Chapter 2: Death to Those Who Defy Me

“Elder Jiang, you should know that after today, your Jiang family is no longer what it once was. My Xu family is a renowned name in the imperial capital. My daughter, Xu Mingzhe’s own flesh and blood, is the treasured jewel of our entire clan. How could a penniless fool ever be worthy of her?”

Jiang Family Cemetery.

Facing the orphaned descendants of the Jiang family, the father and daughter from the Xu family looked down upon everyone. Xu Mingzhe chuckled softly. “Today is the great memorial of the Jiang family. I don’t wish to be tainted by this misfortune. Elder Jiang, from this moment, the engagement is null and void!”

Once a family of generals, leaders among the elite—the Jiang family had been revered by countless noble houses. Now, even coming to kick them while they’re down brought Xu Mingzhe a strange sense of satisfaction.

“If not for my Jiang family, who knows in which corner your Xu family would still be struggling! What an ingrate!”

“My Jiang family is filled with loyal heroes. We don’t need this marriage! The Xu family is unworthy of an alliance with us!”

The women and children of the Jiang family glared, eyes burning with anger, only to feel an even deeper despair.

Before today, even the most prominent families in the capital would give advance notice before visiting the Jiangs. Now, even the Xu family dared to come and trample on them.

This only deepened the sorrow and desolation among the Jiang clan.

General Zhao Qintian and the assembled soldiers wore expressions of furious grief, yet not a word escaped their lips.

They had received orders before arriving: no matter what happened at the Jiang family’s funeral, they were not to act.

“Since the head of the Xu family has made up his mind, my Jiang family will not cling where we are unwelcome. The engagement is dissolved.”

Elder Jiang sat solemnly at the front, his face calm as stone. He glanced with guilt at a young man among the crowd, his voice cold and distant. “From this day, the Jiang and Xu families have nothing more to do with one another. Please take your leave, Head Xu.”

Today was the day when the Jiang family’s generals and officers would be laid to rest. Elder Jiang wished above all to avoid further trouble, not to disturb the heroic spirits of his house. Yet he knew, after today, his own grandson would become the laughingstock of the capital.

Perhaps even the car accident that left his grandson in this state was no accident at all.

My dear child, your grandfather failed to protect you...

Amid the crowd, Chen Ruolin gripped Jiang Chen’s hand, her beautiful eyes brimming with tears, her slender body trembling.

Her husband had died on the battlefield, and now, at his funeral, she had to endure these insults to her son. Her heart ached unbearably, but with the Jiang family in turmoil, she dared not speak out.

All this, and her son must bear the humiliation...

Chen Ruolin’s gaze fell upon Jiang Chen’s face and she froze in astonishment.

Jiang Chen’s expression was cold, his brow sharpened with a hidden edge, like a sword revealed after the dust has settled—there was not a hint of foolishness about him.

A tremor ran through Chen Ruolin’s heart. She tightened her hold on Jiang Chen’s hand. “My son, you...”

Jiang Chen turned to her and nodded slightly, his voice calm and steady. “Mother, I have returned.”

At that instant, Chen Ruolin could hold back no longer. Tears streamed down her cheeks.

“Elder Jiang, you have backbone. On that note, I shall take my leave!”

Xu Mingzhe sneered and turned to go.

Throughout the imperial capital, who did not know that Elder Jiang had once been a martial master of renown in his youth? He had fought against the strongest of foreign enemies on the battlefield, slain three enemy masters without falling! What a heroic figure he had been!

In Elder Jiang’s prime, he had so dominated the borders that no enemy dared encroach upon them.

Alas, that battle left him grievously wounded. Though he managed to survive, all his strength was lost and he retired from the world. Even so, he remained a giant in the capital—when had he ever known such humiliation?

To force Elder Jiang to bow his head—this was enough to fill Xu Mingzhe with pride.

“The Jiang family is not what it once was,” Xu Mingzhe sighed, shaking off stray thoughts and preparing to leave with Xu Jiaying.

“Hmph, with all the men dead, what backbone is left?” Xu Jiaying swept her gaze contemptuously around the crowd, her scorn unmasked. “Why didn’t that fool just die with them? Would have saved me the trouble of coming here...”

Her voice was neither loud nor soft, but everyone heard it—Elder Jiang and every Jiang clansman’s face darkened to the extreme.

But they knew too well—the Jiang family could endure no more. They could only swallow this humiliation in silence and watch the two leave...

“Stop.”

Suddenly, a cold and distant voice rang out, freezing the entire assembly.

Xu Mingzhe and his daughter halted, and all eyes turned toward a young man, surprise written across every face.

“Divorce the engagement if you must. Scorn us if you will. But ridicule? I will not allow it.”

That tall, slender figure stepped from the crowd, his expression impassive, his handsome features sharp with a killing intent and proud defiance. A strange aura chilled the air around him.

Jiang Chen’s eyes fell on Xu Mingzhe, his voice icy as the grave. “Kneel, bow your head, and apologize to the loyal heroes of the Jiang family. Do this, and I may spare your life.”

“Chen?!”

The Jiang clansmen stared in shock as Jiang Chen stepped forward.

Wasn’t he supposed to be an imbecile...?

“The direct heir of the Jiang family? What a powerful presence!”

On the dais, even Zhao Qintian’s pupils contracted. Though he himself was an internal energy master, he felt a pressure so great it was almost tangible.

Wasn’t this young man supposed to be a fool? How could this be?

“No longer a fool?”

Xu Jiaying stared at Jiang Chen as he approached, a flicker of surprise passing over her face, but she quickly recovered, her eyes still filled with arrogance and disdain.

So what if he’s regained his senses? With the Jiang family’s generals and officers almost all dead, as the only man left, what difference could he make now?

The Jiang family today was not even on the same level as the Xu family!

Jiang Chen and I are now in entirely different worlds.

“A true grandson of the Jiang family—you show some of the bearing of your forebears!”

Xu Mingzhe offered a grudging compliment, shaking his head in regret. “A pity—you are no longer worthy of my daughter.”

He paused, then looked up toward Elder Jiang on the dais. “Elder Jiang, today is the great memorial of your family. For this occasion, I shall forgive your grandson’s insolence. But if it happens again, do not blame me for showing your family no respect...”

In the blink of an eye, Jiang Chen’s figure vanished from where he stood!

A surge of mortal danger made Xu Mingzhe’s scalp prickle. Without hesitation, he leapt back—

But too late. That figure appeared before him, and with a light, effortless punch to Xu Mingzhe’s chest, the air itself seemed to shudder, the ground cracking beneath their feet!

With a single blow, Xu Mingzhe was sent flying dozens of meters, his chest caving in.

Sprawled on the ground, his face white as chalk, Xu Mingzhe spat out a mouthful of blood. Horror filled his eyes as he stared at the young man standing before him. “How is this possible?!”

He himself was an inner strength martial artist, just a step away from the rank of master. Yet he hadn’t survived a single blow from Jiang Chen?

He could even sense that Jiang Chen had held back—he had not intended to kill him with one strike!

Xu Jiaying stared at Jiang Chen in stupefied disbelief.

Her father, whom she had always been so proud of, had been crushed with ease by this supposed fool?

“I told you—kneel, bow your head, and beg forgiveness from the loyal spirits of the Jiang family.”

Jiang Chen, hands in his pockets, strode coldly toward Xu Mingzhe, his voice as chilling as a summons from the underworld.

“Otherwise—you die.”