Chu Xia snapped his folding fan shut, his gaze icy, and the smile on his face completely disappeared.
In all his years, this was the first time he had encountered someone who dared to look down on him and treat him as if he were air.
In the Immortal Chu Dynasty, who wouldn't treat him with the utmost respect?
Although his parents had taught him to avoid trouble and keep a low profile when traveling outside, how could he pretend not to notice when someone was bullying him like this? How could he act like a coward?
The atmosphere in Riverside Pavilion instantly became tense.
The expressions of the nearby guests and disciples from major sects also changed dramatically. Many didn't dare to get involved and quickly found excuses to leave.
Only a few dared to stay and observe how the situation would unfold.
"Riverside Pavilion has its own rules. Since this young lady is willing to leave with Brother Gu, do you still intend to force her?"
"After all, this is a matter of mutual consent. Your attitude, brother, is somewhat presumptuous."
Zi Yunchuan, Zhao Tianfan, and the others also frowned deeply, stepping forward with cold and unfriendly expressions.
They weren't afraid of Chu Xia. Although they guessed his background might be extraordinary, this was the perfect opportunity to get closer to Gu Changge. Why would they care about someone like Chu Xia?
Fairy Caiyun also felt that Chu Xia's words were too much, her beautiful eyes flashing with displeasure.
"The women he sets his eyes on, no one dares to take away?"
What did that mean? Was he saying that as long as he took a liking to a woman, no one could stop him from taking her?
"Oh, since you say Riverside Pavilion has its own rules, let's follow them. She's just an entertainer. Whoever offers the highest price can take her."
Chu Xia ignored Zi Yunchuan and the others, letting out a cold laugh as his gaze swept over Yiyi, who kept her head lowered.
He truly hadn't expected that casually picking an entertainer in Riverside Pavilion would lead to such a conflict.
However, he had never been afraid of trouble.
Originally, he was the one who had taken a liking to this woman, but someone else had intervened and was now trying to forcibly buy her out.
How could he tolerate this?
"Oh, follow Riverside Pavilion's rules?"
"What if we don't follow the rules?"
At this moment, Gu Changge finally turned his gaze to Chu Xia, carefully sizing him up.
His voice remained calm, as if he were casually discussing a trivial matter.
"If we don't follow the rules?"
Chu Xia hadn't expected Gu Changge to say such a thing and was momentarily stunned.
Not following the rules? Did that mean he intended to take her by force?
"Very well, I'd like to see how you plan to not follow the rules."
Chu Xia let out another cold laugh.
Madam Liu, at this point, could no longer withstand the immense pressure.
Trembling, she returned the Phoenix Heart Sacred Stone to Chu Xia and then looked at the white-robed girl standing beside Gu Changge with her head lowered. "Young masters, Yiyi is now a free person and no longer under the jurisdiction of Riverside Pavilion."
"Who Yiyi chooses to leave with is her own decision."
These words made Chu Xia's expression turn ugly.
He felt as if Madam Liu had publicly slapped him in the face. Anyone with eyes could see that the girl named Yiyi was terrified of him.
Instead, she was willing to stay by Gu Changge's side.
Chu Xia's eyes turned cold as he glanced at Yiyi, who kept her head down, holding her ancient zither, her delicate hand tightly clutching her sleeve.
"Miss Yiyi, are you willing to leave this place with me?"
"My earlier actions were indeed rude, and I apologize. If you leave with me, I swear that you will have a place among my concubines. Whatever others have, you will have as well."
He took a deep breath, suppressing the coldness and anger in his heart, and spoke to the white-robed girl in a gentle tone.
At this point, the matter was no longer just a dispute over an entertainer but a battle of pride.
However, facing Chu Xia's words, the white-robed girl beside Gu Changge, who kept her head down, seemed not to hear him at all. She completely ignored Chu Xia.
Instead, she timidly raised her eyes to glance at Gu Changge, then quickly lowered her head again, as if shy and afraid of being seen by him.
Seeing this, the gentle expression on Chu Xia's face gradually stiffened, revealing a hint of suppressed anger and coldness.
He had never been humiliated like this before.
Zi Yun'er, Fairy Caiyun, and the others all showed faint traces of mockery, feeling that Chu Xia was utterly presumptuous and self-absorbed.
"Do you know what status my young master holds? To become his concubine is a blessing you wouldn't achieve in a hundred lifetimes. How dare you ignore him like this?"
Chu Xiao'er, Chu Xia's lackey, felt that Gu Changge's attitude was too domineering and arrogant, as if he didn't take his young master seriously at all.
However, he didn't dare to confront Gu Changge directly and could only angrily scold the white-robed girl.
"Shut up."
Chu Xia scolded him, feeling even more humiliated.
He no longer bothered to hide his expression, coldly glancing at Yiyi. "I hope you won't regret today's choice in the future."
What did it matter if an entertainer was beautiful?
With his status, what kind of woman couldn't he obtain?
In Chu Xia's eyes, tonight's events had caused him to lose all face and become a laughingstock.
Yiyi also hadn't expected that her presence would cause such a huge commotion tonight.
Hearing Chu Xia's words, her flawless face beneath the veil turned pale, and she couldn't help but tremble slightly, as if frightened.
"I told you, you're free now. From this day forward, no one can threaten or harm you."
"What does he even amount to?"
Gu Changge, noticing the girl's fear, smiled faintly.
"What do you mean by that?" Chu Xia's expression turned ugly.
Gu Changge's words, spoken in front of everyone, "What does he even amount to?" ignited the anger Chu Xia had been suppressing.
"It seems you have a problem with those words?" Gu Changge casually glanced at him.
"How interesting. In all my years, this is the first time I've encountered someone who speaks to me like this."
These words nearly made Chu Xia laugh in anger, his gaze growing even colder.
The other party's casual, dismissive attitude was far more arrogant and domineering than any words could convey.
Chu Xia had never imagined that one day he would encounter someone even more arrogant and domineering than himself.
Gu Changge continued to smile faintly. "Well, now you've met your match."