Cultivation Begins with Daily Intelligence Reports

199: The Zhong family bowed their heads and apologized.It wasn’t until they heard the content of Zhong Yue’s voice that the surrounding Zhong Family members and passersby, who had been stunned almost to stone, seemed to suddenly awaken from these titles and finally understood.

A few sharp-eyed and experienced individuals finally understood at this moment.

It turned out that the three people behind the young man were none other than Great Master Gu Yue, the Vice President of the Alchemist Association of Southeast Market Town, Elder Wang Meng, the association’s guard, and Fairy Shui Sheng, the Shopkeeper of Tianfa Pavilion.

Each of them was a Ninth Layer of Qi Refining master whose mere stomp could shake Southeast Market Town three times over.

Furthermore, they were highly respected and immensely powerful figures.

Their status was considerably higher than that of the Zhong Family Patriarch.

No wonder! No wonder the Patriarch was so scared! No wonder he was so obsequious! Had Zhong Peng really kicked an iron plate this time?

No, he had kicked a nail board made of ten-thousand-year profound iron! And one with barbs!

Gu Yue snorted coldly, flicking his sleeve, his voice filled with undisguised indignation:

“Patriarch Zhong, your son indeed needs to be disciplined properly! He opens his mouth to demand others kneel and kowtow, cripple their cultivation, and speaks with such vulgarity. What great prestige!’

“Could it be that Qingzhong Town can disregard the rules of the cultivation world, arbitrarily bully others, and even disrespect my Alchemist Association?”

A huge accusation was directly leveled.

He had come to support Lin Jingyu, so naturally, he showed no good face to Zhong Yue.

Wang Meng’s voice was like muffled thunder. He took a step forward, and the oppressive feeling from his towering physique almost suffocated Zhong Yue. He added:

“Young Friend Lin Jingyu is a First Grade High Grade Alchemist whom my Alchemist Association has formally invited to join! He is also President Gu Yue’s friend despite their age difference, and a close friend in the Dao of Alchemy!

How can you insult him? If there is no satisfactory explanation for today’s matter, I, Wang, will be the first to object!”

Shui Sheng’s tone was indifferent, yet every word was like an ice pearl falling onto a jade plate, clear and sharp:

“Patriarch Zhong, Elder Gu and Elder Wang and I have witnessed today’s events. Jingyu is a distinguished guest of my Tianfa Pavilion, and moreover, a younger brother whom I, Shui Sheng, have acknowledged.

If he cannot be given a satisfactory explanation, then all future business dealings, Magical Artifact customization, and Formation maintenance between my Tianfa Pavilion and the Zhong Family will have to be completely reconsidered.”

These words directly seized one of the Zhong Family’s economic lifelines.

The three magnates spoke one after another, like three incomparably heavy mountains crashing down on Zhong Yue’s heart, instantly drenching his back in cold sweat and turning his face pale.

He understood that this was to support Lin Jingyu.

His anger at his son’s actions had reached its peak.

He had inexplicably pushed the Family to the edge of a cliff.

Fortunately, he had come out of seclusion today.

Otherwise, if there had been any further delay.

The Zhong Family might no longer exist.

Under the continuous pressure from the three magnates, Zhong Yue’s inner garments were soaked with cold sweat, but he could only force out the most humble and fearful smile, bowing repeatedly, his waist almost touching the ground:

“Yes, yes, yes! The three of you are right to admonish me! President Gu Yue, please calm your anger! Elder Wang, please calm your anger! Shopkeeper Shui Sheng, please calm your anger!

I, Zhong, have been lax in managing my subordinates and incompetent in raising my son. I deserve ten thousand deaths! I will certainly give Young Friend Lin and the three of you the most satisfactory explanation! I would never dare to be negligent in the slightest!”

He abruptly turned around, his humble smile instantly replaced by rage and ferocity, and roared at Zhong Peng, who had just struggled to his feet, his half-swollen face like a pig’s head, still dazed.

His voice was slightly distorted by extreme anger and fear:

“Rebellious son! Scoundrel! Why aren’t you rolling over here! Kneel! Kowtow and apologize to Young Friend Lin! And!

Who were those bastards who injured Patriarch Lin and the Lin Family disciples yesterday? All of you, get out here yourselves!

Cut off an arm and apologize to the Lin Family! Otherwise, if I, your old man, personally make a move, it won’t be as simple as just one arm!”

“Cut off an arm?”

These words were like another bolt from the blue, making all the Zhong Family disciples’ scalps tingle and their bodies tremble violently! The punishment was this severe? Had the Patriarch gone mad?

Zhong Peng was completely terrified. The immense pain and unprecedented humiliation were completely drowned out by a deeper, bone-chilling fear.

He looked at his father’s eyes, bloodshot and almost spitting fire from rage and fear, and even he, as foolish as he was, understood that he had truly caused a monstrous disaster this time.

Behind this seemingly ordinary young man from the Lin Family stood a terrifying power that the entire Zhong Family could not shake, and indeed, had to look up to.

Tears and snot streamed down his face, mixing with the bloodstains, making him look utterly wretched as he struggled to crawl over and kowtow.

“Wait.”

At this dead silent and oppressive moment, Lin Jingyu spoke again. His voice was still calm, yet it flowed like an icy spring.

It instantly drew everyone’s attention, and also froze Zhong Peng’s knees, which were about to bend, in mid-air.

He looked at the sweating Zhong Yue and slowly said, “Patriarch Zhong, there’s no need for kowtowing.

Although my Lin Family is small, we are unwilling to accept such a humiliating courtesy and lose our integrity for nothing.

As for cutting off an arm, it is too cruel, and not what my Lin Family desires.”

Zhong Yue was stunned by these words. Just as a glimmer of hope arose in his heart, wondering if the young man was soft-hearted and easy to manipulate, he heard Lin Jingyu continue, his tone calm but carrying an undeniable weight:

“I want him, Zhong Peng, to personally go to my Lin Family Village, prepare generous gifts, and in front of all the Elders and young ones of our clan, apologize with thorns on his back, and solemnly apologize to Patriarch Lin Lingshan and all the injured clansmen whom he insulted, explaining the whole story word for word.

Furthermore, the direct culprits who attacked and seriously injured Lin Lingxi and stole her Spirit Beast on Black Wind Mountain yesterday must be handed over to my Lin Family for disposal. These two points are indispensable.”

His demands were clear and precise, preserving the Lin Family’s dignity, truly reclaiming justice, and seizing the power of disposal into his own hands, with perfect measure.

Upon hearing this, Zhong Peng felt as if he had received a great pardon!

No kowtowing, no severed arm, just an apology and handing over people – this was an immense act of clemency! He immediately, with a hoarse voice and ignoring the severe pain in his face, hastily shouted:

“I’ll apologize! I’ll go apologize! It was these few people who did it...”

Like grasping at a life-saving straw, he immediately pointed out the few trusted followers who had made a move in Black Mountain yesterday and were now standing in the crowd with ashen faces.

Those few instantly went weak in the knees, slumping to the ground, their eyes filled with despair.

Zhong Yue’s heart ached immensely. Handing over his own clansmen would undoubtedly greatly damage the Family’s prestige, but compared to offending both the Alchemist Association and Tianfa Pavilion simultaneously.

Leading to the cessation of Family business, and possibly even more terrible retaliation, this was already the option with the smallest cost.

He quickly agreed, his tone even showing gratitude: “It should be so! It should be so! Young Friend Lin is magnanimous, and I, Zhong, am endlessly grateful!

I, Zhong, will immediately prepare generous gifts, escort these scoundrels, and personally supervise this rebellious son as he goes to Lin Family Village to apologize at their doorstep! I would never dare to be perfunctory in the slightest!”

He then quickly pulled out a bulging Storage Pouch, embroidered with the Zhong Family’s mark in gold thread, which he had already prepared. He offered it to Lin Jingyu with both hands, almost bowing to the ground, his tone earnest: “Young Friend Lin, here are one thousand five hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones, thirty bottles of excellent ’Jade Marrow Muscle Regeneration Ointment’, five bottles of ’qi-restoring pill’, plus three pieces of First Grade High Grade Magical Artifacts. Consider this as medical expenses and some meager compensation for the injured clansmen. I humbly ask you to accept it as a token of my apology.”