Shang Yuanyuan had clearly planned meticulously, even the words she had spoken to Liang Bendao earlier were well-rehearsed, thus she managed to enrage Liang Bendao in just a few sentences.
Despite Liang Bendao holding a position in a certain department in the capital and being an outstanding figure among his peers present, he was incredibly arrogant, even conceited, believing he was naturally superior to others of his generation.
Therefore, upon hearing Shang Yuanyuan say that someone dared to disregard him, Liang Bendao was undoubtedly angered.
In fact, Liang Bendao had just returned from the capital this evening. If he hadn't been so eager to show off, he wouldn't have come directly here without returning home first after deplaning. He shouldn't even have agreed to this welcome party organized by Shang Yuanyuan and these so-called socialites.
Xiao Yunlong had been observing Liang Bendao secretly. Although they had never met before, from this alone, he had a general idea of Liang Bendao's character.
Seeing Liang Bendao approaching with great anger, Xiao Yunlong remained seated on the sofa, with his legs crossed.
Although Liu Ruyan still suffered from social anxiety, she had now reached the level of a minor Grandmaster of Internal Strength. Moreover, having experienced many significant events with Xiao Yunlong during this period, she was relatively calm in this minor situation.
It had to be said that Liu Ruyan had made considerable progress compared to when Xiao Yunlong first met her.
Before Liang Bendao could get close, Shang Yuanyuan sternly rebuked, "You son-in-law of the Liu family are truly ungrateful. This is Brother Bendao's welcome party. Now that Brother Bendao has returned, not only do you fail to greet him and toast him, but you are still sitting there motionlessly as he approaches. You truly show no regard for Brother Bendao."
The young master from the Shang family also scoffed, "This son-in-law of the Liu family has always been arrogant and overbearing. It's one thing that he usually disregards us due to his martial skills, but now he even refuses to give Brother Bendao face. Isn't this too presumptuous!"
"Yes, this is Brother Bendao's welcome party. By doing this, isn't he clearly showing disrespect to Brother Bendao!"
Many of the socialites present chimed in, clearly hired by Shang Yuanyuan to support her.
Liu Feiyan had also wanted to make a sarcastic remark, but he remembered his father's strict instruction to never confront Xiao Yunlong directly. After some thought, he decided against it.
Xiao Yunlong's expression remained unchanged.
However, Liang Bendao's handsome face had completely darkened. He furrowed his brows and stared directly at Xiao Yunlong, saying, "I ask you, is what they just said true?"
Xiao Yunlong shrugged slightly, "They chattered so much just now, like flies. How would I know which sentence you are referring to?"
Before Liang Bendao could speak, Shang Yuanyuan angrily shouted, "What are you, a freeloading trash son-in-law, saying? In front of Brother Bendao, you dare to call us flies? You are too presumptuous, too disrespectful to Brother Bendao!"
Saying this, Shang Yuanyuan skillfully put her arm around Liang Bendao's arm and said in a spoiled tone, "Brother Bendao, did you hear that? This trash son-in-law is too arrogant, too contemptuous of others!"
Liang Bendao did not refuse Shang Yuanyuan's intentional or unintentional embrace; instead, he seemed to enjoy it. After all, having such a beautiful woman actively embrace him was proof of his charm and strength.
"They said just now that you, the son-in-law of the Liu family, claim to be the number one person among the younger generation in Sucheng, and that I, Liang Bendao, am only fit to carry your shoes. Is that correct?"
Liang Bendao asked in a deep, stern voice. His voice was so loud that the previously lively and boisterous party immediately fell silent.
Many guests nearby then rushed over to watch the spectacle, and soon all eyes were on Xiao Yunlong. Many even wore expressions of schadenfreude.
"Good, I didn't expect them to clash so soon. It looks like Brother Bendao intends to make a move this time."
"Actually, it's also the fault of this surname Xiao, the arrogant and conceited trash son-in-law. It's one thing that he disregards us all this time, but as a live-in son-in-law, he dares to put on airs in front of Brother Bendao. Isn't he asking for trouble!"
The surrounding crowd whispered, all waiting to see a good show, waiting to see how Xiao Yunlong would be dealt with and taught a lesson by Liang Bendao, the most prominent young master in Sucheng.
Despite being the center of attention, Xiao Yunlong's expression remained as usual. He smiled faintly and said, "What they said is not accurate; it's pure slander and fabrication. I am merely a live-in son-in-law of the Liu family, a freeloading guest. How could I possibly claim to be the number one person among the younger generation in Sucheng, right?"
Hearing this, Liang Bendao couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth in triumph, thinking that the young man wouldn't dare to be so arrogant.
However, before Liang Bendao could speak, Xiao Yunlong abruptly changed the subject and continued, "However, they were right about one thing just now. You, Liang Bendao, are indeed only fit to carry my shoes. Actually, this is even considering your father; otherwise, with your caliber, you probably wouldn't even be worthy of carrying my shoes!"
"What did you say?" Liang Bendao's hair stood on end, his eyes blazing with furious anger. He gritted his teeth and roared word by word, "You, the useless son-in-law of Liu Fei, you actually said that I am not even worthy of carrying your shoes?"
It was evident that Liang Bendao was truly enraged. He could never have imagined that among the younger generation in Sucheng, there would be someone who dared to disregard him.
The many socialites and beauties around were also in an uproar, clearly feeling indignant and angry at Xiao Yunlong's words.
Shang Yuanyuan immediately gritted her teeth and shouted, "Brother Bendao, I told you long ago that this son-in-law of the Liu family is too arrogant and overbearing. If such an ungrateful wretch isn't taught a good lesson, he won't know why flowers are so red!"
"Brother Bendao, although we all know you have good manners and never act rashly, this son-in-law of the Liu family is too contemptuous of others. Today, we must teach him a good lesson. It's best to smash his foul mouth and make him kneel and call us daddy!" several so-called socialites shouted.
Liang Bendao narrowed his eyes and snorted, "You son-in-law of the Liu family, did you hear that? I, Liang Bendao, am a person of status and never easily bother with mere insects. As long as you kneel down now and slap yourself ten times, and then shout 'Daddy' three times, I will forgive your earlier rudeness!"
Xiao Yunlong smiled, glanced at Liang Bendao, and sneered, "You truly have a big mouth. Let alone you, even your father, Liang Minghui, wouldn't dare to act presumptuously in front of me!"
"Outrageous, truly outrageous! You trash son-in-law, I, this young master, have good manners and don't act rashly easily, but you have repeatedly ridiculed me and even dared to insult my father. Today, no matter what, I will not let you off!"
Liang Bendao said, directly assuming a fighting stance and clenching his fists. "I heard you, this trash son-in-law, are also a martial artist. Make your move and let me see what you're made of!"
Xiao Yunlong gave him a cold glance and said mockingly, "To be honest, someone of your caliber is not qualified to make me act directly."
Saying this, Xiao Yunlong slightly turned his head to Jun Bufan and said, "Bufan, you go. Tell this surname Liang, and also tell these so-called young masters and socialites of Sucheng, who is the number one person among the younger generation in Sucheng!"
"Yes, Big Brother!" Jun Bufan said, stepping forward with a hint of excitement and eagerness on his face.
Although they had grown up together, Liang Bendao, being much more mature than his peers since childhood, had also worked harder, thus always far surpassing the young disciples of various wealthy families.
Jun Bufan's martial arts talent was not bad to begin with, and he had started learning martial arts at the age of eight. However, compared to Liang Bendao, he was always a step behind. From elementary school, he had always been suppressed by Liang Bendao.
Liang Bendao had always been the cream of the crop among the young disciples in Sucheng's upper-class circles. He was the moon, and even if stars like Jun Bufan shone brightly, their light was always overshadowed by Liang Bendao.
Now that he finally had an opportunity to compete, Jun Bufan was naturally excited. Moreover, Jun Bufan knew that after receiving guidance from Mr. Xiao, his martial arts cultivation had improved by leaps and bounds. He even noticed that although Liang Bendao had strong talent, he had only taken half a step into the realm of a Grandmaster of Hua Jin.
Liang Bendao glanced at Jun Bufan with disdain, saying, "Jun Bufan, do you really intend to fight me? You've been my defeated opponent since childhood, so I advise you to get out of the way now, lest you embarrass yourself in such a setting!"
Jun Bufan chuckled lightly, "You've been in the capital for so long, haven't you heard the saying 'A scholar should be judged anew after three days'?"
"Fine, you have guts. Today, I will let you know that geniuses are always geniuses. Mediocre people like you are destined to be unable to surpass me, a genius like myself!"
Liang Bendao snorted coldly, his aura sinking, and he directly channeled the internal energy within his body to surge forward.
After all, he was a half-step Grandmaster of Hua Jin. As soon as his internal energy erupted, a strong gust of wind swept through the entire party hall, causing the surrounding crowd to retreat.
In just an instant, Liang Bendao threw a punch.
Jun Bufan chuckled lightly, sidestepped, and evaded it.
Liang Bendao was taken aback. He had used eighty percent of his power in that punch, yet the opponent had evaded it so easily.
Before his move could be fully executed, Liang Bendao changed his fist into a palm and delivered a horizontal palm strike.
Jun Bufan tapped his foot, employing the "Swimming Dragon" footwork, and lightly evaded it again.
"Jun Bufan, if you want to compete with me, what do you mean by just dodging?" Liang Bendao asked sternly.
Jun Bufan shook his head and sighed, "It seems this is all you've got. If that's the case, I'll let you see my true strength!"
Before his voice faded, Jun Bufan instantly charged forward. His aura as a Grandmaster of Hua Jin fully erupted, his speed reaching an incredible level.
With a flash of movement, he was already in front of Liang Bendao and delivered a palm strike.
"Not good..." Liang Bendao's face changed drastically. He instinctively tried to dodge, but his reaction was no match for a true Grandmaster of Hua Jin.
With a bang, Liang Bendao was sent flying several meters away by the palm strike.
With another splash, Liang Bendao fell into the swimming pool, causing countless splashes of water.
The entire party venue fell silent for a moment. Shang Yuanyuan and the others widened their eyes, not daring to even breathe, their faces filled with shock.
Liang Bendao, like a drowned rat, climbed out of the swimming pool in a sorry state. A socialite wanted to help him up, but he kicked her away.
"I truly didn't expect that you, Jun Bufan, have now cultivated to that realm. I was indeed careless just now, which is why I failed to dodge!"
Liang Bendao said this, then snorted and gritted his teeth, shouting, "But Jun Bufan, today it is my grievance with this son-in-law of the Liu family. Do you really have to interfere? Don't blame me for not warning you. If you truly interfere, you must first consider whether your Jun family can contend with my Liang family!"
Xiao Yunlong heard this and coldly chuckled, "What, can't beat him and now you're going to bring out your father, bring out your family?"
Liang Bendao let out a cold laugh, "So what if I bring them out? Who here doesn't know that my Liang family is the chief clan in Sucheng, and my father is the Director of the City Defense Department!"
"Since that's the case, then call your father, the Director of the City Defense Department. Tell him that you plan to make the live-in son-in-law of the Liu family kneel and slap himself a hundred times. Oh, and don't forget to tell your dad that this son-in-law of the Liu family's surname is Xiao!" Xiao Yunlong sneered.
"I'll call if I have to. I'll let you know what regret is later!" Liang Bendao snorted coldly and took out his phone.
Fortunately, his phone was waterproof, otherwise it would be useless now.
The call was quickly connected. Because Liang Bendao was at the edge of the swimming pool, the crowd, who had moved a certain distance away, could not hear what he was saying.
However, soon Liang Bendao's entire body began to tremble violently as if he had been electrocuted, his face instantly turned pale, and his gaze towards Xiao Yunlong was filled with intense fear.
It seemed that at this moment, Xiao Yunlong appeared to him like a demon from hell, even more terrifying than a demon.
With a thud!
Liang Bendao directly knelt down towards Xiao Yunlong.