Though angered, General Dugu maintained a degree of restraint. Otherwise, with his inherent divine strength, snapping the iron flagpole would hardly have been a difficult feat.

It concerned the lifelong happiness of his own daughter, and though Dugu Wudi spoke fiercely, his heart had already resigned itself to the situation, offering no further resistance... "Father!" Dugu Xiaoyi leaped up, tears streaming down her face, "Stop! Why are you acting like this? If you keep causing trouble like this, your daughter... I won't have the face to see anyone anymore! I don't want to live! Waaah!"

Dugu Wudi was startled and hurriedly let go of the flagpole, his face a mask of grievance mixed with panic: "Quiet, my dear Xiaoyi, don't move! Don't hurt my precious grandchild, you don't know, you must not get angry right now!"

Dugu Xiaoyi blushed, twisting her waist in a coquettish protest, "You... still won't let him go? He's so high up, what if he gets hurt from falling?"

Dugu Wudi rolled his eyes, thinking that this brat was at least at the Divine Profound realm now; how could such a height hurt him? He grumbled hatefully, "If he gets hurt, good! You go home with me first!"

The Great General knew discretion was the better part of valor. He figured that with the current strength of the Jun family's little rogue, let alone facing him alone, even if the entire Dugu family joined forces, they would likely struggle to shake him. This was a powerhouse who had single-handedly battled four Divine Profound experts! Simply climbing to the top of the pole without engaging him directly was a huge concession to his pride. Recalling that his daughter was carrying his flesh and blood, he couldn't provoke her now; they needed to go home first.

But the thought of the storm that awaited him back home made the Great General's head feel as large as a bushel!

His mind raced, his eyes darted, and he pointed his riding whip: "Hey! Hurry up and bring that carriage over here! Quickly! This sedan chair was used by the Imperial Emissary who came to deliver the decree. It's being commandeered by Dugu Wudi now as a temporary service!"

Taking advantage of the brief respite, Jun Moxie quickly slid down from the flagpole, wiping a bead of cold sweat. The entire Dugu clan were tough, uncompromising characters; they were truly too stubborn. However, for Dugu Xiaoyi's sake, he absolutely could not make things difficult for Dugu Wudi. Dugu Xiaoyi had already played her hand completely; should he, a grown man, still cling to feigned modesty?

At this point, whether he wanted to or not, he had to marry her. Otherwise, the Jun family and the Dugu family would break off relations entirely, and unless the Dugu clan was wiped out, this entanglement could never be resolved for generations to come...

It had to be said that although the little girl's scheme was painstakingly devised, at its core, it was incredibly sharp! It left both great families with no room to retreat, no space for negotiation whatsoever! Even if she returned home and it was discovered the pregnancy was fake, after acting this way in front of so many witnesses, the fake would become the truth!

The little girl was absolutely resolute this time, and Jun Moxie was dragged along with her firm decision. "Damn it, what's wrong with taking one more wife? Don't I have the means? The little girl is indeed a bit young, but she's a stunning beauty in the making, and she’s deeply devoted to me; I'm certainly not at a loss here!"

"Hmph," Jun Moxie snorted viciously, thinking, Let’s just treat it as raising an apprentice! He cast a malicious glance at Dugu Xiaoyi's belly, which was clearly distended by something, and vowed inwardly, One day, brother will make it truly swell up for real!

"Huh? What are you all doing here?" Dugu Wudi turned around and finally noticed that the men carrying the sedan chair were dressed like people from the Imperial Palace. His eyes widened, and then he realized: "Oh, oh... delivering an imperial edict, right? Hurry up, hurry up, General needs to borrow this chair, hope you don't mind?"

"Sir..." The group exchanged glances, their faces blank. "You already beat the head eunuch who was delivering the edict until he passed out, and now you're doing this again..."

"Heavens!" After the explanation, the full scope of the situation finally dawned on the Great General. He rushed over, bent down, and looked at the old eunuch who was still unconscious, frowning with distress: "Good heavens, this fellow can't take much punishment. I just casually nudged him, and he ends up like this... What should be done about this?"

Everyone fell silent. You caused the mess yourself, why ask others how to fix it? Can't take a nudge? How many people in the Tianxiang Empire could withstand your 'nudge'?

"Forget it, never mind that. Jun Laosan, when you go back, just ask His Majesty directly what rewards he has. Take the rewards home; there should be quite a bit this time... Remember to treat me to drinks when you get back, use that special wine your family possesses—the kind that costs ten thousand gold a jar."

"As for me... I'm going back to deal with the old man about this first. You also put in a good word with your old man, get him to say a few good things for me so I don't get caned... Alright, that's it, I'm leaving."

With a swift torrent of words, Dugu Wudi treated his daughter like an ancestor, helping her into the sedan chair. He cracked his whip with a sharp pa!, glared fiercely at Jun Moxie, "I'll settle accounts with you later, brat! Don't forget, send a few jars of wine over immediately after! Damn it, you have no manners!" Giddyap! He clamped his legs, and the strong steed neighed loudly, galloping away like the wind.

He was already acting like a father-in-law...

The remaining crowd exchanged bewildered glances. Knowing the nature of this man, they were no longer surprised and could only sigh, waving dismissively as they walked toward the city gate. Before they even reached the entrance, they heard a sudden commotion—shouting and cursing—and then a crowd of people dressed as scholars rushed out one after another, every face etched with endless contempt, every eye filled with scorn. The leaders were precisely those individuals whom Jun Moxie had fiercely insulted at the Golden Autumn Scholars' Banquet last time!

Jun Moxie's pupils contracted sharply, his expression hardening, and killing intent surged instantly!

He glanced around. There were fewer than a few hundred people in total. Besides himself and Jun Wuyi, there were only the young masters from various great families and their escorts, along with the carriages carrying Guan Qinghan, Mei Xueyan, and Mei Qianqian. As for the Dugu contingent, they had already entered the city with Dugu Wudi...

Now, the young masters looked at Young Master Jun with expressions bordering on schadenfreude. No matter how mighty you are, you can’t possibly withstand the gossip of the world! Let’s see how Jun Moxie dies this time; show us how awesome you are, hehehe!

"Jun Moxie! You utterly shameless scoundrel, you still have the face to return to Tianxiang City!" The one speaking was tall, graceful, and exuded indignation. It was an acquaintance from the Golden Autumn Scholars' Banquet—the scholar Han Zhidong!

Jun Moxie had intentionally or unintentionally disrupted the Golden Autumn Scholars' Banquet, humiliating the scholars and great Confucianists of Wenxing Academy. Furthermore, because of Jun Moxie, none of the talents from that session had the chance to soar into high office; not a single one obtained an official post afterward!

This was tantamount to Jun Moxie blocking their path to glory! Seeing the situation now, it seemed unlikely such good fortune would appear again in the future.

How could this assembly of talented scholars, who dreamed of high office and wealth, tolerate this?

Why did they spend more than ten years studying diligently in cold chambers? What was the purpose of exhausting themselves studying until their hair turned white?

To gain literary and martial arts skills and sell them to the Imperial Household!

But Jun Moxie had spoiled this entire batch, leaving them utterly unsellable!

Simply a crime deserving of utter eradication! Unpardonable!

At this moment, Jun Moxie had conveniently stirred up a scandal unprecedented in the world. How could the scholars not kick him while he was down? They were determined to make Jun Moxie pay the ultimate price! Even if Jun Moxie was thick-skinned enough to endure it, surely his adulterous sister-in-law couldn't be so brazen! If they couldn't curse them to death, the spit of the common people would drown them!

Therefore, the scholars vehemently incited the masses who were either aware or unaware of the truth. Everyone swarmed the city gate, blocking the way. Want to enter the city? Fine! Enter through our spittle! We heard Jun Moxie's unfaithful sister-in-law is also in the group. Hmph, let's see if we can shame her to death this time!

It could be said that the scholars' scheme was exceptionally malicious. Isn't that why they say, loyalty often resides with dog butchers, while betrayal stems from scholars? Once these students harbored ill intentions, they were often far more depraved than common thugs.

Thugs are not terrifying; what's scary is a thug with culture. That is precisely the logic here.

Dugu Wudi saw the scene when he entered, but he was determined to make Jun Moxie suffer a little, so he naturally ignored it. Besides, his own daughter was pregnant now; if this commotion caused her trouble and affected the fetus, he couldn't bear that responsibility! After all, the patriarchs of both families were eagerly anticipating holding their heavy grandson and great-grandson!

So, the Great General pretended not to see and slipped away.

"I have the face to return? Why wouldn't I have the face to return? I fought a victorious battle, I absolutely have the face to return! What about it? Do you have a problem with that?"

Jun Moxie subtly restrained Jun Wuyi's impulse to intervene. The fact that these people dared to gather here meant they were not afraid of the Blood-Clad General, Jun Wuyi! There must be someone else directing things behind the scenes. If Jun Wuyi got involved, it might not be effective; it might even amplify the curses into a surging ocean that would drown them all.

At a time like this, only his extreme methods, soaked in extreme brutality, could completely suppress them! Only by making sure not a single person in this thousand-year-old city dared to cough once more could the suppression be truly and permanently established!

Rumors? Hmph, Jun Moxie smiled coldly in his heart. I truly cannot understand this. Can rumors be more intimidating than a blade? What about 'condemned by a thousand tongues, eventually dies out'? In my view, dying because of rumors—that's the act of a coward!

In my hands, facing rumors, I will kill until no one dares to speak!

"Whoever speaks will die! Let's see how many people aren't afraid to die, or I will slaughter everyone in the world!"

"Jun Moxie, you are truly shameless, daring to boast like this! You are incestuous, despicable, morally corrupt, shameless! Adulterer and harlot—everyone has the right to execute you!"

This statement was extremely sharp and cold, speaking the most malicious things possible. Guan Qinghan, hearing it clearly from inside the carriage, despite being mentally prepared, still couldn't stop her face from turning deathly pale. Listening to the deafening roar of curses outside, despairing sorrow welled up in Guan Qinghan's eyes.

She had anticipated such a scene, but facing it head-on, Guan Qinghan still felt she... could not bear it. (End) [Ti: Dear readers, the current chapter has reached the last page of this book]