"How do you plan to resolve this, Senior?" Ye Bufan asked back.
"Naturally, we'll settle it the way martial artists do, with a duel on the arena," Li Shun's second uncle said to Ye Bufan.
Ye Bufan and Li Shun's second uncle exchanged glances. Li Shun's second uncle emanated a powerful aura, intending to curb Ye Bufan's arrogance.
To Ye Bufan, all of this was child's play. Without a word, Ye Bufan used his spiritual power to generate an imposing aura that completely suppressed Li Shun's second uncle's.
Li Shun's second uncle instantly deflated like a leaky balloon, his aura shattering. Looking at Ye Bufan, he was suddenly overcome with an inexplicable fear.
"What is going on?" Li Shun's second uncle stared at Ye Bufan, utterly bewildered by what had just happened.
"Hahahaha. It's said that the Li family of Donghai is a family that protects its own. Seeing it today, I didn't expect it to be so true." Just then, a young man's voice rang out, surprising everyone.
Upon hearing the voice, Li Shun's second uncle frowned unhappily and looked in its direction. He was about to reprimand the speaker, but the words died in his throat the moment he saw who it was.
Ye Bufan turned his head and saw Elder Wu Cheng of the Martial Alliance following a young man of similar age to Ye Bufan. This young man was the source of the voice.
The newcomer spotted Ye Bufan, his eyes lighting up. He strode forward, extended his hand, and said, "I've long heard Elder Wu Cheng speak of a high-level martial artist in Jinhe, around eighteen or nineteen years old, named Ye Bufan. Seeing you today, it's indeed as Elder Wu Cheng said; you'll put pressure on my cultivation. Hello, Ye Bufan, my name is Nangong Yi."
"Who is Nangong Yi?" Liu Ruoyan asked Li Shun in a hushed tone, leaning closer to him.
Liu Ruoyan wasn't foolish. A young man accompanied by an elder from the Martial Alliance undoubtedly held an extraordinary status. Moreover, after this person appeared, Liu Ruoyan noticed a change in Li Shun's second uncle's demeanor.
"Hello." Ye Bufan gave a helpless smile, surprised that his name had reached Nangong Yi's ears.
Their hands met briefly. Nangong Yi initiated the force, but Ye Bufan gave him no opportunity, immediately counteracting.
In an instant, Nangong Yi's expression changed. He tried to pull his hand back but found he couldn't break free from Ye Bufan's grip. His entire face turned red due to the constricting force.
Seeing this, Ye Bufan finally released his grip, allowing Nangong Yi to withdraw his hand.
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible." Nangong Yi found it hard to believe. The strength Ye Bufan displayed was very much like that of a Martial Venerable.
"No! It must be some lost art that Grandpa spoke of, otherwise, how could this Ye Bufan suddenly appear, and as a high-level martial artist who can enter the preliminary rankings of Martial Venerables?" Nangong Yi pondered inwardly, firmly resolved to investigate Ye Bufan's strength thoroughly.
"Young Master Nangong, are you implying that my Li family is in the wrong?" Li Shun's second uncle retorted.
"Aren't we?" Nangong Yi countered. "Why should elders interfere in a spar between juniors?" Nangong Yi continued, "Must I be beaten by Li Shun and then return to tell my ancestors to ransack your household?"
"This..." Li Shun's second uncle was instantly speechless.
Liu Ruoyan watched Nangong Yi, her eyes darting back and forth. As someone from a formerly prominent family, she recognized that Nangong Yi's status was extraordinary. She immediately harbored a desire to curry favor. However, seeing Nangong Yi's apparent interest in Ye Bufan, she felt this might be a good opening.
"Young Master Nangong speaks wisely." Li Shun's second uncle ultimately swallowed his pride. Ye Bufan found the situation amusing.
"Ye Bufan, would you like to accompany me to watch the Martial Arts Tournament?" Nangong Yi asked.
Ye Bufan looked at Nangong Yi. At present, Nangong Yi didn't seem unpleasant. He agreed.
Nangong Yi glanced back and said, "Then bring your two girlfriends along."
"What girlfriends? We're not!" Wang Xinyan quickly protested. Chu Mengyao's face instantly turned red. Wang Xinyan, who was generally more forthright, also blushed after her outburst.
"Still saying you're not? See, you blushed first," Nangong Yi remarked.
As they spoke, Li Shun's second uncle, with Li Shun and Liu Ruoyan, quietly retreated to the side, preparing to leave.
"What, Mr. Qingxi, are you planning to leave with your nephew and niece-in-law without a word?" Nangong Yi noticed Li Qingxi's movement and spoke up again.
Li Qingxi turned his head and cupped his fist towards Nangong Yi, saying, "What are you saying, Young Master Nangong? I merely saw you and your friend catching up, and I didn't want to intrude further."
Seeing this, Nangong Yi didn't press them further. With a wave of his hand, Li Qingxi, along with Li Shun and Liu Ruoyan, left dejectedly.
"Xiao Shun, Ye Bufan and Nangong Yi seem to be on good terms. It would be best not to trouble them again," Li Qingxi said to Li Shun.
"This..." Li Shun looked at Liu Ruoyan, a flicker of distress in his eyes.
"Why are you looking at me? You're a man, make your own decision," Liu Ruoyan told Li Shun.
Li Qingxi frowned upon seeing Liu Ruoyan's attitude towards Li Shun, feeling a degree of disappointment in Li Shun's girlfriend.
"Sigh! The third branch of our family truly passes down traits. They're all henpecked. How can the Li family's patriarch position be passed to Li Shun in the future?" Li Qingxi lamented inwardly.
The current situation in the Li family was rather unique. Of the four Li brothers, the eldest and second were devoted to cultivation and never married. The third, Li Shun's father, was taciturn but found a wife. The youngest, the fourth brother, under the guidance of the eldest and second, entered the path of martial arts and joined the army. Currently, Li Shun was the only heir in the entire Li family.
Therefore, if Li Shun encountered trouble, his second uncle felt obligated to protect him.
However, this act of protection had encountered a formidable opponent, and unexpectedly, Nangong Yi had intervened.
Nangong Yi was a martial arts prodigy of Great Xia, hailed as the person most likely to become the leader of the Martial Alliance in the future, and possibly the youngest Martial Venerable.
Coupled with the Nangong family's powerful background as a prominent clan in the capital, it was rumored that Nangong Yi's great-grandfather had reached the realm of Grand Martial Saint, and whispers suggested he might have already become one.
No aristocratic family in the capital was simple. Li Qingxi felt they were outnumbered and chose to withdraw.
"Fine. Then I won't seek trouble with Ye Bufan," Li Shun declared through gritted teeth.