Chapter 38: A specimen like this would be better off meeting me.

Mu Bai pulled Ye Xiao along, stopped Mu Xue from following them, and led the way to the Mu family's martial arts training ground.

Upon entering, Ye Xiao saw a crowd gathered in the center. Curious, Mu Bai squeezed through the onlookers with Ye Xiao in tow, only to discover a man and a woman engaged in a sparring match. They were trading blows, clearly enjoying the bout.

"Hey, Ye Xiao, who do you think will win?" Mu Bai asked, his interest piqued as he watched the fight.

Ye Xiao squinted, observing for a moment before saying, "The woman will win."

"Oh?" Mu Bai's eyes lit up. "Why is that?"

Ye Xiao smiled faintly. "Intuition."

Mu Bai rolled his eyes. "Do you think you're a woman? Only women have strong sixth senses."

Ye Xiao chuckled but said nothing. Just then, a voice called out to them.

"Mu Bai?"

The two turned to see a man and a woman approaching. The woman, dressed in a light white gown, walked in front with a radiant smile. The man followed close behind, his gaze toward Mu Bai dark and sullen. Sensing the man’s hostility, Ye Xiao leaned in and whispered, "Who are these two?"

"She is the young lady of the Han family," Mu Bai replied, looking somewhat awkward.

Ye Xiao realized instantly that this was Han Qi, the young lady of the Han family whom the Mu family had selected as Mu Bai’s fiancée.

"And who is that behind her?" Ye Xiao asked, unsettled by the man's gaze.

Mu Bai glanced at the man and said with a playful smirk, "Him? He’s the heir of a minor family named Bai Feng." His smile deepened as he added in a low voice, "He’s been chasing Han Qi for ages, but she doesn't care for him at all."

Ye Xiao smiled as well—a romantic rival, then. However, Bai Feng’s strength was not to be underestimated; he appeared to be around twenty and had already reached the fifth level of the Foundation Establishment Realm. In the Southern Frontier, that was considered quite impressive.

"Mu Bai! Why didn't you come find me as soon as you got back?" Han Qi hurried over to Mu Bai, a blush coloring her cheeks. Seeing this, Bai Feng’s face grew even darker.

Mu Bai smiled. "I was busy looking after a friend. Besides, there will be plenty of opportunities for us to meet later."

Han Qi blushed and nodded, then cast a friendly smile toward Ye Xiao, who politely nodded back.

"Young Master Mu Bai, it’s been so many years, yet you haven't changed a bit," Bai Feng suddenly interjected. His face wore a smile, but it looked entirely insincere.

As the young master of the Bai-Mu Chamber of Commerce, Mu Bai had no intention of bickering with the heir of a minor family. He simply offered a dismissive nod and remained silent. Seeing Mu Bai’s perfunctory response, Bai Feng’s expression soured instantly.

"Young Master Mu Bai, your cultivation doesn't seem to have made much progress. How about we have a sparring match? Perhaps I could offer you a pointer or two," Bai Feng said with a cold, menacing look.

Because of the cultivation technique Mu Bai practiced, his true power was hidden; no one present, including Bai Feng, could discern it. In Bai Feng's eyes, Mu Bai was merely at the initial stage of Foundation Establishment and stood no chance against him.

"Bai Feng! What are you doing?" Han Qi’s expression changed, and she shot him an annoyed look.

Seeing that Han Qi was scolding him for Mu Bai’s sake only fueled Bai Feng’s rage. He gritted his teeth and sneered, "Don't worry, Han Qi, I’ll hold back. Of course, if Young Master Mu Bai is too afraid, then consider it unsaid."

Mu Bai’s smile faded, replaced by a cold, stern expression. He stared at Bai Feng in silence. The crowd, sensing the tension, gathered closer, and the two original combatants stopped their sparring. These people were mostly Mu family disciples—distant relatives, perhaps, but fiercely loyal to one another.

One disciple, hearing Bai Feng’s mocking tone, burst out angrily, "Bai Feng! You are just the heir of a tiny Bai family, how dare you act so arrogant in our Mu residence!"

"Exactly! If you want to fight, I’ll take you on!"

Seeing the crowd’s indignation, Bai Feng laughed. "Hahaha, as expected of the sole heir of the Mu family’s main branch—what a grand display of power."

"You..." Someone started to protest, but Mu Bai raised a hand to stop them. He stepped forward, pulling Han Qi behind him, and asked with a smile, "Do you really want to cross me? Aren't you afraid your Bai family will be crushed by mine because of this?"

In the Southern Frontier, if the Mu family decided to suppress a clan, few could withstand the pressure. After all, the Mu family was absurdly wealthy.

Bai Feng’s expression faltered, but he quickly recovered. "I assume you, Young Master Mu Bai, are not so petty as that, right?"

Mu Bai smiled. "And what if I am?"

Bai Feng gritted his teeth, momentarily unable to speak. If his family suffered because of his actions, his father would surely beat him to death.

Mu Bai stared at him, then shook his head. "Sigh, bullying someone from a minor family like you is truly boring. But since you insist on a fight, I’ll play along!"

Bai Feng’s heart leaped with joy. How arrogant! A first-level Foundation Establishment cultivator challenging a fifth-level! He couldn't imagine how he could possibly lose, especially since Mu Bai’s reputation for being "useless" was well-known. When word had spread that Mu Bai had become a mere chore-servant at the Yin-Yang Academy, he had been a laughingstock for quite some time.

"Mu Bai, you... why did you agree to this?" Han Qi asked, tugging on his sleeve with worry.

"Exactly, Young Master, let me take your place!" echoed the disciple who had been sparring earlier, who was himself at the fourth level of the Foundation Establishment Realm.

Bai Feng watched this with a cold sneer. Once he defeated Mu Bai, the man would be humiliated beyond repair. After all, there were members of other families present—friends of the Mu disciples—and once news of Mu Bai’s defeat spread, it would be known throughout the entire city.

Mu Bai patted Han Qi’s hand, gave the other disciples a reassuring look, and turned to Bai Feng. "Shall we?"

Seeing that Mu Bai was determined, the others reluctantly stepped back, clearing a space. Bai Feng pulled out a heavy blade that shimmered with a cold, sharp light in the sun—clearly no ordinary weapon.

"Wait!"

Ye Xiao suddenly spoke up. All eyes turned to him, and seeing a stranger, they looked puzzled.

"What is it?" Mu Bai asked curiously.

Ye Xiao stepped forward to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Mu Bai, but his gaze remained fixed on Bai Feng with a brilliant, sunny smile.

"Senior Brother Mu Bai, why should you bother getting your hands dirty with trash like this? Why don't I handle him instead?"