Apology

"You're from the Huang Family?"

Su Yi's brow furrowed slightly, but his expression showed no panic.

The Black-robed Old Man said expressionlessly, "Since Young Master Su has already figured it out, you'd best come with us obediently. That would be best for everyone."

Su Yi said, "Where?"

The Black-robed Old Man's tone was stiff. "Gathering Immortals Pavilion."

Su Yi couldn't help but be surprised. Was Huang Qianjun planning to climb back up from the very place he'd fallen?

"Let's go."

He turned directly and headed toward Gathering Immortals Pavilion.

The Black-robed Old Man and the others froze, none of them expecting Su Yi to be so self-aware and proactive. He was far too crisp and straightforward about it.

"Keep a close eye on him on the road. We absolutely cannot let this kid slip away!"

The Black-robed Old Man gave a secret order, then led the others after him.

The thing he feared did not happen. All along the way, Su Yi's bearing was relaxed and leisurely, without the slightest intention of escaping.

Only after they arrived at Gathering Immortals Pavilion and watched Su Yi's figure enter did the Black-robed Old Man and the others let out a breath of relief. Even so, they couldn't help but feel astonished.

This Wen Family son-in-law actually had some tremendous nerve!

It was just about noon, precisely when Gathering Immortals Pavilion's business should have been at its best, but when Su Yi entered, he found it cold and deserted, every seat empty.

Only behind the counter stood a familiar face—

The owner of Gathering Immortals Pavilion, Yue Tianhe!

"Young Master Su, the Huang Family Patriarch has personally laid out a banquet in yesterday's private room. He's only waiting for you to arrive."

Seeing Su Yi appear, Yue Tianhe spoke with a chuckle. There was a faint flavor of taking pleasure in another's misfortune in his voice, as if he had already foreseen what was about to happen.

"Aren't you afraid Gathering Immortals Pavilion will get smashed up later?"

Su Yi said casually.

Yue Tianhe's expression stiffened, then he burst into laughter. "Rest assured, Young Master Su. The signboard of my Gathering Immortals Pavilion is plenty hard. Ordinary people simply can't smash it."

After a pause, his tone carried pity. "On the contrary, Young Master Su, you... I'm afraid today bodes ill rather than well."

Su Yi smiled too, and said, "Boss Yue, watching the excitement is fine, but if Gathering Immortals Pavilion suffers any losses today, I won't be compensating you."

As he spoke, he went straight up the stairs toward the second floor of the restaurant.

Yue Tianhe frowned. Why did this kid look as though he had something to rely on and feared nothing?

Could he have another trump card?

But the one who was going to deal with him today was Huang Yunchong!

The patriarch of the Huang Family, and one of the most powerful great figures in Guangling City!

I'd like to see whether you, a Wen Family son-in-law, can walk out of my Gathering Immortals Pavilion in one piece!

Yue Tianhe thought to himself.

Second-floor private room.

The doors were wide open. When Su Yi arrived, three people were already seated inside.

One was Huang Qianjun, dressed in elegant dark robes. He sat beside a middle-aged man wearing a python robe.

This man's figure was tall and imposing, his face hard as rock. Sitting there casually, he was like a coiled dragon and a crouching tiger, his might oppressively bearing down on others.

On the other side sat a green-robed man with a long saber at his waist. He looked around forty or so, his face sallow, and he was currently toying with a silver dagger in his palm.

The snow-bright, razor-sharp dagger tumbled and leapt between his fingers, dazzling to the eye.

When Su Yi's figure appeared, the Green-robed Man narrowed his eyes and sized him up for a moment, then gave a snort of laughter, as if mocking him, yet also as if disappointed.

"Su Yi, you've finally come!"

A bone-deep hatred surged in Huang Qianjun's eyes as he spoke coldly.

"I said yesterday I'd give you a chance to take revenge. Since you've already decided to do this, how could I not come?"

As Su Yi spoke, he had already strolled into the private room at an unhurried pace.

He casually sat down in a chair, his gaze sweeping over the Python Robe Middle-Aged Man and the Green-robed Man, but he said nothing.

Perhaps because Su Yi behaved far too composed and calm, the Python Robe Middle-Aged Man was clearly somewhat surprised.

Immediately, he suddenly sighed with emotion. "The Outer Disciple Sword Leader of Green River Sword Mansion from back then truly does have extraordinary courage. Only now do I dare say for certain that the old fox Yue Tianhe was right. Over this past year, everyone in Guangling City underestimated you."

His voice was mellow and deep, yet it naturally carried the imposing authority of one in a superior position.

Su Yi reached out and tapped the empty dining table, saying casually, "It's already noon. If you want to exchange pleasantries with me, you can first have a banquet served. We can eat while we talk."

Anger appeared on Huang Qianjun's face. Did this bastard really think he was here for a meal?

The Green-robed Man's expression remained unchanged. He continued to toy with the silver dagger, as if he cared nothing for any of this.

The Python Robe Middle-Aged Man laughed and said, "Once the matter is settled, if you still have an appetite, I guarantee you'll be able to eat your fill."

After a pause, he introduced himself. "This old man is Huang Yunchong. I heard that yesterday, here, you taught that worthless son of mine a lesson. For now, let us not discuss who was right or wrong. My son was bullied; as his father, I can hardly stay out of it. Wouldn't you say?"

Su Yi nodded casually and said, "Beat the young one, and the old one comes. Very normal."

Huang Yunchong leaned forward, his eyes instantly turning incomparably sharp as he stared at Su Yi and said:

"I can tell you're a smart man, so I'll speak plainly. If this matter isn't resolved, my son will become the laughingstock of Guangling City because of what happened yesterday. After all, as a proper man, being frightened into wetting his pants—if word gets out, it won't sound good in the end."

Beside him, Huang Qianjun's face showed shame and fury, and the look he cast at Su Yi grew even more venomous.

"How do you want to resolve it?"

Su Yi asked at an unhurried pace.

Huang Yunchong's aura was extremely powerful. He was clearly a formidable figure of the Qi Gathering Realm; every move he made could shake a person's mind and spirit.

But that bit of presence could not affect Su Yi's mind in the slightest. He even felt somewhat like laughing.

Using force of presence to pressure someone?

That depended on who he was facing!

Su Yi's calm reaction made Huang Yunchong feel surprised once again.

After pondering for a moment, he smiled and said, "Apologize."

"Apologize?"

"Yes. Kneel down from here, kowtow once with every step, all the way until you reach the outside of the Gathering Immortals Pavilion."

Huang Yunchong casually pointed at the ground outside the private room, his voice gentle and a smile on his face. "The sound of your kowtows must be loud enough for every private room across all three floors of the Gathering Immortals Pavilion to hear."

Huang Qianjun could no longer help revealing a delighted smile, his eyes excited.

The Green-robed Man, who had not spoken all this time, could not help sighing softly. "Patriarch, you truly are merciful."

Huang Yunchong's smile grew even richer as he said, "You don't understand. Conflicts between young people aren't worth taking too far."

This still wasn't called harsh?

Even Huang Qianjun could not help sucking in a breath, startled by his father's understated words.

Huang Yunchong's gaze remained fixed on Su Yi as he continued:

"Once you've kowtowed your way outside the Gathering Immortals Pavilion, kneel there and slap yourself. Remember, the slaps must be loud. They have to be heard clearly from thirty feet away."

At this point, he tapped the table with his finger and smiled leisurely. "When the people watching have dispersed, that will be when this matter is considered over."

Huang Qianjun's heart instantly grew excited, filled with anticipation for what was about to happen.

"In my view, this punishment is still too light. However, since the patriarch is unwilling to make a great fuss with weapons drawn, then so be it. It can be considered letting this kid off cheaply."

The Green-robed Man toyed with his dagger, his pair of long, narrow eyes looking toward Su Yi like knife edges. "Will you go do it yourself, or shall I help you do it?"

His voice was hoarse and cold, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, making one's whole body go cold.

The gazes of Huang Yunchong and Huang Qianjun, father and son, also turned toward Su Yi.

The atmosphere inside the private room also became oppressive in that instant.

Yet Su Yi's expression showed not the slightest ripple. He said calmly, "I thought you people would dare to kill. I didn't expect... in the end, you'd only play these little tricks."

Huang Qianjun froze, almost unable to believe his ears.

Huang Yunchong's brows furrowed slightly.

The Green-robed Man's eyes turned cold. He abruptly rose, a terrifying aura spreading from him, as if he were about to make a move directly.

But at that moment—

A burst of heavy footsteps rang out in haste, immediately followed by a rough voice:

"Brother Huang, give me some face. Let Su Yi leave."

As the voice still echoed, a burly, imposing Bearded Man had already arrived before the private room, his pair of eyes bright as lightning.

"Nie Beihu?"

Huang Yunchong's brows knotted tightly, and he snorted coldly. "I truly don't understand. As the City Lord's Mansion Guard Commander, why would you want to stand up for a live-in son-in-law?"

"So it's him, Nie Teng's father..."

Realization dawned in Su Yi's heart. He recalled what Nie Teng had said yesterday when they left the Gathering Immortals Pavilion: he would repay this favor!

Clearly, after Nie Teng returned home yesterday, he had gone to ask his father for help.

Perhaps this was the reason Nie Beihu had appeared here at this moment.

Sure enough, Nie Beihu walked into the private room and said in a deep voice, "My unworthy son was bullied here by your esteemed son yesterday. Thanks to Su Yi's help, how could I, Nie Beihu, not repay this favor?"

Huang Yunchong glanced at Huang Qianjun beside him.

Huang Qianjun hurriedly said, "Father, yesterday I only scared Nie Teng a little. I didn't lay a hand on him at all, much less humiliate him."

"Brother Nie, you heard him too. This matter has nothing to do with your son at all."

Huang Yunchong's expression was indifferent, and his voice turned cold. "On the contrary, my son was the one who was bullied. If this matter is simply dropped, how will my son ever hold his head up in Guangling City again?"

Nie Beihu's face darkened, and he was just about to say something.

Huang Yunchong cut him off directly. "Brother Nie, say no more. Today, never mind you—even if Wen Changjing, the head of the Wen Family, came in person, he couldn't protect this Su Yi!"

His voice was sonorous, each word hitting the floor with weight.

Nie Beihu's expression turned ugly. He had come personally, only to be refused like this; it left him feeling as if he had nowhere to put his face.

Seeing this, Su Yi couldn't help shaking his head inwardly. He had never counted on someone else to resolve this matter.

Still, no matter what, Nie Beihu had come to help him. He couldn't just watch with his eyes open and do nothing.

But before Su Yi could react, another burst of hurried footsteps suddenly rang out from the stairway.

Huang Yunchong frowned, displeasure showing on his face.

Gathering Immortals Pavilion was Yue Tianhe's territory. He had thought that with Yue Tianhe here, no one would disturb them. Yet now, problems were cropping up again and again. How could Huang Yunchong not be annoyed?

The others in the private room were puzzled too. This time, who had come?

Very soon, a figure appeared outside the private room.

It was a middle-aged man in a Confucian robe with broad sleeves, wisps of willow-like beard drifting beneath his jaw. His bearing was exceedingly outstanding, but there was a touch of anxiety between his brows, and sweat on his forehead as well; clearly, he had rushed here in haste.

After arriving, when he saw Su Yi sitting there safe and sound, he couldn't help letting out a long breath.

Under the shocked gazes of everyone present, the middle-aged scholar hurried forward and bowed respectfully to Su Yi.

"Young Master Su, they didn't hurt you, did they?"