Chapter 71: Who Dares Lay a Hand on Him!-Just Came Down the Mountain and Was Surrounded by Beautiful Senior Sisters(A Lonely Scene on the Desert)

As soon as the words fell, the wind seemed to surge from all sides.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

In an instant, he was surrounded on all sides by strangers in various uniforms, sealing every escape route.

There were the Crimson Vermilion Bird Squad, the Black-clad Black Tortoise Clan, the Azure Dragon Society in their suits.

And the White Tiger Faction as well.

The four great families surged forward, their numbers swelling to at least a thousand elite fighters.

A closer look would reveal over a dozen experts at the Beidou Realm among them.

"Young Master Ye, your influence on the major clans is too great. If we let you leave easily, we'll invite trouble in the future," Huang Qiu'er said coldly, her gaze sweeping across the restless crowd. "So, we're giving you a choice."

"Either you choose one of us and leave safely, or you’ll meet your end here today."

She glanced around. "I suppose the other families share this sentiment?"

"Heh, is that all?" Ye Tian sneered, making no move to act. Instead, he laughed mockingly, "Do you really think a motley crew like this can stop me?"

"Big words for such a young man!" The thin elder who had been wounded before laughed in anger. "There should be a limit to your arrogance!"

"We represent the four directions. If you walk away today, you might as well give up your place in the Dragon Kingdom!"

Tension filled the air at his words, sharp as drawn blades.

"What the hell? Weren’t they just negotiating a moment ago? How did it turn to threats of violence so quickly?" muttered a bewildered bystander.

"You don’t get it. This is strategy. The Four Celestial Beasts always act like this—if they can win you over, they will; if not, they eliminate you. They call it eliminating all potential threats."

"Damn, that’s ruthless..."

...

"Wait!" At that moment, Tang Long pushed through the crowd.

Without a word, he drew out the Black Iron General’s Badge, a symbol of the Old Master’s authority. "In the presence of this badge, it is as if the Grand General of the Northern Expedition stands before you!"

"Everyone, Ye Tian is the savior of my adoptive father, General Tang Zhen’guo, and the leader of the Northern Expedition Army. I hope you’ll give my father this favor!"

"A General’s Badge? Tang Long actually carries it with him—he really came prepared!"

The crowd turned, shocked.

The weight of Tang Zhen’guo’s name was enough to make even the leaders of the Four Directions tremble.

Tang Long had revealed the badge, signaling he would protect Ye Tian to the death.

"Wait—Ye Tian!" Only now did someone notice the incongruity.

"Did you notice? Tang Long called him Ye Tian, not Ye Qiu!"

"Ye Tian—the outcast of the Central Plains Ye Family, the one who’s been making headlines lately."

"So Ye Qiu is actually Ye Tian!"

Others were quick to connect the dots. At the mention of that name, Ye Qiu’s figure overlapped with the rebellious and infamous Ye Tian.

"You!" Gu Qing’er’s face froze, disbelief filling her eyes.

"Yes, I am Ye Tian." Ye Tian rolled his eyes at Tang Long, then shrugged helplessly, admitting it.

"Heh, so Ye Qiu was Ye Tian all along. No wonder Tang Long would go so far as to use the General’s Badge to protect you," the thin elder sneered. "But what of it? You injured the Young Master of the Li Family. Unless the Old Master himself comes to beg for you, you have no right to leave!"

"Indeed," Zhu Feng chimed in with a laugh. "With our four factions united, killing one man is a simple matter. The Old Master hardly has the energy to deal with us all individually."

"What, you people don’t even respect the General’s Badge anymore?" Tang Long exploded in anger. He hadn’t expected the Four Celestial Beasts to have become so brazen.

"Heh, how could we dare? We certainly respect the Old Master’s authority. But Young Master Ye injured someone in public. We’re simply seeking an explanation," the thin elder said slyly, his face creased with cunning.

He wasn’t wrong; in the Dragon Kingdom, as long as their reasons were justified, even Tang Zhen’guo couldn’t act against them without cause.

With this, the four factions’ momentum grew even stronger.

The encirclement tightened once more. Huang Qiu’er spoke directly: "Whether you’re Ye Tian or Young Master Ye Qiu, you must choose. On behalf of the Huang Family, I promise: if you choose me, I’ll guarantee your safety for life from this moment on."

"Young Master Ye."

"Choose me. The Vermilion Bird Squad has brought enough people. Under my protection, nothing will happen to you!"

"Choose me—this is Azure Dragon Society territory!"

"Ye Tian..."

Seeing the predatory gazes of the White Tiger Faction and the eager eyes of the other three organizations, Gu Qing’er fell silent, guilt gnawing at her heart.

The Gu Family was insignificant compared to these great powers. They hadn’t even brought many people to the auction this time.

She could do nothing to help Ye Tian.

And it was her fault that Ye Tian had been drawn into this storm to begin with.

"I said, I’ll choose none of you!" Facing a blockade of Beidou Realm experts and martial artists, Ye Tian still wore a cold sneer.

"Do you really think this pathetic lot can stop me?"

"Good! I was waiting for you to say that!" The White Tiger expert’s eyes lit up with glee.

The Li Family had long harbored a grudge against Ye Tian—his death would be a blessing!

Since the boy was so stubborn, he was happy to oblige.

The White Tiger experts surged forward without hesitation, blades gleaming as they rushed at Ye Tian.

"Stop!"

A loud shout erupted from Ye Tian’s side.

Jiang Cheng, trembling, pulled out a cloud-patterned token engraved with the character "Jiang" and cried, "The Jiang Family of the capital will protect Ye Tian with our lives!"

"Anyone who dares harm Ye Tian today—I swear, as the legitimate son of the Jiang Family, that none of our businesses will ever work with you again!"

The crowd erupted.

The Jiang Family—scions of Beijing, with assets in the trillions—he was the favored fourth son, and he was here!

The Jiang Family was not an ancient martial clan, but their financial power was formidable. More terrifying was the backer behind the family: the Crown Prince’s faction in the capital—an unassailable force!

"Jiang Family? You’re Jiang Cheng, the favored fourth son of the family head!"

The thin elder’s face stiffened, his hands pausing mid-action.

"That’s right! I never change my name or hide my face!" Jiang Cheng shouted boldly, though his legs trembled, threatening to give out at any moment.

Heavens, these martial artists are terrifying!

Master, oh master, your disciple is really putting everything on the line for you today!

"Heh, Young Master Jiang is bold indeed."

The White Tiger Faction’s members hesitated, lowering their weapons.

The Jiang Family was a hard nut to crack. Offending them could mean having their economic lifeline strangled, limiting their development everywhere.

But Ye Tian—a youth already at the Beidou Realm—if they let him go now, what if he broke through to the Martial King Realm and came back for revenge?

As the crowd wavered—

A clear, commanding voice came from the distance.

"Who dares lay a finger on him!"