"Show him some respect? Dream on. The fact we haven't taught him a lesson is already generous." The four cursed inwardly, but outwardly they put on brave smiles and said, "Since he's a friend of Lynn Snowmoon, he's our friend too. Next time we see Brother Yang, we'll be sure to treat him well."
"Then I thank you all." Lynn Snowmoon replied with a smile.
"But, friends are friends, companions are companions." Gavin Wu finally couldn't hold back and spoke up. As soon as he said this, the other three couldn't sit still either, all eyes focusing on Lynn Snowmoon, hoping she'd give a clear answer.
"I haven't considered finding a companion yet, hope you all understand." Lynn Snowmoon cursed inwardly, but could only sidestep the question politely.
"Oh? But that's not what we've heard. Every disciple of your sect who comes down the mountain for training always finds a companion." Gavin Wu pressed on with a smile, and the others nodded in agreement, insisting this was the custom.
"Unbelievable." Lynn Snowmoon hadn't expected the four would unite so strongly today, forcing her to make a decision.
"What are you all trying to do?" Lynn Snowmoon asked, seeing the four itching to make a move.
"Lynn Snowmoon, just pick one of us today." Gavin Wu shamelessly continued, with the other three encouraging him. The four looked like hungry wolves eyeing a seemingly frail woman.
Unable to hold back, Lynn Snowmoon slapped the table and said, "I came to this banquet hoping to become friends with you all. If you keep obsessing over this, don't blame me for not keeping you company!"
Her sudden outburst stunned the four. They hadn't realized Lynn Snowmoon had already grown deeply dissatisfied with them.
"Lynn Snowmoon, we're just talking. Don't listen to Brother Wu." To shift the blame, Brandon Tang pinned the issue on Gavin Wu, making Gavin glare and snap, "Brandon Tang, what do you mean by that?"
"What do I mean? We four invited Lynn Snowmoon here to discuss the Hundred-Year Grand Festival, but who knew Brother Wu would be so rude." Brandon Tang deliberately sided with Lynn Snowmoon, taking a jab at Gavin Wu.
Gavin Wu could only curse inwardly, "Damn it, that Brandon Tang."
Seeing the two about to come to blows, Lynn Snowmoon calmed herself and sat down, saying, "Please sit down, both of you."
Once Lynn Snowmoon cooled down, Gavin Wu and Brandon Tang sat together, but the atmosphere subtly shifted. The other three began to distance themselves from Gavin Wu, making him curse inwardly, "You guys! Just now we were all on the same side, now you're all distancing yourselves the moment trouble comes."
"Brother Wu, there's something I'd like to ask you." Just as Gavin Wu finished grumbling, Lynn Snowmoon softly addressed him.
This sudden change made all four look at Lynn Snowmoon in confusion.
Gavin Wu was startled but quickly replied, "I wonder what Lynn Snowmoon wishes to ask?"
"Brother Yang visited your Wu Family not long ago. How did things turn out afterward?" Lynn Snowmoon asked.
As soon as Lynn Snowmoon finished speaking, Gavin Wu's face turned extremely ugly. The other three looked the same. As the four outstanding youths, they instantly understood why Lynn Snowmoon had bothered to attend today—it was all for that stinking beggar.
Seeing Gavin Wu frozen, Lynn Snowmoon asked again, "Have you seen him, Brother Wu?"
Gavin Wu snapped out of it and replied, suppressing his anger, "What do you mean, Lynn Snowmoon?"
Lynn Snowmoon could see he was already angry—not just him, but the other three also radiated barely hidden fury.
"Brother Yang is my friend. I hope your Wu Family hasn't done anything shameful." At this point, Lynn Snowmoon had already offended everyone, so she spoke directly to Gavin Wu.
"Brother Yang is my friend. I hope your Wu Family hasn't done anything shameful." At this point, Lynn Snowmoon had already offended everyone, so she spoke directly to Gavin Wu.
Gavin Wu slammed the table in anger, "What do you mean by that, Lynn Snowmoon!"
"Lynn Snowmoon, today you owe us an explanation!" Brandon Tang now sided with Gavin Wu, fanning himself unhappily. The other two didn't speak, but their angry glares betrayed their feelings.
"Fellow Daoists, my junior sister didn't mean it that way. She's just worried about her friend, that's all." The woman quickly stepped forward to smooth things over.
"Fellow Daoists, my junior sister didn't mean it that way. She's just worried about her friend, that's all." Faye Violet quickly stepped forward to smooth things over.
"How should we address you, Fellow Daoist?" Gavin Wu asked angrily, though in truth he didn't want to make an enemy of Lynn Snowmoon's sect.
"How should we address you, Fellow Daoist?" Gavin Wu asked angrily, though in truth he didn't want to make an enemy of Lynn Snowmoon's sect.
"My surname is Fei, given name Zi." Faye Violet was far more skilled in social dealings than Lynn Snowmoon, and promptly introduced herself politely.
"So it's Fellow Daoist Fei. You're sensible. I wonder if Lynn Snowmoon agrees?" Gavin Wu sneered, then deliberately turned to ask Lynn Snowmoon.
Leave just like that? The four couldn't let their reputations suffer, so they all stood up and blocked the exit.
"Fellow Daoist Xue, since you agreed to come, at least stay and chat with us. How can you disrespect us like this?" Gavin Wu saw she was angry and dropped the act. The other three did the same. Normally, they're used to being respected by their peers, but today, a woman had completely humiliated them.
Lynn Snowmoon hadn't realized her excuse for attending would cause such misunderstanding. Though furious, she held back from fighting, and asked, "What are you all trying to do?"
"Lynn Snowmoon, since you agreed to come, at least stay and chat with us. How can you disrespect us like this?" Gavin Wu saw she was angry and dropped the act. The other three did the same. Normally, they're used to being respected by their peers, but today, a woman had completely humiliated them.
Brandon Tang chimed in with a grin, "Exactly, Fellow Daoist Xue, just pick one. Otherwise, we came for nothing today."
"Today, Lynn Snowmoon, you must give us an answer—or pick one of us. Otherwise, don't even think about leaving!" Gavin Wu snorted coldly.
Brandon Tang chimed in with a grin, "Exactly, Lynn Snowmoon, just pick one. Otherwise, we came for nothing today."
The other two glanced at Gavin Wu and Brandon Tang, then agreed. With that, the four blocked Lynn Snowmoon and Faye Violet's only way out.
A powerful aura began to fill the room. No matter how Faye Violet tried to mediate, things only got worse. She could only watch as the four's pressure clashed with Lynn Snowmoon.
At this point, Lynn Snowmoon couldn't escape even if she wanted to. Each of the four had formidable presence, and now they blocked her way—it was nearly impossible to leave.
Just as everyone thought Lynn Snowmoon would give in, a voice rang out, "Quite the lively scene!"
"Who?" Everyone turned to the door. A neatly dressed young man stepped in, glanced around, and smiled.
Facing the sudden arrival, Gavin Wu snorted, "Kid, you'd better mind your own business."
"I heard four outstanding youths and a beauty were gathered here, so I came to join the fun. Didn't expect to see this—how pathetic." The young man laughed.
"Kid, you'd better watch your mouth, or you won't live to see tomorrow." The four, concerned about their reputation, immediately cursed him.
The young man ignored them and walked over to Lynn Snowmoon, who stared at him in surprise. Then, expressionless, she asked, "Fellow Daoist, these men are all important figures. You might offend them."
Hearing Lynn Snowmoon, the four felt a bit better—at least someone cared about their status. But the young man's next words infuriated them: "Is that so? I don't know these four, but I see a beautiful woman being bullied by four shameless men. It's pathetic. Even I can't stand it."
"Kid, you're really asking for trouble!" Gavin Wu was furious and wanted to attack, but the man's aura stopped him cold.
No one present could sense the newcomer's cultivation—he seemed powerful, making them all wary.
"Who are you, friend?" The sudden surge of aura made Gavin Wu pause his attack.
"My surname is Mu, given name Yihan." The man smiled. In reality, it was Evan Yang—he'd just finished secluded cultivation and rushed over after hearing the four outstanding youths had invited Lynn Snowmoon. Seeing the situation, he had Old Clam alter his aura and cultivation. Evan shed his beggar disguise, cleaned up, and donned fresh clothes. Even his friends wouldn't recognize him as Evan Yang in this form.
No one noticed anything amiss—they just sensed his strong cultivation. Gavin Wu pressed on, "Brother Mu, do you know who the four of us are?"
"Of course I do." Evan Yang stepped up to the four, his aura immediately forcing them back. Lynn Snowmoon felt relieved, though a strange feeling lingered as she watched Evan Yang, unable to voice it. She could only wait to see what he'd do next.
"If you know, why oppose all four of us?" Gavin Wu tried to leverage their backgrounds.
"Do you know what sect this beauty belongs to?" Evan Yang retorted with a cold smile.
"Of course we do." Gavin Wu replied.
"Then the four of you still gang up on a woman traveling for training? Shameless!" Evan Yang mocked.
The four's faces turned ugly—they had no way to refute him. Finally, Brandon Tang forced a smile, "Fellow Daoist, we were just discussing cultivation with her."
"Oh? Discussing cultivation? All four of you? Maybe I should teach you all myself." Evan Yang smiled meaningfully at them.
The four knew the man's cultivation was unfathomable. If they fought and lost, their reputations would be ruined. They tried to probe his strength, transmitting messages among themselves.
Seeing their expressions, Lynn Snowmoon and Evan Yang both realized they were plotting how to deal with him.
"Brother Mu, this is between me and them. I appreciate your intention." Lynn Snowmoon said politely.