Zhao Meilan, Jia Rongfeng, and five Tian Shi stood arrogantly before the massive doors. Zhao Meilan’s sharp voice grew louder and sharper, hurling vicious insults toward the Ji family members inside, her demeanor utterly overbearing.
Jia Rongfeng stood beside Zhao Meilan with a cold smirk. He was speaking in low tones with a grim, one-armed old man standing behind him, occasionally pointing towards the Ji family leaders within the hall, seemingly introducing them to the somber elder.
Under Zhao Meilan’s barrage of abuse, Ji Yuxing, Ji Yusheng, and the others emerged from the hall, their faces contorted with humiliation. The entire crowd of Ji family elders and youths stared daggers at these unwelcome intruders, filled with seething resentment.
Ji Wanyun, specifically targeted and cursed by name, stood trembling, on the verge of tears, her eyes brimming with the sting of utter degradation. She leaned against the doorframe, her body shaking uncontrollably.
“Bitch, you dare to show your face!”
Zhao Meilan pointed directly at Ji Wanyun and spat, “The moment you married into the Tu family, you brought ruin upon Jiankang, causing our family’s fortunes to decline. The Old Master was merciful and only cast you out; yet, instead of gratitude, you nursed a deep grudge and actually instigated your nephew to seek revenge on me! Luckily, I heard whispers early enough to avoid it, or I’d have suffered that little beast’s wicked hands in the Great Marsh of Yunmeng!”
“You, you’re spitting blood!” Ji Wanyun trembled with rage, watching her tormentor flaunt her victory right before her eyes, utterly powerless to respond. —The Tu family held too much power; she dared not, nor did she wish to, bring trouble upon the Ji family.
…
“Damn it, who’s yelling!”
Tuo Balian suddenly materialized, glaring viciously at Ji Wanyun. “What the hell do you think you are? When I’m around, when does it ever become your turn to shout and scream?! Jinx, jinx, too thin in the cheeks, a pointy chin—I say you’re the one cursed to kill husbands! And you dare point fingers? I’ll smear shit all over your face!!”
Smear shit all over your face!
Tuo Balian’s distinctively loud curse—(Mobile Reading 1 6 .)—stunned not only Zhao Meilan but also the entire Ji family into silence.
He Haoran and Chen Yihui exchanged looks of wry amusement, standing next to Ji Changkong, whose eyes were wide with shock.
“Who, who are you? What right do you have to insult people?”
Zhao Meilan’s body quivered lightly, adopting a posturing stance as if ready to lunge at Tuobalian at any moment.
“Insult people? I punch people too!”
Tuo Balian roared with laughter, his face taking on a slightly savage cast. He suddenly leaped beside Zhao Meilan and brought his calloused, massive hand down hard onto her shoulder.
“Spare her!”
The one-armed old man, who had been conversing with Jia Rongfeng, shouted in alarm and reached out to intercept.
“Get lost!”
Tuo Balian impatiently waved his hand. A powerful gust of wind surged violently from his palm, sending the one-armed elder flying backward instantly.
Smack!
Tuo Balian’s palm connected with Zhao Meilan’s shoulder. He slammed her onto the ground, and two thin trickles of blood immediately seeped from the corner of her mouth. Her face went paper-white.
“Jinx, jinx—if Tu Jiankang was truly jinxed, it was by you, you little viper! I’ll smear shit on your face! What are you even worth! Let me tell you, even if Tu Bāzhǐ were here, I’d still hit you!”
Silence descended upon the entire scene!
The Ji family elders and youths stared blankly, utterly astonished by Tuobalian. They couldn’t fathom who this man was, daring to injure Zhao Meilan and, without the slightest reservation, utter Tu Fei’s nickname so casually.
The Tu family servant, Tu An, who had been flung aside, saw the blood on Zhao Meilan’s lip and his expression instantly darkened. He scrutinized Tuobalian for a few moments, and then, as if a memory had sparked, he gasped out, “You are Tuobalian?”
At these words, Jia Rongfeng’s face transformed. He quickly retreated several steps, staring at Tuobalian with undisguised terror, his eyes darting nervously, not daring to utter another word.
“You, how are you at the Ji residence? What business do you have with Ji family matters?” Zhao Meilan also felt a cold dread creep in. Tuobalian, the great hegemon of the eastern region of Shuiyun Kingdom, was notorious for being ruthless; his fearsome reputation was arguably stronger than that of the Tu family master, Tu Fei. Having been in the Tu family for years, she had certainly heard of Tuobalian’s savage infamy.
“Where I am is none of your business!” Tuobalian declared imperiously.
“Changkong, I owe Elder Luo a favor, and I don't have much connection with Tu Bāzhǐ anyway. Tell me, how do you want to deal with this woman? Say the word, and even spilling her blood right here would be ridiculously easy!” Tuobalian’s savage expression vanished without a trace. He turned and asked Ji Changkong, who stood in the corner, with an unexpectedly warm tone. “Tell me, how do you wish to dispose of this venomous woman?”
Suddenly, everyone’s gaze snapped toward Ji Changkong.
The faces of the Ji family elders and youths changed drastically. None of them could have imagined that the notoriously ferocious Tuobalian would treat Ji Changkong with such gentle courtesy. Furthermore, judging by his demeanor, it seemed Tuobalian would act without hesitation to kill anyone Ji Changkong ordered.
How did he know the savage Tuobalian? Why would Tuobalian show him such deference?
Everyone was dumbfounded!
“You are the Tu family’s old servant, Tu An, is that right?” At that moment, Chen Yihui suddenly spoke up with a smile.
The one-armed Tu An started, only then noticing the dignified and noble lady beside him. After a mere glance, Tu An’s expression shifted again, and he exclaimed, “You are the Third Proprietor of the Lingbao Pavilion?”
Nodding slightly with a smile, Chen Yihui gestured toward He Haoran beside her. “This is He Haoran from the He family of Xueyu Mountain. The three of us are here at the Ji residence today. You are free to leave now, but Zhao Meilan must stay. Report everything that happened here truthfully to Tu Bāzhǐ, and let him properly weigh his options: is he willing to wage a full-scale war against the three of us over one Zhao Meilan?”
“You go ahead, oh, and Jia Rongfeng stays too. I’ve been at the Ji residence for a few days, and I heard you wanted the Ji family to compensate you for some matters. Heh, we can discuss compensation later,” He Haoran said with a relaxed, sunny smile.
Jia Rongfeng forced a strained, awkward laugh that looked worse than crying (Mobile Reading 1 6 .). He quickly stammered, “Three esteemed guests must have misunderstood. My Jia family and the Ji family are both Tian Shi sects in Qingyan City and have always been on good terms; there’s no talk of compensation whatsoever. My Old Master often mentions the three of you at home; if you visit Qingyan City, my Old Master would surely receive you personally.”
“Don’t rush off just yet. I will certainly pay a visit to the Jia family. At that time, I’ll have a little chat with your Old Master about you,” He Haoran chuckled.
“One-armed man, get out of here!” Tuobalian glared.
Tu An gave a wry smile, casting a look of pity at Zhao Meilan, who was sitting on the ground in utter panic, blood still staining her lips. He sighed, “I’ll return to the Tu family first. I must report this to the family head. As for what he will do… I truly don’t know…”
With that, Tu An signaled to the few Tian Shi who had accompanied them. Ignoring Zhao Meilan completely, they departed the Ji residence.
In front of the Ji family hall.
Zhao Meilan sat on the ground, pale with fear, blood still trickling from her mouth. Jia Rongfeng and the two Jia family Tian Shi stood aside with drooping heads, dejected and daring not to move.
The Ji family elders and youths blocked the entrance to the hall, their expressions bizarre. They would look at Zhao Meilan and Jia Rongfeng one moment, and then turn to Chen Yihui, He Haoran, and Tuobalian the next.
However, the focus of their gaze remained fixed on Ji Changkong!
Ji Changkong, silent in the corner, had become the strange, unexpected center of attention for the entire scene. Every member of the Ji family, as well as Zhao Meilan and Jia Rongfeng’s group, now understood that this previously unassuming young man of the Ji family had suddenly become an individual of immense importance!
They suddenly realized that the reason these three giants—Chen Yihui, He Haoran, and Tuobalian—were treating the Ji family with such favor was entirely because of Ji Changkong!
“Changkong, tell me, how do you want to torment this venomous woman?” The amicable smile Tuobalian displayed on his fierce face looked profoundly unsettling to everyone watching.
All eyes turned to Ji Changkong. Zhao Meilan stared at him with wide-eyed terror.
After a moment of silence, Ji Changkong frowned and asked quietly beside him to Ji Wanyun, “Aunt, she left four scars on your face. What do you think should be done about it?”
Ji Wanyun’s eyes filled with tears. In her dreams, she never imagined a day would come when Zhao Meilan would be brought so low, capable of being executed on her mere word.
For years, Ji Wanyun’s hatred for Zhao Meilan had grown daily, but knowing the Tu family’s immense might, she believed she would never see revenge in her lifetime. For over a decade, Ji Wanyun had constantly told herself to forget the hatred, to avoid bringing disaster upon herself and the Ji family!
Now, because of her nephew Ji Changkong, three figures who were previously utterly unreachable had descended upon the Ji family like heavenly soldiers, openly standing up for her! Moreover, given their status and power, revenge now seemed… effortlessly achievable.
All of this felt like a dream!
“I… I don’t know…” Ji Wanyun murmured.
“I know!”
Ji Changkong suddenly snapped, his body flickering as he instantly appeared next to Zhao Meilan.
The more Zhao Meilan tried to evade, the more effectively Tuobalian and He Haoran pressed down on her body, completely pinning her in place!
“Ahhh…”
A shriek of absolute agony suddenly tore through the Ji residence, raw and heart-rending.
Ji Changkong’s expression was calm. He yanked Zhao Meilan’s hair with his left hand, pulling her head violently backward. With his right hand, Ji Changkong dug his fingernails into her smooth cheek, gouging out four bloody gashes that cut deep to the bone.
“Four scars! Exactly the same!” He withdrew his hand, Ji Changkong stated coolly, his voice utterly devoid of emotion.
Every member of the Ji family was stunned by his actions. They had never imagined that the usually harmless Ji Changkong, who never drew attention in the clan, could act with such savage cruelty, maintaining such a detached and tranquil expression!
…