Why do I have so many masters?

Gao Zhenhai raised his right hand and patted Mei Zimo on the shoulder, offering him a few words of comfort, yet he suddenly changed the topic, speaking with some difficulty:

"However, Brother Mei, we had an agreement beforehand. A wager must stand if there is to be a winner or a loser. If we break the rules as soon as they're set, wouldn't that be too much of a slap in the face?"

"It's nothing for someone like me, but it's different for Young Master Zhong."

Following his gaze, Mei Zimo saw the cold-looking man dressed in black, feeling somewhat panicked, he tightly grabbed Gao Zhenhai's sleeve, and said, "This..."

"But, this wager is too..."

Gao Zhenhai waved his hand and said with a smile, "But didn't Brother Zhu also use his beautiful servant as a wager? This was agreed upon before the spring hunt, and naturally, a beautiful servant must be exchanged for another beautiful servant, unless you, Master Mei, have some treasure comparable to your Mei servant."

Mei Zimo's complexion turned deathly pale. Recalling how a group of normally aloof noble sons had been unusually attentive, he almost lost his head and agreed without much thought, only to find himself now in an inescapable situation, he struggled to say:

"But, but those two are not beautiful servants..."

Gao Zhenhai smiled and said:

"Master Mei, take my word for it, I have traveled far and wide, seen many places and people. Those two women, although somewhat attractive, have rather rough palms."

"Their demeanor clearly shows they come from Jianghu sects, what status could they have?"

Startled, Mei Zimo exclaimed, "Disciples of Jianghu?"

"Exactly."

Gao Zhenhai nodded and then persuaded:

"Moreover, the mutual gifting of beautiful servants and maids is considered a refined tradition. Many reputable individuals have exchanged concubines and maids, even composing poems in honor of such exchanges. I see that Brother Zhu is quite fond of that lady; it would be fitting for you to discuss with Young Master Yu to see if he could part with her."

Mei Zimo was flustered and showed hesitation as he was persuaded.

By then, eager spectators from the Noble Clan had already surrounded Lin Qiaofu on horseback with their servants and guards, whistling and their previously friendly words now turned rather impolite, interspersed with peals of laughter.

Having been raised in the mountains, Lin Qiaofu, who had never witnessed such spectacle, was nearly trembling in nervousness, simply standing there holding a white rabbit.

Lv Baiping, who was originally holding a hunting bow and eager to try, dropped her ornate hunting bow upon seeing the dire situation, and reached to touch the longsword on her back only to remember that she had switched to hunting gear without her sword belt and sword scabbard.

She gritted her teeth, pulled the dagger from her waist, rushed into their midst, and shielded Lin Qiaofu behind her. Yuchi Jie, who had been joking with a few ladies not far away, had not anticipated this development, and suddenly his expression turned into a cold sneer, looking at the group he said:

"What is the meaning of this?"

"Hahaha, it's just abiding by the wager. Why should Brother Yu be so upset?"

Gao Zhenhai galloped over, followed by a tongue-tied Mei Zimo.

Yuchi Jie's face was gloomy, while Gao Zhenhai's bore the composed expression of a victor as he drew his horse closer, smiling:

"After all, she's just a beautiful servant."

"Agreeing to the wager, why not just let her be with us? Brother Mei will surely make it up to Brother Yu afterwards."

Mei Zimo nodded repeatedly on the side.

"Make it up?"

Yuchi Jie murmured under his breath, let out a laugh, looked at Gao Zhenhai, and swiftly slapped him, fast and fierce, right across the face.

Being an actual Ninth-Grade peak Martial Artist, although purely trained in Inner Strength, used almost all his Inner Strength in that blow, heavy and loud, causing Gao Zhenhai nearly to fall off his horse, his mind reeling, his left cheek visibly swollen.

A deathly silence followed by a sudden dramatic shift in the atmosphere, as all were of hot-blooded age, coupled with their prestigious family backgrounds, none was willing to back down, the clanging of weapons resonating one after another.

The Noble Clan's sons, who were already intending to teach the Mei Family a lesson, looked darkly towards Yuchi Jie and his group.

In previous years, bloodshed was not uncommon in brawls among the privileged; conflicts occurred all the time. With so many forces against one foreigner, they were not worried in the slightest.

Far off, Wen Yuzhe appeared not to have seen the scene unfolding here, leisurely drinking his wine.

The man in grey holding a sword beside him slightly leaned in.

A soft whisper reached his ears.

"Disable him."

The eyes of the man in grey flashed with intensity as he nodded in agreement, the longsword in his arms screeching within its sheath.

Wen Yuzhe set down his wine cup, his eyes void of light, had dispatched a subordinate to covertly take action. Once successful, he would pin the blame on a few troublemaking Noble Clan disciples, swallowing the credit for himself, seizing the opportunity to build a good rapport with Su Zhuguo.

He had remained uninvolved and unparticipated, at most he would suffer scolding and confinement.

Most enthusiastic like Gao Zhenhai and others, might not escape the downfall of their families, even death on some outing, given that he was one of the most prominent men of Great Qin, some trouble is expected if his grandson were disabled.

A beauty beside him poured wine, Wen Yuzhe played with his wine cup, his demeanor still tranquil.

Wang Anfeng and Mei Lianhua had already rushed to Lin Qiaofu's side, with Lin Qiaofu clutching the hem of Wang Anfeng's robe, hiding behind him, her face pale with fright, shaking slightly. These handsome Noble Clan disciples, are more intimidating than a Fourth-Rank Martial Artist bearing a famous sword.

Mei Lianhua, having heard about the situation from Mei Zimo, didn't know what Gao Zhenhai had said to him, initially worried and fearful Mei Zimo now started to persuade: