The Elders' Court Guard.

Unlike the Ten Thousand Martial Guards, this unit was exclusively responsible for the security of the Elders' Court. Only the three elders of the Elders' Court had the authority to command them.

With the issuance of a secret order, a hundred-man troop instantly gathered in the square before the Elders' Court. Dressed uniformly in martial attire, with a large, eye-catching red "Forbidden" character on their armbands, they were a formidable sight. Each one was in his prime, brimming with vigor and armed with the finest equipment. The killing intent rolling off them was palpable.

The middle-aged man, Jin Zheng's assistant, beckoned to the leader. "Qiu Yu, come here."

"Vice-Officer Chang, what is the mission this time?" the young man named Qiu Yu asked, jogging up to the middle-aged man. There was curiosity in his voice, but also a hint of excitement. "My Forbidden Guards haven't performed a mission outside the Elders' Court in years."

"This order comes directly from Elder Jin Zheng himself," the middle-aged man, whose name was Chang Kuan, said solemnly. "The person you are to assist is the former Nine Gates Admiral."

Qiu Yu was visibly shaken. The Nine Gates Admiral, the Zhennan Prince?!

After Chang Kuan explained the situation, it took Qiu Yu a long moment to regain his composure.

"Elder Jin Zheng's meaning is clear: even in retirement, he is someone we must support with all our strength!"

"Understood!" Qiu Yu clenched his fist, his voice firm with conviction.

Back when the Nine Gates Admiral was still the Commander-in-chief, this Ever-victorious General had been Qiu Yu's idol, the very goal he strived to chase. Now, for reasons unknown, he had retired.

But that gives you scumbags no right to humiliate him! Behind him isn't just the eighty thousand Martial Guards of Hanyun Valley. There's also us.

Qiu Yu took two deep breaths, suppressing the rage churning within him. He walked before his men and announced in a heavy voice, "To put it simply, our mission is to reinforce the Nine Gates Admiral!"

He pointedly did not use the word "former." In his heart, no one but that man was worthy of the title of Nine Gates Admiral.

After a brief silence, the soldiers stood at attention and roared in unison, "Understood!"

「...」

In the Tang Family Villa, Tang Yuan waved a dismissive hand at Tang Feng, his expression colored with displeasure. "Feng'er, the right and wrong of this situation are perfectly clear. Do not involve yourself any further."

What had Jiang Ying done? If it had been him in this situation, with his current temper, he might have killed someone too. Just imagine, if her plot had succeeded, what would have been the fate of those two women? And what would have become of Chen Yang? One must be able to discern right from wrong.

"Grandfather, that bastard ruined Xiaolan's birthday party! I can't just let it go!" Tang Feng stared broodingly at Chen Yang. "Besides, you saw it yourself. Even after finding out who I am, he showed nothing but contempt. He completely disregarded me."

"Giving him a lesson today is for his own good!"

Tang Yuan instinctively glanced at Chen Yang. The man was as arrogant as ever, his back ramrod straight. His earlier behavior of ignoring everyone was certainly grating. As the saying goes, you should show respect to your superiors. He served in the Martial Department, so shouldn't he, by all reason, show some deference when meeting an officer again? But not him.

At this thought, Tang Yuan sighed. "Feng'er, let it go. He was acting out of rage. You don't need to bicker with him."

"Actions have consequences," Tang Feng sneered, clearly unwilling to let Chen Yang off the hook. "Shouldn't he have to pay a price?"

"Brother..." Tang Lan began to speak, but Tang Feng cut her off before she could offer a word of persuasion. "You don't need to say anything. I have my own plans."

"Mr. Tang, I want him dead!" Jiang Ying finally struggled up from the pool of blood. Leaning unsteadily against a nearby wall, she wiped the blood from her face. Her eyes flashed with venom as she glared at Chen Yang. "This is Cangyun City, the Tang Family's territory! This is no place for you to run wild!"

Jiang Ying then took two slow steps toward Chen Yang and whispered in a voice only he could hear, "Do you know what will happen to those two women after you're dead? I'm going to sell them to Dongya City to be the cheapest prostitutes imaginable. Does that sting? Are you upset? Haha..."

Laughing like a madwoman, she continued, "Did you really think you were some big shot? In my eyes, you're less than nothing!"

Chen Yang now understood the full picture. So, this was all because of Su Ling and that house.

As the saying goes, every debt has its debtor. Even if she was angry, she could have come after Su Ling, or even him. Why vent her rage on two uninvolved, defenseless women? He had made it clear before: if anyone dared to harm a single hair on Chen Qiu's head, he wouldn't hesitate to sink an entire city!

"Kneel down," Tang Feng demanded. "First, you will apologize to Jiang Ying. Then, we will settle the score for you ruining my sister's birthday party."

With that, Tang Feng's deep-set eyes locked onto Chen Yang, gleaming with killing intent.

"You bastard, come on! Weren't you so fierce just now? Hit me again if you have the guts..." With Tang Feng backing her, Jiang Ying felt no fear. This was a testament to her cleverness. A simple act of seduction was all it took to make Tang Feng, an Eighth Rank Military General, defy everyone to stand up for her. Without such skills, she never could have navigated the upper echelons so effortlessly.

However, before she could finish her arrogant taunt, Chen Yang slapped her.

BANG!

She was sent flying several meters before crashing into the wall.

Jiang Ying was left speechless.

The onlookers all drew a sharp, collective breath.

This guy is outrageously arrogant! This is the Tang household! Does he even see anyone here?

"You're courting death!" Tang Feng's face turned completely grim as he glared at Chen Yang and started toward him.

Although the slaps landed on Jiang Ying, they might as well have been smacking him in the face. He was a dignified Eighth Rank Military General, in his own home no less. Most importantly, he had repeatedly stated his intention to protect Jiang Ying, yet this man had the audacity to attack her again and again right in front of him. Wasn't this a deliberate provocation? Flourishing in the Martial Department and revered by countless people in Cangyun City, when had he ever been treated with such disdain?

What an insufferable bastard!

"I will say this one last time. Kneel and apologize, now!" He's just some little bastard from god-knows-where. In Tang Feng's eyes, he was nothing more than a fly, a maggot, unworthy of his personal attention.

Chen Yang turned his head and stared at him.

THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.

A series of heavy footsteps approached from outside, growing steadily louder. The sound was like a roll of muffled thunder, shaking the room. It was enough to make many in the hall turn their heads toward the entrance.

"M-Master!" A Tang Family servant rushed in from outside, his face pale. "Master, a Martial Guard squad is outside!"

"Are they Feng'er's men?" Tang Yuan asked instinctively.

The servant shook his head. "It's... it's the Forbidden Guards from the Elders' Court."

Tang Yuan was speechless.

Tang Feng's advancing foot froze in mid-air. He was utterly dumbfounded.

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