If Su Yi had said these words before the battle, he would have been ridiculed and treated as a joke by Xiahou Lin and the others.
But now, after witnessing Su Yi's strength, who dared to dismiss his words?
In fact, Su Yi's meaning was straightforward: if they didn't agree to release the captives, he guaranteed that not only would they die, but their entire families would also perish!
That was a threat.
But who would dare not take it seriously?
With Su Yi's power, he could kill a Heaven-Transcending Martial Ancestor with a single sword and suppress another with a single palm. In the entire Da Zhou Continent, he already stood at the pinnacle of martial artists!
Unless a true immortal personally intervened, it would be difficult for even other Heaven-Transcending Martial Ancestors to stop Su Yi.
A person like that, since he dared to make such a threat, he was bound to carry it out!
Although Xiahou Lin and the others had come out from the Su family in Jade Capital City, they all had their own relatives and friends. If they were intentionally retaliated against by Su Yi...
The consequences would be unimaginable!
"Third Young Master, we can release the captives, but I still don't understand why you insist on not yielding? The clan leader is your biological father, after all," Xiahou Lin's voice was weak, his face filled with confusion.
Su Yi responded indifferently, "Why didn't you ask before how Su Hongli treated my mother and how he treated me?"
Xiahou Lin and the others fell silent.
"Now that I have the ability to kill all of you, do you find it funny that you're asking me why I don't yield?" Su Yi continued calmly. "Of course, in your eyes, whatever Su Hongli does is right, and as the role he labeled as a bastard, whatever I do is destined to be wrong. So, discussing these matters with you is really pointless."
Xiahou Lin and the others grew even more silent.
Su Yi spoke casually, "No more words. Take action quickly. I don't have much time to waste with you."
Xiahou Lin sighed and looked at Pei Wenshan. "Release the captives."
Pei Wenshan took out a bronze cylinder from his sleeve and manipulated a mechanism on one side.
Boom!
A burst of fireworks shot up into the sky, dazzling and magnificent.
Pei Wenshan spoke softly, "When those trapped people see this signal, they will be released."
He paused and added, "However, the Tianyuan Academy is too far away, and the people from the Jixia Academy and the Shuiyue Academy may not be able to see this fireworks. I can send someone to inform them and arrange for their evacuation."
Su Yi nodded and said, "Which one of you has paper and a pen?"
"Su Gongzi, I have them," Jiang Tanyun, who was not far away, quickly spoke up. He approached and handed the paper and pen to Su Yi.
"You carry these things with you?" Su Yi was somewhat surprised.
Jiang Tanyun scratched his head with some embarrassment and said, "To be honest, when I'm feeling upset, I like to paint and write with ink to vent my inner emotions."
Su Yi looked at him somewhat unexpectedly and said, "That's a good habit for cultivating the mind. When I'm moved, I also like to wield a brush and write."
With that, he placed the paper and pen in front of Yue Qing and said, "Help me write a letter to Su Hongli."
Jiang Tanyun, understanding the situation, turned around and left.
Yue Qing silently picked up the brush and spread out the rice paper. Realizing there was no ink, he hesitated for a moment and then dipped the tip of the brush into the blood on his body.
Su Yi pondered for a moment and said, "On the fourth day of the fourth lunar month, I, Su Yi, will depart for Jade Capital City."
"I will give the Su family one month to prepare. Until the fourth day of the fifth lunar month, they can use all their strength to deal with me."
"On the morning of the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, I will personally visit the Su family, bring some offerings, and pay respects to my mother's grave."
Yue Qing's body stiffened, his fingers trembling. He hesitated and said, "Third Young Master, are you sure you want the clan leader to see such words?"
Su Yi replied calmly, "Write."
Yue Qing took a deep breath and began to write. Crimson characters emerged on the white paper, striking and shocking.
Su Yi glanced at the paper, rolled it up, and threw it to Shen Jiulong nearby. "Find a messenger to deliver this to the Su family in Jade Capital City."
Shen Jiulong solemnly accepted the order.
Su Yi's gaze returned to Yue Qing. He said, "Your performance at the Stone-Washing Pavilion yesterday was quite interesting. Now, if you can reenact yesterday's actions one by one, I will give you a chance to live. How about it?"
Yue Qing was momentarily stunned, then his face flushed with shame and anger. He gritted his teeth and said, "Third Young Master, there's no need to insult me like this. Killing someone is as simple as turning over a hand, so why humiliate me in this way?"
Su Yi replied indifferently, "Those who humiliate others are often humiliated themselves. Don't you enjoy buying property deeds, scattering gold coins on the ground, pretending to be scared for self-entertainment, and then laughing heartily? I'm granting your wishes, and I'm even giving you a chance to live. What's wrong with that?"
Yue Qing's cheeks reddened, overwhelmed with shame and anger.
"Boring, truly boring," Su Yi sighed lightly and made a casual gesture with his finger.
Thud!
Yue Qing's head rolled off, his face still filled with shame and anger in his final moments.
"Is there anything else you want to say?"
Su Yi looked at Xiahou Lin and Pei Wenshan.
"Third Young Master, I'm really looking forward to the day when you meet the clan leader. It would be even better if I could witness you being killed by him," Xiahou Lin murmured.
"Unfortunately, you are destined to never see that day," Su Yi said with a smile. He casually gestured with his finger.
Thud!
Xiahou Lin's head fell to the ground.
This bloody scene seemed to deeply affect Pei Wenshan. His complexion changed erratically, and his voice became hoarse as he said, "Third Young Master, although you are not afraid of threats, before I die, I still want to say one thing: being an enemy of the Su family is equivalent to being an enemy of the entire Da Zhou Empire. You better think carefully about the consequences."
Su Yi laughed and said, "Since you're so sincere, before you die, let me tell you that I, Su Yi, wouldn't even frown if I were to become an enemy of not just the Da Zhou Empire, but the entire Cangqing Continent."
With that, he made a flicking motion with his finger.
Thud!
Pei Wenshan's head rolled off.
At this point, one noble with an external surname from the Su family and two external marquises had all been executed!
Witnessing these scenes, Mu Xi and the others fell into silence.
Everyone was aware that with the deaths of Xiahou Lin and the others, Su Yi had completely severed ties with the Su family in Jade Capital City!
When such a colossal entity like the Su family in Jade Capital City was provoked, the consequences were dire and even thinking about it was terrifying.
But Su Yi seemed unaffected, casually rising and collecting the rattan chair.
He first approached Lady Wen and the others and said, "Now that everything is settled, if you're still worried about being implicated, you can stay at the Tianyuan Academy for a while. After the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, within the Da Zhou Empire, no one should bother you anymore."
Lady Wen's expression was complex as she asked, "Third Young Master, are you really going to wage war against the Su family?"
"Isn't that already the case?" Su Yi replied.
Lady Wen fell silent immediately.
Su Yi didn't say anything more. If it weren't for his consideration for Wen Lingxue, he wouldn't have bothered speaking those words earlier.
He turned and glanced at Mu Xi and the others in the distance.
"Everyone, I leave the aftermath to you."
With that, Su Yi stood with his hands behind his back and walked away, under the gaze of countless eyes, gradually fading into the distance. Soon, he disappeared into the gentle and beautiful daylight.
Throughout, he never looked at Fu Shan, Nie Beihu, and the others again.
"Did... did I really make a mistake?" Fu Shan's lips trembled as he murmured bitterly, appearing much older all of a sudden.
"The Su family is indeed powerful, but you shouldn't have helped them convince Young Master Su to submit. Although it's not an act of betrayal, it's not much different," Chen Zheng approached from nearby, his gaze cold. "However, since Young Master Su didn't hold it against you, I won't give you a hard time. Leave quickly."
Fu Shan stood dazed for a moment, then slumped in resignation.
He reminisced about how he used to have great expectations for Su Yi and respected him greatly in Guangling City. Their relationship was quite harmonious.
But now, solely due to a difference in positions, their relationship had been completely shattered!
"Before all this, how could I have imagined that Mr. Su, just over a month after leaving Guangling City, would already possess the ability to kill a Precelestial Martial Ancestor..." Fu Shan was in a daze, stumbling away.
He knew that in this lifetime, he would never be able to mend the friendship between him and Su Yi.
"Why are you still standing there? Why don't you leave?" Chen Zheng looked at Nie Beihu impatiently.
Nie Beihu shuddered all over, his expression changing uncertainly. After a long while, he whispered, "Lord Hou, may I ask you to convey a message to Mr. Su?"
Chen Zheng furrowed his brows but ultimately suppressed his intention to refuse, saying, "Go ahead."
"Today's events were my fault, Nie Beihu's fault. It has nothing to do with my son, Nie Teng. I just hope... I just hope that Mr. Su won't blame my child because of this incident..."
Nie Beihu lowered his head in dejection, as if mourning the dead.
Chen Zheng waved his hand dismissively. "Hurry and leave."
Nie Beihu sighed and turned away, his figure appearing extremely desolate and forlorn.
Soon, Lady Wen and her group also departed.
Chen Zheng scanned the soldiers belonging to the Governor's Office in the distance, and his brows imperceptibly furrowed.
He walked up to Mu Xi, Shen Jiusong, Jiang Tanyun, and the others, saying, "Today's events are bound to be uncovered. When the news reaches the Su family in Jade Capital City, Su Hongli will also come to know of our involvement. Do any of you... regret it?"
Mu Xi sneered and laughed. "Marquis Wuling, there's no need to probe. Since I, Mu Xi, have come, I have long considered the consequences of doing so. Besides, do you think I would be afraid of the Su family in Jade Capital City?"
In his indifferent voice, there was a sense of disdain.
"Apologies, I have been impolite, Prince Xiao Wangye," Chen Zheng clasped his hands.
Shen Jiusong remained calm. "Marquis Wuling, you needn't worry. I won't be like Fu Shan and Nie Beihu. Moreover, after experiencing today's events, how can I not understand Young Master Su's character? If something happens to me, Young Master Su will surely seek revenge for me! If that's the case, what do I have to fear?"
"Marquis Wuling, at this point, do you think we still have a chance to regret?" Pu Yi laughed.
Jiang Tanyun and Lu Changfeng exchanged a glance and also smiled.
When they came to Gunzhou, Mu Xi had already discussed the consequences of their actions with them, but they still came.
At this moment, how could they possibly regret?
For these influential figures, once they made a choice and a decision, it meant that they had long pondered and understood the consequences of their actions. They would not go back on their word.
This was the principle of leaving no regrets.