Chapter 67

"Stop this nonsense! Jiang Tong didn’t go out in the morning or evening, but he just happens to go out when I, Jing, arrive?" A voice like a copper gong loudly shouted.

Jiang Chen and the others hadn’t even approached when they heard this person’s shouting.

"Chief Jing, he really did go out. It’s said that the young lord is returning, and the third young master went to the outskirts of Bo River City to welcome him."

It was evident that the servants of the Hou residence were still quite polite in their dealings with people.

"Little lord? Hmph! Is it that frivolous and dissolute Jiang Chen?" The voice, like a broken gong, carried a hint of disdain.

"I don’t care where Jiang Tong went. I’ll wait here!" This Jing-surnamed man’s tone was extremely domineering.

From a distance, Jiang Chen’s brows slightly furrowed. Having cultivated the 'Wind Listening Ear,' his hearing was even better than Jiang Tong’s, and he naturally heard the distant conversation clearly.

"Chief Jing? Could it be Jing Man from the Purple Jing Tribe?" From the memories of his predecessor, Jiang Chen knew that under Jiang Han’s jurisdiction, there were ten major tribes.

The Purple Jing Tribe was the most powerful among them, ranking first or second among the ten major tribes under Jiang Han’s jurisdiction.

Therefore, Jing Man had always been quite domineering. In the entire Jiang Han territory, only the Marquis of Jiang Han, Jiang Feng, could suppress this person; everyone else had to give Jing Man some leeway.

Now, hearing his arrogant tone and the way he called Jiang Tong by his name, it was clear that this person was indeed extremely domineering.

Jiang Tong let out a bitter laugh and shook his head slightly. "Chen, only your father can keep Jing Man in check. You go directly into the Hou residence, and I’ll deal with him."

It was evident that Jiang Tong was also quite wary of this Jing Man.

Every territory always had a few troublemakers, and Jiang Chen understood this.

He wasn’t very bothered by the crude and domineering language, but if Jing Man’s arrogance exceeded a certain limit, Jiang Chen would not stand idly by.

No one wanted a disobedient and troublemaking troublemaker in their territory.

"Let’s go!"

Jiang Chen’s tone was calm as he rode his horse and led the way.

"Ah! It’s the third young master and his group returning." The servants of the Hou residence, seeing the horsemen, immediately recognized Jiang Tong and his son.

However, on either side of Jiang Tong and his son, another young man was being escorted in the center. This young man had long arms and a wolf-like waist, and his star-like eyes exuded a familiar yet strange sense of authority.

Jiang Tong shouted loudly, "Why haven’t you all paid respects to the young lord?"

Young lord?

After three years, the changes in Jiang Chen were so profound that, apart from his face, which still bore a resemblance to his former self, his demeanor and physique were completely different from when he left Jiang Han’s territory three years ago.

"Pay respects to the young lord!"

The servants of the Hou residence, who had undergone strict training, immediately knelt and paid their respects.

However, Jing Man and his group just looked at their leader, Jing Man, and did not perform the kneeling salute.

Jing Man, with his hands on his hips, glanced sideways, acting quite rudely, and sized up Jiang Chen from head to toe.

"Young lord? Sorry, I, Jing Man, only pay respects to the Marquis of Jiang Han. Without seeing the Marquis of Jiang Han, I, Jing, will not kneel."

Jing Man’s subordinates also stood behind him with a mocking smile, sizing up Jiang Chen. Their expressions showed no respect for the young lord, and some even winked and made faces.

"Jing Man, is it?" Although Jiang Chen was slightly angry, he didn’t want to tear things apart on the spot. "Whether you pay respects or not, I am still the young lord of Jiang Han. I only ask you, why are you causing a commotion at the entrance of the Hou residence today? What kind of decorum is this?"

Jing Man laughed. "Why? You should ask Jiang Tong!"

Jiang Tong’s expression was a bit awkward. "Jing Man, let’s discuss personal matters privately. The young lord has just returned; don’t disturb him."

"What to disturb? His return is better, as he can be a witness." Jing Man grinned.

"Whatever it is, let’s discuss it inside. Causing a commotion here, do you still want the face of the nobility?" Jiang Chen’s face darkened, and he led the way into the Hou residence.

Seeing Jiang Chen’s extraordinary demeanor, Jiang Tong was also a bit surprised and followed him in.

Jing Man chuckled but was also brazen, following them in.

Inside the Hou residence, tea was served, and everyone took their seats. Jiang Chen then turned his gaze to Jiang Tong. "Third Uncle, what’s going on? Speak up."

"Ah, Chief Jing, we’ve known each other for decades. You received the dowry ten years ago. Do you really have to break the engagement? Besides, the two children..."

Jing Man waved his hand. "Stop! It’s better to speak plainly. It’s not that I, Jing, am not trustworthy, but the children themselves are unwilling. You wouldn’t want your son to marry my daughter and have them not get along, causing trouble, right?"

Dowry, engagement, children unwilling.

Jiang Chen quickly grasped the core of the matter.

It turns out that Jing Man was here to break the engagement.

"Chief Jing, are you dissatisfied with the dowry, or do you think it’s too little? These are all negotiable. In terms of status and position, how has my Jiang family wronged your daughter?"

Jiang Tong suppressed his anger, his tone not too harsh, trying to salvage the situation.

"I’ve heard these words many times. I’m not here to listen to your nonsense. I’ve brought the dowry back; you can check it."

Jing Man clearly didn’t want to continue纠缠 with Jiang Tong. He was here to return the dowry and dissolve the engagement.

With a wave of his hand, his subordinates immediately brought in six large chests.

"The dowry is all here, nothing is missing. Jiang Tong, check it. If there’s nothing else, I’ll return to my tribe." From start to finish, Jing Man didn’t acknowledge Jiang Chen, the young lord.

Jiang Tong’s face turned slightly red. Jing Man’s arrogant attitude clearly deeply hurt this mild-mannered middle-aged man.

His hands, hidden in his sleeves, clenched into fists, and his voice was hoarse and trembling. "Chief Jing, you can break the engagement, but not so ambiguously! Tell me, why? What has my Jiang family done to offend your Purple Jing Tribe?"

Jing Man smiled faintly. "Whether the Jiang family has wronged my Purple Jing Tribe is not the point. First, you, Jiang Tong, are not the Marquis of Jiang Han, and your son will never become the Marquis of Jiang Han. Second, as I said, the children themselves are unwilling. Cai, since you’re not willing to break the engagement, why don’t you speak for yourself?"

Behind Jing Man, a girl of about thirteen or fourteen, dressed in tribal attire, with a bun adorned with three green phoenix feathers, stood.

This girl had beautiful features and, despite her young age, naturally exuded a gentle charm and a shrewdness beyond her years.

"Jiang Yu, the absurd engagement was set by the older generation when they were drunk. I believe you don’t take it seriously, do you?"

Jing Cai’s willowy eyebrows moved slightly, and her voice, crisp and clear, carried a gentle charm.

Jiang Yu, who was a year younger than Jiang Chen, was not confused about important matters. Though somewhat shy, he said, "I can take it lightly. But, by doing this, aren’t you disregarding the face of my Jiang family? Have you considered how this will affect our family’s reputation?"

"Reputation?" Jing Cai smiled lightly. "Reputation is earned, not given. Jiang Yu, since you put it this way, I’ll ask you one question. I am at the Seventh Pulse True Qi level and have a chance to break through to the Eighth Pulse within a year. Tell me, what level are you at?"

This was the crux of the matter! Seventh Pulse True Qi was indeed an outstanding level for someone from a tribe.

After all, even among the nobles' children in the Dragon潜试, few had such cultivation.

Moreover, Jing Cai was a year or two younger than Jiang Chen and his group.

"You are only at the Fifth Pulse True Qi level. Do you know what the difference between two pulses means for people of the same age?"

"Furthermore, as my father said, your father is not the Marquis of Jiang Han, and you will never be the Marquis of Jiang Han."

Jiang Yu was speechless and stammered, "Even if I’m not the Marquis of Jiang Han, my brother is."

As soon as these words were spoken, Jiang Yu regretted them. Why? Why explain this to this opportunistic woman?

"Ha, your brother?" Jing Cai, with a mocking tone, glanced at Jiang Chen. "Jiang Yu, don’t be naive! Do you think your cousin, with his limited abilities, can protect the noble’s command in the face of fierce opponents?"

Jiang Chen smiled. The Jing family had indeed revealed their true intentions.

The talent gap was significant; Jiang Yu was far inferior to Jing Cai.

In terms of status, the Jiang family might lose the noble’s command, and as a non-direct descendant, what future could Jiang Yu have?

Thus, the reason for the Jing family to break the engagement was clear.

Bang!

A teacup was smashed on the ground!

Finally, someone from the Jiang family couldn’t hold back and erupted!

However, it wasn’t Jiang Chen or Jiang Tong and his son, but Jiang Zheng, the butler behind Jiang Chen.

Having seen so much in the capital, even the giants of the capital had to bow to the young lord, showing utmost respect; returning to this small territory of Jiang Han, things were strangely different?

Originally, this was the Jiang family’s territory, where they had absolute authority. Anyone in front of the Jiang family had to show utmost respect.

The Jing family was too presumptuous!

So, Jiang Zheng was furious!

"Jing Man, do you and your daughter understand? This is the residence of the Marquis of Jiang Han, his territory!" Jiang Zheng was indignant.

Jing Man laughed coldly. "The master hasn’t spoken, and you, a dog-like servant, are barking?"

"I am a servant, yes! But, you, Jing, seem to have forgotten that in the residence of the Marquis of Jiang Han, you are also a servant. In the entire territory of Jiang Han, we are all servants of the Jiang family!"

"You don’t pay respects to the young lord, do you still recognize the hierarchy?"

"You break the engagement, do you still care about the face of the nobility?"

"Your daughter disrespects the young lord, do you still recognize the hierarchy?"

"You disrespect the master, break the engagement, and speak disrespectfully, who gave you the nerve? Where do you get your audacity?"

Jiang Zheng’s sharp words and relentless questioning left Jing Man speechless and at a loss for words.