Chapter 7: Young Master Xiao hasn't abandoned his sword yet?

Yang Qingyuan looked up and saw a chubby figure ahead with garish, curly hair—so androgynous that one could not tell if it was a man or a woman—staring at him with a look of disdain. Behind this person stood two Obsidian Inspectors, swords in hand, maintaining a stony silence.

"I wondered who it might be; so it’s Young Master Xiao Tiansheng."

Yang Qingyuan smiled faintly. He felt no anger, merely observing Xiao Tiansheng quietly before casting a glance at the golden sword at the other’s waist.

"Still carrying that sword, Young Master Xiao? At the Yang family wedding banquet, didn't the young master of the Wangquan family already tell you that you were unworthy of the blade and ordered you to discard it? What is this? Are you questioning the understanding of swordsmanship held by the heir to the Wangquan clan, the Sword of Heaven and Earth?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the onlookers gathered around to watch the spectacle. The incident where Xiao Wancheng had led the Obsidian Inspectors to wreak havoc at the Yang family wedding had long since become the talk of the entire Dao City. The news that the young master of the Wangquan family, Wangquan Batie, had disarmed Xiao Tiansheng with only two fingers had spread throughout the city via the guests who were present.

The Xiao family, relying on their control over the Obsidian Inspectors, not only framed other families of the Dao Alliance everywhere but also acted with arrogance and condescension toward everyone else. Thus, not only the noble families of the Dao Alliance but even the ordinary cultivators of the Yi Qi Dao Alliance held no love for the Xiao family. Seeing a member of the Xiao family humiliated in the street was a source of great satisfaction for them.

"You... whether I discard my sword or not, what business is it of yours?" Xiao Tiansheng’s voice caught, a flash of embarrassment crossing his face.

"Nothing at all. I was merely offering a kind reminder, lest Young Master Xiao had forgotten, right?" Yang Qingyuan blinked, a mocking smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"Hmph! You brat, I think you’ve grown tired of living! A mere servant daring to mock your master Xiao! Get him! This man must be a spy for the demon race—take him back and interrogate him thoroughly!"

With that, Xiao Tiansheng waved at the two Obsidian Inspectors behind him, signaling them to make the arrest. Upon receiving the order, the two inspectors did not hesitate, drawing their golden swords and rushing toward Yang Qingyuan.

"A spy for the demon race... what a heavy accusation to throw around..." A trace of mockery flickered in Yang Qingyuan’s eyes. Watching the two inspectors charge toward him, he did not show the slightest hint of panic.

He simply extended his right hand, unhurried, and suddenly channeled his inner energy.

"Palm Thunder!"

*Crackle, crackle, zap!*

As lightning erupted from Yang Qingyuan’s palm, the two unsuspecting Obsidian Inspectors were instantly engulfed in sparks. Black smoke billowed from their bodies, their limbs twitched uncontrollably, and they collapsed, unconscious on the spot.

"Is that... the Wen family’s thunder-calling technique?"
"Isn't that boy a servant of the Yang family? How does he know the Wen family's technique?"
"What servant! Look at the Celestial Eye on his forehead. Although it is closed, he is undoubtedly of the bloodline of the Celestial Eye Yang family!"
"So that’s it. That explains it. The Celestial Eye Yang family is upright and honorable; it is not uncommon for their geniuses to learn other families' techniques simply by observation."

Listening to the murmurs of the crowd and looking at the two fallen inspectors, Xiao Tiansheng’s face turned a sickly shade of green and white.

"You, you, you... you are incredibly bold! How dare you knock out Obsidian Inspectors of the Dao Alliance in public?!"

"Young Master Xiao, without a shred of evidence, you slapped the label of 'demon spy' on me. Even for an Obsidian Inspector, isn't that a bit unreasonable?" Yang Qingyuan slowly lowered his hand and squinted at Xiao Tiansheng.

"Your family head tried to pin the crime of colluding with demons on the Yang family’s son-in-law just two days ago, and today, you, Young Master Xiao, are pinning it on me. Since when did the noble Celestial Eye Yang family become a criminal syndicate colluding with demons? Or is it that your Xiao family is using the guise of 'inspection' to deliberately frame the Yang family, all to serve your own hunger for power and influence?"

Yang Qingyuan did not speak quickly, but every word felt like a heavy blow to Xiao Tiansheng’s heart. The crowd was growing larger; if this continued, the Xiao family’s hidden agenda against the Yangs would be stripped bare by Yang Qingyuan.

"You lie! The Xiao family has always acted with integrity! Every move we make is for the sake of the Dao Alliance and humanity! Every member of the Xiao family has a clear conscience!"

"Indeed, a clear conscience. But if one has lost their heart entirely, what use is there in questioning it?"

"Well said!"

As Yang Qingyuan finished speaking, a familiar voice rang out from behind him. The crowd turned to see Yang Yitan stepping slowly out from the throng.

"It’s the young master of the Yang family, Yang Yitan!"
"What a cute little boy!"
"I didn't expect the young master of the Yang family to show up. This is going to be a good show."

Yang Qingyuan glanced at Yang Yitan. This little fellow had been following him ever since he left the Yang estate; had he finally decided to step in?

"Young Master Xiao, your family has repeatedly slandered members of the Yang family for colluding with demons without evidence. What is your true intent?"

Seeing Yang Yitan, Xiao Tiansheng gritted his teeth, realizing that today’s situation was becoming troublesome. If this dragged on and became a public scandal, the Xiao family—already in the wrong from their previous actions—would be seen as having fabricated these new charges out of thin air. If the Yang family seized this opportunity, it could invite a fierce retaliation.

After a moment of internal struggle, Xiao Tiansheng made his choice.

"Why, if it isn't Brother Yitan! A misunderstanding, it’s all a misunderstanding! It was him! He slandered this young man as a demon spy, and I, in my brotherly concern, mistakenly trusted a villain's words, leading to today’s error. I always say, the Celestial Eye Yang family is upright and honorable, having rendered great service to the Yi Qi Dao Alliance! How could a member of the Yang family be a demon spy? Treacherous villains have led me astray!"

As he spoke, Xiao Tiansheng gave one of the unconscious inspectors a vicious kick while wearing a fawning smile toward Yang Yitan. Even Yang Qingyuan was left speechless by Xiao Tiansheng’s ability to change with the wind and his mastery of "face-switching." He had to admit, while Xiao Tiansheng was useless with a sword, he was truly a genius at acting like a scoundrel.

Yang Yitan frowned. He was no fool; he could see at a glance that Xiao Tiansheng was trying to find a scapegoat. They had bullied his aunt at the wedding, and now they were bullying his family’s disciples in the street. Did they really think the Yang family was made of clay?

Determined not to let Xiao Tiansheng off easily, he prepared to speak, but Yang Qingyuan tugged at his sleeve and gave a slow, subtle shake of his head.