“Uh... Great Master Ouyezi, what does 'little devils' mean?”

Zhou Huai, controlling Ouyezi, waved his hand.

“It means nothing.”

He then took a sip of juice and changed the subject, saying,

“Why is this person named Murayama so popular here?”

Tian Guang leaned closer and whispered his reply.

“Great Master, you may not know.”

“This Nakamura Shin'ichiro is the Personal Disciple of that legendary Divine Craftsman, Ōmiya Haruto, from Sakura Country.”

“He has been in our Great Xia Country's Forging Guild for exchanges and studies recently.”

“Many Forgers here have interacted with Mr. Murayama and are deeply impressed by his forging skills.”

Zhou Huai nodded in understanding.

His gaze once again fell upon the center of the crowd, where Nakamura Shin'ichiro was surrounded, and a hint of disdain appeared in his eyes.

“Is there really a need to grovel like this?”

“Every single one of them, are they giving up even a Forger's backbone?”

Tian ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) Guang gave a bitter smile.

“Great Master, that's not quite right.”

“You've been in Donghai City for many years, so you might not be very familiar with the outside situation.”

“Over these past few decades, our Great Xia Country's forging world has declined with each generation, no longer possessing the glory of Chairman Mo's era.”

“Now, the entire Great Xia Country doesn't even have a single Grandmaster who can consistently forge legendary-grade equipment.”

“In contrast, Sakura Country, setting aside Ōmiya Haruto, has at least three Great Masters who can touch the threshold of legendary-grade items.”

“For combat professions, the strong are respected.”

“For our lifestyle professions, isn't it the same?”

“If your skills are inferior, your back naturally can't stand straight.”

Zhou Huai listened without speaking.

He simply drained the juice in his cup.

Just then.

Nakamura Shin'ichiro, who was the center of attention, smiled and parted the crowd in front of him, walking directly towards another corner of the banquet hall.

Everyone followed his gaze, their Faces showing expressions of anticipating a good show.

There, Mo Yuwei was holding a glass of red wine, chatting with several other young female Forgers.

Today, she had shed her usual practical black combat suit.

And put on a wine-red, off-the-shoulder evening gown.

The long dress clung to her exquisite curves, perfectly showcasing her fiery figure.

Her fair skin, under the lights, seemed to glow with a soft halo.

Her neat short hair, meticulously styled, had lost some of its usual sharpness and arrogance, gaining a touch of feminine softness and grace.

She had clearly noticed Nakamura Shin'ichiro walking towards her.

Her beautiful brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Nakamura Shin'ichiro walked up to her, a smile he thought was perfectly gentlemanly on his Face, and bowed slightly.

“You must be Young Miss Mo Yuwei, Chairman Mo's granddaughter, I presume?”

His Chinese was a bit stiff, but carried a deliberately cultivated magnetism.

“I've long heard that Young Miss Mo is beautiful and charming, and seeing you today, it's truly well-deserved.”

Mo Yuwei gave him a cool glance, clearly uninterested in such an approach.

“Something you need?”

Nakamura Shin'ichiro seemed not to have expected such a cold response, and the smile on his Face faltered slightly.

But he quickly recovered, raising the wine glass in his hand.

“Nothing, just wanted to offer a toast to the beautiful Young Miss.”

“I wonder, Young Miss Mo, if you would do me the honor?”

Mo Yuwei's eyes now held unconcealed disgust.

“I said, if you have something to say, just say it directly.”

“I hate people beating around the bush.”

The smile on Nakamura Shin'ichiro's Face finally became difficult to maintain.

He took a step forward, leaning his body slightly, and a waft of alcohol hit her.

“Young Miss Mo, I just wanted to get to know you purely.”

“Isn't it a bit impolite to keep people at arm's length like this?”

The wine glass in his hand moved closer and closer to Mo Yuwei.

The surrounding Forgers, who were watching the show, had already started whispering.

“This Mo Yuwei, her attitude is too high and mighty, isn't it?”

“Exactly, what is Master Nakamura's status? He's offering her a drink, and she actually won't give him Face.”

Mo Yuwei's Face grew colder as she listened to the surrounding discussions.

She finally grew impatient.

“Take your dirty hand away.”

She raised her hand and pushed away Nakamura Shin'ichiro's offered wine glass.

“Splash—”

The crimson wine traced an arc in the air.

It all splashed onto Nakamura Shin'ichiro's expensive white robe, leaving a large, glaring stain.

The air instantly fell silent.

Everyone was stunned by this sudden scene.

Nakamura Shin'ichiro looked down at the wine stain on his chest, the smile on his Face completely gone, replaced by a dark expression.

“Young Miss Mo, what is the meaning of this?”

His voice was as cold as ice.

Before Mo Yuwei could speak, the surrounding crowd had already erupted.

A corpulent Forger was the first to rush forward, anxiously pulling out a handkerchief to wipe Nakamura Shin'ichiro.

“Master Nakamura! Are you alright?”

“Oh dear, what can be done, such a fine garment...”

He turned his head and glared fiercely at Mo Yuwei.

“Mo Yuwei! You've gone too far!”

“Master Nakamura kindly offered you a drink, and you actually knocked over the glass!”

“Do you have any manners at all?!”

Someone immediately chimed in.

“Exactly! Master Nakamura is a guest from afar! Is this how you treat guests?!”

“I think she's just been spoiled by Chairman Mo, used to being arrogant and overbearing!”

“Quick! Apologize to Master Nakamura!”

“Right! Apologize!”

Accusations, like sharp knives, pierced Mo Yuwei.

She felt utterly bewildered, her arms crossed over her chest, trembling with anger.

“Why should I apologize?!”

“He was the one who harassed me first, in plain sight!”

A man wearing glasses sneered.

“Harass you? Young Miss Mo, you think too highly of yourself.”

“Master Nakamura just wanted to have a drink with you, how does that become harassment?”

“I think you're just ungrateful! Giving Face but not taking it!”

“What you've done is simply an embarrassment to our Great Xia Country's Forgers! And a smear on Chairman Mo!”

Nakamura Shin'ichiro looked at Mo Yuwei, who was being attacked by the crowd, a hint of triumph flashing in his eyes.

He raised his hand and pressed it down, putting on a magnanimous air.

“It's alright, it's alright.”

“Everyone, don't blame Young Miss Mo, perhaps I was too abrupt.”

“It's just a piece of clothing, it's no big deal.”

His words further solidified Mo Yuwei's “unreasonable behavior.”

Mo Yuwei was usually rather sharp-tongued and willful, but she was still a young girl.

Seeing so many people speaking against her, her eyes instantly reddened.

Shining tears welled up, stubbornly refusing to fall.

She felt as if she had suffered an immense grievance.

She couldn't understand why this group of people would help an outsider bully her.

From afar, Tian Guang sighed deeply, his Face full of helplessness.

He was about to step forward to mediate and smooth things over.

But a hand gently rested on his shoulder.

Tian Guang turned around and met a pair of calm eyes.

He saw that Ouyezi had stood up at some point.

The next second.

Ouyezi took a step, unhurriedly passing through the crowd, and walked to Mo Yuwei's side.

He didn't even glance at Nakamura Shin'ichiro, simply sweeping his gaze over the group of indignant “compatriots.”

Then, in a tone so bland it carried no emotion, he spoke.

“I'm talking to you few.”

“Are your eyes all blind?”

The noisy banquet hall instantly fell silent.

Everyone was stunned, looking at this young man who had suddenly appeared, puzzled.

The fat man who had first accused Mo Yuwei frowned.

“Who are you? Do you have a right to speak here?”

Zhou Huai ignored him.

He simply continued calmly.

“It's clearly this grandson from Sakura Country who was harassing Young Miss Mo in broad daylight.”

“Not only did you people not stop him, but you even helped him speak.”

“Now, you're actually forcing Young Miss Mo to apologize to him?”

His voice wasn't loud, but it was like a series of slaps, striking everyone's Face.

“Grandson?”

Nakamura Shin'ichiro's Face instantly turned ashen.

He stared intensely at Zhou Huai, his eyes sinister.

Zhou Huai still didn't look at him.

He merely looked at the Forgers whose Faces were flushed, angry but not daring to speak, a sneer playing on his lips.

“I'd like to ask you.”

“All of you.”

“Are you all his dogs?”