Chapter 404: Chapter 401: You’re Not Going to Hit Me, Are You?

The exchange between the West District Sub-Palaces was held on a remote island in the deep sea.

The various factions from each Sub-Palace, despite their usual conflicts, would always band together during this event to present a united front against the others.

After all, their performance in the exchange didn’t just represent a single family or faction. It reflected on the honor of their entire Sub-Palace.

An outstanding performance could even attract the attention of the Immortal Realm. If that happened, their allocation of resources and their influence would both increase significantly.

Though the chances were incredibly slim, what if?

That’s why every Sub-Palace took this exchange very seriously.

Only Mo Qi’s Sub-Palace was different. The Huangfu and Xiao Families had clearly formed an alliance, and they were extremely hostile toward the Feng and Liu Families—especially the Feng Family.

The two sides were as incompatible as fire and water.

If not for the fear that a mutually destructive conflict would affect their entry into the Demon Spirit Battlefield and their final results, they would have already declared war on the Feng Family.

Although they were coexisting peacefully for the time being, the idea that they would set aside their prejudices to cooperate for the exchange was nothing short of a daydream.

It was already a blessing that they hadn’t started fighting amongst themselves yet.

"Just as I thought. A born troublemaker. There’s never any peace with him around!" Huangfu Yu sneered from the sidelines.

Words could no longer describe his hatred for Mo Qi.

Mo Qi had not only shattered his myth of invincibility among his peers and stripped him of his "Monster" title, but had even left an indelible shadow on his heart, nearly becoming a Heart Demon on his path of the Martial Dao.

So now, Huangfu Yu had only one thought, and one thought alone: kill Mo Qi and eliminate his Heart Demon.

Never mind the fact that Mo Qi was busy analyzing the current situation with the Pig Emperor and had no time to bother with Huangfu Yu.

Even if he had the time, he couldn’t be bothered wasting his breath on a man he’d already defeated.

Just because Mo Qi wasn’t interested didn’t mean others felt the same.

Qian Duoduo had been yawning, wandering around aimlessly out of sheer boredom, looking for something to do.

The moment he heard someone mock Mo Qi, how could he possibly stand for it?

To him, Mo Qi was his brother. His brother was the beacon that guided his path. And a beacon is sacred and inviolable.

Therefore, Mo Qi was sacred and inviolable!

"Well, well, well... what’s that sour, stinky smell coming from?" Qian Duoduo pinched his nose and circled Huangfu Yu, exclaiming in a theatrical voice.

"Old Li, you smell that?" Qian Duoduo asked, nudging Li Yuanhao, who was resting beside him with his eyes closed.

Li Yuanhao opened his eyes, glanced at Huangfu Yu, and stated blankly, "I do. It’s unbearably sour!"

"Hahaha," Qian Duoduo’s grin grew wider. "If I’m not mistaken, it must be because a certain someone isn’t even qualified to stir up trouble himself. That’s why he’s resorting to these sour, snide remarks."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. So sad. So pathetic."

Qian Duoduo said, shaking his head and feigning a look of pity.

"Are you looking to die?" Huangfu Yu was furious. He could, of course, tell that Qian Duoduo was talking about him.

And since Qian Duoduo’s voice was loud and he’d made no attempt to be discreet, everyone around had turned to stare at Huangfu Yu, pointing and whispering.

"Hm? Whoa! If it isn’t the great super-genius of the Huangfu Family, Huangfu Yu himself!"

Qian Duoduo put on a show of surprise, acting as if he’d only just noticed him, despite having already circled the man countless times.

"Why is the super-genius so angry? Surely you didn’t think I was talking about you, did you?"

Qian Duoduo adopted an innocent expression. "I mean, even though my brother beat you like a pathetic dog twice in a row—the first time you fled with your tail between your legs, and the second you had to be rescued by your elders—you really shouldn’t lose heart. After all, you have that nickname, what was it again?"

"Oh, that’s right—Monster! You’re a monster, so being shameless is perfectly normal for you. Don’t let those bad memories get to you."

"I, Qian Duoduo, may not be the most skilled person around, but I wouldn’t sink so low as to argue with a monster. So you can rest easy. I wasn’t talking about you just now."

When it came to a venomous tongue, if Qian Duoduo was second, no one would dare claim first.

In this department, even Mo Qi had to concede defeat.

"You... You, you, you! You’re courting death!" Huangfu Yu could finally take no more. He raised his arm, about to strike.

He wanted to slap this guy—more annoying than a housefly—dead on the spot!

"Hey, you’re not petty enough to hit me, are you?"

Qian Duoduo’s sudden remark made Huangfu Yu’s arm freeze in mid-air.

Huangfu Yu: "I... @#$!%&*"

’It’s not just about hitting you, I fucking want to kill you right now!’

But Qian Duoduo’s words had cut him off at the pass, leaving Huangfu Yu conflicted...

’Hit him or not?’

’If I hit him, it just proves I’m petty. But if I don’t, I’ll feel like shit.’

Huangfu Yu was so frustrated he could have coughed up blood.

"Hey now... we’re representing our entire Sub-Palace here. We’re a team. You’re not thinking of starting some internal strife, are you?" Qian Duoduo added, looking Huangfu Yu up and down with a sideways glance. "You’re being a bit excessively petty, don’t you think!"

Huangfu Yu: "..."

’Don’t give me that "we" crap!’

’You are you, and I am I! Who the hell is on a team with you?’

’And another thing, between the two of us, who’s the one who really went too far?’

’Is this really about being petty or not?’

’When you were insulting and belittling me, did you ever think about being magnanimous?’

’I admit Mo Qi defeated me, but how does that make me a dog?’

’Also, the name ’Monster’ is supposed to be a unique honor, so why does it sound like some kind of curse when it comes out of your mouth?!’

"Oh, great super-genius, I actually have a question I’ve been dying to ask you," Qian Duoduo said suddenly, tilting his head.

A faint sense of unease crept into Huangfu Yu’s heart. He had a feeling whatever Qian Duoduo was about to ask wouldn’t be good.

As expected. The moment Qian Duoduo opened his mouth, Huangfu Yu’s face darkened completely.

"So, tell me, oh great super-genius... after my brother beat you like a dog in front of all those people—twice—how did you manage to recover from the psychological trauma so quickly and effectively?"

Huangfu Yu: "..."

’If you just stopped mentioning the dog part, we could almost be friends! On the surface, anyway!’

"Oh great super-genius, don’t tell me your pettiness is flaring up again. You’re not thinking of hitting me, are you?" Before Huangfu Yu could respond, Qian Duoduo once again cut off any chance of him lashing out.

Huangfu Yu: "..."

’You’re the one who’s fucking petty!’

’Since I can’t lay a hand on him, then when faced with a shameless bastard like Qian Duoduo... if I can’t afford to fight him, can’t I at least avoid him?’

With that thought, Huangfu Yu turned to leave.

But was Qian Duoduo the type of person to leave a job half-done?

The Qian Family had an ancestral motto: The greatest taboo in life is to be indecisive. If you’re going to do something, see it through to the very end. If you’re going to offend someone, offend them so badly they’ll never forget it!

So, with a flash, Qian Duoduo was right on Huangfu Yu’s heels. With a shameless grin, he pressed on, "Oh great super-genius, why so quiet? Is it that time of the month? Feeling a bit under the weather?"

Huangfu Yu staggered, almost tripping, and shot Qian Duoduo a venomous glare.

’That time of the month?!’

Qian Duoduo, however, paid the glare no mind at all. With a perfectly straight face, he said, "Oh, great super-genius, so you know how to do face-changing, too! Just a second ago it was black, and now it’s all red!"