"Dispense with the formalities."
Chen Zheng nodded mildly at Yu Canghai and casually uttered those words.
"Yes, Senior!"
Yu Canghai raised his head, looking even more excited, and stood respectfully beside Chen Zheng. To everyone else in the hall, it looked as though Yu Canghai were Chen Zheng's servant, giving them an indescribably strange feeling.
After all, Chen Zheng was only Su Cheng's bodyguard. Although he might be the son of that man from the Xining Chen Family, he should only be an illegitimate son, one the Xining Chen Family refused to acknowledge at that. He should have no impressive status. Yet now an old man had arrived, one Su Ziming had received with respect. This old man was clearly no ordinary person, yet he had actually walked up to Chen Zheng and addressed a young man like him as Senior!
What... what exactly was going on?
The prominent figures in the hall, especially the middle-aged woman surnamed Wang, were dumbfounded. But the woman soon recovered, and the way she looked at Chen Zheng changed, as though she were gazing at a glittering gemstone!
"Well... Uncle Canghai, do you know Chen Zheng?"
Su Ziming asked Yu Canghai somewhat blankly. Since he addressed Yu Canghai as Uncle Canghai, he naturally knew the old man's identity. This old man had saved him once years ago, and had also introduced his daughter to her master. He was a godlike figure in China's Ancient Martial Arts World!
Yet such a godlike figure had actually addressed Chen Zheng as Senior. How old was Chen Zheng? How could he possibly be the senior of an old man like Yu Canghai, who had lived for at least seventy years?
"I had never met Senior before. Today is our first meeting. Having met Senior, I have no regrets left in this life."
Yu Canghai spoke with deep feeling.
"..."
Everyone in the hall remained bewildered. The sense of strangeness and shock grew stronger, leaving them all dumbfounded once again.
Hearing this, Su Ziming looked at Chen Zheng with a strange expression. Just how extraordinary did this kid have to be to make a godlike figure in China's Ancient Martial Arts World say something like that?
"Grandmaster Yu Canghai, you... my brother... Brother..."
Chen Zhi glanced at Yu Canghai, then turned to Chen Zheng. She was utterly bewildered. The Xining Chen Family was the Medicine King Family and carried considerable weight in China's Ancient Martial Arts World. Of course Chen Zhi knew who Yu Canghai was. He was one of the few remaining martial Great Grandmasters in China, and was also currently acknowledged as the foremost figure in China's Ancient Martial Arts World.
Someone like him had actually called her brother Senior. This... Chen Zhi remembered very clearly that when she first met Chen Zheng three years ago, he had been an entirely ordinary person. Even if he had encountered some fortuitous opportunity in those three years, he could not possibly have become this outrageously powerful!
Beside them, Jiang Rou was staring straight at Chen Zheng. She wished she could strip him completely naked to see just what secrets he was hiding.
"No... impossible... he's just a bodyguard, just an illegitimate son. How could he possibly..."
Liu Xian, the young master of the Liu Family, had already collapsed to the floor. As though he had lost his wits, he stared at Chen Zheng and cried out blankly.
As for Yan Hao, his throat bobbed. Although he did not know who Yu Canghai was, the fact that Liu Xian had been frightened into collapsing was enough to show that this old man had an extraordinary status. And this old man had actually addressed that fellow Chen Zheng as Senior. That truly terrified him!
Now he only wanted to leave the Su Family residence, to leave as quickly as possible. He did not want to stay any longer. He was afraid Chen Zheng would retaliate!
At this moment, only Su Cheng and An Jing in the Su Family's hall knew something of why Yu Canghai, this Ancient Martial Grandmaster, called Chen Zheng Senior and treated him with such respect.
Without a doubt, there was only one explanation: Great Grandmaster Yu Canghai had sensed something from Chen Zheng, sensed traces of his presence, sensed his terrifying cultivation. That was the only explanation that made sense!
"Illegitimate son? This..."
Yu Canghai glanced at Liu Xian, who lay collapsed on the floor, and frowned.
"The Liu Family's young master has some trouble with Young... Master Chen! Who knows why, but he's been constantly mocking and ridiculing Young Master Chen! Young Master Liu, you really don't know how to conduct yourself!"
At that moment, a thought struck the middle-aged woman surnamed Wang, and she spoke up.
"Mocking and ridiculing Senior? Who do you think you are!" Yu Canghai flew into a rage at her words and glared at Liu Xian. Then he cupped his fists and bowed to Chen Zheng. "Senior, how would you like this brat dealt with?"
"A mere ant. Deal with him as you see fit."
Chen Zheng spoke mildly.
"Yes! This junior knows what to do!" Yu Canghai answered. He made a grabbing motion toward Liu Xian, who screamed as his body convulsed. Then Yu Canghai casually struck out with his palm, blasting Liu Xian clean out of the Su Family's hall. "You're from the Liu Family, are you? If you want revenge, have Liu Zhong come find me himself. I, Yu Canghai, will be waiting!"
"..."
Everyone in the hall shuddered. In particular, after witnessing Yu Canghai act, those prominent figures from Nan City now understood what sort of man this old man was. He was clearly one of those legendary martial arts masters, and he was probably a major figure in martial arts circles!
He was not to be provoked!
Someone like him was not to be provoked!
Wait!
This old man called Chen Zheng Senior. Did that mean Chen Zheng was also part of martial arts circles, and an even more powerful figure than this old man?
At that thought, all these prominent figures from Nan City began looking at Chen Zheng with extreme caution, terrified of offending him.
"Um... Uncle Su, I'll take my leave."
Yan Hao spoke in terror. Without waiting for Su Ziming to respond, he turned and hurried toward the door as soon as he finished.
"Ow!"
But just as he reached the doorway, his legs stumbled from sheer nervousness, and he fell flat on his face outside the entrance, like a dog eating shit.
"Haha!"
Laughter instantly broke out throughout the hall, but it stopped just as abruptly, because they suddenly remembered that there were now two terrifying fellows in the hall!
"Sorry! Sorry! It was my fault! It was my fault!"
Yan Hao scrambled up from the ground, not daring to look back at all. Shouting with a terrified expression, he fled the Su Family residence like a bird startled by a bowstring.
"Well... um... Chen Zheng, what do you think?"
Su Ziming glanced around before finally looking at Chen Zheng. He was supposed to be the head of the household and the host of tonight's banquet, but even his Uncle Canghai addressed Chen Zheng as Senior. He could only turn to Chen Zheng.
"Let the banquet continue as usual. I'm only Su Cheng's bodyguard."
Chen Zheng chuckled.
Hearing that, An Jing could not help rolling her eyes at Chen Zheng.
Only Su Cheng's bodyguard?
Even a Great Grandmaster from China's Ancient Martial Arts World calls you Senior, and you still say you're just a bodyguard. Who would believe that!
Su Cheng looked at Chen Zheng and sighed inwardly. She did not know why, but after learning that Chen Zheng had ties to the Xining Chen Family, she had a premonition that this man, who had descended from the sky into her home that night, probably would not remain by her side much longer.
"Then... all right." Su Ziming smiled, then addressed the guests. "Everyone, the banquet has officially begun. Please carry on as you wish. Make yourselves at home, make yourselves at home!"
Clearly, however, these prominent figures from Nan City were no longer thinking about the banquet. Many had already turned their attention to Chen Zheng. Unfortunately, Chen Zheng did not so much as glance at them. He simply stood quietly beside Su Cheng, truly like a bodyguard.