The woman was dressed simply in a pale yellow dress, her standard oval face unadorned by any makeup.
Her steps were light and graceful, as serene as a celestial being from the moon palace.
Her features were meticulously sculpted by the creator, from her eyes to her nose and her small mouth, all exquisitely refined.
Lin Feng was no stranger to beautiful women; many beside him possessed a perfect score of ninety-five in appearance.
However, the woman before him offered a different kind of stunning beauty, one that scored a ninety-nine.
The only imperfection was that this woman was not wearing stockings!
"Hua Yu of the Hua family in the capital, the most beautiful woman in the capital!"
Shen Nan's throat was dry as he uttered Hua Yu's name, his shock palpable.
"Brother, is the Hua family in the capital very powerful?"
Shen Xinyue asked, perplexed.
"More than powerful, they are terrifyingly so!"
"You all know about the Lin family in the capital, right? The Hua family is even more mysterious than them."
"Among the four great families of the capital, the Hua family ranks first!"
"According to whispers, the Hua family possesses more than one master ranked high on the Heavenly Ranking, at least within the top fifty."
Shen Nan explained with great excitement.
Lin Feng was also inwardly surprised. To possess more than one master within the top fifty of the Heavenly Ranking, the Hua family was indeed formidable.
With Hua Yu's appearance, the atmosphere of the venue instantly reached its peak.
No one had expected the young lady of the Hua family from the capital to attend in person, not even the organizers of the league.
Everyone was in a state of shock and bewilderment.
The reason was simple: this small martial arts league was not worthy of someone from the Hua family to attend.
And for it to be the young lady of the Hua family, it was simply unbelievable!
"Lin Feng, this woman named Hua Yu is so beautiful, aren't you moved?"
Xia Xue nudged Lin Feng, asking as if in jest.
"I admit she is very beautiful, but I'm not the type to be unable to move when I see a beauty, am I?"
Lin Feng smiled faintly, feeling as though Xia Xue and the others saw him as a lecher constantly thinking about beautiful women.
"Brother-in-law, even if you were moved, it would be in vain. The Hua family has a marriage engagement with the Lin family, it's already a well-known fact in high society that Hua Yu is likely to marry Lin Zhen of the Lin family."
Shen Nan said with a half-smile.
"Whoever she wants to marry, it has nothing to do with me."
Lin Feng said dismissively.
"However, I really can't figure out why the Hua family is here? Because of Chen Man? Chen Man is only ranked thirty on the Earthly Ranking, he wouldn't catch the Hua family's eye!"
"Could it be that among the participants this time, there's someone the Hua family has to take seriously?"
Shen Nan muttered to himself, like everyone else, unable to ascertain the reason.
At this moment, Hua Yu had already taken her seat. Her jet-black hair was casually draped over her shoulders, and a pink hairpin adorned her head, adding a touch of girlish charm.
Her beautiful eyes, like a scene from a painting, held a hint of melancholy, resembling a delicate and sensitive Lin Daiyu, evoking a desire to cherish her.
Behind Hua Yu stood a straight-backed old man.
The elder appeared to be in his sixties, with streaks of gray at his temples, giving off an air of mystery.
If his guess was correct, this old man was likely a formidable presence on the Heavenly Ranking.
Unfortunately, very few people had access to information about the Heavenly Ranking, and certainly no one present was qualified to know such details.
Therefore, the old man's identity remained unknown.
Just as Lin Feng was discreetly observing Hua Yu, an discordant voice rang out.
"Lu Jingzhe, you actually came?"
"What's going on? Does this guy named Lin actually intend to participate in the martial arts league?"
Chen Meijia said with a sarcastic laugh.
Behind her, Huo Zhigang leaned on his cane, looking somewhat embarrassed.
"Chen Meijia, whether Lin Feng participates or not has nothing to do with you. You should just watch the competition honestly, why do you always speak with such barbs?"
Lu Jingzhe was displeased with Chen Meijia's constant provocation.
She was not like Su Qingya, who endured everything.
If she disliked something, she would state it directly.
"Fine, I won't say anything more. After all, it's you who will be embarrassed, not me."
"I'm here to cheer for my cousin. Many people want to challenge my cousin this time, but no one can defeat him!"
When Chen Man was mentioned, Chen Meijia's face lit up with pride.
"Everyone, please quiet down. I will now announce the formal commencement of the martial arts league and then read out the list of participants."
The President of the Provincial Martial Arts Association delivered his speech.
"Little Demon Dong Yichen, Earthly Ranking fifty-fifth."
"Wild Blade of Saibei Chen Man, Earthly Ranking thirtieth."
"Iron Fist Liu Meng, Earthly Ranking forty-fourth."
"Hu Sheng of Chuzhou, Earthly Ranking fortieth."
"Lin Feng of Qingcheng, Earthly Ranking fifty-fourth."
As Lin Feng's name was called, Chen Meijia and Huo Zhigang both looked over in disbelief.
"Lin Feng of Qingcheng, are they talking about you?"
Chen Meijia acted as if she had heard earth-shattering news, her eyes almost bulging out of their sockets.
"Who else could it be? You kept talking about how amazing Huo Zhigang was before, and we didn't pay you any mind. Now do you understand?"
Shen Xinyue chuckled, finally seeing Chen Meijia's shocked expression.
"So you're an Earthly Ranking expert, no wonder you're so arrogant!"
Chen Meijia swallowed hard, and Huo Zhigang turned away in shame and walked off.
He truly had no face to stay any longer; after pretending for so long, he realized he was the clown.
"Hmph, so what if you're on the Earthly Ranking? Your rank is fifty-fourth, my cousin's is thirtieth, you're still not as good as my cousin!"
After her shock, Chen Meijia snorted coldly.
"I'm not as good, but I will challenge your cousin today. At that time, I hope you can still smile."
Lin Feng shrugged indifferently.
His purpose for participating this time was the same as Dong Yichen's: to replace Chen Man.
Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Lin Feng, Hua Yu was also secretly observing him.
"Uncle Shou, are you sure this Lin Feng is that discarded son from the Lin family in the capital?"
Hua Yu quietly asked the old man behind her.
"Miss, I am sure he is!"
Uncle Shou replied affirmatively.
"Very well, after this league concludes, you will inform them. I will uphold the marriage engagement with the Lin family, but the person I will marry is not Lin Zhen, but this Lin Feng."
Hua Yu said calmly.
"Miss, you must think clearly! Lin Zhen is expected to challenge the Heavenly Ranking, his future is immeasurable. If you don't marry Lin Zhen and instead marry a discarded son of the Lin family, aren't you afraid the Lin family won't agree?"
Uncle Shou was a little anxious.
"Whether the Lin family agrees or not, they have to. I'm marrying someone within the Lin family, not an outsider."
Hua Yu's attitude was firm. The reason she chose Lin Feng was to escape her marriage engagement with the Lin family.
"Miss, I know you don't like Lin Zhen, but you can't gamble with your lifelong happiness!"
"A mere discarded son of the Lin family, if you marry him, everyone in the capital will make fun of you!"
"Besides, what's so good about this kid that you personally came to watch him?"
Uncle Shou was quite puzzled.
"It's precisely because he's not good that I want to marry him!"
"Don't ask anymore, just do as I say!"
Hua Yu had made up her mind.
This time, she would no longer be an obedient daughter; she would be a rebellious one.
Her choice of Lin Feng was intended to shame both the Hua family and the Lin family.