Chapter 68

Jiang Chen valued composure and strategy, and when it came to things that were inconvenient to say, Jiang Zheng blurted them out all at once.

Jiang Tong and his son nodded in agreement, deeply resonating with his words.

However, Jiang Chen merely smiled, stood up, and walked over to Jiang Yu, saying, "Xiao Yu, I only have one question for you. Do you have any feelings for this woman?"

Jiang Yu's handsome face turned red: "Brother, I've only met her once or twice every year since we were young. We've never had any deep conversations, so I can't really say I have any feelings for her. Besides, I don't like domineering and unvirtuous women."

"Good!"

Jiang Chen laughed: "A thousand gold pieces can't buy true love. Since you don't like her, I'll make the decision for you today. This engagement is hereby dissolved."

"Chen-er." Jiang Tong stood up.

Jiang Chen waved his hand: "Uncle, I am the young lord. My father is not here, so I am in charge of the Jiang Han Marquis Manor."

Jiang Tong's throat moved slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he sighed and sat down, his arm trembling slightly, clearly very angry.

But apart from this, what other options were there?

Jing Man laughed heartily, stood up triumphantly, and said with a mocking tone: "Young Lord, ha ha, they say a tiger father doesn't have a dog for a son. Today, Young Lord has given Jing Man a great lesson."

The implication was not to praise Jiang Chen, but to mock him for backing down at the last moment. If it were Jiang Feng here, he would never have given in.

Jiang Chen smiled faintly, his gaze unwavering as he looked at Jing Man: "Is this a great lesson? It seems that Chief Jing has a narrow view."

"Oh? How so?" Jing Man's face darkened.

"The engagement is dissolved. However, the matter is not over." Jiang Chen's face turned serious, and his tone became cold, "As the leader of the tribe, you challenged the authority of the Marquis Manor, which is one crime; as a subordinate, you did not bow to the young lord, which is another crime; and you roared in the Marquis Manor, showing no respect, which is a third crime."

"Three crimes, all punished together. Seize him!"

As soon as Jiang Chen finished speaking, the four brothers of the Sheng Camp pounced on Jing Man like tigers and wolves!

Jiang Tong was taken aback, but quickly came to his senses and immediately gave the order: "Jiang family guards, seal off the Marquis Manor. No one who came today shall leave!"

Jing Man was either careless or overly confident. Although he brought a group of guards, in terms of absolute strength, they were far inferior to the Jiang family guards.

He dared to come because Jiang Tong was always weak and would never resort to violence, let alone execute him, the great chief.

However, he never expected that the troublemaker Jiang Chen would return at this time, and even more so, that this Jiang Chen, with his smiling face, would take action without hesitation!

The most critical point was that the four brothers of the Sheng Camp were all top-notch experts in the capital. Among them, Sheng Yi and Sheng Er were even Nine Pulse True Qi masters.

Even in a one-on-one fight, they could match Jing Man.

Together, the four of them quickly put Jing Man on the defensive.

Jiang Chen's newly recruited attendant, Guo Jin, was also extremely fierce, fighting Jing Cai with a steel saber. Although he was only a Six Pulse True Qi master, his desperate fighting made Jing Cai flustered.

Then, Jiang Tong joined the battle.

Jiang Tong was also a Nine Pulse True Qi master. Once he joined the fight, the outcome was no longer in doubt.

In less than half an hour, Jing Man and all his attendants were captured without a single one left.

"Jiang Chen, your father Jiang Feng didn't have the guts to deal with me! You dare to ambush me! If you touch me, the Purple Thistle Tribe will never let your Marquis Manor off!"

Jing Man was truly angry. He had been rampant in the Jiang Han territory all his life, only yielding to Jiang Feng. Now, to be captured and bound, was an unbearable humiliation for him.

"Uncle, gather all the family members. I want to hold a family meeting!"

Jiang Chen glanced at Jing Man: "These people, detain them secretly first. Sheng Yi, give them these pills to keep them quiet."

Jiang Tong, acting as the Marquis, summoned the Jiang family members. No one dared to be disrespectful.

They didn't go to welcome Jiang Chen because they saw him as a playboy with no real skills. Now, they were being cautious.

Although Jiang Tong was weak, he was personally appointed by Marquis Jiang Feng. Once he used the Marquis's authority, no one in the Jiang family dared to defy him.

After all, regardless of his status, Jiang Tong's cultivation was second only to Jiang Feng!

The Jiang family had over a hundred members, big and small.

The Marquis Manor's main hall was spacious enough to accommodate a hundred or two people comfortably.

Jiang Tong and his son stood on Jiang Chen's right, while Jiang Chen's attendants stood on the left.

"Pay respects to the young lord!"

"The young lord is back, why didn't anyone notify us?"

"Yes, I was out of town the last few days and didn't get the news. I apologize for not welcoming you."

These family members were all very shrewd. They didn't go to welcome Jiang Chen, thinking they were being clever. But now, seeing him face-to-face, no one dared to act rashly.

Jiang Chen scanned the crowd and nodded slightly.

"Jiang Zheng, you speak."

Jiang Zheng, after the incident at the Alchemist Hall, had completely changed in demeanor and attitude, now absolutely revering Jiang Chen.

"Everyone, I have an announcement. Just now, the Purple Thistle Tribe's Jing Man and his daughter roared in the Marquis Manor, showing no respect to the young lord. They have been captured and detained by the young lord!"

The news was a bombshell.

"What? Jing Man was captured and detained?"

"This... I just saw Jing Man causing trouble at the Marquis Manor gate."

"Jing Man was captured?"

The Jiang family members were all shocked and found it hard to believe. Capturing Jing Man? More importantly, they sensed a hidden message.

Jing Man's actions of roaring in the Marquis Manor, showing no respect, and disrespecting the young lord, made them feel a chill down their spines.

After all, as members of the Jiang family, they hadn't gone to welcome the young lord, which could be seen as a great disrespect.

Thinking of this, they all became nervous, regardless of their status.

If Jiang Chen were to make a big deal out of this, they might not escape punishment.

Jiang Zheng smiled faintly: "As members of the Jiang family, we are all of the same blood. When the Jiang family faces problems, should we unite or protect ourselves? The young lord wants to see your attitude through this opportunity!"

Jiang Zheng's words gave them a way out.

The smart ones immediately understood. A fifty-year-old family elder smiled: "Under the leadership of the Marquis, our Jiang family has always been united. Capturing Jing Man, who has repeatedly caused trouble, is the right decision, and we fully support it!"

"Right, Jing Man, a tribal chief, dared to challenge the authority of the Marquis Manor. He deserves to be captured!"

"The young lord is wise!"

"Truly worthy of being the Marquis's son, we support the young lord!"

These people were all shrewd. Seeing that Jiang Chen had captured even Jing Man, dealing with the family members would be even easier.

Seeing Jiang Chen's actions, they feared that this troublemaker might implicate them as well, which would be disastrous.

Therefore, they hurriedly expressed their support. First, it was for self-preservation; second, as members of the Jiang family, they had no reason to protect Jing Man.

They also despised Jing Man's arrogant attitude. But since Jiang Tong couldn't do anything about Jing Man, they couldn't say much either.

Now that Jing Man had been captured by Jiang Chen, they felt a sense of relief and satisfaction, but also confusion. How had Jiang Chen, whom they hadn't seen for two or three years, become so decisive?

However, seeing the fierce guards behind Jiang Chen, they didn't dare to ask too many questions.

Jiang Chen had no intention of showing off his authority to the family members. He said calmly: "Uncle, issue the Marquis Manor's order to gather all the tribes in the territory to Bojiang City for a tribal assembly. I have important matters to announce. Those who do not arrive within three days will be considered traitors!"

Once the order was issued, the tribes in the territory did not dare to be disrespectful.

They rushed to Bojiang City as quickly as possible.

That night, within the Marquis Manor, Jiang Chen gathered some of the more prominent and respected elders for a banquet.

If it weren't for the Jing Man incident, Jiang Chen's banquet might not have attracted all of them. But now, after seeing the young lord, they felt that something was amiss.

Thus, the six invited elders all arrived on time. These old men, who were usually very shrewd, met at the Marquis Manor gate, exchanged awkward smiles, and were uncertain about what was happening.

"Xilao, what is Jiang Chen up to?"

"Sigh, I can't see through it. Have you noticed that Jiang Chen seems to have changed a lot in the past three years?" A white-haired elder, the most senior member of the Jiang family, known as Xilao, said.

"Sigh, I heard that Jiang Chen is a rogue in the capital and can't even pass the basic test. If this boy continues to cause trouble, how can our Jiang family keep the Marquis order?"

"Not like that, not like that!" Xilao shook his head. "I don't think Jiang Chen is the type who can't pass the basic test."

"Ha ha, what's the point of talking so much? Let's go in and see what he has to say!" A relatively younger elder entered gracefully, leading the way.

The banquet was lavish, with Jiang Chen sitting at the head of the table and Jiang Tong accompanying him on the left.

After seating themselves according to their seniority, Jiang Zheng was very active, pouring wine in order.

"Esteemed elders, I, Jiang Chen, don't want to talk about past grievances. Today, I only have one thing to say. In this Covert Dragon Examination, I am competing for the rank of First-Class Marquis. And this time, I have returned to carry out the second First-Class task! This matter requires the support of each of the elders. If you are willing to help, please drink this cup of wine!"

Jiang Chen raised his cup, and a natural aura of authority emanated from him.

What?

First-Class Marquis? First-Class task?

This news stunned even Jiang Tong, who almost spilled his wine in surprise.