In truth, who would dare?

"Who are you? Calling someone else your pet, just where did you learn social convention?"

Li Zhen Yue was the first to respond, directing an inquisitive look towards the silver-haired youth. Wang Xing and Lin Shi Meng both dragged Su Yuan'er behind them, preparing their terminals to alert the police.

"There's no need to hesitate," the youth replied calmly, gesturing towards Lin Shi Meng and Wang Xing. "Do call the police, I indeed wish to meet them sometime."

"So? Little pet, when will you finally become obedient? Do I have seriously have to punish you?"

His teal irises mired with mirth, the youth extended his right hand towards Su Yuan'er, dragging his index finger back and forth before her countenance poking from behind Lin Shi Meng's shoulder. Seeing the motion, her face paled, her body shaking with anger and fear as she bitterly spat at him.

"Nalan Qing. What will it take to leave me alone?" she hissed, her lucid orbs scattering sparks of anger and humiliation. Towards the girl who struggled to leap forward and tear the man before her apart, Li Mo Shang placed his palm gently on her shoulder, firmly stopping her body in place.

When she looked up to him in surprise, all she received was a blank stare in return, and clarity slowly returned. Observing Li Mo Shang's action, particularly his hand resting on Su Yuan'er's shoulder, the silver-haired youth's eyes flashed with a hint of anger, quickly vanishing into the ever-present amusement.

"Dear young sir, don't you think it's rather…inappropriate to touch another person's property without requesting permission?"

Nalan Qing thinly smiled as he spoke, his lilting voice echoing in the now silent mall. Raising an eyebrow, Li Mo Shang could hear the various murmurs of the spectators, the light flashing of terminals recording the scene before them entering his vision.

"Did that silver-haired handsome just say…property? So she's that kind of girl?"

"To be sold to another at this time and age…what an unfortunate child. Pity, such children usually have an unspeakable problem to be sold in the first place."

"But…she said Nalan…Qing? Nalan? The Imperial Family of Nan Qing's third prince?"

"Impossible! Why would royalty come here to Blue Rose? They're usually cooped up in the Forbidden City!"

"If it's an Imperial Highness, especially that of Nan Qing…I wish I could be sold into that family as well…"

Pondering lightly for a brief moment, his dark irises glinted with a hint of amusement as he stepped forward, placing his bags onto the floor as he lightly spoke.

"Nalan Qing…I must say, for his Imperial Highness to be so invested into a single person at this lowly city…they must be rather special? However, what does his Highness mean with the moniker of a pet?"

Nalan Qing raised furrowed his brow, a thin smirk arising on his pale countenance as he leered at Su Yuan'er. Seeing the devilish smile directed at her, Su Yuan'er trembled as she hid behind Lin Shi Meng, an uncomfortable premonition rising in her heart. As expected, his languished voice proved her fears, tears glimmering in her eyes as she hid her head.

"Why, simply because I have an ownership deed in my possession, presented by her parents since a few years ago. I believe…yes, it should be presented to properly function as evidence, no?"

Reaching into his robe, Nalan Qing withdrew a terminal of embossed platinum, fiddling with its screen with his slender fingers. Laying the terminal flat on his left palm and placing a small prism on top, a large hologram shot towards the sky, the contents visible from the fringes of the surrounding crowd.

With a single look, Su Yuan'er's countenance became a deathly white, her body lightly trembling as Li Zhen Yue quickly rushed to support her. Beyond, the mall exploded into chaos as the crowd began chattering with fervor, the content of the hologram broadcasted to many social networks within mere moments.

"Shit, so her parents actually sold their daughter as a slave, that's messed up! We're not citizens of Bei Yan Long!"

"Technically, they're not breaking any precedents…since we also permit ownership deeds. Who would have expected it to be used on a person?"

"Right, and it's even done by an imperial prince! Still, she's such a beauty, I suppose any method is available if you're that desperate?"

"Quiet! The government's lurking nearby, watch that you don't lose your head!"

The silver-haired youth lightly chuckled, his voice instantly calming the crowd's uproar. Walking towards a nearby pillar to place down his terminal, he angled the prism above to retain the hologram's position, before turning towards Li Mo Shang.

"Let's see…sold at age fifteen by her parents, Surnamed Su, gifted Yuan'er. Born in the Forbidden City in the seventh month on the thirteenth day. Though with ordinary childhood, her identity was claimed as collateral for failure to pay debts to a loan corporation, then bought by the Nalan Imperial Family three years ago, on the third month, seventh day…Oh? Looking at the terms here, it seems that she was sold to – "

"Stop!"

"Enough! Abusing your authority like that, do you think the Imperial Family can endlessly condone such behavior!?"

"-provide sexual services, serve the party of purchase in all forms ordered, and display no signs of disobedience or non-committance. If you…read the lowermost term, that one right there, it permits the owner of the deed to exercise all levels of authority if failure to uphold the contract's terms has occurred. I say, young sir, since she has clearly violated all possible terms on this deed by running away the day after I purchased her, don't you agree that my actions now are rather reasonable? All I'm doing is reclaiming my property, there shouldn't be a problem with that, no?"

Ignoring Su Yuan'er's shrill shriek and Wang Xing's protest, Nalan Qing continued speaking, even listing each term displayed on the hologram. Whenever he paused, another wave of murmuring and flashing of terminals within the crowd issued, instantly quelled when the silver-haired youth spoke once more.

From Su Yuan'er's identification details to a detailed image of her dressed in a grey straitjacket with a look of absolute misery, countless articles of sensitive information presented without inhibition to the crowd. Gazing at the large hologram in the air, Li Mo Shang coughed lightly, his clear voice directly cutting off Nalan Qing's speech.

"…I believe that is going a little too far? Does collecting property involve publicly disseminating information that could comparably ruin a person's reputation and identity?"

"Of course, this wouldn't be regarded as appropriate if it were any other circumstance. This prince has presented such abhorrent behavior, that must be remedied soon, ah!"

Replying with a casual tone, Nalan Qing rested his hand on the amplifying prism. Glancing at Li Mo Shang, his eyes narrowed, maintaining a polite smile as he lightly questioned. However, Li Mo Shang could see the veins on his wrist fiercely pulsing beneath the purple sleeve, a clear indication of anger.

"However, this prince is indeed curious at young sir's regard for my property. Have the two of you…been in a relationship per chance, to be so defensive and upright?"

"…I guess you could indeed say that, although I would have to attach the prefix of 'nominal' to such a title."

Hearing Li Mo Shang's answer, the silver-haired youth broke into a peal of laughter, his body trembling as he amusedly glanced at Su Yuan'er to observe her reaction. Seeing that her countenance had indeed drained of blood, utterly white as snow, he released a satisfied chuckle before removing the prism and keeping his terminal.

The hologram vanished as the connection was terminated, no longer displaying any scandalous information to the public. However, the damage was already complete, sealing the future roads in her life with an impeccable barrier.

Losing control over her body, Su Yuan'er's legs gave out as she collapsed onto the floor, dragging Li Zhen Yue along as the former revealed a hapless and forlorn expression, trapped in a mental haze.

"'Nominal'…that's rather an interesting title, quite a rare penchant nowadays. I do wonder however, just how dedicated to your relationship –"

"'Nominal' is merely an identifier, similar to an imperial prince. Why should it bear such great significance? Although, I do wish to say something in return."

"Oh? Then this prince shall-" Just as Nalan Qing began to speak, Li Mo Shang's cold voice cut through, leaving the prince flustered and enraged. However, his next words caused cold sweat to flow down his neck, terror replacing his indignation.

"Since the Imperial Highness enjoys placing great importance onto words and titles, then this Li shall do the same. From this day henceforth, the Nalan Imperial Family will no longer receive medicinal support from the Li Family. Such is the title this Li shall bestow onto his Imperial Highness."

"Who dares disgrace his Imperial Highness and the Nalan Imperial Family!?"

A sharp shout rang out from within the crowd, people pushed aside as Baili Ming Zhen strode into the clearing followed by several men in black, plain uniforms. When Li Mo Shang noticed the trailing men's uniforms matched that of the ones he had previously spotted at Golden Tail Mall and later before the Magnolia Dormitory in the midnight, his gaze gradually became glacial.

His hands twitching as spiritual qi unconsciously coiled around them, Li Mo Shang quickly reverted his countenance to an indifferent expression, hoping to conceal his anger. Reaching into his pocket to finger the surface of his terminal, Li Mo Shang thumbed over a protruding button near the edge.

Quickly pressing it thrice, he withdrew his hand from his pocket, noticing that Baili Ming Zhen had closed the distance between them.

"Impudent! Not displaying respect before the Imperial Family, are you intending on rebelling against Nan Qing!?" Baili Ming Zhen's voice thundered throughout the entire area, quelling the crowd's murmuring into a deathly silence.

Though the men in the black uniforms behind him did not carry around any projectile weapons, the imposing aura emitted by them caused silence to reign, even Li Zhen Yue's enraged countenance paling from the intimidation. Leveling his gaze to land directly onto Bali Ming Zhen's countenance, Li Mo Shang gently spread his hands apart to his sides, his voice adopting a similarly leisurely tone.

"I don't believe my Li Family was ever…under a family's reign?" he spoke, raising an eyebrow towards the gradually ashen Nalan Qing.

"Perhaps, if we were under a nation's rule, then they must be the greatest power on Blue Flame World. I wonder if your Nalan Imperial Family possesses such a title?"

"…The Li Family of medicine? That legendary familial clan? Daring to claim yourself as one of them, how bold!" Baili Ming Zhen said, his expression stern and of righteousness as he glared at Li Mo Shang.

"Division! Arrest this man for the charge of impersonating the –"

"Not only do I claim myself as one, I am indeed a member of that Li Family," Li Mo Shang spoke softly, his voice ringing in everyone's ears.

Reaching into his shirt, he lifted forth a nephrite jade pendant, exposing it to the view of the public. Engraved onto the pendant was a pillcase

encompassing the character 'Li'.

When Li Mo Shang lightly tapped the pendant's surface, the inscription lit up with a light-blue glow. The pendant fully within his vision, Baili Ming Zhen abruptly froze, turning to Nalan Qing with a helpless expression on his countenance.

"It would be safe to assume that the pendant is authentic," he spoke in a hushed tone, worry displayed on the man's face. "Otherwise, he would only have dug an inescapable pitfall for himself, imposing as a member of that family before so many people."

Nalan Qing's expression fluctuated between that of being strained and anguished as he narrowed his eyes, glaring towards Li Mo Shang. Releasing a huge sigh after a long moment, he shook his head as he turned to leave.

"This prince shall acquiesce to you!" he spoke in a resigned manner, waving towards Baili Ming Zhen to follow. Arching his head back to glance at Su Yuan'er, his voice echoed throughout the area, a sinister intent underlying within the placid tone.

"As for you, you will come with me. This prince will not accept any dissuasion this time."

However, he had traveled for less than five steps, when Li Mo Shang's indifferent voice rang out, causing the former to halt and tremble with anger, a sweet and salty taste welling in his throat.

"Although, this Li does indeed have some grievances to exchange with the prince. This Li simply wished to ask, just when did my nominal partner become someone else's property? In truth, who would even dare do such a thing?"