Upon hearing that the young man blocking their path was Yan Shouyi, the Zhao family members all showed expressions of anger, appearing ready to fight Yan Shouyi to the death.
With new and old grudges, the Zhao family naturally harbored a deep hatred for Yan Shouyi!
The young Zhao family descendant, who had been obstructed by Yan Shouyi, was particularly restless. He thought to himself, with the two of them so close now, if he could seize the opportunity to sneak attack Yan Shouyi and successfully kill him, he would surely be highly regarded by the family head in the future and become the hope of the Zhao family!
Thus, while the other Zhao family members were still glaring at Yan Shouyi, this young Zhao family descendant had already quietly summoned his Yellow Immortal and commanded it to pounce and bite Yan Shouyi's neck!
"Hmph!"
Yan Shouyi noticed the fellow's subtle movement and let out a cold snort. Instantly, a golden light shield enveloped him.
This was the Golden Light Mantra!
With the strength of this young Zhao family descendant, he was far from Yan Shouyi's match. Yan Shouyi had merely erected the Golden Light Mantra, and it blocked the Yellow Immortal summoned by the young Zhao family descendant from getting any purchase, preventing it from biting. No matter how hard it tried, it couldn't get within half a step of Yan Shouyi!
Seeing this, the young Zhao family descendant's expression changed, but then he let out a disdainful light chuckle.
Yan Shouyi asked, "What are you laughing at?"
The young Zhao family descendant said with a relaxed expression, "I'm laughing because although my attempt to kill you failed, you dare not fight back. This is because our Zhao family has arrived in full force before you. If you dare to retaliate, everyone will rush forward and mince you into paste! To live a few more minutes, you won't dare to do anything to me! Hahahaha!"
All the Zhao family members agreed, displaying similar contemptuous smiles. Only Zhao Zhenghao remained expressionless.
Who would have thought that as soon as the young Zhao family descendant finished speaking, Yan Shouyi raised his hand and delivered a slap!
*Slap!*
The slap was incredibly loud, instantly swelling half of the young Zhao family descendant's face. The immense force almost snapped his neck on the spot!
"Pah!"
The young Zhao family descendant opened his mouth and spat out an entire row of teeth. His face was filled with shock and extreme anger. He hadn't expected Yan Shouyi to actually dare to retaliate!
Was this Yan Shouyi truly fearless of death, wanting to clash with the Zhao family immediately upon meeting them?!
Yan Shouyi smiled and said, "Don't misunderstand."
Misunderstand what?
"Don't misunderstand. This slap is to teach you to respect the old and love the young, and it's for my Grandpa Ye!"
Ye Chengfu, standing nearby, slightly bowed, thanking Yan Shouyi for upholding justice on his behalf.
Following that, Yan Shouyi kicked the young Zhao family descendant's left knee, causing it to bend backward at a ninety-degree angle!
This scene was so brutal and bloody that the Zhao family members present couldn't help but twitch their lips and narrow their eyes, as if a needle were suspended before their pupils!
The young Zhao family descendant cried out in pain repeatedly. Yan Shouyi casually threw him in front of Zhao Zhenghao.
"This kick is retaliation for your attempt to ambush me earlier."
Zhao Zhenghao remained expressionless. In fact, he had long anticipated this outcome and had repeatedly warned his younger generation not to underestimate Yan Shouyi, but they clearly hadn't taken it to heart.
This was for the best, a demonstration to make his own kin understand that Yan Shouyi was not to be trifled with.
"This Yan Shouyi is truly as rumored, bloodthirsty, cruel, and a ruthless killer!"
"He's showing his might the moment he meets us. This brat is truly arrogant and presumptuous. I think he's eager to die!"
"Patriarch, as long as you give the order, we'll immediately rush forward and chop this brat to pieces!"
The Zhao family members were indignant, eager to surround and attack Yan Shouyi, making it seem as if they were upholders of justice.
Yan Shouyi dared to retaliate because he naturally had his backing.
Before Zhao Zhenghao could speak, a group of people walked out from behind him.
San Long, Scarface, Lin Zitong, Long Feicheng, Luo Ning, Agong, Wang Jixie, Old Jin...
Except for Long Feicheng and Old Jin, who seemed to have no combat prowess, everyone else had their auras raised to the extreme. Any one of them could easily defeat the Zhao family members!
And when they gathered together, although their numbers were far fewer than the Zhao family, their combined aura was actually on par!
The group took their positions behind Yan Shouyi, their attitude clearly evident – they were here to support Yan Shouyi!
Lin Zitong even cupped his fists and called out, "This junior is a direct disciple of the former Sect Master of Lushan Sect. The current Sect Master, Lu Jing, is nearby having tea. His elder self is very interested in witnessing the demeanor of the Zhao family!"
The Zhao family members fell silent. Not to mention that these people in front of them looked difficult to deal with, the Lushan Sect was, after all, a local power. The Zhao family might not be able to contend with them in Rongcheng.
Although the Lushan Sect hadn't directly appeared, their stance was clear.
No wonder Yan Shouyi dared to be so arrogant; he had found his backing and allies long ago!
"Patriarch, what do we do?" the Zhao family members asked Zhao Zhenghao in low voices.
Zhao Zhenghao raised his hand and beckoned with two fingers. Immediately, some Zhao family members carried away the wailing young Zhao family descendant.
Then Zhao Zhenghao said indifferently, "The strongman San Long, the Fox Immortal Wu Fuhai, and... the successor of Lushan Sect, the successor of Corpse Driving, the successor of Paper Figures, the successor of赊刀, the successor of Ancient Medicine... Yan Shouyi, you have quite a formidable presence!"
"The Zhao family has traveled a thousand miles to Rongcheng for a banquet, so naturally, I have to invite friends to welcome the Zhao family. Otherwise, wouldn't that be disrespecting the Zhao family?" Yan Shouyi said with a smile.
Zhao Zhenghao nodded and sneered, "Very well. Let some of the blind fools in my Zhao family broaden their horizons. I won't hold you accountable for what just happened. Where is the banquet? I'm indeed a bit hungry after traveling all day."
Yan Shouyi moved aside, made an inviting gesture, and called out loudly:
"Patriarch Zhao is magnanimous. Please come in!"
Zhao Zhenghao stepped forward, "Let's go!"
The Zhao family members, in a vast procession, entered West Lake. Yan Shouyi straightened his back. Ye Chengfu asked from the side,
"Should we notify Sect Master Lu Jing to come over?"
"There's no need to trouble his elder self. We won't be fighting today," Yan Shouyi said with ease.
Long Feicheng was stunned, "No way! They traveled all this way, and they're not planning to fight us?"
"If they intended to fight, they wouldn't have held back when I hit their junior earlier. But Zhao Zhenghao held back," Yan Shouyi smiled.
Long Feicheng couldn't quite grasp Yan Shouyi's meaning, but the others had already figured it out.
It was because Zhao Zhenghao did not want to fight.
By West Lake, the banquet was already laid out. The Zhao family members took their seats, but only Zhao Zhenghao sat at the central table.
Yan Shouyi and his group arrived, and they gathered around the main table, with Yan Shouyi sitting opposite Zhao Zhenghao.
"Serve the dishes and wine," Lin Zitong commanded.
The people brought by Ye Chengfu immediately began to serve steaming dishes and fine wines to the table. The spread was far more impressive than that of the Zhao family. Looking at the expensive delicacies and fine wines on the table, the Zhao family members felt a pang of discontent.
These dishes and wines were something that they, as a self-proclaimed prominent family, the Zhao family, rarely had the opportunity to see on a regular basis...
Speaking of wealth, the Lin family was indeed much wealthier than the Zhao family. Moreover, with Yan Shouyi's help, the Lin family had been flourishing in recent times, with their wealth having multiplied several times over.
Yan Shouyi picked up his wine cup and said to Zhao Zhenghao, "Patriarch Zhao, you have traveled a long distance. Let this cup of wine be my welcome to you! I'll drink it all!"
Yan Shouyi emptied his cup, but Zhao Zhenghao did not even touch his.
He asked in a cold tone, "Where is my daughter?"