The man speaking was middle-aged. Su Zhenglong recognized him as the head of the Luo Clan, a second-rate family.
His name was Luo Tong, and Su Zhenglong had beaten him soundly more than once when they were young.
"So it's the head of the Luo Clan, Luo Tong. You're still alive, so how could I, Su Zhenglong, die so easily?"
Though Su Zhenglong was now gravely wounded, he still carried himself with imposing confidence in front of Luo Tong.
Bang!
But the moment he finished speaking, a loud crash came from Su Xuefeng's direction. Then came Su Xuefeng's aged voice: "Su Zhenglong, is that any way to speak to the head of the Luo Clan? Apologize to him at once."
Su Zhenglong stared dumbfounded. His father was actually ordering him, in front of everyone, to apologize to a member of a second-rate family—a man he had once defeated?
And all he had done was verbally strike back.
His fists clenched tight. Su Zhenglong's face turned cold, but he said nothing.
Beside Su Xuefeng, Su Zhengtao drawled, "Eldest Brother, don't you remember that your serious illness has affected your hearing? Didn't you hear what Father said?"
Seated beside Su Xuefeng, Luo Tong only sneered, his face full of mockery.
The Su Clan had fallen on hard times lately. The Chu Family had cut off all ties with them, and the other two major families wanted nothing to do with them either. So Su Xuefeng had to value these second-rate families.
If he wanted the Luo Clan to side with the Su Clan, he had to make sure Su Zhenglong treated Luo Tong with respect.
Su Zhenglong gritted his teeth. Remembering that he had come to make peace today, he finally lowered his voice. "I'm sorry, Head of the Luo Clan."
"What was that? I couldn't hear you." Luo Tong pressed his advantage, his voice arrogant.
At that point, Sikong Jing could no longer hold back and started to step forward, but Su Zhenglong stopped him. "I'm sorry, Head of the Luo Clan. I spoke out of turn and offended you."
"Ha! Hahahaha..." Luo Tong burst into wild, arrogant laughter.
Everyone present joined in. So this was the Heavenly Pride who had once been invincible across Yunye!
Suddenly, another voice rang out. "Su Zhenglong, I heard your son-in-law is a criminal. What crime did he commit?"
Su Zhenglong clenched his teeth.
Su Xuefeng barked again, "If there's nothing wrong with your ears, answer him."
Su Zhenglong drew a deep breath and forced down his anger. "He only offended someone. He didn't commit any crime."
He had no idea what crime Sikong Jing had supposedly committed to be exiled.
But clearly, given his temperament, Sikong Jing had only offended someone. He certainly wasn't truly guilty of a crime.
"Master Su, your daughter is so ugly. How does she have the nerve to bring herself to Grandfather Su's birthday banquet? Aren't you afraid she'll scare all the guests away?" another middle-aged woman asked with a coquettish laugh.
She was Luo Tong's wife.
At that moment, killing intent flashed in Sikong Jing's eyes, but Su Yuexi and Mei Xiaofang held him back tightly, shaking their heads at him with all their strength.
They had to endure it today. In their hearts, if they didn't, Sikong Jing would surely die.
Then came one humiliating question after another, hurled at them.
Su Zhenglong's chest felt as though it were being crushed. Mei Xiaofang was close to tears, her eyes bloodshot.
As for Sikong Jing, he committed every face to memory. More important, he was waiting to see how Su Xuefeng would react when he saw the gift for his father-in-law later. Would it move him?
Of course, whether Su Xuefeng remained stubborn or not, Sikong Jing would make these people pay!
"Enough. My son isn't in good health, so stop asking him questions."
Su Xuefeng seemed to realize that he was losing face too, so he stopped everyone from asking more.
At last, Su Zhenglong let out a long breath. He stared at Su Xuefeng and said, "Father, may you live as long as the southern mountains and enjoy blessings as boundless as the eastern sea. This is the birthday gift your son has prepared for you."
As he spoke, he had the hired workers wheel in the statue of Su Yuexi's paternal grandmother.
For now, of course, it remained inside a large crate. Apart from them, no one knew what was inside.
Su Xuefeng paused, then casually waved a hand. "Such a big thing. Your plea for forgiveness shows some thought. Leave it there."
He then had the workers dump it in a corner, where gifts were already piled high.
Seeing this, Su Zhenglong quickly asked, "Father, aren't you going to open it?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Su Xuefeng snapped, "There are so many guests here. How could I have time to look at your gift? The best gift you could give me now would be to kill this criminal."
Then he ignored Su Zhenglong completely, taking no interest in what was inside the large crate.
"Grandfather, this is the birthday gift I prepared for you."
Just then, Su Yun stepped forward gracefully and held out a long box.
A smile immediately returned to Su Xuefeng's face. He opened the box in front of everyone, revealing a knife inside.
He took it out without hesitation and beamed. "A fine knife. As expected, my little Yun is Grandfather's sweetheart. I like it very much."
Compared with the way he had treated Su Zhenglong just moments ago, his attitude was like night and day.
Su Yun then turned to Su Yuexi and asked smugly, "Su Yuexi, what gift did you prepare for Grandfather?"
At that, Su Yuexi immediately looked at Sikong Jing.
Without another word, Sikong Jing handed her the box he had prepared.
Su Yuexi carried it to Su Xuefeng and said softly, "Grandfather, this is a gift from Jing Gege and me. We wish you—"
Before she could finish, Su Yun suddenly snatched the box from Su Yuexi's hands and cried, "Let me see what you brought!"
Before Su Yuexi could react, Su Yun had already opened it.
She didn't believe Su Yuexi could offer anything worthwhile. She had opened it only to humiliate her in front of everyone.
"A Green Jade Slate?"
The moment Su Yun's gaze landed on the contents of the box, she blurted out the words.
The entire hall fell silent once again. Su Yun then took out the Green Jade Slate and examined it. "It really is a Green Jade Slate, and the shoddiest kind at that. Three for a hundred Copper Crystal Plates."
Su Yun had expected Su Yuexi's gift to be poor, but not this poor.
Su Xuefeng's face turned dark too.
Su Zhenglong and Mei Xiaofang stared in shock at Sikong Jing, unable to believe it.
Hadn't he said this gift would make Su Xuefeng overjoyed? What was he thinking, sending the shoddiest Green Jade Slate?
No one believed there could be anything worthwhile inside a Green Jade Slate. It couldn't possibly hold a good martial technique.
"Ha, hahahaha..."
Suddenly, Luo Tong doubled over with laughter. "Grandfather Su, is your granddaughter trying to kill me with laughter? Of all the things she could give you, she chose this junk—a Green Jade Slate? She could at least have brought a few sheets of high-quality Green Jade Paper."
It wasn't just Luo Tong. Everyone in the hall was laughing wildly.
Su Xuefeng's face flushed red. He hadn't felt humiliated when everyone insulted Su Zhenglong, but Su Yuexi and Sikong Jing's Green Jade Slate made him feel as though he'd lost all face.
"Su Yun, smash it!" Su Xuefeng shouted, showing no mercy.
Before you continue