Jiang Chen also stepped forward, regarding Sun Yuan with a cold gaze. In truth, he had little patience for dandies like this. After all, people of Sun Yuan's ilk were far too common in this world.
It was just that Sun Yuan happened to be a slightly higher-class dandy than most.
"So, you're Sun Yuan? I don't know how powerful all your aunts and uncles supposedly are, but we've seen plenty of spoiled brats like you. You beat on others today, and tomorrow you'd better be prepared to get beaten yourself. When you're the one bullying everyone else, everything's perfectly fine — but the moment someone hits you back, you cry injustice?" Jiang Chen's face was dripping with sarcure.
Gu Xintang, having by now regulated his breathing, walked over as well and fixed Sun Yuan with a hard stare. "Sun Yuan, A-Li and I are in love. No matter how shamelessly you cling, A-Li's heart will always be with me. If you want to try and come between us, I, Gu Xintang, will fight you to the bitter end — even if we both go down!"
"Good!" Peerless Great Emperor clapped his hands and laughed. "That's the kind of backbone I like to see in Little Gu. Today I'm putting my foot down — Sun Yuan, Little Gu's business is my business. If you think your family connections are so impressive, go ahead and call every last one of your aunts and uncles here. We'll see whether I'm afraid to cross them!"
The Peerless Great Emperor's domineering presence filled the air, and his words made Jiang Chen clap and laugh out loud. "Truly worthy of being a senior expert! Little Gu, why haven't you thanked Senior Peerless yet?"
Gu Xintang, grateful at heart, hurried forward. "Thank you, Senior Peerless."
Senior Peerless? Sun Yuan froze. Who was that? Was there some "Senior Peerless" in Frost Moon City? Some "Senior Peerless" in the Moon Goddess Cult?
He couldn't recall anyone of that name.
At that moment, someone sharp-witted suddenly recalled a certain person, and his expression changed drastically. He rushed over and whispered a few urgent words into Sun Yuan's ear.
Sun Yuan's face drained of color the moment he heard. The look he directed at the Peerless Great Emperor became impossibly complex. Clearly, he had finally figured out who was standing before him.
Mo Wushuang — the Peerless Great Emperor!
One of the towering figures of the independent cultivator world!
In an instant, Sun Yuan felt excruciatingly awkward — neither daring to advance nor to retreat. Say something defiant? If he threw out words he couldn't back up, he'd be in real trouble.
If he provoked this bogeyman of the independent cultivator world, a single slap could end his life. Never mind how impressive his family background sounded on paper.
The truth was, within his own clan, he was just... average. Sure, his family might feel it was a pity if he died, but they certainly wouldn't mobilize their entire clan to avenge him.
After all, he was nothing more than a second-tier reserve talent in the Sun family — still a considerable gap behind the true elite.
Expecting the Sun clan to go to war against a Great Emperor over his personal affairs? Utterly unrealistic.
But just slinking away like this? Where would he put his face? How could he show his face back at the Cold Moon Discipline Hall?
Outmatched by Gu Xintang, humiliated by the man Gu Xintang had brought — how could he ever compete for A-Li again?
Sun Yuan was caught in an agonizing dilemma.
The Peerless Great Emperor couldn't be bothered with Sun Yuan. Instead, he turned to Gu Xintang. "Little Gu, back when I was at your estate, I asked if you had a partner. You said that someone you were compatible with was easy to find, but a truly satisfying marriage was hard to come by. So this scoundrel has been the one destroying your union?"
Gu Xintang nodded. "This fellow is nothing but a troublemaker. A-Li and I have long been of one mind. We pledged ourselves to each other long ago — no regrets in this life, never to part in life or death. This Sun fellow is a known philanderer who has ruined countless women's reputations. Does he have a single shred of sincerity?"
Someone like Sun Yuan would never tie himself to one tree. The only reason he was trying to steal Gu Xintang's woman was that he found A-Li beautiful — captivated purely by her appearance.
It was nothing more than a shamefully base possessiveness.
The Peerless Great Emperor nodded. "In that case, pick a day. Right here in Frost Moon City, I will preside over the ceremony for you two. Let's see if anyone has the gall of a tiger and the heart of a bear to dare destroy a marriage."
Better to tear down a thousand temples than to break up a single marriage.
This was a truth as old as the ages.
Tearing apart someone else's union had been considered a grave sin since ancient times.
Sun Yuan's eyes nearly shot fire. He knew the Peerless Great Emperor was slapping him squarely in the face, publicly and shamelessly. But he didn't dare offer even a sliver of resistance.
"You — remember my words today. This union between Little Gu and A-Li — whoever dares to interfere, I will ensure they die without even a whole corpse."
The Peerless Great Emperor's voice was cold as a blade, his gaze deep and unfathomable.
Sun Yuan's entire body trembled. He glared at Gu Xintang with venomous hatred. Gu Xintang stared right back, utterly fearless and not backing down an inch.
With the Peerless Great Emperor backing him, Gu Xintang feared Sun Yuan not at all. Even before, when he had no patron, he had never yielded to Sun Yuan.
Now with the Peerless Great Emperor as his shield, yielding was out of the question.
"Get lost!" the Peerless Great Emperor barked.
Sun Yuan wanted to fire back with some defiant words, but his own subordinates gave him no chance — they grabbed him and dragged him away, half-pulling, half-shoving.
"Young Master Sun, don't be rash!"
"Young Master Sun, give the Great Emperor some face!"