Chapter 100: You Are Too Young

Mu Haoyu showed no intention of shaking hands with Lin Yi, his tone carrying a trace of arrogance as he said, "Hello, I am Mu Haoyu. I assume you wouldn't mind making my acquaintance?"

"Mm, hello," Lin Yi replied with indifference.

He recalled that Mu Hanyu from the Martial Arts Association also shared the surname Mu, and the two bore a slight resemblance, though he did not know if they were related.

Seeing Lin Yi’s attitude, Mu Haoyu’s expression darkened slightly. As the second heir to the Mu family and a recognized prodigy, he was used to others fawning over him. Taking the initiative to greet someone only to be met with a cold shoulder was a first.

However, in such a setting, he could not afford to lose his temper. With a cold laugh, he remarked, "Your friend here certainly has quite a personality."

Pei Wanting shot Lin Yi a glare, thinking to herself that not only was he arrogant, but he also lacked any social awareness. Had she known, she wouldn't have brought him inside.

"Young Master Mu, please don't mind him."

After speaking, Deng Mengqi gave Lin Yi’s sleeve a subtle tug, signaling him to be less aloof and show a bit more enthusiasm.

Lin Yi, however, acted as if he hadn't noticed, picking up a cream pudding and tasting it.

His demeanor caused Mu Haoyu’s expression to sink once more. He mocked, "The buffet here is prepared by chefs from five-star hotels; it's no wonder Brother Lin is so enamored."

His implication was clear: he was painting Lin Yi as a bumpkin who had never tasted anything fine before. Both women were not stupid; they naturally understood the jab.

Fearing that the two might clash, Deng Mengqi took the initiative to say, "Young Master Mu, let’s go over there and chat."

"Mm, let's go." Mu Haoyu nodded, giving Lin Yi a cold, sinister glare before leaving.

Lin Yi felt no ripples in his heart as they departed. His relationship with Deng Mengqi and Pei Wanting was merely a chance encounter. If they left, he was only too happy to enjoy the peace.

A few minutes later, Lin Yi received a call from Zhang Xinyi, asking for his current location.

Before long, a woman in a red evening gown approached with long strides. She had exquisite features, skin like polished jade, and a pair of large, vibrant eyes. This woman was Zhang Xinyi, a beauty whose appearance was in no way inferior to Angel’s. Her unique status meant that her arrival immediately drew everyone's attention.

"Mr. Lin, my grandfather is waiting for you in the main hall," Zhang Xinyi said with a radiant smile.

"Mm, let's go," Lin Yi said calmly.

As the two left the courtyard, the guests watching were surprised.

"Isn't that the little princess of the Zhang family? Who is that man behind her? He looks so unfamiliar."

"Never seen him before. Looking at how he’s dressed, he doesn't look like he’s here to offer birthday wishes."

"I just saw the little princess of the Zhang family smile at him. Dammit, I'm so envious."

Those in the dark whispered among themselves, filled with envy, jealousy, and resentment.

However, some others turned pale. These were the families or martial artists who had been present at the resource competition. The memory of Lin Yi knocking out Qiao Weiliang in just a few moves still played in their minds like a movie.

Deng Mengqi and Pei Wanting were also taken aback; they hadn't expected Lin Yi to know Zhang Xinyi. It was no wonder he had been so confident, unafraid of Tao Chengye’s influence, and indifferent to Mu Haoyu.

A flash of malice crossed Mu Haoyu's eyes as he crushed the wine glass in his hand to pieces.

Completely ignoring the crowd, Lin Yi followed Zhang Xinyi to a quaint, antique-style building. The living room was filled with over a dozen people, all heads of major families.

Elder Zhang sat in the seat of honor. Seeing Lin Yi walk in, he hurriedly stood up to welcome him: "Mr. Lin, you’ve arrived."

"Mm," Lin Yi nodded.

No one felt offended by his attitude; on the contrary, they believed that a true master should act exactly like this.

"Mr. Lin, please, take a seat," Elder Zhang said, offering his own place of honor.

"No need, you are the guest of honor today," Lin Yi shook his head.

"Then, this old man will not stand on ceremony."

Elder Zhang cupped his hands in a salute before carefully sitting down.

"Everyone, please be seated," Lin Yi said, choosing a random spot.

Only then did the others dare to sit. After all, Lin Yi was a grandmaster; who would dare put on airs in front of him?

Watching Lin Yi chat and laugh with the various clan leaders, Zhang Xinyi’s beautiful eyes grew increasingly filled with admiration. After chatting for a while, Lin Yi felt bored. Most of these people were discussing business matters.

Elder Zhang had brought him here, in truth, to use Lin Yi’s reputation to intimidate the other major families and, in the process, carve out more territory for the Zhang family. Lin Yi understood this, but he didn't raise any objections, as he also had things he needed from the Zhang family. Their arrangement could be considered mutually beneficial.

With his purpose achieved, Lin Yi found an excuse and walked away. Zhang Xinyi hurried to catch up, which made Lin Yi feel a bit impatient.

"Do you not need to attend to your guests?" Lin Yi asked.

Zhang Xinyi naturally heard the impatience in his voice and felt a small sting of resentment. Was she, a great beauty, really that unlikable?

"No need. There are so many people from the Zhang family here; one less won't matter. My task is to attend to Mr. Lin. If you have any needs, you can tell me," Zhang Xinyi said.

"Any needs?" Lin Yi raised an eyebrow, looking Zhang Xinyi up and down.

Zhang Xinyi subconsciously stepped back, saying, "Mr. Lin, don't get the wrong idea. If you have needs of that nature, I... I can find a few girls for you."

For a young woman to say such a thing—even with Zhang Xinyi’s spirited personality—she was incredibly shy.

Lin Yi was speechless. He hadn't asked for any girls; did he really look that starved? That shouldn't be the case.

"No need. And don't follow me," Lin Yi waved his hand and strode away.

He simply didn't want Zhang Xinyi tagging along. Ideally, he wanted to spend the rest of the banquet in peace. He had only spent a short time with Deng Mengqi and Pei Wanting, and he had already provoked someone. If Zhang Xinyi followed him as well, he feared he might end up becoming the enemy of the entire younger generation of Shan Province.

Though Lin Yi was not afraid, he preferred to avoid trouble. Being pestered by a swarm of flies every day made him worry that one day he might lose his patience and swat them all dead.

Thinking Lin Yi was angry, Zhang Xinyi bit her lip, her face flushing as she said, "Mr. Lin, then... I can keep you company tonight."

Lin Yi paused, turned back, and said, "You are too young. And hereafter, do not say such things in my presence."

Shaking his head, Lin Yi tapped his toe and left, leaving only a lingering afterimage that slowly dissipated.

Zhang Xinyi stood there with a dark expression, stamping her foot in frustration. "Damn it! How am I too young?"

She was quite confident in her figure—curvaceous and tall—and she lost count of how many suitors came to propose each year. But in truth, Lin Yi’s comment about her being "too young" referred only to her age. By his count, he could have been her great-great-grandfather’s great-great-grandfather. Even if his appearance remained forever young, his heart had long since grown indifferent to all things. Aside from the rarest of matters that could stir his emotions, he handled everything with cold detachment.

Lin Yi sat in a corner for a while longer, and before he knew it, it was noon. The birthday banquet for Elder Zhang officially began. With the arrival of Elder Zhang and the other major families, the banquet reached its climax.

However, at that moment...

A burly man walked into the courtyard. On his back was a 1.3-meter-long broadsword, which glinted with a chilling, ominous light in the sun.

The arrival of this man caused the atmosphere of the lively banquet to turn eerie. Anyone with eyes could see that he was not here to attend a birthday party; it was much more likely he was here to stir up trouble. No one would bring such a massive blade to a birthday celebration.

Elder Zhang’s expression darkened, and he said in a booming voice, "May I ask who you are?"

The man looked sharply at Zhang Xinyi beside the Elder and said in a deep voice, "Mo Cangqin!"

At the mention of that name, several of the family factions began to stir. Although the Mo family’s reputation was not well-known among commoners, to martial artists, it was a name that commanded fear. They were an transcendent power in Shan Province, boasting several grandmasters and a lineage famous for weapon forging.

A flash of surprise crossed Elder Zhang’s eyes. Their Zhang family had absolutely no ties to the Mo family. Even if the Zhang family were to become the top family, with the Mo family’s strength, they had no reason to take the Zhang family seriously.

"Grandfather."

Zhang Xinyi whispered a few words into the Elder’s ear. Upon hearing them, the Elder’s face changed drastically. He hurried to say to a woman beside him, "What are you standing there for? Don't you see we need to offer a seat?"

"No need. I’ve come here today to wipe out the Zhang family," Mo Cangqin said with a grin, speaking of the extermination as if it were a trivial matter.

The guests were struck with terror at his words.

"I don't know how our Zhang family has offended you," Elder Zhang said, trying to maintain his composure.

"Didn't that little girl tell you? Who told you to get so close to that Lin Yi?" As he spoke, Mo Cangqin unslung the massive blade from his back.

*Bang.*

The sword hit the ground, easily sinking three centimeters into the floor. The consequences of such a blade landing on a person were too gruesome to imagine.

Mo Cangqin crooked his finger and said, "Where is that Lin Yi? Tell him to crawl out here. Isn't he looking for ore from me? I’m right here waiting for him."

At the time, Lin Yi had only slightly altered his appearance and not his physique; if one looked closely, his identity could still be deduced.

"Who do you think you are, showing such arrogance in the Zhang household?" someone shouted, wanting to curry favor with the Zhang family.

The Mo family’s reputation was primarily among martial artists; commoners knew little of them. Just as the man finished speaking, a white flash crossed the air, followed by a wet *thwack*—a red line appeared across his throat. Three seconds later, the man’s head tilted, and his heavy skull rolled onto the ground, his eyes wide with disbelief.

Silence. No one expected this man to be so brutal, or that he was truly here to kill.

"Ah!"

A scream pierced the air, and the guests scattered in a panic like birds and beasts.

Mo Cangqin licked his lips. *Swish, swish*—two more cold flashes, and several more people were cleaved in two, the scene turning extremely bloody.

"Shut up, all of you! If anyone tries to run again, don't blame my blade for being heartless," Mo Cangqin’s voice, imbued with internal energy, echoed through the entire courtyard.

After witnessing the cold-blooded massacre, everyone was too afraid to move. Seeing the crowd so obedient, Mo Cangqin smiled with satisfaction. He looked at Elder Zhang and laughed, "I'll give you one minute. If Lin Yi doesn't come out, I will kill everyone here."

The members of the ten great families gasped. Could the Mo family really be planning to make an enemy of the entire Shan Province? Others looked at each other, their faces filled with terror.

"Who the hell is Lin Yi? Get out here, don't drag us down with you!"

"What kind of person is he, to offend the Mo family and then expect us to be his scapegoats?"

The crowd was filled with righteous indignation, all wishing they could drag Lin Yi out and hand him over to Mo Cangqin directly.

Just then, a voice came from the corner: "I hadn't come looking for you, yet you’ve sought me out yourself."