Chapter 186: Because You're Not Worthy
Liu Loulan's face was ashen. "It doesn't matter what my surname is, I am the Patriarch of the Xiao Family! Isn't your Zhu family supposed to stay out of worldly affairs?"
"So why do you keep making trouble for me? Why do you keep coming after me?!"
"Don't forget, we are both Hidden Clans. Even if the Xiao Family is in decline, we're not a pushover!"
"Are you really going to move against the Xiao Family?"
Zhu Chen was completely unfazed. He set down his teacup with a gentle smile. "Ms. Liu, you're mistaken about one thing."
"We have no intention of going against the Xiao Family."
"But your current actions say otherwise! The news online, the attacks on our family's strongholds—it's all your doing!"
Zhu Chen nodded. "Correct. You're not wrong about any of that. We did it."
"What is it you want?"
"Nothing, really. As I said, we have no plans to move against the Xiao Family. We are simply helping someone."
That someone, of course, was Xiao Ye.
After their last two meetings and the incident with the Death Warriors, the Zhu family was certain of one thing: Xiao Ye was far more than he seemed.
His abilities were worthy of his destiny!
That being the case, the Zhu family was ready to make its bet.
To become the protector of a hidden dragon before it fully takes flight—that was providing aid when it was most needed.
Waiting until after Xiao Ye had already made his mark and then trying to get close would be a superfluous, utterly pointless gesture.
Liu Loulan's heart skipped a beat. "Who is this person you're helping?"
"You'll find out in due time, Ms. Liu. My family has always believed that justice is inescapable. It's not that it won't be served, but that the time is not yet right."
Zhu Chen stood up. "This way, please, Ms. Liu."
"You're kicking me out!"
"That's right. Since you already understand the situation, Ms. Liu, why force us to say it aloud? You're a smart woman. You should know the best course of action."
Liu Loulan had arrived full of aggression, having even anticipated various scenarios for the negotiation.
But she had never, ever expected the Zhu family to be so dominant.
"Let's go! Back to the manor!" Liu Loulan gripped her dragon-head cane, her knuckles white. "I have to find that masked man!"
"I need to know who he is! And then I'll kill him!"
"Oh, and find Liu Rusheng and kill him!"
'Only Liu Rusheng had that damning material.'
'For a good-for-nothing like him to dare to oppose me... he's simply asking to die!'
Her subordinates quickly located Liu Rusheng.
However, they were surprised to find he had been admitted to a military-run sanitarium.
Not even the Xiao Family could touch someone in a place like that. In fact, no one could. To do so would be to challenge the entire state apparatus.
Upon hearing the news, Liu Loulan furiously smashed another tea set.
"That damn mutt! To think he managed to get in there! Someone must have helped him!"
Meanwhile, the scandalous material online was still racking up views.
Her reputation—Liu Loulan's reputation—was utterly ruined.
If she were an ordinary person, perhaps she wouldn't care.
But she was the Patriarch of the Xiao Family!
Allowing the scandal's influence to grow unchecked was a display of her incompetence. The other families were probably laughing at her.
"Damn it!" In her fury, Liu Loulan swung her cane, striking a subordinate viciously on the head.
Blood sprayed.
The subordinate collapsed to the floor, motionless.
Only then did Liu Loulan feel slightly better. "Someone get in here! Drag him away and dispose of him cleanly."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Several people entered, completely unfazed by the scene.
Having just killed a man, Liu Loulan felt no remorse. In fact, a smile crept onto her face.
"Go find out who sent that good-for-nothing Liu Rusheng to the sanitarium!"
The report came back quickly.
The Zhu family's hand was in it.
Recalling Zhu Chen's attitude, Liu Loulan realized it would be useless to confront him again.
'Fine then,' she thought, 'we'll meet this head-on!'
「Imperial City.」
「Chenguang.」
It was a high-end clubhouse.
It catered exclusively to the truly wealthy.
One had to be from a first-tier elite family to even qualify for entry.
Even second-tier families couldn't get an invitation, as membership was by invitation only.
Xiao Ye used the membership card from the Zhu family and entered without issue.
This was the place where the younger generation of the Xiao Family often came to kill time.
The Chenguang Clubhouse was massive.
It spanned several thousand acres.
It boasted not only a wide array of entertainment facilities but also grounds for outdoor activities.
A fully equipped equestrian center, complete with prized and rare Akhal-Teke horses, was one of its main attractions.
Xiao Ye had disguised his face before entering. He now looked utterly unremarkable, but the aura he projected was enough to make the guards let him pass without a second glance.
He went straight to the equestrian center.
And just as he expected, he saw a group of Xiao Family members.
Xiao Ye's arrival drew a number of eyes.
"Who's that? I've never seen him before."
"I know all the young masters from the major families, and I've never seen him. Probably some bastard brought in from the outside."
"Someone like that has no right to be here with us, much less breathe the same air!"
One of the Xiao Family members strode up to Xiao Ye. "Hey, you! Get the hell out! This is no place for you!"
Xiao Ye didn't get angry. He'd long known what the younger generation of the Xiao Family was like.
'Liu Loulan, terrified of someone usurping her position, had deliberately raised them to be useless.'
'The woman had no foresight. Or rather, she only cared about the power she wielded.'
'As long as she was in charge, it didn't matter to her if the Xiao Family fell to ruin after her death.'
Xiao Ye asked calmly, "Why?"
"Because you're not worthy! Do you have any idea who we are?"
Xiao Ye merely glanced at him before his gaze drifted past, settling on the fields of the equestrian center.
"If you want me to leave, that's fine. But first, you'll have to beat me."
The other members of the Xiao Family burst out laughing.
"Did you hear that? He actually wants to compete with us!"
"You useless trash, you're obviously some bastard. Have you ever even ridden a horse? And you dare challenge us?!"
"Whether I'm useless or not isn't for you to decide," Xiao Ye said, his gaze challenging. "What's the matter? Afraid to compete?"
'Goading them was the best way to deal with spoiled brats like these.'
Sure enough, the members of the Xiao Family took the bait.
"Fine, let's compete!"
"But let me warn you. Right now, we're just telling you to get lost. If you lose, it won't be so simple!"
Xiao Ye was unfazed. "Fine by me. You name the stakes. What happens if I lose?"
"We won't lose. But if you lose, you'll have to do as we say. You'll get on all fours and be our horse to ride!"
"You can leave when we decide we're done with you. Otherwise, it won't just be you—your entire family will suffer!"
'They really were arrogant.'
'Just a bunch of spoiled brats. Every other word was about collective punishment. Did they really think they were some ancient, high-ranking officials?'
Xiao Ye nodded. "Fine. I agree. But if *you* lose, you'll have to kneel, call me Grandpa, and declare that everyone in the Xiao Family is useless. How about that?"