Supreme Warrior in the City

Chapter 61: Chapter 61 Looking for Trouble

Li Weixian was the first to speak, ”Elder Hou, as the saying goes, when toasting, there’s a proper order to follow, and when drinking, there are rules to observe. Among all the people at this table, no matter how you arrange them, the first cup of wine shouldn’t be dedicated to a student!”

Hou Xiangde said with a smile, ”Master Su has saved my life. It’s long overdue for me to toast to Master Su, and this is also to express my gratitude for his life-saving grace!”

”If you want to thank him, that’s a private matter. But tonight, this is your birthday banquet, not a private affair.”

Li Weixian glanced at the few people in front of him and said with a smile, ”Elder Xu and I won’t say much, but Commander Hu and the other two have traveled a long distance to celebrate your birthday. You’re not toasting the three of them but choose instead to toast a junior first. Isn’t that inappropriate?”

The reason Hou Xiangde chose to toast Su Yang first was mainly that he had heard from his family about Su Yang’s abilities, knowing that he possessed the power to summon heavenly thunder, nearly a Celestial Being. That’s why he selected Su Yang first.

However, this move had clearly angered the other few. Aside from Hou Xiaolian, none of the people at the table had picked up their cups.

Commander Hu leaned back in his chair, leisurely sizing up Su Yang. Number Two and Number Three wore smiles, their eyes not straying, as if they were above worldly strife; in fact, this already demonstrated a certain attitude.

Hou Xiangde said awkwardly, ”Old Li, this is just a regular birthday banquet. Why fuss over such trivial details?”

Li Weixian replied, ”Elder Hou, the Hou Family is a prestigious family and should pay attention to proper etiquette. As the Family Head, if you don’t pay attention to these things, how can the younger generations respect you?”

Hou Xiangde’s expression changed slightly, his voice turning cold, ”The affairs of my Hou Family are not of concern to Elder Li!”

”Of course, I won’t worry about the affairs of your Hou Family. But can I not worry about the affairs of my Li Family?” Li Weixian said coldly.

Hou Xiangde grew angry and said, ”This is the Hou Family. What business does your Li Family have here?”

”Elder Hou, you really have a short memory when it comes to important matters. Have you forgotten that Hou Xiaozhi is my son-in-law, and his wife Li Qifeng is my own daughter!” Li Weixian said coldly, ”As the father-in-law of Hou Xiaozhi, aren’t his matters also the affairs of my Li Family?”

”So you’re here because of Xiaozhi’s matter!” Hou Xiangde said coldly, ”Tonight is my birthday banquet. I don’t want to discuss these matters. Since you’re not here to celebrate my birthday, then please leave!”

Li Weixian’s expression suddenly turned frosty. At this moment, Commander Hu suddenly spoke up, ”Xiangde, guests have come, and since when does a host drive away a guest?”

”Elder Commander...”

Hou Xiangde turned his head, but Commander Hu waved his hand and said, ”I consider myself as having watched Xiaozhi grow up. Xiangde, what great mistake has he made this time, that he was not only stripped of everything but also banished from Nanluo City?”

Hou Xiangde’s face changed completely, as he realized that Commander Hu had come to back up Li Weixian. The situation had become very troublesome.

Seeing the turn of events, Hou Xiaolian quickly stood up and said, ”Uncle Hu, the matter with Xiaozhi is actually mainly my fault for not handling well as his older brother, concerning father...”

”Xiaolian, I know you are filial, but you should not take such matters onto yourself recklessly.” Hou Xiaolian’s father-in-law Xu Jianqin suddenly spoke up, interrupting Hou Xiaolian.

Stunned, Hou Xiaolian opened his mouth not knowing what to do, and he looked helplessly toward Hou Xiangde.

Hou Xiangde furrowed his brow, Number Two and Number Three kept silent, indicating their stance was to disregard his family affair. Yet both Commander Hu and Xu Jianqin seemed to be siding with Li Weixian, it was apparent that Li Weixian had come prepared tonight.

”Elder leader, you might not be aware of the extent of Xiaozhi’s wrongdoing,” Hou Xiangde said. ”Originally, I didn’t intend to speak of this matter, as the saying goes, ’family shame should not be aired in public.’ However, I believe there has been a misunderstanding about the incident among the elders and everyone else. Let me clarify what happened!”

Sighing, Hou Xiangde recounted the events that had transpired.

After hearing Hou Xiangde’s explanation, Commander Hu and the others furrowed their brows. Judging from the account, it indeed seemed Xiaozhi was at fault and deserved punishment, only that the punishment might have been too severe.

However, just then, Li Weixian suddenly spoke up, ”Elder Hou, you’ve mentioned that you were unconscious when the incident occurred. Does that mean you’ve heard the account of these events from someone else afterward?”

”What of it?” Hou Xiangde asked with a frown. ”Are you suggesting that the Hou Family’s word is lies?”

”Of course, the Hou Family wouldn’t lie,” Li Weixian replied. ”But, when stories are retold, inaccuracies can inevitably arise. Since such an incident has happened, why don’t we listen to what the person directly involved has to say, to see what really occurred?”

”What do you mean by that?” Hou Xiangde’s expression turned cold.

Li Weixian smiled and said, ”As luck would have it, Xiaozhi has also returned to celebrate your birthday. Since everyone is here, why don’t we listen to Xiaozhi’s side of the story to see what truly happened, shall we?”

”He’s back!” Hou Xiangde’s expression grew uglier, and Hou Xiaolian also frowned.

Banishing Xiaozhi had been his own directive, and now, Xiaozhi had dared to come back, blatantly disregarding his command.

”Father...” Suddenly, a voice came from outside. Everyone turned their heads as Hou Xiaozhi entered with a face full of reverence. Before even reaching Hou Xiangde, he bowed deeply, ”I wish Father fortune as vast as the East Sea, and life as enduring as Nanshan!”

”You still have the face to come back!” Hou Xiangde exclaimed indignantly.

With a face of sorrow, Hou Xiaozhi replied, ”Father, I know you are very dissatisfied with my actions. I did wrong in this matter, having been deceived by a villain, nearly costing you your life. I have let you down, and I have let down the Hou Family. I am willing to accept the punishment that big brother has imposed on me!”

Around them, people like Commander Hu looked at Hou Xiaozhi with more benevolence in their eyes. To recognize one’s mistakes and correct them is indeed most commendable.

”But...” Hou Xiaozhi suddenly changed his tone, fiercely turned to look at Su Yang, and said angrily, ”Even if it means defying big brother’s orders, I had to come back today to expose this shameless charlatan’s wicked scheming!”

”Xiaozhi, what sort of language is that!” Hou Xiaolian immediately said. ”Master Su saved our father, he is a major benefactor to the Hou Family. How can you be so disrespectful to a benefactor?”

”Master Su?” Hou Xiaozhi let out a cold laugh and replied, ”Big brother, even at this point, are you still being deceived by him? This guy is not any ’Master Su,’ he’s nothing but a soldier thug who’s just recently been discharged!”

”What?” The crowd exclaimed in surprise, all turning to look at Su Yang with shock on their faces.

Su Yang, on the other hand, remained calm. He idly played with a wine cup on the table, keeping silent from beginning to end, intrigued to see what kind of trouble these people could stir up. At the same time, he was curious to see what stance the Hou Family would take on this matter.