Chapter 33

Jiang Yi shouted a dozen times, but the courtyard remained silent. His expression grew increasingly grim, his eyes flickering, and his body trembling more and more. In this world, he only had Jiang Xiaonu as his family. If she were to die, Jiang Yi didn't know if he would go mad.

"Chunya! Yes, find Chunya!"

Jiang Yi suddenly realized and hurriedly ran out. Chunya lived nearby and she must know where Xiaonu had gone.

Rustle, rustle, rustle!

Just as Jiang Yi left the courtyard, a thin and dark-skinned girl from a distant courtyard walked out in fear. Seeing Jiang Yi's fierce expression, she shrank back and stammered, "Young Master Jiang Yi, you, you're back."

"Chunya!"

Seeing Chunya's state, Jiang Yi's heart sank again, and he shot forward. Before he even got close, he roared, "Chunya, where is my Xiaonu?"

Chunya's body trembled again. She took two steps back and forced a smile, "Young Master Jiang Yi, Xiaonu said two days ago... that she went to visit relatives and will be back in half a month."

"Nonsense!"

Jiang Yi coldly shouted, his yuan qi circulating, and his aura released, pressing down on Chunya so hard she couldn't even breathe. He grabbed Chunya's arm and said coldly, "Chunya, don't tell me these lies. Xiaonu and I are orphans; we don't have any relatives. Don't be afraid... tell me the truth, I'm very worried about her, do you understand?"

Chunya lowered her head, her eyes filled with hesitation. Finally, she gritted her teeth and said, "Young Master Jiang Yi, don't worry about Xiaonu. She will be back in half a month."

"Phew..."

Jiang Yi let out a long breath. As long as Jiang Xiaonu was alive, that was all that mattered. He tried to calm down and made his tone as gentle as possible, "Where did she go? Chunya, don't lie to me, tell me everything. Don't be afraid, I'll handle everything, I won't let you be in a difficult position."

"Young Master Jiang Yi, don't ask anymore!"

Chunya stomped her foot, looking very troubled, "Just wait for half a month. Xiaonu will definitely come back. I promised her I wouldn't say anything."

Seeing Chunya's state, Jiang Yi surprisingly calmed down. He sighed and waved his hand, "Oh! Then you go back first. I'll wait for half a month."

Chunya nodded in relief, turned, and walked back into the courtyard. She stood behind the gate, secretly watching Jiang Yi. When he returned to his house, she let out a breath and quickly walked to a room.

The room was small, filled with the smell of medicine. A frail body lay on the bed, half of it wrapped in bandages, with faint bloodstains. One side of her delicate face was swollen like a meat bun, and her eyes were filled with tension. Seeing Chunya enter, she quickly whispered, "Chunya, did Young Master leave?"

"Um..." Chunya patted her chest and stuck out her tongue, "Young Master Jiang Yi scared me to death just now. I almost told him the truth. Xiaonu, is it really good to hide this from Young Master Jiang Yi? If he finds out, he will definitely be angry."

Jiang Xiaonu's face darkened, and she sighed, "What can I do if I don't hide it? Can I let Young Master see me like this..."

"What can't I see?"

At that moment, a cold voice suddenly interrupted Jiang Xiaonu's words. The door was forcefully pushed open, and a black figure strode in, eyes cold, face full of anger.

But when he saw Jiang Xiaonu's body wrapped in bandages, unable to move, the anger on his face immediately disappeared, replaced by deep concern. He stood at the door, gazing at Jiang Xiaonu from afar, and after a long time, he let out a breath, his voice cold, "Who did this?"

"Y-Young Master!" Jiang Xiaonu panicked, her eyes filled with fear. She knew her Young Master too well. He had always doted on her the most, and whenever she was bullied, he would fight for her. The same happened at the Fengyue Pavilion.

She paused, then quickly gritted her teeth and shook her head, "Young Master, Xiaonu was accidentally injured..."

"Shut up!"

Jiang Yi suddenly roared, cutting off Jiang Xiaonu's words. He turned to stare at Chunya and coldly shouted, "Chunya, speak!"

Jiang Yi's aura was even more intense than before, and his eyes were full of killing intent. Chunya was so scared she couldn't even breathe. After hesitating for a long time, she gritted her teeth and said, "Young Master Jiang Yi, it was Young Master Hu, and Young Masters Jiang Bao and Jiang Song... Two days ago, they came to your house and asked Xiaonu where you were. When she didn't tell them, they started beating her. If I hadn't come quickly... Xiaonu would have been beaten to death."

"Enough!"

After hearing Chunya's words, Jiang Yi's face quickly calmed down. He took out a golden leaf from his pocket and threw it to Chunya, "Chunya, find a good doctor for Xiaonu and take good care of her. I'll be back soon."

"Young Master!"

Jiang Xiaonu's face immediately changed. She struggled to sit up and shouted, "Young Master, don't act rashly, Xiaonu is fine, oh..."

Jiang Xiaonu's body moved, pulling at her wounds, causing her to cry in pain. But her eyes never left Jiang Yi, and she shook her head desperately.

Rustle, rustle, rustle!

To Jiang Xiaonu's despair, Jiang Yi ignored her, turned, and walked away with a stern face, not saying a word.

"Young Master, Young Master!"

Jiang Xiaonu kept shouting, but Jiang Yi's footsteps grew farther and farther away. She turned to Chunya and shouted, "Chunya, quickly stop Young Master. He can't go, he will be beaten to death..."

"Xiaonu, don't move! I can't stop Young Master Jiang Yi, and no one can!"

Chunya shook her head, helping Jiang Xiaonu lie down. Her face was no longer panicked, and her eyes sparkled. She looked in the direction Jiang Yi had gone and said, "Xiaonu, don't worry! I feel that Young Master Jiang Yi is not the same as before. You don't know how he made me feel just now, like seeing the head of the family... it was terrifying..."

...

"Bang, bang, bang!"

A dull drum sound suddenly echoed outside the Jiang family's Punishment Hall, startling Jiang Yunshi, who was drinking tea. The Punishment Hall had a drum for grievances, and any family member with a complaint could hit the drum to seek justice. According to the Jiang family rules, the Punishment Hall must handle any grievance after the drum is hit. However, the rules were one thing, and the reality was another. Jiang family members avoided the Punishment Hall like the plague. Who would run to the Punishment Hall to cause trouble for no reason?

The Punishment Hall elder was previously the Grand Elder Jiang Yunhai, who also served as the Punishment Hall elder. After the Grand Elder disappeared, the family appointed Jiang Yunshi as the deputy elder, in charge of all Punishment Hall affairs. So although Jiang Yunshi was a deputy, he held great power in the Jiang family.

His face, known as the "Yan Wang face" by the Jiang family members, was now full of anger. He hurried out of the front hall and shouted at a Jiang family guard, "Which bastard is hitting the drum outside? Bring him in."

The person who hit the drum was quickly brought in. Jiang Yunshi saw a face he didn't recognize and immediately roared, "What grievance do you have? The family just had a celebration banquet yesterday, and you come to seek justice? If you have no grievance, watch your legs!"

"Jiang Yi pays respects to Deputy Elder!"

The person was naturally Jiang Yi. He entered the Punishment Hall, which the Jiang family members feared like a tiger, with a calm face. After bowing to Jiang Yunshi, he said solemnly, "I hit the drum because I have a grievance. I want to accuse Jiang Ruhu, Jiang Bao, and Jiang Song. They unjustly beat my servant Jiang Xiaonu, causing her severe injuries and nearly killing her. I request the Punishment Hall to severely punish them."

When Jiang Yi addressed him as "Deputy Elder," the four guards in the Punishment Hall looked awkward, pitying Jiang Yi. Jiang Yunshi was indeed the deputy elder, but who came to the Punishment Hall didn't directly call him "elder"? This family member was so naive, and he was accusing the son of the chief steward? Wasn't he asking for trouble?

Sure enough, before Jiang Yi finished speaking, Jiang Yunshi's face turned dark. He slammed the table in front of him and roared, "Is this trivial matter worth hitting the drum for? Are Jiang Ruhu and the others brain-dead? If they weren't, why would they beat your servant for no reason? If you didn't provoke them, would they provoke you? Go back and practice, and if you dare to cause trouble again, I will punish you severely, no mercy, hmpf!"

"Indeed, as expected..."

Jiang Yi sneered and didn't say more, bowing and walking out. Jiang Yunshi was the younger brother of the head of the family, Jiang Yunshan, and the chief steward, Jiang Yunshe, was Jiang Yunshi's cousin. They now held the most power in the Jiang family. If someone wanted to accuse the son of the chief steward, Jiang Yunshi would naturally protect him.

Jiang Yi hadn't really expected the Punishment Hall to help. He just wanted to let them know that he wasn't making trouble for no reason, that he wasn't just lashing out.

After leaving the Punishment Hall, he went straight to the Jiang family's back courtyard. Outside a grand residence, he shouted, "Jiang Ruhu, someone is looking for you."

The main gate of the residence quickly opened, and an old servant looked at Jiang Yi with confusion, "Who are you? Young Master Hu went to the Training Hall. Go to the Training Hall to find him."

Jiang Yi nodded and turned to the family's central courtyard. After half a stick of incense, he found the Training Hall where the family members practiced. Before he even got close, he heard the sounds of practice inside, indicating that many family members were training.

"Training Hall, haven't been here for eight years, right?"

Looking at the grand Training Hall, Jiang Yi's lips curled into a mocking smile. He strode into the hall, gently pushed the door open, and his eyes scanned the inside like lightning.

The Training Hall was large, with about forty to fifty Jiang family members practicing martial arts. Jiang Yi's sudden appearance caught their attention, and when they recognized him, over twenty of them lit up with excitement, looking at each other and becoming more and more excited.

Jiang Yi finally appeared!

"Ruying, quickly go call my brother!"

In a corner, Jiang Ruhu, who had been sitting lazily, suddenly perked up. He whispered to Jiang Ruying beside him, telling him to go through the side door, while he led a group of people toward Jiang Yi, sneering from a distance, "Jiang Yi, what are you doing here? This place isn't for you to come."

Jiang Yi's eyes scanned the area, and after confirming that no powerful family members were inside, he smiled. He looked around, his eyes locking onto Jiang Ruhu, and said softly, "This place indeed isn't for me to come. If you weren't here, I wouldn't have come..."

After saying that, he strode inside, slamming the door shut. His eyes scanned everyone like a knife, and he roared, "Everyone listen up, today I want six legs from Jiang Ruhu, Jiang Bao, and Jiang Song. The rest of you stand aside, or else... you will bear the consequences."

"Whoa!"

The entire Training Hall was in an uproar. Many Jiang family members thought they had heard wrong. There were at least ten members at the Founding Cauldron realm in the hall. Was Jiang Yi so arrogant? And this was the Jiang family's Training Hall, a place of great importance. Was Jiang Yi openly challenging the authority of the Punishment Hall?