“You see, that’s the Ice and Fire Sorceress!”
“The Ice and Fire Sorceress, ranked 14th on the Earth List? Why is she here?”
“She even brought a man with her. Who is that man, and how is he connected to her?”
The appearance of Shen Hanbing and Jiang Yuan immediately caught the attention of everyone present. In an instant, Jiang Yuan became the center of attention, and everyone was speculating about his identity.
Everyone knew that Shen Hanbing had a proud, aloof, and icy demeanor. She was like an eternal ice queen, keeping others at a distance and rarely engaging with anyone.
In Zhongzhou, countless men pursued her but none had succeeded in holding a conversation with her. Even to women, she was aloof with no close acquaintances.
She remained isolated, and untouchable like an ethereal ice goddess who should be admired from afar.
Now, however, she appeared with a man and their relationship appeared far from ordinary which surprised everyone.
Jiang Yuan and Shen Hanbing didn’t pay much attention to the onlookers. They boldly passed through the crowd and arrived at the registration booth for the assessment.
In charge of the registration was a middle-aged, overweight man in his forties. He only had the cultivation of the Condensation Realm but his gaze was sharp and ruthless.
With a single glance, he could tell that Jiang Yuan was an ordinary person with no cultivation.
“The minimum requirement to participate in the assessment is achieving the Condensation Realm in cultivation,” the overweight man said displeased. While his words were not loud, they attracted the attention of those around him.
People turned their heads to look at Jiang Yuan, curious about his cultivation.
What surprised them was that Jiang Yuan didn’t exhibit any sign of cultivation; he appeared completely ordinary.
“He’s just an ordinary person?”
“An ordinary person with no cultivation dares to participate in the assessment of the Martial Arts Alliance? Who gave him the courage?”
“Where did this waste come from? Making a spectacle of himself!”
Instantly, everyone viewed Jiang Yuan with disdain and began mocking him.
The sound of a sword being unsheathed filled the air.
Shen Hanbing held his sword with one hand, and with a cold gaze, he scanned the crowd, saying, “He is my master. If anyone dares to show disrespect to him, I will kill them on the spot!”
Instantly, a sense of killing intent permeated the scene, causing everyone to turn pale, and no one dared to utter another word.
Even the overweight middle-aged man in charge of registration was silenced by this killing intent.
“Just mere mortals, there’s no need to concern ourselves with them. Those with narrow minds are a great annoyance to the strong,” Jiang Yuan, with his hands behind his back, spoke to Shen Hanbing like a venerable mentor, his emotions and sentiments having long faded into the river of time. So even when ridiculed, he remained emotionally unaffected.
“Master, you are right. Your teachings guide me,” Shen Hanbing immediately sheathed his sword and bowed respectfully before Jiang Yuan.
The onlookers were completely dumbfounded.
Was this still the Ice and Fire Sorceress they knew?
The one who used to be proud, aloof, and unapproachable?
At this moment, she appeared meek and submissive before this man!
Her attitude had undergone a complete 180-degree transformation from her usual self. After apologizing to Jiang Yuan, Shen Hanbing turned to the overweight middle-aged man and reverted to her previous haughty demeanor, saying, “My master’s cultivation is beyond your comprehension.”
“He is joining the Martial Arts Union, which is an honor for the union. You only need to register him.”
“But the rules of the Martial Arts Union…” The overweight middle-aged man hesitated but was afraid to offend Shen Hanbing.
“Go ahead and register him.” Just then, a gentle voice came from nearby.
Jiang Yuan looked in the direction of the voice and saw a young man in a brocade robe and a jade crown strolling towards them. This young man had a friendly and amiable appearance, always wearing a smile, and giving off a typical good-natured impression as if he were a breath of fresh air.
Behind the amiable young man were several close bodyguards, each of whom had a cultivation level of at least above the Yuan Condensation stage.
“I greet Young Master Ye!” Upon the arrival of the amiable young man, the overweight middle-aged man immediately bowed respectfully which showed great reverence.
However, Shen Hanbing looked at the amiable young man with disgust as if she had seen something repulsive.
“No need for too much formality,” the amiable young man said graciously and then turned to the overweight middle-aged man and said, “Just do as I instructed. If my father blames you, say it was my arrangement.”
“Yes, yes,” the overweight middle-aged man nodded repeatedly and proceeded to register Jiang Yuan’s name.
“Thank you for your help,” the amiable young man said in a pretended grateful tone, directing his words at the overweight middle-aged man but he kept watching Shen Hanbing’s expression as if expecting her to show gratitude.
However, to his disappointment, Shen Hanbing remained as cold as ice and did not seem appreciative of his actions.
The amiable young man paid no mind and turned his gentle gaze toward Jiang Yuan, asking Shen Hanbing in a mild tone, “Is this your friend, Sister Hanbing?”
“I’ve told you not to call me that. If you dare to call me that again, I will definitely kill you!” Shen Hanbing narrowed her eyes, filled with a murderous intent, and drew her sword, placing it at the amiable young man’s throat.
“Alright, alright, I won’t call you that anymore,” the amiable young man said with a gentle smile, even with a sword at his throat.
“Master, let’s go.” Shen Hanbing didn’t waste any more words on him, not even sparing him a second look. She just told Jiang Yuan a few words and then directly pulled him away.
Watching Shen Hanbing and Jiang Yuan walking away, the amiable young man’s smile gradually faded, and he narrowed his eyes, his expression turning extremely cold and cunning.
“Within a day, I want to know the identity of that man!” the amiable young man ordered his bodyguards behind him.
“Yes, Young Master Ye!”
