"How rude!" Chen Yang said flatly. "Everyone present here is a prominent figure in Lingjin City. Startling them would be a serious matter. Besides, you're a Third Rank Military General. Don't you care about your reputation?"
"Everything must be done with reason, after all!"
His words were dripping with sarcasm. Though he used no vulgarities, they cut to the bone, making many in the crowd roll their eyes.
Yang Hu forced a smile. "You're right, Boss."
"A Third Rank Military General, Su Huai'an?" Chen Yang finally turned to face him. "I hear that since you returned, you've been accepting gifts, attending banquets, and even had an eight-vehicle motorcade clearing the way for you on the street? Forget your rank; even those Eighth Rank Military Generals probably don't put on such airs, do they?"
Su Huai'an's expression darkened as he snorted with contempt. "What business is it of yours? I, Su Huai'an, have returned to my hotown, and the people admire . Is that not allowed?"
"It's allowed! Of course, it is! I was just saying, the Elders' Court granted you that uniform to fight our external enemies, not to lord it over your own people," Chen Yang said emotionlessly.
"Lord Su is the great hero of Lingjin City; we choose to treat him this way! Besides, how we treat him is none of your business!" a weaselly-looking middle-aged man shouted, jumping out from the crowd. He pointed a finger at Chen Yang and raged, "You, on the other hand, have so nerve, daring to attack Lord Su's nephew right here!"
Seeing a golden chance to curry favor with Su Huai'an, this man, nad Sun Qing, had seized the opportunity to leap forward. He then scurried over to Su Ding and helped him to his feet.
Su Ding wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and ran to Su Huai'an. "Uncle, why waste words on him? Just have your Martial Guard arrest him now!"
"Uncle, do you rember how the Su Family was almost destroyed a few days ago? He was the one behind it! Afterward, he treated like an animal over and over again. I can't swallow this insult!" Su Ding glared at Chen Yang, a venomous sneer on his face. "Kid, you might have so skill, but what does that count for in front of a Third Rank Military General? I'll say it again: get on your knees, kowtow, and beg for rcy. Maybe then there will be room to discuss this!"
"Kneel," Su Huai'an commanded, his hands behind his back and his voice dark.
Chen Yang chuckled, asking curiously, "Military General, aren't you going to ask why? Aren't you going to ask why I did it?"
"Why should I ask?" Su Huai'an laughed in return. "With my status and achievents, a mber of my Su Family—especially this beloved nephew of mine—should not suffer any punishnt, even if his cris were monstrous."
The arrogance in his words was overwhelming. However, it was also the truth. Anyone else would have likely been dealt with by Su Ding long ago.
Unfortunately for them, this was Chen Yang.
"I understand!" Chen Yang set down the wine glass he had just picked up and strode toward Su Huai'an.
What a blatant abuse of power!
"Since you understand, why aren't you kneeling?" Sun Qing piped up again, taking two steps forward and roaring.
"Say one more word. I dare you."
Yang Hu pulled out a handgun and pressed it against Sun Qing's forehead, a wicked smile playing on his lips. "Trying to step on my Boss to get ahead?"
The banquet hall fell deathly silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
To brandish a gun in public? Most importantly, to do so in the presence of a Third Rank Military General?
This…
Sun Qing froze on the spot, his eyes as wide as saucers. Beads of sweat rolled down his face as a warm stream of liquid trickled down his trembling legs. The man had pissed himself in fear.
Yang Hu nudged his head with the gun. "Go on, keep talking. Cat got your tongue?"
"N-No! I wouldn't dare!" Sun Qing was petrified, his guts twisting with regret. He had only wanted to suck up to the general, but he had provoked a tiger instead!
THUD!
Yang Hu smashed the butt of the gun into the man's forehead, splitting the skin. Sun Qing cried out and toppled to the ground.
"Kneel over there!"
Yang Hu smiled the entire ti, but his smile was utterly demonic, sending chills down everyone's spines.
"Yes, yes, yes!" Sun Qing scrambled away, not caring about the blood streaming from his head. He knelt obediently to the side, occasionally darting pleading glances at Su Ding and Su Huai'an.
"Anyone else want to jump out and act like a dog?" Yang Hu swept his gun across the crowd, who instantly flinched back in terror.
This guy is a lunatic!
"Put it away, put it away! Pulling a gun in front of a Third Rank Military General? Does he have no dignity?" Chen Yang shot Yang Hu an exasperated look, then turned to Su Huai'an. "Right, Military General?"
Su Huai'an's facial muscles twitched uncontrollably. This kid's mouth was far deadlier than that pistol. It could inflict internal wounds without ever drawing blood.
BANG!
Su Huai'an slamd his palm on a nearby table and roared, "Brandishing a firearm in public! The audacity!"
"Uncle, he pointed a gun at last ti, too! This lawless maniac must be punished severely! You should just execute him!" Su Ding hissed through clenched teeth, cowering behind Su Huai'an.
"Don't you worry. With your uncle here, they won't be walking out of this hall today!" Su Huai'an remained as steady as a mountain, his tone icy. "They dare bully my Su Family? Do you think I, Su Huai'an, am a pushover?"
"Guards!"
At Su Huai'an's shout, seven or eight young n in suits burst into the hall. Their sharp gazes made it clear they were highly skilled.
How could a Third Rank Military General not have guards? However, according to regulations, a general of his rank was permitted a maximum of two guards when on an outing. He had brought seven or eight—a full four tis the regulation limit!
"I don't care who you are. Today, you will all kneel here and kowtow in apology to my nephew and to the Su Family!" Su Huai'an sneered.
In his own hotown, in front of so many dignitaries, if he didn't demonstrate his power, they would all laugh at him for being a toothless Third Rank Military General.
Chen Yang shook his head. For soone like him to beco a Third Rank Military General, he must have relied on connections and a lot of luck.
Su Ding stepped out from behind Su Huai'an, his back ramrod straight as he shot a defiant glare at Chen Yang.
"You don't care who we are? I'm afraid that's not for you to decide!" Yang Hu pulled out a Tiger Seal and tossed it toward Su Huai'an. "Open your dog eyes and take a good look!"
The mont he saw the Tiger Seal, Su Huai'an felt a surge of foreboding. It was clearly sothing only a commander from the Martial Departnt would possess. He had no ti to think as the seal flew toward him. He fumbled to catch it and frantically turned it over to read the inscription on the bottom.
"Guarding Hanyun Valley for National Prosperity and Public Peace."
BUZZ!
In an instant, it was as if a bolt of lightning had struck inside Su Huai'an's mind, throwing his thoughts into chaos and making his vision darken.
This… This is the Tiger Seal of the Zhennan Prince! That ans this man is… This!
Su Huai'an's scalp went numb and his limbs trembled violently.
"Uncle, hurry up and take him down! I want…" Su Ding, oblivious to the change, urged with a savage grin, growing impatient.
However, before he could finish, Su Huai'an spun around and slapped him hard across the face, roaring, "Take him down, my ass!"
Su Ding was stunned into silence.
So was everyone else in the hall.
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