Chapter 136: Confident and Unafraid

Qi Rong remained silent. Qi Hai steeled himself and stepped forward to state their purpose: "We are here under the orders of Young Master Ao to invite Young Master He and Young Master Peng to the Imperial City."

The guard looked at them with disdain. "What Young Master Ao? In Xiao City, there are only Young Master He and Young Master Peng!"

A-Jiu flared up upon hearing this. "You dog, you don't even know who the true master of the Nangong family is!"

The guard's expression shifted. "And who are you to come acting wild in Xiao City? Guards!"

At his call, a group of guards immediately rushed out from inside, all brandishing clubs and looking menacing.

"Seize these three ignorant fools!"

At the guard's command, the men prepared to strike.

Qi Rong’s burly frame stepped forward. "Let’s talk this over properly. Why resort to weapons the moment we meet?"

The guard recognized Qi Rong. The Nangong and Qi families were usually at odds; while they might show some restraint outside, there was no need to be cautious at their own doorstep.

"Master Rong, this is a matter for the Nangong family. I suggest you stay out of it. Otherwise, these clubs don't have eyes—don't blame us if you get hurt."

"Since it’s a domestic affair of the Nangong family, it would indeed be inappropriate for me to interfere." Qi Rong stepped back.

Damn it! A-Jiu cursed silently. How could the Qi family be so unreliable!

A-Li glanced at A-Hai. "Brother Qi, should we fight back?"

A-Hai thought for a moment and said, "We’ll definitely be at a disadvantage if we fight here."

"So we just let them capture us?"

A-Hai shot a glance at the composed Qi Rong nearby and said, "Just play along. We’ll figure it out once we’re inside."

This was likely Eldest Miss Qi's plan as well!

A-Li and A-Jiu were used to following A-Hai's lead. Since he said not to get serious, they parried half-heartedly with the guards and feigned capture.

Watching them get dragged inside, Qi Rong took out his phone and snapped a photo.

The guard looked at him suspiciously. "Master Rong, what are you doing?"

Qi Rong replied, "Taking evidence. You’ve arrested someone from the Qi family. Our Eldest Miss will be here in person shortly to reclaim her people."

The guard was momentarily stunned. "Since when did we arrest someone from the Qi family?"

Qi Rong pointed to A-Hai, who was being led away. "His surname is Qi. His name is Qi Hai, and he is the Eldest Miss's nephew."

The guard: "..."

Damn it, why didn't you say so earlier? You clearly did this on purpose!

The rules of Xiao City dictated that families could not engage in private brawls unless they had a legitimate excuse.

Technically, A-Hai was indeed the nephew of Eldest Miss Qi, though he was illegitimate and had never been entered into the family genealogy, so few people knew. Having left Xiao City at a young age, the Nangong guards had no way of knowing his background.

But what could they do now? The people were already dragged inside. They couldn't just release them—that was out of the question!

In any case, the Nangong family wasn't afraid of the Qi family, the guard comforted himself.

***

Nangong He and Nangong Peng had long known that A-Hai and his group had been brought into the city by Qi Rong.

They had expected Qi Hua to stand up for Nangong Ao and were waiting for her to bring people to their doorstep, intending to use "interfering in another family's internal affairs" as a pretext to deal with her as well.

Who could have guessed that even when Qi Rong reached the gate, he would just watch without intervening? Moreover, the people sent by Nangong Ao included members of the Qi family.

Once the guard finished his report, Nangong Peng couldn't help but curse, "That old woman Qi Hua is truly devious!"

Nangong He was more composed. "No need to rush, Second Brother. Even if Qi Hua has a legitimate excuse, if we refuse to acknowledge it, there’s nothing she can do!"

"Right, let's just get rid of that guy surnamed Qi!" Nangong Peng was simple-minded.

The guard reminded them from the side, "Second Young Master, Qi Rong took a photo. I’m afraid it won't be easy to deny..."

Nangong Peng wore a rogue's expression. "Did he take a clear one? Just find someone who looks like him to take his place—problem solved!"

The guard suddenly realized. That was true; dead men tell no tales!

Just as Nangong Peng ordered his men to carry out the plan, someone came in to report that Qi Hua had arrived with her subordinates to demand the release of their people.

Nangong He took a sip of tea, stood up, and patted Nangong Peng on the shoulder, saying with the confidence of victory, "Come, today we shall cut off Nangong Ao's helpers and make an example of them!"

"Right. Let those old fools see whose world Xiao City will be from now on!" Nangong Peng said, looking smug.

The two brothers headed out of the hall to the main gate with high spirits.

Qi Hua was dressed in a white training uniform with a black cloak draped over her shoulders, surrounded by rows of black-clad henchmen, looking imposing.

The moment Nangong Peng saw Qi Hua, his teeth itched with hatred.

A few years ago, he had taken a liking to Qi Hua’s niece and wanted to marry her. It was this very old woman who had adamantly refused and insulted him as being utterly worthless.

Today, he was determined to exact his revenge!

Seeing the look in Nangong Peng's eyes, as if he wanted to devour her, Qi Hua curled her lips in a sneer. "Young Master Peng, why haven't you grown at all over these years? It’s one thing to bully the girls in the city, but how could you go outside and collude with villains to bully your own kin?"

"Bullshit!" Nangong Peng had a volatile temper and was easily triggered. "I do what I want. Does an old woman like you have the right to manage me?"

Daring to mock him for not growing—didn't every major family in Xiao City fear the power he and his brother held now? In a moment, he would make this old woman kneel and beg for mercy!

Qi Hua was long accustomed to Nangong Peng’s lack of respect. She calmly flicked her sleeves. "I couldn't manage you before, but today, since you’ve kidnapped members of the Qi family, I cannot tolerate you any longer!"

"Haha, you say we kidnapped members of your Qi family. Which ones? Do you have proof?"

Nangong Peng’s arrogant demeanor annoyed Qi Rong. "The proof is right here!"

He threw his phone at Nangong Peng’s face. Nangong Peng dodged just in time.

The phone was caught by Nangong He, who glanced at the screen and smiled. "The image doesn't seem very clear."

He then tossed the phone aside casually; it bounced several times on the ground but remained completely intact.

The guards behind him thought: What brand of phone is this? The quality is amazing!

Qi Hua seemed to have anticipated that the Nangong brothers would deny everything, so she wasn't in a hurry. She steered the conversation to the main point. "You’ve arrested members of the Qi family; we can discuss that later. But what do you have to say for detaining Young Master Ao’s people?"

Nangong Peng scoffed contemptuously. "That’s even less of your business! Why should the Qi family interfere in the affairs of the Nangong family?"

"Others cannot interfere in the affairs of the Nangong family. But you have colluded with outsiders to openly oppose Young Master Ao, which is an act of treachery. I believe you two young masters remember the rules established by the Nangong family in Xiao City, right?"

Nangong Peng was a step slow. "What rules?"

Qi Hua sneered, "Those who commit treachery are to be executed by all!"

Nangong Peng looked blank. "Is that rule even real? I don't remember it!"

Nangong He glared at his younger brother and turned to ask Qi Hua, "When have we committed treachery? What proof do you have that we colluded with outsiders?"

This was the reason the Nangong brothers were so emboldened. Those pseudo-aliens were not members of the Nangong family. Even if people suspected they had ulterior motives, as long as Nangong Ao couldn't find proof, he couldn't do anything to them.

The same went for Qi Hua!