Chapter 334: Coming Clean
Everyone was dumbfounded, staring blankly at the scene. Their minds were a complete jumble.
’This was Vermilion Bird!’
The man who was second only to one and stood above tens of thousands in the Southeast Defense Zone!
’He was actually bowing and apologizing to Cheng Yuan?’
’Has the whole world gone mad?’
Mingtai, utterly bewildered by the slap, certainly wasn’t about to apologize to Cheng Yuan. He looked at his father in confusion. "Dad, Cheng Yuan crippled my right leg! Why are you hitting me instead of crippling him?"
Vermilion Bird pointed at Mingtai’s nose and cursed, "I’m hitting you to save you! Apologize to Mr. Cheng this instant! If you don’t, I’ll disown you!"
Mingtai shouted defiantly, "Dad, you’re a titled Divine General under the Xuanyuan War God! You’re second only to one and above tens of thousands in the Southeast Defense Zone! Why are you afraid of Cheng Yuan? Cripple him!"
Cheng Yuan snorted coldly, displeased. He had given Mingtai a chance to apologize, but it was a shame he hadn’t taken it.
Vermilion Bird shuddered. He knew full well that Cheng Yuan was now truly angry.
Vermilion Bird knew in his heart that if he didn’t give Cheng Yuan a satisfactory explanation, by this time next year, grass would be growing on his son’s grave.
Steeling his heart, Vermilion Bird kicked out at Mingtai’s other leg.
CRACK!
Mingtai’s other leg snapped.
Mingtai howled in agony, rolling ceaselessly on the floor.
Mingtai couldn’t believe it—his own father had actually crippled his leg!
Suppressing the ache in his heart, Vermilion Bird bowed to Cheng Yuan. "Mr. Cheng, my son has received his punishment. We will take our leave now. I will be sure to discipline him strictly when we return."
Hu Minjiang, Xiao Chunsheng, Ye Guohua, Chen Hongjun, Ye Tian, and Guo Heizi all gazed at Cheng Yuan with expressions of pure adoration.
’Brother Yuan is on another level!’
’He actually made Vermilion Bird cave?’
This was especially true for Xiao Chunsheng and Ye Guohua. Their fathers were also in the Battle Department, so they knew Vermilion Bird’s disposition all too well.
Aside from the Xuanyuan War God, Vermilion Bird didn’t give face to anyone.
This was the first time they had ever seen Vermilion Bird yield to anyone besides the Xuanyuan War God.
This meant that Cheng Yuan—no, Brother Yuan—was backed by power on par with the Xuanyuan War God himself!
Everyone assumed that since Vermilion Bird had humbled himself, apologized, and even crippled Mingtai’s other leg, Cheng Yuan would surely let the matter drop.
But, to everyone’s surprise, Cheng Yuan’s tone was ice-cold.
"Vermilion Bird, your son just said he wanted to snap every bone in my limbs, inch by inch. I think we should grant him that wish, don’t you?"
The entire private room instantly fell so silent you could hear a pin drop.
The young masters didn’t dare to breathe.
’Brother Yuan is ruthless!’
’He’s planning to utterly ruin Mingtai!’
If it were just broken legs, they could be set. He could even continue his Cultivation.
But if his bones were shattered inch by inch, then no matter how advanced modern medicine was, they could never be properly repaired. He would be a complete cripple for the rest of his life!
RATTLE!
Vermilion Bird’s subordinates raised their rifles, the dark muzzles aimed squarely at Cheng Yuan’s head.
At a single word from Vermilion Bird, they would open fire without hesitation.
Vermilion Bird was scared out of his wits. "What are you doing?!" he roared. "Is this a mutiny? All of you, lower your weapons!"
His subordinates hastily lowered their guns.
Vermilion Bird cast a heartbroken glance at Mingtai. He knew his son’s life was over, but he had no choice.
If he didn’t shatter his son’s limbs, Cheng Yuan wouldn’t let them walk out of here.
"Ah Tai, it’s all my fault... I spoiled you too much. If I hadn’t, you wouldn’t have met with this disaster today."
CRACK! CRACK!
A series of sickeningly crisp snaps echoed through the room.
Mingtai passed out from the pain, only to be jolted awake by it again.
After this repeated several times, Vermilion Bird had finally shattered all the bones in Mingtai’s limbs.
Vermilion Bird’s eyes were rimmed with red, but he managed to force a smile that was uglier than a grimace.
"Mr. Cheng, my son has been dealt with. Are you satisfied?"
Cheng Yuan indifferently lifted his gaze. "It’s acceptable."
Vermilion Bird finally let out a sigh of relief. He said respectfully, "Mr. Cheng, we won’t disturb your meal any longer."
With that, Vermilion Bird picked up his son, who was as limp as a rag doll, and quickly departed with Zhou Cong and his men.
Only after the sound of Vermilion Bird’s party’s footsteps faded into the distance did the room erupt in thunderous cheers.
"I can’t even describe how I’m feeling! When I saw Vermilion Bird, my heart nearly stopped! I thought we were dead for sure!"
"Me too! I thought we were goners! I never imagined Vermilion Bird would be so terrified of Brother Yuan! Brother Yuan, who are you really? Why is he so scared of you?"
"Brother Yuan, could you be from a Martial Dao Holy Land?"
"If not a Martial Dao Holy Land, then you must be from one of the great families in Beijing! Brother Yuan must have some terrifyingly powerful backing!"
Cheng Yuan replied nonchalantly, "You’re all mistaken. I’m from Luocheng. My father is a taxi driver, and my mother used to work at the local community office. She’s a homemaker now."
"Huuuuuh?"
A strange sound rose from the crowd in unison. Clearly, none of them believed a word of Cheng Yuan’s ’nonsense’.
They all chimed in. "Brother Yuan, from this day forward, you’re our sworn brother! We’ll stick by you through thick and thin! We’ll make our mark on the Provincial City market and make it huge!"
Cheng Yuan shook his head gently. "Why rally around me? I’m not staying in the Provincial City. From now on, Minjiang is my representative here. You should all rally around him."
The young masters all looked at Hu Minjiang with a mixture of envy, jealousy, and resentment.
Before, they had all been on equal footing. In fact, because Hu Minjiang had no talent for Cultivation, they had even looked down on him a bit.
But now, not a single one of them would dare look down on Hu Minjiang again.
As long as Cheng Yuan was around, Hu Minjiang was the undisputed Crown Prince of the Provincial City.
Hu Minjiang basked in the flattery from the other young masters. He knew full well that he owed all of this to Cheng Yuan.
Hu Minjiang’s feelings were a complicated mess. ’How great would it be if Cheng Yuan and my sister ended up together?’
’How wonderful would it be if Cheng Yuan were my brother-in-law?’
’No, I can’t let my sister’s huge sacrifice be for nothing!’
Hu Minjiang held up his hands to quiet the group. "Guys, you all keep eating and drinking. Brother Yuan and I need to discuss a private matter. We’ll be right back."
The young masters nodded eagerly.
Hu Minjiang led Cheng Yuan out of the private room.
Cheng Yuan asked in a gentle voice, "Minjiang, what private matter did you want to discuss?"
Hu Minjiang wrestled with his thoughts for a moment before finally deciding to lay all his cards on the table.
"Cheng Yuan, my sister sacrificed her own body to save you, and now her life is hanging by a thread! And yet you choose to annul your engagement with her when she’s at her weakest and most helpless! Do you have any conscience at all?"
Around a nearby corner, Lin Ruoxi was slowly walking over, intending to make an appearance.
When she heard Hu Minjiang’s words, Lin Ruoxi froze in place as if struck by lightning.
’What did Hu Minjiang just say?’
’Hu Shishi sacrificed her own body for Cheng Yuan?’