Chapter 36： Targeted

The news of Lin Feng's invitation to Ye Shuixian and her companions quickly spread throughout the academy, causing a stir.

Those who were not invited also gathered near the Wind Bamboo Forest, observing from outside.

"Senior Brother Lin Feng is the top genius of the academy, and he has a fondness for Princess Shuixian. With him taking the lead, he will surely be able to humiliate those ants from the Ye family's branch and drive them away."

"Although the Lin family may not be as prestigious as the Ye family, Senior Brother Lin Feng's talent is quite good. At just eighteen years old, he has reached the peak of the Spirit Martial Seventh Stage. He can barely match Princess Shuixian."

"Whether he matches her or not is beside the point. As long as he can drive away those branch ants from the Ye family and protect Princess Shuixian, it's enough."

Outside the Wind Bamboo Forest, many students whispered among themselves.

Inside the Wind Bamboo Forest was a vast open space with many stone platforms arranged around it. At this moment, many young talents were seated on those stone platforms.

These were all extraordinary individuals from the Xuantian Academy, otherwise, they wouldn't have the qualifications to participate in such exchanges.

At the forefront was a young man in black, none other than Lin Feng, at the peak of the Spirit Martial Seventh Stage.

On both sides were Liu Jiangfan and Liu Jiangxue, as well as Ye Xuan from the Ye family.

"I heard that the branch ants from the Ye family want to take away Princess Shuixian?" Lin Feng said softly, with a hint of arrogance in his expression, seemingly disdainful of these branch ants.

Liu Jiangfan and Liu Jiangxue remained silent while enjoying their wine. Although today's banquet was hosted by Lin Feng, it was actually initiated by them, just to test Ye Chen.

Ye Xuan also remained silent. Although he was invited, he dared not antagonize Ye Chen. Silence was the best choice.

While they remained silent, others were speaking disdainfully.

"These branch ants, if they take away Princess Shuixian, wouldn't it stifle her talent and future? We must not let them succeed."

"That's right. Branch ants should know their place. They should stay obediently in Tianyou City and enjoy their little pleasures. If they insist on taking away Princess Shuixian, they'll have no place in this world."

"Ye Xuan, what is your attitude? Why don't you intervene?"

Someone asked Ye Xuan, and for a moment, many eyes fell on him, puzzled.

The Ye family remained silent. What kind of attitude was this?

Being provoked was a disgrace to the Ye family. How could they not respond? Therefore, only a few people truly understood Ye Chen's situation. Among this younger generation, very few knew.

"I don't know either," Ye Xuan shook his head.

"Are Ye Chen and his son summoned by your main family?" someone asked again. If they were summoned by the main family, it would be understandable for the Ye family to remain silent.

"I don't know," Ye Xuan shook his head, determined not to get involved. He came here just to stay within this circle; otherwise, he wouldn't have come at all.

"All right, no matter how they enter the imperial city, Princess Shuixian must not be allowed to leave with them," Lin Feng said indifferently.

"What Senior Brother Lin said is true. How can these branch ants take away Princess Shuixian?"

The crowd laughed, not even bothering to consider Ye Chen and his companions.

They were all geniuses, and those from branch lines were not likely to be strong.

If they lacked awareness, they wouldn't mind teaching them a lesson.

Suddenly, everyone quieted down as Ye Shuixian, Ye Chen, and Wu Qingxue arrived.

"So, that's Princess Shuixian's brother." Outside the Wind Bamboo Forest, the crowd made way, their eyes filled with disdain as they looked at Ye Chen.

Being from a branch, they probably didn't realize how high the sky and how thick the ground were.

"Princess Shuixian."

Many geniuses stood up inside the Wind Bamboo Forest. After all, Ye Shuixian's identity was there.

"Mm."

Ye Shuixian nodded lightly and led Ye Chen to a stone platform, where they sat down directly.

As soon as Ye Chen sat down, many eyes around him glanced at him with slight suspicion.

They were all geniuses, and a branch descendant dared to sit down without even considering whether he had the qualifications.

Did he really lack self-awareness?

"Hmph!"

Immediately, someone couldn't help but snort coldly, but since Ye Chen was Princess Shuixian's brother, they endured it and didn't directly rebuke him.

However, as soon as Ye Chen gestured for Wu Qingxue to sit down as well, someone couldn't help but speak up.

"I heard this woman is someone's martial servant?" someone sneered.

Ye Chen looked up at the person and smiled lightly, "Is there something you need?"

The person sneered, "You are Princess Shuixian's brother, and we give you face by offering you a seat, but a lowly martial servant like her, what qualifications does she have to sit with us? Branch people like you have no manners or rules at all?"

All eyes turned to Wu Qingxue.

They were all geniuses of the imperial city, and they considered themselves to have some status. It was already annoying enough for them to sit together with branch ants, but now a lowly martial servant dared to sit down. Wasn't this slapping them in the face?

"Branch descendants are branch descendants, without manners or rules, and they don't even know the difference between master and servant."

"Yeah, the nobles of the imperial city are not something anyone can become."

The geniuses around shook their heads and laughed, full of sarcasm.

"What do you mean by this?" Ye Shuixian's voice was cold.

Indeed, according to the rules of the imperial city, martial servants were servants, and there was a distinction between master and servant. How could they sit together?

But Ye Shuixian didn't care, nor did she ever think of martial servants as servants. She certainly wouldn't allow others to insult her brother.

"Princess Shuixian, your brother is too reckless. The imperial city may not be suitable for him."

"That's right, Princess Shuixian, you should let them leave. Otherwise, such lack of manners not only brings shame to the Ye family but also to you, Princess Shuixian."

Many geniuses seemed to be advising, but in fact, they were humiliating Ye Chen and Wu Qingxue.

At that moment, all eyes were on Ye Chen, full of mockery.

Accusing Wu Qingxue was equivalent to slapping Ye Chen in the face.

After all, Wu Qingxue was Ye Chen's martial servant.

Even a dog knows its master.

If Ye Chen didn't react to such blatant reprimands, he couldn't even protect his own martial servant, which would be extremely embarrassing.

In the future, what face would he have to stay in the imperial city?

Lin Feng, Liu Jiangfan, Liu Jiangxue, and

 others shook their heads in silence.

They thought they would need to find a way to deal with Ye Chen and his group today, but unexpectedly, Ye Chen gave them an excuse. In a banquet where geniuses gathered, having martial servants sit down? This was slapping the faces of other geniuses.

Ye Chen couldn't turn things around anymore.

Only Ye Xuan's eyes flickered. He knew the strength of the martial servant by Ye Chen's side. A true martial realm expert, even the family's Ye Lingtian was not her opponent. How could these people dare to insult her? 

"You..." Ye Shuixian's face darkened, obviously somewhat angry. Ye Chen losing face was also her losing face.

But at this moment, Ye Chen signaled for Ye Shuixian to stay calm. He looked around and said:

"So, you've set up this banquet to target me."

Before coming, Ye Chen had guessed that this banquet was indeed aimed at him.