C12 Compensate

Jiang Fann possessed the young prince's Body Protecting Spiritual Treasure, rendering his true level of cultivation inscrutable to the onlookers. They had misjudged him right from the start.

Unfazed, Jiang Fann responded, "Still wet behind the ears? You're not much older than me, yet you speak as if you're ancient. Too bad your skills don't match your pretense. You might make decent guards for the Jiang Family, but as for becoming a son-in-law, let's not entertain that thought."

His voice was even and devoid of emotion, yet it brimmed with challenge.

The trio of young masters was taken aback at first, but then Zhang Bo, in a burst of indignation, slammed his hand on the table and stood up. Before he could erupt, Jiang Tianhai, the family head, cleared his throat—a subtle cue that they were in the Jiang residence and should mind their manners.

Though they had come to provoke Jiang Fann, they were obliged to show respect to the Jiang Family. Zhang Bo, reigning in his fury, fixed his gaze on Jiang Fann.

"You sure talk a big game! I just hope your abilities are as impressive as your bravado," he retorted.

Qin Feng of the Qin Family maintained a composed demeanor. Since laying eyes on Jiang Fann, he had been quietly assessing him, without a word or a hint of aggression.

Chen Ke of the Chen Family, however, appeared even more agitated than Zhang Bo. He was about to interject when Zhang Bo cut him off, turning instead to address Jiang Tianhai with a respectful bow.

"Patriarch, our visit is to seek an exchange with your esteemed son. As fellow cultivators, we should engage in mutual learning and sparring. We'd like to invite Jiang Fann for a friendly bout. Surely you wouldn't deny us this request?"

Jiang Tianhai was on the verge of declining when Jiang Fann stepped forward, a smile playing on his lips.

"What an opportunity! I've been looking forward to this. The Myriad Treasures Tavern has the perfect training room for us. Let's head there. I'm eager to see just how skilled you so-called prodigies are, coming here to make a spectacle of yourselves. Hahaha…"

With a hearty laugh, he strode away, leaving Zhang and Chen seething with faces ashen. Their anger flared beyond concern for decorum, and they stormed out, but Jiang Fann had already vanished from the courtyard.

Qin Feng rose to his feet, a slight smile playing at the corners of his mouth as he bowed to Jiang Tianhai: "I shall take my leave now and return another day to pay my respects."

Jiang Tianhai remarked, "The Qin Family's disciples are truly composed. Fann, the boy, does have some peculiarities, please—"

Qin Feng cut him off with a chuckle: "Patriarch, your concerns are unwarranted. Jiang Fann's strength is not only astonishing, but with such power comes the right to a bit of arrogance. Those two have only made fools of themselves this time."

With a flick of his fan, he strolled out of the reception hall.

Jiang Tianhai was taken aback. He had indeed heard tales of Qin Feng. A naturally bright individual, surrounded by many rumors, his perspective was extraordinary. Simply accompanying those two on this visit, he proved far more composed than others his age.

...

Striding into the Myriad Treasures Tavern, Jiang Fann made his presence known.

He was a favorite here; Han Qianxue had personally escorted him on a previous visit, even coming to his aid outside Jing'ann Garden.

The servers were careful not to slight him.

The mustachioed server who had first attended to Jiang Fann was present in the lobby. Spotting Jiang Fann, he quickly approached.

"Isn't this Young Master Jiang? What brings you here today? I'll prepare your usual room. Shall I notify the steward?"

Before Jiang Fann could respond, Zhang Bo and Chen Ke burst in after him.

Chen Ke bellowed, "Jiang Fann, there's no escape for you!"

The server, momentarily taken aback, then sternly reprimanded, "This is the Myriad Treasures Tavern. No disturbances are allowed. Do you wish to be thrown out?"

Zhang Bo retorted furiously, "And who are you to reprimand us? Summon your manager immediately."

Standing protectively by Jiang Fann, the server whispered, "Young Master Jiang Fann, please retire to your room and rest assured. Rest assured, we don't allow just anyone to cause trouble at the Myriad Treasures Tavern."

The mustached waiter's voice was neither particularly loud nor soft, yet it managed to make Jiang Fann burst into laughter right then and there.

Chen Ke and his companion's faces turned a shade of green. Both hailed from prestigious families with considerable status in the capital, and here they were, being scorned by someone they deemed insignificant.

"You're asking for it!"

The mustached waiter stood his ground. "The Myriad Treasures Tavern won't tolerate such insolence!"

Chen Ke's presence flared as he charged forward, fixing the mustached waiter with a furious glare.

"Not even the King of Heaven can save you now! Bone Crushing Hand!"

Caught off guard by the sudden and lethal attack, the mustached waiter found it too late to evade.

In a flash, Jiang Fann yanked him aside, deftly avoiding the onslaught. Without missing a beat, Jiang Fann confronted Chen Ke head-on.

Bang!

Their palms collided, shattering the floor tiles beneath Jiang Fann's feet, and sending Chen Ke flying backward.

Zhang Bo steadied him, his eyes wide with astonishment as he took in Jiang Fann.

Meanwhile, the other patrons stepped back, their eyes filled with a mix of curiosity and disbelief. Brawling within the Myriad Treasures Tavern was unheard of, and to them, it seemed recklessly audacious.

Still shaken, the mustached waiter bowed with a fist-in-palm salute to Jiang Fann.

"Many thanks, Young Master Jiang."

At that moment, the Myriad Treasures Tavern's guards converged, encircling Zhang Bo and his associate.

Zhang Bo produced a purple crystal card with a flourish. "You wouldn't dare lay a finger on me, would you?"

This purple crystal card signified VIP status at the Myriad Treasures Tavern, only a notch below the spiritual jade Han Qianxue had gifted Jiang Fann, a truly rare commodity.

The guard, recognizing the card, instinctively stepped back, halting any further aggression.

Just then, a woman's voice cut through the tension.

"Well, if it isn't the young masters from the Chen and Zhang families. What brings you to Loongze County on such blustery winds? Why all the fury? Surely you're not here to trouble a mere servant of the Myriad Treasures Tavern? That would be quite beneath your dignity."

Descending the stairs with measured steps was Han Qianxue herself.

Upon seeing her, the two previously enraged men instantly subdued their fury, their eyes bulging in disbelief.

Zhang Bo stammered, "You... How are you here?"

Han Qianxue lightly covered her face, laughing softly, "Hehe, it appears that Young Master Zhang Bo still remembers me. Were you about to lay a hand on my people?"

Zhang Bo quickly replied with a smile, "Not at all! Had we known Miss Qianxue was present, we wouldn't have dared cause any trouble. But this fellow with the little beard, he's gone too far. He..."

Jiang Fann cut him off, "Enough talk. No need for lengthy explanations. If you're too scared to make a move, I'll step in."

In that moment, Jiang Fann was unrestrained and launched his attack.

Though Jiang Fann hadn't yet mastered any martial arts or techniques, his mastery over fire was once considered the best in the world—how else would he have earned the title of Medicine King?

Now, having entered the Innate Stage, he had begun to harness the art of fire control, making this the perfect opportunity to test his skills on them.

"Burning Hand!"

The temperature around them soared as Jiang Fann's right hand glowed with fire. With swift steps, he lunged at the two men.

Zhang Bo and his companion had not anticipated Jiang Fann's immediate action and scrambled to defend themselves.

Their palms clashed, with Zhang Bo exerting his full strength.

Flames swiftly consumed Zhang Bo's arm, his sleeve disintegrating into ash in mere moments.

Retreating repeatedly, Zhang Bo used his vital energy to disperse the flames, sparing his arm from injury. Despite his efforts, the intense heat caused him to wince in pain.

Chen Ke stepped forward to assist, attempting to provide Jiang Fann with some relief.

Already at a disadvantage from their initial skirmish, Chen Ke found himself overwhelmed by Jiang Fann's Burning Hand technique, forced to retreat again and again.

They couldn't fathom it; despite the similar level of cultivation suggested by the burst of energy, Jiang Fann's physical strength seemed to surpass theirs by a tier.

What baffled them even more was Jiang Fann's audacity to engage in combat within the Myriad Treasures Tavern, right in front of Han Qianxue.

Realizing they had met their match, the two men cast aside their pride and struck simultaneously. It was a defensive move, and surely Han Qianxue couldn't fault them for that.

"Bone Crushing Hand!"

"Shattering Mountain Force!"

Jiang Fann stood his ground, flames erupting from his other hand, sending a wave of heat in all directions that the spectators quickly dodged.

An onlooker gasped, "Jiang Fann is wielding Fire Arts at the Innate Stage. His control is nothing short of remarkable!"

"He's the silent type, but when he speaks, it's earth-shattering. And those two young men are incredibly strong. Since when did Loongze County have such formidable characters?"

Their palms clashed, and this time all three were pushed back several steps, evenly matched.

Chen Ke taunted, "I thought you could defy the heavens, but it seems that's all you've got."

Jiang Fann sneered in response, "Is that so?"

Zhang Bo's brow furrowed, his body shaking, "Something's off!"

Chen Ke's legs began to tremble, his Qi Sea felt as if it had been sealed, unable to summon its power. That sensation quickly spread throughout his body.

Han Qianxue was taken aback; she too was puzzled by Jiang Fann's method.

Jiang Fann launched another attack, his expression cold and detached.

The flames in his hands grew more intense, yet Chen Ke and his companion found themselves unable to even muster the energy to evade, an eerie sensation indeed.

Suddenly, a figure appeared before Jiang Fann.

A folding fan intercepted Jiang Fann's fiery assault, dispersing the flames in every direction.

"Innate Stage Middle Phase?" Jiang Fann looked on in surprise.

The newcomer deflected Jiang Fann's attack and ushered Chen Ke and his ally back. It was the elegant and handsome Qin Feng who had just arrived.

Qin Feng showed no aggression, closing his fan and greeting with a fist and palm salute.

"Young Master Jiang Fann, mercy befits a gentleman. This is but a friendly match; let's keep it to the point of contact!"

With Qin Feng's arrival, Chen Ke and his companion's Qi Sea began to flow smoothly again. They stood behind Qin Feng, glaring at Jiang Fann. Had Qin Feng not arrived when he did, they would have been in for a world of pain.

Jiang Fann sneered, "I'm here to stand up for Jiang Yueyao. Did you think you could stir up trouble and just walk away? If you've been used as a pawn, then you should be ready to pay up."

From behind, Han Qianxue chuckled, "Young Master Jiang always ensures he never loses out. But you're right, if you've come looking for trouble, leaving some compensation is only fair."

Qin Feng, upon seeing Han Qianxue, was taken aback and quickly remarked, "Miss Han, to find you here in Loongze County is truly a surprise. How have you been lately?"

Chen Ke bristled at Han Qianxue's comment.

He blurted out, "Miss Han, we go way back. Helping Jiang Fann set us up doesn't seem right, does it? We had no intention of causing a scene at the Myriad Treasures Tavern. Jiang Fann was the one who struck first."

Han Qianxue moved to Jiang Fann's side and linked her arm with his.

"Young Master Jiang is my friend. Helping a friend is the right thing to do, isn't it?"

Her gesture left Jiang Fann confused. Judging by the reactions of these three noblemen, Han Qianxue's background was intimidating, enough to make them wary. Such a move was bound to draw animosity towards himself.

Their odd looks only added to Jiang Fann's unease. Han Qianxue was likely more complex than she appeared.

Han Qianxue turned her attention to Qin Feng.

"It's unexpected to see you here. Given your cautious nature, you're not one to act rashly."

Qin Feng responded with a smile, "I'm just here to keep an eye on things. My father was concerned they might cause a commotion. Elder Brother Jiang, your prowess truly surpasses the rumors. It looks like the Jiang Mansion is in for some excitement."