Facing the crowds, contrary to being sad, Xia Puyang felt relieved when seeing so many people were here again.

Last time, he had no control of things, but this time was different, for he had finally found a reason to sever his ties with them!

Xia Puyang used to have too many concerns that held him back, but it was different this time. “It seems that Mo has got more friends and knowledge,” thought Xia Puyang.

“This time around, I will promise him all the things that I’ve failed altogether,” thought Xia Puyang.

“Father said Mo is destined to become somebody eventually. Though that still seems a bit far away from now, it’s safe to say that he is becoming increasingly promising and independent,” thought Xia Puyang.

Xu Chao, “Patriarch Xia, I don’t think we need to state the purpose of our visits, for you already knew well about that.”

Smiling warmly, Xia Puyang stood up with his hands in the back without showing any signs of worries or anger on his face. But the more at ease Xia Puyang seemed to be, the more the others would speculate about the precariousness of his position. Some would even be bold enough to assert that it would be no problem for them to conquer the imperial clan of Zither today.

They would be more than happy to do just that.

Xia Puyang replied, “Oh, I really don’t know why there are so many people here. What’s so important? It’s because our apprentices have hurt someone?”

He replied with a circumlocution, which threw their question back at them. The others were clear that they would not prevail over Xia Puyang when it comes to reasoning, so they made clear their purpose in coming.

Xu Chao, “Our people reported that Xia Pumo returned to your clan with Murong Zhe, a wanted and monstrous man. Are you shielding them now?”

“It seems that they are attacking us with an excuse about Mo. Would they ever get over it?” thought Xia Puyang.

“And why is that your business?” asked Xia Puyang.

“That has everything to do with us,” thought Xu Chao.

Xu Chao acted as if he had already succeeded. “Do you really think that is not our business, Patriarch Xia?” asked Xu Chao.

Xia Puyang, “I know nothing of the sort.”

The Xia’s of The imperial clan of Zither, the Xu’s of the imperial clan of Sword, the Yang’s of the imperial clan of Boxing, and the Yue’s of the imperial clan of Shadow were the most renowned clans in the world of cultivators. Though there were also countless clans of various sizes, the imperial clan of Zither was always the top one. If they had not caught Xia Pumo red-handed when he was summoning Murong Zhe’s spirit, the Xu’s of the imperial clan of Sword could never have been the top one.

“You don’t know? That’s has everything to do with us. Do you know how many people’s lives and troubles that man has caused? Also, did you forget how your father died? I don’t suppose you’ve forgotten about that after only a few years,” said Xu Chao.

The death of his father was always the pain in the back for Xia Puyang. But he managed to stay clam when Xu Chao brought that up and kept his friendly veneer. But deep down, Xia Puyang was enraged with clenched fists.

“I don’t think we can resolve this peacefully today,” thought Xia Puyang.

The patriarch of the imperial clan of Boxing was irritated when Xia Puyang and Xu Chao minced their words and did not go straight to the point. He stood up and shouted, “Stop rubbishing and just rush in! Why is that so difficult?”

Though he shouted out loud to the others, he fixed his lewd sight on Xia Puyang. His hands were getting itchy as he finally got to meet Xia Puyang, who was equally charming as Xia Pumo, just like the other had said.

Xu Chao understood why he was impatient. “Yang Quan is our vanguard, and apparently gay as I have heard that he keeps beautiful boys looted from everywhere in his home. But I don’t care,” thought Xu Chao.

“He immediately agreed when we asked him to come. I suppose he has been carving for Xia Puyang’s body covertly for quite a while! Now he’s proven to be helpful, and it would only be a matter of time till us conquering the imperial clan of Zither,” thought Xu Chao.

If it was possible, Yang Quan would gaze through Xia Puyang’s clothes and watch him naked with his indecent sight. Xia Puyang felt uncomfortable with Yang Quan’s gaze and frowned. But he managed to stand tall and strong like a mountain while holding back his anger.

“Fellow cultivators, I don’t suppose we should resort to violence in the imperial clan of Zither under my watch!” said Xia Puyang.

Yang Quan, “I don’t think so!”

Yang Quan acted as if he would come straight to Xia Puyang.

Noticing the intruders had blatantly made clear their purpose, Xia Puyang stopped being polite and said, “Though you ingrates know not what is decency, the Imperial Clan of Zither is not a place to demonstrate your ignorance, and we will not standby as you’ve come to attack us. I suppose you’ve heard about our martial formation and could not wait to try it out!”

Xia Puyang threw up his hands and invited them to attack with his gesture.

Xu Chao stood there calmly as he was not as hot-headed as Yang Quan. He was also aware that the martial formation of the imperial clan of Zither was not a child play.

“What’s more, Liu Shaoting, the patriarch of the imperial clan of Shen did not move. He could be planning to take advantage of the situation when we were fighting,” thought Xu Chao.

“The imperial clan of Shadow is yet another thorn in our flesh. They could not prevail in the fight against the imperial clan of Zither for sure, and it would be good enough if they could manage not to betray us and join the imperial clan of Zither instead,” thought Xu Chao.

“But I don’t think Liu Shaoting has the stuff to act as a manipulator and take the advantage from us!” thought Xu Chao.

Yang Quan gathered his qi in his fist and punched hard against the barriers formed by the martial formation. The barrier shook violently but managed to keep its form. Xia Puyang was moved by that scene and realized that the martial formation would not last for long.

Yang Quan hit exactly at the place where Xia Puyang was standing in the martial formation.

“What now? Will you let loose the gate and let me in, or should I break into it?” asked Yang Quan.

Xia Puyang frowned, for he knew exactly what kind of person Yang Quan was. A paraphrase of that statement could be an invitation for him to unclothe himself and wait for him in the bed.

Xia Puyang took out his zither and started to play. Upon hearing Xia Puyang’s melody, the apprentices all took out their zithers and joined the symphony to reinforce the martial formation. That was their last defense, after all.

Upon seeing that, Yang Quan summoned his apprentices and concentrated their attack on one part of the shield. Xia Puyang’s face became pale as he had spent too much spiritual power on starting the martial formation and kept it running for so long. He apparently was running out of spiritual power.

Xia Puyang spat blood after playing the last part of his melody. Some of his blood dripped onto his zither. Yang Quan looked at Xia Puyang and acted in distress. “Don’t spit blood, my little beauty. I will do it more gently the next time and try not to hurt you too bad so that you won’t be active enough in my bed.” The apprentices in the formation responded indigently to Yang Quan’s lewd remarks and shouted, “How dare you insult our patriarch like that!”

Xia Puyang spat out more blood.

“Wait!” shouted a voice.

Upon hearing that, five people walked out from the door behind Xia Puyang. Xia Puyang was surprised when he saw Xia Pumo and Murong Zhe. The other three people included two men, Jun Lang and Rongnuan that were, and one woman. Jun Lang looked tough and was visibly powerful, which made him hard to deal with. Though Xia Puyang could not detect any spiritual power from Jun Lang, he believed Jun Lang should be powerful enough, for otherwise, he could not possibly be there. “The other man was seemingly harmless. But that woman! Though she’s covered entirely under a white cloak, which covered most of her face and only showed a pair of closed eyes, I can recognize her! She’s Ronghua!” thought Xia Puyang.

Xu Chao stood there and looked at them unkindly. He seemed to be searching for someone.

Naturally, Xia Pumo knew who Xu Chao was searching for. “But I don’t think he could recognize that person!” thought Xia Pumo.

But Xia Pumo decided to err on the side of caution and whispered in a low voice, “Ronghua, he’s looking for you. Be careful!”

Ronghua knew Xu Chao was looking for her. “My presence here would be another excuse for them to initiate an attack,” thought Ronghua.

Ronghua stood behind Xia Pumo and smiled. “That’s not a problem. I don’t think he could recognize me anymore,” said Ronghua.

“What?” asked Xia Pumo as he missed the last few words that were uttered in a low voice. Xu Chao then said something, which interrupted Xia Pumo’s thinking.

“Patriarch Xia, is this a confession that the imperial clan of Zither has indeed shielded Murong Zhe, a wanted and monstrous man?” asked Xu Chao.

Xia Puyang’s face turned pale and did not know how to reply. He managed to stand up with great efforts. “Patriarch Xu, I believe you can now watch with your own eyes. That is not a living Murong Zhe but a fraction of his rebellious soul. You’ve already gone too far attacking us with such a great number of people. I think you guys to leave now!” said Xia Puyang.

Xu Chao, “Leave? Do you think that’s still an option?” “Our actions have already offended the imperial clan of Zither. If we didn’t take it down entirely today, it would be a haunting menace to us. Moreover, I simply cannot refuse the generous offer made by that mysterious man. Who has promised me anything if I could take down the imperial clan of Zither!” thought Xu Chao.

Xu Chao, “Hum, are you still insisting on protecting them?”

“Patriarch Xu, I think you’ve mistaken us,” replied Xia Puyang.

“You...” said Xu Chao.

“Patriarch Xu,” said Xia Pumo.

Xia Pumo stepped up and interrupted Xu Chao. He then stood in front of Xia Puyang in an attempt to shield him from the various malice from the crowds and Yang Quan’s lewd sights, for he had noticed that.

Xia Pumo, “Patriarch Xu, you’ve made yet another scene today! I guess a long-lasting dispute is inevitable to start from now on, so let me make it clear. The imperial clan of Zither will entertain all of your queries and attacks today, so just do what you want altogether now, and we will not accept any unreasonable accusation starting from tomorrow.”

Stunned, Xia Puyang thought his dear brother’s remark was exceptionally disturbing.

“Mo!” said Xia Puyang in an attempt to remind Xia Pumo that he had probably gone too far.

“Dear brother, that’s alright. I will take it from now on,” said Xia Pumo.

Xia Pumo gave Xia Puyang a comforting look.

Xia Puyang tried to turn around and ask Murong Zhe what was going on. But he then noticed Murong Zhe was smiling. “What are they doing?” thought Xia Puyang.

Yet, he felt strangely relieved.

Xu Chao was stunned by Xia Pumo’s remark. “Since when did Xia Pumo could talk so sharply?” wondered Xu Chao.

Liu Shaoting stepped out of the crowds and said, “Xia Pumo, how dare you coming out like this!”

He then walked to the front and lifted his sword. Apparently, his hatred against Xia Pumo had only grown stronger with the passage of time, instead of fading away.

Xia Pumo replied lightheartedly, “Oh, Patriarch Xia! Long time no see. Yet, you are still so irritable. That’s a bad trait of yours.”

Xia Pumo was apparently insinuating something, and his affected tone amused Murong Zhe so much that he had got goosebumps popping up. “Em, Mo! Cut the crap and go straight to the point. You can catch up with your old friends later!” said Murong Zhe.

Xia Pumo replied, “Sure.”

The corners of Liu Shaoting mouth twitched. “They’ve certainly got a load of craps to say! This Xia Pumo is indeed very strange. What’s happening today?” thought Liu Shaoting.

Liu Shaoting waved his sword and said, “Xia Pumo, you had secretly summoned that monstrous man’s soul back decades ago. Are you still helping him to destroy us?”

Xia Pumo did not mind about that and replied, “That’s an exaggeration. Compared with your bold actions, my summoning of Murong Zhe is only a decent and negligible act.”

“That was strange, and increasingly so! He was not so talkative and was rather blunt,” thought Xu Chao.

“Bullshit,” replied Xu Chao.

A person stepped forward and moved Xu Chao back with his body. “Patriarch Xu, you’ve probably said more than enough. We don’t need to say any of that when dealing with them,” said that person.

“That’s unnecessary indeed. But what could you do anyway?” thought Xu Chao.

“There was nothing left to say, march forward! I will reward anyone generously as long as they could shed the blood of the imperial clan of Zither!” shouted Xu Chao.

Xia Pumo shouted, “Let’s see who’s bold enough to die!”

Suddenly, Xia Pumo lifted his head and did nothing but a few moves, while his eyes were filled with evilness.

Xu Chao was surprised and accidentally watched Xia Pumo’s eyes. He was then stunned.

Xu Chao took a step back.

“Patriarch Xu, Patriarch Liu! I think you two are too impatient!” said someone.

That person, who had been silent up to then, walked to Xia Pumo while waving a fan in her hand. That person then decently bowed to show respect upon seeing Xia Pumo.

“Who is she?” asked Ronghua in a quiet voice, for Ronghua had no clue who she was.

Xia Puyang turned and looked at that person. “That’s Patriarch Yue, the patriarch of the imperial clan of Shadow, a friend of ours!” said Xia Puyang dubiously.