Chapter 16 What if I don't leave?

"It's him!"

"The waste Young Master of the Qin Residence!"

"He's also participating in the examination of the Martial Institutes of the imperial city?"

The crowd immediately burst into commotion.

Everyone looked at Qin Qing with doubting eyes.

No one believed that Qin Qing could achieve any remarkable results in this examination.

"Third brother, come on!"

"Qin Qing, believe in yourself!"

Qin Yue and Qin Tong were both cheering for Qin Qing.

Qin Qing's gaze was resolute as he walked step by step to the center of the Martial Arts Ground.

All the young men and women participating in the examination also turned their eyes towards Qin Qing, filled with puzzlement, skepticism, and even undisguised mockery.

Mu Yunlan coldly watched Qin Qing approaching and shook her head in ridicule, "Qin Qing, this is not the place for you. If you had any self-awareness, you should leave now…"

Mu Yunlan appeared to be looking down from on high, lecturing Qin Qing.

Everyone watched this scene, and no one felt anything was amiss.

On the contrary, they thought just as Mu Yunlan had said—this stage did not belong to Qin Qing, his presence here was merely to invite ridicule upon himself.

"So, Mu Yunlan... you think, after you crippled my Soul Palace, after you took my Martial Soul, I would just let it go?" Qin Qing coldly questioned.

At this moment, the young man's anger began to seep out bit by bit.

And his words, suddenly, were like a thunderclap in a clear sky.

All those around, including those Elders from the Martial Institutes, the city lord, and other prestigious figures seated on the high platform, were all taken aback.

Mu Yunlan had crippled Qin Qing's Soul Palace and taken his Martial Soul?

Was there such a thing?

Bai Qiuhe and Jiang Ruorong exchanged glances, as if pondering something.

At this time, on the high platform, Mu Hongtu, as a special guest, could not contain his rage, his neck flushing red as he stood up, and pointed at Qin Qing, shouting angrily:

"Qin Qing, you little beast, do not slander others so recklessly!"

"For the past three years, you have been unable to awaken your Martial Soul, and my daughter has been comforting you, diligently guiding your cultivation! Yet you could not awaken your Martial Soul, and now that my daughter has awakened to the Seventh Rank Martial Soul, your nature has changed drastically, harboring malicious intentions, and you attempted to defile my daughter!

My daughter and the Young Master from the Upper Clan spared your life, and you have not repented. Instead, you have persisted in pestering her, and now you attempt to smear Yun Lan with your filth. A person like you—your character is just as despicable as your talent!

However, today is my, Mu Hongtu's, birthday. It is also the day of the Martial Institutes' examination in Tianjue City. I, Mu Hongtu, will not pursue this matter! You, get lost! Get out!"

"Whoa!"

The surrounding uproar grew even louder.

"Get out!"

"Shameless wretch, there is no place for you here!"

"To have someone like you in Tianjue City is truly a disgrace!"

"Miss Mu is kind and generous, having forgiven you, yet you have not repented, and you still come here to pester her incessantly, is that fun for you?"

Even the young men and women taking part in the examination looked at Qin Qing with cold contempt.

Those spectators around the outskirts of the Martial Arts Ground were also pointing at Qin Qing one by one.

At this moment, under the vast sky, amidst the surging crowd.

And Qin Qing stood alone in the center of the crowd, as if he were the loneliest person in the world.

He bore the cold stares and accusations of the entire world.

"Do you believe him?" Bai Qiuhe turned his head and asked Jiang Ruorong in a low voice.

"Believe him!" Jiang Ruorong replied without hesitation, "I don't believe that a young man who has only a three-year-old sister to depend on would do such a thing."

Jiang Ruorong's gaze focused on the lone young man on the field, the target of a thousand pointed fingers. In that moment, she felt as though she shared in his suffering, pitying the young man and feeling indignant on his behalf...

"Hahahaha..."

But Qin Qing, who had appeared indifferent, suddenly burst into laughter.

In his laughter, there seemed to be boundless desolation.

He shook his head, looking at Mu Yunlan: "Mu Yunlan, I truly didn't expect you to be so scheming and malicious. I've given you my affection all these years without regret... My only regret is that the Mu Yunlan of those days has vanished from this world."

He closed his eyes, as if he could see the Mu Yunlan from his memories chasing after him, calling him 'Brother Qing' with every breath.

But when he opened his eyes, the Mu Yunlan before him was indifferent and cold, her gaze frosty, as if she were above him, and he could no longer find any trace of the girl she used to be.

"However... it doesn't matter. This affection, I, Qin Qing, have already severed three days ago!"

"Mu Yunlan, you said that I intended to defile you?"

"Haha..."

"You are nothing more than a lowly maid in my Qin Residence. Your father, Mu Hongtu, is just a base servant in my Qin Residence, and your mother, Pei Yuye, is nothing more than a dog slave cleaning the stables!"

"If I fancied you and told you to willingly crawl into my bed, would you dare to refuse?"

The words of Qin Qing made Mu Yunlan's expression turn even uglier.

Similarly, Mu Hongtu and Pei Yuye among the crowd were trembling with anger.

"Qin Qing, what's the point of bringing up the past? My Mu Family has parted from your Qin Residence nearly ten years ago, and now you insult my Mu Family again, don't blame me for being ruthless!" Mu Yunlan said with a frigid expression.

"Is that so? Then what is this?"

Qin Qing suddenly flicked his sleeve, and several parchments flew out.

"Initially, I begged my father to release you from your servitude. Father said you and your daughter had impure intentions and might bite the hand that feeds you, keeping your life-and-death contract for future reference. Surprised, aren't you? Even now, you are merely the lowly servants of my Qin Residence!"

Qin Qing sneered, his gaze sweeping over the crowd:

"You tell me, if I ask my servant to serve me, would she dare to refuse me?"

As Qin Qing's voice faded, an uproar rose around him again.

No one had thought that the entire Mu Family were still the servants of the Qin Residence.

Even Qin Wujian had not expected this.

If it were true, then Qin Qing had every right to demand Mu Yunlan's service, and she would have no grounds to refuse.

Even if Qin Qing truly intended to defile Mu Yunlan, it would be within his rights and the norm.

In the Great Qian Dynasty, there had never been a case where a master forcing himself upon a maid was against the law. Naturally, there was no talk of defilement and no chance of being condemned or insulted by others.

"Good, good, that dog Qin Yi, he burned a fake life-and-death contract back in the day!" Mu Yunlan trembled with rage.

"Qin Qing. Life-and-death contracts are but a piece of paper." Just then, Guan Hao stood up and said:

"But we martial artists cultivate the path to defy fate itself. If even the heavens cannot decide a martial artist's destiny, then how could a mere piece of paper?"

"Regardless, Mu Yunlan taught you for three years, and you're not grateful but rather twisted in nature. This shows your low character. Someone like you doesn't deserve to practice martial arts! Therefore, you are not welcome here. Leave on your own! Don't embarrass everyone here!"

But Qin Qing remained distant and indifferent, his cold eyes locking with Guan Hao's as he said deliberately, "I'm not leaving, what then?"