When these words left his mouth, a silence fell across the street. Then, everyone burst out into laughter. Was there something wrong with this person’s head?

Did he just demand that King Qi’s heir apologize to him? Who does this kid think he is?!

Chu Youzhao was panicking inside, boiling with fury. After much difficulty, she had just about managed to calm things down. Why was this guy so horrible with words? It had taken him mere moments to utterly ruin all of her efforts. There was no way King Qi’s heir would let him go now.

Murong Qinghe frowned. The Murong clan would definitely stand by King Qi. If Youzhao hadn’t stepped out, she wouldn’t have bothered to get involved in this matter.

She’d faced Zu An before, back at the Qin clan, and she admired his cultivation. However, he was behaving arrogantly in front of people that he had no business being arrogant towards, and it seemed more and more as though he only had strength, and no smarts.

Hmph, big brother Chu is still the one who is gentle and kind. He’s the most handsome man I know.

As she wallowed in her fantasy, the driver with the missing tooth shook his head slightly. “That little fellow is a little overconfident.”

A soft chuckle came from within the carriage. “Is that so? Why don’t I think so?”

The driver was blown away. It had been so long since he heard Madam’s laughter. Was she actually laughing because of a stupid, impulsive kid?

“Madam, do you know him?” He probed. This Madam of his was acting slightly strangely today. She seemed to actually care a little about this Zu An.

No more sound came from within the carriage. Madam clearly wasn’t planning to reply.

King Qi’s heir looked at Zu An in disbelief. Then, as if he had just heard a great joke, he roared with laughter. “Me, apologize to you? Why would I do such a thing for someone like you?”

Zu An sighed. “Don’t say I didn’t give you a chance to apologize. You won’t have another chance.”

King Qi’s heir snorted and disregarded his words, as though he were talking to a lunatic. He looked at Chu Youzhao and said, “Young master Chu, you have seen with your own eyes that this fellow is courting his own death. You cannot blame me for what’s to come.”

Chu Youzhao was starting to panic. She stepped in front of Zu An and said in hushed tones, “Brother-in-law, there’s no need for you to prove anything. He is King Qi’s heir, as well as the Reserve Captain. You can’t afford to offend him. Yes, I know you’re skilled at fighting, but King Qi’s heir has eight ranks of cultivation, and there are so many men backing him up. How many can you defeat?”

Zu An rubbed her head and chuckled. “Not bad. Even in such a situation, you’re still worried about me. Brother-in-law didn’t dote on you for nothing.”

“Pah, who the heck wants you to dote on them?” Chu Youzhao blushed. She was flustered and embarrassed, and momentarily forgot what else she’d wanted to say.

King Qi’s heir spoke again. “If I recall correctly, the Chu clan seems to have already severed their relationship with this Zu An. He has been exiled from the clan, and is no longer the husband of Chu First Miss. Naturally, he isn’t your brother-in-law either. You don’t have anything to worry about, young master Chu.”

Even though someone of his status did not have to care about the Chu clan at all, the Chu clan shared a special relationship with the Qin clan. Chu First Miss, as well as this young master Chu, were both favored by the two heads of the Qin clan. Furthermore, it was common knowledge that Murong Qinghe admired young master Chu. He did not want to ruin all these relationships over this small matter, which was why, despite his usual nature, he’d patiently explained it all to Chu Youzhao.

Chu Youzhao was about to say something, but Zu An grabbed her hand and told her through ki transmission, “Don’t worry, I know what I am doing.”

Chu Youzhao was taken aback. His voice was rather calm, and he didn’t seem to be as muddle-headed as she thought he was.

As she recalled what they’d been through together, she realized that, even though he always annoyed her, when true danger presented itself, he was always as steady as a mountain. Remembering this, she gave up on trying to dissuade him from his course of action, even though she couldn’t understand why he would face King Qi’s heir head-on like this.

She suddenly recalled that her hand was in his, and her heart began to pound. She quickly pulled her hand away and ran back to Murong Qinghe’s side. Only after returning to her regular playmate’s side did she manage to calm down.

Murong Qinghe gave her a strange look. “Big brother Chu, why is your face so red?”

Chu Youzhao touched her cheeks. She noticed that they were slightly warm. “It is? Maybe it’s because I’m a little worried,” she said guiltily.

“Big brother Chu, there’s no need for you to worry. You’ve already done all you could. If your brother-in-law insists on going ahead with this, there’s nothing else you can do.” Murong Qinghe gave Zu An a look of disdain. This muscle-head was nowhere near as cool as her handsome big brother Chu.

King Qi’s heir spoke again. “Forget it. For the sake of Chu First Miss and young master Chu, I won’t trouble him too much. If he breaks his own arm and leg, I’ll leave the matter alone.”

Murong Qinghe nodded inside. Even though King Qi’s heir seemed rather vicious, it was the best outcome for Zu An. He would at least keep his life. As for his broken arm and leg, they would heal in time.

Chu Youzhao was still worried. If only her eldest sister had been here. If she were, nothing would have happened.

Zu An began to pick at his ear. “Are you done blabbering yet?” he asked impatiently. “Did you reach your position by using your mouth? Do you think you’re me or something?”

The young noble’s expression grew frigid. “Very good. You’ve successfully angered me. Since he isn’t willing to do it himself, all of you should help him out.”

You have successfully trolled Zhao Zhi for 888 Rage points!

“Understood!” His cavalrymen had already received their orders a long time ago. They charged at Zu An with sinister expressions.

Since our young master said to break his limbs, then we’ll break his little one too, since that’s a third leg. Let’s see if you can keep acting so smug once that happens!

“Brother-in-law, be careful!” Chu Youzhao was now truly in panic mode as she watched the horses charging at him.

After all, cavalry had an overwhelming advantage against infantry. A cavalry charge on the battlefield spelled impending doom for any infantry in their way.

Murong Qinghe sighed. Since her big brother Chu cared so much about this man, she would do her best to save him later. She believed that King Qi’s heir would at least show her that much respect.

Zu An stood his ground with his arms behind him, as though he didn’t even see the horses bearing down on him.

He must be scared stiff! The cavalrymen all came to the same conclusion. They had originally planned to go around and cut off his retreat, and then pressure him until he had nowhere else to go.

However, since this fellow was standing still, without trying to evade, they would save themselves the trouble.

Being rammed by a speeding horse would shatter half his ribs at the very least. However, it was all this fellow’s fault for offending their young master.

The horsemen charged directly at him, laughing sinisterly.

Suddenly, something strange occurred. The speeding horses came to a screeching halt, and the entire situation changed in the blink of an eye.

Many of the riders were caught off-guard and thrown straight off their horses’ backs. Several with higher cultivations just about managed to stay on their mounts, but their bodies were still flung about, and they suffered terribly.

Those that were flung to the ground hadn’t expected it at all, and all of them were badly battered from the fall, even suffering broken bones. A few unlucky ones landed on their faces in the dirt and lost half their teeth, the blood streaming from their noses mingling with the blood coming out from their ruined mouths. It was a truly pitiful sight.

The onlookers were all stupefied. Chu Youzhao and Murong Qinghe both rubbed their eyes subconsciously, as if they didn’t dare to believe what they were seeing.

Those on the side of the young noble looked at the cavalrymen in confusion. These were all well-trained warhorses who did not flinch even on the battlefield, where cannon-fire boomed for days on end. Why would they suddenly behave this way?

The driver of the carriage cried out in surprise. “How did he do that?” he muttered to himself. “I couldn't even tell.”

Zu An looked calmly at the horsemen writhing on the ground in pain, completely unfazed. His voice was full of amusement. “New Year’s Day is still quite far away, why are you all suddenly greeting me? Sorry, guys, I don’t have any New Year’s Day money to give to you.”

“You little bastard, you’re courting death!” The cavalrymen were furious. Disregarding their injuries, they drew their blades and charged at him. They hadn’t used their weapons earlier on, but they were now utterly infuriated by this guy.

You have successfully trolled the cavalrymen for 999… 999… 999…

The ones who hadn’t been flung off their horses charged in as well.

“These cavalrymen are mostly at the fourth and fifth rank, with a good number of sixth-ranked cultivators,” explained Murong Qinghe. “However, these are all members of the empire’s elite field army, and proficient in formation strategy. They’re a danger even to a seventh-ranked cultivator.”

Chu Youzhao’s heart began to pound nervously again.