Li Muzhi's insulting words echoed throughout the venue, clearly audible to everyone present.
Among them, representatives from noble families and their younger kin watched Jiang Wuming with amusement, as if observing a monkey's performance.
On one hand, they all agreed with Li Muzhi's statement—without the Ye family's protection, Jiang Wuming had no backing in Long Country and was utterly unqualified to aspire to the Li family!
On the other hand, they were all aware of Jiang Wuming's deeds in the Longjiang Delta—his repeated defiance of the elite and trampling of their established rules. In a sense, he was their public enemy!
Furthermore, weren't many of them sycophants to Gu Tianlong?
Gu Tianlong's mocking smile widened. He sat there, his head held high, looking at Jiang Wuming with the gaze of a dragon overlooking an ant!
Unlike the representatives of noble families and their young disciples, the representatives and successors of martial arts factions felt that Li Muzhi had gone too far!
One's position dictated their perspective.
Like Jiang Wuming, they were martial artists.
With the global martial arts resurgence, the status and standing of martial artists had soared.
At this moment, Li Muzhi's words not only insulted Jiang Wuming but also resonated with them to some extent—martial artists were insignificant in the eyes of the nobility!
"Muzhi, you've gone too far!"
Just then, Li Shanglai, surrounded by Li family members, frowned at Li Muzhi and said word by word, "Even if the Li family didn't invite Master Wuming this time, he has a marriage engagement with Liyan and coming to celebrate the birthday is reasonable!"
"Li Shanglai, just shut up!"
"You're dim-witted and can't see the situation clearly, yet you have the nerve to talk about Muzhi?"
"The Li family doesn't acknowledge this marriage at all and has already decided to break it off, so where is the reasonableness in that?"
As soon as Li Shanglai finished speaking, the Li family members surrounding him began to scold him angrily.
"You... you..."
Li Shanglai trembled with anger, wanting to say something.
However—
This time, before he could finish his words, a voice rang out.
"I think Uncle Shanglai is right!"
Li Xiaoman stood up and said loudly, supporting Li Shanglai.
Unlike Li Liyan, she was not a core member of the Li family, and her status was even lower than Li Muzhi's in the same generation. She could only stay outside like the non-core members of the Li family.
As her voice fell, she walked directly towards Jiang Wuming.
"Sister Xiaoman, Li Shanglai is being foolish, why are you following his example?"
Seeing Li Xiaoman supporting Li Shanglai and speaking up for Jiang Wuming, Li Muzhi's expression darkened. He immediately put on the airs of the Li family's eldest young master, not only addressing Li Shanglai by his name but also reprimanding Li Xiaoman. Da Feng Novel Network.
"Li Muzhi, how can you speak like that? Is Uncle Shanglai's name something you can call out directly?"
Li Xiaoman was also somewhat annoyed, feeling that Li Muzhi was being a bit too presumptuous.
"Heh... I was angered by him!"
Li Muzhi sneered, speaking righteously, "I said Jiang Wuming is unworthy of being with Liyan, unworthy of coming to celebrate Grandpa's birthday, and unworthy of addressing Grandpa that way. Am I wrong?"
"Li Muzhi, you..."
Li Xiaoman's pretty face turned pale with anger, and she subconsciously wanted to say something, but remembering Li Liyan's instructions, she swallowed the words that were about to come out.
In the entire Li family, she was the closest to Li Liyan.
Outsiders didn't know Li Liyan's feelings, but she was perfectly clear about them!
She even knew the inside story of Jiang Wuming not being invited by the Li family!
"Your Grandpa and Li Liyan haven't said anything, yet you jump out and talk nonsense. Can you represent them, or can you represent the entire Li family?"
Just as Li Xiaoman was rendered speechless, Jiang Wuming spoke.
Originally, he didn't want to bother with Li Muzhi, intending to go directly to see Li Guyi, celebrate the birthday, and then settle matters with Li Liyan.
But Li Muzhi was relentless, acting as if he wanted to take advantage of any concession. Jiang Wuming couldn't stand it.
"You..."
Li Muzhi heard this and was furious.
Although he had heard that Jiang Wuming acted arrogantly, he had not expected Jiang Wuming's words to be so sharp. When he didn't speak, it was fine, but once he spoke, it was like striking a snake at its seven inches.
"Although Muzhi cannot represent the Family Head and Liyan, he has spoken our true feelings!"
"That's right, what Muzhi just said is also what I wanted to say. You are unworthy of being with Liyan!"
"The Li family does not welcome you, please leave!!"
Immediately, before Li Muzhi could finish his suppressed words, the Li family members surrounding Li Shanglai spoke again, explicitly supporting Li Muzhi, and their words were extremely unpleasant.
Hearing their words, Li Muzhi's anger dissipated a little, and then he regained his condescending posture, "Did you hear that? It's not just my opinion, it's the opinion of the entire Li family!
Even though you have a marriage engagement with Liyan, that engagement was made many years ago, and it was made between the Ye family and the Li family!
Now, the Ye family doesn't acknowledge you at all, and you can't even enter the Ye family's gates. Do you think this marriage engagement still exists?
Or do you think you can be like your father, Jiang Zhan, a toad trying to eat swan meat, a carp leaping into the dragon gate?!"
Swish swish swish...
Upon hearing Li Muzhi's words again, the faces of the representatives and successors of the martial arts factions couldn't help but change!
If they felt Li Muzhi's words were excessive before, then now they were somewhat angered!
After all, Jiang Zhan was a hero and pride of the Long Country martial arts world. He had defended Long Country his entire life and died on the battlefield!
"Your Grandpa saved my father once back then, which is why I am here to celebrate his birthday. Grandpa Li, this title is not me trying to curry favor, but simply representing my respect for him!"
Jiang Wuming narrowed his eyes, staring at Li Muzhi, his tone calm, "Because your Grandpa owed my father a life-saving grace back then, I can overlook what you just said. But if you insult my parents again, you will bear the consequences!"
"Insult your parents? Let everyone here say, wasn't Jiang Zhan being with Ye Jinmei back then like a toad eating swan meat?
Without the Ye family's covert support, do you think your father could have reached the heights he did?
Also, what did you just say?
Bear the consequences?
Heh heh...
Are you threatening me?
Do you know where this is?
This is Lizhuang!
If you dare to touch a single finger of mine, just try it?!"
"Slap—"
This time, as soon as Li Muzhi's words fell, a crisp slapping sound rang out.
Without a word, Jiang Wuming directly slapped Li Muzhi across the face!
This slap, although Jiang Wuming did not use his true qi and even controlled his strength, still sent Li Muzhi spinning twice!
"Uh..."
In an instant, the scene fell silent.
Whether it was the representatives of noble families, their younger kin, the representatives and successors of the major martial arts factions, or even the Li family members, they were all stunned!
Although they had speculated before Jiang Wuming's appearance that he might be here to cause trouble, they still found it unbelievable when they saw Jiang Wuming, in Lizhuang, before the start of Li Guyi's birthday banquet, slap the Li family's eldest young master in front of everyone!
How dare Jiang Wuming do such a thing?
"Plop—"
Their response was a muffled thud.
Li Muzhi's eyes were starry, his head dizzy, and he fell at Jiang Wuming's feet. Five scarlet handprints were left on his left cheek, half his face was swollen and numb, his lips were cracked, bleeding profusely, and he looked utterly pathetic!
The young man did not look at Li Muzhi again. Instead, he shook the blood off his hands, turned, held his head high, and with the pride of a Jiang family man, strode towards the main villa!
...