The palm-sized, bronze token was placed before Shang Fai-guo, but at this moment, Shang Fai-guo dared not move. His pale face was already covered in sweat.
He could never have imagined that this short-haired youth before him was actually... the legendary...
Liu Ru-yan was quite curious, wondering what this bronze token was that had terrified this important official from the Jiangdong Provincial Inspectorate to such an extent.
However, the plates and bowls in front blocked her view, and Liu Ru-yan couldn't see clearly. In this situation, it wasn't appropriate for her to stand up and check.
Liu Hong-guo's face was expressionless. He had already said what he needed to say. He had given the Shang family several chances, but they, relying on their family's power, had not taken his words seriously at all. Who could they blame for the Shang family seeking their own demise?
Liang You-ming guarded the inner hall door, only watching the situation inside with his peripheral vision. He didn't want to get involved at this moment. As the saying goes, when gods fight, mortals retreat. He wished he could hide far away.
"It seems you recognize this token, so I don't need to explain it further, do I?" Xiao Yun-long said coldly.
His words struck Shang Fai-guo like a bolt from the blue. With a thud, Shang Fai-guo knelt directly on the ground.
"I was wrong, I know I was wrong, Mr. Xiao. It was my ignorance that led to the Dragon King's temple being flooded by the great river. Please, Mr. Xiao, be merciful!"
Shang Fai-guo crawled to Xiao Yun-long's feet, begging for mercy. Looking at him, if Xiao Yun-long ordered him to lick his shoes, he probably wouldn't hesitate.
After all, the person before him was a king. Let alone him, Shang Fai-guo, being just an important official of the Jiangdong Provincial Inspectorate, even the Lord of the Jiangdong Provincial City Lord's Mansion would have to kneel before the Zhenbei King!
Although he had heard about the ambush outside the capital two months ago, the imperial capital had not made any statement about it, nor had they publicly announced the dismissal of the Zhenbei King's authority. In other words, the person before him was still the Zhenbei King, at least in name.
According to the Dragon Kingdom's system and laws, anyone attempting to harm or attack was punishable by death, and the Zhenbei King directly possessed the power of life and death!
Thinking of this, Shang Fai-guo's intestines turned green with regret. If he had known this earlier, he would never have returned to his hometown in Sucheng, even if beaten to death.
Xiao Yun-long, however, kicked him to the ground and said coldly, "You only realize now to beg for mercy and regret? Don't you think it's too late?"
Shang Fai-guo immediately crawled back to his knees, tears and snot streaming down his face, "I was wrong, Mr. Xiao. It was my lack of foresight that offended you, Mr. Xiao. However, I am, after all, an important official of the Jiangdong Provincial Inspectorate's General Team. If Mr. Xiao spares me this time, I will be your man from now on, and I will definitely follow your lead."
This was clearly a groveling plea.
Xiao Yun-long, however, sneered, "You are indeed an important official of the Jiangdong Inspectorate's General Team, but look at your character, and what is the background of the so-called Shang family's prominent clan. They bully the weak and bully the timid, committing evil deeds. The Shang family has done no shortage of unsavory things in Sucheng over the years. You, this kind of person, want to follow me? You are not even fit to carry my shoes!"
"Then may I ask, Mr. Xiao, what will it take for you to let me and my Shang family go? Name your price. As long as I can do it, I guarantee I will satisfy you!" Shang Fai-guo said repeatedly.
"I have two conditions. First, call Shang You-de and Shang Bin-de in. This meal is quite good. After you eat it, you can go on your way, so you don't have to die hungry. As for Shang Dong, for the sake of Old Master Liu, I will spare his dog's life. Second, hand over half of the Shang family's assets. Later, I will arrange for a poverty alleviation fund to be established, specifically to help the poor people of Sucheng!"
After saying this, Xiao Yun-long finally stood up slowly.
Shang Fai-guo's face contorted, and he suddenly said fiercely, "Mr. Xiao, I am, after all, an important official of the Jiangdong Inspectorate's General Team. In your eyes, I may be an ant, but I have people above me. Moreover, you have lost power now. Whether you can return to the Northern Territory alive, or return to the capital alive, is still unknown. Do you really intend to kill us all today?"
Xiao Yun-long narrowed his eyes and stared at him, "What, are you threatening me?"
Facing Xiao Yun-long's gaze, sharp as a blade, Shang Fai-guo finally cowered and lowered his head, "I dare not. It's just that there's an old saying, 'More friends, more paths'..."
"More friends, more paths?"
Xiao Yun-long laughed, a cold laugh, "You want to be friends with me? You think you're worthy? I'll give you one night. If the three of you can still see the sunrise tomorrow, then the entire Shang family will be buried with you!"
After saying this, Xiao Yun-long pulled Liu Ru-yan's hand and turned to leave. Liu Hong-guo quickly followed.
However, as he reached the door, Xiao Yun-long suddenly stopped beside Liang You-ming and said, "Tell your men to surround the Shang family. If any Shang family member dares to step out of the door tonight, kill them on the spot without mercy!"
"Yes, Mr. Xiao!" Liang You-ming immediately nodded, then waved his hand and led his men into action quickly. Soon, the Shang family's gate was blocked.
Seeing this, Shang Fai-guo's spine felt as if it had been pulled out, and he collapsed directly onto the ground.
Seeing Xiao Yun-long and the other two walk out of the inner hall, Shang You-de and Shang Bin-de were greatly confused and hurried into the inner hall.
"What's going on, Uncle Two? Why did that bastard surnamed Xiao leave? How could you let him just leave like that?" Shang You-de shouted.
"And that guy Liang You-ming, he actually called that useless son-in-law Xiao Yun-long 'Mr. Xiao' just now. What is going on?" Shang Bin-de also shouted.
Shang Fai-guo sat on the ground with a ashen face, ignoring the Shang family disciples. He just kept muttering, "It's over... it's all over now. The Shang family is completely finished this time."
Shang You-de's wife trembled and exclaimed, "Uncle Two, don't scare us. What do you mean our Shang family is all finished?"
Shang Bin-de glanced at Xiao Yun-long's departing back and said through gritted teeth, "I really don't know what you're afraid of, Uncle Two. That kid is just a useless son-in-law, at most he's skilled in combat. But Uncle Two, you also brought many people back today. Just tell them to go up and capture that useless Xiao. You are an important official of the Jiangdong Provincial Inspectorate's General Team. Could it be that Liang You-ming would dare to stop you?"
Shang Fai-guo just kept shaking his head and sighing, slowly getting up from the ground.
"Uncle Two, hurry up and give the order, otherwise that useless son-in-law surnamed Xiao will escape. Our Shang family is a prominent ancient clan in Sucheng. If this kid is allowed to walk out of the door safely today, then our Shang family's reputation will be completely ruined!" Shang Bin-de roared.
Shang Fai-guo pointed at him, "Come, come here!"
Shang Bin-de, not understanding, could only walk over, "Uncle Two..."
But before he could finish speaking, Shang Fai-guo slapped him to the ground.
"You idiot, you still can't see the situation even now? Our Shang family is ruined by your stupid hands!" Shang Fai-guo yelled and rained blows upon him.
The surrounding Shang family disciples were all terrified by this scene.
Shang You-de couldn't help but ask, "Uncle Two, tell us honestly, what is the background of that kid surnamed Xiao?"
"What his background is, I will not tell you, and I will absolutely not tell you, otherwise all of you present will die!"
Shang Fai-guo suddenly laughed wildly, shouting, "This time, our Shang family has provoked a great figure that should not be provoked!"
At this moment, the entire inner hall was silent, and all the Shang family disciples were in silence.
As for Liu Fei-yan, Huang Ting-ting, and Liu Jian-min, they looked at each other, their faces filled with terror.
Now Liu Fei-yan and the others finally realized that Xiao Yun-long, the so-called son-in-law of the Liu family, was definitely not simple. It was no wonder that Grandpa always addressed him as Mr. Xiao, and his attitude was not only polite but even contained a hint of respect.
In this case, Grandpa probably already knew Xiao Yun-long's identity and background.
Thinking of this, Liu Fei-yan clenched her fists, feeling a sense of lingering fear, regret, and a hint of unwillingness.
Shang Fai-guo suddenly stopped laughing and sighed, "Alas, this is fate. You-de and Bin-de, you two go and make your final arrangements. Then come back and have dinner with me. He's right, you have to eat your fill before you go on your way."
Saying this, Shang Fai-guo slowly sat down.
"Make final arrangements, go on your way? Uncle Two, what do you mean by that? Could it be that that kid surnamed Xiao really dares to kill us?" Shang You-de said.
"Yes, Uncle Two, at worst, we'll fight him. Even if that kid is strong, he's just one person. We..."
Shang Fai-guo picked up his chopsticks and began to eat slowly, while also coldly snorting, "Fight him? Not that I look down on our Shang family, but I'm telling you, even if the three great ancient clans of Sucheng joined forces, they wouldn't be able to hurt a single hair on his head. He's right, in his eyes, we are actually no different from ants."
"If you don't believe me, you can rush out now and see if Liang You-ming will shoot you down with a gun!"
Upon hearing these words, Shang You-de and Shang Bin-de stumbled and fell to the ground.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yun-long was already driving back to the Liu family manor.
No one spoke in the car; the atmosphere was very quiet, so quiet it was almost awkward.
Liu Ru-yan, sitting in the passenger seat, kept looking at Xiao Yun-long, looking as if she had something to say but hesitated.
"Ru-yan, do you have something you want to ask?" Xiao Yun-long asked.
Liu Ru-yan first nodded, but then quickly shook her head.
"What do you mean by nodding and then shaking your head?" Xiao Yun-long asked.
Liu Ru-yan then said, "I originally wanted to ask if you could show me that token, but now I don't need to."
"Don't need to?" Xiao Yun-long was stunned.
"Yes, I don't need to," Liu Ru-yan said and turned her head away.
In fact, Liu Ru-yan had vaguely guessed something, but precisely because of this, a sudden, inexplicable, and immense pressure welled up within her.
She now had a feeling that Brother Xiao beside her was like a towering, unscalable mountain, and she was just an insignificant wild grass at the foot of the mountain.
Liu Ru-yan suddenly became very scared. Once Brother Xiao's identity was revealed, she would inevitably be crushed by this unscalable mountain, and their relationship might even be forced to end because of it, as she truly lacked the courage and didn't know how to face this mountain.
So, after careful consideration, Liu Ru-yan decided not to ask, hoping to maintain the current situation.
Xiao Yun-long probably saw this, so he didn't say anything more. In fact, he had always considered this aspect when he hadn't explained his identity and background to Liu Ru-yan.
Silence fell again in the car. Just then, Xiao Yun-long's phone suddenly rang.
The call was from Buddha, and as soon as he answered, the fat Buddha exclaimed, "Mr. Xiao, save me! No matter what, please save me this time, otherwise I'm dead!"
Xiao Yun-long frowned, thinking that this fat Buddha was, after all, a figure in the jianghu. To be so panicked today, it seemed he had truly encountered something. Could it be that the Jun family had come looking for him?