Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Seven: Confrontation

Hu Yanxiong, standing off to the side, glanced at Ye Zong, then at Yang Xin, looking deep in thought. If Nie Li were merely a dazzling genius who dared to stir up trouble with such arrogance, Ye Zong might not have gone so far as to kill him, but he would certainly have taught him a lesson. After all, an overly brash and domineering genius was more trouble than he was worth. But Ye Zong hadn't. Not only that — he'd actually stood up for Nie Li. That truly baffled Hu Yanxiong. And what's more, even Yang Xin had spoken in his defense.

It seemed Nie Li had something else going for him beyond his exceptional talent. Recalling the recent events in the City of Radiance, Hu Yanxiong began to understand. No wonder his daughter had turned her nose up at Ye Han and instead latched onto Nie Li. My Hu Yan family's girl doesn't pick the wrong people.

Shen Hong kept his mouth shut, his face a grim mask.

The young people in the main hall exchanged uneasy glances.

They could never have expected things to turn out like this.

Causing such a massive scene at the City Lord's Mansion banquet — and instead of punishing him, Ye Zong had actually protected Nie Li. What did that signify?

Nie Li had even loudly declared that the only reason the City Lord's position would ever fall to Ye Han was because he himself didn't want it. Could it be that the City Lord had already quietly decided to pass the throne to Nie Li? That was explosive news. The young scions from various noble families looked back and forth between Ye Han and Nie Li, as though trying to divine something from the two of them.

In truth, even Ye Zong was feeling a bit vexed at this moment. He understood that his actions had planted a deep seed of resentment between himself and Ye Han.

Nie Li's behavior just now hadn't only been aimed at the Sacred Family — it had also been a warning to Ye Han.

Though Ye Han kept his composure on the surface, a layer of dark, inescapable gloom had settled over his heart. From the moment he'd entered the City Lord's Mansion and become Ye Zong's adopted son, Ye Han had known there was only one path for him: train relentlessly, push himself to the absolute limit, and become the next City Lord. If he failed — if Ye Ziyun or someone else took the position — his standing in the Wind Snow Family would become incredibly awkward. He could also sense that beyond his own master, the other elders of the Wind Snow Family harbored deep wariness toward him.

And just now, Nie Li had declared his intent to compete for the City Lord's position, and Ye Zong had not only failed to reprimand him but had actually stopped Shen Hong from making a move. The underlying meaning was crystal clear — Ye Zong would protect Nie Li! Could it be that Ye Zong intended to elevate Nie Li to the City Lord's throne?

Nie Li wasn't even a member of the family — he wasn't even a part of the Wind Snow Family. But Ye Han knew that with Ye Zong's impartial character, if someone had the ability to lead the City of Radiance, Ye Zong would back them regardless of bloodline. Just as he had once favored Ye Han himself!

Ye Han felt a deep and chilling threat emanating from Nie Li.

Watching Nie Li's domineering swagger, seeing how effortlessly he navigated between the various family heads, Huyan Lanruo's eyes were practically sparkling. How on earth did Nie Li manage that? She was absolutely enamored with him. Growing up, she'd always been a troublemaker, and whenever she caused a scene, she'd inevitably get lectured by her parents. But this guy Nie Li — even after stirring up trouble, he carried himself like the boss of everyone, and somehow nobody dared say a word to him. His level of troublemaking was at least a tier above hers!

"As expected of the man I like," Huyan Lanruo thought proudly.

Nie Li's gaze swept across the noble young men around him. Shen Fei and the others couldn't even meet his eyes and bowed their heads in succession. When you ran into someone this brazen, your spirit was already half-crushed. They might have the nerve to be cocky in normal situations, but would any of them dare tear up floor tiles at the City Lord's Mansion banquet?

Aside from Chen Linjian, Ye Han, and Huyan Lanruo, everyone else's presence was a full rank below Nie Li's.

Chen Linjian laughed out loud — he hadn't expected Nie Li to be such an amusing character. He was right up his alley.

"You've got guts, kid!" Chen Linjian winked at him. With his discerning eye, he could see perfectly well that everything Nie Li had done was deliberate. Every reaction from every family head in the hall had been exactly what Nie Li had anticipated.

Ye Han smiled with easy composure. "I've never had any intention of competing with anyone for the City Lord's position. I believe Sister Ziyun is the best candidate for the next City Lord. If she takes the role, I will devote everything I have to supporting her, even at the cost of my life. As for some outsider coveting the City Lord's throne — not only would I oppose it, the Wind Snow Family would never agree, and none of the noble families of the City of Radiance would accept it either!"

What a masterful move!

Nie Li's eyebrows lifted ever so slightly. Ye Han really wasn't someone to be trifled with. After everything Nie Li had just done in rapid succession, the man's emotions hadn't wavered in the slightest. His composure ran that deep.