At the critical moment, Zhang Yang appeared as if descending from the heavens.
The instant he arrived, he kicked Ye Xiulan away as she was about to slash Han Xiyao's face.
*Bang!*
Ye Xiulan's body flew backward, crashing directly into the coffin.
She fell to the ground, groaning in pain.
"Who are you? How dare you interfere in my Han family's affairs?" Ye Xiulan snarled.
She didn't recognize Zhang Yang.
However, she was undoubtedly shocked that Han Xiyao had a helper.
The various collateral branches of the Han family were filled with terror in the depths of their pupils as Zhang Yang made his powerful entrance.
To them, Zhang Yang was like a nightmare.
They all looked towards Han Zhengye, and a desperate idea immediately formed in their minds.
Compared to Zhang Yang, Han Zhengye left a much more terrifying shadow on them.
It could be said that they were on the same level as Han Zhengye.
They clearly knew how much of a stir Han Zhengye had caused in Jiangnan City back then.
"Patriarch Han, he is Zhang Yang. The shares we hold were acquired by Zhang Yang through illegal means."
"It is precisely because of him that Han Xiyao has been able to repeatedly thwart Wen Kang and thus gain control of the Han Group."
"..."
Han Zhengye's eyes narrowed.
These matters had already been communicated to him by these collateral Han family members before Zhang Yang appeared.
"You are Zhang Yang?" Han Zhengye's expression was grim.
He strode towards Zhang Yang, his aura fully displayed, intending to suppress Zhang Yang.
"Old man, what are you?" Zhang Yang, having unbound Han Xiyao, said in a deep voice.
Seeing Han Xiyao in such a state, his heart was already burning with rage.
"I am the head of the Han family, Han Zhengye, Wen Kang's father! Shao Wei's grandfather!"
Han Zhengye took two more steps forward, his aura becoming even more imposing.
This caused Han Xiyao, standing beside him, to tremble slightly.
Fortunately, Zhang Yang waved his hand, releasing a bit of his internal true qi, which greatly reduced Han Xiyao's pressure.
"Han Wen Kang's father? Shao Wei's grandfather?" Zhang Yang's eyes flashed with ferocity, his anger intensifying.
"Old man, your bias is outrageously skewed."
"The two corpses in the coffins are your relatives, but isn't Han Xiyao also your relative? Why are you so heartless towards her?"
Han Zhengye chuckled, glancing at Zhang Yang with extreme disdain.
"The women of the Han family are never worthy of controlling the Han family, let alone this bastard born of a lowly woman!"
"If it weren't for me trying to cleanse myself of karma over the years, would the Han family have been dominated by a mere woman?"
"Before you appeared, I was wondering where Han Xiyao got her confidence from."
"Now that I see you, I understand. It's likely that Wen Kang and Shao Wei were killed by you and Han Xiyao together, right?"
Zhang Yang realized that Han Zhengye was clearly looking for an excuse.
This old man, Han Zhengye, seemed to intensely dislike and reject Han Xiyao.
Otherwise, he wouldn't be so harsh on Han Xiyao based on his own assumptions, without any evidence.
Since that was the case.
Zhang Yang's killing intent grew even stronger, and he said in a deep voice.
"Old man, I didn't kill them, nor did Xi Yao. We won't bear this charge."
"Not only will we not bear it, but you must pay the price for the humiliation Xi Yao suffered today!"
Zhang Yang was furious.
At this moment, Han Xiyao's face, apart from being red and swollen from being slapped, was otherwise pale.
It was clear that she had suffered immense torment before he arrived.
Zhang Yang was determined to seek justice for her.
"An explanation? Heh, it's fortunate that I also want an explanation from you!"
A chilling smile spread across Han Zhengye's lips. "Today, both you and Han Xiyao must die!"
Instantly, an aura of mountains of corpses and seas of blood erupted from Han Zhengye's body.
Zhang Yang frowned, realizing that Han Zhengye had a considerable number of lives on his hands.
Zhang Yang let out a meaningful cold laugh, then charged directly at Han Zhengye.
"I don't mind adding another coffin to the Han family."
Zhang Yang was never one for hesitation.
Since he had found the leader of the perpetrators, he would disable him first.
As for the others, he would deal with them one by one.
No one would escape!
In an instant.
Zhang Yang's aura suddenly intensified.
His cultivation at the Earth realm of the Carefree Immortal Scripture was fully revealed.
As the true qi within him erupted, the deathly silent funeral hall was filled with vitality.
This scene.
Startled Han Zhengye.
However, it was merely a momentary shock.
His internal qi hub spun madly.
Streams of qi emanated from the hub.
With every punch he threw, there was a sharp whistling sound of air being cut.
Seeing this.
Li Jiangshan, who was observing from the side, his gaze sharpened, and he thought to himself.
It seemed Han Zhengye's strength had indeed increased significantly after more than ten years of ascetic cultivation at Lingtai Temple.
The scale of this qi.
It was at least at the Jia-rank of the Qi realm, or even at its peak.
Li Jiangshan narrowed his eyes, contemplating inwardly.
Then, when Li Jiangshan's gaze fell upon Zhang Yang.
His surprise was beyond words.
At this moment, he couldn't discern Zhang Yang's level of strength at all.
Moreover, the qi emanating from him was so strange.
It didn't seem like ordinary qi.
What was it?
Let alone Li Jiangshan, even Han Zhengye felt a sense of strangeness.
He looked at Zhang Yang's incoming fist with a hint of apprehension.
He dared not be careless and unleashed his full power.
However.
It was completely useless!
After their fists collided, Han Zhengye was slightly outmatched and was sent flying backward, crashing heavily onto the coffin.
Including the coffin Ye Xiulan had hit earlier.
Both coffins placed in the funeral hall were overturned.
Fortunately, the coffin lids were sealed, otherwise, the corpses inside would have tumbled out.
"Old man, you do have some strength, but it's likely not enough!"
"No wonder you dare to come alone. But who exactly are you? Ordinary people don't possess your strength," Han Zhengye said gravely.
He hadn't expected Zhang Yang to be so powerful.
After their initial exchange, Han Zhengye knew that if it were a fight to the death.
He might not be Zhang Yang's opponent.
Zhang Yang stared coldly at him.
A sinister smile played on his lips as he charged towards Han Zhengye.
"A dying man is not worthy of asking who I am."
Killing intent surged from Zhang Yang.
Han Zhengye, seeing this, hesitated to confront him head-on for the first time.
Fortunately, at this moment, a voice came from behind him.
Ye Xiulan, who had been kicked away by Zhang Yang earlier, had picked up a dropped fruit knife.
She had taken the extremely weak Han Xiyao hostage.
"Zhang Yang, stop right there, or I'll kill her now!"
Ye Xiulan's voice trembled.
Clearly, this was Ye Xiulan's first time doing something like this, and she lacked experience.
"You wretched woman, I didn't kill you earlier, do you really think I have a good temper?" Zhang Yang threatened in a deep voice.
Ye Xiulan shivered, and the fruit knife in her hand almost fell to the ground.
At the same time.
The collateral branches of the Han family also felt that things were not going as they had expected.
Han Zhengye was actually no match for Zhang Yang.
This was becoming troublesome.
The collateral Han family members knew that they had to do something now.
This time, they uncharacteristically did not waver. They did not turn to Zhang Yang.
Because they knew that if they betrayed Zhang Yang, he would definitely not let them off easily.
Soon.
After a discussion among these old fellows, they all walked towards Han Xiyao.
Judging by their posture.
They intended to help Ye Xiulan and restrain Zhang Yang.
Zhang Yang found this situation troublesome.
At this moment, Han Zhengye let out a hearty laugh and walked towards Zhang Yang without restraint.
"Hahaha."
"Zhang Yang, if you don't want Han Xiyao to die, then kneel before the two coffins and repent!"
"Do you think that's possible?" Zhang Yang frowned.
"I think it's very possible." Han Zhengye walked to Han Xiyao's side and personally grabbed her.
"If you don't kneel, feel free to test the consequences."
This!
Zhang Yang felt immense pressure. "Han Zhengye, don't push me too far."
Han Zhengye, gripping Han Xiyao's neck, suddenly tightened his grip, causing Han Xiyao to feel suffocated.
"I am pushing you, what can you do about it?"
"Stop!" Zhang Yang, seeing the weak Han Xiyao's face turn red from lack of oxygen, said with concern.
"If you want me to stop, then kneel!" Han Zhengye roared.
"You..." Zhang Yang glanced at Han Xiyao.
Finally, he put aside his pride.
With a bang, he knelt on the ground.
However, he only knelt on one knee.
"Kneel on both legs, don't you understand? Or should I break one of your legs to show you?" Han Zhengye shouted.
He threw Han Xiyao, whom he was holding, to the ground, grabbed her hair, and glared fiercely at Zhang Yang.
"Old man, don't go too far," Zhang Yang said in a deep voice.
"Heh, too far? There's more to come," Han Zhengye, in control of the situation, was extremely arrogant.
Zhang Yang's pupils contracted, and his killing intent surged.
"Old man, Xi Yao is your granddaughter. Even if you dislike her, there's no need to threaten her life, is there?"
Han Zhengye was dismissive and said disdainfully.
"Hmph, granddaughter? I disagreed with her birth from the beginning. It's only my unfilial son's infatuation that made him insist on having this bastard with that lowly woman!"
Zhang Yang narrowed his eyes.
It seemed he didn't know much about the Han family.
There seemed to be other stories involved here.
Han Xiyao, who had fallen to the ground, wore a look of desolate laughter on her face.
"As expected, you never accepted me from beginning to end. No matter what I did, you always treated me as an outsider."
Han Xiyao recalled her childhood.
No matter how she tried to please Han Zhengye, he never gave her a kind look.
If Han Zhengye hadn't gone to Lingtai Temple to cultivate, and Han Xiyao's father had happened to fall into a coma.
She probably would have been like a puppet, manipulated at will within the Han family, with no possibility of rising to power.
"Heh, accept you? Ever since your mother married into the Han family, my Han family has completely declined."
"If it weren't for the help of a master, would my Han family have had to travel all the way to Jiangnan City to seek refuge?"
Han Xiyao was unaware of things before her birth.
Therefore, she had no intention of arguing with Han Zhengye. She immediately turned to Zhang Yang, who was kneeling for her, and said.
"Zhang Yang, don't worry about me, just go quickly." Han Xiyao cried tears.
She never expected that.
When she was abandoned by everyone, the only one who supported her would be a stranger like Zhang Yang.
This brought a glimmer of warmth to Han Xiyao's desolate heart.
*Slap!*
"Did I tell you to speak?" Han Zhengye immediately slapped Han Xiyao.
He couldn't let Zhang Yang leave, or he would be a future threat.
"Zhang Yang, if you dare to leave now, I will kill Han Xiyao immediately!"
"You dare! If you dare to harm Xi Yao in the slightest, I will make the entire Han family disappear from Jiangnan City!" Zhang Yang gritted his teeth.
However.
Han Zhengye was unfazed by Zhang Yang's threat.
He lifted Han Xiyao, and with a burst of qi from his palm, he made a hand knife.
He stopped it above Han Xiyao's head, threateningly.
"Tell me, if I strike with this palm, will she still have a chance to live?"
Zhang Yang immediately stood up and walked towards Han Zhengye.
"Stop right there. If you dare to step forward again, I will act immediately," Han Zhengye said coldly.
*Whoosh~*
Zhang Yang took a deep breath and said to him in a deep voice.
"Han Zhengye, you are also a smart person, you should know that I only want to save Xi Yao and leave."
"As long as Han Xiyao is safe, I can let her give up everything and leave the Han family."
"If you only want to control the Han family, then I can give you everything now, including the shares of the collateral Han family branches that I have acquired."
"After that, I will no longer pursue this matter."
As Zhang Yang spoke.
The collateral Han family members present showed expressions of pleasant surprise.
They all looked towards Han Zhengye, hoping he would agree.
Han Zhengye snorted and cursed.
"A bunch of brainless fools. No wonder your shares were taken. Aren't you afraid of having shares but no life to spend them?"
After speaking, Han Zhengye looked at Zhang Yang and said in a deep voice, "I must say, your offer is tempting, but do you think I would believe your nonsense?"
"Easily let go of an enemy who poses such a great threat?"
As expected.
Han Zhengye, this old fox, was not to be trifled with.
Zhang Yang's brow furrowed, and he said again, "Then what do you want?"
"Crippling your qi hub. Only then will I believe your sincerity." Han Zhengye said.
Qi hub?
Zhang Yang rejoiced inwardly. He didn't have a qi hub at all.
However, this was a way to rescue Han Xiyao.
Zhang Yang immediately glared at him in anger and shouted.
"Han Zhengye, do you take me for a fool? If my qi hub is crippled, will you still let us leave?"
"My word is my bond. Besides, do you think you have the qualifications to negotiate with me?"
Han Zhengye sneered. "If you don't agree, I will kill Han Xiyao right now."
Zhang Yang stared at him furiously. "Don't even think about it. We'll go down together if we must!"
"Heh, go down together? I may not be your match, but do you think I have no way to escape after killing Han Xiyao?" Han Zhengye chuckled.
This...
Zhang Yang showed hesitation upon hearing this.
Seeing this, Han Zhengye was overjoyed and quickly pressed his advantage.
"Zhang Yang, my patience is running out."
"Now, I am the only old man left in the Han family. Whether I exist or not is irrelevant, but Han Xiyao, can you abandon her like you can abandon me?"
As the words fell.
Han Zhengye's qi palm moved closer to Han Xiyao's head.
Seeing this, Zhang Yang's eyes narrowed immediately.
With a look of struggle, his acting skills were superb.
Just as he was about to sigh and agree.
An unexpected event occurred.
Li Jiangshan, who had been a bystander, suddenly transformed as if he had become a different person and attacked!
Hiding in the corner.
He was incredibly fast, rushing towards Han Zhengye.
With a qi palm strike, he directly pushed Han Zhengye aside and snatched Han Xiyao away.
"This! Li Jiangshan, you..." Han Zhengye's expression changed drastically, and he stared at Li Jiangshan in shock.
When did Li Jiangshan gain such high cultivation?
However.
Before he could think further, Zhang Yang, having recovered his senses, had already charged towards him.
"You die! I'll kill you!"