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Chapter 44: Nangong Qing's Arrival
"Weiwei, you're here! It's so easy for me to find you."
A voice suddenly interrupted Yang Xie's thoughts. He turned around and saw a man with a pointed face and monkey-like cheeks, holding Yun Wei's hand.
"Weiwei, why can't you understand my heart? I fell in love with you the moment I saw you. Why did you reject me?"
The man gazed at Yun Wei with affection, striking a self-proclaimed handsome pose, but his slightly bald head made him look a little comical.
Love at first sight?
Yang Xie looked at the man, who had quite a distinctive appearance, then shifted his gaze to the beautiful Yun Wei.
It was like Beauty and the Beast, wasn't it?
Though Yang Xie was puzzled, he respected everyone's choices.
Yun Wei pulled her hand back without expression and said, her voice polite but distant, "Mr. Xu Qiang, I'm just an ordinary woman. I'm not worthy of your love."
"Worthy? Of course you are," Xu Qiang grinned, obsession shining in his eyes. "Although you're not a warrior, your beauty has completely captivated me."
"Mr. Xu Qiang, you have so many girlfriends. I really don't think you need me." Yun Wei's tone was helpless. This Xu Qiang really clung to her like a stubborn dog.
"My love is selfless. I love each of my girlfriends the same," Xu Qiang said, a hint of embarrassment flashing across his face, though he didn't budge from his position.
Yang Xie felt speechless. He hadn't expected things to be this outrageous.
"Yun Wei, don't turn me away. My older brother is at the peak of the martial arts realm. He's showing you favor simply because he likes you. Don't be ungrateful."
A short man with a rat-like face spoke impatiently. Yang Xie hadn't noticed him at first, but now he realized this man was Xu Qiang's younger brother.
"My brother Qiang is an E-level talent. He'll soon reach the martial arts master realm. He's been very kind to you. Don't be so arrogant!" the younger man continued, a look of lust in his eyes.
If his older brother gets the meat, he can have the soup. While he wasn't a warrior, Xu Qiang was!
Yun Wei's face paled. These people were truly shameless. Many of Xu Qiang's 13 girlfriends had been obtained through similar means.
Moreover, Xu Qiang was a warrior, and as long as there was no murder, no one really cared about his actions.
"Awen, what are you doing?" Xu Qiang chastised his brother. "We're law-abiding citizens. How could we do such a thing? Besides, Weiwei could be your future sister-in-law. Show some respect!"
The words sounded like a rebuke, but Xu Qiang's smug expression made it clear that he had likely instigated Awen's behavior.
The meaning was obvious—he was deliberately pressuring Yun Wei.
"Hey, hey, hey! Don't you two see that Sister Yun Wei is busy hosting us? What are you still barking about?" Yang Xie said, annoyed by the harassment.
Xu Qiang and Awen looked around, confused, as if trying to confirm if Yang Xie was actually talking to them.
"It's you two. What are you looking at?" Yang Xie emphasized again.
"Boy, you're very brave," Awen sneered. "Do you know who my older brother is? He's a top-tier warrior. Why are you showing off here?"
Looking at Yang Xie, Awen noticed that Yun Wei had brought him here. Though he seemed young, he probably came to the Warrior Association to gain some experience.
But this boy dared to scold them as toads? He clearly didn't know his place.
"What are you barking at, two big toads, wasting my time? Don't you know how precious my time is?" Yang Xie taunted.
"You're sharp-tongued. Don't think I won't teach you a lesson here at the Warrior Association," Xu Qiang warned.
Yun Wei had heard that the Warrior Association forbids private fighting. Anyone who violates this rule will be severely punished. Yang Xie didn't believe that these two toads would challenge the authority of the Warrior Association.
"Okay, you can try. I'll just stand here and wait for you to make your move," Yang Xie said, raising his middle finger provocatively.
Xu Qiang turned red with anger. "Yun Wei, this is the pretty boy you're hanging out with? He dares to contradict me?"
"Boy, you're here to play in the Warrior Association, right? Don't you know that not everyone here is someone you can mess with?" Xu Qiang said, narrowing his eyes at Yang Xie.
Yun Wei tried to interject. "Mr. Xu, please don't slander Mr. Yang. Mr. Yang is a warrior, not someone you can easily manipulate."
"Oh, so he's a warrior?" Xu Qiang raised an eyebrow, but he quickly brushed it off. "That's fine. But do you know there are levels among warriors?"
Xu Qiang scoffed at Yang Xie. "Don't compare yourself to me. You're just a toad, and I'm the real deal."
Yang Xie wasn't afraid. "Sorry, but you're the one acting like a toad. I'm afraid you're the one who'll be embarrassed."
"You're sharp-tongued, but don't think I won't take action just because we're in the Warrior Association!" Xu Qiang threatened.
"Then make your move!" Yang Xie said, unfazed.
Yun Wei knew that the Warrior Association had strict rules against fighting, and she hoped Xu Qiang wouldn't overstep.
"Okay, okay," Xu Qiang said, his voice thick with anger. "You wait for me. I'll deal with you once you leave the Warrior Association."
Just as Xu Qiang was about to storm off, a voice interrupted.
"Oh, I heard you want to deal with the members of our team. Maybe I should deal with you first?" Nangong Qing's cold voice cut through the tension.
"Who's this blind person trying to stand up for this kid?" Xu Qiang scoffed, turning to see who it was.
But when he saw Nangong Qing, his expression shifted to one of shock.
"Nangong... Captain?" Xu Qiang stammered. He hadn't expected that the person speaking up was Nangong Qing, who had just killed someone on the black list.
"Yes, do you recognize me?" Nangong Qing asked with a smile, his tone laced with sarcasm.
"I know him. Everyone knows Captain Nangong. He's the one who killed people on the black list," Xu Qiang stammered, sweating as he scrambled to explain.
"Well, if you know him, why are you trying to bully one of our team members?" Nangong Qing asked, her smile turning colder.
Xu Qiang immediately panicked. "No, no, it's all a misunderstanding! I didn't know he was from your team. I was just recognizing him, that's all."
"Since it's a misunderstanding, let's make it clear," Nangong Qing said with a calm, authoritative voice.
"Yes, yes! We'll make it clear," Xu Qiang quickly agreed, pulling Awen by the arm. Both of them bowed deeply to Yang Xie.
"Young man, we were wrong. We didn't recognize the real man. Please, forgive us," Xu Qiang said, his posture still bent low in apology.
"Oh? Are you still pestering Sister Yun Wei?" Yang Xie asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No, never again!" Xu Qiang and Awen quickly answered, bowing even lower.
"Louder. I can't hear you," Yang Xie said, smirking.
"We dare not harass Miss Yun Wei again!" they shouted in unison.
"Then why don't you apologize?" Yang Xie pressed further.
"Miss Yun Wei, I'm sorry!" Xu Qiang and Awen both said, their heads bowed low.
The crowd around them watched the farce, whispering among themselves. Xu Qiang and Awen's faces turned even more flushed as they lowered their heads, knowing their actions had humiliated them.
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