"Yes, thanks to Young Master Qu’s presence, if we hadn’t recovered the token, this trip would have mostly been in vain." Someone nearby didn’t miss the opportunity to chime in.
"Thank you, Young Master Qu." The others also bowed to express their gratitude.
"It’s a good thing you stepped up, brother, or else my token would definitely have been picked up by someone else," Mu Feng said, holding the token and gazing at Qu Fengting with admiration.
Qu Fengting’s trust and reliance made Mu Feng feel extraordinarily favored. He regarded him with more affection than his own brother. Seeing others kowtow to Qu Fengting, he too felt a sense of pride, as if standing by his side was an immense honor.
"Everyone need not be so formal. My Qu family, being a leading family in both the Capital and Nanxi City, how could we stand idly by in such a situation? A mere petty thief is simply no trouble at all," Qu Fengting said with a spring-like smile on his face, nodding frequently as he heard the chorus of praises.
"Hey, don’t forget who exposed that female thief’s identity and helped you all recover the token. If anyone, you should be thanking my Brother Han Yan," said Mu Cheng, already displeased with Qu Fengting’s pretentious attitude. Seeing how these fools were indiscriminate in their sycophancy and neglecting Mu Han Yan, who actually played a crucial role in unmasking the female thief and aiding them greatly, he became even more discontented and complained bitterly.
Hearing Mu Cheng’s words, many people showed a look of shame.
Not everyone was seeking personal gain, some had simply gone with the flow. Everyone else was already flattering and lavishing praise on Young Master Qu; if they appeared too indifferent, they feared catching Qu Fengting’s negative attention in the future.
After all, the Qu Family was a wealthy family from the Capital. Even their branch family was the leading family in Nanxi County. They couldn’t afford to offend such powerful figures.
But now, being openly accused by Mu Cheng, if they still played dumb, it would be utterly indefensible.
"That’s right, we should be thanking this gentleman instead," the young swordsmen, feeling ashamed, without much thought, suddenly turned around and bowed to thank Mu Han Yan.
Qu Fenghai, relishing the praise of the crowd and having his head in the clouds, was smiling and waving when suddenly, the group turned away. Thus, Qu Fenghai’s hand lingered in the air, uncertain whether to wave or not, his smile becoming awkward.
A surge of nameless irritation welled up in him. As Young Master of the Nanxi Qu Family, everyone he met from childhood had held him in high regard—this was the first time someone had stolen his thunder.
"You ungrateful wretches, if it weren’t for Young Master Qu stepping in just now, do you think that female thief would have handed over the token willingly?" A lackey, noticing Qu Fenghai’s displeasure, stepped forward and berated the group of young swordsmen. Follow current novels on N()velFire.net
"Indeed, that female thief clearly had the strength of an Eighth Rank Swordsman. If it had come to blows, just relying on that worthless playboy of the Mu Family, do you really think he could have stopped her? If not for the fear of Young Master Qu’s reputation, would she have willingly left the token?" another lackey sneered derisively.
"Also, did you not hear their conversation just now? He clearly knew that female thief from before but kept quiet, choosing to step in only after she made her move to appear as the good guy. It was blatantly a sinister ploy for fame, and you still thanked him? Are your brains too few?" yet another lackey spoke sarcastically.