Mu Yanli's shout of "Uncle" was crisp and pleasant, but to Mu Shi'an's ears, it sounded like a ball of fire exploding in his heart.
"Shut up! Who is your uncle? Keep calling me that and I'll pluck your tongue out, believe it or not!"
Mu Yanxi, finally done gnawing on the chicken drumstick in his hand, poked his little head out from behind his older brother, "You come pluck it, la la la~"
After saying that, he made a face sticking his tongue out at Mu Shi'an.
Mu Shi'an's face darkened, and he sternly ordered, "Guards, seize these two brats and lock them in the woodshed to await judgment!"
"Yes!"
Several burly household retainers stepped out from the crowd, their faces menacing as they surrounded the brothers.
Mu Yanli turned and patted his younger brother's shoulder, "Stay behind me."
"Okay, Brother, hurry up, I'm hungry."
"Got it."
After Mu Yanxi moved to stand further back, Mu Yanli beckoned the household retainers with his small hand.
"You can all come at once; it saves time if I don't have to deal with you one by one."
Hearing his words, the surrounding people burst into bursts of laughter.
"Hey, you little brat who hasn't even lost his baby teeth, you don't actually think you can fight five strong household retainers with your little arms and legs, do you?"
"The people around Shi'an are all genuine martial artists. I suggest you two obediently kneel and apologize, perhaps Shi'an will let you off the hook."
Mu Yanli didn't waste any more words. He spun and delivered a flying kick, sending one household retainer flying sideways, knocking down several young masters from the Noble Families.
With another spinning kick, two more household retainers flew away.
With a final move like an autumn wind sweeping fallen leaves, the remaining two household retainers were knocked down like wooden stakes, unable to get up for a long time.
The entire sequence of movements was fluid, fast as lightning. Before the onlookers could react, the fight was already over.
The entire martial arts area instantly became utterly quiet.
Everyone looked at Mu Yanli as if they had seen a ghost.
Are all children this strong nowadays?
As for Mu Yanli, he took down five strong household retainers in three moves without his face reddening or his breath quickening. If they hadn't witnessed his swift and decisive actions firsthand, they would have thought him an innocent, naive child.
"Clap, clap, clap."
A round of applause sounded from outside the crowd.
Everyone turned to look and saw a tall, young man wearing a purple python robe and a golden crown walking toward them.
"Greetings, Your Highness Prince Qi."
"You may rise."
Jun Moyi strolled up to Mu Yanli, his eyes openly showing appreciation, "Such skill at such a young age, not bad."
"You are His Highness Prince Qi?" Mu Yanli asked.
"Insolent! How dare you be so rude in front of His Highness."
Jun Moyi casually raised his hand, "It's nothing. He is young and doesn't understand etiquette; that's normal."
Mu Shi'an snorted coldly, "Since no one taught them, I will teach them on behalf of their parents!"
As he spoke, he raised his foot to kick Mu Yanli behind the knee.
Mu Shi'an was highly skilled in martial arts; this kick, if landed, would surely break the bones of even an adult man.
It happened in an instant, but Mu Yanli's small waist twisted, and in the next second, his body instantly moved three feet away.
Mu Shi'an, having missed, couldn't stop his momentum and nearly fell flat on his face.
A man in his twenties, the Martial Champion no less, attempting a sneak attack on a five or six-year-old child in full view of everyone, and failing—he had truly lost all face.
"Shi'an, you were careless, haha!"
Any smart person could tell that Jun Moyi was offering Mu Shi'an a way out, hoping to let the matter drop.
Unfortunately, Mu Shi'an was a reckless brute who didn't understand Jun Moyi's gesture.
"You little brat, you dare dodge!"
He then raised his palm and brought it down fiercely toward Mu Yanli.
This palm strike carried the force of wind and snow, possessing at least fifty percent more power than his previous footwork. It could probably split a thick wooden beam the size of a bowl in two.
Mu Yanli swept away in a flash, retreating three steps. Then, lightly tapping his toes, he gracefully soared over the heads of the crowd, landing elegantly in the center of the martial arts stage, on the martial arts stage.
"Uncle is the Martial Champion personally appointed by the current Emperor. Your nephew is untalented but has learned a little bit of skill and wishes to exchange pointers with Uncle."
Jun Moyi turned to Mu Shi'an in surprise, "Shi'an, he is your nephew?"
Mu Shi'an's expression was gloomy, "I don't know what wild brat crawled out from somewhere, shamelessly trying to latch onto my Mu Family. He's dreaming!"
"So that's how it is."
Jun Moyi thought for a moment and said to Mu Yanli on the stage, "Boy, if you can withstand three moves from Shi'an, I will grant you a great future. How about it?"
"Is Your Highness Prince Qi showing appreciation for talent?"
"With such skill at such a young age, with a little cultivation, he will surely become a commander in the future."
Mu Shi'an was already boiling with anger, and seeing Jun Moyi highly praise Mu Yanli, murderous intent arose in his heart.
To step on him to rise up—he deserved to die!
"Boy, since you are seeking death, don't blame me for showing no mercy!"
"Wait a moment!"
The fight was about to erupt but was halted by a clear child's voice.
Mu Shi'an stared at Mu Yanxi, who had run onto the stage, with continuous cold laughter, "What, scared? If you two kneel and admit defeat, and kowtow three times, I might let you off the hook."
Mu Yanxi rolled his eyes and addressed Jun Moyi below the stage, "Your Highness Prince Qi, the future you promised is surely worth more than ten thousand taels of gold, right?"
"That is certain."
After receiving Jun Moyi's affirmative reply, Mu Yanxi's eyes lit up, "Your Highness Prince Qi, my brother and I are not interested in careers or futures; we only care about eating, drinking, and having fun. If my brother wins, why don't you reward him with ten thousand taels of gold?"
The attendant beside Jun Moyi roared angrily, "Presumptuous! His Highness granting you a future is already extraordinary grace; you have no right to haggle!"
Mu Yanxi was unconcerned, "Since it's a reward for us, shouldn't you give us something we like? A future is vague and ethereal; gold is much more substantial."
"You..."
The attendant was choked into silence by Mu Yanxi and turned to complain to Jun Moyi, "Your Highness, these two boys have unknown origins, and they immediately demand ten thousand taels of gold. They are clearly here to cause trouble. In this subordinate's opinion, we should just arrest them and throw them in the dungeon for a thorough interrogation."
Jun Moyi was also put in a difficult position by Mu Yanxi and was about to agree with the attendant's suggestion when a familiar voice sounded from behind him.
"Second Brother, the children just want a little reward money as a stake. Is such a small matter causing you trouble?"
Looking at Jun Moming walking over cheerfully, Jun Moyi couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.
"Third Brother is indeed wealthy and generous. Ten thousand taels of gold is just a trivial matter in your eyes. Currently, the national treasury is empty. I will report this to Father Emperor during tomorrow's court session. Then, Third Brother must not hold back in teaching me the way to earn money."
Jun Moming repeatedly waved his hands, "I didn't say that. It's just that children don't understand what ten thousand taels of gold entails, so they say it casually. But since you and I are both princes, our word is worth a thousand gold pieces. If you can't produce ten thousand, a thousand is still acceptable, right?"
After speaking, Jun Moming turned to the brothers Mu Yanli and Mu Yanxi on the stage, "Boys, if you win, my Second Brother will reward you with one thousand taels of gold. But if you lose, what then?"