Chapter 189: Repeatedly Beaten

He hadn't finished speaking when, upon seeing the newcomer clearly, he jerked upright, stammering, 'Flower... Flower Shopkeeper, how could it be you?'

Hua Xiangxi was equally stunned, looking at Kong Qing with a face full of disbelief as she blurted, 'How could it be you?'

Chu Yue, following behind Hua Xiangxi, impatiently pointed a finger at Lin Yang and shouted, 'Sister Xiangxi, it was him who hit me!'

Lin Yang slowly turned his head, his gaze calm as water.

Hua Xiangxi trembled all over the instant she saw Lin Yang.

A strong sense of unease surged into her heart instantly.

She had booked the Heavenly Character Room No. 2 early precisely to gain Lin Yang's favor and thereby obtain the improved recipe for Hero's Liquor.

But now, in order to back Chu Yue, she has come to blows with Lin Yang.

Lin Yang's expression was indifferent as he softly asked, 'Do you know her?'

Hua Xiangxi felt a jolt in her heart; from Lin Yang's seemingly calm tone she keenly sensed that he had already grown angry.

However.

Before she could even open her mouth to explain, Chu Yue beside her started nagging again, saying, 'Hmph, brat, do you know? You've offended someone you shouldn't have!'

'I am the daughter of the Sect Leader of the Zhongzhou Great Dao Sect; my father and Sister Xiangxi are close friends—you just hit me, you're dead!'

'Now, kneel and apologize immediately!'

Chu Yue's words came rapid-fire, leaving Hua Xiangxi feeling dizzy and breathless.

'Chu Yue, shut up!'

Hua Xiangxi finally couldn't hold back and shouted sternly.

But Chu Yue, as if she hadn't heard, continued on her own: 'Sister Xiangxi, there's nothing to fear—with you and my father, no one in the world dares to mess with us!'

'Pa!'

With a crisp sound, Hua Xiangxi raised her hand and slapped Chu Yue so hard she flew away.

She then quickly turned, respectfully facing Lin Yang and said, 'Young Master Lin, although I know this person, we are not really close.'

……

Outside the door.

'Bang!'

Chu Yue, who had just fallen to the ground, stared in shock and shouted, 'Sister Xiangxi, aren't you friends with my father? How can you say you don't know me?'

'Bang!'

Hua Xiangxi didn't even glance at Chu Yue, strode forward and slammed the private room door shut, completely blocking out Chu Yue's shouting.

Afterward.

She turned again, sincere expression toward Lin Yang, and said, 'Young Master Lin, I'm truly sorry for the trouble.'

Lin Yang's expression remained calm as he gently shook his head and said, 'It's fine.'

But a doubt arose in his heart: why would members of the Great Dao Sect suddenly appear here?

After all, his third disciple Zhou Tianming hated the Great Dao Sect to the core, and he had previously killed the Sect's Steward Liu.

What could be their purpose in coming this time?

After being slapped away by Hua Xiangxi, Chu Yue rolled awkwardly on the ground twice.

As the daughter of the Great Dao Sect's Sect Leader, she had first been inexplicably beaten by some unknown brat, and now she was struck again by Hua Xiangxi.

Why is this happening?

Filled with confusion and resentment, she just couldn't figure it out.

In her understanding, Hua Xiangxi had always been her father's close friend and often looked after her, so what happened today?

Chu Yue's doubts were tangled like a skein of thread, yet these complicated reasons were hardly something she could easily work out.

Since Hua Xiangxi was no longer reliable, she could only place her hope in Jiang Yuehuo now.

She suppressed her anger and grievance.

She shouted at the nearby attendant, 'Go, call your President Jiang—I want to see her!'

As a young lady of the Zhongzhou Great Clan, Chu Yue's connections were naturally extensive.

She knew that Jiang Yuehuo also had a close relationship with her father.

Having been bullied on Jiang Yuehuo's turf, how could Jiang Yuehuo possibly stand by and do nothing?

The attendant once again showed hesitation and difficulty.

She was hesitating, not knowing what to do.

A clear voice rang out.

'No need, I'm here.'

Only Jiang Yuehuo was seen walking over with graceful, steady steps.

She was tall and lovely, her figure graceful, a long scarlet robe fluttering in the wind.

The robe was embroidered with exquisite golden patterns that gleamed luxuriously in the light, further enhancing her extraordinary presence.

Her face was cold yet stunning, her eyes deep like icy stars; beneath her high nose lay a beautifully curved thin lip, now slightly pursed, exuding undeniable authority.

Upon seeing Jiang Yuehuo, Chu Yue clung to her like a drowning person grasping at a last straw, her eyes reddening and her voice trembling with urgency as she spoke.

'President Jiang, you must certainly uphold justice for me! I just——'

'Pa!'

Before Chu Yue could finish her words, her face was struck hard with a slap.

The slap came so suddenly it left her head ringing.

She covered her red, swollen cheek, her eyes full of shock and bewilderment, instinctively nodding and mechanically saying, 'Yes.'

But then.

She suddenly came to her senses and shouted, "No, President Jiang, why did you hit me?"

"I was just beaten by that bastard inside and Hua Xiangxi; you have to stand up for me..."

Before she could finish speaking, Chu Yue received a solid slap across the face from Jiang Yuehuo.

Jiang Yuehuo's eyes were icy as frost, his voice carrying a bone‑chilling cold: "Chu Yue, considering your father and I once knew each other, I originally didn't want to quarrel with you."

"But if you dare insult the people inside again, I won't let it go!"

Hearing Jiang Yuehuo's words, Chu Yue froze in place, her mind going blank.

She just couldn't understand—wasn't Jiang Yuehuo supposed to come and back her up?

How could he instead be helping that unknown kid to target her?

"President Jiang, have you got it wrong?" Chu Yue's voice trembled, full of disbelief.

Jiang Yuehuo's eyes narrowed, sweeping toward Chu Yue like a sharp blade, and he said coldly: "The person inside is my honored guest; if you still want to continue bidding on the Lion King Bone, you'd better follow the rules!"

"But..." Chu Yue, unwilling to give up, tried to explain further.

"Enough!" Jiang Yuehuo mercilessly cut her off.

He then strode forward, shoved open the private room's door, leaving Chu Yue alone, dazed and dejected, standing there.

Chu Yue watched Jiang Yuehuo's retreating back, her sense of injustice and anger reaching a peak.

She simply couldn't understand—being the daughter of the Sect Leader of the Great Dao Sect, she was usually fawned over wherever she went, but today Hua Xiangxi and Jiang Yuehuo showed no favoritism toward her.

Instead, they went to protect a complete stranger.

Why on earth is that?

These questions kept echoing in her mind.

Full of resentment and confusion, like a surging tide, it completely engulfed her……………