Eighth Master Mu's expression was indifferent as he said, "This is my wife's niece from her maternal family. She just arrived in Anyang City today. It doesn't seem necessary to report such matters to you specifically, does it?"
"Heh, I see. What a coincidence. I hope the young lady enjoys her time in Anyang City," Hall Master Two of the Sun Family laughed dryly but showed no intention of leaving the private room.
Eighth Master Mu's face darkened as he said, "Hall Master Two, I'm just trying to have a meal, but you keep interrupting me. Let me make it clear: you are not welcome in this private room. Get out."
Hall Master Two's expression changed slightly. There weren't many people in Anyang City who dared to speak to him like that, but Eighth Master Mu was definitely one of them. Even though the Sun Family was usually arrogant, they had to behave humbly in front of the Mu Family.
"Eighth Master Mu, I apologize for disturbing your meal. However, I am here under the orders of the Patriarch to capture a fugitive. I hope you can cooperate with us and give the Sun Family some face."
Hall Master Two clasped his hands together, trying to be as polite as possible.
However, Eighth Master Mu clearly had no intention of giving him any face. He sneered, "If the Mu Family gives you face, who will give face to the Mu Family? You've barged into the Mu Family's private room to search for someone, and you still expect me to give you face?"
Eighth Master Mu's aura was overwhelming, leaving no room for negotiation.
And he was right. In the entire Anyang City, there were probably only a handful of people who dared to search the Mu Family's private dining rooms.
Hall Master Two's face changed again. Eighth Master Mu's aura was making it hard for him to breathe.
After all, Eighth Master Mu was a Transforming Realm expert, while Hall Master Two was only at the half-step Transforming Realm, far from entering the true Transforming Realm.
Eighth Master Mu was just one of the many powerful figures in the Mu Family. He was merely one of the sons of the Mu Family Patriarch, and there were countless other experts like him in the Mu Family.
The commotion also attracted the attention of others in the restaurant, and everyone turned to look in their direction.
"Wow, am I seeing this right? That's Eighth Master Mu from the Mu Family!"
"Why are the Sun Family and Eighth Master Mu clashing? There's never been any conflict between them before."
"It seems the Sun Family wants to search Eighth Master Mu's private dining room, but Eighth Master Mu disagrees, so they're at a standoff."
"Eighth Master Mu himself might not be a big deal, but behind him is the entire Mu Family. Offending the Mu Family is asking for trouble for the Sun Family."
People whispered among themselves. The Sun Family was powerful, but compared to the Mu Family, they were insignificant.
The Mu Family was second only to Marquis Anyang's estate, while the Sun Family was merely one of the top twenty forces.
"Make way, make way!"
"The Sun Family's Hall Master is here!"
Amidst the shouts, a burly man in a brocade robe strode in, surrounded by a group of people.
As soon as he appeared, the entire place fell silent. It was clear that this was another formidable figure, no less powerful than Eighth Master Mu.
Judging by the aura emanating from him, it was evident that he had also reached the Transforming Realm.
"Hall Master!"
The Sun Family members stepped forward to salute.
The burly man, the Sun Family's Hall Master, waved his hand and looked at Eighth Master Mu.
"Eighth Master, you're in high spirits today, dining here," the Sun Family's Hall Master said with a smile.
Eighth Master Mu was already growing impatient. He said coldly, "If the second can't do it, you bring in the first? If the first can't do it, will you call your Patriarch? Let me tell you, today, I won't give face to anyone. If you want to search my private room, you're going against the Mu Family."
As he spoke, Eighth Master Mu's aura surged, releasing the full pressure of a Transforming Realm expert.
The Sun Family's Hall Master's face changed slightly, and a Transforming Realm pressure erupted from his body, countering Eighth Master Mu's pressure. He then smiled and said, "Eighth Master, how could we dare go against the Mu Family? It's just a routine search. Please show some leniency and give us some face."
"What if I don't?" Eighth Master Mu snorted.
The Sun Family's Hall Master smiled bitterly. To be honest, he didn't think the person they were searching for would be hiding in Eighth Master Mu's private room.
After all, the person they were looking for was just an obscure young man. It was highly unlikely he had any connection to the renowned Mu Family of Anyang City.
He wanted to search the room out of caution, not wanting to leave any possibility unchecked.
But if Eighth Master Mu insisted on not giving face, there was nothing he could do.
At this moment, one of Eighth Master Mu's trusted subordinates stepped forward, clasped his hands, and said with a smile, "Hall Master, please don't take offense. Our Eighth Master isn't intentionally targeting the Sun Family. It's just that when Eighth Master is out, he represents the face of the Mu Family. If your Sun Family searches his private room and word gets out, people might think the Mu Family is afraid of the Sun Family."
"Once such rumors start, they are hard to suppress."
The words were spoken calmly, but the meaning was clear: the Sun Family would not be allowed to search the private room.
In reality, the issue had gone beyond whether or not to search the room; it had become a matter of face.
If the Sun Family searched Eighth Master Mu's private room, the Mu Family would lose face. Conversely, if the Sun Family failed to search the room, the Sun Family would lose face.
Clearly, given the Mu Family's status, they would never agree to lose face. So, the Sun Family would have to bear the embarrassment.
The Sun Family's Hall Master was helpless and had no other options. He reluctantly clasped his hands towards Eighth Master Mu and said, "In that case, Eighth Master, we will take our leave."
With that, the Sun Family's Hall Master waved his hand and turned to leave with his subordinates.
However, just as he turned, he caught a glimpse of Terra Su and Gu Qianyin dressed as guards standing in the private room.
Although it was just a fleeting glance and both Terra Su and Gu Qianyin were wearing masks, an inexplicable intuition made the Sun Family's Hall Master feel that something was off.
Driven by a sudden impulse, the Sun Family's Hall Master said, "Eighth Master, may I ask those guards to step out and let me take a look?"
As he spoke, he pointed to the guards in the private room.
Eighth Master Mu said indifferently, "What's there to see about guards?"
A sharp glint flashed in the Sun Family's Hall Master's eyes. "I'm doing this for your sake, Eighth Master. If a villain disguised as a guard infiltrated your side, wouldn't that put you in danger?"
Eighth Master Mu sneered, "I know my own guards. Do you think I'd let a villain slip in? Hall Master, are you underestimating me?"
As he spoke, Eighth Master Mu waved at the guards and said indifferently, "Since Hall Master is so concerned, you all come over and let him see if you're villains."
The guards stepped forward, but their faces were covered by masks, making it impossible to see their features.
"Eighth Master, could they remove their masks?" the Sun Family's Hall Master requested again.
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