「The following day.」
The deafening crackle of firecrackers had been echoing since the break of dawn, showing no signs of stopping. All the villagers had rushed to Shi Jiu's ho early. Attending the banquet was one reason, but their main goal was to curry favor. If they could get a little help for their younger family mbers, that would be even better.
The Shi Kang family, however, showed no intention of going.
After breakfast, the little girl Shanshan ran off to play by herself. Chen Yang paid it no mind, strolling leisurely with Qin Qiu along the wildflower-lined paths between the fields. Yang Hu, shirtless, was by the side of the kitchen, vigorously chopping firewood. Shi Qinghan was beside him, helping out and filling the air with cheerful laughter and chatter. She was clearly having a wonderful ti.
"I really love this kind of environnt." This was Qin Qiu's first ti in the countryside. She spread her arms as if to embrace the entire landscape, her eyes squinted in pure enjoynt.
Chen Yang smiled. "I'll bring you here more often."
"Okay."
By the ti they returned ho, Shi Jiu had sent people to invite Shi Kang to the banquet, but Shi Kang had flatly refused them each ti. It seed Shi Jiu was not about to give up, sending one ssenger after another. And so, Shi Xu's cousin, Shi Hai, once again stepped into the Shi Kang family's courtyard.
"I'm telling you, Shi Kang, don't be so ungrateful!" Though slender, Shi Hai had a massive temper. He pointed a finger directly at Shi Kang's nose and berated him, "Everyone in the village has gone, so why haven't you? We've invited you three tis and you're still playing indifferent. Do you really think you're soone important?"
"If I don't feel like going, I'm not going," Shi Kang retorted sharply.
"Hah!" Shi Hai laughed in fury. "Give you an inch and you take a mile, huh? You really think you're so big shot? Believe it or not, I can make sure you can't stay in this village anymore."
SLAP.
Yang Hu strode over and slapped him hard across the face. The blow was heavy and powerful. "Try running your mouth again."
Shi Hai tumbled to the ground, clutching his stinging face. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as he stared at Yang Hu in utter disbelief.
"Fine! You've really done it now!" Facing Yang Hu's scorching gaze, the terrified Shi Hai didn't dare say another word. He scrambled to his feet and turned to flee.
"Hmph." Yang Hu spat contemptuously on the ground. "Pathetic."
"Ah..." Shi Kang sighed deeply, a look of helplessness on his face. "Yang Hu, you should take Qinghan and leave later."
"How can we leave peacefully without settling this?" Chen Yang walked over and gestured with his hand. "Since they insist on inviting us, let's go have a look."
"Right!" Yang Hu nodded, a wicked smirk spreading across his lips.
So people are just asking for a lesson.
「At the banquet.」
Dressed in a white suit, Shi Xu was the center of attention, surrounded by a crowd of neighbors and fellow villagers. His face, flushed with success, was wreathed in smiles. He was clearly savoring the feeling.
When he saw the blood-covered Shi Hai approach, Shi Xu asked in surprise, "What happened to you?"
"It was Shi Kang!" Shi Hai clutched his swollen face, grimacing in pain. His eyes burned with red-hot fury. "So punk at his house slapped ."
"Oh?" Shi Xu pushed through the crowd, a smile on his face. "Could that be Qinghan's boyfriend?"
"I hear he's a Martial Guard. It's only normal you're no match for him."
As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd erupted.
"That Shi Kang really doesn't know what's good for him! Shi Xu sent for him multiple tis, and not only does he refuse to show any respect, he even resorts to violence?"
"It's a once-in-a-lifeti blessing that Shi Xu has taken a fancy to his daughter, yet he's acting all high and mighty. Does he have any sense at all?"
The crowd began to openly condemn Shi Kang, stopping just short of pointing at his back and cursing him aloud. Shi Xu's lips curled into a smile, but he remained silent.
It was Shi Jiu who bellowed, "He truly is clueless! An opportunity was handed to him on a silver platter, and he didn't know how to grasp it. He's been a farr his whole life; does he want his descendants to follow in his footsteps?"
"And he dared to lay a hand on Shi Hai! This matter isn't over!"
Before the crowd could react further, soone noticed movent.
"Well, well, look who decided to show up after all?" Shi Jiu stared at the approaching Shi Kang and his family, his expression full of arrogance. "Couldn't be bothered to co when invited, so what brings you here now? Did you sll the at cooking at my house?"
As he spoke, Shi Jiu picked up a plate of at and threw it at Shi Kang's feet. "Out of respect for our shared village, I'll grant you this plate of at. Aren't you going to thank ?"
To him, Shi Kang was nothing more than a stray dog that didn't know its place. Bestowing a plate of at upon him was already a great honor.
Shi Xu's gaze first fell on Shi Qinghan, his eyes instantly flaring with desire. A woman so innocent and pure was truly alluring. Only then did he turn his attention to Yang Hu, his expression hardening. "Boy, are you Qinghan's boyfriend?"
"You dare to lay a hand on my cousin? You've got so nerve!"
"I am," Yang Hu stated.
"Heh heh..." Nearby, Shi Jiu laughed in a rage. "You certainly have guts! But let be honest, you're not worthy of Qinghan. Kneel on the ground right now, kowtow to Shi Hai in apology, and then get the hell out of here."
"This isn't a place where a bastard like you can run wild!"
"Shi Jiu, who are you talking about?" Shi Kang roared.
"I'm talking about him, of course!" Shi Jiu raised his hand and pointed at Yang Hu. "Who knows where he crawled out from. If he's not a bastard, what is he?"
"You..."
Just as Shi Kang was about to retort, Chen Yang held up a hand to stop him. Then, narrowing his eyes, he stared at Shi Jiu from across the yard. "Are you sure about that?"
"What, you have a problem with it?" Shi Jiu t his gaze head-on, baring his teeth in a sneer. "I just love it when people like you can't stand but are powerless to do anything about it."
"Are you furious? Haha..."
"Kneel."
The single word echoed with authority.
As if compelled by an unseen force, Shi Jiu's knees slamd into the ground.
Chen Yang took a step forward and kicked Shi Jiu flat. Before the man could even react, a large foot ca down on his face, grinding it into the dirt. "Him," Chen Yang began, pointing at Yang Hu. "He joined the martial ranks at eighteen. Since then, he has fought in dozens of battles. In Wild Man Valley and the Battle of Great River Bay, he cut down over one hundred thousand enemies. At the age of twenty-five, he was promoted to Eighth Rank Military General."
"If he wasn't always by my side, his glorious achievents would have long ago earned him the position of a commanding general in charge of a major military division."
Shi Jiu: "..."
Everyone: "..."
"And you call him a bastard?" Chen Yang lowered his gaze, glancing at the man beneath his foot. "You told him to kneel and kowtow?"
Shi Jiu: "..."
"How dare you touch my father! You're courting death!" Shi Xu exploded with rage. "What kind of bullshit are you spouting? If I don't kill you all today, then my na isn't Shi Xu!"
Chen Yang slowly lit a cigarette. His cold eyes swept over to Shi Xu as he extended a hand toward Yang Hu. "Gun."
A black handgun was imdiately placed in his hand.
CLICK.
Chen Yang chambered a round. "When I was twenty-five and commanded eight hundred thousand troops, I was never as arrogant as you."
Shi Xu: "..."
Everyone: "..."
Twenty-five years old, commanding eight hundred thousand troops?
"Even when I held the position of the Nine Gates Admiral, or now as the War God of the State, I have never been so unreasonable," Chen Yang said nonchalantly, his gaze completely pinning Shi Xu, who stood frozen to the spot.
The words struck the father and son like a bolt of lightning. Their minds went blank, buzzing with white noise.
"By the way," Chen Yang flipped open a file. "I heard your success today is entirely thanks to a rich older woman who keeps you?"
"Her na is Huang Yan. Fifty-three years old, is that right?"
Shi Xu: "..."
"Tell ," Chen Yang continued, "what do you think would happen if I called her and told her you were trying to find other won behind her back?"
Shi Xu: "..."
What would happen? I'd lose everything!
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