The lounge fell silent. Xiao Yunlong sat comfortably on the sofa, even waving for his agent Pan Zi to fetch him a glass of water.
Liu Ruyan said nothing more. Although the origins of these two young masters from Chu and Zhang were unusual, she had come to understand that her man's background was no less remarkable.
Moreover, Liu Ruyan was no longer the woman who would panic and lose her composure at the slightest trouble.
Her elder cousin, Tang Bowen, stood by her side, making her even less worried. After all, the scene of Jiangdong City Lord Chu Huaimin kneeling before Xiao Yunlong that morning was still vivid in her mind.
Chu Feiyu and Zhang Zhenyun huddled in a corner, too afraid to speak. They both knew that provoking the other party at this juncture would only lead to their own suffering.
The numerous crew members gathered in the lounge, chattering and discussing. Time ticked by.
In less than ten minutes, the sound of an approaching wind could be heard.
A car sped into the film set, stopping on the walkway outside the lounge.
"It's indeed the City Lord's private car. I can't believe he actually came in person!"
"This is going to be good. Liu Ruyan and her fiancé are in trouble!"
"Is there any doubt? That guy named Xiao, relying on some skills and background, dared to beat up the eldest young master of the Chu family. Isn't that asking for trouble? No matter how big his background is, can it be bigger than the Jiangdong City Lord?"
The surrounding crew members whispered and discussed. These were ordinary people who mostly knew Chu Feiyu's identity and background. Few knew about the eldest young master of the Zhang family, as the Zhang family had always been mysterious in Jiangdong.
Chu Huaimin didn't wait for the car to stop completely before pushing open the door and stepping out. He then hurried towards the lounge.
Seeing this, his two personal guards quickly stepped forward to disperse the onlookers.
As Chu Huaimin reached the doorway, Chu Feiyu rushed to him, shouting, "Dad, you're finally here! Great! That kid is Xiao Yunlong. He's the one who hit me. He also said you're nothing in front of him. This dog is too arrogant!"
"Dad, no matter what, you have to get justice for me this time. No need to waste any more words with him. Just order someone to break his limbs..."
"Shut up, you ignorant fool!" Before Chu Feiyu could finish, Chu Huaimin slapped him, sending him stumbling to the ground.
Chu Feiyu was stunned by the blow, clutching his swollen cheek and staring with wide eyes. "Dad, what are you doing? Why did you hit me?"
"I'm hitting you, you blind fool! I'll deal with you later!"
Chu Huaimin snorted, then strode past Chu Feiyu directly to Xiao Yunlong. Just as he had done at the Tang family courtyard that morning, he knelt down on one knee.
"Mr. Xiao, I have failed to discipline my son, leading to this unfilial child offending you. I beg you to show mercy and spare him this time!"
Chu Huaimin knelt there, hands clasped. This scene shocked Chu Feiyu and Zhang Zhenyun, their faces filled with disbelief.
"Dad, are you crazy? You're kneeling to this dog named Xiao! What's wrong with you?" Chu Feiyu shouted.
The elderly Chu family butler, dressed in a Zhongshan suit, said helplessly, "Young Master, you should say less. Can't you understand by now?"
"Understand what? You mean this Xiao..." Only then did Chu Feiyu recover from his extreme anger, looking at Xiao Yunlong with shock.
At this moment, Xiao Yunlong remained seated leisurely, showing no intention of standing up.
It was at this moment that Chu Feiyu's heart trembled, and he began to sweat. He finally realized that he might have done something foolish today, or rather, offended someone the Chu family couldn't afford to offend!
Zhang Zhenyun was also shocked and curious, his eyes fixed on Xiao Yunlong as if trying to see through him.
Seeing Xiao Yunlong's silence, Chu Huaimin continued, "Mr. Xiao, my son was indeed wrong today. I hope you will consider..."
Xiao Yunlong interrupted with a cold laugh. "I say, City Lord Chu, you haven't even asked what happened, and you're already asking me to forgive your precious son for your sake? Do you think your face is that big, or do you think I'm easy to bully?"
Chu Huaimin was stunned, at a loss for words.
The scene fell into an awkward silence. Chu Feiyu, perhaps unable to bear it, gritted his teeth and said, "Xiao, perhaps your background is unusual, but now that my father has knelt and apologized to you, what else do you want?"
"Yes, Young Master Zhang and I were about to break your limbs and throw you into the Jiangdong River, but nothing has happened yet, and you're still sitting here intact. We are all people of status. Do you have to push things to the extreme?"
Hearing this, Chu Huaimin trembled with anger, his entire being resembling a volcano on the verge of eruption.
Tang Bowen, who had been standing behind, sneered, "Mr. Xiao is still sitting here unharmed not because you didn't act, but because you trash didn't have the ability. These are two different concepts."
Xiao Yunlong ignored the so-called eldest young master of the Chu family and asked Chu Huaimin with a playful tone, "Great City Lord Chu, tell me, what should I do about this matter?"
Perhaps sensing the coldness, even a hint of killing intent, in Xiao Yunlong's eyes, Chu Huaimin's heart trembled.
Without a word, he suddenly stood up, darted to Chu Feiyu's side, and kicked him to the ground.
"You ignorant fool! What is Mr. Xiao's status that you can touch him? Today, I will break your legs to atone for Mr. Xiao!" Chu Huaimin gritted his teeth.
"Dad, what are you saying? You're going to break my legs? Are you kidding me?" Chu Feiyu shouted in disbelief.
"Kidding? Do you think I'm kidding? You纨绔 (wán kù - prodigal son) fool! I always tell you to be low-key, but you never listen. If you continue like this, will you even survive!"
With that, Chu Huaimin raised his foot and stomped down fiercely. With two consecutive cracking sounds, he actually broke his son's legs.
Chu Feiyu's pig-like screams and wails suddenly echoed through the lounge, moving everyone present.
Xiao Yunlong remained seated, his expression unchanged.
In fact, everyone present knew that Chu Huaimin was doing this to cut his losses. If he didn't forcefully break his son's legs, Chu Feiyu's life might be in danger.
"Mr. Xiao, my son is ignorant and foolish. I have already broken his legs. Of course, if Mr. Xiao is still not satisfied, I will kill him now to prevent this dog from bullying others and acting recklessly in the future!" Chu Huaimin said, bowing as he approached.
Xiao Yunlong knew that the other party was employing a strategy of advancing by retreating. However, since Chu Huaimin had gone this far, and was the Jiangdong City Lord, he couldn't pursue the matter further.
"Considering your contributions to Jiangdong over the years, and today, for your sake, Great City Lord Chu, I will spare him this time. If he dares to offend again, kill him!"
Although Xiao Yunlong spoke casually, his tone was filled with an undeniable, overbearing authority.
Chu Huaimin finally breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that his son's life was saved. Although his legs were broken, they could be restored with timely and proper treatment.
"Thank you, Mr. Xiao, for your magnanimity. I will discipline him properly in the future. If Mr. Xiao has nothing else, my son and I will take our leave."
Chu Huaimin bowed. Only after seeing Xiao Yunlong nod slightly did he turn to leave, signaling his attendants to help Chu Feiyu up.
Zhang Zhenyun, who had been silent all along, saw this and tried to slip away quietly.
Xiao Yunlong sneered, "Eldest Young Master Zhang, why are you leaving in such a hurry? This doesn't seem like your style."
Startled by the sudden call, Zhang Zhenyun's body trembled, but his feet refused to move. He could only freeze in place.
After a moment's thought, Zhang Zhenyun gritted his teeth and snorted, "Xiao, I admit I underestimated you earlier and didn't know your background was so unusual. But I'm telling you, our Zhang family in Jiangdong is not to be trifled with either. So I advise you to think carefully about the consequences before you act against me!"
"Even now, you still want to pressure me with your so-called Zhang family? Do you really think I don't dare to kill you?" Xiao Yunlong said, slowly standing up.
Chu Huaimin, who had already reached the doorway, changed his expression and waved, ordering, "You two, quickly take him to the hospital for treatment!"
With that, Chu Huaimin hurried back to Xiao Yunlong's side and whispered, "Mr. Xiao, please calm your anger. May I say a few words?"
Xiao Yunlong raised his eyebrows, signaling him to continue.
Chu Huaimin then said, "Mr. Xiao, you haven't been to Jiangdong before, and the Zhang family has always been low-key and mysterious, so it's normal that you don't understand. In fact, the Zhang family's origins are extraordinary. Zhang Zhenyun's grandfather is one of the ten founding national scholars of our Dragon Country!"
"What did you say? One of the ten founding national scholars? So this kid's grandfather is the old Mr. Zhang Houfu?" Xiao Yunlong exclaimed in surprise.
"Precisely, his grandfather is indeed National Scholar Zhang Houfu!" Chu Huaimin nodded slightly.
Xiao Yunlong remained silent, standing there lost in thought.
In the early days of the Dragon Country's founding last century, to reward meritorious generals, ten founding national scholars and ten national pillars were established. Among them, civil officials and strategists were national scholars, and generals were national pillars.
Anyone who was rated as a national scholar or national pillar was someone who had made outstanding contributions to the Dragon Country!
Especially National Scholar Zhang Houfu, whose achievements were remarkable. At the end of the last century, when the ancient Yue country harbored malicious intentions and invaded the southern border, Zhang Houfu voluntarily requested to go to the battlefield to plan and command. He was already over seventy years old at the time.
After defeating the ancient Yue country's invasion and returning triumphantly, Zhang Houfu resolutely declined the Dragon Country's awards. Perhaps feeling too old and suffering from various illnesses, he chose to retire.
"I didn't expect the old Mr. Zhang Houfu to choose Jiangdong for his retirement and to establish his lineage here!" Xiao Yunlong sighed.
Chu Huaimin smiled and said, "That's because Mr. Zhang's wife is actually from Jiangdong. Mr. Zhang was an orphan from a young age and had no hometown, so he eventually chose to retire to Jiangdong with his wife, returning to his roots."
"Is Mr. Zhang still alive?" Xiao Yunlong suddenly asked.
Chu Huaimin shook his head. "No, he passed away at the beginning of this century at the age of eighty-eight. In fact, considering his battle-scarred body, it's fortunate he practiced martial arts at Longhu Mountain in his youth and had a good physical foundation, otherwise he wouldn't have lived this long."
Xiao Yunlong suddenly caught a key point and blurted out, "Did Mr. Zhang originally learn martial arts at Longhu Mountain?"
Chu Huaimin smiled slyly. This was the lead he had deliberately provided. He nodded and said, "Yes, Mr. Xiao, you may not know, but Mr. Zhang was a lay disciple of Longhu Mountain, and indeed the most outstanding one. Relying on this connection, the Zhang family still maintains contact with Longhu Mountain. For example, the eldest grandson of the third generation of the Zhang family, Zhang Zhenyun's eldest cousin, is studying at Longhu Mountain and is said to be a formidable master now!"
As he said this, Chu Huaimin subtly glanced at Xiao Yunlong, perhaps to observe any change in his expression.
However, to his disappointment, Xiao Yunlong remained composed and merely said, "So they have connections with Longhu Mountain. But with just this, the Zhang family in Jiangdong can't overshadow your Chu family yet, can they? Are there any other prominent figures in the Zhang family?"
"Naturally, there are," Chu Huaimin chuckled. "Zhang's second uncle, Zhang Youxu, is currently serving as the third commander of the Eastern Region Army Camp. Besides that, the Zhang family now controls nearly a quarter of Jiangdong's economic lifeline!"
"I see. Truly worthy of being Jiangdong's number one hidden noble family!" Xiao Yunlong chuckled.
Hearing this, Zhang Zhenyun grinned proudly and snorted, "Xiao, now that you know the specific origins of my Zhang family, you should understand how powerful and terrifying the foundation of our Jiangdong Zhang family is. I just want to ask you one thing: can I leave now?"
Chu Huaimin heard this and secretly thought it was bad. He quickly advised, "Mr. Xiao, Zhang Zhenyun is still young after all, and prone to youthful arrogance. With your status, perhaps you don't need to fear the Zhang family, but for the sake of old Mr. Zhang..."
Before he could finish, Xiao Yunlong interrupted, "Old Mr. Zhang Houfu is one of the ten founding national scholars of our Dragon Country and a hero I admire. I may not give face to others, but I cannot refuse him."
Hearing this, Zhang Zhenyun finally smiled, a smile of extreme pride.
However, in the next moment, Xiao Yunlong's tone shifted. "For your grandfather's sake, I can spare your life, but my authority as Xiao Yunlong cannot be challenged by anyone. Break one of your legs and get out!"
"What did you say? Break a leg yourself? Xiao, you know the origins and foundation of my Zhang family very well. Not only is my second uncle the third commander of the Eastern Region Army Camp, holding heavy troops, but our Zhang family also has the backing of Longhu Mountain. Are you really going to do this?" Zhang Zhenyun said through gritted teeth.
Xiao Yunlong stared at him coldly and said word by word, "You'd better act before I change my mind, or the consequences will be more than just a broken leg!"
With that, Xiao Yunlong began to walk towards him, exuding an imposing aura.
Zhang Zhenyun panicked, finally realizing that the other party was not joking.
"Xiao, you're ruthless. The situation is beyond my control. I admit defeat today!"
With that, Zhang Zhenyun picked up the security baton placed in the corner and smashed it hard onto his own leg.
"Xiao Yunlong, I remember you. This matter is not over today. We'll see!"
Although he said "we'll see," the eldest young master of the Zhang family gritted his teeth and hopped out on one foot. Fortunately, two attendant bodyguards quickly caught him to prevent him from falling.
Chu Huaimin shook his head inwardly at the sight, filled with helplessness.
The feud had now begun, and the Zhang family would surely not let this matter rest. Jiangdong was likely to face turbulent waves, and even the Eastern Region Army Camp might be affected and shaken!