Mu Yunshang’s temples throbbed. Just as she was about to speak, a familiar voice cut through the air, interrupting Ouyang Shang: "There are plenty of people who admire my Yunshang; what makes you think you’re special?"
"Hmm?"
Ouyang Shang’s expression darkened. His Ouyang Family was a top-tier clan in Nanjiang City. Furthermore, his aunt, Ouyang Jing, was a favored secondary consort at the Southern Suppression Prince's Estate. Who didn’t show the Ouyang Family a shred of respect? Yet here was someone interrupting his conversation with Mu Yunshang and mocking him to boot.
Ouyang Shang turned around, his face black with rage, and barked, "What kind of stray dog is barking here? Didn't your parents teach you that it’s incredibly rude to interrupt others?"
The smile on Ning Wuque’s face vanished, bit by bit.
His parents. They were his inverse scale. A dragon has an inverse scale, and those who touch it die!
Ning Wuque’s voice dropped, turning icy. "If you’ve got the guts, say that again!"
*Hiss!*
Ouyang Shang drew a sharp breath. An instinctive chill crept over him, and a flicker of fear took root in his heart. But then he remembered Mu Yunshang was watching; he couldn't lose face in front of the woman he admired. He huffed, stiffened his neck, and snapped, "Why wouldn't I? You barking stray dog, didn't your parents teach you—ah!"
Ouyang Shang’s arrogant declaration dissolved into a miserable shriek.
Ning Wuque’s hand moved in a blur, delivering a sharp slap before grabbing Ouyang Shang by the throat and lifting him into the air. Ouyang Shang kicked and thrashed, his face turning a deep, resentful purple. He roared, "You—you dare strike me? Do you know who I am? I am of the Ouyang—"
Two more resounding cracks answered him.
"I don't care who you are," Ning Wuque said coldly. "You insulted my parents. If you don't apologize to me right now, I’ll kill you!"
Ouyang Shang’s eyes widened. "You—you dare?"
*Slap! Slap!*
Ning Wuque’s palm descended again, mercilessly striking his face. A few more blows left both sides of Ouyang Shang’s face swollen. A handful of teeth were smashed to pieces, which he spat out, mixed with blood.
Gone was Ouyang Shang’s earlier arrogance. He looked at Ning Wuque with raw terror. "D-don't hit me... I apologize! I’m apologizing right now..."
*Thud!*
Ning Wuque tossed him aside. Ouyang Shang’s knees buckled, and he collapsed, kneeling before him.
Ning Wuque looked down at him. "Apologize!"
"I—I apologize..." Ouyang Shang stammered in panic, terrified of another beating. "I shouldn't have insulted your parents. I was wrong, please, stop hitting me!"
"I’ll let you go this time. If there is a next time, I will take your life!" Ning Wuque spat out.
Ouyang Shang shrank his neck, nodding like a jackhammer. "I won't! I won't dare again, I swear!"
"Humph!"
Ning Wuque turned away. As he looked back at Mu Yunshang, who was watching him with wide, curious eyes, the ice in his expression melted into infinite tenderness. He smiled. "Did I frighten you?"
Mu Yunshang clasped her hands behind her back, a playful smile dancing on her lips. She shook her head. "Not at all! Brother Wuque is so dashing even when he’s angry; I felt like I couldn't get enough of watching him! How could you frighten me?"
"Hahaha, that’s a first—being told my temper is dashing!" Ning Wuque laughed and shook his head.
The scene left Ouyang Shang dumbstruck. He couldn't believe his eyes, his gaze darting back and forth between them. He felt as if he were hallucinating. This was Mu Yunshang! The jewel of the Southern Suppression Prince's Estate, the famous "Ice Beauty" of the Southern Frontier. She never even cracked a smile for him—a direct descendant of a Nanjiang City appraisal family—often keeping everyone at arm's length.
How could she be this sweet and gentle? Who was this man? What did he have to deserve this?
Mu Yunshang noticed Ouyang Shang’s bizarre stare. Her brows knit together, and she snapped, "What are you looking at? Keep staring, and I’ll have this Princess gouge your eyes out!"
"I..." Ouyang Shang opened his mouth, feeling a bottomless well of injustice. We’re both human! How can you treat us so differently?
Ning Wuque interjected, "Alright, Yunshang, he’s been beaten quite enough. Don't scare him anymore."
"Oh!" Mu Yunshang nodded obediently, bouncing over to stand by Ning Wuque’s side. "Brother Wuque, what brings you here?"
Ning Wuque feigned deep thought, then said with a straight face, "I dreamed of an old man with a white beard last night. He told me that if I came to Qizhen Pavilion today, I’d meet my destined love. So, here I am!"
"An old man with a white beard? Destined love? Really?" Mu Yunshang blinked, her eyes full of wonder.
Ning Wuque tapped her forehead with his finger. "What do you think?"
"Oh, you're annoying! You're teasing me again!" Mu Yunshang realized the truth, her face flushing with bashfulness.
Seeing this, Ouyang Shang was paralyzed with disbelief. Thinking of how his endless gestures of devotion all day had been met with cold indifference, he began to question his entire existence: *Who am I? Where am I? I must be dreaming, this isn't real...*
"Ouyang Shang, why are you kneeling there?"
A sudden, deep voice pulled Ouyang Shang back to reality. He turned his swollen, distorted face with great difficulty to look at the white-robed elder walking out of the Chunqiu Hall. A sense of overwhelming grievance surged in his chest.
He scurried on his knees toward Wen Guji, wrapped his arms around the elder’s leg, and wailed, "Master! They bullied me so badly! You have to stand up for me!"
***
**Chapter 15: As You Wish!**
"Get up!" Wen Guji barked, his face dark.
Ouyang Shang jumped and scrambled to his feet, sobbing.
Looking at the high swellings on Ouyang Shang’s face and the gaps where his teeth used to be, Wen Guji’s face turned livid. He fixed a freezing gaze on Ning Wuque. "Young man, my disciple may be incompetent, but he is my direct apprentice and a scion of the Ouyang Family. You beat him into this state—are you saying the Wen and Ouyang families have no one left to defend them?"
As he spoke, a cold, crushing pressure radiated from Wen Guji like a tidal wave, rolling ruthlessly toward Ning Wuque.
Ning Wuque’s body shuddered. It felt as if a ten-thousand-ton mountain were pressing down on him; his bones groaned, and it seemed as if he might be crushed at any second.
*Damn old bastard!* Ning Wuque’s heart sank. He silently activated the *Chaos Infinity Sword Scripture* within him, preparing to strike at any moment.
"Stop!"
In the middle of the standoff, a cold, clear voice rang out, instantly dissipating the pressure on Ning Wuque.
It was the elegant and regal Su Qingluan. She walked out of the inner hall, her face frost-rimmed.
"Mother!"
"Princess!"
Mu Yunshang and Ning Wuque bowed to Su Qingluan simultaneously.
Wen Guji turned to stare at her, his voice low. "Does the Princess know this brute?"
Su Qingluan glared fiercely at Ning Wuque and Mu Yunshang. Her face, which bore a striking resemblance to Mu Yunshang’s, was composed and aloof. "He is a distant nephew of mine. I am unaware of how he offended Master Wen, but why would you risk the infamy of picking on a youngster to attack him?"
Hearing this, not just Wen Guji, but even Ning Wuque couldn't help but take a second look at Su Qingluan. He hadn't expected this future mother-in-law, who always looked at him with such disdain, to speak up for him.
Wen Guji’s expression darkened, a cold gleam flashing in his eyes. He said emotionlessly, "The Princess is joking. I just stepped out of the hall to see your nephew forcing my disciple, Ouyang Shang, to kneel. When I rushed over, I saw he had been beaten into this state, so I acted out of anger..."
Su Qingluan glanced at Ouyang Shang’s head, which looked like a pig’s, and frowned. She looked at Ning Wuque. "What is the meaning of this? Why are you hitting people for no reason?"
Just as Ning Wuque was about to speak, Mu Yunshang, terrified that her mother would misunderstand him, rushed in. "Mother, you’ve misunderstood Brother Wuque. It happened like this..."
She recounted the events, placing special emphasis on the fact that Ouyang Shang had insulted Ning Wuque’s parents twice.
Su Qingluan mused silently.
Wen Guji sneered, "What a display of power. My disciple merely mentioned his parents, and he beats him like this?" He turned his gaze to Su Qingluan. "Princess, if you don't give me an explanation for this, let us call off the appraisal for today!"
"Hmm? Are you threatening me?" Su Qingluan, who had been considering how to handle the situation, narrowed her eyes the moment she heard the threat.
She was born into a military family and raised in the army alongside her father. Even though she had mellowed over the years as a Princess, the core of her character remained unchanged. How could she let a mere appraisal master threaten her?
Wen Guji’s heart skipped a beat, and his tone softened slightly. "I wouldn't dare, but if this isn't resolved to my satisfaction, my state of mind will inevitably be affected. The art of appraisal demands meticulous focus; the slightest distraction could lead to a judgment error..."
Su Qingluan pressed her lips together, her expression growing even uglier. She had gone to great lengths to find out that Luan Hongyi enjoyed antiques and paintings, which was why she had sought out Wen Guji to help her find a worthy gift. If he refused to help, she wouldn't be able to pick a satisfactory gift. She wasn't afraid of slighting Luan Hongyi—the Southern Suppression Prince’s Estate respected him, but they certainly weren't afraid of him—but she had heard that Ouyang Jing had already found a legendary-tier antique as a gift, and she refused to lose to that bitch.
Just as the Princess was caught in a dilemma, Ning Wuque’s voice sounded from the side: "Does the Princess have an antique that needs appraising? If so, why bother others? I can handle it for you!"
"Hmm?" Everyone present looked at Ning Wuque.
Ouyang Shang, sporting his swollen pig-head, mocked, "You arrogant brat! Do you think appraisal is like buying vegetables at the street market, where you just need eyes to do it? Do you know the 56,000-year history of the Southern State? Do you know the sequence of the ten dynasties? Do you know what a patina is? You don't know a thing, yet you dare claim you can appraise? It’s laughable!"
Wen Guji also smirked, not sparing Ning Wuque a second glance. "My Wen family has been involved in appraisal since our ancestors, spanning thirteen generations before we earned the title of an 'Appraisal Family.' As for me, I’ve been reading history and memorizing classics since the age of three, studying under my father for over eighty years to achieve what I have today. A wet-behind-the-ears brat like you daring to speak of appraisal? It’s pure nonsense..."
"That just means you’re useless," Ning Wuque interjected with a side-glance.
"What did you say?" Wen Guji’s expression shifted.
Ning Wuque chuckled. "Appraisal is just a petty skill that anyone with hands can do. If it took you eighty years to barely reach the threshold, is that what you’re so proud of?"
In his seventh reincarnation as the Sword Ancestor, he had been born into a family of tomb raiders. To Ning Wuque, who had perfectly inherited the Sword Ancestor’s nine lives of legacy, mere appraisal was nothing. He could forge a fake that would deceive the world’s top experts with a wave of his hand, let alone this Wen Guji who only held sway in Nanjiang City.
"A petty skill anyone with hands can do? Good, good, what an arrogant brat..." Wen Guji was furious; appraisal was the foundation of his family’s fame and his own pride. He glared at Ning Wuque. "Since you look down on it so much, you must have profound expertise. Do you dare to make a wager with me?"
"What are we betting?" Ning Wuque looked at him.
Wen Guji gritted his teeth. "We’ll have half an hour to find three treasures here in Chunqiu Hall. Whoever finds the ones with the highest total value wins. If you lose, I won't make things difficult for you—out of respect for the Princess—but you must kneel in front of Qizhen Pavilion and shout ten times that the Wen Family is the number one appraisal family in the Southern Frontier. How about that?"
"Oh, how generous of you!" Ning Wuque looked at him with mockery. "And if I win?"
"You win? That’s impossible!" Wen Guji sneered.
Ning Wuque said flatly, "So if I lose, I follow your terms, but if you lose, you lose nothing? I suppose your reputation as a 'master' is entirely built on your thick skin."
"You..." Wen Guji’s face turned black as coal. He knew he was being mocked. He gritted his teeth. "If I lose, I will pay for all the treasures we both selected and give them all to you. How is that?"
Ning Wuque raised an eyebrow and smiled. "As you wish!"
***
**Chapter 16: Blindness!**
"Audacious!"
Seeing that Ning Wuque actually accepted the bet, a mocking sneer appeared on Wen Guji’s face. "To ensure fairness, I will invite the Master of Qizhen Pavilion, Wan Sanqian, to act as our judge and witness this wager."
Ning Wuque looked at Su Qingluan. He didn't know the people of Nanjiang City well, and certainly didn't know who this Wan Sanqian was.
Su Qingluan understood his concern. While she wasn't optimistic about the bet, she wouldn't stop him either. She said calmly, "Master Wan has been the head of Qizhen Pavilion for over thirty years. His reputation is well-deserved."
This was her way of telling Ning Wuque not to worry about Wan Sanqian favoring Wen Guji.
Ning Wuque felt a sense of relief and nodded. "In that case, let Master Wan act as our judge."
"Good!" Wen Guji nodded and looked at the girl who had been attending to Ning Wuque. "What are you standing there for? Go and invite Master Wan here!"
"Yes, yes!" The girl hurried off.
Mu Yunshang pulled Ning Wuque to stand beside her mother, chirping like a little bird.
Ning Wuque bowed to Su Qingluan. "Thank you, Princess, for your assistance."
If Su Qingluan hadn't stepped in to support him, Wen Guji would have attacked immediately. He was a Mystery-Accessing Realm expert; even with Ning Wuque’s ability to fight above his level, he couldn't ignore the gap of several great realms.
Su Qingluan glanced at him, her expression blank. "I had no intention of helping you. It’s just that your betrothal to Yunshang is still valid. Until you break that engagement, you are part of the Southern Suppression Prince's Estate. If you’re going to be bullied, it can only be by us—not by outsiders!"
Looking at Su Qingluan, who acted like a haughty little swan, the corners of Ning Wuque’s mouth turned up. He wasn't the least bit offended by her words.
At that moment, a plump, round-faced middle-aged man came trotting over. His features were squashed together on his fleshy face, and as he spoke, the fat on his cheeks wobbled. "Oh my, oh my! I wondered why the magpies were chirping so early this morning—so it’s the Princess and Master Wen! It is my grave sin for failing to welcome you personally!"
"Master Wan is too polite," Su Qingluan said.
Wen Guji spoke up. "Master Wan, I assume you know why we’re here. I’ve invited you to act as a judge today. Are you willing?"
"Master Wen, you joke. Since you’ve asked, how could I refuse? But..." Wan Sanqian found it easy enough to judge, but whichever side lost would end up offending the other. He probed tentatively, "This is but a small matter. Are the stakes not a bit too high? Is there room for mediation?"
"There is no room for mediation. The reputation of the Wen family as an appraisal household shall not be humiliated!" Wen Guji said.
Wan Sanqian looked at Ning Wuque.
Ning Wuque smiled. "Master Wan, please don't worry. Regardless of who wins or loses, this is a matter between me and the Wen family. Neither side will blame you!"
"The Wen family feels the same!" Wen Guji added.
Wan Sanqian said he wasn't worried about that, though he secretly breathed a sigh of relief. "In that case, I will bear witness to your wager. Before we begin, let me confirm the terms..."
Wan Sanqian repeated the rules and the consequences.
"Correct!"
"That is exactly right!"
Ning Wuque and Wen Guji confirmed.
Wan Sanqian hummed and said, "Now, I declare the wager begun!"
"Brat, you better scrub your knees clean. I’ll be waiting for you to kneel at the entrance of Qizhen Pavilion!" Wen Guji sneered and stepped into Chunqiu Hall.
"Who wins and who loses remains to be seen!"
Ning Wuque’s mouth curled into a smile. With his hands behind his back, he walked into Chunqiu Hall.
Chunqiu Hall was worthy of being Qizhen Pavilion’s own shop for antiques and paintings. The shelves were packed with goods, clearly fine, aged, and exquisitely crafted. However, Ning Wuque wasn't in a hurry. He strolled like an elderly man, walking with his hands behind his back, glancing at the goods on display.
Occasionally he nodded. Occasionally he shook his head.
This made Mu Yunshang anxious. She whispered, "Brother Wuque, do you really understand antiques and paintings? If it’s not going well, I can ask Mother to talk to Master Wen and call the whole thing off!"
Though she had blind faith in Ning Wuque, appraisal was different from martial cultivation.
Su Qingluan heard this and scoffed, haughtily, "You brat, this is trouble you started yourself. Don't expect me to clean up your mess!"
Mu Yunshang shook her mother’s hand, acting spoiled. "Mother..."
"Don't bother. I’m not buying it!" Su Qingluan rolled her eyes, though she added, "If it really comes down to it, just admit defeat and apologize to Master Wen. As for the wager, I believe that out of respect for me, Master Wen won't hold it against you."