Volume 1, Chapter 18: Here for a Free Meal

Huo Yunfeng stepped forward without hesitation.

In ordinary times, the Tang family held Huo Yunfeng in utter contempt, but now they dared not speak, fearing they might make too many enemies. Fang Tao shot a cold glance at Huo Yunfeng and sneered, "The Huo family? Are you really in a position to be barking orders here?"

Huo Yunfeng’s expression darkened instantly. He stormed up to Fang Tao and growled, "You brat, you’ve gone too far! How dare you speak to me like that!"

"Kneel and apologize to Young Master Ye now, and perhaps you might keep your miserable life."

Yet, seeing someone stand up for him, Ye Mingyuan’s expression only grew colder.

"Make me kneel? You aren't worthy!" Fang Tao’s eyes turned icy, his voice firm and resonant.

At this moment, Wei Dafu, an elder of the Wei family, joined Huo Yunfeng and added, "What if you add the Wei family to the mix?" The Wei family was a standout among the second-tier clans, holding a position slightly superior to the Huo family.

Fang Tao merely shook his head dismissively. "Still not enough!"

Soon after, the heads of the Long, Xue, and Yu families also took their stand, aligning themselves against Fang Tao. Tang Yuanchao, the patriarch of the Tang family, turned deathly pale; these second-tier families, combined with the Ye family, effectively controlled half of the business landscape in Shenzhen.

"Do you really think this is enough?" Fang Tao’s voice remained calm as water, devoid of the slightest fear.

A murmur rippled through the crowd, astonished that Fang Tao could remain so composed under such immense pressure.

"This young man is either incredibly foolish or completely insane. To refuse to yield at a time like this—is he tired of living?" someone whispered.

"It wouldn't matter if he didn't care about his own life, but he’s dragging the Tang family down with him. They’ll never recover from this," another sighed.

"Hmph, ungrateful wretch. Daring to ruin the Ye family’s grand occasion—he deserves to be taught a lesson!" others expressed their anger and resentment.

However, the entry of the Zhang family made the situation even more volatile.

"Since you don’t think they are enough, what about adding the Zhang family?"

Amidst the chatter, a middle-aged man stood before Fang Tao like a cold statue and spoke chillingly. Upon hearing that the man was from the Zhang family, Fang Tao frowned slightly. "The Zhang family?"

The image of Zhang Shaojie, the young master of the Zhang family who constantly harassed his ex-wife Wang Rong, immediately flashed through his mind.

Zhang Zhijie, the father of Zhang Shaojie, sneered, "That’s right, the Zhang family of the Five Great Clans."

"Oh? So, the Zhang family is also becoming a lapdog for the Ye family?" Fang Tao retorted with disdain.

At these words, Zhang Zhijie’s face turned beet red, as if he had been choked, and he began to cough violently. The scene fell so silent that one could hear a pin drop; it seemed as if everyone had stopped breathing. The Zhang family was the third-ranked giant among the Five Great Clans, with power far exceeding that of the Tang family.

That Fang Tao dared to slander the Zhang family left Tang Yuanchao, another elder named Tang Xinhua, and the rest of the Tang family ashen-faced. Their resentment toward Fang Tao surged like a rising tide. They knew that if Fang Tao continued this way, the Tang family would have no place left in Shenzhen.

"Hmph, you’re tired of living, so I’ll fulfill your wish." After finally catching his breath, Zhang Zhijie roared, "Someone, break his legs! I want to see how arrogant he can be then!"

Before the words had finished, four hulking men lunged toward Fang Tao like wolves.

Tang Xinyi screamed in terror, "What are you doing?" But the four men ignored her, closing in on Fang Tao with menacing intent.

Just at this critical moment, a resounding voice erupted like a thunderclap: "Stop!" The shout was deafening, jolting everyone and causing them to turn toward the entrance.

An unassuming seventy-year-old man walked into the banquet hall with long, purposeful strides, accompanied by a young man and woman. The old man wore simple clothes, yet every movement radiated an inviolable authority; the young man’s eyes were cold, sharp as blades in a winter wind; the girl in red was lively and beautiful, like a fairy descended to earth.

The banquet hall plunged into a deathly silence once more.

"Who are they? Daring to interfere in the Ye family’s affairs?" people whispered, speculating about the trio’s identities with eyes full of confusion and curiosity. Because of their simple attire, everyone assumed they were of low status.

Ye Mingyuan, Zhang Zhijie, and Huo Yunfeng scrutinized them with judgmental gazes.

"Which deities are you? Do you have any idea what place this is? How dare you barge in?" Huo Yunfeng stepped forward, asking coldly.

Though Huo Yunfeng did not recognize them, Fang Tao identified them instantly. They had met once before at Qinglong Mountain; it was the three generations of the Lei family: the elder Lei Ting, his grandson Lei Yuan, and his granddaughter Lei Jingyao. Ever since being defeated by Fang Tao, Lei Yuan had held a grudge.

"This is hardly a den of tigers, why can I not come?" Lei Ting countered. Though his face looked slightly haggard, his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's.

As soon as he entered, his gaze fell upon the black ring on Fang Tao’s finger. The sight shocked him—he recognized it as the token of the "Fifth Master"! He nearly blurted out the name, but held himself back. According to the rules of the Five Profound Sect, leaking the identity of the Fifth Master was a crime punishable by death.

Seeing this, Huo Yunfeng snorted, "I advise you to leave at once, unless you want to invite trouble."

Lei Ting cast a cold glance at Huo Yunfeng. "Invite trouble?" he replied, his voice chilling enough to freeze the air.

"Enough talk. If you don't leave, don't blame me for being impolite." Before Huo Yunfeng finished, the four hulking men stepped out from the crowd, standing behind him as a show of force.

"I came to attend the banquet. Is this how the Ye family treats its guests?" Lei Ting asked.

Huo Yunfeng was taken aback and turned to look at Ye Mingyuan for guidance.

Ye Mingyuan cleared his throat and said, "I am Ye Mingyuan. I failed to recognize greatness, may I ask your honorable name? But I fear today's banquet cannot host guests of your stature. Please, return home."

In truth, Ye Mingyuan had long wanted to curry favor with the Lei family, never expecting the opportunity to arrive so suddenly. Lei Ting had only appeared because Ye Mingyuan had repeatedly petitioned to join the Lei family’s sphere of influence; he had come to see if the Ye family was worth investing in. Had he not noticed Fang Tao, Lei Ting might have walked away already.

Seeing that even Ye Mingyuan did not recognize him, Huo Yunfeng’s expression grew even uglier.

"So you’re just here for a free meal! Get out of here, don’t hold up the Ye family’s business!" Huo Yunfeng shouted at the three.

Lei Jingyao was furious and about to retort, but her grandfather, Lei Ting, gently pressed his hand on her shoulder.

"Who do you think you are, speaking to me like that?" Lei Ting asked coldly.

"I am the head of the Huo family, Huo Yunfeng!" he replied arrogantly, completely oblivious to the disdain in Lei Ting’s eyes.