Upon seeing Madam Cuiyun and her group enter the main hall, Chen Jinlong and the others became excited, seeing a glimmer of hope for their rescue.
However, due to Su Yi's domineering behavior earlier, they could only show pleading expressions without daring to call for help.
They were well aware that after Su Yi had killed someone, openly declaring that they were waiting for people from Fengyuan Zhai, he must have some backing.
Because of this, they didn't dare to act recklessly at this critical moment.
"You've been waiting for me all along?" Madam Cuiyun composed herself and spoke softly.
Su Yi nodded. "Yes."
Even though Madam Cuiyun had arrived, he showed no intention of standing up, sitting there calmly with a placid expression.
Madam Cuiyun seemed indifferent, sighing softly. "If it were an ordinary person committing murder in Fengyuan Zhai, I wouldn't sit idly by. However, you, young sir, are not an ordinary person, which puts me in a difficult situation."
Upon hearing this, Chen Jinlong and the others were dumbfounded.
Could it be that Su Yi had a terrifying figure standing behind him?
Thinking of this, they shivered inwardly, secretly grateful that they hadn't called for help immediately, as the consequences would have been dire!
"The token doesn't work?" Su Yi smiled wryly.
Before Madam Cuiyun could respond, Lao Li with his flowing beard couldn't help but ask, "May I ask for the young sir's name and surname?"
Chen Jinlong and the others were bewildered. What was going on?
Madam Cuiyun herself had personally welcomed Su Yi and arranged for him to dine on the ninth level, yet they didn't even know his identity?
One of the youths spoke hesitantly, his voice trembling. "This senior, he is our former fellow disciple, Su Yi. Don't you... know him?"
Lao Li and Madam Cuiyun exchanged a glance, both stunned, realizing that their previous speculations were wrong.
This young man in the blue robe was not one of the core disciples of the Lanling Xiaoshi!
"Su Yi?" Lao Li pondered for a moment and suddenly remembered something. "Is he the outer sect swordmaster who was abandoned by the Qinghe Sword Sect a year ago?"
"That's right."
This time, many people nodded. They were all extremely nervous, not daring to look at Su Yi.
"Hehe, hehehe..."
Lao Li couldn't help but burst into laughter, finding the situation absurd and ridiculous beyond belief.
Who could have imagined that the young man they had treated as an honored guest, together with Madam Cuiyun, turned out to be a fallen cultivator, bereft of his cultivation?
"Alas, the longer you live, the more timid you become. I almost got deceived by a young lad."
Lao Li laughed at himself.
Upon hearing these words, Chen Jinlong and the others' expressions became extremely intense. Deceived?
Could it be that Su Yi had infiltrated the Shanhe Hall's banquet under false pretenses?
Madam Cuiyun also seemed lost in thought for a moment, her eyes filled with subtle emotions. "Young Master Su, may I ask, where did you obtain the Purple Auspicious Token?"
"Xiao Tianque gave it to me," Su Yi casually replied.
Xiao Tianque!
Madam Cuiyun's beautiful eyes contracted.
Lao Li couldn't help but sneer and said, "Xiao Lao is a renowned martial arts grandmaster, once ranked among the nobles, wielding immense power. His esteemed identity is enough for us to look up to. How could such an existence gift his Purple Auspicious Token to a discarded disciple of the Qinghe Sword Sect like you?"
"Absurd!"
These final words, filled with absurdity, resounded like thunder, causing a buzzing in everyone's ears.
Everyone could tell that Lao Li was infuriated.
This revelation excited Chen Jinlong and the others. Even they hadn't expected that Su Yi might have deceived his way in under someone else's identity!
This was tantamount to deceiving Fengyuan Zhai.
With this revelation, how could Su Yi's situation be good?
At this moment, Feng Xiaofeng, Feng Xiaoran, and Fei, along with others, became nervous and uncertain.
Su Yi seemed to have noticed their tension and looked over, speaking softly, "Don't be afraid. If this old man dares to babble again, I'll cut out his tongue."
As soon as these words were spoken, Lao Li's face darkened, and he laughed furiously.
Just as he was about to say something, Madam Cuiyun coldly interrupted, "Lao Li, I only recognize the token, not the person! The Purple Auspicious Token is in the hands of Young Master Su Yi, so he is a distinguished guest of Fengyuan Zhai!"
Lao Li's expression became stagnant, his emotions fluctuating.
Madam Cuiyun's gaze turned back to Su Yi, and she spoke softly, "Young Master Su, the authority represented by the Purple Auspicious Token does indeed command respect from me. However, the matter at hand cannot be resolved with just this token."
"After all, we are Fengyuan Zhai, not the Lanling Xiaoshi. We cannot help you deal with the troubles you may encounter in the future."
Implicit in her words was that Fengyuan Zhai would not hold Su Yi accountable, but they wouldn't offer any assistance either. They would essentially stand by and watch.
Su Yi frowned slightly and said, "It seems this token is of little use."
"What do you mean, little use?" Lao Li couldn't help but sneer sarcastically. "If this token were in the hands of a disciple of the Lanling Xiaoshi, I would personally pour tea and water for you!"
A discarded disciple of the Qinghe Sword Sect dared to look down on the Purple Auspicious Token. Was this something a person would say?
"If you want to pour tea and water for me, you are far from qualified," Su Yi shook his head, finding this old man too ridiculous.
Lao Li was momentarily stunned, then his chest heaved with anger. His face turned red, and he angrily said, "Madam, do you see? This brat is too arrogant!"
Madam Cuiyun, with her exquisite and subtle mind, furrowed her brows slightly and sighed, "Lao Li, bear with it. Consider it a show of respect for the owner of the Purple Auspicious Token."
Her words carried a hint of dissatisfaction.
She also felt that Su Yi's words were a bit too arrogant.
This scene made Chen Jinlong and the others tremble. Clearly, Su Yi was not the rightful owner of the Purple Auspicious Token.
Yet, based on this item alone, Madam Cuiyun could only tolerate it!
"Very well, I won't argue with such a brat."
Lao Li snorted coldly.
"Su Yi, how do you think we should handle this matter?"
Mrs. Cuiyun was curious about how this calm and composed young man would react upon learning Fengyuan Zhai's stance of staying out of the matter.
Pressuring the Nian and Yan families with the Purple Auspicious Token?
It was unlikely to work.
In the eyes of those clans, even if they feared the token, they would definitely dare to secretly eliminate Su Yi without his knowledge.
After all, Su Yi's identity as a discarded disciple of the Qinghe Sword Sect was somewhat disgraceful. His background was not a secret in Yunhe County.
Moreover, if this matter wasn't resolved properly, it would also implicate his friends around him!
Su Yi finished his drink calmly and said, "Do you really think I wanted to use that token to intimidate and let you clean up the mess? You're wrong. I was just waiting for you to come and give Fengyuan Zhai an answer, to let you know that today's incident was caused by me, Su Yi."
Pausing for a moment, Su Yi continued, "Of course, I also wanted to see your attitude, whether you would intervene and choose to be my enemy. It seems you've made a wise decision."
Madam Cuiyun was taken aback.
Lao Li couldn't help but sneer and mock, "Ha, quite the bold statement. I'd love to see how Young Master Su will handle this matter."
Su Yi smiled faintly and said, "Old man, you've provoked me time and time again. Do you really think I wouldn't dare to cut out your tongue?"
"You..." Lao Li's face turned extremely ugly.
Just as he was about to say something—
A surprised voice sounded from outside the hall, "Cutting tongues? Interesting!"
Immediately after, a young man in a purple robe and feathered crown strode in.
His gaze swept across the scene, seemingly understanding something vaguely, and he smiled, "Su Yi, let me guess, some idiot who doesn't know any better has provoked you, right? Although I don't know the reason, I must say, you did well by killing him!"
He clapped his hands in admiration.
Chen Jinlong and the others were all stunned. Who was this guy? Could he be crazy?
Only Huang Qianjun's eyes became subtle.
Madam Cuiyun and Lao Li turned around, their gazes falling on the young man in the purple robe, their expressions changing slightly.
Although they didn't know the identity of the newcomer, they were aware that this person's status must be extremely noble, as evidenced by his clothing and appearance.
Furthermore, this young man in the purple robe had attended the banquet in the Hanhai Hall on the ninth floor tonight, leaving a deep impression on Madam Cuiyun and Lao Li.
"Does this distinguished guest also know Young Master Su?" Madam Cuiyun asked softly.
"Of course, I know him," the young man in the purple robe smiled brightly and came straight to Su Yi, cupping his hands, "Su Yi, we meet again."
This person was none other than Prince Zhou Zhili of the Great Zhou Empire.
However, Su Yi still didn't get up, his eyebrows slightly raised, and he expressed his surprise, "How come you're here?"
Zhou Zhili smiled and said, "We were attending the banquet in the Hanhai Hall, and when I heard the commotion from this side, I couldn't help but come and take a look. Unexpectedly, I would meet Young Master Su again. Perhaps it's fate."
Su Yi sneered, "When others encounter such trouble, they try to avoid it at all costs, but you seem afraid of missing out on the excitement."
Zhou Zhili said earnestly, "When I see Young Master Su in trouble, how can I stand by and do nothing?"
With that, he turned to Madam Cuiyun, his expression turning cold. A powerful and imposing aura emanated from him as he asked, "Are you the owner of this place?"
Madam Cuiyun sensed that something was amiss and slightly bowed, saying, "What instructions do you have, sir?"
"First, have him cut out his tongue, then we'll discuss other matters," Zhou Zhili pointed at Lao Li, speaking in a cold tone.
This was not a negotiation, but an order!
With just one sentence, Chen Jinlong and the others could hardly believe their ears.
Even Lao Li himself was momentarily stunned, then he burst into laughter, his anger rising, "Young man, are you planning to stand up for that Su Yi?"
Zhou Zhili's eyes grew colder. "No, this is just me taking care of a small trouble for Young Master Su."
The whole hall fell silent.
This statement undoubtedly elevated Su Yi's status while revealing the greatest contempt for Lao Li, considering him a small trouble...
Madam Cuiyun's face changed, and she hurriedly said, "Sir, please calm down. Let's talk..."
Zhou Zhili interrupted, "I'll give you a choice, either he cuts out his tongue or I dismantle this Fengyuan Tower of yours."
"Arrogant!"
Lao Li couldn't hold back any longer and shouted angrily.
"Who do you think is arrogant?"
Suddenly, a group of people walked into the hall, led by Zhang Duo.
He and the three people beside him were all Zhou Zhili's guards, all of them late-stage Qi Gathering Realm experts.
In addition to them, there was also a skinny figure, a wrinkled old man whose face was covered in wrinkles, exuding an aura as deep as an abyss.
As soon as he entered, an overwhelming pressure spread out, making it hard for anyone to breathe.
Martial Grandmaster!
Madam Cuiyun's heart chilled as she had a premonition that things were not going well.