"Youling, you…" Lee Encai's eyes widened in disbelief.
Everyone had been calling for Lin Tang's head. Why isn't she defending him? Why is she backstabbing him instead? Does she want him to die even faster?
"Everyone heard it! Youling herself said that bastard Lin Tang made her suffer. Even if he were executed, he would have deserved it!" Shen Jiayue shouted.
Hua Fengchen, Wang Shouzhen, and the others also struck while the iron was hot, urging Xiao Xuanye to execute Lin Tang.
"In that case…" Xiao Xuanye was about to give the order.
"Wait a minute!" Shen Youling said, standing up. She walked over to Lin Tang's side and bowed to Xiao Xuanye. "Foster Father, what I ant is that in any long-term marriage, conflicts and adjustnts are inevitable. A montary grievance can be resolved just by talking it out. There's no need to escalate a marital issue to the point of a death sentence. Please, Foster Father, quell your anger and forgive my husband this one ti."
"Oh?" Xiao Xuanye seed persuaded.
Shen Jiayue, however, was panicking. "Youling, how could you…"
Shen Youling cut her off. "Sister, stop targeting Lin Tang. Haven't you caused grievances, too?"
THUMP!
Shen Jiayue, who had just managed to get to her feet, turned pale and dropped to her knees again. Clutching Shen Youling's leg, she cried, snot and tears streaming down her face, "You know I'm your sister! Even if I was a bit impulsive because of so misunderstandings and said a few harsh words, please don't take it to heart!"
Shen Xin and Dong Mingfeng also felt a pang of guilt, afraid that Shen Youling would hold their past actions against them. They quickly tried to smooth things over, apologizing cautiously.
Wang Shouzhen was startled and instinctively hid behind Wang Shouben, no longer daring to draw attention to himself. He rembered the ti he had tried to take advantage of Shen Youling when she was vulnerable. If she decides to bring that up now, won't I be torn apart by five horses?
"Let bygones be bygones. I'm not trying to settle old scores. I just want to say that whether it's my family or my husband, even if they've hurt , I don't want to harm them," Shen Youling told Xiao Xuanye earnestly.
"That's good, that's good." Shen Jiayue, Shen Xin, and Dong Mingfeng all sighed in imnse relief.
"My dear daughter, if you are willing to forgive them, I will naturally respect your wishes," Xiao Xuanye said coolly. "But while the death penalty may be waived, they won't escape punishnt! Guards! Give each of these four thirty military lashes!"
"Ah? We have to be lashed?" Shen Xin panicked.
"We're just won! How can we survive so many lashes?" Dong Mingfeng cried.
"General Xiao… no, Foster Father, spare us, please!" Shen Jiayue cried out, utterly shaless and with the audacity to also call him father. She felt that as Shen Youling's sister, it was only natural for her to follow suit.
Shen Youling felt dizzy. She never expected Xiao Xuanye to be so tyrannical. She herself didn't want to press the matter, so why was he insisting on such a severe punishnt?
With Lin Tang's stubborn temperant, he'll never accept being lashed. Once he goes berserk and reveals his martial arts or uses poison, we'll be truly dood! Horrified, Shen Youling hurriedly clutched Lin Tang's arm, whispering urgently, "You have to stay calm. Please, just do this for . Apologize to Foster Father. Maybe you should call him Foster Father, too?"
"What?" Lin Tang was already annoyed. Hearing this, he grew even more infuriated. "You acknowledged him as your father without even consulting , forcing down a generation and letting him take advantage of ! And now you want to call him father, too? This is outrageous!"
He pointed at Xiao Xuanye and said disdainfully, "Is he even worthy of being my godfather?!"
Forget Xiao Xuanye, who was rely a Grandmaster. Even a Heaven King, a Martial Saint, a War God, or an Immortal Being ant nothing to Lin Tang. This wasn't arrogance; it was the fundantal perspective of a Cultivator.
What does a Cultivator pursue? Immortality! True immortality! How could he possibly bow down to re Martial Artists? Even if he wasn't a match for Martial Artists above the Heaven King realm now, in the future, he could crush them with a flick of his wrist. If he didn't even possess that much pride, he might as well give up on cultivation and smash his head against a wall.
However, Lin Tang was the only one who knew he was a Cultivator. When he spoke, everyone—from Hua Fengchen and the other wealthy elites to the mbers of Xiao's personal guard—was utterly stunned into silence.
This guy… is he actually insane? He's lost his mind! He's completely mad!
It was as if a hailstorm had descended from the sky, pumling her head. Shen Youling felt like her brain was about to explode. She had never imagined that simply offering Lin Tang an out—asking him to call the man Foster Father—would provoke such an extre reaction. How could she possibly salvage this situation now? No matter how she pleaded, her Foster Father would never forgive him, right? Did he really think his martial arts skills were enough to fight off hundreds of ard n? Not to ntion that her Foster Father's own power was so imnse he could crush him with a single blow.
"I… I really can't help you anymore!" Shen Youling trembled from head to toe.
Hua Fengchen and Wang Shouzhen struggled to keep from bursting into laughter. Is there a bigger idiot in this world than Lin Tang? He could have ridden Shen Youling's coattails, but he threw away such a golden opportunity to actively court death! He's a dead man! He's definitely dead!
The mbers of Xiao's guard were incandescent with rage. If Shen Youling hadn't been standing next to Lin Tang, they would have already opened fire.
"Lin Tang, you must have the heart of a bear and the guts of a leopard to dare insult General Xiao! I'll have your entire clan exterminated!" the deputy roared, charging forward to pull Shen Youling away so he could tear Lin Tang to shreds.
Lin Tang sounded surprised. "Refusing to acknowledge a father is considered an insult? And that warrants the extermination of my entire clan? Are you the Dragon Camp or a den of bandits?"
"Hehehe—" A laugh rang out.
The deputy grew even angrier. "Who the hell dares to laugh—" He stopped short.
It was Xiao Xuanye laughing. Though he laughed, his gaze was glacial. "Everyone, leave. I need to speak with this arrogant boy alone."
"General Xiao…"
"Hmph?"
"Yes, sir!" The deputy had no choice but to accept the order, having his n escort Hua Fengchen and the others out.
With red-rimd eyes, Shen Youling cast a worried glance at Lin Tang before being led away with Shen Jiayue and the others.
"Brother Lin…" Lee Encai was just as worried, unable to understand why Lin Tang had to be so extre. She, too, was then escorted out.
As for Shen Qiushi, the deputy, being shrewd, had intentionally left him outside from the beginning.
Once only Xiao Xuanye and Lin Tang remained in the great hall, Lin Tang, completely unconcerned, sat down casually. "What do you want to talk about?"
Xiao Xuanye watched him with an indifferent expression, saying nothing. After a long mont passed, Lin Tang even yawned. "If you don't start talking, I'm leaving."
"Are you truly not afraid of at all?" Xiao Xuanye finally spoke.
Over the years, he had t countless talented youths. No matter who they were or how outstanding, they were all tense and cautious in his presence. Most lost their composure, becoming flustered and clumsy. A select few could maintain their poise and speak eloquently. But he had never t anyone like Lin Tang, who was utterly unafraid and paid him no mind.
Does this kid simply lack the capacity for fear? Or does he have so other source of confidence? Is he just putting on a brave face, trying to use this defiant attitude to win my admiration? Impossible. I can sense that he is completely genuine, with no trace of an act. As Xiao Xuanye's gaze lingered on Lin Tang, he looked at him as if he were a new toy.
"Why should I be afraid of you?" Lin Tang spread his hands. "I hold no grudge against you, nor do I want anything from you. There's no reason to be afraid."
Seeing his nonchalance, Xiao Xuanye said calmly, "It seems you don't co from an ordinary family. You're either one of the Mu family remnants or a mber of a rival faction. You must also be from so hidden clan, right?"
"The Mu family remnants? You an that old coot Mu Jiuzhou? I do indeed have a grudge against him," Lin Tang nodded. He also realized why Xiao Xuanye had co to Jiangbei in such force. The ghost slaves searching for him last night must have left traces that attracted Xiao Xuanye's attention.
Seeing that Lin Tang didn't deny it, Xiao Xuanye grew more convinced that he hailed from another hidden clan. It wasn't strange that these tenacious remnants, who had long withdrawn from worldly affairs, would lack reverence for official powers.
"Out of consideration for my newly adopted daughter, I will forgive your grave disrespect this ti. Do not let it happen again," Xiao Xuanye declared with a wave of his hand. In truth, this leniency was because he suspected Lin Tang was from a hidden clan. If his status were similar to Wang Shouzhen's or Lu Zizheng's, he would have had his legs broken, even if he wasn't killed.
"I will have my deputy liaise with you to ask for specific intelligence regarding the Mu family remnants. Tell him everything you know, and then you may leave. As for your marriage to Shen Youling, I am very displeased with you, so it is hereby nullified."
"You think you can just nullify it because you say so? Well, I insist on—"
"Get out!" Xiao Xuanye had run out of patience. He turned and stord away, flicking his sleeve.
"Tch—" Lin Tang sneered, not taking his words to heart in the slightest.
A few monts later, the deputy returned alone, his face grim. "I'll ask, you'll answer. Don't leave out or hide a single detail. Do you understand?" he barked.
"You don't have to shout. I'm not deaf," Lin Tang said lazily. Since the Dragon Camp also held a grudge against Mu Jiuzhou, he was more than happy to let them fight amongst themselves.
And so, he answered every one of the deputy's questions and was very cooperative.
When the deputy learned about the miraculous mycelium and the fact that Mu Jiuzhou could exist as several avatars, he was astounded. No wonder General Xiao called the Mu family the 'Undying Clan.' If we could obtain such technology and hand it over…
「Outside the station」
Shen Youling waited anxiously, exchanging worried sighs with Lee Encai. Neither knew what Lin Tang's fate would be.
"Youling, there's no way Lin Tang is coming out of there alive. Just forget about him. Let take care of you…" Hua Fengchen swaggered forward, trying to get on her good side.
Shen Xin and Dong Mingfeng imdiately chid in, insisting that Shen Youling must remarry.
"Remarry? What do you an, remarry? No one is remarrying!" a furious voice suddenly bood.
"Who dares to ddle in the Shen family's affairs? Don't you know my daughter is now General Xiao's goddaughter?" Shen Xin snapped, turning around.
SLAP!
Shen Qiushi struck him hard across the face. The white imprint of five fingers appeared instantly before turning a bright, angry red.
"It's , your father!!"
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