Chapter 15: What's Youth Without a Little Fire?

Chen Yang was always straightforward and had no patience for wasting time on trivial matters. Murong Xue’er did not linger either. “Since you don’t mind, Mr. Chen, that’s all for the best,” she replied.

Then, growing serious, Murong Xue’er continued, “May I ask, Mr. Chen, was it you who injured Wang Mingyuan? And what about the Wang family’s three billion…” She hadn’t finished her sentence when Chen Yang admitted readily, “Yes, it was me. Do you have any objections?”

Murong Xue’er regarded him with admiration. “You are bold and skilled, Mr. Chen. I respect that. However…” She paused in thought before continuing, “You broke Chu Feng’s legs first, then gravely injured Wang Mingyuan, and there’s also the matter of the Wang family’s three billion. These incidents have attracted the attention of the Martial Association’s upper ranks. I expect that in the next few days, someone from the Association will come looking for you.”

Martial Association? What on earth was that?

Chen Yang frowned slightly, waiting for Murong Xue’er to elaborate.

She explained, “The Martial Association—formally known as the Martial Arts Association—holds absolute authority in the martial world of the Nine Provinces. Simply put, it’s a special organization that governs martial artists.”

Govern? Chen Yang was unconcerned. He was not a mere martial artist, but a cultivator. The Martial Arts Association was hardly in a position to control him.

Murong Xue’er noticed his relaxed demeanor and frowned. “Three years ago, a Grandmaster-level figure wreaked havoc throughout the Nine Provinces, causing countless bloodbaths. In the end, he was captured by the Association’s leaders and stripped of all his martial arts.”

“And your point is?” Chen Yang remained calm.

Murong Xue’er said solemnly, “What I mean to say is, even if you are a young Grandmaster, you hold no special privileges before the leaders of the Martial Arts Association. So, I hope you’ll join the Murong House. With our influence, the Association might think twice before taking action.”

So that was her real purpose. Chen Yang replied coolly, “It was Chu Feng who humiliated me first; I had no choice but to retaliate. As for the Wang family, that’s a personal grudge. No matter how powerful the Association is, they have no right to meddle in my private affairs, do they?”

He added, “As for joining the Murong House, that’s absolutely impossible. The reason is simple: I’m used to my freedom, wandering as I please. I can’t stand being bound.”

Hearing this, Murong Xue’er felt a pang of disappointment. Still, she did not lose heart. The outcome was just as she expected. She knew well that someone like Chen Yang could not be coerced; that would only create an enemy.

With this in mind, Murong Xue’er quickly composed herself. “I understand your difficulties, Mr. Chen, but I want you to know the doors of the Murong House are always open to you. We are willing to support you whenever you need it.”

Support me? Chen Yang smiled faintly. “Is that your idea, or does it come from the Murong House’s leaders?”

Murong Xue’er hesitated, and her awkward silence was answer enough—it was clearly her own intention.

Chen Yang smiled. “Thank you, Miss Murong, for thinking so highly of me. But whether it’s the Martial Association, the Wang family, or the Chu family, I’ll face all the consequences myself. I’ll handle whatever comes.”

His words amounted to a refusal. Murong Xue’er sighed. She was as beautiful as a radiant star in the sky, yet she could not capture Chen Yang’s attention.

Half an hour later, Chen Yang finished his meal and, having no reason to linger, thanked her and left the hotel.

Watching his figure recede into the distance, Murong Xue’er felt a tumult of emotions.

“Miss Xue’er, this man is extremely rude. Shall I go teach him a lesson?” Suddenly, a shadow flickered, and a young man in black, his features refined, seemed to appear out of thin air behind her.

He looked no more than sixteen or seventeen, yet his martial skill had already reached its peak. Few of his peers could rival him.

“Do you think you could defeat him?” Murong Xue’er asked without turning, her face expressionless.

The young man replied without hesitation, “Though he’s dangerous, I can’t sense the aura of a true expert from him. It’s strange.”

Hearing this, Murong Xue’er turned slowly to face him. “Listen well—without my command, no one is to lay a finger on Chen Yang. Understood?”

The young man nodded. “Yes.”

…

The next day, Chen Yang went to the hospital to check on his father’s injuries. He spent over a hundred thousand yuan hiring two highly professional caregivers so his mother, Liu Mei, would not have to exhaust herself.

Seeing that his father’s condition was stable, Chen Yang left the hospital.

As he stepped out, a black Audi A8 pulled up in front of him. Soon, a man and a woman got out. The man was just over forty, with sharp eyes and a proud bearing. The woman was around Chen Yang’s age, strikingly young.

At a glance, Chen Yang could tell they were no ordinary people—they were true martial artists, both with innate-level cultivation. In Earth’s present age of declining spiritual energy, that made them formidable indeed.

“May I help you?” Chen Yang asked first.

The middle-aged man’s voice was cold. “You’re Chen Yang?”

“That’s right. And you are?” Chen Yang showed no fear. He had already guessed who they were.

The man spoke sternly, “I am Chu Tianhe, Level Two Enforcer of the Martial Arts Association.”

“I am Yin Tianxue, Level Three Enforcer,” the young woman introduced herself.

Chu Tianhe’s face was grave. “Chen Yang, as a member of the martial world, you have repeatedly violated the Association’s laws by attacking ordinary people. The higher-ups are deeply dissatisfied with your actions. Therefore…”

Before Chu Tianhe could finish, Chen Yang interrupted with a faint smile. “So, you’re here to arrest me?”

“Exactly. You have broken the Association’s laws and must stand trial. We can’t let you continue unchecked,” Chu Tianhe said sternly.

Yin Tianxue added, her tone gentler than his, “Chen Yang, we don’t want to use force. Please cooperate and come with us. If you have any grievances, the leaders will hear you out.”

For some reason, though it was their first meeting, Chen Yang noticed the hatred in Chu Tianhe’s eyes. He didn’t dwell on it, instead replying calmly, “So Murong Xue’er was right—you really showed up quickly. However…”

His gaze turned sharp as a hawk’s, his voice steely. “However, the Martial Arts Association is far from qualified to judge me. I advise you to stay out of my affairs—otherwise, it will do you no good.”

At these words, Chu Tianhe and Yin Tianxue were momentarily stunned. They hadn’t expected Chen Yang to so blatantly disregard the Association’s authority.

“Could he be the heir of a great Beijing clan?” Chu Tianhe wondered inwardly, frowning. If so, the local Association really had no right to judge him—only the main branch in Beijing could.

“No, that’s impossible. The information from above clearly states that Chen Yang is a native of Yunzhou, not a scion of Beijing’s families.” Chu Tianhe dismissed his doubts. He and Yin Tianxue had done their homework before coming.

“Let me give you a word of advice, Chen,” Chu Tianhe said coldly. “Don’t let your youth make you reckless.”

Chen Yang retorted, “If a young man’s not bold, what is he?”

“I know your martial arts are impressive, but alone, you can’t possibly stand against the Association. If you resist, I have the right to cripple your cultivation and break your legs.”

Chu Tianhe’s eyes narrowed, his expression venomous.

“That seems a bit out of line, doesn’t it?” Yin Tianxue stepped forward, frowning. “The order from above is only to bring Chen Yang in—no one said anything about crippling him, much less injuring him.”

Her words were clearly meant for Chu Tianhe.

But Chu Tianhe would not listen. He argued, “Didn’t you hear what this brat just said? As a martial artist, he gravely injured Chu Feng without cause. That alone warrants a lengthy sentence!”

Then Chen Yang understood why Chu Tianhe targeted him so relentlessly. Both bore the surname Chu.

“So that’s it,” Chen Yang said with a knowing smile. “Abusing your power for personal revenge—how clever. But…”

His smile turned cold. “But you’ve overlooked something. With your petty skills, you couldn’t even touch me, let alone cripple my cultivation.”