The villa before them was enormous, much larger than the average one. When Ye Xiao followed Jiang Chuan, Jiang Zhongzheng, Jiang Miaoke, Xia Nanhai, and others into the villa, they first entered a very rustic room. It was a great hall, and it appeared to be modeled after ancient designs.

At that moment, seated at the far end of the great hall was an elder with a youthful complexion and white hair. If one overlooked his snowy hair, everything about his demeanor screamed middle-aged vibrancy.

"Father, Ye Xiao has arrived," Jiang Zhongzheng said with a smile as he looked toward the elder, who was also the helmsman of the Jiang family, Jiang Wuqi.

Jiang Wuqi had a kind-looking face and his eyes were gentle as he watched Ye Xiao.

"Rumors fail to match meeting you in person. Ye Xiao, hello!" Jiang Wuqi, sitting in an armchair, spoke to Ye Xiao at a measured pace.

Ye Xiao looked at Jiang Wuqi. Even though Jiang Wuqi was all smiles, Ye Xiao could tell that this man was no ordinary person. The dignity that one couldn't ignore even amidst casual banter told Ye Xiao that Jiang Wuqi's strength was certainly formidable. Perhaps he had not reached Earth Rank, but he was undoubtedly a top expert at Xuan Rank.

"Mr. Jiang, hello, this junior offers his respects!" Ye Xiao clasped his hands in a fist and bowed toward Jiang Wuqi, not for any other reason but to acknowledge the high regard Jiang Wuqi had shown him.

"Please, have a seat," Jiang Wuqi said with a smile.

Ye Xiao immediately sat down behind Xia Nanhai. By now, Ye Xiao was also a subordinate of Xia Nanhai.

At this time, Jiang Wuqi turned to Jiang Miaoke, saying, "Coco, we'll be discussing matters here. You go play outside."

Jiang Miaoke frowned and pursed her lips when she heard her grandfather issuing a dismissal, grumbling, "Hmph, who cares about staying here? Grandpa is so biased."

Though Jiang Miaoke complained that Jiang Wuqi was biased, she knew her grandfather treated her the best. However, the Jiang family's ancestral teachings were clear: women should not be involved in clan affairs. The reason was straightforward—although born as daughters of the Jiang family, they were destined to marry into another family. If they knew too many of the Jiang family's secrets and harbored ulterior motives, it would be detrimental to the Jiang family. In fact, many families with ancient lineages held such unwritten rules, resulting in many talented individuals who, despite their potential, were unable to learn their family's Internal Cultivation Methods at a young age.

"This girl, always so impudent!" Jiang Zhongzheng apologized with a smile. Then, smiling at Ye Xiao, he said, "Ye Xiao, thank you for intervening on the train with Coco."

Upon hearing Jiang Zhongzheng's words, Ye Xiao understood at once that Jiang Zhongzheng was aware of what had happened on the train. He replied with a smile, "It was just a small effort, nothing worth mentioning."

"The Jiang family never forgets any grudge, nor does it forget any kindness. I think we could become friends," Jiang Zhongzheng said as he looked at Ye Xiao, trying to discern something from Ye Xiao's face.

However, Ye Xiao's expression remained as calm as still water, and even Jiang Zhongzheng's keen observation could not detect anything he sought.

"It would be an immense honor to become friends with a great family like the Jiang family," Ye Xiao replied humbly.

"I heard from Nanhai that you castrated Zhao Pu of the Zhao family?" Jiang Zhongzheng looked at Ye Xiao with a serious expression and said with a cold smile, "The Zhao family's influence in Bird City is not very large, but it's complex and significant. Offending the Zhao family may bring a lot of trouble to the Xia family. Young people can be a bit impulsive."

Ye Xiao just lightly smiled, but did not say a word.

All present saw Ye Xiao's smile; both Jiang Zhongzheng and Xia Nanhai exchanged a glance, and then they both looked toward Jiang Wuqi.

At that moment, Jiang Wuqi merely glanced at Ye Xiao from the corner of his eye and kept a neutral expression without speaking.

Obviously, Jiang Wuqi was also quietly observing Ye Xiao.

But in truth, even the old and calculating Jiang Wuqi could not see any concern or fear on Ye Xiao's face; instead, the smile seemed to carry a hint of sarcasm.

At that moment, Jiang Zhongzheng suddenly chuckled and said to Ye Xiao, "You seem to hold my words in disdain!"

"Of course not, but I did castrate Zhao Pu. So what?" The smile on Ye Xiao's face remained unchanged, his expression showing no difference from before.

Jiang Zhongzheng was momentarily taken aback by Ye Xiao's words. Although he was second only to Mr. Jiang in the Jiang family, he would never dare to speak such arrogant words. It was simply too presumptuous, something that only someone who completely disregarded the Zhao family would say.

While the Zhao family's power did not match the Jiang family's, this didn't mean that the Jiang family could just go about castrating the grandson of Old Man Zhao; such an act would cut off his lineage.

However, what was a significant matter seemed trivial to Ye Xiao, as if it was not even worth mentioning.

"Youthful arrogance can be understood, but it's not good to be so disdainful and conceited," Jiang Zhongzheng said in all seriousness.

Ye Xiao said, "Uncle Jiang is right. However, hehe, if someone crosses my bottom line, I'll make them realize that being born into this world was a great mistake."

Ye Xiao's words were still mild, but the arrogance reflected within them made everyone present take notice.

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At that moment, Jiang Chuan unexpectedly let out a leisurely smile and said, "However, by doing this, you have cut off someone's family line; isn't that a bit too much?"

"There's something I'd like to ask Brother Jiang," Ye Xiao said, looking at Jiang Chuan.

Jiang Chuan still smiled and said, "Please, do tell."

"What would you do if someone tried to attack your younger sister?" Ye Xiao asked Jiang Chuan.

"No one can bully my sister, unless I can't defeat him. Otherwise, I would make him understand what it means to pay in blood," Jiang Chuan immediately responded.

Ye Xiao said, "If somebody strikes your sister, you would make them taste the price of blood. So, what if that person wanted to act indecently towards your sister? I think Brother Jiang might just lose control."

"This..." Jiang Chuan was momentarily at a loss for words.

Yes, if anyone dared to act inappropriately towards his sister, Jiang Chuan's first course of action would probably be to send him to Yama Palace.

At that point, Jiang Zhongzheng spoke up coldly, "Ye Xiao, by comparing the situation to Coco, isn't that rather disrespectful?"

"Yes, and it is indeed very disrespectful. However, if we were talking about someone with no relation to our seniors here, there would be no hard feelings," Ye Xiao frankly and directly responded.

The truth in his words left Jiang Zhongzheng speechless!

Jiang Zhongzheng and his son Jiang Chuan could see, at this time, that Ye Xiao was no benevolent man. With his sharp wit, it was clear that intimidating Ye Xiao with words was not going to happen.

At this moment, Xia Nanhai turned to Jiang Wuqi and said, "Father-in-law, Ye Xiao hurt Zhao Pu, and indeed, it was because of Ming Yue. Zhao Pu was actually trying to take advantage of Ming Yue; luckily, Ye Xiao was there at the time. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unthinkable."

Upon hearing Xia Nanhai call Jiang Wuqi "father-in-law," Ye Xiao was momentarily stunned. Could Mr. Jiang be Xia Mingyue's grandfather? But then, why would Xia Mingyue's mother have the last name Zhang and not Jiang? Could there be some story behind this?

However, as Ye Xiao was considering this, he heard Jiang Wuqi begin to speak.

"Zhao Guangyi's grandson, Zhao Pu, is indeed a troublesome young fellow. Jiang Chuan, do you know anything about this Zhao Pu?" Jiang Wuqi inquired, looking at Jiang Chuan.

Jiang Chuan promptly responded to Jiang Wuqi, "Grandfather, I have not personally dealt with Zhao Pu, but I have often heard peers talk about him. It's said that Zhao Pu has harassed many young women from prominent families in Bird City; his bad character is quite infamous there."

Hearing Jiang Chuan's words, Jiang Wuqi sighed and said, "Such a man, if left whole in society, is indeed a calamity!"

Jiang Chuan glanced at Ye Xiao, then said to Jiang Wuqi, "Grandfather, while Ye Xiao's approach may have been extreme, a scourge should be dealt with by equally severe measures—I don't see anything improper with it."

Ye Xiao, hearing Jiang Chuan's words, immediately looked up at Jiang Chuan, not expecting Jiang Chuan to take his side.

Seeing Ye Xiao's reaction, Jiang Chuan let out a chuckle and said, "What you said is right. If anyone dares to harm Coco indecently, I won't hesitate to kill him, because I am her brother."

Ye Xiao simply smiled without saying a word.

Jiang Wuqi looked at Ye Xiao and said, "Ye Xiao, Nanhai is my son-in-law, and when his family faces trouble, I will naturally help. However, you should have heard of the eight major families of Bird City."

"I've only heard of them, but I know that the Zhao family and your Jiang family are two of them," Ye Xiao said.

Jiang Wuqi explained, "Jiang, Qi, Fu, Liu, Feng, Li, Chen, Zhao—these are the eight major families of Bird City. Their power spreads complexly through the nine areas of Bird City, and their strength is not too disparate. Among them, the Fu, Feng, and Chen families are linked by marriage, thus closely related, while the Feng and Zhao families are old friends, which makes their relationship quite close. So, you should understand how many powers you have offended."

"Fu, Feng, Chen, Zhao?" Ye Xiao looked at Jiang Wuqi questioningly.

Jiang Wuqi nodded, smiling as he said, "Indeed, even if these four families join forces, the Jiang family is not afraid. But it's been a long time since the Jiang family has been in conflict with others, and I do not wish to make enemies with any local powers. Therefore, turning swords into plowshares would be for the best."

Jiang Wuqi's statement was clearly ambiguous and did not fully express whether he would help or not.

Ye Xiao responded, "I understand Mr. Jiang's predicament. I will take responsibility for this matter myself."

"Father-in-law!" Xia Nanhai did not expect the situation to take this turn and immediately looked at Jiang Wuqi!

Jiang Wuqi did not look at Xia Nanhai but instead continued looking at Ye Xiao and said, "You have shown kindness to the Jiang family, which we will not forget. You have offended the Zhao family for the sake of my granddaughter, and that is also something I will remember. Do you understand?"

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