Chapter Two hundred and something: Still revising! Expected completion in about ten minutes—the final day of the Fourth Trial! I’ll have a cathartic outburst, and you all can enjoy it thoroughly!

Dugu Wudi’s face twisted in pain. That Young Master Cousin was the nephew of Dugu Wudi’s second wife, hailing from the Huang family of Jindongcheng.

Though the Huang family was a modest, though not insignificant, Xuan Qi lineage, they paled in comparison to behemoths like the Dugu Clan or the Jun Clan.

This visit, however, was motivated by an absurd, presumptuous desire to court favor. The Second Mistress, for reasons unknown, had bypassed General Dugu and brought the young man before the Old Master and Old Madam. They had flatly rejected him on the spot. For one, the social standing was unequal; for another, the fellow possessed no admirable skills whatsoever.

Old Master Dugu Zongheng had even remarked at the time: "What insignificant minnow dares to seek a marriage proposal at the Dugu Clan? Marrying him would be worse than marrying Jun Moxie; at least that boy has respectable lineage."

But this young man possessed an astonishing thickness of skin. After his proposal was rejected, he stayed on at the Dugu residence under the guise of visiting his aunt, intending to wait for Dugu Xiaoyi to return and inquire about her feelings. After all, they were childhood sweethearts, having played together when young. Though their contact diminished as they aged, there was still a foundation of youthful affection.

Furthermore, hearing that the Dugu Clan had once rejected a royal proposal suggested they were seeking a truly worthy match for their daughter, not merely adhering to status. And the cousin whom Xiaoyi supposedly favored, Jun Moxie, was a notorious, good-for-nothing wastrel, disapproved of by his entire family. This gave the Young Master Cousin even more license to scheme.

And so, he stubbornly insisted on waiting for Dugu Xiaoyi’s return.

At the Second Mistress’s pleading, Dugu Wudi didn't bother much about letting the boy stay. The Dugu Clan was vast and wealthy; what was the cost of housing and feeding one extra person?

However, now that Dugu Xiaoyi’s future was settled, and the marriage alliance between Jun Moxie and Dugu Xiaoyi was virtually confirmed, Dugu Wudi naturally wanted the relative out of sight. Trouble brewing here would be disastrous.

The General had planned to send the fellow packing within the next few days, but he never expected this name to surface from Jun Moxie’s mouth at such a critical juncture.

This was the Dugu Clan’s territory, not the Jun family’s. Since Jun Moxie dared utter that name, it meant he was thoroughly confident, perhaps even certain that this very Young Master Cousin was the obstacle.

If that were true, the Dugu Clan was in deep trouble! Madam Huang was his second wife, married with full ceremony, not some ordinary concubine. While not the principal wife, she held the status of an equal consort. Looking at Jun Moxie’s expression and gaze now, it was clear that if this was confirmed, never mind the Dugu Clan’s reputation—even if the whole world knelt before him—he would show absolutely no leniency.

When had this Jun Moxie boy ever treated human lives lightly?

"This little beast! Always causing me trouble!" Dugu Wudi cursed him with vexation, deeply regretting his indecision. Why didn't I kick him out sooner? I shouldn't have listened to that woman's nagging. Damn it, now look at the mess! I tried to be considerate for your sake, and look what it brought—a trip straight to the Gates of Hell!

Is Jun Moxie a brat you can afford to provoke? This guy is known for executing living people on a glare. Even Fatty Tang alone—your petty Huang family couldn’t afford to cross him, let alone the Tang family itself, which shares the same prestige as the Tianxiang lineage. Given Fatty’s current wealth, a casual bounty could wipe out your entire Huang lineage overnight!

How dare he be so bold! The onlookers displayed various reactions: some anxious, some utterly lost, while others, like the three Dugu Ying brothers, stood with arms crossed, watching the unfolding drama with vacant, unconcerned expressions. Dugu Wudi subtly beckoned a guard over, urgently dispatching him to fetch the Old Master to maintain order. If Jun Moxie truly lost his temper, Dugu Wudi had no confidence he could restrain his prospective "good son-in-law."

Under the gaze of everyone present, the Young Master Cousin finally appeared at the end of the flower path, swaying slightly, yet maintaining a seemingly genial smile as he approached. Upon seeing the crowd gathered near the latrine, he paused for a moment, then quickly composed himself, restoring his air of casual self-possession.

Jun Moxie’s lowered eyelids flickered slightly. He watched the Dugu Clan’s Young Master Cousin from afar. The expression on the cousin's face, even from tens of yards away, was sharply magnified in Jun Moxie’s sight, as if viewed through a powerful telescope—clearly detailed, without a single nuance missed.

This included the fleeting flicker of shock that crossed his face and the momentary panic that vanished in his eyes! Moreover, as he walked forward, his previously relaxed hand clenched into a fist, filled with evident caution. And from the slight muscular movements visible on his exposed neck, it was obvious the young man involuntarily stiffened upon seeing the gathering.

Yes, it had to be this boy!

These pieces of evidence were damning enough!

"Uncle-in-law, were you looking for me?" The Young Master Cousin finally reached them and respectfully bowed to Dugu Wudi. At first glance, he was slender, tall, and handsome, possessing a certain air of refinement. However, his eyes were slightly upturned at the corners, revealing a subtle hint of avarice and ruthlessness, and his lips were thin, suggesting a harsh, ungrateful nature.

"It wasn't me looking for you; it was this Young Master Jun." Dugu Wudi’s face was grim as he glanced at Jun Moxie. "If Young Master Jun has questions, you must answer truthfully, do you understand?"

"Young Master Jun? Young Master Jun Moxie?" The Young Master Cousin turned to look at Jun Moxie, nodding with a polite smile, neither subservient nor arrogant. "My surname is Huang; I am Huang Shuliu of the Jindong Huang family." A subtle fox-like glint appeared in his eyes, a startling difference from the rumors—he clearly hadn't expected the infamous local rake to possess such a dashing and refined appearance.

"Huang Shuliu? What a telling name! Look at the 'Shu' flowing beneath the 'Huang'!" Jun Moxie nodded, his eyelids flicking up. "I hear you saw Young Master Tang head to the latrine last night? And that Young Master Tang then dragged you out?"

This incident was widely known. Huang Shuliu looked startled. "That is correct. I am still shaken by that unfortunate event yesterday. I wonder what guidance Young Master Jun seeks to impart?"

"No guidance. I merely wish to clarify precisely where you saw Young Master Tang Yuan? Was it on the path, or inside the latrine?" Jun Moxie asked with a gentle smile.

He felt impatient internally. If not for being on Dugu Clan grounds, he wouldn't bother with such niceties; a simple Soul Seizing Technique would suffice—this boy was at best at the Silver Profound level, a piece of cake to subdue.

But here, with Dugu Wudi standing by, Jun Moxie felt obliged to save the Dugu Clan face!

A calculated risk!

"It was in the latrine right here. Hehe. I have always been quite fastidious. Last night, my stomach suddenly felt unwell. If I had relieved myself in the guest room latrine, I feared the noise might disturb our esteemed guests. So I came here. Hehe, shamefully, I had to ask someone for directions first," Huang Shuliu replied, his expression unchanged, smiling faintly.

"Is that so? Young Master Huang, please pay attention. What I asked just now was where you saw Tang Yuan. I did not ask why you traveled so far to relieve yourself!" Jun Moxie’s gaze turned frigid, and an invisible pressure slowly began to infiltrate him. "Answer my question directly!"

"It was only after I arrived here, just as I was about to squat down, that a person suddenly burst in, grabbed my neck, and tossed me straight out. I was truly startled then, haha!"

Huang Shuliu shook his head and laughed. "Everyone can imagine how awkward I was. I had just managed to unfasten my trousers when I was yanked up. I was nearly scared into soiling myself. Haha, haha." He laughed twice, then noticed no one was joining in his amusement, and awkwardly stopped.

"And then?" Jun Moxie asked, devoid of any emotion.

"And then I realized it was Young Master Tang. I immediately began begging for mercy, saying, 'Young Master Tang, please wait a moment, let me pull up my trousers, hehe.' But it seemed Young Master Tang was quite drunk and ignored me, tossing me out. Oh dear, I was thrown so hard my backside nearly split into eight pieces! And this was before I could even pull up my pants, combined with my stomach trouble—it was nearly an utter public humiliation!"

"When Tang Yuan emerged last night, it was likely past midnight. Moreover, there was no moon or stars, so visibility must have been poor. If you were relieving yourself in the latrine, it would have been even harder. Caught off guard, your neck seized—your face would have been pointed down, making it even harder to see who it was. How could you possibly know the person who entered was Tang Yuan? Do you know Tang Yuan? I observe you possess Silver Profound level martial prowess. Though Tang Yuan is bulky, his actual strength is quite low. How could he single-handedly throw you out?" Jun Moxie completely ignored his attempt at humor and continued his cold interrogation.

"That is because..." Before I met Young Master Tang previously, how would I dare resist?" Huang Shuliu’s eyes darted, and he quickly replied.

"But the Dugu Clan’s banquet last night seemed to have only invited me, Jun Moxie. You met Tang Yuan and showed no surprise?"

Jun Moxie looked at him with pity. "Huang Shuliu, this is your last chance! If I discover anything, even if you hide beneath your uncle-in-law's robes, escaping death will be impossible! You had better think clearly."

As these words left his mouth, Jun Moxie subtly retracted the immense mental pressure. Huang Shuliu had just felt a moment of relief, only for it to be instantly crushed by a wave of mental force hundreds of times stronger than before—a mountain descending upon him. For a second, Huang Shuliu felt an overwhelming impulse to drop to his knees in reverent worship.

"I... I really did see him here! Everything I said is the truth!" Under Jun Moxie's crushing pressure, Huang Shuliu’s mind swam, cold sweat beading on his forehead. For a moment, he only thought of defending himself, but his paltry Silver Profound level spiritual power was no match for Jun Moxie’s. His once steady composure was violently shattered by Jun Moxie’s imposing aura, leaving his mind in chaos, speaking without thinking: "I can stake my reputation on it! Uncle-in-law and my cousins can vouch for me! How could I be such a despicable wretch as to push someone into a cesspool?"

The moment this sentence was uttered, even the three Dugu Ying brothers sighed, because even they recognized the flaw.

Jun Moxie had never once asked how Tang Yuan fell into the cesspool. This fellow, on his own, confessed, "How could I be such a despicable wretch as to push someone into a cesspool?"

Was this not a self-incrimination?

"Well?" Jun Moxie looked at Dugu Wudi. Dugu Wudi sighed deeply, closed his eyes, and after a long pause, finally said, "Moxie, he is, after all, my nephew by marriage. Can you grant me some face?"

"But what he insulted was my brother!" Jun Moxie coldly interrupted his future father-in-law. "In this world, no one can insult the brother of Jun Moxie!" Feng Ling opened the window, welcoming brothers to gather. Group Number: [Insert Fictional Number Here], welcome to subscribe to this book, sisters and brothers!