Chapter 1838: 1835: Hong Long’s Provocation!

Chapter 1838: Chapter 1835: Hong Long’s Provocation!

Outside Zhao Village, hundreds of people had already gathered at this moment.

A large flag bearing the character “Hong” was fluttering in the wind.

Under the banner stood a burly man with a broad back, wearing very festive clothing, and when he laughed with his mouth wide open, the flesh on his face trembled.

This man was none other than the third young master of the Hong Family, Hong Biao!

“Lord Zhao, I am here to propose marriage, please open the gate!”

As soon as he finished speaking, the drummers beside him started to play.

Amidst the sound of drums, the Zhao Family members surged towards this side.

Manor Master Zhao Yuan, along with Zhao Zhigao and Zhao Qinglan, were among them.

Li Chen mingled within the crowd, intending to see what exactly was happening.

When Hong Biao saw Zhao Yuan come out, he cupped his hands and greeted him.

“Lord Zhao, I have come today to propose marriage to Miss Qinglan, and I hope you will help make this happen. I, Hong Biao, will certainly reward you handsomely!”

Before Zhao Yuan could reply, Zhao Qinglan, standing beside him, glared sharply and shouted in a stern voice.

“Hong Biao, you should give up on this idea. I, Zhao Qinglan, would rather marry a dog than marry you!”

Upon hearing Zhao Qinglan’s words, the members of the Hong Family Village immediately stirred into an uproar.

“Lord Zhao, even if a marriage alliance between the Zhao and Hong families is impossible, there is no need to insult people this way, is there?”

At that moment, a tall and imposing young man spoke coldly.

Seeing this person, Zhao Yuan and the others were greatly surprised.

“Hong Long? Wasn’t he at the Imperial College studying? How is he back?”

Upon hearing the Zhao family’s exclamations, Hong Biao pompously stated, “You all don’t know yet, do you? My elder brother has already become a disciple of the Imperial College’s tutor, Wuo Liang. He came back to share the good news!”

Upon hearing this from Hong Biao, the people of Zhao Village were all dumbfounded.

Though they didn’t know who Wuo Liang was, becoming an Imperial College tutor, at the very least, required being a Great Power of the Nascent Soul Realm.

Such a person is not someone a small Zhao Village could afford to offend.

If Zhao Village refuses this marriage, it would mean a serious offense against the Hong Family Village. If they decide to make trouble for them, it would be all too easy.

Hong Long looked at Zhao Yuan with considerable arrogance and said, “Lord Zhao, I wonder if you will agree to my third brother’s proposal?”

At this point, Zhao Yuan was in a difficult position.

If he didn’t agree, he would definitely seriously offend Hong Long.

This guy, like his father Hong Tao, is someone who would repay even the smallest grudge.

If that happens, it’s not just their family that will suffer; it might even implicate the entire Zhao Village.

But if he agreed?

Hong Biao is just a domineering scoundrel. If Qinglan were to marry him, it would be akin to pushing her into a fiery pit.

As a father, he couldn’t bear it!

Seeing her father’s expression, Zhao Qinglan’s previous rebelliousness vanished.

She clutched her mother’s hem nervously and pitifully said, “Mother, you and father both know what kind of person Hong Biao is. I don’t want to marry him!”

As she spoke, her voice even carried a hint of tears.

Seeing this scene, Li Chen felt a pang of empathy.

“Miss Qinglan doesn’t wish to marry, so why force her?”

Upon hearing Li Chen’s words, everyone present was stunned.

Whether from Zhao Village or Hong Family Village, all eyes turned sharply towards him.

Hong Biao, seeing someone dare to interfere with his affair, shouted harshly, “Who are you to meddle in my business?”

As he spoke, his fiery temper flared, and he was about to swing his whip at Li Chen.

Li Chen’s quick reflexes allowed him to grab the whip that Hong Biao swung over.

Seeing his whip caught in Li Chen’s hand, Hong Biao burst into rage.

However, regardless of how much effort he exerted, he couldn’t retrieve the whip.

Just as Hong Biao’s pig-like face turned beet red, Li Chen suddenly pulled hard with a flick of his wrist.

A series of agonized screams were heard, and Hong Biao tumbled from his horse, falling flat on the ground.

The fall left him dizzy and bruised, with a face covered in bruises.

Hong Biao crawled to Hong Long’s feet, crying and complaining with tears and snot.

“Brother, he hit me! You have to avenge me!”

Seeing his brother in such a miserable state, Hong Long was immediately consumed with rage.

He stared at Li Chen angrily and demanded in a stern voice, “Brother, you seem unfamiliar. You aren’t from Zhao Village, are you?”

Seeing the situation, Zhao Yuan hurried to mediate.

“This young man is named Li Chen, and he is a guest of honor in our Zhao Village!”

Hearing Zhao Yuan’s words, Hong Long scrutinized Li Chen and sneered derisively.

“Heh, Lord Zhao, it seems you’ve grown foolish with age, allowing a rural boy to become a guest of honor in Zhao Village!”

After speaking, he turned to the people from Hong Family Village behind him and said, “Brothers, don’t you agree with what I said?”

“The young master is right, the young master is right, absolutely right!”

Before Hong Long’s voice had finished echoing, the people from Hong Family Village immediately echoed in agreement, bursting into laughter.

The people of Zhao Village all wore expressions of intense anger.

Hong Long pointed at Hong Biao on the ground and shouted at Li Chen, “Brother, attacking my brother in broad daylight—do you think my Hong Family Village has no people? Do you think I, Hong Long, don’t exist?”

Li Chen, not one to show weakness, sneered coldly.

“Heh, he was the one to start it. If he’s not as skilled and embarrasses himself, who else has he to blame?”

Hearing Li Chen’s retort, Hong Long was immediately infuriated to the extreme.

He laughed in anger, clenching his teeth, and said, “So, not as skilled, eh? Today, I want to see what skills you, a rural boy, actually have!”

As he spoke, he shook his arm, and a gleaming silver spear pointed towards Li Chen.

Seeing Hong Long about to act at the slightest disagreement, everyone present was shocked.

Hong Long was already known as the foremost young talent within a thousand miles.

Now that he had become the disciple of the Imperial College’s tutor, Wuo Liang, his cultivation must have advanced by leaps and bounds.

If he made a move against Li Chen, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Zhao Yuan, worried that the situation might escalate with no way to resolve it, hurried forward to intervene: “Young Master, there’s no need for this. On behalf of Li Chen, I apologize to you!”

Saying this, he slightly bowed to Hong Long as an apology.

However, Hong Long was not the least bit appeased; his sullen gaze emitted a chilling glow as he said angrily, “Lord Zhao, you are an elder. Since you have spoken, in principle, I, Hong Long, should give you this face!”

“How about this: make that kid kneel and kowtow three times to my brother, then I’ll let him go. What do you say?”