Chapter 286: A Thirteen-Year-Old Marquis

Chapter 286: A Thirteen-Year-Old Marquis

A crowd had gathered outside, consisting of princes seeking pleasure, young martial experts wandering the realm, and disciples from various sects. Of course, there were also courtesans and maids from the Jade Viewing Tower among the onlookers.

"What’s going on? Someone actually dared to lay hands on a member of the Jian Pavilion Marquis House?"

"I heard Ning Heng and a high-ranking military officer both took a liking to the same woman, leading to a dispute. Ning Heng thought invoking the name of the Jian Pavilion Marquis House would intimidate the officer, but that officer turned out to be Luo Mufeng, one of the Twelve Tiger Generals of the Cloud Marquis House. Naturally, Ning Heng ended up in trouble since the other party wasn’t afraid of the Jian Pavilion Marquis House at all."

"The Jian Pavilion Marquis House is one of the thirteen Hereditary Marquis Houses, a top-tier noble family in the Imperial City. Luo Mufeng is just a mere military general—how dare he humiliate a member of the Jian Pavilion Marquis House? Isn’t he afraid of retaliation?" A young noble, only thirteen years old, spoke coldly.

This youth had sharp brows and piercing eyes, exuding an imposing noble aura. He wore an extravagant golden-threaded purple robe with jade pendants hanging from his waist, followed by four servants. His demeanor carried the arrogance unique to scions of marquis houses, and he was clearly displeased with Luo Mufeng’s actions.

For descendants of Hereditary Marquis Houses, nobility was innate. From birth, they were taught that they were superior to others, and the dignity of their lineage could never be trampled upon.

"Lately, the situation in the Imperial City has been turbulent, with frequent conflicts among the great noble houses. This isn’t anything unusual."

"Though the Jian Pavilion Marquis House has deep roots, its talents have dwindled. Only Ning Xiaochuan can be considered exceptional, while the Cloud Marquis House has produced many outstanding figures. It’s not impossible for them to provoke the Jian Pavilion Marquis House."

Many believed the Yulan Empire was on the verge of a great upheaval. Even once-untouchable noble houses could fall overnight, reduced to poverty.

Especially ancient houses like the Jian Pavilion Marquis House, with nearly a millennium of heritage, faced the greatest risks. A single misstep could reduce their former glory to ashes.

Though young and somewhat naive, the noble youth had an unyielding spirit. "If not for the tragedy twelve years ago, when Ning Qianyi and his wife were framed and died in the ancestral hall, followed by the devastating battle against the Demon Sect, the Jian Pavilion Marquis House wouldn’t have declined so severely. Otherwise, how could a mere Cloud Marquis House compare?"

"To dare defy even one of the Twelve Tiger Generals… This youth’s background must be extraordinary." Ning Xiaochuan’s interest was piqued, and he couldn’t help but glance at the noble boy.

The youth was only twelve or thirteen, with a cultivation at the Profound Qi Third Layer, but the pride he carried was unlike anything Ning Xiaochuan had ever seen in others.

Luo Mufeng sat on a yellow pearwood chair, clad in thick iron armor, his face covered in a coarse beard. He held a young woman in his arms while drinking wine, sneering arrogantly. "Marquis, are you trying to stand up for this brat?"

The crowd was stunned. Marquis? Who was the marquis?

The noble youth declared, "Luo Mufeng, since you know my status, why haven’t you knelt? Don’t you know that meeting a prince or marquis requires a formal bow?"

The Marquis gathers the fortune of the entire empire, a symbol of majesty and status. Thus, in the Yulan Empire, it is law that all must kneel in the presence of a Marquis.

The surrounding Martial Artists exchanged glances. Could this twelve- or thirteen-year-old youth truly be a Marquis?

Even a figure as prominent as Luo Mufeng called him a Marquis—so he must indeed be one.

Some of the lower-ranking Martial Artists, maids, and courtesans immediately knelt in reverence. Whether the youth was truly a Marquis or not, they had no choice but to kneel, for they could not afford the consequences of offending a noble.

Of course, those with higher status did not kneel. Some were too arrogant to bow before a Marquis, while others recognized the youth’s identity and chose to watch the spectacle unfold without paying respects.

Luo Mufeng laughed. "Kneel? I, Luo Mufeng, kneel to no Marquis—only to those who can defeat me. Marquis, do you have what it takes? Zhang Zhuo, Li Guang, why are you hesitating?"

The two armored Martial Artists roared with laughter, lifting their Thousand-kilogram Iron Rods, ready to strike Ning Heng’s legs.

The Young Noble, furious, barged into the Side Room and stood between the two armored warriors.

The two iron rods hovered above his head—a single swing would crush his frail body. Yet, not a trace of fear showed on his face, his gaze resolute.

"Marquis, let’s go. There’s no need to provoke the Cloud Marquis House over some wastrel from the Jian Pavilion Marquis House," a servant urged, trying to drag the Young Noble away.

The Young Noble snapped, "What are you afraid of? Yue Wuyang is nothing but a hypocrite! Luo Mufeng, how dare you refuse to kneel before this Marquis? Do you believe I can have you thrown into prison by tomorrow?"

"Oh, how terrifying! The Marquis’s majesty frightens me to death!" Luo Mufeng stood, his armor radiating a crimson glow as he glared at the Young Noble. "The Cloud Marquis has shed blood and sweat for the empire, a pillar of the nation—yet you dare call him a hypocrite? What punishment do you deserve?"

The Young Noble paled under the crushing weight of Luo Mufeng’s Martial Path Aura, but he refused to back down, gritting his teeth. "Pillar of the nation? He’s nothing but a vile scoundrel!"

Luo Mufeng burst into laughter. "Marquis, do you hate the Cloud Marquis so much because he slept with your mother?"

Though meant as an insult, the remark drew stifled chuckles from the crowd, their expressions mocking.

"You—shut up! Don’t you dare insult my mother!"

The Young Noble’s face turned even paler with rage as he lunged at Luo Mufeng.

With a single slap, Luo Mufeng sent him flying, leaving a bright red handprint on his cheek.

He strode over, grabbing the Young Noble by the hair and yanking his face up. "The entire Imperial City knows your mother is nothing but a whore. Countless men have had her—what’s wrong with our Marquis taking a turn? Hahaha!"

The Young Noble's teeth ground together with a grating sound, blood seeping from between them as he squeezed out a sentence, "Don't... you dare... insult my mother... Don't, I'll kill you..."

"Bang!"

Luo Mufeng slammed the Young Noble's head into the ground, smashing it until blood flowed freely before finally releasing him. Standing up, he dusted off his hands and sneered, "A bastard born of a promiscuous woman dares to meddle in my affairs? If not for the fact that you're a Marquis, I'd slaughter you today."

The four servants who had been following the Young Noble trembled in fear, cowering in a corner, none daring to step forward and confront Luo Mufeng.

After all, this was one of the Twelve Tiger Generals of the Cloud Marquis House, a man who commanded the military—who would dare oppose him?

The Young Noble curled up in pain, glaring fiercely at Luo Mufeng. He tried several times to stand but collapsed back to the ground.

"I came here to have fun with women, to enjoy myself, but you lot ruined my mood. Zhang Zhuo, Li Guang, why haven’t you moved yet? Zhang Zhuo, Li Guang..."

Luo Mufeng sensed something amiss and returned to the side room, only to find Zhang Zhuo and Li Guang pinned to the wall by a Profound Qi Sword, blood continuously dripping from their wounds, "Drip... drip..." onto the floor.

Someone had actually managed to kill his two trusted subordinates right under his nose without him noticing?

Luo Mufeng scanned everyone in the room—it couldn’t be the severely injured Ning Heng, nor the Young Noble lying on the ground, and certainly not the four cowering servants. Finally, his gaze settled on the two men sitting in the center of the room.

These two had been drinking in the side room the entire time—one wore a Golden Mask, while the other appeared to be in his forties.

"Who killed my two subordinates?" Luo Mufeng's voice was icy as he stared at the two men, a thick aura of killing intent radiating from him.

Both Ning Heng and the Young Noble's four servants paled under the oppressive killing intent, trembling in fear, unable to move.

"Not me! I'm a harmless and honest man," Yue Mingsong quickly declared.

"Then it must be you?" Luo Mufeng turned his gaze to the man wearing the Golden Mask.

Ning Xiaochuan set down his chopsticks and answered bluntly, "Yes, it was me."

"Why kill them?" Luo Mufeng demanded.

Ning Xiaochuan replied, "I reserved this side room. Anyone who dares to barge in, I can kill." He paused briefly before adding, "Including you."

Luo Mufeng burst into laughter. "How arrogant! Do you even know who I am? Do you know the consequences of offending me?"

The Martial Artists outside the room chuckled, thinking Ning Xiaochuan had just kicked an iron plate—daring to provoke one of the Twelve Tiger Generals of the Cloud Marquis House was practically suicide!

Ning Xiaochuan responded calmly, "Sorry, not interested in knowing."

"Then let me give you a reason to be interested!"

Luo Mufeng let out a lion-like roar as a Profound Qi Giant Bell materialized around his body, spinning rapidly as it surged toward Ning Xiaochuan with a devastating storm of Profound Qi.

This was a powerful Martial Arts Divine Ability, causing intense Profound Qi fluctuations that shook the entire Jade Viewing Tower.

"Whoosh!"

Ning Xiaochuan sat calmly in his chair, flicking a finger to effortlessly shatter the giant bell. From his fingertip flew a Sword Wave as thick as a bowl's mouth, striking Luo Mufeng squarely in the chest and sending him flying backward. With a thunderous crash, he smashed through the wall and tumbled onto the railing outside.

With just a single move, Ning Xiaochuan had defeated Luo Mufeng, one of the Cloud Marquis's Twelve Tiger Generals.

Luo Mufeng struggled to control his injuries but still couldn't suppress a mouthful of blood. He gasped, "Who... who exactly are you? Do you know the consequences of provoking the Cloud Marquis House?"

Ning Xiaochuan picked up a cup of wine and said, "Then remember my name, so you know who to seek for revenge."

The wine in his cup flew out, transforming into wisps of mist that condensed into seven large characters: "Ghost Manor, Young Master Chuan." The words imprinted onto Luo Mufeng's chest, sending him flying again just as he had managed to stand up.

Those seven characters remained etched on Luo Mufeng's chest, the strokes continuously dripping with blood.