"Immortal Master, the prime culprit has been brought before you. Do with him as you please, but we beg you not to implicate us innocent bystanders..."
Several guests fawned over Ying Chen, speaking ingratiatingly.
This scene filled the other guests with a sense of disillusionment.
In the past, people of their status would never have uttered such sycophantic words.
Yet now, they said them without hesitation, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Indeed, many might fantasize that powerful figures are inherently different from ordinary people, that they would react with unwavering composure and dignity in the face of crisis, unlike the embarrassing behavior of common folk.
Such notions are clearly mistaken.
Powerful figures are not more calm in the face of danger, nor do they possess more integrity than ordinary people. It is simply that they have not yet encountered even more powerful figures!
Once they do, they too will remain within the scope of human nature! They will, just like ordinary people, bow and scrape and offer abject flattery!
The reactions of these guests at this moment perfectly proved this point!
"There is great terror in the face of life and death; it is true! Even we cannot escape it," the old man who recognized Ying Chen spitting out sword pellets sighed.
After his lament, he immediately raised his voice and shouted, "Hu Quan'an, what are you dawdling for? Hurry up and kowtow to admit your mistakes!"
"You few, help him! Perhaps our Young Master Hu's neck is a bit stiff and won't bend."
Following the old man's shout, the few guests who had dragged Hu Quan'an before Ying Chen simultaneously acted, grabbing Hu Quan'an's neck.
"What are you doing? Do you want to die? I have the First Young Master behind me! Aren't you afraid he'll settle the score with you?" Hu Quan'an, terrified, threatened with a show of bravado.
To his surprise, the guests sneered, "No matter how powerful the First Young Master is, he can't reach us now. But this Immortal Master here can have our heads in an instant! Which do you think we should choose?"
"Besides, I don't believe the First Young Master would turn against all of us guests for your sake! Haven't you ever heard of the principle that the law does not punish the multitude?"
"..." Hu Quan'an was momentarily speechless.
If he weren't on the opposing side, Hu Quan'an would have been unable to resist praising, "That's incredibly logical!"
"So, Young Master Hu, we apologize! It's better one friend dies than another, so you'll have to be inconvenienced!"
This guest had stolen Hu Quan'an's line.
Then, the few of them exerted force simultaneously, pressing Hu Quan'an's neck and head towards the ground.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
The sounds were loud, echoing throughout the courtyard.
Soon, a pool of blood appeared on the bluestone slabs.
Since it wasn't their own heads, these guests showed no sign of concern whatsoever.
Their actions were utterly ruthless.
In the blink of an eye, Hu Quan'an's forehead was swollen high, and blood flowed everywhere.
He was almost in a semiconscious state, looking at Ying Chen dazedly, pleading repeatedly, "I was wrong, spare me! I'll never dare again..."
"Min Ziqiong is in the east wing room, she's all yours... If you're not satisfied, I can find you two more!"
"Or, if you're happy, you can be the groom today, and I'll be your best man!"
Hearing Hu Quan'an's words, the guests present finally understood.
So, the cause of this undeserved calamity was that Hu Quan'an had stolen someone's wife!
Hu Quan'an was truly brainless, stealing from such a top-tier expert.
Wasn't that like looking for trouble in a urinal – asking for a beating?
"Pah! I despise people like you the most! Knock harder! Knock a thousand times, ten thousand times, a million times!"
Before Ying Chen could speak, one of the guests holding Hu Quan'an's head suddenly became enraged.
Everyone looked at that guest with sympathy.
Undoubtedly, that guest must have a hidden, heartbreaking past.
"Stop for a moment! If you keep hitting him, he'll die,"
Ying Chen finally spoke, stopping the guest.
Hu Quan'an looked up at Ying Chen with tearful gratitude, a hint of tears welling in his eyes.
But in the next second, he realized: why was he grateful to Ying Chen?
If it weren't for Ying Chen, he would never have suffered this fate!
It was as if he had been sold out and was still helping the seller count the money!
"Where is your grand-uncle?"
Ying Chen looked down at Hu Quan'an from above and asked.
He had already heard the guests' discussions and knew that Hu Quan'an was preparing a wedding celebration for his ailing grand-uncle.
Furthermore, Old Hu had only sent Hu Quan'an to prison as a show and then immediately released him, which clearly violated his agreement with Ying Chen.
Therefore, Ying Chen was not only here to rescue Min Ziqiong and Nian Nian today but also for the grandfather and grandson, Hu Quan'an and Old Hu!
Originally, only one of them was supposed to die, but now, both of them were going to die!
"Grand-uncle... is... in the ward..."
Hu Quan'an, struggling to speak, replied indistinctly.
"Lead the way!"
Ying Chen said coldly.
Despite his head feeling like it was exploding and his consciousness being hazy, Hu Quan'an struggled to his feet, stumbling towards Old Hu's ward.
The guests watched the two of them, somewhat bewildered, and made way.
Only after the two figures disappeared around the corner did they begin to whisper amongst themselves.
"What's going on? Isn't this person here to steal the bride? Why isn't he going to see the bride, but the old master Hu?"
"It feels like he cares more about the old master Hu than the bride! I can't figure it out..."
"Those who know understand he's here for the bride, but if you didn't know, you'd think he's here for Old Master Hu! Now that would be exciting!"
Slap!
The guest who spoke last suddenly received a slap across the face.
He even lost a tooth.
Looking in front of him, there was not a soul to be seen.
As he was shocked, enraged, and utterly confused, he heard the old man who had recognized Ying Chen spitting out sword pellets say gloatingly, "To gossip behind the back of a top-tier expert, you truly have courage. Don't you know that such masters can kill from a hundred meters away? Consider yourself lucky to only have lost a tooth! It's a miracle your ancestors' graves are emitting green smoke that you didn't lose your head!"
Hearing the old man's words, the last speaker quickly covered his mouth.
Even if someone offered him money, he would absolutely not utter another word!
Meanwhile, Ying Chen had already entered Old Hu's ward.
What met his eyes was Old Hu's ashen, golden-paper-like complexion, and his shallow, gasping breaths.
Ying Chen frowned instinctively.
Although Ying Chen had held back and not revealed the recipe for a complete cure to Old Hu, the prescription at that time should have at least allowed Old Hu's body to gradually recover, maintaining a state of being sick but alive.
Yet now, Old Hu looked like he was on his deathbed, barely clinging to life, clearly not having long to live!
What went wrong in between?
Had Old Hu's condition worsened again, or had Ying Chen's prescription truly been flawed?
Ying Chen walked forward calmly and stood by Old Hu's bed.
As if sensing Ying Chen's arrival, Old Hu's breathing suddenly became more rapid.
His arm even attempted to lift, to reach for Ying Chen.
However, the arm barely rose an inch before falling back limply.
This small movement seemed to have exhausted Old Hu's last reserves of energy.
Old Hu suddenly tilted his head, his breath ceased!
Hu Quan'an, who had been filled with anxiety, saw this and was instantly overjoyed.
He almost couldn't help but exclaim, "Heaven aids me!"