Lake Chu Tian.

Chu Family Headquarters.

At the entrance to the Ancient Martial Arts Conference venue, Ye Xingzhou, dressed sharply in a suit, looked at Luo Xiu standing in line. His expression was one of disdain, mixed with surprise and annoyance. He truly hadn't expected to run into Luo Xiu here. But he didn't take it too seriously.

With a smirk, he said to Luo Xiu, "Do you think the Ancient Martial Arts Conference of the Four Great Ancient Families is for any Tom, Dick, or Harry?"

Luo Xiu just smiled faintly. He remembered Su Shenyun's advice to keep a low profile to avoid unnecessary trouble. Even if he wanted to slaughter Ye Xingzhou, it couldn't be at an event like this.

However…

SLAP!

Luo Xiu suddenly whipped a hand across Ye Xingzhou's face.

Although he couldn't publicly execute Ye Xingzhou, slapping him a couple of times to vent his anger should be fine. Besides, this would build enough animosity that Ye Xingzhou would come looking for him, saving him the trouble. To Luo Xiu, whose Essence Blood had fully recovered, Ye Xingzhou wasn't even as significant as a grain of sand.

At that moment, the entire area fell silent. Nearby guests all turned to watch the show.

Ye Xingzhou was stunned by the slap. He never would have imagined that Luo Xiu would dare to strike him, especially in a place like this. He suddenly snapped back to his senses as the powerful aura of the Gathering Spirit Realm erupted from his body.

Just as he was about to retaliate, Luo Xiu suddenly grabbed his collar and yanked him forward. Luo Xiu's pull was strangely powerful, instantly draining all of Ye Xingzhou's strength and leaving him feeling completely suppressed.

Luo Xiu whispered in his ear, "Whether or not I attend this conference isn't important. I just needed to find you."

"Punk, you'd better hand over the Elixir and the formulas you stole from the Shen Luo Company."

Ye Xingzhou twisted his lips, licking the blood from the corner of his mouth as he smiled ferociously. "Trash, you're about to die, and you still dare to be so arrogant?"

As he spoke, a group of Ye Family martial artists quickly surrounded them.

"What do you think you're doing? Today is the Ancient Martial Arts Conference, and this is the Chu Family's territory!" Just then, Wu Xin stepped forward.

Facing the Ye Family martial artists, her attitude was extremely forceful. She then turned to Luo Xiu, signaling with her eyes for him to let go.

Luo Xiu released Ye Xingzhou, even taking a moment to straighten his collar for him. Then, as if nothing had happened, he went back to his place in line.

Ye Xingzhou spat a mouthful of bloody saliva on the ground and said coldly, "Trash, I'll remember this slap. I'll find you later to play."

Luo Xiu shrugged nonchalantly. He was only afraid that Ye Xingzhou *wouldn't* come looking for him.

Ye Xingzhou turned to Wu Xin, his eyes narrowing. "Your young lady seems quite protective of this trash. Is he a friend of yours?"

Wu Xin met his gaze, her expression unchanging. "Who I am friends with is none of your business."

Ye Xingzhou chuckled. "As you know, this is the conference of the Four Great Ancient Martial Families. It's not for any Tom, Dick, or Harry."

"He has an invitation from the Chu Family," Wu Xin stated flatly. "It's not your place to pass judgment."

Hearing this, Ye Xingzhou dutifully shut his mouth. Indeed, with an invitation from the Chu Family, there was nothing more he could say.

"Well then, you'd better protect this trash well. The moment he steps out of the Chu Family's territory today, I'm afraid you'll never see him again."

Wu Xin huffed coldly. "You talk too much."

Not wanting to embarrass himself further, Ye Xingzhou turned and walked straight through the main gate. He didn't want to antagonize Wu Xin, the personal bodyguard of the Chu Family's young lady. He was smitten with her, after all, and couldn't afford to offend her protector.

Shortly thereafter, Luo Xiu presented his invitation and entered the main gate smoothly. Stepping inside, he found himself in a grand, majestic hall filled with rustic, antique tables and chairs. A glance revealed the hall was filled with well-dressed, elderly figures.

He also spotted a few familiar faces. The Proud Sun Sect's Sect Master, Li Chaoqun; Granny Miaoyu from Xianyin Valley; and the Wind Blade Sect's Sect Master, Liu Dexuan, all of whom he had met at the martial arts gathering in the provincial city, were present.

They weren't members of the Four Great Ancient Families, so their presence here likely meant they were seeking some form of cooperation.

However, Luo Xiu didn't greet these acquaintances. He discreetly found a seat in a less crowded corner. His arrival went unnoticed. The seniors were all seated at the front, boasting and chatting, with no interest in paying attention to the younger generation.

Not long after Luo Xiu sat down, Wu Xin said she had to step out for a moment. She reminded him to keep a low profile, control his temper, and not be as impulsive as he had been earlier.

Feeling a bit bored by himself, Luo Xiu took out his phone to scroll through short videos. Unexpectedly, Ye Xingzhou walked over and sat down in the chair right next to him.

Luo Xiu glanced at him, a little surprised.

Ye Xingzhou looked back at him and smiled. "Trash, you snuck into a place like this. Don't tell me you're really here for me?"

Luo Xiu said coolly, "Hand over what you stole now, and I might consider letting you off."

"Heh." Ye Xingzhou let out a soft laugh, his face filled with contempt. He looked at Luo Xiu mockingly and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "I'll be honest with you. I was the one who took Lin Xiyue's Heavenly Grade Elixir, and I stole the Shen Luo Company's formulas, too."

"But what can you do about it?"

"This is the Capital City!"

"This is my turf!"

"As the saying goes, a powerful dragon can't crush a local snake, and you're nothing but a worthless worm. On my turf, what do you have to fight me with?"

As he was speaking, a commotion erupted at the entrance. Ye Xingzhou's expression changed dramatically as he looked toward the sound. He quickly stood up, looking very excited.

Luo Xiu also looked over and was taken aback.

A tall, graceful figure was entering the hall, surrounded by a crowd.

It was Xu Qianqing!

She wore a white dress, exuding a fairy-like, ethereal beauty as she walked with unhurried elegance. As she moved, her slender calves, wrapped in sheer stockings, were partially visible, a tantalizing and hazy sight. Her delicate feet, shod in Crystal High Heels, looked like the finest works of art.

Her appearance alone stunned the entire hall.

Luo Xiu hadn't expected Xu Qianqing to change so much in just a few short months. It was a complete transformation of her aura! If not for her face being the same, he would never have believed this was the same gentle and shy Xu Qianqing from before.

Luo Xiu noticed she was wearing a silver bracelet on her left wrist—the very one he had bought for her when they parted ways in Sea City.

"Xie Rou, here!"

As Xu Qianqing passed by, Ye Xingzhou, who was next to Luo Xiu, suddenly waved and called out loudly.

Upon seeing this, the onlookers shared knowing smiles. Everyone knew the Young Master of the Ye family was fond of the young lady of the Chu Family.

Ye Xingzhou's shout pulled Luo Xiu from his thoughts, leaving him a bit surprised.

Hearing his name called, Xu Qianqing merely shot him an indifferent glance. But in the next moment, she froze.

She had seen Luo Xiu, sitting right beside Ye Xingzhou.

Her beautiful eyes trembled, and they gradually grew moist. No longer able to maintain her otherworldly composure, she lifted the hem of her skirt and hurried toward Luo Xiu.

Following behind her, Wu Xin looked at Luo Xiu and smiled, a sweet warmth spreading through her heart. She had left earlier precisely to bring Xu Qianqing here.

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