hit you that day, I would get tenfold revenge for you."
He tilted his head back and drained his cup of wine in one gulp, then continued, "Earlier, I was just showing respect for Elder Shi Tong by not bothering with that nouveau riche surnamed Gu. I planned to settle things after this banquet ended. I never expected it would cause so many misunderstandings...
He's nothing but a petty nouveau riche. I've never taken him seriously. Where is that nouveau riche right now?"
Hearing that Zhuo Feng intended to go find Gu Qingfeng, Ye Rou, not far away, was startled. She secretly sent a voice transmission, asking, "Zhuo Feng, have you gone mad? You know perfectly well we're no match for that nouveau riche. Why are you still going?"
"If my guess is correct, he should be injured. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been intimidated by Kang Zhengqi. Since that's the case, what do I have to fear? This is a rare opportunity for both you and me to regain face. This time, I will definitely make him pay a heavy price!"