After a long silence, Shen Jiusong did not open the letter.
His expression remained calm as he said, "If something happens to my son, as his father, I will seek justice for him. But if all of you use this as leverage to force me to back down, you can forget about it!"
His last four words resounded forcefully.
Everyone was surprised, and the atmosphere became heavy.
"Marquis Yun Guang, don't you want to see what the letter says?" Le Qing couldn't help but ask.
Rip!
Shen Jiusong tore the letter into pieces without opening it, his expression indifferent. He said, "If you Su family want to kill my child, I guarantee that as long as I'm alive, I will exact revenge at any cost!"
Everyone was completely stunned by Shen Jiusong's resolute stance.
What kind of state of mind would make him stay by Su Yi's side at this moment, disregarding the safety of his own son?
"You didn't have to go to such lengths," Su Yi sighed lightly.
"Regardless of whether Su Young Master laughs at me or not, throughout my many years of struggle in this world, I have always adhered to one principle," Shen Jiusong said softly. "Some things can be compromised, but some things I would rather die than retreat from."
"Hahaha!" Le Qing laughed exaggeratedly. "It's the first time I've heard of a vassal lord daring to confront our Su family head-on. And your so-called perseverance is simply foolish and laughable!"
Then, he sighed, saying, "By doing this, it's not just yourself that you're harming, but your son will also suffer the consequences. What's the point of all this unnecessary trouble?"
Su Yi glanced at the audacious and ostentatious Marquis Tian Yong and said, "If his son dies, I will annihilate your entire family."
Le Qing was taken aback.
Before he could speak, Xiahou Lin calmly interjected, "Young Master Su, calm down. The real show is just beginning."
As he spoke, he waved his hand.
Suddenly, a group of people walked out from a side chamber in the hall.
At the forefront was Fu Shan, the City Lord of Guangling City. Beside him were Nie Beihu and an unfamiliar elderly man.
Su Yi's pupils slightly narrowed, but soon returned to normal.
"Mr. Su, it's been a long time," Fu Shan greeted with a complicated expression, cupping his hands in salute.
Su Yi asked directly, "Have you been coerced?"
Fu Shan shook his head and sighed, "The Su family invited me and the others here as mediators. If possible, I hope that Mr. Su can let go of your grievances. After all, you are the heir of the Su family. How can you... how can you choose to be an enemy of your clan?"
Su Yi furrowed his brow and interrupted, "Considering our past connections, you'd better keep your mouth shut."
Fu Shan was momentarily stunned, and then he smiled bitterly, shaking his head.
"If you have the same thoughts as Fu Shan, I advise you not to speak," Su Yi's gaze turned to Nie Beihu.
After a moment of silence, Nie Beihu said, "Mr. Su, the power of the Su family in Yujing City is beyond your imagination. If you don't submit today, all of us who are connected to you will inevitably suffer. We don't fear these consequences, but we fear involving our wives, children, relatives, and friends. Why... why can't you take a step back?"
Su Yi couldn't help but laugh and said, "Why do you, Nie Beihu, see me as a calamity? If you're afraid of being implicated, just distance yourself. How dare you shamelessly act as a mediator? Who gave you, Nie Beihu, the courage?"
Nie Beihu was at a loss for words, lowering his head with bitterness. He said, "Mr. Su, I... I am considering your well-being..."
Su Yi couldn't be bothered to pay attention to him and looked at the unfamiliar elderly man. "And who are you?"
The old man cupped his hands and said, "Young Master Su, I am Huang Youcheng, the senior elder of the Huang family in Guangling City. I have come here to inform you that our patriarch, Huang Yunchong, is ignorant of the current situation and has been relieved of his position."
Pausing for a moment, he continued, "Furthermore, from now on, there will be no connection between our Huang family and you."
Su Yi nodded and said, "Rest assured, I only recognize Huang Yunchong and Huang Qianjun. Your Huang family's attitude means nothing to me."
Witnessing all of this, Xiahou Lin calmly said, "Don't let these small fries jump around. Serve our Young Master the main course."
Le Qing clapped his hands and smiled, saying, "Bring them up!"
Another group of people walked out from the side chamber, astonishingly the Old Madam of the Wen family, the patriarch Wen Changjing, and the couple Wen Changtai and Qin Qing.
They all appeared fearful and apprehensive, trembling as if they were prisoners being escorted.
The Old Madam's expression was complicated as she trembled and said, "Young Master, when immortals fight, mortals suffer. We are originally weak, unfortunate enough to be implicated in this turmoil. I am not afraid of death myself, but the rest of the Wen family members are innocent..."
Su Yi waved his hand and said, "No need to say more. I understand. Their purpose is simply to demonstrate the power of the Su family and make me obediently submit."
"Then... will you submit?" Qin Qing blurted out.
Su Yi replied, "I can only guarantee that nothing will happen to you."
Le Qing couldn't help but laugh and said, "Young Master, you're quite arrogant. Then take a look at this."
As he spoke, he took out a sword.
The sword had a simple and ordinary appearance, faintly exuding a sense of spirituality, with no other remarkable features.
But when Su Yi saw this sword, his eyes subtly narrowed.
The Dustblade Sword!
This was the first sword he forged since awakening his memories from his past life, and it held a special significance to him.
Back in Yunhe County, he had entrusted it to Feng Xiaoran for safekeeping.
But now, this sword appeared in the hands of Le Qing!
"Young Master Su should recognize this sword, but you don't need to worry. Neither the Yuan family nor Feng Xiaofeng and his sister have any threat to their lives."
Le Qing smiled and said, "After all, the patriarch instructed us to simply awaken Young Master Su and there's no need to be too harsh."
Su Yi looked at the Dustblade Sword with a calm expression and asked, "Is there more?"
Xiahou Lin sighed lightly and said, "Young Master, if I told you that what you are currently experiencing is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the Su family's power, would you believe it?"
Su Yi replied, "I'm asking if there's more."
A hint of anger appeared on Xiahou Lin's face, and he spoke indifferently, "Lord Yushan, it's your turn."
Pei Wenshan nodded on the side and spoke naturally, "Young Master, the newly appointed Governor of Gunzhou, Mu Zhongting, has been relieved of his duties and is currently imprisoned as a prisoner."
"Although the Sixth Prince was fortunate enough to receive the favor of the current emperor, he is now confined to the palace and unable to intervene in external affairs. This means that the Sixth Prince is also unable to help Young Master Su any longer."
After a pause, Pei Wenshan continued, "In addition, the power of the Jixia Academy and the Shuiyue Academy has entered the Tianyuan Academy since yesterday. Under the exceptional abilities of Ning Gongzhu, it would be difficult for them to offer much assistance to Young Master Su in such a situation."
Finishing his words, Pei Wenshan sighed, "Young Master, we are not forcing you to submit to us, but to bow down to your biological father. There is no need to feel ashamed about it."
Xiahou Lin said, "Take a step back, and the sea and sky are boundless!"
Le Qing said, "Young Master, as long as you repent and change your ways, who can underestimate you in the future among the Su family members? At that time, who in the entire Great Zhou Empire would dare to belittle you?"
The gaze of everyone in the hall turned towards Su Yi.
The atmosphere became oppressive and silent.
Su Yi looked at the Dustblade Sword in Le Qing's hand and said, "I just want to know if this operation was orchestrated by Su Hongli, or if it was instigated by someone else."
"Insolence!"
Xiahou Lin's face darkened. "As a son, how can you directly address your father by his name?"
Pei Wenshan furrowed his brow and said, "Young Master, we understand that you are unhappy, but it's best for you to calm down and recognize your situation. Don't let your tongue bring trouble upon yourself and seek temporary satisfaction. Otherwise, don't blame us for being impolite."
Su Yi responded calmly, "You won't say it? In that case, I will personally go to Yujing City one day and ask Su Hongli who exactly arranged this operation. Do you know that there are certain things in this world that, once done, will result in deaths?"
"You..."
Xiahou Lin became angry, and the aura of a congenital Martial Ancestor surged, intimidating, "Young Master, are you really planning to ignore the consequences?"
"I've said it before, mere words cannot awaken a person pretending to be asleep. Just like now, if we don't let our Young Master endure some hardship, I'm afraid he won't be able to change his ignorant habit."
Le Qing sighed and shook his head with a smile.
At that moment, the dignitaries in the room couldn't help but look at Su Yi with a hint of pity. Hasn't it reached a point where he should lower his head and avoid being punished?
Fu Shan, Nie Beihu, and the old lady Wen, who were not far away, all had complex expressions and couldn't bear to witness such a scene.
Just then, a clear laughter resounded, "What do you mean by enduring some hardship? Since when did you, a mere Tianyuan Marquis, dare to be so arrogant?"
Following that, a group of figures walked in from outside the hall.
Leading them was a handsome and elegant man, none other than the Zhenyue Prince, Mu Xi!
Upon seeing him, Xiahou Lin, Le Qing, Pei Wenshan, and others were taken aback, and their brows furrowed.
The influential figures present couldn't remain calm either, and they couldn't help but inhale sharply. Who wouldn't recognize the youngest non-royal prince of the Great Zhou Empire?
And now, Mu Xi's arrival was clearly showing support for Su Yi!
"I've never seen such a ridiculous scene before. A group of old folks shamelessly trying to oppress Young Master Su to lower his head. It's an outrageous farce," sneered Pu Yi, the elder of Xingya Academy, standing beside Mu Xi.
As the attendees recognized his identity, their composure was further disturbed. Xingya Academy intended to intervene and stand in Su Yi's camp?
"If they were to openly and fairly challenge Young Master Su, that would be acceptable. But now, with the power of the Su family in Yujing City, they have resorted to such despicable actions. Aren't they afraid of being ridiculed by the world?" said Jiang Tanyun, the elder of Kongtong Academy, coldly.
Beside him stood Lu Changfeng.
As they witnessed these scenes, the expressions of Xiahou Lin and his group darkened, while the influential figures present were left dumbfounded.
They knew that the Su family in Yujing City was behind this, but who could have imagined that the Zhenyue Prince would come with the elders of Xingya Academy and Kongtong Academy, clearly expressing their support for Su Yi?
Fu Shan, Nie Beihu, and the old lady Wen were also stunned, unable to comprehend the situation unfolding before them. What... what was happening?