Chapter 973: Shout at it, will it respond?

Everyone was stunned by the scene. How many years had it been since such a direct conflict occurred in Carefree Tower?

The key was that one of them was the son of Prime Minister Sun, and this outsider dared to directly confront him head-on?

Many people began to feel pity. Offending Sun Ji like this in Yijun was like "lighting a lantern in a latrine"—seeking death—unless you were the Crown Prince of Yan.

Some older individuals quietly advised the younger generation beside them, "Enduring for a moment brings calm, stepping back grants boundless possibilities. What that person just did might have felt good momentarily, but it will likely cost him his life. You must learn from this in the future."

Listening to the murmur of voices below, Sun Ji's head was buzzing. For a long while, he didn't realize what had happened until he felt something strange in his mouth. He instinctively spat out some things, then looked at his palm: a few broken teeth and a hand covered in blood.

"I was hit?" That was his first reaction, tinged with disbelief.

"I was actually hit, goddamn it!"

He finally snapped back to reality and erupted in fury, "Damn it, you're looking for death!"

Fury value from Sun Ji: 799799799...

As he spoke, he drew a saber from his side, channeled all his cultivation into it, and hurled it towards the opponent. His move, fueled by hatred, was clearly intended to kill.

Unfortunately, whether due to his insufficient cultivation or an invisible energy barrier, the saber flew near Zu An's private room before suddenly plummeting downwards, causing the guests below to quickly dodge and cry out in alarm.

"Is that all?" Many spectating guests below had been expecting a clash of titans, but they hadn't anticipated Sun Ji would be so weak.

With his level of cultivation, if it weren't for his father, he wouldn't even know how he died.

Many people thought this to themselves.

Sun Ji didn't understand what happened, wondering if his cultivation had been compromised after getting injured.

He felt both shame and rage. Considering the opponent seemed to be a sixth-rank cultivator, he dared not charge forward himself. He quickly glared at Yang Long beside him, "Why are you just standing there? I've been hit! Aren't you going to do something?"

Yang Long had been staring blankly at the shattered teacup on the floor, astonished that he hadn't seen how it flew.

Could the opponent be more than sixth-rank?

A hint of doubt arose in his mind.

But he quickly dismissed the idea. The opponent was so young; how high could his cultivation be? Most likely, the young master had stood too far forward, and he himself hadn't been prepared for the sudden attack, leading to the sneak assault.

Hearing Sun Ji's roar, he finally snapped back to attention. After nodding, he pushed off with his toes, soaring like a roc spreading its wings directly towards Zu An's private room.

Zu An narrowed his eyes, thinking that these local figures truly had a limited perspective, acting as they pleased with just a bit of cultivation.

Not to mention the son of the Sun family, even his father, or even the King of Yan himself, would have to be polite when they saw him. Could they possibly be more powerful than the King of Qi?

Just as he was about to make a move, a figure suddenly soared from behind the stage, directly meeting Yang Long's palm. With a forward push of the hand, Yang Long was sent flying backward to Sun Ji's side, while the other figure stood steadily on the balcony near Zu An's private room.

Only then did everyone get a clear look. The figure was a short, stout old man wearing a mask resembling a smiling Buddha. His clothes were embroidered with the Carefree Tower's emblem, clearly indicating he was a staff member.

"Ninth-rank!"

Many high-level cultivators were present, especially the black-robed man in the corner, whose pupils instantly contracted. They had sensed the person's cultivation level from the brief energy fluctuations during the recent exchange.

Yang Long was equally terrified, but he knew that the opponent had held back. Otherwise, if he had truly exchanged blows with a ninth-rank master, he would have died on the spot.

"￥#..." Sun Ji jumped out, pointing towards Zu An's room, seemingly accusing him of something. Unfortunately, with his missing teeth, his words were slurred, and no one could understand what he was saying.

Yang Long coughed, then stepped forward to translate for him, "Is Carefree Tower really going to protect him?"

Although the opponent was ninth-rank, Yang Long had the support of the Sun family and even the King of Yan, so he naturally wasn't intimidated.

The short, stout old man cupped his hands, "Carefree Tower has always strictly prohibited private fights between guests. We ask for Young Master Sun's and Mr. Yang's understanding."

He always spoke with a smile and a very friendly tone. Coupled with his status as a formidable ninth-rank master being so polite to them, it was difficult for Yang Long and the others to find fault.

Sun Ji had finally recovered by this point. Pointing to his bloodied mouth, he grumbled, "But when he made a move just now, why didn't you stop him?"

The short, stout old man's smile froze. The recent events had caught him off guard, and Zu An's strike seemed unusually fast, leaving him no time to react.

Now that the Sun family was pressing the issue, he naturally had to show some respect. He turned to look in Zu An's direction, "Esteemed guest, why did you strike someone in Carefree Tower?"

Zu An spread his hands, "You've got it all wrong! I didn't strike anyone. Perhaps some powerful figure in the hall couldn't stand the arrogance of Mr. Sun and secretly taught him a lesson?"

Hearing his words, Sun Ji almost fainted from rage. He was accustomed to twisting facts and watching others erupt in helpless fury when he bullied them. He never expected to be played by such a brazen trick himself.

Fury value from Sun Ji: 613613613...

"Nons... Nonsense!" Sun Ji, still lisping, pointed at Zu An and cursed, "The teacup clearly came from your direction!"

Zu An shrugged, "Everything requires evidence, otherwise I'll sue you for defamation. If you don't believe me, ask them. Did anyone see me throw it?"

The guests below all shook their heads. As the saying goes, "Each sweeps the snow from his own doorstep." When two jade-token guests were in conflict, none of them wanted to get involved unnecessarily. After all, receiving a jade token from Carefree Tower proved their status and position; they were not people anyone could offend.

Besides, Sun Ji was truly too arrogant and annoying; everyone was happy to see him humbled.

The short, stout old man from Carefree Tower had indeed seen the teacup shot from Zu An's room. However, his position meant he couldn't personally intervene. Otherwise, if he helped one jade-token guest against another, where would their impartiality be? Wouldn't it make all other guests feel insecure?

Yang Long said coldly, "I saw it with my own eyes!"

Zu An scoffed, "You're a thug kept by the Sun family, so of course you'd speak for your master. Even the yamen wouldn't accept your testimony."

"I..." Yang Long's chest heaved rapidly. He was a formidable seventh-rank master, and even Prime Minister Sun treated him with courtesy. Yet, this opponent described him as if he were a mere watchdog.

Fury value from Yang Long: 666666666...

Sun Ji pushed him aside and glared at Zu An, "You dog! You clearly did it, yet you're still here arguing?"

Fury value from Sun Ji: 459459459...

Watching his helpless rage, Zu An felt a surge of satisfaction. He was short on fury points, and it would be a shame not to completely strip him of them after his earlier arrogance. "My name isn't carved on that teacup, so how do you know it's mine? If I call its name, do you think it will answer me?"

With that, he deliberately called out to the teacup a few times, which, predictably, offered no response.

Sun Ji: "..."

Yang Long: "..."

All other guests: "..."

Everyone secretly wondered who this extraordinary person was. His shamelessness was even superior to Sun Ji's. Indeed, a bully always meets his match.

However, some astute individuals began to ponder. This person had so blatantly provoked the Sun family. If he wasn't foolish, then he must have something to rely on. Yet, judging by his appearance, he clearly wasn't a match for the Sun family's guard.

Sun Ji was about to explode with rage and let loose a torrent of curses when Yang Long stopped him. Being older, Yang Long possessed more composure. He looked at the short, stout old man from Carefree Tower, "Senior, what will Carefree Tower do if it's proven that he made the first move?"

The short, stout old man hesitated for a moment, but ultimately stated, "Carefree Tower strictly prohibits private fights. Anyone who strikes another will be expelled from Carefree Tower."

To maintain order, this was an iron rule of Carefree Tower. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, he could not show favoritism.

Yang Long nodded with satisfaction, "Very well then. Senior, please inspect his room. The number of teacups in each private room is fixed, and Carefree Tower's teacups are specially made, impossible for outsiders to counterfeit. As long as one teacup is missing from his room, it will prove that he made the move earlier."