Chapter 158: Challenging You

As the direct grandson of the legendary Divine Craftsman Mo Qinghai, he holds a pivotal position in the Great Xia Country forging circle.

Inside the banquet hall, all the blacksmiths restrained their arrogance, no matter how furious they had been just moments ago.

They turned around one after another with respectful expressions.

"Good evening, Chairman Mo."

"You're here, Chairman."

Mo Xuanye wore a gentle smile on his Face, nodding slightly to the crowd in acknowledgment.

His gaze swept across the chaotic scene, finally landing on the tattooed muscular man.

The tattooed muscular man immediately squeezed forward and raised his voice.

"Chairman Mo, you've come at just the right time!"

He pointed a thick finger at Ou Yezi not far away, his Face filled with indignation.

"I don't know where some punk popped out from, but he's openly causing trouble at your banquet!"

"Not only did he humiliate Master Nakamura in public, but he also condoned his subordinates in committing violence and severely beat my men!"

"How do you think this matter should be handled?"

Mo Xuanye's gaze slowly swept across the entire venue.

First, he glanced at the two unconscious bodyguards in the corner, then looked at the cold Ou Yezi and Xiang Yu, whose Killing Intent was restrained within.

Finally, his gaze fell upon his granddaughter, Mo Yuwei.

Seeing her slightly red-rimmed eyes, a trace of imperceptible heartache flashed through Mo Xuanye's eyes.

His steady Face still carried a smile, and his voice was gentle yet carried an unquestionable power.

"This young friend Ou Yezi was specially invited by me from Donghai City."

"Despite his young age, he possesses extremely high talent on the path of forging, making him a rare and invaluable talent."

He paused, then changed the subject.

"As for the friction between him and Master Nakamura, I think it should just be a minor misunderstanding."

"For my sake, everyone take a step back, how about that?"

"After all, everyone is here to attend the Divine Smith Grand Ceremony; there's no need to hurt harmony over such a trivial matter."

As soon as Mo Xuanye spoke, he characterized the matter as a "misunderstanding".

This both gave Nakamura Shinichiro a way out and secretly protected Ou Yezi.

As soon as these words were spoken, Nakamura Shinichiro stepped forward.

He bowed slightly to Mo Xuanye, lowering his posture significantly.

"Since Chairman Mo has spoken, I, Nakamura Shinichiro, will naturally give you this Face."

He straightened up, turning his gaze toward Zhou Huai with a hypocritical expression of tolerance on his Face.

"How about this? Let Your Excellency Ou Yezi bow and apologize to me in front of everyone."

"Then, voluntarily withdraw from this Divine Smith Grand Ceremony."

"I can then pretend as if nothing ever happened."

As soon as his voice fell, someone nearby immediately began to flatter him obsequiously.

"Master Nakamura truly has such magnanimity!"

"Exactly, no need to lower oneself to such an unbred bumpkin!"

"Apologize to you?"

Zhou Huai controlled Ou Yezi to emit a cold sneer.

"Why should I apologize to you?"

"Did I say a single word wrong?"

He stepped forward, looking straight at Nakamura Shinichiro without backing down in the slightest.

"Wanting me to withdraw?"

"I think the one who should get lost from this Divine Smith Grand Ceremony is you!"

"Our Great Xia Country's celebration has what to do with someone from Sakura Country like you?"

"Hurry up and get back to your Sakura Country!"

These words were like pouring oil on fire, reigniting the crowd's anger.

"Audacious!"

"Too arrogant!"

Nakamura Shinichiro instead laughed out of extreme anger, clapping his hands to produce crisp sounds.

"Good, good, good!"

He uttered three "good"s in succession, the smile on his Face growing increasingly icy.

"Traveling through various countries, this is truly the first time I, Nakamura Shinichiro, have encountered someone as rude as Your Excellency."

He reined in his smile, looking at Ou Yezi with serious eyes.

"Your Excellency Ou Yezi, since you are so arrogant, you must be very confident in your forging attainments, right?"

"In that case, I, Nakamura Shinichiro, issue a challenge to Your Excellency!"

Zhou Huai raised an eyebrow.

"What kind of challenge?"

Nakamura Shinichiro raised his chin high, his voice filled with arrogance.

"Very simple."

"At tomorrow's Blacksmith Competition of the Divine Smith Grand Ceremony, you and I will decide the victor."

"If I win against Your Excellency, I hope Your Excellency can kneel in front of me and seriously kowtow to apologize."

"If I lose, I can also apologize to you."

"Do you dare?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire audience was in an uproar.

"Master Nakamura actually took the initiative to challenge this Ou Yezi?"

"Now there's a good show to watch; this punk is definitely going to chicken out."

Amidst the discussions, Zhou Huai controlled Ou Yezi to slowly shake his head.

Seeing this, the smile on Nakamura Shinichiro's Face grew even more confident and contemptuous.

"What? Don't dare?"

"Since you don't dare, you might as well kneel down and apologize to me right now."

"For Chairman Mo's Face, I won't make things difficult for you anymore."

Ou Yezi shook his head once more.

"It's not that I don't dare."

"It's not enough."

"Not enough?" Nakamura Shinichiro frowned. "What do you mean by that?"

A playful arc curled the corners of Ou Yezi's mouth.

"I mean, the stake you proposed is too light."

"A mere kneeling apology is far too childish and uninteresting."

He scanned the surrounding Faces waiting to watch a good show, his voice not loud, yet every word was clear.

"How about this."

"At tomorrow's competition, whoever loses must not only kowtow and apologize to the other party."

"They must also crawl through the other party's crotch three times."

He paused, his gaze like a knife piercing straight at Nakamura Shinichiro.

"Then take an oath on the spot stating that you will never participate in any forging work again!"

"What do you think?"

"Boom—!"

These words were like dropping a depth charge into a calm lake surface.

The entire banquet hall completely boiled over!

Everyone was dumbfounded by Zhou Huai's crazy stake.

"Did I hear wrong? He… he actually wants to bet his entire career?"

"Is this kid crazy? Where on earth does he get his confidence?"

"To win an argument, he doesn't even want his own future? What an absolute fool!"

"Now things have blown up big!"

Everyone was shocked to the core by Zhou Huai's words.

Where on earth did he get his confidence?

That was Sakura Country's once-in-a-century forging Genius!

Mo Xuanye's expression also changed, and he just wanted to open his mouth to offer a couple of words of persuasion.

"Clap! Clap! Clap!"

A burst of forceful applause interrupted him.

On Nakamura Shinichiro's Face, anger had already vanished, replaced by an excitement bordering on ferocious.

"Good, good, good!"

He uttered three "good"s in succession, staring intently at Zhou Huai with burning eyes.

"I truly admire Your Excellency's courage!"

"Your Excellency's request, I agree to it!"

"As long as Your Excellency can win against me, I will never go back on my word!"

Having said that, he didn't look at Ou Yezi another time, instead turning toward Mo Xuanye and bowing slightly.

"Great Master Mo, I'm truly sorry for causing such a huge commotion tonight."

"This humble one is a bit tired, so I'll take my leave first."

"We'll see each other tomorrow at the Divine Smith Grand Ceremony."

Mo Xuanye opened his mouth, which ultimately turned into a sigh.

"Master Nakamura, take care."

Following Nakamura Shinichiro's departure, the others saw there was no good show to watch and gradually dispersed.

Before leaving, that tattooed muscular man didn't forget to look back, glare fiercely at Zhou Huai, and drop a harsh remark.

"With the likes of you, daring to challenge Master Nakamura, you are simply fearless out of ignorance!"

"I kindly remind you that tomorrow's Divine Smith Grand Ceremony will be broadcast nationwide; just wait to lose Face in front of the people of the entire country!"

Zhou Huai simply watched his departing back in silence without speaking.

No one noticed.

Just as the muscular man walked out the door, Xiang Yu's figure quietly followed out after him.

Mo Xuanye walked up to Zhou Huai and spoke meaningfully.

"Young man, being hot-headed in one's youth is a good thing."

"However, today you were still a bit too reckless."

Zhou Huai waved his hand, cutting off his words.

"If Chairman Mo has nothing else, I'll be leaving first."

Having said that, he turned around and left without looking back.

This directly left Mo Xuanye, who had just opened the chatterbox, frozen in place.

Zhou Huai had no interest in listening to an old fellow preach here.

He had absolute confidence in Ou Yezi.

This old man, a Myriad Forms Divine Craftsman of SS-rank, if he couldn't even deal with an S-rank Divine Fire Craftsman, then he might as well just delete his account and retrain.

"Wait a minute!"

Seeing that Ou Yezi was about to leave, Mo Yuwei hurriedly stepped forward quickly and blocked him.

She looked at him with complex eyes.

"Thank you for standing up to speak for me today."

Zhou Huai didn't even glance at her, his voice cold.

"Don't misunderstand."

"I just purely find that little Jap displeased."

Finished speaking, he bypassed Mo Yuwei and walked straight into the elevator.

The elevator doors slowly closed, cutting off Mo Yuwei's stunned Face.

Tian Guang walked to Mo Xuanye's side, lowering his voice.

"Chairman, it looks like your idea of taking him as a disciple has completely gone down the drain."

Mo Xuanye let out a long sigh and shook his head.

"This child has surplus talent, but insufficient Heart-Nature."

"I'm afraid it will be hard for him to accomplish great things."

"Sigh, consider it my misjudgment."