The second party of visitors arrived with tremendous pomp. First, an old steward came to present a visiting card bearing a long string of titles, the highest being a third-rank official of the Ministry of Rites. Wang Chong nearly told the old steward that his home was too small to accommodate so many people. He brought out the few people in his household to welcome them, only to find a middle-aged man at their head, already out of his sedan chair and most proper in his bearing. At the sight of Wang Chong, the middle-aged man smiled and cupped his hands. "Thank you, Young Master Wang, for slaying the villain who harmed my nephew. Everyone in the Su Family is deeply grateful. When Nineteenth Sister received the news, she specially asked me to come and offer our thanks."
After receiving the jade pendant Yuzao delivered, Su Luoyan had immediately invited the elder with the highest official rank among the Su Family members near Tongzhou to come. Only this third-rank official of the Ministry of Rites could adequately convey the Su Family's attitude toward the matter, which was why they had been delayed.
Although Wang Chong did not know these details, he could feel that he was indeed being treated with importance. Chuckling, he said, "You're too kind, Uncle Su. I was a close friend of... what's-his-name in the martial world. How could I leave his death unavenged?"
The middle-aged man could not help smiling. "You truly were my nephew's good friend, worthy nephew Wang. A rare friendship indeed."
Su Luoyan was a daughter of a foremost aristocratic clan. There was no harm in her associating with people of the martial world, but word of it could not be allowed to spread. If Wang Chong went around telling everyone that he