Chapter 70

At night, the pavilion was filled with the fragrance of wine.

The so-called banquet only included Zhao Yun and Yang Xiong from the Ancient City of Forgetfulness. The maids serving the dishes and the guards of the city lord all had strange expressions.

What virtue or ability did the deposed young master of the Zhao family have to be able to drink at the same table as the city lord? If it were his father, Zhao Yuan, perhaps he would have the qualifications, but what did he have to rely on!

Zhao Yun, of course, knew his own limits. The city lord was not inviting him, but rather doing it for the sake of his master. This meal was a bluff, borrowing the prestige of his master, who was a member of the royal family, with a grand reputation.

Yang Xiong was in an awkward position.

Tonight, he invited Zhao Yun to try to get some information about his master.

Unfortunately, this kid was tight-lipped, not mentioning a single word, and it might be that he truly didn't know. In the end, he didn't find out who Zhao Yun's master was.

However, he firmly believed that Zhao Yun's master was not an ordinary member of the royal family.

This could be seen from the old man in the hemp robe.

That old man was from the Heavenly Sect. In terms of seniority, even if Yun Feng, the master of Liu Ruyue, were here, he would have to call him "Uncle Master." Many years ago, he had already been in the Ancient City of Forgetfulness, and few knew his identity. As the city lord, he naturally knew and was aware of the old man's terrifying nature.

Yet, such a terrifying existence had become a guest elder of the Zhao family, which clearly wasn't for Zhao Yuan's sake, but rather because of Zhao Yun's master.

From this, it could be seen that Zhao Yun's master, in terms of cultivation and status, was likely above the old man in the hemp robe. If even the old man in the hemp robe was like this, how much more so for Zhao Yun's master.

Therefore, the Ancient City of Forgetfulness was not simple. It had disciples of the Heavenly Sect, elders of the Heavenly Sect, disciples of the royal family, and descendants of great families. Most of these were in the small armory of the Zhao family. Despite its small appearance, it was a place of hidden dragons and tigers.

Given all this, as the city lord, he dared not treat it carelessly. Inviting Zhao Yun was necessary, both to give face to the Zhao family and, more importantly, to give face to Zhao Yun's master.

The banquet ended at some point.

Before leaving, Yang Xiong presented a jade box, exquisitely crafted and sealed. Even Zhao Yun didn't know what was inside. This wasn't for him but for his master. Since it was a gift from the city lord, it was certainly not an ordinary item.

Under the moonlight, Zhao Yun bowed and took his leave.

Yang Xiong watched him go, stroking his beard, his eyes deep, and his heart aching. The contents of the jade box were indeed extraordinary, something he himself was reluctant to use.

"This is the first time I've seen you be so generous."

The city lord's steward sighed, seemingly knowing what was in the jade box, which was not an ordinary treasure.

"It depends on who it's for."

Yang Xiong smiled. Zhao Yun's master had given so many explosive talismans, which were valuable gifts. It would be impolite not to reciprocate. As the city lord, he couldn't be stingy.

"One family has disciples of the Heavenly Sect, another has disciples of the royal family. The Liu family and the Zhao family in the Ancient City of Forgetfulness are truly interesting." The city lord's steward shook his head and smiled. The two families coexisting in the same city, it was no wonder there was constant conflict, both open and hidden. Not to mention him, even the city lord wouldn't dare to intervene, one being from the Heavenly Sect and the other from the royal family, neither of which could be provoked.

Meanwhile, Zhao Yun had already reached the gate of his residence. The guards at the gate looked at him with strange expressions, all knowing that the city lord had invited Zhao Yun. They wondered what kind of reason this deposed young master had to receive such treatment!

Zhao Yun smiled and descended the steps.

Just then, a luxurious carriage stopped, with a large "Liu" character on the curtain, quite eye-catching. It was clearly from the Liu family.

The person who stepped out was Liu Cangkong.

The guards at the city lord's gate straightened up, ready to watch the drama. A few days ago, Liu Cangkong's birthday celebration was quite lively, and a chamber pot was particularly eye-catching.

Afterward, Liu Cangkong was furious and vowed to deal with Zhao Yun. Now, the father-in-law and son-in-law were meeting, and it was bound to spark some conflict.

"Zhao Yun."

As he got out of the carriage, Liu Cangkong saw his precious son-in-law. His face, which had been smiling, turned iron gray. He hadn't expected to meet him here, and the anger he had been suppressing for days finally burst out. Thinking of that chamber pot, he couldn't help but curse. His face and the Liu family's face were completely ruined that day.

All of this was due to Zhao Yun.

Beside Liu Cangkong, the Liu family's steward was also present, his face equally grim. On that day, it was his mistake for not catching the jade box presented by Wu Er, which led to the awkward situation.

For this, he received a lot of scolding afterward.

This account had to be settled on Zhao Yun. You damn fool, you could have sent anything, but you sent a chamber pot.

"Son-in-law, what a coincidence!"

Before Liu Cangkong could speak, the Liu family's steward sneered. He was also a Xuan Yang realm martial cultivator, and his aura was not restrained, all directed at Zhao Yun.

"It is quite a coincidence."

Zhao Yun said calmly, feeling a bit breathless. If he were an ordinary person, this aura alone would have injured him.

Looking at Liu Cangkong, he showed no movement, clearly giving tacit approval. If not for being at the city lord's gate and not wanting to be seen as bullying a junior, his actions would have been even harsher. A good birthday celebration was ruined by a chamber pot, and he couldn't swallow this.

Pfft!

Zhao Yun spat blood, not because he was truly injured, but because he forced it out. Two Xuan Yang realm cultivators had been eliminated, would he fear the aura of a Xuan Yang realm cultivator? He was merely hiding his identity as a martial cultivator.

This wasn't important. What was important was that the blood was aimed at Liu Cangkong's face, spewing with both precision and dominance.

The steward was caught off guard.

I didn't use much force! How did he spit blood? How did it hit the master's face so accurately?

"Zhao Yun."

Liu Cangkong was furious, completely stunned. You damn fool, why spit blood on me instead of the steward?

"Help! Murder!"

Zhao Yun's next move was quite outrageous. He sat down, acting like a泼妇 (a term for a loud and aggressive woman), shouting and slapping the ground, his voice clearly inherited.

As for his face, who cares!

He wanted the neighbors to see these two shameless old men bullying a junior.

Indeed, his antics gathered a crowd, many of whom raised their eyebrows at the sight of Zhao Yun and Liu Cangkong.

A son-in-law and a father-in-law, what a spectacle. One was sitting on the ground flailing, the other with a face full of blood. This scene was rare.

"Look, Liu Cangkong won't let Zhao Yun off, he made him spit blood."

"He really knows how to pick a place. Why not somewhere else, but right at the city lord's gate?"

"If it were me, I'd find a secluded spot and beat him up, then make him send a chamber pot."

The onlookers, not minding the commotion, gathered in a circle, pointing and commenting.

"Help! Murder!"

Zhao Yun continued his act, his voice growing louder as the crowd grew. Blood spurted from his mouth, and anyone who saw him would think he was severely injured.

"Zhao Yun."

Liu Cangkong coldly snorted, the blood on his face still not wiped off, his expression becoming increasingly sinister.

He was a man who cared about his reputation.

On that day, he didn't show up even when the situation was switched. Tonight, he became the center of attention, gaining a reputation for bullying a junior. This was especially bad at the city lord's gate, making it difficult to act.

He cared about his reputation, but Zhao Yun didn't. He was a master of acting, with no regard for his face or his father-in-law.

"Get up."

The Liu family's steward shouted, reaching for Zhao Yun. He knew Zhao Yun's character, previously gentle and proper.

Tonight, he was truly impressed. Spitting blood was one thing, but acting like a泼妇 (a loud and aggressive woman) was another.

Swoosh!

Before the steward could grab Zhao Yun, a figure appeared like a ghost, blocking Zhao Yun.

It was the old man from the Ancient City, who had been studying explosive talismans. Hearing about the incident at the gate, he quickly came. He hadn't expected Zhao Yun to meet Liu Cangkong here. It was fine elsewhere, but at the city lord's gate, he had to intervene.

If the royal family's disciple were to be harmed here, Zhao Yun's master would likely tear down the city lord's residence.

"Liu brother, why are you so angry?"

The old man from the Ancient City said, helping Zhao Yun up and checking his pulse, finding that Zhao Yun was fine.

Zhao Yun didn't care, continuing his act, leaning on the old man and swaying.

As he swayed, he fell into the steward's arms, spitting blood into his chest, clearly implying: without a few thousand taels, I won't get up.

Is this damn man trying to extort money?

The old man from the Ancient City's lips twitched. You little brat, you know a lot!

"Still acting?"

The steward shouted, wanting to slap Zhao Yun. After acting like a泼妇 (a loud and aggressive woman), he was now extorting money?

Liu Cangkong was silent, but his face was no longer a face. As a seasoned person, he could see through Zhao Yun's act. Extorting money from him, his son-in-law, who clearly had no face!

I don't care, you have to give me money.

Zhao Yun's performance was lifelike, leaning into the steward's arms, impossible to push away. Bullying a junior, you must bleed.

Cough, cough!

The old man from the Ancient City coughed, a signal to Liu Cangkong: pay to avoid trouble. If the city lord is involved, it would be bad.

Liu Cangkong coldly snorted, throwing a silver ticket. Take the money and get lost.

Zhao Yun glanced at the silver ticket, then leaned back into the steward's arms.

The money was too little, he wouldn't get up.

"I..."

Liu Cangkong's breath caught, nearly choking. He had never felt such a strong urge to slap Zhao Yun.

The old man from the Ancient City was calm, looking at the silver ticket, then at the sky.

Yes, the night is nice, suitable for extorting money. As a family head, you should give more. The kid has no face, earning money is hard.

Liu Cangkong, with a black face, threw several more silver tickets.

The crowd sighed, the head of the Liu family was indeed wealthy. It must be about three thousand taels, thrown on the ground?

A discerning person could see Liu Cangkong's frustration. His luck was bad today, not suitable for going out. Yet, he met Zhao Yun at the city lord's gate, and his son-in-law was a shameless person.

He had to take this loss. If he provoked the city lord, it would be difficult to resolve.

Cough, cough!

The old man from the Ancient City coughed again.

This time, it was for Zhao Yun: enough, don't push it too far.