{Second update of the day delivered! Asking for Monthly Tickets!} The gate guard stood solemnly and replied, "Yes, the seven young masters of the Dugu family are indeed here. They are looking for the Third Young Master. As for any other details, this subordinate knows nothing more." This guard had served under Jun Wuyi in his military days and understood his meaning perfectly.

“I see. This must just be some roughhousing among the younger generation; what consequence could there be?” Jun Wuyi looked mildly at Dugu Wudi, asking leisurely, “Brother Dugu, for such trivial matters of the juniors, it truly seems to have put Brother Dugu to the trouble of coming in person. Heh heh, such deep paternal affection.”

Dugu Wudi’s usually stern face instantly flushed a deep red, and he stammered, “How would I care about the life or death of those brats? It was only because the Old Master was worried sick that he insisted I come over to check; if those seven lads have been foolish enough to cause trouble for the Jun family, wouldn't that be disastrous?”

“Indeed, ha ha, disastrous, to the extreme.” Jun Wuyi smiled faintly. “But regarding matters amongst the juniors, we elders of the Jun family have always maintained a policy of non-interference. If Brother Dugu wishes to find them, you should speak directly with my nephew Mo Xie. This body of mine has never been quite right; after speaking just these few words, I’m already feeling unwell. I apologize!”

Dugu Wudi’s face turned purple with frustration, and after sputtering for a long time, he couldn't utter a word. To tell him, a man of his stature, to directly approach Jun Mo Xie—what did that imply about status? Regardless, he was an elder! However, everyone knew Third Master Jun Wuyi was in poor health; his willingness to speak at all was already a massive courtesy. To press further would truly be unforgivable!

“Someone, quickly lead General Dugu to Young Master Sun’s courtyard.” Jun Wuyi smiled, cupped his hands, and said, “Brother Dugu, please proceed. I imagine the Jun family estate is no stranger to you. This little brother feels quite fatigued and must retire now.”

“Third Brother, please take care of yourself, and rest well.” Dugu Wudi forced a dry laugh, feeling deeply unsettled. Although his Dugu clan had never done anything to betray the Jun family from start to finish, they had, after all, been raised by His Majesty the Emperor to oppose the Jun family, and doing so at the very moment the two Jun heroes had mysteriously fallen in battle made the timing exquisitely awkward. He couldn't entirely blame Jun Wuyi for holding a prejudice against him.

Over the years, Dugu Wudi had wanted to resolve this misunderstanding—if it even was one. Though he could stand by his conscience, every time he faced Jun Wuyi, he inexplicably felt a step shorter. In his straightforward heart, the failure to stand and die alongside Jun Wuhui back then had been a grave failing, and ultimately, his own family had…

Even though the Dugu family had secretly tried to look out for the Jun family, having Jun Mo Xie administer ten or eight beatings to the boys would be nothing more than a necessary lesson taught on behalf of Jun Wuhui…

With a heavy sigh, Dugu Wudi walked into the Jun estate. The imposing aura he carried upon entering had completely dissipated. He understood that Jun Wuyi’s words were a veiled warning: the affairs of the younger generation should best be left to them to resolve; it was entirely improper for an elder like himself to meddle rashly!

Dugu Wudi desperately wanted to roar, When did I ever want to interfere! But for some inexplicable reason, looking at Jun Wuyi’s serene face, that familiar bearing reminded him so much of the elder brother he once respected most, that he found himself utterly incapable of harboring any offense.

From afar, he could see Jun Mo Xie standing at the threshold. The imposing presence of General Dugu immediately recovered a fraction of its former strength. Your Third Uncle seems to be in the wrong and dare not do anything; but you, boy, you molested my daughter! That general is not in the wrong! Let’s see how I deal with you in a moment!

Eh? That small courtyard behind the lad, why is it missing its front gate!

The gate? Naturally, it had been smashed to pieces by the seven brothers of Dugu Ying. Young Master Jun was extremely polite. He bowed deeply from a distance and said, “It is indeed an honor to have General Dugu grace my humble residence. You truly bring glory upon this small enclosure, ha ha ha, please, please, come in quickly.” He extended a welcoming hand.

General Dugu accepted without ceremony, his face stern as he strode inside, only to immediately catch sight of the absolute devastation in the courtyard behind Jun Mo Xie.

Dugu Wudi drew a sharp breath. Good heavens, how could it be smashed up like this!?

“Where are those seven little bastards? I’ll teach them a severe lesson!” Dugu Wudi roared in fury. He had repeatedly instructed them beforehand: just seize Jun Mo Xie, absolutely do not damage anything else in the Jun manor! How could they have turned into this mess! What was he supposed to do now? No matter what, those seven whelps were clearly in the wrong! His imposing demeanor inevitably dropped by another third.

“The seven young masters of the Dugu family found the wine in your residence quite appealing and drank a bit too much, ha ha.” Jun Mo Xie smiled, his face showing no emotion. “They are asleep now.”

“The wine was good? Drank a bit too much? Have they never tasted alcohol in their entire lives?! To actually pass out drunk and fall asleep?! Humph, what use are these worthless things I raised!” Dugu Wudi’s face instantly darkened. “Take me there!” He turned to leave, then suddenly snapped his head back, pointing a finger as thick as a carrot at Jun Mo Xie: “Boy, I warn you, do not provoke my daughter again! This time, for the sake of your father and your Third Uncle, I’ll let it go. If there is a next time, I will tear you into pieces and feed you to the dogs!”

Jun Mo Xie watched him with a faint smile, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. Slowly, he reached out and brushed away the general’s finger, then pointed a single finger at Dugu Wudi: “Old fellow! I don’t care if you are the notorious ‘Iron-Willed Blade’ known throughout the court; do not play the rogue in the Jun Manor. This young master does not fall for your tricks. And let me inform you! Do not let your daughter pester me anymore! This time, for the sake of our old ties, I’ll let it pass, but if there is a next time, this young master will personally ensure you become the cheap grandfather of my son!”

Dugu Wudi grew so enraged that his vision darkened, and he nearly collapsed. He was certainly aware of his nickname, “Iron-Willed Blade,” but who in the entire court dared mention it to his face? This fellow was absolutely the first! How could he not be furious? He raised his palm, large as a cattail fan, ready to deliver a crushing blow.

Jun Mo Xie did not flinch or dodge, standing firm and even lifting his chin slightly.

“Hmph!” Dugu Wudi ultimately did not strike. After all, this was the son of Brother Wuhui. It was one thing for his own sons and nephews to beat him, but for him to personally deliver a blow seemed rather undignified. Suppressing his rage, he followed Jun Mo Xie to the door of the side room. He heard snoring echoing thunderously from inside, the rhythm pronounced and very regular. Anger flared in his chest; he flew forward, kicking the door open with a loud bang, roaring, “All of you, get up, you scoundrels!”

The snoring continued unabated.

A rich aroma of wine billowed out from the room.

Dugu Wudi couldn't help but twitch his nose. “What kind of wine is this? Why does it smell like that!” He snapped back to reality. None of his sons or nephews were attending to him; they were still asleep! General Dugu’s fury ignited, and he lunged forward. Thump, thump, thump echoed sounds like hitting sacks, a flurry of fists and kicks!

The snoring persisted!

General Dugu was stunned speechless.

Young Master Jun secretly smiled: Does this old man think the liquor brewed by this young master is some common swill? At this critical juncture, even if you beat them to death, they certainly won't wake up. These few drank such high-grade stuff; without the proper antidote, it’s entirely possible they could die from the intoxication. The real show is yet to come!

“Someone, carry these seven brats out!” Dugu Wudi felt he had been utterly disgraced today! He had lost all his dignity in one lifetime, yet he didn't know that the supposed ‘loss of face’ was only just beginning…

“Hold on a moment!” Jun Mo Xie sneered, “General, you arrive as you please, and you want to leave just as quickly? What place does your Dugu family take my Jun family to be?”

“What else do you want?” Dugu Wudi turned back, looking ferocious, his temper clearly about to snap! I already let you off easy for seducing my precious daughter, and you dare to nitpick now, are you tired of living!

“As they say, killing only requires the head to be dropped, and arguments are settled when the logic is clear! The seven young masters of the Dugu family, upon entering my Jun manor, smashed two panels of the sandalwood main gate—valued at one thousand taels of silver; injured three servants, medical expenses of five hundred taels; smashed the gate to my small courtyard, three hundred taels of silver.” Jun Mo Xie counted the charges on his fingers one by one: “…Furthermore, they forcibly restrained me and presumptuously drank my supreme wine essence. Considering the long-standing acquaintance between our houses, I’ve waived the small change. The total required is twenty-five million taels of silver, and the Great General can then take the seven young masters of the Dugu family with him!!”

“What?!” Dugu Wudi roared, causing every guard behind him to stumble backward. “Twenty-five million taels of silver?”

“Precisely! Twenty-five million taels of silver. I even rounded down the smaller amounts for you!” Jun Mo Xie’s expression was unmoved, appearing magnanimous.

“I’ll spit dog crap on your face! Twenty-five million taels of silver! I’d like to hear how these few lads managed to drink twenty-five million taels worth of wine! If you can’t explain it clearly, I’ll find Old Master Jun and ask him where the Jun family inherited this trick of extortion from!” Dugu Wudi laughed in cold fury.

Jun Mo Xie remained unmoved, smiling coldly. “If it were ordinary wine, even if it killed the seven young masters of the Dugu family, it wouldn't cost this much. But this wine is a peerless, unique treasure in the world! Moreover, what your noble sons drank was the wine head! One jar of wine head is fifty catties, and every catty can yield fifty small cups; and every single cup of that wine can be used to brew an entire jar of supreme fine liquor! And one jar of that liquor sells for one hundred thousand taels of silver! Thus, the total amounts to twenty-five million taels of silver. As for the other damages I mentioned earlier, I have waived them as a courtesy, lest it damage the friendship between our two houses!”

“Moreover, the price of one cup of this wine head—ten thousand taels of silver—is absolutely fair and a bargain for the quality!” Mo Xie stated with grave seriousness, showing not the slightest hint of jest.

“I’ll curse your Third Uncle!” Dugu Wudi spat out. “Can this shoddy wine make one ascend to immortality?” The Great General was about to explode. The entire Tianxiang Empire’s annual military expenditure was only around thirty million taels of silver! His three sons and four nephews drank away nearly the empire’s entire annual military budget in one sitting??!

Wasn't this obvious extortion? And he dares to say 'fair and a bargain for the quality'!?

“Please, Great General, watch your words and do not involve my Third Uncle! As the saying goes, rarity makes things precious! This wine is exclusive to me in this entire world! Whether it’s ten thousand taels per cup or a hundred thousand taels per cup, under normal circumstances, I truly would be reluctant to sell it for one hundred thousand taels of silver.”

Jun Mo Xie snorted twice, placed two wine cups on the table, casually picked up a nearby jar of wine, and poured a cup; then he scooped a cup of wine from the open jar and placed it on the table.

He made a gesture inviting him to taste.

&l;Going to sleep now, will wake up in the afternoon and deliver the third update before 19:00. Double Monthly Ticket time is about to run out, the countdown begins! Everyone, don’t hoard them, hurry up and smash them over! Hahaha, thanks everyone.