Chapter 35

Seemingly noticing the gazes of the crowd, Shen Jianfeng threw the cup on the table and walked out with the wine jar in his hand.

As he walked, he mumbled in a slurred voice, "What does it matter to you whether I win or lose? I advise you, don't keep putting the word 'waste' in your mouths, or you'll end up being even less than waste... burp, and then you'll regret it."

"Ha ha ha, looking at Shen Jianfeng, the rumors are indeed true. So, congratulations to your Shen family, another waste... oh, no, a genius has emerged..." Xu Ping laughed out loud.

"Xu Ping, don't be too arrogant. Whether Shen Jianfeng was defeated by that waste is still uncertain. Our Shen family hasn't even acknowledged that person as a waste. Don't keep bringing him up..." Shen Fengyun said angrily.

"Did you invite me here just to listen to this nonsense? If so, I'll take my leave." A cold female voice interrupted Shen Fengyun. The speaker was a young girl with a cold expression but extraordinary beauty, Chu Xiuer, the cousin of Chu Qincheng from the Chu family.

"Hehehe, Miss Xiuer still has that temper." A young man in fine clothes, who had been smiling and silent, laughed and said, "The reason I gathered everyone here is to announce a message from my father. In a month, our City Lord's Mansion will hold a martial arts competition. Besides the young talents from the City Lord's Mansion and the four major families of Tianfeng City, young talents from other families or forces can also sign up. This competition has been held before, but this time, it will be very different... I can't say how different it will be."

"How different? Young Master Tian, don't keep us in suspense. Your father is the City Lord's most trusted aide; you must know all the inside information. Come, let me toast you first!" Xiao Qiyun said with shining eyes.

"Indeed, indeed, Young Master Tian, we brothers rely on you for help. Please give us some inside information!" Xu Ping said with a smile.

The young man called "Young Master Tian" was Tang Chaotian, whose father was the head of the City Lord's Mansion guards, a position of great power in Tianfeng City.

Tang Chaotian said smugly, "In previous years, the competition was mainly for the City Lord's Mansion to recruit young talents. This time, it's very different. A major sect will come to our Tianfeng City to recruit disciples. You understand, right?"

"Wow, that's great news!"

The entire second floor of the Tianfeng Wine House was in an uproar.

The City Lord's Mansion was considered a Qingmu-level force. If Tang Chaotian said a major sect, it must be at least a Xuantie-level force.

"Will it be the Jintai Sect, the Xiefeng Valley, or the Dacheng Sect? Or perhaps the more distant Shengguang Sect?" Shen Fengyun said excitedly.

Tang Chaotian enjoyed the attention and flattery for a while before saying, "None of them. Hehe, you're all like frogs at the bottom of a well... You'll know when the time comes. For now... I can't say."

"Hehe, I believe this competition will be very exciting... Speaking of which, the waste from the Shen family, Shen Lang, suddenly burst out and defeated Shen Jianfeng. I wonder if your Shen family will let that waste participate in this competition?" Xu Ping cleverly steered the conversation back to Shen Lang.

"Xu Ping, what do you mean! Shen Lang, though he bears the surname Shen, is not one of us! Our Shen family has countless elite disciples; how could we let a waste take the stage!" Shen Fengyun said through gritted teeth.

Ever since the Shen family produced such a waste, they had been mocked by the other families. In almost any setting, they would be ridiculed.

Now, Xu Ping's words clearly mocked the lack of talent in the younger generation of the Shen family, implying that they would have to rely on a waste to save face.

"Ah, just a waste at the second level of the Force Martial Realm. Why should anyone get upset over such a person? I've heard the rumors about him defeating Shen Jianfeng, but they're not credible. Rumors spread and become exaggerated, often far from the truth," Tang Chaotian said calmly.

"A waste is a waste. How could a waste without a martial soul suddenly become so powerful and defeat Shen Jianfeng, who is already at the third level of the Qi Martial Realm? It seems Young Master Tian is right. In a few days, our family will have a competition, and I really want to see how many moves that waste can last against me..." Shen Fengyun paused, looking out the window.

His position was by the window, so he could see everything on the street clearly.

When the others saw his strange expression, they stood up and looked out, only to see the waste they had just mentioned, Shen Lang, walking slowly down the street.

In their eyes, Shen Lang was still the same, walking neither fast nor slow, his gaze straight ahead.

However, after some time, they noticed that he had changed slightly. Shen Lang's face was now more defined, and he looked much more mature. His dark eyes were deep and mysterious, as if they could easily see through a person's heart, and beneath his calm demeanor, there was a sense of unwavering determination...

"Hehe, I didn't expect the waste to show up so quickly... Hey, Shen Lang, come up and have a drink!" Tang Chaotian called out.

As soon as Tang Chaotian spoke, several faces appeared at the second-floor window, including a few familiar to Shen Lang.

However, at this moment, they all looked down at him with mocking expressions.

"Jiaotian," Shen Lang said, uttering a name.

He knew that Tang Chaotian, though not particularly talented, had a powerful father in the City Lord's Mansion, making him a figure of influence. Despite being only at the sixth level of the Force Martial Realm, he was still a target of flattery from various families.

"Humph," Shen Fengyun snorted. He didn't want Shen Lang to come up because he knew Tang Chaotian had no good intentions and would only mock him.

Even if it was just mocking Shen Lang, the other families would definitely use him to pressure the Shen family.

However, since Tang Chaotian had spoken, he couldn't say anything. He couldn't afford to offend him.

Shen Lang glanced at the faces of the group by the window, smiled coldly, and walked directly into the Tianfeng Wine House.

In the past, in such a situation, he would have had to endure and walk away.

But now, he didn't want to, nor did he need to.

Whoever tried to cause him trouble, he would make them regret it!

Shen Lang didn't seek trouble, but whoever came to him would surely regret it!

In the past, he endured because he lacked the strength and didn't want to cause trouble for his parents.

But now, Shen Lang was confident he could become even stronger and protect his parents.

At least in this Tianfeng City, no one could threaten his family!

When Shen Lang walked up to the second floor, he scanned the room and smiled.

There were over twenty people sitting at the tables on the second floor, mostly young people of similar age, representing the elite of various families in Tianfeng City.

None of them acknowledged Shen Lang's arrival. They all sat in their seats, sipping their drinks and chatting, completely ignoring him.

Tang Chaotian, who had invited Shen Lang to drink, sat there, looking at him with a mocking smile.

Shen Lang smiled, pulled a chair over, and was about to sit down when a servant-like figure blocked him.

"Rude! Is this a place for you to sit? My young master hasn't given you permission. What right do you have to sit down!" The servant said, lifting his foot to step on the chair.

"Oh? So, inviting me up for a drink was just to mock me?" Shen Lang smiled, a bright smile.

When Tang Chaotian and the others saw his smile, they were momentarily stunned, then their faces turned fiercely angry.

"What are you? What right do you have to sit here? What right do you have to be on equal footing with me?" Tang Chaotian shouted, "Mock you? Do you even have the right to be mocked?"

The servant, who had his foot on the chair, patted Shen Lang's chest mockingly and said, "Kid, don't you understand? My young master means you don't even have the right to be mocked. He's just looking for some entertainment for this drinking session, and you're lucky to be here."

"Ha ha ha ha!" Everyone burst into laughter, some even laughing so hard they fell over, tears streaming down their faces.

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