"You, you, the daughter you raised! I, I, I, I, I, Dugu Zongheng, am truly cursed by my lineage! To raise such a nest of vipers! Hiding things from your old man, huh? Now that something has finally happened, you’re happy, aren't you, you’re satisfied!" Dugu Zongheng leaped up, circling wildly like a starved wolf in a cage. Finding nothing suitable nearby, he suddenly roared like a thunderclap: "Blast and confound it! You infuriate this old man to death!"

With a single bound, he delivered a crushing kick squarely into Dugu Wudi. This kick carried monstrous power, and with a resounding thwack, the magnificent physique of General Dugu Wudi was driven straight through the wall, flying out into the large courtyard, landing squarely in a complete prostration on the ground.

The Jun family guards and the Dugu family guards were already acquainted. These two groups were currently on high alert, as both patriarchs had issued strict orders: any unauthorized approach intended to eavesdrop on highly confidential military secrets was to be met with immediate execution! This was no joke. Suddenly, the wind whistled past, making them think an intruder was indeed attempting to listen in. But when they looked, they saw the exceptionally burly body of General Dugu land thump right between the two groups, utterly disgraced. This sudden turn of events caused every single guard to stare, jaws agape in astonishment.

Before anyone could fully grasp what was happening, another rush of air sounded, and Old Man Dugu came charging over, his mouth twisted in a grimace. He began kicking the body of General Dugu repeatedly, showing absolutely no mercy, while bellowing curses: "Damn your mother's spirit! Damn your mother's spirit! ... Damn your grandmother's spirit... Damn your mother's spirit..."

Dugu Wudi, clearly seasoned and experienced, shielded his head and face with one arm while keeping the other defensively over his groin. He curled into a tight ball, shouting through gritted teeth: "Hah! Well done! Hit harder, don't hold back, the harder the better! You've truly angered this old man, angered me to death... Damn it all..."

The two groups of guards stood frozen, their eyebrows twitching furiously, completely bewildered. What play was this? When in the history of the Empire had the Great General, who strode across the land unchallenged, been beaten like this? Not only had the Jun family guards never witnessed such a thing, but even the Dugu family guards were stunned. This was monumental news! Utterly unexpected!

As the guards leaned in, their minds buzzing with gossip, another swift sound of cloth ripping the air signaled Jun Zhantian’s arrival. He suddenly thundered a command: "Hey! What are you all crowding around for? Scram! All of you, get lost! Don't you know this is military intelligence? If anyone peeks or lets slip a word, I will extinguish their entire clan!"

What? Military secrets again? What in the world is going on?

Forget it. This is clearly a secret among the high-ranking officials. We little shrimp shouldn't get involved!

With a whoosh, both contingents of guards scattered like startled birds and beasts.

Dugu Zongheng remained unforgiving, his fists like heavy hammers and his feet like shooting stars, delivering a thoroughly satisfying beating. His curses flew out in a torrent, every vile epithet imaginable—but Dugu Wudi was no pushover; he could genuinely take a beating.

Old Man Jun Zhantian squinted, watching the father and son duo—one battering and the other receiving—both shouting themselves hoarse, appearing to have plenty of energy left.

"Enough, enough, Old Dugu, that's about sufficient. If you keep hitting him, you might actually cause permanent damage... Besides, while cursing his mother is acceptable and fitting for a father, cursing his grandmother... that's crossing a line... it's starting to get generational," Old Man Jun finally spoke up to mediate. It wasn't that he didn't want to intervene sooner, but both father and son needed to vent the rage brewing within them; otherwise, given Dugu Zongheng's temper, who knew what might happen.

However, his interjection seemed only to pour oil onto the flames...

"What is this! Are you trying to confiscate property or stage a rebellion?! Can you even live in peace anymore?" A sharp, stern, authoritative voice suddenly cut through the air. From the direction of the inner courtyard came a formidable procession of women. Leading them was an elderly madam, radiating wealth and plump prosperity—none other than Dugu Zongheng’s wife, the Empire's First Rank Lady, Old Madam Dugu. "That little whelp! Let him try coaxing me further!"

Seeing the old man finally yielding to his wife's intervention, the other ladies immediately rushed forward in a swarm, tears glistening in their eyes like dew-kissed blossoms. They fussed over helping Dugu Wudi up, whose face was swollen and bruised, his clothes torn—truly resembling a pig’s head.

Suddenly, a sharp cry rang out, and a noble and graceful noblewoman flew backward violently, crashing heavily to the ground, crying out, "Ah!" in sharp pain, nearly breathless. Tears instantly streamed down her face—a picture of shocked grievance and confusion. This was Dugu Wudi’s official wife, the mother of Dugu Xiaoyi.

"Bastard! What is wrong with you, you brute? Have you gone insane?" Old Madam Dugu struck Dugu Wudi’s shoulder with her cane, furious. "Your own father beat you, and you take it out on your wife? Are you even a man anymore?"

Dugu Wudi scrambled back up, his anger surging: "Mother, stay out of this! It's all because of this wretched woman and the daughter she raised so well! She has caused such a massive scandal! Beating her to death would still be too light, it wouldn't satisfy my rage!" Even after being thoroughly thrashed, General Dugu Wudi still possessed robust vigor and agility, proving that a father's beating, no matter how severe, still held some restraint.

"Xiaoyi? What happened to Xiaoyi?" Suddenly, all the women tensed up. There was only one young woman in the Dugu lineage, treasured like a pearl by everyone. Mentioning the daughter naturally meant Dugu Xiaoyi! In an instant, General Dugu Wudi was surrounded by a pack of women.

"Old man, what happened to Xiaoyi? Tell us quickly!" Dugu Madam forgot her own pain, and the grievances she held dissolved into the clouds. She scrambled forward urgently to inquire. Dugu Half-Madam was even more anxious: "Xiaoyi, my precious granddaughter, what about her?"

Dugu Zongheng sighed toward the heavens, and General Dugu Wudi, mouth askew, spoke with shared grief: "Alas! A disaster has befallen our house!"

Old Man Jun touched his nose, sidled closer, bowed toward Old Madam Dugu, and offered a forced chuckle: "Say now, Old Dugu's wife, hehe, Old Dugu's wife, Old Jun pays his respects..."

Old Madam Dugu had never looked highly upon Old Man Jun, and hearing that single address—Old Dugu's wife—nearly made her choke. She coughed violently: "Jun Zhantian, you old rascal, you—you scoundrel son of yours, what has he done to my precious girl?" Old Madam Dugu, seasoned by life, was not to be trifled with. As soon as Jun Zhantian used the term "Old Dugu's wife," she understood the implication immediately, connecting it to the likely source of the trouble.

The power of those three simple words, Old Dugu's wife, was undeniable.

For a moment, all the women present—seven or eight pairs of eyes like a dozen searchlights—focused intently on Old Man Jun’s face.

Old Man Jun, who faced down armies without changing expression and showed no fear when confronting the two Dugu generals, felt his scalp prickle at the sight of this horde of women. He inwardly admired: "Just looking at them makes me dizzy. Dugu Wudi actually has to deal with every single one of them—he has incredible stamina... almost as good as I did back in the day..."

After a few coughs, Old Man Jun finally spoke: "Old Dugu's wife, you must choose your words carefully. This time, it isn't my scoundrel son who did something to your girl. It's your girl who did something to my scoundrel son! The one who lit the fire and cooked the rice was that girl Xiaoyi! This is a rather serious matter, Madam, you must clarify the full picture before speaking."

Hearing this, Old Madam Dugu’s body swayed slightly. The battle-hardened matriarch instantly grasped the implications and her face hardened to frost: "Bring me every piece of intelligence from the Tiannan region immediately!" Dugu Madam glanced cautiously at her mother-in-law and whispered: "I have read every single letter from the Tiannan side, and not a word mentioned Xiaoyi..."

What she said was reasonable. The Dugu family’s three sons had later learned about the incident in Tiannan, but even with all the gall in the world, they wouldn't dare bring such news home. Everyone was hoping to delay the reckoning for as long as possible, unwilling to be the one to stir this hornet's nest.

It was a case of bringing good news, not bad...

Those boys were all calculating: as soon as we get back to Tianxiang, I’m bolting, or I’ll head to the border, quickly hiding far away. Whatever happens with this matter, it has nothing to do with me—at least, not directly...

Old Man Dugu Zongheng exploded in fury: "Fine! So your whole family knew that little brat went to Tiannan, and you all kept it secret from me, your old man? So I’m the outsider now... You are the real family unit... Well! Good for you!"

"Nonsense about being an outsider. Stow your complaints; you can throw your temper when everyone else is gone! Who would I keep it from if not you? Don't you think?" Old Madam Dugu retorted without hesitation. "Hurry up and tell me everything, exactly as it happened, from beginning to end. I want to hear why I have suddenly become Old Man Jun's in-law..."

Old Man Dugu Zongheng was trembling with rage now, but he was utterly powerless against his old wife. He had been henpecked his entire life, and even if he wanted to resist now, he was simply too weak. It wasn't his incompetence; the opponent was just too formidable...

[Ti: Dear reader, the current chapter has reached the final page of this book]