Battle Through The Heavens : I Am The Thunder Emperor

Chapter 182: Probing, Ya Fei's Ambition

"Enough of this nonsense!"

In the chaotic hall, the elder of the Nalan family, Nalan Jie, suddenly appeared, pushing through the crowd to reach the scene. His face was dark as he shouted angrily. Following closely behind him was a beautiful young woman, none other than Nalan Yanran.

As Nalan Jie surveyed the scene, a hint of surprise flashed in his old eyes. He quickly turned to the young man in green and asked, "This must be young Mo Yu. I am Nalan Jie. It was a mistake on our part that such an incident occurred during this gathering, and for that, I must apologize."

Mo Yu, seeing the elder's somewhat insincere concern, smiled lightly and shook his head, indicating that he didn't mind.

As Nalan Jie looked at the calm and composed young face before him, his respect for Mo Yu grew even more. Although the fight had only lasted a brief moment, Nalan Jie's strength had allowed him to sense the battle the instant it began. However, he deliberately delayed his arrival to secretly observe Mo Yu's combat prowess and see if it was as terrifying as rumored.

After all, Mo Yu was somewhat connected to the Nalan family. The one who had been publicly jilted, Xiao Yan, was his cousin. After the engagement broke off, the title of "Xiao Family's Double Dragons" became well-known in the capital. If Mo Yu was this strong, then Xiao Yan...

"This boy is incredibly strong in battle. His strikes were fierce and sharp, indicating that he has experienced real killing. Even Yanran might not match up to him in a fight. If Xiao Yan has even half of Mo Yu's strength... no, if he has even a fraction of it, the outcome of that three-year agreement might not be so certain."

Nalan Jie inwardly praised Mo Yu while a darker thought crossed his mind. He had initially opposed the annulment of the engagement, but the decision had been made. If Xiao Yan defeated Nalan Yanran in their three-year duel, it wouldn't just be a personal loss; it would bring shame to the entire Nalan family.

The thought of the Nalan family's reputation being tarnished made Nalan Jie's anger flare. He turned his gaze to Mu Zhan and scolded, "Mu Zhan, I thought your time in the military would temper your arrogance, but it seems it's only made you more reckless! This is the Nalan family's residence, not the Mu family's. Even your father wouldn't dare act so disrespectfully here!"

"Yes, Elder Nalan, you're right. I'll take my leave now," Mu Zhan said quickly. He had already planned to retreat, avoiding further confrontation with Mo Yu. Nalan Jie's words provided the perfect excuse for him to make his exit.

Watching Mu Zhan leave, Nalan Jie sighed in relief. As the heir of the Mu family, if he had been killed here, it would have strained relations between the Nalan and Mu families. Nalan Jie, a Dou Wang, had clearly sensed the genuine killing intent from Mo Yu. It wasn't just for show.

This made Nalan Jie even more surprised. The Mu family was one of the most powerful in the Jia Ma Empire, second only to the Yun Lan Sect and the royal family. Yet Mo Yu seemed unconcerned, either because he was incredibly reckless or because he had some powerful backing.

"Hehe, young Mo Yu, Mu Zhan has been like this since he was a child. Even his father struggles to control him. Don't take it to heart," Nalan Jie said with a laugh. As he spoke, his old eyes gleamed with curiosity as he probed, "Young Mo Yu, you're Xiao Yan's cousin, correct? It's a shame. If not for Yanran, Xiao Yan could have been my grandson-in-law. How is Xiao Yan doing these days?"

Hearing Xiao Yan's name, Nalan Yanran's body stiffened, and she focused her gaze on Mo Yu. She had initially treated the three-year agreement as a joke, confident that she, the next head of the Yun Lan Sect and one of the most talented women in the empire, wouldn't lose to someone from a small town. But today, Mo Yu's impressive display made her doubt whether Xiao Yan might also be a formidable talent.

Mo Yu caught the meaning behind Nalan Jie's words and smiled without giving anything away. Glancing in the direction of "Yan Xiao," he smiled slightly and said, "Elder Nalan, my cousin Xiao Yan is quite elusive. Even I'm not always sure where he is. But with the three-year agreement approaching, I'm sure he'll surprise you."

Nalan Jie frowned at Mo Yu's words, sensing a growing unease. Perhaps the decision to annul the engagement would turn out to be the Nalan family's biggest mistake.

Beside him, Nalan Yanran also frowned. Three years ago, when she broke off the engagement at the Xiao family's residence, she had boldly declared that if Xiao Yan could defeat her, she would serve him for life. Now, the weight of that promise seemed much heavier.

Nalan Yanran fell silent for a moment, then looked at Mo Yu and said firmly, "I know my actions back then caused trouble for your family, but I don't think I was wrong. The three-year agreement is approaching, and I will be there. If I win, we can put the past behind us. If I lose, I will keep my word and serve him."

Mo Yu couldn't help but admire her resolve. Nalan Yanran, despite her flaws, had a certain charm and a strong sense of responsibility. In the strictest sense, neither she nor Xiao Yan were entirely in the wrong. The broken engagement had indeed caused the Xiao family to lose face, but Nalan Yanran had also been a victim, forced into an unwanted arrangement at a young age.

Mo Yu glanced at Xiao Yan, noting his serious expression. Nalan Yanran's words had clearly struck a chord with him. The three-year agreement was a burden he carried, one he couldn't afford to lose.

With Mu Zhan's departure, the gathering gradually returned to normal.

"Well, Mu Zhan probably won't bother you anymore. Mission accomplished," Mo Yu said with a smile as he and Ya Fei found a quiet spot near the door.

"Yes, thanks to your scare tactics, it's not just Mu Zhan. I doubt any man in the empire will dare approach me now…" Ya Fei replied with a wry smile, seeing the pleased look on Mo Yu's face.

"Oh? Should I call Mu Zhan back and declare in front of everyone that he's the only one who can't get close to you?" Mo Yu teased.

Ya Fei was taken aback, then bit her lip in frustration, glaring at him playfully. He knew she didn't mean that, yet he teased her anyway—so infuriating.

"By the way, where's Xiao Yan?" Mo Yu quickly changed the subject, sensing that Ya Fei was getting flustered.

"He's helping Elder Nalan with his detoxification treatment," Ya Fei replied, taking a deep breath.

"Oh," Mo Yu nodded, remembering that "Yan Xiao" was Xiao Yan's alias while assisting Nalan Jie.

Standing by his side, Ya Fei gently swirled the red wine in her glass, her mind drifting as she thought about the sharp and decisive way Mo Yu had fought earlier. It had been just a year or two since they last met, and the once youthful boy had grown so much.

Biting her lip, she lowered her head and stared at the wine in her glass. The bewitching beauty of her face now held a touch of sadness that could break anyone's heart.

Wrapping her arms around herself, Ya Fei sat down on the steps, the night breeze chilling her slightly. She gazed up at the moon for a long time, her charming eyes narrowing like those of a sly fox, filled with a mix of cunning and allure.

"What are you thinking about?" Mo Yu asked, his gaze sweeping over her captivating face, noticing the subtle change in her demeanor that made her even more entrancing.

"Hehe, nothing much. It's just that the family had some discussions a while back, suggesting I marry Mu Zhan to strengthen our family's position. It's disheartening…" Ya Fei's voice was soft but carried a hint of coldness.

"Is that so? That's how families work. They often use their members as pawns to secure benefits. If you want to control your destiny, you need to become strong yourself. Rather than being controlled by the family, it's better to control the family," Mo Yu said calmly, his words carrying a hint of dominance.

"To control the family, rather than be controlled by it…" Ya Fei murmured softly, her gaze fixed on the red wine in her glass. Her beautiful face now seemed to hold a newfound resolve.

"Yes, Ya Fei, you may not have the same cultivation talent as Nalan Yanran, but the Mitel family is different. It's not a family that values pure strength but rather business acumen. With your abilities, reaching a position of power within the family shouldn't be too difficult," Mo Yu continued.

Although the Dou Qi Continent valued strength, commerce held its own significance. Many techniques, treasures, and rare items required trade through merchant guilds. The Mitel family thrived in this business, meaning that while they didn't prioritize sheer strength, Ya Fei's exceptional management skills could easily elevate her within the family or even allow her to establish a larger merchant guild.

With a light tap on her wine glass, a clear sound echoed. In her heart, Ya Fei knew that she had the talent to manage the Mitel family's headquarters at such a young age. Her business and leadership skills were beyond doubt.

Mo Yu's words sparked a seed of ambition deep within her heart, slowly taking root. After all, the world was full of people who, while not physically strong, commanded the loyalty of countless powerful individuals.

As she listened to the clear sound, Ya Fei's smile grew, her beauty more radiant than before. At that moment, she felt more beautiful than ever.

As something new began to take root in Ya Fei's heart, a green robe was gently draped over her shoulders from behind. The familiar, gentle voice stirred something deep within her.

"It's getting cold. Be careful not to catch a cold…"

Turning around, Ya Fei stared at Mo Yu's handsome, almost otherworldly face. For a moment, her nose tingled with emotion.

Gently pulling the robe tighter around herself, Ya Fei snuggled into it, the warmth wrapping around her heart.

"Don't worry. With me here, no one will force you to do anything you don't want to," Mo Yu said softly, his voice firm and reassuring.

"Hehe, how could a little woman like me ever repay such kindness?" Ya Fei replied, her usual playful charm returning.

"Oh? When you become the head of a super merchant guild on the Dou Qi Continent, just give me a discount," Mo Yu joked with a smile.

Ya Fei was momentarily stunned, then playfully winked at him. "Deal."

A super merchant guild on the Dou Qi Continent wasn't something the Mitel family could compare to. It would require reaching Central Plains and expanding beyond the empire. Mo Yu's words were meant to encourage her and show his belief in her abilities. Realizing this, Ya Fei felt a warm surge of gratitude.

"Alright," Mo Yu yawned lazily, glancing at the still bustling hall with a hint of resignation. "Let's head back. Are you coming with me?"

"Hm…" Ya Fei was about to refuse, but as her hand brushed the robe around her shoulders, she hesitated and then nodded.

As Mo Yu stood to leave with Ya Fei, he suddenly noticed a young man with a resolute face and a steady gait entering his line of sight.

Seeing the newcomer, Mo Yu's heart stirred, and he turned to Ya Fei with an apologetic smile before calling out to the black-robed youth.

"Yan Xiao, let's have a private chat…"

(End of Chapter)

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