243: Chapter 243 I Can't Swallow This Injustice

"Brother Tianchen, that display of Alchemical Fire generation you just performed—Mingcheng and I were both stunned watching from the back!"

Changming Lingxi said, turning to wave toward the veranda, "Mingcheng, hurry up, what are you dawdling for!"

At the end of the veranda, Sun Mingcheng strolled over unhurriedly.

He was still holding that jade-boned folding fan, and today he had changed into a moon-white robe, making him look even more spirited than he had a few days ago.

He walked up to Zhou Tianchen, closed his fan, bowed, and offered a helpless smile: "Miss Lingxi is impatient by nature, Brother Tianchen, please don't take offense."

Zhou Tianchen waved his hand, his gaze sweeping over the two of them, noticing that their auras had changed subtly since three days ago.

The Alchemical Fire fluctuation around Changming Lingxi was more harmonious, while Sun Mingcheng's aura was more composed and reserved; it was clear that both had benefited significantly from discussing the Dao of Alchemy in the quiet room behind the dojo over the past three days.

"You two haven't wasted these past three days." Zhou Tianchen smiled slightly.

"That goes without saying." Changming Lingxi lifted her chin, her tone tinged with a hint of pride.

"Although this fellow Mingcheng likes to slack off sometimes, he actually has quite a bit of Comprehension Ability when he gets serious. My grandfather said his foundation is already very solid; with a few more years of practical experience, a Breakthrough to the Profound Rank is just around the corner."

Sun Mingcheng shook his head with a bitter smile but did not refute her.

Just as he was about to say something, his brows twitched slightly, and his gaze drifted over Zhou Tianchen's shoulder, landing on a figure amidst the crowd that had not yet dispersed in the hall.

Although his expression didn't change drastically, his fingers tightened unconsciously around his folding fan.

Zhou Tianchen noticed his anomaly and looked in the direction of his gaze.

He saw Zheng Lingfeng standing in a forward position in the hall, holding that newly replaced jade-boned folding fan.

Beside him, Mu Mingfeng stood with his hands behind his back, his expression indifferent, his reserved and deep eyes observing this side without a sound.

Zheng Lingfeng had not come to listen to the lecture today for the sake of Great Master Changming's Dao of Alchemy.

The incident where he lost the fire phoenix pendant on the third floor of Bafang Pavilion, and then being toyed with by Sun Mingcheng and Lu Jinghan at Liuli Plaza, were like thorns stuck in his heart, making him feel disgraced whenever he walked about Huaiyang City these days.

He had specifically dragged Mu Mingfeng along to listen to the lecture today, intending to use the influence of the Mu Family to suppress the Sun Family's prestige, but he hadn't found a suitable opportunity during the lecture just now.

Now, seeing Sun Mingcheng walk out from behind the dojo with Changming Lingxi by his side, the long-smoldering, nameless fire in his heart flared up instantly.

"Yo, isn't this Second Young Master Sun?" Zheng Lingfeng strode forward, strolling slowly toward Sun Mingcheng with an undisguised, sarcastic tone.

"How come I didn't see you when listening to the lecture in the hall just now? I thought you didn't dare to come."

Sun Mingcheng's expression was calm; he opened his folding fan and waved it gently, his tone neither servile nor overbearing: "Third Young Master Zheng, you are too kind. I have been in the quiet room behind the dojo discussing the Dao of Alchemy with Miss Lingxi for the past few days and have not left Yuelan Dojo."

"Discussing the Dao of Alchemy?" Zheng Lingfeng sneered, his gaze sweeping back and forth between Sun Mingcheng and Changming Lingxi. He tapped his folding fan against his palm, his tone becoming increasingly frivolous.

"Second Young Master Sun certainly knows how to pick a spot. This Yuelan Dojo is quiet and elegant, and with a beautiful lady for company, it is indeed much better than wandering around outside."

Changming Lingxi frowned and was about to retort, but Sun Mingcheng raised his hand to stop her, signaling that she need not get angry.

He looked at Zheng Lingfeng, the smile on his face unchanged, but the sharpness in his eyes was even more intense than before: "Third Young Master Zheng, having Young Master Mu for company today, you must have had a worthwhile trip."

"I just wonder if you have found a suitable replacement for the fire phoenix pendant lost at Bafang Pavilion last time? If not, I happen to know a few Artifact Refiners and could introduce them to you, Third Young Master Zheng."

As soon as these words were spoken, Zheng Lingfeng's face sank instantly.

The fire phoenix pendant was the greatest pain in his heart. That time on the third floor of Bafang Pavilion, he not only lost the Magic Treasure but was also dragged back to the Zheng Family by his father in front of everyone, losing all face.

Sun Mingcheng bringing up old matters now was no different from rubbing salt into his wounds, and for a moment, he could not find words to refute.

Just then, Mu Mingfeng, who had been silent, suddenly stepped forward, his gaze landing on Sun Mingcheng before shifting to Zhou Tianchen.

It lingered for a moment on the xuanhuang key at Zhou Tianchen's waist before finally resting on Sun Mingcheng's face. He bowed slightly, his tone polite yet distant:

"This must be the Second Young Master of the Sun Family. I have long heard of you. I am Mu Mingfeng of the Mu Family. If Brother Zheng has offended you in his speech just now, I hope Young Master Sun will be magnanimous. As for those minor matters—"

Mu Mingfeng chuckled: "There will be plenty of opportunities to settle them slowly in the future."

Mu Mingfeng's words were carefully worded, and his tone was perfectly pitched; if one didn't carefully ponder the deeper meaning, it would really seem like a Young Master of a prestigious family smoothing things over for a friend.

But none of the people present were fools—that line "There will be plenty of opportunities to settle them slowly in the future," combined with the calm and composed smile on his face as he said it, carried a threat so thick it was almost overflowing.

Sun Mingcheng waved his folding fan and returned the bow, his smile unchanged: "Young Master Mu is too kind. It is just a minor misunderstanding between myself and Third Young Master Zheng; there is no need to trouble yourself, Young Master Mu."

Although he spoke with airy indifference, his fingers gripping the fan tightened imperceptibly.

He knew better than anyone how vast the Mu Family's influence was in the Central Plains. Mu Mingfeng's words seemed to be smoothing things over, but in reality, they were telling him that Zheng Lingfeng had the Mu Family backing him, and the Sun Family had better weigh their options.

Mu Mingfeng smiled slightly and did not continue the conversation.

He withdrew his gaze, gave Zheng Lingfeng a look, and turned to walk out of the hall.

Before leaving, Zheng Lingfeng glared fiercely at Sun Mingcheng once more, slapped his folding fan heavily against his palm, and then hurried to catch up with Mu Mingfeng.

The two of them exited the gate of Yuelan Dojo and headed east along the bluestone alley in the south of the city, arriving before long at a refined courtyard belonging to the Zheng Family in the West City.

This refined courtyard did not cover a large area, but it was arranged quite exquisitely.

With green tiles and white walls, winding paths and verandas, and a clear spring stream diverted to flow through the hall, the gurgling water complemented by a few clusters of bamboo in the corner of the wall gave it a touch of elegance, finding tranquility amidst the noise.

Zheng Lingfeng led Mu Mingfeng to sit in the pavilion in the courtyard, and after the maidservant served two cups of spiritual tea, she was waved away.

Zheng Lingfeng had been holding it in the whole way; now that there were no outsiders around, he could no longer hold back.

He slammed the teacup heavily onto the stone table, splashing a few drops of tea, and gritted his teeth: "Brother Mingfeng, you saw it too; that brat Sun Mingcheng is increasingly disregarding my Zheng Family."

"Last time he swindled my fire phoenix pendant at Bafang Pavilion, and this time he used that incident to disgust me right in front of you. There is no way I can swallow this insult!"