Enemies cross paths on a narrow road, and they could even bump into each other like this.
Before last night, Mu Aotie did not consider the two of them to be enemies, even though he knew Liang Ban liked Lian Yu, felt jealous of him, and even clearly resented him because of it.
It was only after last night that his mindset had undergone a complete transformation.
Seeing that Liang Ban had also arrived, he turned around naturally and stood at the doorway to block him.
In the past, he would never have done such a thing. This was an inn, and if someone came to see the innkeeper, what business was it of his?
Now it was different. He defined Liang Ban’s behaviour as harassment, harassment towards Lian Yu.
Liang Ban, who had walked to the door and found his path blocked, directly scolded, “A good dog does not block the way. Get out of the way!”
Mu Aotie said, “What are you here for?”
“Hey!” Liang Ban laughed and retorted, “Is this your family’s inn, or the guest room you are staying in? What business is it of yours what I am here for? Piss off!”
Soon, the door opened, and Hu Niu poked her head out. She had just been tidying up inside and heard the loud commotion behind the door, so she opened it to see what was going on, only to see the standoff.
Especially Mu Aotie, whose actions were very obvious, guarding the doorway and clearly blocking Liang Ban. This left her not knowing what to say or feeling at a loss, also because of the relationship between this man and the madam that she did not know how to judge.
The key was that her master’s attitude also made it impossible for her to define the relationship between her master and this man.
Liang Ban was already shouting, “Hu Niu, what is going on here? Why is there a watchdog at the door? Does anyone who wants to talk to Lian Yu about something have to go through him first from now on?”
These words made Mu Aotie reflect on himself, asking himself what kind of relationship he and Lian Yu actually had. Logically speaking, after the romantic encounter last night, they should have pledged their love, but Lian Yu’s attitude in driving him away seemed to deny it, not to mention that Lian Yu was Nie Rifu’s mistress.
What if this person was really looking for Lian Yu for legitimate business this time?
With a change of thought, he himself was a bit unsure of what his actions even meant.
Hu Niu did not know how to reply, but seeing Mu Aotie blocking the door was indeed inconvenient, so she tried to remind him, “Mr Zhang, it does not look very good for you to do this.”
Mu Aotie fell silent for a moment, then turned and stepped aside.
The person speaking inside had already revealed herself, so there was no longer a need for him to block the way. He also felt that a grown man guarding a woman’s door really did not look good, especially if Lian Yu did not want outsiders to know about what had happened between them.
“Tch!” Liang Ban sneered, “What is this thing? Pretending to be a righteous gentleman who is unmoved at the drinking table, yet fawning like this behind the scenes, actually running over here to guard someone’s door. You can really pull it off, it is truly disgusting.”
Anger flared up in Mu Aotie’s heart, and he cast a cold glare. If it were not for the concern that the other party might have legitimate business with Lian Yu, and not wanting to delay Lian Yu’s affairs or make things difficult for her, he would want to teach this guy a lesson right now.
Seeing this, Hu Niu quickly chimed in, “Young Master Liang, is there something you need?”
As soon as the words left her mouth, she felt it was a pointless question. What else could this person be here for, if not to pester the madam again?
However, this time was vastly different from the past. Liang Ban did not want to be polite at all. He stepped forward directly, reached out, and pushed Hu Niu aside. “What is a lackey like you babbling about? If there is business, it is between me and Lian Yu, none of your business.”
He actually swaggered straight in.
Seeing this, Mu Aotie was furious and reached out directly to grab Liang Ban. Unexpectedly, Hu Niu’s tail suddenly shot out and wrapped around his wrist.
Hu Niu shook her head at him, clearly advising him not to be impulsive. A verbal altercation was one thing, but if he really laid hands on a member of the Liang family, the nature of the matter would change entirely.
Although she did not understand the relationship between the madam and this big guy, at this moment she was truly acting for Mu Aotie’s own good.
Of course, she also did not want to blow the matter out of proportion.
Hearing the sound of the movement, Liang Ban glanced back. Seeing this scene, he merely gave a cold snort, as if to say what can you do to me, and continued into the room with a look of utter disdain.
After her tail flicked Mu Aotie’s hand away, Hu Niu immediately chased after him, pleading, “Young Master Liang, Young Master Liang, please allow me to announce you first.”
Her tail did not forget to close the door in passing, but Mu Aotie blocked it with his hand.
Mu Aotie would not just sit by and watch, so he barged in as well.
“Since I am already in, what is the point of announcing me?” Liang Ban pushed Hu Niu away again. After figuring some things out, his entire demeanour had changed.
Facing this member of the Liang family, Hu Niu did not dare to act tough and pleaded repeatedly, which made Mu Aotie’s eyes burn with anger.
As soon as they entered the hall, the fragrance of wine could be smelled. By the wide and bright crystal window, Lian Yu was lying on a lounge chair reading a book, her bare feet crossed, with fine wine placed beside her, obviously drinking while reading.
Looking up, Lian Yu’s gaze paused for a moment on Mu Aotie’s face, then, as if nothing had happened, she stood up, waved her hand to signal Hu Niu to let it go, and placed the book on the table beside her. “Young Master Liang, it is not appropriate for you to barge in like this, is it?”
Liang Ban, however, stared at her fair, jade-like bare feet and admired them for a moment first. His gaze travelled upwards, he opened the folding fan in his hand and fanned himself, his nostrils flaring as he sniffed the wine fragrance, and smiled, “What a fragrant beauty of books.”
The observing Mu Aotie, however, frowned. What he saw was Lian Yu drinking wine first thing in the morning.
Lian Yu smiled faintly, “Young Master Liang, your forceful intrusion is contrary to etiquette.”
Liang Ban said, “We are old acquaintances, what is the need for such vulgar etiquette? I am here today to say the same old thing. The madam should finally have time to drink with me today, right?”
Hearing that it was not legitimate business but rather an attempt to pester Lian Yu, Mu Aotie’s face instantly darkened.
Lian Yu, however, detected the tone of an ultimatum in Liang Ban’s words and actions today, and could not help but feel somewhat uneasy in her heart.
Anyone with some understanding of the cultivation world knew that, although the Liang family of the Sea Market was, to some extent, merely a servant working for the Great Sage of the Demon Realm, and not as upright and prestigious as those cave masters of Qianliu Mountain, they wielded the authority granted by the Great Sage of the Demon Realm. Their reach was wider than that of those cave masters of Qianliu Mountain, and they enjoyed the Great Sage’s trust even more.
Unless absolutely necessary, those cave masters were unwilling to cross the Liang family.
It was imaginable how terrifying the power of the Liang family of the Sea Market was. If they truly wanted to manipulate her, then she, Lian Yu, would be nothing and could only be at their mercy. Nie Rifu could not save her, and if Nie Rifu fought to the death, it would only be seeking his own demise.
To put it bluntly, if they angered the Liang family of the Sea Market, they could annihilate the forces Nie Rifu had built here in the snap of a finger.
It was precisely for this reason that Lian Yu would suspect other men approaching her of having ulterior motives, but she would never suspect Liang Ban, even though Liang Ban’s appearance fit the term beauty trap much better.
Although she realised the other party seemed to be issuing an ultimatum, Lian Yu did not want to yield easily. However, her response was still very tactful. She smiled charmingly and said, “Drinking with Young Master Liang is certainly fine, but we have an agreement. As long as Young Master Liang can get me the calligraphy of the Tanhualang, I will happily drink a few cups with Young Master Liang. What, is Young Master Liang going to break his word?”
Tanhualang? Mu Aotie’s eyes widened subconsciously. He was too familiar with this term and subconsciously made an association. Was she talking about the fifteenth junior brother?
Coupled with the mention of calligraphy? He suspected it was nine times out of ten referring to the fifteenth junior brother.
What puzzled him was how the fifteenth junior brother was dragged into this again.
What he did not know was that although Lian Yu was in this chaotic and remote place, her heart yearned for the elegance of ink and literature. This could be glimpsed from the frequent scent of books in her hands.
Therefore, towards that unparalleled scholar of the world, the legendary Tanhualang, Lian Yu had also admired him for a long time.
For many people like her, the Tanhualang was not only literary and romantic, but also highly legendary. Things like passing the top imperial examination but being secretly demoted to Tanhua, throwing away his crown and scorning princes, divorcing the disciple of the Earth Mother, abandoning literature for martial arts to open an immortal mansion, every single one of these made him a truly legendary figure, and it was said he was also handsome and elegant.
She really wanted to witness the demeanour of that Tanhualang, and even wanted to invite him for a grand reception. However, she felt ashamed of herself. With her own reputation as it was, inviting him would only tarnish him. She feared that no matter how much money she spent, he would not even glance at it, so why should she humiliate herself?
When that signboard of Renjian Hao spread across the world, as someone who also ran a business, how could she not be tempted? For this reason, she had even approached Nie Rifu, hoping he could help find that Tanhualang to write a signboard for her inn as well.
Even though she was someone’s mistress, if she had the calligraphy of the world’s number one scholar to endorse it, the flavour would naturally change.
However, Nie Rifu advised her to abandon this idea, asking her, “Throwing away his crown and scorning princes, with such proud bones, would he write calligraphy for someone who is a mistress?”
It was well known to the world that he had abandoned literature for martial arts, and his calligraphy rarely appeared in the world anymore. Therefore, this was not a problem that money could solve, nor was it something that could be easily forced by martial power.
Even applying pressure as the master of Tianji Mountain, did she know the background of the Chilan Pavilion? How long had the young master of the Chilan Pavilion fought with him, saying all sorts of harsh words, and up to now, they had not been able to do anything to him. How could the City Lord of Kuailei City be stronger than the Chilan Pavilion? His background was far inferior to that of the Chilan Pavilion.
Was it not embarrassing for the disciple of the Earth Mother to be divorced? That man entered the Xiaoyun Jian, got involved with those major forces, and still managed to withdraw unscathed. The Sinan Mansion could not do anything to him either, and he even brought a pile of things out of the Xiaoyun Jian.
This kind of person, arrogant with his talent and possessing heaven-reaching methods, was destined not to be an ordinary mortal. Who knew what his dealings with those major forces were.
His shop at Youjiao Port, anyone with a mind in the cultivation world knew where it was. Had anyone ever seen someone easily go there to beg for calligraphy?
He played at too high a level, making people unaware of his depth. This kind of person with unfathomable depth also meant there might be unfathomable danger accompanying him. It could be a situation where pulling one hair moves the whole body, so it was best not to provoke him, to avoid bringing irreversible trouble upon oneself.
Because of this, Lian Yu had to abandon that idea. Later, when Liang Ban appeared, thinking that the Liang family of the Sea Market was extraordinary, she casually tried to make that request. Liang Ban also agreed to take it all on, saying it was a trivial matter.
She had been quite looking forward to it, but as it turned out, up to now, Liang Ban had also failed to obtain the calligraphy of that Tanhualang. This made her realise that if even the Liang family of the Sea Market could not handle it, the City Lord was right. She had indeed been a bit delusional back then.
However, as Liang Ban’s covetous intentions were completely exposed, the request she made back then instead became her best excuse, becoming the best shield to reject Liang Ban’s date invitations.
As for Liang Ban, hearing Lian Yu bring this up again, the corner of his mouth twitched, and he suddenly felt a toothache.
It was not that he had not helped Lian Yu with this matter, nor was he boasting. When he agreed to it at the beginning, he truly thought it would be very simple. The Tanhualang’s reputation was indeed great, but with the Liang family’s background, it should just be a matter of a single sentence. He reckoned the Tanhualang would not dare to disobey.
So he shamelessly went to find the Liang family’s people at Youjiao Port, asking them to help handle it. Who knew that side would feedback such a small matter back to the Liang family.
Soon, the Liang family sent a message to summon him back. Summoned back for what? Nothing good, just a head-to-toe scolding.
They asked him if he knew that the Tanhualang was not only registered in the eyes of the Great Sage, but also with several other Supreme Beings. He had also divorced the disciple of the Earth Mother, had previous entanglements with the subordinates of several cave masters in the Sea Market, and even the Nether Monk had stepped in to rescue him.
They practically grabbed him by the ear and scolded him, saying that with the Tanhualang’s fame, writing a signboard for someone would immediately spread across the world. For him to jump out and do this under the Liang family’s identity, was he afraid people would not know? Did he not know what it meant to pull one hair and move the whole body?
Our Liang family can do some things, but there are things we cannot do. No matter what, we must bear in mind one point: even if we can do anything, we must absolutely not do things that cause trouble for the Great Sage. This is the foundation of the Liang family’s survival!
They even mocked him, asking if he was not afraid that Long Xingyun would come back to deal with him.
Speaking of Long Xingyun, he then remembered, oh right, Long Xingyun did not get along with that Tanhualang. If he built a relationship with that Tanhualang, Long Xingyun could indeed make things difficult for him.
Thinking of this, he felt guilty at the time, because he had already been slapped by Long Xingyun earlier.
Strangely enough, Long Xingyun’s status and position were definitely inferior to those cave masters. Those cave masters dared to easily deal with Long Xingyun, but did not dare to easily offend the Liang family. Yet, that grandson Long Xingyun feared those cave masters but did not fear the Liang family. He beat a member of the Liang family, and the Liang family still had to bring the beaten member to apologise to Long Xingyun.
What kind of nonsense was this? It made him almost believe the rumour that the master of the Chilan Pavilion was the Great Sage’s mistress was true.
In short, he was scolded mercilessly by the Liang family. How would he still dare to go and get the calligraphy done? Did they really think the Liang family would not dare to slaughter him?