Chapter 127: Nangong Yu: Who Wants to Witness the Might of My Wendao Academy?
"Darling… Yulin."
Wang Baole stared at the beautiful, charming woman in the crowd, dressed in an elegant gown. The words slipped from his mouth instinctively.
The moment he said "darling," the entire area fell into silence.
Even Nangong Yu and her two companions, who were just about to speak, froze in place. Xiong Kui and Zhang Heng unconsciously looked at the top of Nangong Yu's head—for some reason, the jade hairpin on her hair seemed especially eye-catching at that moment.
When Wang Yulin heard that long-unspoken title, her face flushed with shame and anger.
"Wang Baole! How many times have I told you—I am not your wife! That was merely a marriage arrangement made by our ancestors. You're not even allowed to call me by my name.
Remember your place. You're just someone raised by the Wang family, nothing more than an adopted child!"
"I…" Wang Baole wanted to explain something, but in the end, chose silence. This was how their relationship had always been.
He was always the one accommodating Wang Yulin, while she took it all for granted.
On top of that, Wang Baole had been living under someone else's roof all these years. In front of Wang Yulin, he couldn't help but always come off inferior.
"You what? After just a few years apart, you've actually learned to steal now?"
Seeing Wang Baole's submissive appearance, Wang Yulin suddenly felt a strange sense of superiority.
Wang Baole hurriedly explained, "I didn't steal anything. This tiger demon was slain by us."
"Hmph!"
Wang Yulin scoffed. "Wang Baole, you're getting more brazen. Not only do you dare steal, but now you even talk back. With your third-rate skills, you actually claim you could kill this tiger demon?"
Among her companions, she was already of low status. Now that she had a chance to show off, she naturally wanted to seize it—and Wang Baole became her stepping stone.
Sure enough, hearing her words, her companions began to look at Wang Baole with scorn.
The man at the front—a proud, handsome youth with noble bearing—looked down at Wang Baole from above.
"This young brother, I am Sima Rui of the Luohe Clan. For the sake of your acquaintance with Yulin, I advise you to leave quickly. This is not a place for someone like you."
Just as he finished speaking, a dignified voice echoed from within the forest opposite them.
"What an arrogant tone from the Zhenlong Clan. Anyone unaware would think the Taixu Mountain Range belonged to your mere half-Saint clan!"
Everyone present changed expressions when they heard that voice. Sima Rui's face turned especially grim. The words from the hidden speaker were undoubtedly a harsh slap across his face.
He spoke coldly, "Such arrogance, friend. If you have the guts, come out and let me witness your so-called strength. Skulking in the shadows like a rat—what's the difference?"
"You really want to witness our strength?"
As the voice rang out, Nangong Yu, Zhang Heng, and Xiong Kui appeared in unison beside Wang Baole. The pressure of the True Fate Realm radiated from them.
Nangong Yu exuded nobility, every movement laced with the air of someone born to command.
Though Zhang Heng and Xiong Kui came from humble origins, years of cultivation at Wendao Academy had given them a natural sense of superiority when facing disciples from non-holy lands.
Sima Rui squinted instinctively at the three before him. He was the strongest among his group, and had only just reached the True Fate Realm.
But now three True Fate experts had appeared at once. If a fight broke out, his side would be at a total disadvantage.
Those around him, sensing the immense pressure from the three, instinctively distanced themselves from Wang Yulin.
He gritted his teeth. "This is a private matter of the Wang family. Must you interfere?"
"Heh."
Nangong Yu chuckled. "The Wang family? And what of it? They think they can humiliate a disciple of Wendao Academy? Or is your Luohe Clan also planning to intervene?
If that's the case, I, Nangong Yu, wouldn't mind letting you taste the edge of my sword!"
As she spoke, Nangong Yu slowly drew her treasured sword an inch from its sheath. A frosty glint shone in her beautiful eyes.
Having grown up in the palace, she immediately understood from Wang Baole's exchange with that woman that the relationship between the prince and the Wang family was far from harmonious. That woman clearly had no feelings for him.
If she didn't act now to win favor, when would she?
"Wendao Academy!"
"Nangong Yu!"
Cries of alarm erupted from among Sima Rui's group. Their gazes toward Wang Baole and his companions were now filled with awe. Most of them were vassals of the Luohe Clan—how could they possibly afford to provoke the colossal force that was Wendao Academy?
"You… You're that prodigy from the Great Yu Dynasty?"
Sima Rui looked at Nangong Yu in terror, unconsciously stepping half a pace back.
"Now that you know, get lost. Or are you thinking of snatching our prey from us?" Nangong Yu said coldly.
"We're leaving! We're leaving right now!"
Sima Rui didn't dare linger a second longer and immediately turned to leave.
Wang Yulin was completely stunned by the scene. If not for a female companion tugging her along, she would have forgotten to run.
Only after a long while did Sima Rui's group stop to catch their breath, panting heavily.
Huff… Huff…
Everyone turned their eyes toward Wang Yulin. There were looks of scrutiny, discontent, and even smoldering anger.
Wang Yulin felt extremely uncomfortable under those gazes. Her frustration and grievance exploded all at once.
"Why are you all looking at me like that? Wang Baole was just a servant in the Wang family. If we hadn't given him food, he would've starved to death long ago. I don't know what was wrong with our family's ancestor to arrange a marriage with someone like him. Tell me—would any of you be willing to marry a household servant?"
At those words, everyone fell silent. They asked themselves honestly—and no, they wouldn't be able to marry someone who lived off others under the same roof.
Soon someone muttered, "Still, that Wang Baole sure is lucky, actually getting into Wendao Academy."
Sima Yan, standing beside Wang Yulin, sneered sarcastically, "If you ask me, he probably latched onto Nangong Yu. Otherwise, with his status in the Wang family, how could he have possibly passed Wendao Academy's entrance trials?"
The crowd immediately showed looks of envy and disdain. After all, Wendao Academy was a sacred land of cultivation in their eyes.
Hearing this, Sima Rui also felt a bit less indignant. "Don't be upset, Miss Wang. He's just a heartless man relying on women. With your talent, someone like Wang Baole—who only knows how to take shortcuts—could never match you in a lifetime."
Hearing these consoling words, Wang Yulin gritted her teeth and muttered, "When I return after completing my cultivation, I'll beg our ancestor to break off this engagement!"
Elsewhere, Wang Baole was still feeling upset over what had happened. He had once thought Yulin disliked him because he lacked ability.
But now, even as a core disciple of Wendao Academy, she still looked down on him?
After processing the black tiger meat and finishing their meal, the group returned to camp.
As soon as Wang Baole stepped into the camp, he bumped into Chu Feng returning from drinking.
"Disciple greets Master."
Chu Feng instinctively looked at Wang Baole. Seeing the lingering gloom between his brows, he asked, "Little Fatty, what's wrong? You go out once and come back looking like you're at a funeral. Did you and your Miss Nangong have a fight?"
Hearing that, Xiao Chen and the others all looked at Wang Baole with gossip-filled eyes.
Wang Baole shook his head. "No… I ran into my 'wife.'"
"Oh?"
Chu Feng, tipsy and intrigued, immediately perked up. "Go on, give us the full story."
Wang Baole didn't hide anything from his master and his fellow disciples. He poured out everything that had happened today.
After hearing it all, Chu Feng smiled and patted Wang Baole on the shoulder. "Little Fatty, this is a good thing. Every time you step outside, you gain more luck buffs."
The moment he heard the words "luck buffs," Wang Baole's expression turned into a confused emoji face.
Xiao Chen and the others were also full of curiosity. Cao Youqian even clutched at himself in exaggerated discomfort.
"Master, please explain it! The moment you said 'luck,' I started itching all over. It's like ten thousand ants are crawling across my skin if I don't hear the rest!"
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