"This youngster there, you shouldn't overstep your bounds! Don't you know what a Katenari family is?"

I guess infuriating this elder won't be as easy as I have thought. With the position of their family in this city, if they fired upon every imposter, it would be insanely easy for other powers to pull them into a trap and nimble at their power bit by bit!

"Since this is my woman, I perfectly know what this silly Katenari family is. Now, we have some matters to attend, so get out of our way."

Pulling at Eve's hand, I make a few steps before the old man suddenly appears right in front of us, blocking our way forward.

"I will have to insist on your fiancee following me to our clan compound then. If she really belongs to our family, I believe you should realise how profitable it would be for her to bank on our resources to grow, instead of following someone like you. Am I wrong?"

Completely disregarding our opposition to heading his orders, this elderly man simply followed his priorities. Considering how he was probably accustomed to this kind of events, it would be silly of me to expect to get rid of him just like that.

"Since you are asking this question, why won't you direct it to her? Eve, my dear, what would you prefer, following me to have a rest before your next match or following this shady pervert wherever he is trying to force you to follow him?"

Turning around, I push Eve's a bit from my body, to make at least her face visible for the elder. No matter what, since I'm asking her, I need the elder to see that the response that she would give would come from her mouth!

"Fuck this old geezer!"

Without disappointing me, Eve only utters those words through her gnashed teeth, while looking at the old man with hate seeping out of her eyes. Considering how she knew what they would try to do with her if she ever allowed her to lay their hands on her, it would be strange if she held any sympathy for them!

"Haha! As you can see, she clearly doesn't want to follow you. Now, scram!"

Driving my cultivation a bit to warn Eve, I smash myself against the elder, while casting the fireball with just a tiny amount of my mana at the same time. Coating my beloved one with a shield as strong as I can create in the spur of the moment, I release my fireball in a small free space between me and the elder.

In an instant, flames erupt between us, lightly pressing on me. With the silly amount of energy that I invested in this move, I could steel myself and not even budge, but that's not why I cast it in the first place!

Tensing my legs a bit, I jump away to create an illusion that this fire actually sent me flying! Still holding Eve's hand in a tight grasp its inevitable that she actually follows me in my silly attempt at conquering the skies!

After crashing to the ground while breaking through the small crowd that already gathered in this place, I react quick enough to make sure that my body will serve as a cushion for Eve's fall. While our bodies are sturdy enough to not feel even the slightest discomfort from a faked fall like that, I need to keep up the appearances!

Gathering myself from the ground, I take a look of panic on my face as I look around in confusion, only to brighten my face up while raising my arm and pointing my finger at the elder.

"It was you! You tried to kill us a few days ago!"

While it wasn't my initial intention to use that training mishap to accuse someone of something, the situation is damn too fitting to ignore it now! While it is an idea that I came up with on the spot, it fits the situation like a castrated boy fits an early catholic choir!

"I recognise this flame! The eruption that almost killed me and my beloved Eve started exactly the same! You bastards!"

Not waiting even a single moment, I decided to place my bet on a single card. Considering how big of a commotion this situation it already turning into, I'm sure that someone that Venna for sure send to follow me is already back reporting the events to her! Before she arrives to support me, I need to stall!

Brushing Eve to the tiles of the street, I pick my 'Utopy' from the storage ring, while jumping with my top speed at the elder. While I would love to use my recently acquired Bonger's skills to secure even better odds of actually doing anything to this elder, this would hint them that this fire was my doing in the first place!

Unable to cast either fireball or shockwave, I simply launch myself at the duo of the old man and his butler, while taking a wide swing.

Just as I'm about to decapitate the elder, my weapon is blocked by his crane… Only for this seemingly sturdy piece of reinforced wood to shatter at the first touch of my blade! Just as I'm about to make a contact between my edge and the elder's throat, a huge shout resounds in the area while an insane pressure pins me instantly to the ground.

"ENOUGH!"

Unable to even shift my head to look who arrived, I can only gauge the identity of the newcomer by the sound of his… or rather her voice! It seems that the cavalry arrived just in time!

"What the hell is going on here! Did you try to make a move at my designated disciple for him to flare up so much?!"

Recognising Venna's voice, I feel the pressure that forced me to stop my attack alleviating, but instead of pushing forward with my attack, I instantly drop the sword back into my storage ring and turn around to and bow to the older woman.

"This humble junior pays his respe…"

Before I even managed to finish my sentence, I feel an enormous pressure coming from behind me. Knowing that if I were to react to it I would only betray my insane capabilities and draw too much attention, I can only shout to Bonger.

MAX MY RESISTANCE!

"YOU BASTARD!"

Before even this shout ends, I'm struck squarely in my back, instantly feeling my ribs and spine shattering under the immense power of the hit. Just as they are about to dissipate into a worthless bone-dust, I feel a powerful surge of energy diffusing from my dantian into my body, reinforcing it way more than I would need to survive that hit!

I guess it's not yet time for me to die!