There was an ominous expression as Bai Yunfei stalked forwards, his eyes looking at the tearful young woman in front of him. Comforting her with a smile, he spoke, “Fang Tianmeng, what are you doing here, and what is happening?”

This young woman was one of his students, the youngest one there, Fang Tianmeng!

Seemingly bolstered in courage by the smile of his, she rubbed at the tears on her face, “Instructor Bai, I….”

But before she could explain the situation, the coa.r.s.e voice of Cao Jun interrupted her, a dangerous glint in his eyes as he stared Bai Yunfei down, “How dare you you brat!? Don’t poke your nose in where it doesn’t belong! Keep out or you’ll regret it!!”

Bai Yunfei held a hand up to stop Fang Tianmeng from speaking so he could turn to Cao Jun. He didn’t need her to say it since he heard what was going on more or less. Cao Jun was a man who was abusing his station to bully those weaker than him. A common scenario Bai Yunfei saw many times before.

Eyeing the other people with Cao Jun, Bai Yunfei then spoke, “What did you say?”

With his strength, there was no way Cao Jun would be able to see how strong Bai Yunfei was. “I’m saying you should keep your nose out!” He snorted, “I see this girl, I want this girl. If you know what’s best for you, get the f*ck out!!”

Bai Yunfei leaned back to look at Zheng Kai incredulously, “Are people like him….common?”

He was answered with a shake of his head. “Not at all. I’ve never seen anyone as arrogant as him.”

Though many battles were fought here, most of them were generally only verbal or settled out in the ring. Zheng Kai was a frequent visitor of this place and yet even he rarely saw matters such as this.

The mediators of the place had already taken notice of the conflict going on here and stood on standby to intervene if need be. If Cao Jun tried to take Fang Tianmeng away, they’d immediately step in to stop him, but now that Zheng Kai was here, they stepped back, knowing that Zheng Kai would settle this himself.

Zheng Kai turned to look at Cao Jun, who was bridling with anger already. “Hey, you there. Which family are you from? I’ve never seen you before, don’t you think you’re being too arrogant?”

Cao Jun blew his top. “Who are you?! Why are you sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong? I’ve the right to be arrogant, if you know what’s good for you, scram or I’ll turn you into a cripple!!”

Wide-eyed, Zheng Kai pointed a finger to himself, “Do you not know who I am?!”

He wasn’t wrong to look surprised. There weren’t many in the Capital that didn’t know who he was. Blinking a few times, he asked, “Are you an outsider then?”

Harrumphing, Cao Jun spoke, “I am the young master of the house of Cao in Baishan City. I came to the Capital for some fun, how bout it? What’s it to you?! I’m warning you, even if you’re the local boss here, you can’t go against the regional boss!!”

Bai Yunfei couldn’t but bark with laughter, casting a mirthful look over to Zheng Kai, “You hear that? Seems like you’ve come across a brave one, ‘local boss’!”

Zheng Kai smirked and shrugged his shoulders as if powerless, “Yeah, can’t interfere in this as the ‘local boss’. You deal with this Yunfei. Feel free to do whatever you want.”

Zheng Kai didn’t care for some empty-headed second generational that had more arrogance than sense. Retreating to the side, he folded his arms to watch the show.

But Cao Jun took this as a sign of cowardice. Sneering, he turned to look at Bai Yunfei with a dark look. “Break his arms and feet first and we’ll leave with the girl!!” He commanded his soldiers.

A decent sum of people were gathering here to watch the spectacle. Having no desire to stay behind to be a part of said spectacle, Cao Jun wanted to leave, but he first had to deal with the impertinent ones.

The elderly person behind him decided then to speak up, “Young master,” he whispered to Cao Jun’s ear, “this is the Capital and not Baishan City. This old slave thinks we should try to avoid conflict and leave at once….”

But Cao Jun dismissed his words angrily, “Are you the master here or am I?! I don’t need you to tell me anything!!”

The old man’s face grew listless, but he didn’t bat an eye and said nothing more.

Still incensed to fight, Cao Jun glared at Bai Yunfei, “Come on and let"s settle this, brat!”

    ……

In a large building to the east of the Capital, a large group of people was coming out with Cao Jun leading the front with a swagger. Fang Tianmeng and Ye Yu followed shortly behind, Ye Yu slightly injured still, but looking slightly better than before with Fang Tianmeng supporting him. Behind the two of them was a calm looking Bai Yunfei with the guards of Cao Jun all around him, as if afraid he’d run.

As for Zheng Kai, he was following the group from behind with his hands on his head as if to watch the procession.

It was already turning dark now, but there was still some light to the day left. The group continued to walk towards a dark alleyway before Cao Jun came to a stop.

Smiling predatorily at Bai Yunfei as a cat would at a mouse, Cao Jun started to mock them, “Following me so obediently all the way here must be proof of your ignorance. Or maybe I should say you’re a brave one??”

He stared lasciviously at Fang Tianmeng, “I’ll be taking away the pretty girl, but as for you two….”

He gestured at Bai Yunfei and Ye Yu, “Break off an arm and leg!”

Bai Yunfei narrowed his eyes, wondering just where in the world this guy had found all this arrogance from. Smiling to Fang Tianmeng to rea.s.sure her, he said, “Don’t be afraid. As long as I’m here, nothing will happen to you. Just wait a moment and you may return home.”

Fang Tianmeng nodded, “I believe in you, instructor Bai….” came her quiet response.

She had in truth been completely comforted the moment Bai Yunfei appeared, as if she had the utmost faith in him.

“Good. You two wait over there, I’ll take care of these annoyances very quickly. “Bai Yunfei pointed to the wall to their right just far away enough to avoid any potential damage.

His cavalier att.i.tude annoyed Cao Jun. Snapping a finger at him, the man shouted, “Hurry up and cripple him!!”

The five Soul Ancestor guards he had snapped to attention and leapt straight for Bai Yunfei at once, as if normal for them. But then the moment they stepped forward, Bai Yunfei had….disappeared!

“Young master, watch out!!”

The elderly man behind Cao Jun cried out in bewilderment. His body flashed with purple light as he flashed forward with his left hand to grab and pull Cao Jun behind him by the shoulder. Elemental lightning flowed around his right hand as he lashed outwards.

This old man was….a peak late-stage Soul Exalt!