"Peng Jiashu, what are you talking about?" The security guard, Hua Xingxue, asked, his face darkening.

Xu Ke was somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected this seemingly ordinary security guard to be Hua Xingxue...

A sneer hung on Peng Jiashu's face. "What am I saying? Can't you hear me clearly?"

He walked over to Hua Xingxue's side and looked down at Xu Ke. Xu Ke's expression remained unchanged. He didn't respond, nor was he in a hurry to get angry. This wasn't the first time he had been ridiculed by someone he had just met. Moreover, Wong Qifu had already told him about the power structure of the Tianhai Martial Alliance the night before, specifically mentioning both Hua Xingxue and Peng Jiashu. Therefore, he had naturally anticipated Peng Jiashu making things difficult for him.

"Apologize to him," Hua Xingxue reprimanded sharply. Although he didn't follow the news and didn't know who Xu Ke was, Peng Jiashu's extremely disrespectful attitude left Hua Xingxue very dissatisfied.

Peng Jiashu scoffed, "Apologize? Is that freeloader who leeches off Wong Qifu worthy?"

Hua Xingxue's eyes widened. "Wong Qifu?"

But Peng Jiashu didn't continue speaking to Hua Xingxue. He turned to Xu Ke. "You're not welcome here. You should leave."

Xu Ke laughed. "And who are you?"

"Who I am isn't important. What's important is that you aren't qualified to come to the Martial Alliance." Peng Jiashu made no attempt to hide his contempt for Xu Ke.

Xu Ke said calmly, "Your reason?"

"You dare ask for a reason?" Peng Jiashu sneered. "I'll tell you, the Martial Alliance only processes requests from those who hold a Martial Alliance Member Token. Do you have one?"

Previously, when Xu Ke and Wong Qifu had requested a life-or-death duel with Chen Xiong, they hadn't shown this token. That was mainly because Wong Qifu herself was there, so there was no need for identity verification. But Peng Jiashu asking Xu Ke to present it now was a reasonable and standard procedure.

Xu Ke took out a token. "Is this enough?"

The token was made of bronze, with "Martial Alliance" engraved on the front and nothing on the back. According to Wong Qifu, these tokens were mass-produced when the Martial Alliance was first established at the beginning of the last century and were no longer made. Back then, the Wang Family was still a minor, unknown entity.

But instead of letting him pass, Peng Jiashu grinned maliciously and bellowed, "The Tianhai Martial Alliance currently has only six of these tokens, each held by one of the six great families! May I ask which family the Xu Family belongs to? What right do you have to bring this token to our Martial Alliance? I think you must have stolen it from one of the six great families and come here posing as a member, definitely harboring ill intentions! Men, seize him and interrogate him thoroughly!"

Having said this, Peng Jiashu shot Xu Ke a smug look. Two men immediately ran out from behind him, charging straight toward Xu Ke, ready to use force.

"Stop!" Hua Xingxue shouted. "Peng Jiashu, have you gone mad? Since Xu Ke is Wong Qifu's fiancé, what's wrong with him holding the token?" After hearing Peng Jiashu call him a freeloader, he had immediately realized that Xu Ke was Wong Qifu's widely rumored fiancé.

Peng Jiashu snickered. "Fiancé? What's so great about being a fiancé? Can a fiancé just ignore the Martial Alliance's rules and force his way in with a token? This token bears the surname Wang; what does it have to do with him, Xu Ke? Is his name Wang Ke, perhaps? Hey, Xu Ke, why don't you give us a 'woof' and show us?"

Peng Jiashu looked at Xu Ke mockingly. Hua Xingxue's expression turned extremely sour. Peng Jiashu's words were far too nasty.

Xu Ke just smiled. Peng Jiashu was targeting him like this because he had a close relationship with Ye Fan and naturally viewed Xu Ke with hostility. Wong Qifu had warned him yesterday to be careful of Peng Jiashu. After all, the Peng Family controlled the Law Enforcement Hall within the Martial Alliance and could easily use their authority to suppress him. Wong Qifu had originally planned to come with him, but Xu Ke had refused.

He smiled faintly and said, "Peng Jiashu, I have the token. You still dare to stop me?"

Peng Jiashu sneered, "I already told you, the token bears the Wang name, not Xu. Get out, or I'll have someone throw you out."

Xu Ke said indifferently, "So, according to your logic, if the spouse of any great family's head came here holding a token, they wouldn't be allowed to enter?"

Peng Jiashu chuckled. "Of course not. They are married. Are you? Do you have a marriage certificate?"

Xu Ke looked at Peng Jiashu. "In that case, I'll just call Alliance Leader Chen and ask if one really needs to be married to enter the Martial Alliance with a token." He immediately took out his phone.

A hint of apprehension flashed across Peng Jiashu's face, and he was just about to speak.

Just then, a middle-aged man stepped out from around a corner, out of Xu Ke's line of sight. "Peng Jiashu, what are you doing? Making a spectacle of yourself? Get back here at once!"

Peng Jiashu immediately bowed his head. "Yes, Dad."

Hua Xingxue, who had been silent, had a sudden change in expression.

Xu Ke's eyes narrowed slightly. Peng Jiashu's father, the Martial Alliance Enforcement Hall Chief, Peng Hetong! But this felt very strange. First, hadn't Peng Jiashu lowered his head a bit too quickly? Second, a Martial Alliance Enforcement Hall Chief, hiding in a corner? Why didn't he appear earlier or later, but at the exact moment I was about to bring up Chen Xiong? Wasn't the timing just a little too perfect?

"Hello, Mister Xu. I am Peng Hetong, the Martial Alliance Enforcement Hall Chief." Peng Hetong walked up to Xu Ke, a polite smile on his face.

"Chief Peng, I'd like to ask, if I'm holding the token, do I really need to bring a marriage certificate to enter?" Xu Ke asked, looking directly at him.

Peng Hetong shook his head, his smile and attitude impeccable. "Of course not. My son was making things up. I have failed in raising him properly. Please forgive us."

Xu Ke's expression became subtle. "Is that so? Then it's fine, as long as Chief Peng teaches him a good lesson."

Xu Ke had expected Peng Hetong to make excuses. But to his surprise, Peng Hetong agreed immediately. "Alright!"

Anger flared on his face as he turned and rebuked his son. "Peng Jiashu, what kind of trouble are you causing so early in the morning? Hurry back and face the wall in reflection! And you two, what are you doing getting involved in this commotion? Hurry up and go back with him to face the wall in reflection!" Peng Hetong pointed at the two men who had been about to attack Xu Ke.

Peng Jiashu immediately bowed his head, preparing to leave. "Yes!"

The two men also fell in line behind Peng Jiashu.

"Hold on," Xu Ke said calmly.

As his voice fell, Peng Hetong turned to him. "What is it?"

"Chief Peng," Xu Ke said, "that seems somewhat unfair."

"How so, Mister Xu?" Peng Hetong's smile remained, but his eyes grew a shade darker.

Xu Ke stared coldly at Peng Hetong. "According to your way of handling things, breaking rules and insulting someone can be resolved by just going back to face the wall in reflection? Are you saying your son was cursing a wall, not me?"

Peng Jiashu, who was turning to leave, looked visibly upset.

Peng Hetong's smile slowly vanished. "Then, Mister Xu, what do you believe should be done?"

Xu Ke spoke slowly. "It's simple. Either he apologizes to me on the spot, then looks up the Martial Alliance rules and accepts his punishment. Or, you let me chew him out right now, without repeating a single insult, until I've had my fill and I'm satisfied. Two options. You and your son can choose."

With that, the atmosphere at the entrance to the martial arts hall instantly dropped to a freezing point. The smile on Peng Hetong's face vanished completely, replaced by a grim expression.

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