Chapter 191: Chapter 180: Who’s Brain-Dead?

"Please, don’t... Mr. Zhao Yan, Nie Yun is just an ordinary friend of mine. We’re only acquainted. He was just passing by and decided to visit, so please let him go!"

Luo Qingcheng stiffened at the old man’s words and cried out anxiously.

"An ordinary friend? Heh. The more you say that, the more suspicious I become! The Young Master sent me here with specific instructions to protect you at all times and to prevent you from being harassed by insignificant people. Since this man wants to come, then let him come!"

Seeing the girl’s anxious expression, the old man, Zhao Yan, chuckled darkly.

Luo Qingcheng was naive by nature. And while her recent experiences had changed her somewhat, how could she possibly hide the truth from an old monster who had lived for so many years?

"No, please, Mr. Zhao Yan! I’m begging you, let him go! As long as you let him leave, I’ll agree to anything!" the girl cried out desperately.

"Heh! For the Young Madam to beg me... Zhao Yan is unworthy! I’m merely a servant; I couldn’t possibly bear such a plea!"

Ignoring the girl’s pleas, Zhao Yan gave a cold smile and turned to the female disciple who received guests. "Go and bring the man over!"

"Yes, sir!" The female disciple knew that even though the man before her wasn’t a member of the Sect, he was an honored guest. She nodded, bowed, and departed.

Not long after the disciple left, a pair of footsteps could be heard approaching.

"Senior Sister Qingcheng is right inside. You can go in by yourself."

As the disciple’s voice rang out, a young man’s figure emerged from around the corner.

"Qingcheng!"

Seeing the girl standing at the entrance of a private courtyard, Nie Yun smiled and walked over.

"Nie Yun, you shouldn’t have come..."

The light in Luo Qingcheng’s eyes faded the moment she saw the young man.

"So, you’re Nie Yun? Miss Qingcheng’s ’ordinary’ friend?" The old man, Zhao Yan, sneered as the young man appeared, deliberately stressing the word "ordinary" as a faint, cold light glinted in his eyes.

"Qingcheng, we haven’t seen each other in two months. You’ve lost quite a bit of weight."

Nie Yun completely ignored the old man who had popped out of nowhere, his gaze fixed on the beautiful woman before him as he let out a soft sigh.

He hadn’t seen her in two months, and Luo Qingcheng’s strength had indeed grown considerably. Like Yangg Yan and the others, she had reached the Early-Stage Armor Realm. But she had also grown much thinner. She had always been touchingly beautiful, but now she looked so fragile it would stir pity in anyone’s heart.

"Hey, brat! I’m talking to you! Are you deaf?"

Zhao Yan had intended to put on the airs of a lofty expert in front of the young man, but the boy completely ignored him, treating him like empty space. He was so furious he could have burst.

"Nie Yun, this is Zhao Yan. He’s an expert from the Zhao Family, a Peak Powerhouse of Qi Sect! You..."

Luo Qingcheng was nearly scared to death when she saw the young man ignore Zhao Yan.

’It was just as I feared,’ she thought. She had been worried that Zhao Yan would disregard his status and attack, and now the young man had given him the perfect excuse!

"You... you should be more careful!"

Yalian clearly hadn’t expected her senior sister’s friend to be so audacious. She shivered in fright and whispered a warning.

"An expert from the Zhao Family? One of Zhao Xingpu’s men?"

Seeing how nervous the two girls were, Nie Yun finally deigned to notice the "minor figure" before him.

’Once you reach the Ultimate Venerable Level, your perspective changes completely. A Peak of Qi Sect might seem impossibly high to others, but in my eyes, they’re truly nothing. I could kill several of them with a single slap!’

"Hmph. So, you know I’m from the Zhao Family and still dare to be so disrespectful! You’re courting death! Kneel and apologize at once. If you do, I might be lenient and spare your life. Otherwise, this day next year will be the anniversary of your death!"

Zhao Yan gave a sinister laugh, his eyes blazing with killing intent.

"Qingcheng, is this thing a moron?"

Nie Yun was left speechless by the man’s behavior. ’It’s baffling,’ he thought. ’Someone I could kill with a single slap is acting this arrogant. It’s just... baffling.’

"What?"

Hearing the young man’s words, Luo Qingcheng finally couldn’t take it anymore. She staggered, nearly fainting on the spot.

Yalian was so frightened she began to tremble, her eyes practically bulging out of their sockets.

’To call the great Zhao Yan, a Peak Powerhouse of Qi Sect from the Zhao Family, a moron and a "thing"... Oh, my heavens!’

’This man is insane. He must be!’

"What did you say?"

It wasn’t just Luo Qingcheng and Yalian who were shocked beyond belief; even Zhao Yan was stunned for a second. Then his entire body began to tremble. The True Qi of a Peak of Qi Sect expert surged uncontrollably, forming scorching vortexes above his head as his hair stood on end.

He was absolutely livid!

"I asked if you, this thing, are a moron... Oh, my mistake. You’re not a thing, you’re a person. I misspoke. A slip of the tongue, a slip of the tongue!"

Nie Yun smiled faintly. On the surface, it was an apology, but in reality, it was just another way of calling the man a good-for-nothing.

"Fine. Just fine. You’ve brought this on yourself. You’re a dead man today. No one can save you!"

Hearing the young man’s mockery, Zhao Yan let out a laugh born of pure rage. An intense killing intent erupted from him, burning like a fire in the air and bathing the entire courtyard in a crimson glow.

"Nie Yun, he’s a Peak of Qi Sect from the Zhao Family! He’s not like King Ning and those other Demons! He knows many advanced Martial Arts. If King Ning were to fight him, he wouldn’t even last a single round! You have to apologize, quickly! I’m begging you..."

Seeing how things had spiraled out of control in the blink of an eye, the girl cried out, her beautiful face etched with deep worry as she looked at Nie Yun.

’Zhao Yan is an old retainer who served the Zhao Family’s ancestor, Zhao Xun,’ she thought frantically. ’He was personally guided and promoted by an Ultimate Venerable Powerhouse! And with the Zhao Family’s vast resources, even though he’s at the Peak of Qi Sect just like King Ning, his actual combat strength is far, far greater!’

’From what I know, a Peak of Qi Sect expert like King Ning probably couldn’t even withstand a single slap from Zhao Yan!’

’Nie Yun had a hard enough time fighting King Ning and his men back then, so how could he possibly stand up to Zhao Yan? If this man really attacks, won’t Nie Yun die instantly?’

"Apologize? It’s too late for apologies! Today, I will kill this arrogant brat who doesn’t know his place and teach him the price of offending a Peak Powerhouse of Qi Sect!"

Hearing the girl urge Nie Yun to apologize, Zhao Yan’s face twisted into a ferocious grin. He let out a sharp laugh and took a step forward.

With that single step, it felt as if a great mountain was pressing down on the entire courtyard. A powerful aura shook them to the core, and the air grew so heavy and oppressive that even the fish in the pond leaped from the water’s surface. SPLASH! SPLASH! They sent up plumes of spray.

"Die!"

His aura condensed to its absolute peak as he struck. He threw a punch, and a powerful Qi Force shot straight toward the young man like a swirling Fire Dragon.

He clearly intended to end the fight in a single blow, turning Nie Yun into a bloody pulp to vent his fury.

"I’m the one who’s going to die? I don’t think so."

A Qi Sect expert was, after all, just a Qi Sect expert. No matter how formidable or powerful, before an Ultimate Venerable, they were no different from an ant. Seeing the man dare to strike first, Nie Yun gave a faint smile. Without any grand movement, he simply swatted his hand down as if shooing away a fly.

SPLAT!

The Fire Dragon formed by Zhao Yan’s fist dissolved and fell to the ground like a dying earthworm. As for the man himself, he flew like a glob of thrown mud... SPLAT! ...and stuck flat against the wall. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to support the author on Qidian.com with your recommendations and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)