In the front hall, two middle-aged men sat solemnly in the seats of honor.

The man on the left, dressed in a dark cyan robe with a jade belt, had a resolute face with distinct features.

He was Ye Feng’s father, Ye Tianying, at the early peak of the Golden Elixir Realm.

Yet, at this moment, Ye Tianying wore a flattering expression.

Behind him stood a young girl in a light blue dress, Ye Qing’er.

Ye Qing’er had delicate features and an exceptionally beautiful face.

But the girl’s head was bowed, her phoenix eyes brimming with mist.

Ye Tianying, holding a wine cup in his hand, spoke with a smile, “Brother Zeng, it’s not that I don’t want to supply you with goods, it’s just that…”

“My supplier below suddenly can’t deliver on time.”

“Please be generous, considering the many years of friendship between our families, and give me a couple more days.”

The man beside him remained unperturbed.

He wore a blue robe embroidered with golden dragons, his figure slightly plump.

With a bulbous nose and thick lips, his eyes gleamed with shrewdness.

He lounged back in his chair, casually spinning a wine cup on the table, showing no intention of picking it up.

His name was Zeng Shuheng, head of the Zeng family, also in the business of medicinal herbs and Spirit Herbs.

Zeng Shuheng himself was a mid-stage Golden Elixir Cultivator, with considerable strength.

“Old Ye… it’s not that I don’t want to give you an extension, but this batch of goods is for a major Sect!”

“You know how troublesome it is to deal with Sects; they only care about results.”

“Otherwise, I wouldn’t have signed a contract with a penalty clause a hundred times the value, given the importance.”

“Moreover, with such a large supply for this deal, if not for our good relationship, I wouldn’t have come to you for the other half.”

“If this deal goes through, we both know how much we stand to gain.”

At this, Zeng Shuheng paused slightly, and Ye Tianying’s forehead broke out in cold sweat.

He knew all too well how much profit this deal could bring if successful.

But he simply couldn’t procure that much stock now!

If the contract were breached and compensation due…

The entire Ye family would be drained of their assets, and other families with business ties would sever their contracts.

The Ye family would instantly fall into an irreversible catastrophe.

Before Ye Tianying could speak, Zeng Shuheng continued, “There are only three days left until the delivery date, and my goods are already prepared.”

“It’s just your half that’s missing, Old Ye, what do you think I should do?”

Ye Tianying’s face changed repeatedly, his humble pleas already uttered countless times.

But Zeng Shuheng seemed determined, unwavering on the contract and the delivery date!

Just then, a hurried figure appeared at the door.

Ye Tianying frowned and turned to the arriving Ye Feng, “When did you return… wait!”

“You’ve reached Foundation Establishment?”

After speaking, a flicker of imperceptible sharpness and joy crossed Ye Tianying’s eyes.

He beckoned Ye Feng over, whispering, “Come sit down first.”

Ye Feng was momentarily stunned; his relationship with Ye Tianying had always been poor.

Under such circumstances, he was only fit to stand aside, but now with the atmosphere so tense in the hall, Ye Tianying was actually inviting him to sit at the lower seats.

Then Li Guanqi also appeared at the doorway, and Ye Feng softly said, “This is my friend.”

Ye Tianying nodded slightly, indicating for Li Guanqi to sit down as well.

Ye Feng frowned slightly without speaking, leading Li Guanqi straight to the lower seats and nodding slightly to Ye Qing’er.

A fierce glint flashed in Zeng Shuheng’s eyes as he chuckled, “I didn’t expect the third son of your family to have reached Foundation Establishment, congratulations.”

After speaking, the man rose to leave.

Suddenly!

Bang!

Ye Tianying slammed his wine cup onto the table, shattering it.

Gone was his previous subservience, replaced by a calm demeanor.

Zeng Shuheng slowly turned around, sneering, “What? Smashing cups at me?”

Ye Tianying also stood up, his eyes fixed on the other man as he scoffed.

“Heh, if you’ve already decided on your course of action, why bother with pretenses!”

“Zeng Shuheng, lay it all out on the table.”

“I, Ye Tianying, have played the groveling fool long enough.”

“What exactly does your Zeng family want? Just say it!”

Zeng Shuheng’s face twitched slightly, glancing at the girl standing behind Ye Feng, and chuckled softly.

“Old Ye, why the anger?”

“It’s just some compensation and goods, easily resolved.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a sudden tightness gripped Ye Tianying’s heart; he sensed ill intentions from the other party!

Sure enough…

Zeng Shuheng smiled and said, “I see Qing’er is almost fourteen this year, already a young lady.”

“She and my son, Zeng Yuan, are quite a match; why don’t our families unite in marriage?”

“Once our families are joined, such matters will naturally be of no consequence.”

As Zeng Shuheng’s face beamed with a smile, Ye Tianying felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.

Upon hearing it was Zeng Yuan, Ye Feng’s anger surged, and he stood up shouting, “In your dreams!!”

“I’ll tell you, anyone can marry my sister, but Zeng Yuan is out of the question!!”

Ye Feng’s chest heaved with rage, well aware of Zeng Yuan’s character.

He was a good-for-nothing scion, relying on his family’s power to commit misdeeds, and the incidents of abducting local girls were not isolated.

Few women who entered the Zeng household came out alive; most were dismissed with a sum of money.

That’s why Ye Feng felt a sense of justice when the Great Xia Sword Sect executed that Outer Sect disciple!

He had known Zeng Yuan since childhood, a man with a cold heart.

Towards women, he also had a sick fascination.

Zeng Shuheng snorted coldly, and a terrifying Pressure instantly bore down on Ye Feng!

Boom!!

In just an instant, the chair beneath Ye Feng shattered, and he was pinned to the ground, unable to move under the Pressure.

The man’s eyes narrowed with malice, glancing at Ye Feng on the ground and sneering, “A mere Foundation Establishment whelp dares to shout at me.”

“Ye Tianying, it seems your family discipline is lacking. Shall I teach him a lesson for you?”

At the same time, Li Guanqi swiftly drew his sword, Primordial Energy surging as a murderous intent flashed in his eyes.

His muscles tensed, and the flagstones beneath his feet exploded!

With a hand gesture and sword in hand, the skies above the villa changed dramatically, dark clouds gathered, and thunder rumbled intermittently!!

Boom!!

Another aura soared to the sky; Ye Tianying stepped in front of Ye Feng, blocking Li Guanqi’s path.

He drew his sword swiftly, pointing it at the other man!

Clang!!

Ye Tianying’s sword aimed directly at Zeng Shuheng’s face, chuckling coldly, “Try disciplining him.”

“I called you Brother Zeng out of respect, are you taking your Zeng family too seriously?”

“If it weren’t for your lucky breakthrough to the Golden Elixir Realm and obtaining a millennium Six Jia Purple Ginseng to advance to mid-stage Golden Elixir…”

“Your Zeng family wouldn’t even count as a noble family; in my eyes, you’re nothing but Nouveau Riche.”

Zeng Shuheng’s cheeks twitched slightly, hating nothing more than being called Nouveau Riche after his rise to power!

His eyes flickered coldly, and Zeng Shuheng sneered.

“The choice has been given to you, in three days.”

“Either deliver the goods or compensate until the Ye family can never recover!”

“Hmph!”

With a sweep of his sleeve, Zeng Shuheng stormed out of the Ye residence!

Li Guanqi lowered his sword and helped Ye Feng up.

Ye Tianying looked deeply at Li Guanqi and softly said, “Feng’er, take Qing’er back first, and let your friend wander around the villa.”

“Come to my study later.”

Then Ye Tianying smiled faintly at Li Guanqi, softly adding, “No need to be a stranger, make yourself at home here.”

Li Guanqi bowed politely in response.

Yet he felt that the man before him was not the father Ye Feng had described.

Just from the killing intent Ye Tianying displayed when he drew his sword, it was clear he deeply cared for both Ye Feng and Ye Qing’er!

Ye Feng was also shaken, his father today was vastly different from the man he remembered.