Seeing Ling Fan render Wu Tong speechless.
Han Qing and the others were bewildered, unsure of what to do.
Naturally, they scoffed at Ling Fan's words, especially the accusation that Wu Tong had seduced Ling Fan out of jealousy for Lan Xueyi. They didn't believe it for a second.
However, since Wu Tong herself did not refute him, they couldn't presume to act on her behalf.
But when they heard Ling Fan say that Wu Tong lacked true talent and was misleading her students, they finally found something to say.
Han Qing angrily declared, "Ling Fan, you've become utterly lawless! Miss Wu Tong is learned and possesses profound insights into cultivation. How dare you, a piece of trash, comment on her teachings? What qualifications do you have!"
"Exactly! He's a cripple who doesn't even have a trace of true energy and whose meridians are unopened. He probably doesn't even know how to cultivate, yet he dares to boast that Miss Wu Tong is wrong. He's truly asking for humiliation!"
Wu Tong was an exceptionally proud person. In normal times, if anyone dared to disagree with her, she would have immediately cited classics to counter them.
But today, her heart was in turmoil. First, her charm had failed against Ling Fan, then he had exposed her true intentions, and even revealed the secret of the mark on her back with a single sentence. Everything felt wrong, and she had long since decided to leave.
She glared fiercely at Ling Fan and spat out through gritted teeth, "Ling Fan, you wait. The slander and insult you've inflicted upon me today, I will repay tenfold in the future."
Tap, tap, tap.
Wu Tong fled as if escaping.
Leaving behind a group of Lan family disciples exchanging stunned glances.
Han Qing breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Judging by Wu Tong's tone, she doesn't seem to be escalating this matter. Fortunately, disaster has been averted."
"Ling, you are such a troublemaker! Do you think people from the Wu family would lecture just anyone? This was such a precious opportunity, and you've ruined it all."
The other disciples were furious.
This Ling Fan fellow was like a single rotten apple spoiling the whole barrel, always ruining things.
"That's right. In another month, it will be the annual Jiangnan City Martial Arts Competition. We were hoping that Wu Tong's lectures would give us some enlightenment and improve our strength so we could bring glory to the family at the competition. Do you know the extent of the loss you've caused?"
"You're useless yourself, so don't drag us down!"
"No, we can't let him leave so easily today. Make him compensate us for our losses!"
"Yes, pay up, pay up!"
The Lan family disciples, filled with anger, surrounded Ling Fan.
Someone sneered, "If you don't want to compensate, then kneel and crawl between our legs."
Ling Fan's expression was indifferent as he scanned the Lan family disciples.
"This lecture was arranged by my wife for me. What does it have to do with you?"
The other Lan family disciples' aggressive stance faltered, and they stared, speechless.
Because Ling Fan was right. Strictly speaking, they were all benefiting from Ling Fan's presence. Ling Fan owed them nothing.
It was better not to mention Lan Xueyi. Upon hearing her name, Han Qing became furious and retorted, "You still have the nerve to mention my cousin? How outstanding and perfect she is! Only a young talent of equal brilliance and grace is worthy of her. But you, you've disappointed her time and again. Her happiness and life have been ruined by you, this parasitic waste!"
"Ling, how long do you intend to neglect your martial path and evade your responsibilities? I'll ask you one question: do you dare to participate in this year's Jiangnan Martial Arts Competition? Do you dare to prove with your actions that you still have some spirit, that you're still a man!"
Han Qing roared, his voice almost cracking.
"If you dare not, then how can you be Xueyi's husband? What merit do you have to bring happiness to Xueyi? Do you dare to make a bet with me? If you participate in the Jiangnan Martial Arts Competition and your ranking is worse than mine, you will leave the Lan family and leave Xueyi of your own accord!"
Han Qing's eyes seemed to spew fire as he stared intently at Ling Fan.
"Yes, exactly!"
"Anyone you pick off the street is a hundred, a thousand times better than him! What is he, that he's worthy of Miss Xueyi."
"If you know what's good for you, scram with your tail between your legs. The Lan family doesn't need a useless son-in-law like you."
The other Lan family disciples also chimed in.
However, Ling Fan merely glanced at them indifferently.
In that cold, emotionless gaze, there was an air of arrogant disdain, as if he saw them as nothing.
He was the dignified Azure Cloud Emperor, an ultimate powerhouse standing at the pinnacle of the vast Heavenly Realm. How could he lower himself to argue and gamble with such insignificant ants?
"This is a matter between my wife and me. Since when do you need to interfere?"
Ling Fan's expression remained calm, devoid of joy or sorrow, and he departed with composure.
"He's infuriating me!"
"I really want to beat him to death."
After Ling Fan left, a wave of anger erupted in the study hall.
"Did you see his eyes? He didn't even take us seriously. Damn it, I just don't understand, where does this useless person get his confidence? Who gave him the nerve? What right does he have to ignore us!"
Han Qing said with a cold face, "Forget it, there's no need to argue with such a waste! Let's seize the time to cultivate. When we shine brightly at the martial arts competition and bring glory to the Lan family, won't he feel ashamed and have nowhere to hide? By then, I'll see how he can still have the face to stay in the Lan family."
...
Exiting the family study hall.
As he passed by the Lan family's assembly hall, he heard heated arguments emanating from within.
Ling Fan vaguely heard his name being mentioned, and the tone was quite intense.
It seemed that something major had happened in the Lan family, and it was related to him.
Inside the assembly hall were his father-in-law Lan Tianxiong, his wife Lan Xueyi, his brother-in-law Lan Junjie, and all the high-ranking members of the Lan family.
"Tianxiong, your son-in-law's little stunt has caused our Lan family to compensate a million taels of silver for nothing. How long do you intend to continue covering for him!"
The speaker was the First Elder of the Lan family, Lan Xueyi's third grand-uncle, a highly respected figure in the family.
The elder in charge of finance grumbled, "Our Lan family is currently facing relentless pursuit from the Jin family and is in urgent need of funds. This million taels is like adding insult to injury. There's not much money left in the accounts, and even procuring raw materials has become a problem. If the weapon workshop can't operate, we'll be facing bankruptcy!"
By the end, this finance elder sounded somewhat disheartened.
A somber and gloomy atmosphere pervaded the assembly hall.
Lan Tianxiong's brow furrowed, and a few more wrinkles appeared on his forehead as if he had aged several years overnight.
"Xiao Fan is the son of my old friend and also my son-in-law. He is already like half a son to me. He has caused a great disaster, and I should bear the responsibility for him! How about this, after the Lan family overcomes this difficult period, I will resign in self-reproach and relinquish the position of family head."
"Father, you can't!"
Lan Junjie exclaimed in shock.
Lan Xueyi bit her red lips and said, "Father, you cannot abdicate. The Lan family needs your leadership! Ling Fan is my husband. Since he has caused the Lan family a loss of a million taels, I will cover this deficit for him. Father, sell all my dowry, including this bracelet."
Lan Xueyi removed a translucent, lustrous jade bracelet from her fair and smooth wrist.
Everyone's expression changed slightly.
Lan Xueyi's jade bracelet was arguably the most valuable treasure in the entire Lan family. It was a quasi-Yellow tier spiritual artifact, capable of gathering spiritual energy from heaven and earth, allowing the wearer to cultivate with twice the results for half the effort.
This was a treasure that money couldn't buy.
It could be said that Lan Xueyi's rapid cultivation also owed part of its success to this jade bracelet.
No one expected that Lan Xueyi would be willing to part with this precious treasure to fill the hole Ling Fan had created.