Chapter 276: Making An Appearance
Xiahou Rongyao and Xiahou Rongguang were biological brothers, both sons of Xiahou Bushang. Their builds were slightly taller than their older brother, and they were even more imposing and arrogant, completely ignoring the disciples of the various clans who surrounded them, not giving them any face at all.
Xiahou Rongda was the younger cousin of Xiahou Rongguang, grandson of Xiahou Li. There wasn’t as much arrogance in his features, but there was a trace of sinister look that made people uncomfortable to look at.
There was also Xiahou Rongsheng, grandson of Xiahou Lei. Although his build was the tallest, he was the least conspicuous standing behind his three older brothers. But upon closer observation, one could still see the stubborn look in his eyes, as if he had heavy worries.
The four proud sons of heaven from the Xiahou Clan did not immediately pay attention to the disciples of the various clans, but instead bowed and looked towards the last carriage.
A few coughs came from that carriage. Amid the coughing, a pale and thin hand gripped the door frame and exerted a little force, and Xiahou Bupo’s face, full of illness yet unable to hide its gentle and refined demeanor, appeared before everyone.
Upon seeing one of the Xiahou Four Heroes unexpectedly arriving in person, the people from the various clans were immediately awed in their hearts, thinking to themselves: ‘The Xiahou Clan is determined to win this time!’
But it made sense, as the Xiahou Clan’s prestige had just been swept away in the Battle of Mount Mang, so they certainly wouldn’t miss this good opportunity to restore their reputation.
The peers from the various clans who had led their disciples here then led their own disciples to bow in salute to Xiahou Bupo.
“Ah, everyone, no need for that.” Xiahou Bupo waved his hand and smiled faintly at those peers: “Today is the day for the young people to shine. We shouldn’t steal their spotlight.” It was still early, the gates of the Ministry of Personnel were tightly closed, and they still needed to wait a while before opening for registration.
The Xie Clan was led by Xie Ju. Hearing this, he laughed and said: “Exactly, exactly. Let’s step aside and not steal the young people’s thunder.”
“Well said,” the Pei Clan was led by Pei Yukou. He teased Xie Ju: “The girls are here to check out their prospective grooms. Who cares about us old vegetables?”
“Hahaha, not necessarily. The older the wine, the better it tastes. Maybe some girls are just into this type.” Xie Ju laughed and retorted. Everyone burst into laughter, but they still moved to the side, leaving the center of the field for the young men.
With the elders gone, the young men felt much more at ease, and even the four from the Xiahou Clan relaxed. Xiahou Rongguang glanced at the people from the Xie Clan and Pei Clan and said indifferently: “Where is Cui Baiyu?”
“Doesn’t Big Brother Xiahou know?” Xie Jin from the Xie Clan laughed upon hearing this: “With Young Master Baiyu’s popularity, he won’t arrive unless those female hooligans hold him up until noon.”
“That’s true…” A smile appeared on Xiahou Rongguang’s face as he said: “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen that kid. I forgot he’s the heartthrob of the girls in Luojing City.”
“I hope his martial arts haven’t regressed because of it.” Pei Yuanshao, the eldest young master of the Pei Clan, said coldly with a hint of jealousy: “Otherwise, he’s in for it this time.” Pei Yuanshao had a tall build and heroic spirit, but the only problem was that he had inherited the family’s skin tone—his face was dark and shiny, completely not matching the aesthetics of the young ladies in Luojing City, so he had always been quite unhappy with Cui Baiyu, who was as handsome as Pan An.
“I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed.” Xie Mo, the eldest young master of the Xie Clan, interjected coldly: “Cui Baiyu has been in seclusion for a year, devoting himself to the sword. His cultivation is definitely much improved. You couldn’t beat him back then, and I’m afraid this time it’ll be a scholar moving house.”
“Worry about yourself first.” Pei Yuanshao’s expression turned cold upon hearing this. Before he could speak, the second young master Pei Yuanjun behind him said coldly: “You Xies are either wastes like Xie Tian or Xie Bo, or cowards like you who get scared before even fighting!”
“What do you mean by that?” Xie Fa and Xie Lan from the Xie Clan turned furious and stepped forward to stand beside Xie Mo and Xie Jin. Pei Yuanji and Pei Yuanyan also immediately stood beside Pei Yuanshao and Pei Yuanjun, looking ready to fight at the slightest disagreement.
Xie Ju and Pei Yukou were talking with Xiahou Bupo on the side when they heard the commotion and looked over.
“Haha, youth is truly wonderful.” Xie Ju laughed: “Full of vital energy!”
“They’ve already entered Grand Competition mode,” Pei Yukou also laughed: “Just don’t have fatalities before the competition even starts.”
“If they really get crippled, it’s not a bad thing.” Xiahou Bupo smiled faintly: “Better than suffering a crushing defeat on stage and losing face for the clan.”
“That’s true.” Everyone deeply agreed, then withdrew their gazes and continued chatting idly, with no intention of intervening.
.
“What is this?!” Seeing the Pei Clan and Xie Clan about to come to blows over words, Xiahou Rongguang stepped forward, walked between the two sides, and looked at them coldly: “If you want to fight, go back and do it. Making a fuss here just gives others a laugh!”
As he spoke, he glanced with his peripheral vision at the Wei Clan and Huangfu Family group standing in the distance.
“Exactly, the competition starts in three days. Why rush at this moment?” Xiahou Rongyao stood beside his brother, and the two released their momentum, actually suppressing the two sides.
At this moment, there was a hubbub of voices outside the gate, and the surrounding women let out excited screams: “He’s here, he’s here!”
“Young Master, show your true face!”
“Young Master, I want to bear your child!”
This chaotic shouting from the women completely dispelled the fighting spirit of both sides. Xie Mo and the others turned their gazes towards the gate: “It must be Cui Baiyu arriving!”
“Of course, who else has such charm.” Xie Jin laughed: “Pei Yuanshao, your main target is here. If you have the guts, go at him.”
Pei Yuanshao snorted coldly and also looked towards the gate. He wanted to see just how much Cui Baiyu had progressed.
Unexpectedly, he was stunned, because the one who arrived was not a carriage from the Cui Clan.
That silver-white clan emblem shone brightly in the sunlight—it was clearly a carriage from the Lu Clan.
At this time, the officials opened the gate, and the Lu Clan’s guards finally cleared a path through the crowd of frenzied women to bring the carriage into the large flat ground.
Seeing that the person in the carriage didn’t show his face, the girls grew even more excited, grabbing the carriage and refusing to let go, shouting: “Young Master Lu, let us see you!”
Under the collective effort of the women, the carriage couldn’t move forward. From inside the carriage, Lu Wei said with a bitter smile: “Just show your face. Otherwise, we’ll never get in.”
“…” The young master being crazily pursued by countless women had no choice but to reluctantly open the carriage window, squeeze out a strained smile, and wave to the outside.
This extremely ordinary series of actions instantly ignited the atmosphere in the field.
The young ladies surrounding the carriage were dazzled one by one, clutching their flushed cheeks and screaming happily: “Ah! Young Master Lu looked at me!”
“Young Master Lu looked at me!”
“Young Master Lu waved at me! Young Master Lu, I’m here!” Many girls desperately waved at Young Master Lu, so blissful they were nearly fainting.
At this time, the young ladies covered their faces or waved their hands, finally unconsciously letting go of the carriage.
“What are you standing around for!” Lu Wei seized this fleeting opportunity and gave a low shout.
The guards hurriedly whipped the horse’s rear hard, taking advantage of the girls’ delayed reaction to drive the carriage inside the gate.
The soldiers from the Ministry of Personnel immediately braced the gate to prevent those overly infatuated girls from rushing in.
“Who is this?” Xiahou Rongguang and the others looked at each other in bewilderment. They had been in closed-door cultivation for the past year and a half and had no idea that someone on par with Cui Baiyu had appeared in Luojing City.
“He is Lu Yun.” Xiahou Bupo had somehow come to stand beside the Xiahou Brothers. Looking at the handsome youth descending from the carriage, he smiled and said: “You all should get along well.”
