Chapter 34: Acts and Their Results 

As soon as they were outside, Zhou Tian's and Shen Mu's faces lit up with anger. Patriarch Liu's acts had made them so upset, and Shen Mu, in particular, was enraged as he tried to enter the Liu mansion while still wearing his robes.

Drawing his sword, Shen Mu struck at the barrier, refusing to be humiliated any more. But a strong counterattack sent him tumbling to the ground, where he nearly wailed in agony like a pregnant woman. Suppressing a scream of pain, he clenched his jaw.

"What on earth is this?!?" The invisible force prevented Shen Mu from even getting one inch closer as he stubbornly attempted to breach the boundary of the Liu mansion. Disillusioned by the barrier in front of him, the young Shen clan master swung his fist in an attempt to break it.

After hearing a resounding impact, Shen Mu almost let out a scream of agony, but he held back, afraid that his already soiled image would take a further hit. "Ugh, this damn barrier," Shen Mu said under his breath, his voice contorted with agony and exasperation. Zhou Tian was significantly more level headed and only touched the barrier, which resonated slightly upon contact before ultimately going back to normal.

"It seems the Liu clan has made a decision." Zhou Tian grumbled to himself, evidently outraged by the gall of Liu Feng, who preferred to cooperate with an outsider instead of his future son-in-law. The patriarch had plainly created the array to keep them out, which clearly revealed his opinion.

The party that was previously lagging behind the duo had finally reached the gate, partly due to Ning Xue purposefully reducing the walking pace of the group. A move that proved sensible as the expressions of Shen Mu and Zhou Tian were far from delighted, which meant that Li Wei had somehow repulsed the two much to her astonishment.

"What has happened?" Mei Yu shyly whispered to herself, not anticipating a situation like the one in her vision. Two high profile personalities in Crescent Moon City were standing outside of the gate, seeming to be quite dirty and upset, like a pair of beggars left to fend for themselves. It didn't take a prodigy to conclude that Li Wei had a role in this.

Just then, Ning Xue, Jia Lin, and Mei Yue came to the gate, taken aback by the sight of Shen Mu and Zhou Tian looking quite miserable outside the Liu clan gates. Zhou Wen, recognizing an opportunity, humbly approached the duo.

"Young Masters Zhou and Shen," Zhou Wen started with an ingratiating tone, "how did the discussions go?" His query was a barely veiled attempt to gain favor and evaluate the situation.

Shen Mu's cheeks went crimson with wrath. "You insolent dog! How dare you ridicule us?" He spit out a volley of curses, his voice quivering with wrath. "Mark my words, the Liu clan will soon be extinct!"

Zhou Tian remained mute, his face a mask of barely restrained wrath. His mind was already calculating the repercussions of this public humiliation and how it would affect his standing.

Shen Mu then turned his attention to Ning Xue. "Ning Xue, come back with me immediately. Return to the Shen clan, or you shall face catastrophe with the Liu clan and that arrogant master of yours, Li Wei."

Ning Xue's gaze hardened, and she fiercely held the hands of Jia Lin and Mei Yue. "I will not return with you, Shen Mu. My position is with my lord and my sisters." Her voice was forceful, leaving no space for discussion.

Shen Mu's countenance grew ashen at her refusal. His eyes reflected a mix of fury and lingering fondness, but he knew there was nothing more he could say to sway her.

With a smooth glide, the trio of Ning Xue, Jia Lin, and Mei Yue passed the pair of filthy young masters. Zhou Wen, however, hesitantly walked behind them. The array split for them smoothly, allowing them to breach the barrier and enter the Liu mansion.

"Good, very good! A common harlot believes I am simply a jokester." Shen Mu was beyond outraged as he witnessed Ning Xue and her pals pass by him with ease. He clinched his hands, feeling a mix of embarrassment and rage at being rejected so quickly. With a deep breath, he turned away, knowing that his pride had been wounded beyond repair. 

Zhou Tian was even more enraged, but unlike Shen Mu, he didn't waste any more words and just took out a communication token with a malicious expression on his face. He instantly dispatched a note to his elders, ready to pursue retribution. "Let's see how arrogant that bastard can be after Elder Xu and the others deal with him." 

Meanwhile, Li Wei was as relaxed as usual and merely lounged on the main seat of the main hall , waiting for the scenario to unfold. The mission was yet to be finished, and he knew that Shen Mu and Zhou Tian would seek out 'Emotional Support' from their elders now that the crisis had deteriorated to this stage. 

'No matter how many snakes arrive, they aren't a match for a dragon.' Li Wei didn't care how many seniors or venerables turned there; in his perspective, the more people, the better, since the triumph would contain significantly more value against more foes. He felt confidence in their abilities to manage the problem, knowing that their talents and tenacity would take them through any hurdle. As he sat there, he discreetly egged them on, ready to impart his teachings to anyone who needed them. 

Liu Feng helplessly stood to the side as Lady Chan Xi began relaying angry messages to her husband, who was evaluating his obviously abrupt decision: "Why did you have to throw them out like dogs? You know the Shen and Zhou clans will not take this lying down.?" 

Lady Chan Xi's comments were loaded with urgency and anxiety, knowing the probable ramifications of her husband's conduct. "I have no choice but to place my faith in him." Liu Feng could only pray that their ally would stick by them in the approaching conflict. It was important for their survival and expansion.