Chapter 185: Chapter 116: One-Glance Instant Kill

"Don’t you pin that on me!"

Zhong Ming spoke these last words with a world of hidden meaning, his tone lilting upwards with a careless air.

Some missed the nuance, simply shocked by Zhong Ming’s audacity.

"Calling disciples from the Major Sects trash? How can he be so arrogant?"

"He’s from a minor sect, yet he looks down on everyone. I’m curious how he developed such a personality."

"However he was raised, he’s in deep trouble this time. After offending the Void Moon Sect, neither he nor his sect will have an easy time of it."

The average person just thought Zhong Ming was arrogant, but those who understood the deeper meaning in his words sensed his unbending pride and iron will.

The two women sent by the Seventh Young Master, Ji Qingkang, were among them.

The woman with the air of a merchant was stunned for a moment after hearing Zhong Ming’s declaration, but a flash of understanding soon crossed her eyes.

’The people from the Void Moon Sect started this by slinging mud, claiming Zhong Ming insulted them. Faced with the slander, Zhong Ming didn’t choose to argue. He simply owned it... You said that I claimed the Void Moon Sect disciples are all trash? Fine. In that case, I’ll grant your wish and call you all trash to your faces, in front of everyone.’

This way of handling things showed Qin Hongyu the fierce, domineering side of Zhong Ming’s nature.

But she quickly shook her head.

With her merchant background, she was more pragmatic and didn’t think much of Zhong Ming’s methods.

And she didn’t believe Zhong Ming could withstand the Void Moon Sect’s inevitable retaliation.

Still, after she had pieced it all together, she kept her opinion to herself. Instead, she turned to her ’partner’ and asked probingly, "Autumn Cicada, what do you think of what Zhong Ming did? After this, he’ll have made a true enemy of the Void Moon Sect... Should we still try to recruit him?"

"Of course." Knowing that Zhong Ming was now the Void Moon Sect’s enemy and that recruiting him meant a direct confrontation, the young woman named Autumn Cicada showed no fear. In fact, she seemed eager for the challenge.

At this, Qin Hongyu’s eyes narrowed.

’Unafraid of the Void Moon Sect... As expected, the people around Young Master Qingkang are from impressive backgrounds.’

As she mused, Autumn Cicada continued, "Besides, don’t underestimate Zhong Ming. He might be arrogant, but he has real strength... I can sense that he’s a threat."

"It won’t be so easy for the Void Moon Sect to win this time."

...

Zhong Ming’s words left the crowd in shock. Once the surprise wore off, they all settled in to enjoy the show.

But while the outsiders could enjoy the show, Zhu Hao and Zhuang Mingzhu could not.

CRACK!

With his sect’s honor insulted, Zhu Hao’s aura exploded with fury. He glared at Zhong Ming as if he wanted to eat him alive.

"You bastard! How dare you insult our Void Moon Sect..."

He was trembling with rage, but Zhong Ming simply tilted his head, looking at him as if he were some strange creature.

"Why the surprise? You already knew I consider the younger generation of the Void Moon Sect to be trash, didn’t you?"

At these words, Zhu Hao suddenly remembered. The line, ’The younger generation of the Void Moon Sect are trash,’ was something they had fabricated just to pick a fight.

In fact, they had been the ones to instigate this whole hostile standoff. When Zhong Ming had arrived at the Star-Picking Sect’s residence, he hadn’t done or said a single thing.

Faced with the Void Moon Sect’s provocation and slander, Zhong Ming had simply chosen not to argue. He owned the accusation and met their hostility with the most defiant counter imaginable.

But even after realizing this, Zhu Hao had no intention of reflecting on his actions.

It’s hard for people to be self-critical, especially someone like Zhu Hao, who saw himself as a disciple of a Major Sect and Zhong Ming as nothing more than an ant on the side of the road.

A man like that could never admit the situation was his fault.

’You bastard! I just wanted to test you! Why couldn’t you just do as you were told and submit?!’

Zhu Hao’s attitude was that Zhong Ming should not have resisted the slander, but should have kneeled to accept his punishment and commands.

Of course, he called it a "test."

But clearly, Zhong Ming had no intention of playing along.

"You sharp-tongued bastard! It doesn’t matter what you say. You’ve offended our Void Moon Sect, and today, you will pay the price!"

Because he saw Zhong Ming as his inferior, even realizing he himself was the cause of all this didn’t make Zhu Hao feel any remorse or regret. It only made him find Zhong Ming more detestable.

He was about to make his move, but just as he took a step forward, a clear voice suddenly shouted.

"Stop!"

The one who shouted was Ji Qingyue. She might not have much power, but she had a strong sense of responsibility. Afraid Zhong Ming would suffer a loss, she immediately moved to stop them.

Seeing her step forward, Zhu Hao paused. He gave Ji Qingyue a cold look. "Princess, have you thought this through? Are you really going to make an enemy of the Void Moon Sect for a mere Loose Cultivator?"

Faced with Zhu Hao’s open hostility and threats, Ji Qingyue still had no intention of backing down.

But before she could speak, Zhong Ming placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Princess, this is the second time you’ve stopped me from punishing a villain."

"Eh?"

Ji Qingyue was completely stunned by his words.

While she was frozen in a daze, Ji Qinglian walked over and pulled her aside.

"Second Sister, since they both want to fight, just let them. Besides, you need to have a little more faith in Young Master Zhong Ming."