By this time, the other two great families had also sent people over after seeing this scene.
No one had expected the Bloodfire Mercenary Group to actually come looking for trouble with the Jiang Family.
After Zhou Xiang finished issuing his harsh warning, he led his people away. They believed that, given the Bloodfire Mercenary Group's strength, the Jiang Family would not dare oppose them.
That was confidence in their own strength.
If they could achieve their goal without fighting, that would naturally be ideal.
They could kill Jiang Chen and obtain a large number of spirit stones.
"Patriarch Jiang, what is going on?" At this moment, an elder from the Wang Family came over to ask.
Qingyue Town had always appeared harmonious on the surface, mainly because the three families had joined forces to resist the Bloodfire Mercenary Group.
Now that the Bloodfire Mercenary Group had come looking for trouble, they naturally wanted to know what had happened.
The Bloodfire Mercenary Group posed far too great a threat to the surrounding area.
If they did not unite, there would certainly be towns that fell under the Bloodfire Mercenary Group's control.
By then, the Bloodfire Mercenary Group's strength would grow even further.
"The Bloodfire Mercenary Group came this time to settle a score. Forget it—this is a private matter between us," Jiang Tian said.
If they were told that it was because of Jiang Chen, perhaps the two great families would take advantage of their misfortune.
The hardest thing to fathom was the human heart.
They appeared harmonious on the surface, but who knew what attitude the others secretly held?
"Patriarch Jiang, that isn't right. The three great families of Qingyue Town are branches of the same tree. Now that your Jiang Family is in trouble, how could we stand by and do nothing?" an elder from the Zhou Family said.
"Father, this matter was all caused by Jiang Chen. What is there that cannot be said?" Jiang Hai spoke up at this moment.
Now that Jiang Chen had brought trouble upon the Jiang Family, Jiang Yunfeng would certainly face obstacles if he wanted to compete for the position of patriarch.
Thus, Jiang Hai was happy to see Jiang Yunfeng in trouble.
"Hai'er." Jiang Tian shouted.
He was extremely dissatisfied with Jiang Hai's attitude.
The Bloodfire Mercenary Group had already come knocking at their door, yet Jiang Hai was still thinking about suppressing his own clansmen?
Jiang Tian was indeed quite disappointed in him.
Of course, Jiang Tian's heart was on Jiang Chen's side.
"This matter has not yet been settled. We do not know the whole story. We will only know the truth once Jiang Chen returns," Jiang Tian said.
"Yunfeng, when is Chen'er coming back? Did he mention anything to you?" Jiang Tian looked toward Jiang Yunfeng beside him.
"Father, Chen'er said he wanted to enter the Great Desolate Mountain Range for training. As for when exactly he would return, he did not say," Jiang Yunfeng replied.
He had not known before that Jiang Chen had brought upon them such a huge problem.
The Bloodfire Mercenary Group had come right to their door.
"So be it. We have to find a way to deal with the Bloodfire Mercenary Group's retaliation," Jiang Tian said.
"Everyone, today's matter has made a spectacle of the Jiang Family. There are some things that are inconvenient to discuss in detail. The Jiang Family will not be receiving guests today," Jiang Tian said to the crowd.
He was ordering them to leave, unwilling to discuss too much with the Wang and Zhou Families.
He was already troubled enough as it was.
What they did not know was how powerful Jiang Chen currently was. He was no longer so afraid of the Bloodfire Mercenary Group.
Seeing Jiang Tian's attitude, the others had nothing more to say and left one after another.
The Jiang Family then closed its gates as well.
Soon, news of the Jiang Family's troubles spread throughout Qingyue Town.
There had been many onlookers at the time, and they had heard every word Zhou Xiang said.
It turned out that Jiang Chen, the Jiang Family's number-one genius, had killed members of the Bloodfire Mercenary Group.
The Bloodfire Mercenary Group had now come to demand his surrender, giving the Jiang Family three days to hand him over and compensate them with two hundred thousand spirit stones.
Such a demand was utterly ruthless.
Two hundred thousand spirit stones was also an enormous sum for the Jiang Family. It could be said to strike at the very foundations of the family.
They wanted to kill the Jiang Family's number-one genius and still demanded spirit stones from the Jiang Family.
If the Bloodfire Mercenary Group truly got its way, this matter would definitely become a humiliation for the Jiang Family.
At this moment, a family meeting was being held within the Jiang Family. Those attending were all high-ranking members of the Jiang Family, people with a certain status and position.
"Everyone, what do you think about Jiang Chen's matter?" Jiang Tian asked first, wanting to hear everyone's opinions.
This was indeed a major matter. If handled poorly, the Jiang Family might be wiped out because of it.
No matter what choice they made, it would not be a good one for the Jiang Family.
"Patriarch, Jiang Chen is outrageously bold. He actually dared to kill people from the Bloodfire Mercenary Group. You should know that we usually avoid them precisely because we fear getting into any conflict with them and bringing trouble upon ourselves," Great Elder Jiang Hai said.
"I suggest that we hand Jiang Chen over to quell their anger and compensate them with two hundred thousand spirit stones. That way, we can preserve the peace of our Jiang Family," Jiang Hai continued.
"I agree with the Great Elder's suggestion."
"I agree as well."
Several clansmen who were especially worried about the Bloodfire Mercenary Group's strength nodded in agreement, deciding to compromise.
Otherwise, if they truly clashed with the Bloodfire Mercenary Group, the Jiang Family would be doomed.
The difference in strength between the two sides was simply too great.
If the Bloodfire Mercenary Group retaliated, there was no guarantee that the Wang and Zhou Families would help.
Relying on others was never as dependable as relying on oneself.
"I believe the Great Elder is mistaken. Jiang Chen is the Jiang Family's number-one genius. We have all witnessed his strength—he is the hope of our Jiang Family. Now the Bloodfire Mercenary Group wants to kill our number-one genius. How is that any different from strangling our Jiang Family's future? I believe we should protect Jiang Chen. At worst, our Jiang Family can flee to somewhere the Bloodfire Mercenary Group cannot find and start anew. As long as clansmen with outstanding talent emerge, our Jiang Family will have a chance to rise again," someone said.
The person who spoke this time was unexpectedly the Second Elder.
When Jiang Tian heard the Second Elder's words, he nodded slightly. He felt that the Second Elder's words were more to his liking.
The Jiang Family needed people with backbone.
But clearly, the Great Elder and the others did not possess such integrity.
They did not even think of protecting their own clansman, choosing instead to hand him over.
The situation had not yet reached the point of no return, yet they were already rushing to sell out their own clansman.
Were people like this truly suited to become patriarch?
Jiang Tian already had an idea in his heart.
But Great Elder Jiang Hai had no idea.
"Patriarch, I also agree with the Second Elder. I believe this matter should be handled cautiously, and we cannot compromise with the Bloodfire Mercenary Group. The Bloodfire Mercenary Group robbed one of our shipments before, causing us significant losses. Now they have come to threaten us again. Do they really think our Jiang Family has no one? If we fight, I, Jiang Yunfeng, am willing to lead the charge and battle the Bloodfire Mercenary Group to the death," Jiang Yunfeng said.
"Jiang Yunfeng, Jiang Chen is your son. Of course you do not want anything to happen to him. I understand your feelings as a father, but even if you want to protect your son, you cannot make the entire Jiang Family be buried with him, can you? You know the Bloodfire Mercenary Group's strength perfectly well," Great Elder Jiang Hai said from the side in a mocking, insinuating tone.
He was clearly trying to push Jiang Yunfeng into an unjust position.
As if Jiang Yunfeng were willing to sacrifice the entire Jiang Family just to protect Jiang Chen.
"You..." Jiang Yunfeng flew into a rage. Jiang Hai's words were truly vicious.
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