Su Yi vaguely felt that the man seemed familiar, but couldn't recall where they had met.
"Do I look injured to you?" Su Yi suppressed his curiosity and asked with a smile.
Seeing this, the middle-aged man in the Confucian robe seemed to finally relax and repeatedly said, "It's good that you're fine, it's good."
However, when he turned his head to look at the others present, the gentle and amiable expression on his face turned icy and imposing as he said, "Huang Yunchong, you have quite the audacity!"
His voice was like thunder, intimidating and awe-inspiring.
Huang Yunchong's face had already changed dramatically when the man in the Confucian robe appeared. Now, being reprimanded in such a manner, he couldn't help but stiffen and couldn't sit still any longer.
He abruptly stood up, his expression filled with astonishment, and asked in disbelief, "Brother Fu, why have you come?"
"The...the Lord of the city?"
Huang Qianjun was also taken aback, hastily getting up with a bewildered look on his face. When did Su Yi establish a relationship with the Lord of the city?
The man in the green robe also seemed flustered. He immediately put away the dagger in his hand and bowed his head, saying, "Greetings, Lord Fu!"
At the same time, Nie Beihu also hurriedly clasped his fists in salute, "I pay my respects, my Lord!"
All the gazes immediately converged on the man in the Confucian robe.
Fu Shan!
The Lord of Guangling City, a great martial artist at the Qi Gathering Realm, holding immense power and an overwhelming presence!
"So, it's him."
Su Yi finally realized, but there was still a trace of confusion in his heart. It seemed that he didn't have any relationship with the other party at all.
Could it be...
Suddenly, Su Yi thought of a possibility.
He remained silent, observing coldly.
"If I hadn't come, how could you, Huang Yunchong, display such arrogance?" Fu Shan's eyes turned cold, akin to an enraged king, exuding a domineering aura.
Huang Yunchong's temples throbbed as he struggled to remain calm. He could disregard Nie Beihu's face, but he had to be wary of Fu Shan, the Lord of the city.
"Brother Fu, I have investigated Su Yi's background. At his most formidable, he was merely an outer disciple of the Qinghe Sword Sect," Huang Yunchong pondered. "And now, he is nothing more than an insignificant son-in-law of the Wen family, not worth mentioning..."
Huang Yunchong carefully continued, "I truly don't understand why, as the esteemed Brother Fu, you would step up to help him."
This was also the doubt in the minds of Huang Qianjun, the man in the green robe, and Nie Beihu.
"Not worth mentioning?" A hint of sarcasm appeared in Fu Shan's eyes as he remained expressionless. "Considering our past acquaintance, I might as well tell you that before coming to this JuXian Tower, Princess Lingyao said that if Su Yi were to lose a single strand of hair, I, Fu Shan, would have to sacrifice my own head as retribution!"
His words resonated like thunder, shocking everyone present, freezing them in place.
"You're saying he... he is a friend of Princess Lingyao?" Huang Yunchong looked at Su Yi with an incredulous expression on his face.
Princess Lingyao!
She was a true member of the imperial family, despite being born in the Xiao clan of Lanling. She was personally bestowed the title of Princess by the current Emperor of Da Zhou!
Such a lofty status was awe-inspiring!
However, when did Su Yi, a lowly son-in-law of the Wen family, become friends with Princess Lingyao?
Nie Beihu and the man in the green robe were also dumbfounded, standing there with bewildered expressions. With their identities, they understood the true meaning behind Fu Shan's words. In Princess Lingyao's eyes, the life of City Lord Fu Shan was far less valuable than Su Yi's!
"Huang Yunchong, because of your current actions, I, Fu Shan, almost lost my head!" Fu Shan said coldly.
"I..."
Huang Yunchong could no longer remain calm, and cold sweat poured down his face. Even as the Patriarch of the Huang clan, he had to be wary of Fu Shan to some extent. As for Princess Lingyao, she was an aristocratic figure whom the entire Huang family couldn't afford to offend!
"Father, who is this Princess Lingyao? Can she... can she be more formidable than my uncle?" Huang Qianjun stammered, realizing that something was amiss but lacking the understanding due to his young age.
Slap!
Before he could finish speaking, Huang Qianjun received a resounding slap across his face. He tumbled to the ground, his cheek swollen and blood trickling down. He was dumbfounded because the one who struck him was none other than his own father!
"Shut up!" Huang Yunchong's face turned livid, his eyes burning with rage. His terrifying expression sent shivers down Huang Qianjun's spine, and he trembled uncontrollably as if sifting chaff.
"If your uncle were to learn of this, he would immediately divorce your aunt, expel her from the family, and sever all ties with our Huang family!" Fu Shan sneered.
Huang Qianjun's aunt, who was Huang Yunchong's sister, was a favored concubine of Qin Wenyuan, the county governor of Yunhe. Qin Wenyuan was a significant figure who held power above the nineteen city lords of Yunhe County!
Because of this connection between the Huang family and Qin Wenyuan, in the past, Fu Shan wouldn't easily dare to provoke the Huang clan. But now, things were different!
Huang Qianjun finally realized the severity of the situation, and he stood there in a daze, completely lost. He tried to stand up but seemed to have lost all strength and couldn't rise.
Meanwhile, Huang Yunchong had no time to attend to his own son. He took a deep breath, bent over and bowed deeply to Su Yi, his voice filled with bitterness.
"I have been blind and ignorant, unaware that Su Gongzi was actually a good friend of Princess Lingyao. I was confused. Please, Su Gongzi, forgive my transgressions!"
The room fell into an eerie silence, and everyone remained silent, their hearts in turmoil. Huang Yunchong, the Patriarch of the Huang clan, a powerful figure in Guangling City, had shown no mercy when facing Nie Beihu, the leader of the city guards. Even in the presence of City Lord Fu Shan, he had only been wary, not submissive.
But now, Huang Yunchong was bowing his head and apologizing to Su Yi, all because of "Princess Lingyao."
"Father..." Huang Qianjun was stunned, feeling an indescribable sense of powerlessness welling up within him. In his heart, his father was like a towering mountain, invincible. Yet, seeing his father apologize to a mere son-in-law like Su Yi, it felt as if that mountain in his heart had collapsed!
The man in the green robe became even more tense, his expression constantly changing. Nie Beihu couldn't help but mock himself internally. Look at the situation now, why did Su Yi need someone like him to intervene?
Su Yi raised an eyebrow slightly. The previously arrogant head of the Huang family was now bowing and apologizing with utmost humility. How could he not understand that Huang Yunchong wasn't bowing to him but to the "Princess Lingyao"?
"Su Gongzi, how do you suggest resolving this matter?" Fu Shan asked softly, maintaining a respectful and deferential attitude towards Su Yi, the City Lord of Guangling.
Su Yi looked towards Huang Qianjun and said, "Do you remember what I said here yesterday?"
Huang Qianjun was initially taken aback, but his face quickly turned pale, and his lips trembled. "I...," he stammered.
Before he could continue, Su Yi continued, "I said I would give you the opportunity for revenge, but if you choose to do so, you must bear the consequences."
Huang Qianjun certainly remembered that statement from yesterday, but at that time, he hadn't paid much attention to it. However, now, every word felt like an icy blade, piercing deeply into his heart.
Consumed by fear, he couldn't help but gaze at his father, Huang Yunchong. Huang Yunchong, still in a bowing position, couldn't help but panic as well. Gritting his teeth, he said, "Su Gongzi, I am willing to bear the consequences alone."
Su Yi shook his head and turned his gaze to Fu Shan, saying, "I can tell that when Lord Fu spoke earlier, he also intended to make Huang Yunchong and his son understand the stakes and prevent them from taking any further excessive actions that could lead to greater trouble."
Fu Shan's expression froze for a moment. Indeed, he had deliberately mentioned the "Princess Lingyao" earlier to achieve that very purpose. After all, Huang Yunchong was the head of the Huang clan, and if things were taken too far, his position as the city lord would also be affected.
However, Fu Shan hadn't anticipated that Su Yi would see through his little scheme so easily!
Fu Shan steadied himself and respectfully clasped his fists, saying, "Su Gongzi, your insight is as sharp as a torch. I can't hide anything from you. However, I assure you, I will let you handle this matter without any objections!"
Seeing even the City Lord making such a solemn promise, Huang Yunchong, Huang Qianjun, and the man in the green robe all had their expressions change once again, their hearts sinking to the bottom.
Su Yi's expression remained calm as he said, "I have never liked using others' power to oppress people. Moreover, Lord Fu has done me a favor by coming here. I won't make it difficult for you."
Fu Shan immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
But then, Su Yi's gaze shifted to the green-robed man not far away, and he smiled, saying, "Since you like playing with daggers so much, take out your dagger and chop off your own hand."
The green-robed man, Huang Yin, had been playing with his knife ever since he entered the private room, his words filled with ambiguous tones and his actions frivolous. If it weren't for Nie Beihu's sudden arrival, he would have intended to make a move against Su Yi.
Naturally, Su Yi didn't overlook this person.
Everyone's hearts turned cold.
Huang Yin, the head guard of the Huang clan, was a pinnacle existence at the Transmutation Blood realm. In Guangling City, he was considered one of the top martial practitioners.
If one of his hands was disabled, it would significantly impact his martial cultivation!
"Can I compensate for my sins in another way?" Huang Yin's face changed drastically, his nervousness evident.
Su Yi remained silent, smiling as he looked at Huang Yin.
Fu Shan's gaze turned cold as he looked at Huang Yunchong.
The invisible pressure made Huang Yunchong's chest feel tight, and finally, with an ugly expression, he said, "Huang Yin, do it!"
Huang Yin's face turned deathly pale, his eyes vacant. In the end, tremblingly, he took out the hidden dagger and made a deep cut across his own right hand.
Splurt!
A bloody right hand fell to the ground, blood splattering like a waterfall.
Huang Yin was in so much pain that his cheeks twitched, and he was drenched in sweat.
Only then did Su Yi nod and shift his gaze to Huang Yunchong. "Just now, you wanted me to kowtow step by step from here to outside the Ju Xian Building. How do you think this matter should be resolved?"
Huang Yunchong's pupils contracted sharply.
Looking at Huang Qianjun, he was already pale with fear.
Fu Shan and Nie Beihu exchanged a glance, their expressions filled with pity. This was what it meant to lift a stone only to drop it on one's own foot.
If Huang Yunchong made Su Yi kowtow from here to outside the Ju Xian Building today... he would undoubtedly be utterly defeated and disgraced, never able to lift his head again!
"Father, I will kowtow, I will do it!!" Huang Qianjun exclaimed.
Suddenly, Huang Qianjun let out a cry of pain and fell to the ground, pounding his head against the floor.
Thud!
The wooden floor trembled violently, and the sound of his kowtowing was muffled, like a drumbeat.
Huang Qianjun's head was bleeding, with blood flowing freely.