Ling Xiao and Ling Yixue both looked over and saw two people standing atop the wall.
One was Ling Chen, and the other was Ling Yun.
The one speaking was indeed Ling Yun.
"I don’t understand what you’re talking about."
Ling Yixue glanced coldly at Ling Yun.
Ever since the family competition, Ling Yun had clearly been stimulated and lost his balance of mind. Although he was training desperately, his progress wasn’t even as good as hers or Ling Yihang’s.
If they were to compete again, she was not confident she could definitely beat Ling Yun, but she could absolutely guarantee she wouldn’t lose within a hundred moves.
Therefore, she was not afraid of Ling Yun right now.
"Still playing dumb! You clearly have a relationship with Ling Feifan. Now that Ling Feifan has gone on a journey to gain experience and hasn’t returned, yet you hook up with Ling Xiao. How are you not a slut?"
"It’s true that Ling Feifan is pursuing me, but I haven’t made any promises to him. As a Ling Family disciple, you insult me today, you must apologize!"
Ling Yixue’s eyebrows furrowed slightly, and her expression was not very pleasant.
"So what if I insult you, slut!"
Ling Yun was extremely arrogant.
It was obvious that because Ling Chen was there, he wasn’t afraid of Ling Xiao.
Ling Xiao couldn’t stand it any longer; this was his family’s courtyard, and yet Ling Chen and Ling Yun were standing on the wall.
Ling Yun even dared to speak disrespectfully, insulting Ling Yixue and him. If even this could be endured, wouldn’t Ling Xiao become a spineless coward?
As he was speaking, Ling Xiao suddenly made a move, and he used the "Earth’s Core Ice Lotus Bind" that Ling Yixue had just used.
But his execution was clearly more elegant than that of Ling Yixue.
The ice lotus emerged from the void and instantly froze Ling Yun, before Ling Xiao pulled him back.
The action was so smooth that Ling Chen beside them didn’t have time to save him.
Ling Chen looked at Ling Xiao and said coldly.
"If he kneels down and apologizes, I will naturally let him go!"
Ling Xiao also had no good feelings toward Ling Chen, the man who had dared to snatch his Ice Glass Sword right in front of the Clan Leader, Second Master Ling and Supreme Elder Ling Yin at the Book Collection Pavilion.
He had not exploded then because he knew he was no match for Ling Chen.
But today, it might not be the case.
"I said let him go! Then kneel down and apologize to my brother, and hand over that slut Ling Yixue. If you do, I’ll pretend today’s incident never happened."
Ling Chen stood with his hands behind his back, looking down on everything, not taking Ling Xiao into consideration at all.
"Hahaha, what do you think you are, talking to me like that? I hold a status equivalent to an inner sect elder. You don’t kneel and salute upon seeing me but instead talk so recklessly. Are you trying to rebel?"
Ling Xiao instantly burst into laughter and then stepped on Ling Yun.
Ling Yun, although still conscious, was pressed to the ground like a dead dog, motionless.
He might as well have wished for death.
Thinking back, he was, after all, the second disciple of the Genius Hall; to be humiliated now was enraging.
Ling Chen said with disdain: "The Ling Family Clan Leader, Ling Xiaotian, is my own grandfather! Are you kneeling or not?"
"That’s what I should be asking you!"
Ling Xiao knew Ling Chen was formidable, so he handed Ling Yun over to Ling Yixue. He needed to settle the score with Ling Chen right here.
He hadn’t forgotten the grudge from the Book Collection Pavilion.
"You’re seeking death!"
Ling Chen truly became angry. Even Ling Feifan, the number one genius of the Ling Family, wouldn’t dare talk to him . He had only been away from the Ling Family for four years, yet someone dared to belittle him .
It seemed that he had to take some action.
However, just as the two were about to cross hands,
Ling Wuheng appeared.
"Ling Chen, have you forgotten that this is my residence?" Ling Wuheng’s face was clouded with uncertainty.
In the Book Collection Pavilion, Ling Chen had shown no respect for him, and at that time, he had let it slide in consideration of the Supreme Elder and Clan Leader’s face.
And now Ling Chen dared to intrude into his home and provoke his people.
If he did not take action, his reputation as Ling Wuheng might soon be forgotten.
"Second Uncle, are you going to protect him?" Ling Chen looked at Ling Wuheng with a slight sneer.
"He doesn’t need my protection, but you show no respect for your elders. Today, I will discipline you on behalf of Shi San!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Ling Wuheng suddenly made a move.
Perhaps because it had been a long time since he had fought, many had forgotten that Ling Wuheng was the second strongest in the Ling Family after Ling Xiaotian.
His attack was incredibly powerful.
Ling Chen, already at the Early Sixth Level Martial Vein, had no power to resist against Ling Wuheng.
With just one move, Ling Wuheng had Ling Chen sprawling on the ground.
"Apologize, then scram!"
Ling Wuheng was not a man of many words, but he exuded an overwhelming authority.
Ling Chen’s lips quivered, but in the end, he clasped his hands towards Ling Xiao and said, "I’m sorry!"
"Ling Xiao, do me a favor and let Ling Yun go. After all, he is the son of my Shi San," Ling Wuheng said, looking at Ling Xiao and speaking very politely, without a trace of command in his tone.
"I’ll definitely grant Second Master Ling the face, but Ling Yun must kneel and apologize to Charlotte Yi Xue Senior. I’ve already spoken these words, and they can’t be taken back."
He didn’t want to offend Ling Wuheng, but there were some things he had to insist on, especially in front of Ling Yixue.
"Did you hear that, Ling Yun?"
Ling Wuheng glanced at Ling Yun, who lay on the ground like a dead dog.
Ling Yun’s heart was filled with sorrow, but he was powerless. They had intruded into Ling Wuheng’s residence in the first place, which was already wrong, and even if they appealed to the Clan Leader, they would have no justifiable complaint.
He could feel that if he did not kneel and apologize now, Ling Xiao would definitely cripple him. This man was too frightening.
"I apologize! I shouldn’t have spoken out of turn!"
Finally, Ling Yun stiffly knelt on the ground and said to Ling Yixue.
With a wave of Ling Xiao’s hand, the ice encasing Ling Yun was dispelled.
Ling Yun did not dare say anything more and left the scene, utterly embarrassed.
"Ling Xiao, I was negligent with today’s events," Ling Wuheng said with a wry smile, after Ling Chen and Ling Yun had left.
"Second Master Ling need not blame himself. Although this residence is yours, after all, we’re still within the Ling Family compound. Ling Chen is too powerful for the average person to stop. Let it be. In the end, nothing serious happened," Ling Xiao replied, not wishing to dwell on the matter any further.
"True to your reputation, Ling Xiao. You handle everything decisively without dithering. It’s no wonder your cultivation has progressed so quickly," Second Master Ling said with a smile. "Since you two are here today, I’ll take this opportunity to tell you something."
"Please speak, Second Uncle."
Ling Yixue also nodded.
"Do you know how the Four Young Masters of Tianfeng City earned their titles?" Ling Wuheng asked.
Both shook their heads, as they were solely devoted to martial arts and didn’t really pay much attention to these matters.
"Actually, each year, after the annual competition amongst the clans, the Master of Tianfeng City invites the talented younglings from each clan to the City Lord’s Mansion for a competition. The top four will be granted the title of Young Master, and they will also receive quite a few substantial benefits," Ling Wuheng explained. "This competition is known as the ’Tianfeng Grand Convention’ and only twenty people can participate, with an age limit of under twenty years. Each of the Four Great Clans can send four representatives; that accounts for sixteen people. The remaining four spots are contested by the other families!"
"You mustn’t underestimate this grand event. It may seem like just a bout on the surface, but in reality, it’s a ’war’ for resources among the Four Great Clans. I expect both of you will be sent to participate, so be well-prepared. The outcome of such a competition will be known by everyone in the city. If you fail, you’ll be drowned in spit."