"Did you hear something just now?"
His gaze subtly sweeping over Nalan Yanran, Gu Han quietly asked Little Fairy Doctor.
"Something about 'Don't judge a young man's poverty, fortunes change every thirty years'?"
Little Fairy Doctor blinked gently, not understanding why Gu Han was paying attention to this.
"Seems I wasn't hearing things." Gu Han's eye twitched slightly.
Moreover, that voice definitely came from Xiao Yan.
Even though he had already resolved Nalan Yanran's marriage cancellation matter, why had the future Yan Di still triggered the "Don't judge a young man's poverty" side quest?
Could it be because he had seen Nalan Yanran today, activating some terrifying causality?
"That voice seemed to come from Xiao Yan?" Nalan Yanran, unaware of what Gu Han was thinking, spoke up: "Should we go take a look?"
"Of course." Gu Han was very curious about who would become Hundiantian's lifelong rival this time.
Meanwhile, in the square before the steps leading from the Cloud Mist Sect's inner sect to the mountain peak, Xiao Yan's expression was extremely grim.
He had merely been accompanying Nalan Yanyun, wanting to wait here to greet Gu Han before leaving, when he coincidentally met Ya Fei who had the same idea and exchanged a few words. Yet he still ended up being insulted and mocked by this young man named Mu Zhan.
He originally didn't want to argue and cause trouble, but then Mu Zhan actually said: "Trash should stay where trash belongs. Don't think that just because you've become the Nalan Family's son-in-law, you can consider yourself someone. When it comes down to it, you're just trash coming together."
"Some people and things aren't for someone like you to touch, otherwise you might easily get your fingers chopped off, understand?"
These words weren't just insulting Xiao Yan - they were insulting Nalan Yanyun too.
Xiao Yan keenly noticed his fiancée's face turn pale, and naturally could no longer swallow his anger.
Ya Fei's delicate frame trembled as she sharply retorted: "Mu Zhan, if we're talking about trash, I have no cultivation talent either, so we're not the same kind of people. Stay away from me."
"I don't mind." Mu Zhan showed what he thought was a deeply affectionate look. "Although you have no cultivation talent, you understand business. At worst, we can use pills to build up your strength. Reaching Dou Master or even Dou Grand Master in the future isn't a problem - that's enough."
Yet Ya Fei's gaze toward him contained only disgust. That look of wanting to possess her like a piece of artwork truly made her nauseous.
"Kid, get lost. Your Xiao Family has long declined, just like you've become worthless." Mu Zhan looked at Xiao Yan and sneered: "Within three years, I alone can take on your entire clan."
"Still talking about 'don't judge a young man's poverty'? How about 'don't judge a middle-aged man's poverty,' 'don't judge an old man's poverty,' 'don't judge your dead poverty'?"
These words pierced Xiao Yan's heart like sharp knives, making his eyes bloodshot and crimson.
He wanted to strike, but at the critical moment, Nalan Yanyun grabbed his hand, her eyes signaling him to calm down.
Mu Zhan was deliberately provoking Xiao Yan to attack, so he could legitimately suppress him.
"Hah." Xiao Yan forced himself to calm down, preparing to propose a Three-Year Agreement to Mu Zhan.
Since you claim you can single-handedly take on my entire Xiao Family in three years, why not have a duel with me in Jia Ma Holy City?
But before he could speak, a woman's furious voice came from beside them: "Mu Zhan, you're quite impressive, actually bullying our Nalan Family."
Mu Zhan's smile stiffened. In his arrogance, he had forgotten that Nalan Yanyun had the Nalan Family backing her.
Even if what he said was true, he shouldn't have mentioned it in public.
"Nalan Yanran, I was merely speaking the truth," Mu Zhan stubbornly insisted, unwilling to admit any fault.
While it was true that Nalan Yanran had become a disciple of Dou Emperor Expert Yun Yun, the strongest force in the Jia Ma Empire remained the imperial family led by Jia Xingtian, who also possessed a sixth-rank Nation Protecting Magical Beast, making them stronger than the Cloud Mist Sect.
The Jia Ma Empire belonged to the imperial family, and as the royal family's staunchest supporters, the Mu Family had no reason to fear the Cloud Mist Sect or the Nalan Family.
Ultimately, this was nothing more than a verbal dispute among juniors, hardly a significant matter.
"Fine words you call truth."
Before Nalan Yanran could respond, Gu Han raised his hand slightly and spoke, "Then let me say this: in my eyes, you, Mu Zhan, are nothing but trash. Without the Mu Family, you're worthless."
"You're nothing but a family parasite, a brute whose mind is filled only with women, ready to lose your temper and turn red-eyed at any moment. I'm sure you'd agree with this assessment."
Snickers erupted around them.
Indeed, Gu Han's description was quite fitting.
Everyone was surprised that the usually aloof Gu Han could speak so pointedly and accurately.
Mu Zhan had targeted Xiao Yan precisely because of Ya Fei, so Gu Han's words weren't wrong.
"You!" Mu Zhan's face instantly darkened with rage. "Gu Han, are you standing up for this Xiao Family trash?"
"You're partially right, but also wrong," Gu Han's eyes turned cold. "I am indeed standing up for him, and I must stand up for him."
"Don't forget, this is Cloud Mist Mountain, the territory of our Cloud Mist Sect."
"Everyone who came here today to watch the Outer Sect Disciple Competition is a guest of our Cloud Mist Sect."
"Bullying our Cloud Mist Sect's guests on our territory is a slap to our Cloud Mist Sect's face."
"By doing this, Mu Zhan, are you representing yourself or the Mu Family?"
As soon as Gu Han spoke these words, the Cloud Mist Sect disciples surrounding them began looking at Mu Zhan differently, their gazes filled with hostility and coldness.
Previously, they had merely found Mu Zhan arrogant and somewhat disagreeable, treating the incident as mere entertainment since it didn't concern them directly.
But after Gu Han's words, they suddenly realized that Mu Zhan's actions, if spread, would reflect poorly on the Cloud Mist Sect.
"I, I..." Mu Zhan's face turned deathly pale.
He had been provoked into speaking rudely after seeing Ya Fei laughing and chatting with Xiao Yan, without thinking through the consequences.
Now realizing he had done something foolish, he didn't know how to make amends.
"Zhan'er!"
At that moment, a steady male voice sounded from mid-air.
"Father." Mu Zhan relaxed immediately, cupping his hands toward the sky.
A middle-aged man with emerald green wings on his back had appeared unnoticed.
"Disgraceful fool, apologize to the young master of the Xiao Family," Mu Chen said coldly. "This is the Cloud Mist Sect - how could you speak so rudely? Some words should be reserved for appropriate occasions."
While this sounded like a reprimand, it subtly supported Mu Zhan by implying that such words would be acceptable elsewhere, just not at the Cloud Mist Sect.
Most present understood this underlying meaning, but nobody dared show any reaction in the presence of a Dou King.
Xiao Yan clenched his fists tightly, hating his current weakness more than ever.
Mu Zhan smirked contemptuously and offered an insincere, cupped-hand apology. "Nalan Yanyun, Xiao Yan."
"I had some bad liquor this morning and spoke without thinking. Please forgive my foolish words and don't hold it against me."
Xiao Yan stared at him intently, as if committing his face to memory.
"Starting tomorrow, you'll go train at the border. Don't return to the capital until you reach Dou Grand Master level."
With the matter resolved, Mu Chen's gaze swept over Ya Fei before he spoke again, his voice carrying more severity.
Ya Fei was from the Direct Lineage of the Miteer family, making her status comparable to Mu Zhan's, though there was a noticeable gap in their cultivation Talent.
However, she possessed a talent for business and was skilled at making money, with sharp judgment in recognizing people and situations. She would make a suitable partner for a clan leader. Since Mu Zhan liked her, marriage was acceptable, but she absolutely must not influence Mu Zhan's emotions or decisions.
"I..." Mu Zhan wanted to argue, but meeting Mu Chen's serious, warning gaze, he had to accept his fate. "Yes."
At worst, before leaving the capital, he would warn everyone not to entertain any improper thoughts about Ya Fei.
Taking a deep breath, Mu Zhan looked at Gu Han and said, "Snow Sword Young Master, I've already apologized. Are you satisfied now?"
Gu Han couldn't be bothered with him. His intervention this time was primarily to uphold the Cloud Mist Sect's reputation; protecting Xiao Yan was merely incidental.
The future Yan Di didn't need him meddling unnecessarily, nor would he eagerly insert himself.
"If not for the Cloud Mist Sect, what would you be worth?"
Feeling ignored, Mu Zhan muttered discontentedly.
Though spoken softly, Gu Han's sharp hearing caught every word.
His gaze sharpening, Gu Han said, "Brother Xiao Yan, Miss Yan Yun, Sister Ya Fei, it's been a while. Why not come to my place to catch up?"
"Especially you, Sister Ya Fei. I've recently obtained something valuable and would like to give it to you."
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