Cultivation Begins with Daily Intelligence Reports

198: Zhong Yue apologizes”Justice?”

Zhong Peng looked as if he had heard the most preposterous joke in the world, exaggeratedly dug at his ear, then blew on his hand, his tone utterly contemptuous.

”What justice do you want? Do I need to give you justice for beating a blind dog from your Lin Family? That was me teaching the rules of the Black Mountain to the Lin Family!

As for that old good-for-nothing yesterday, daring to shout in front of this young master, beating him was light! Not crippling his cultivation on the spot was already a great favor! And you still dare to demand justice?”

He took a step forward, his attitude arrogant and overbearing to the extreme, almost poking his finger at Lin Jingyu’s nose, his spit nearly spraying onto his face:

”I’m telling you, pretty boy! Don’t think you’re amazing just because you can refine a few Medicinal Pills!

Here, my Zhong Family is the rule! Let alone beating your people, even if I cripple you now, shatter your Dantian, and throw you at this entrance to feed the dogs, no one would dare to utter a sound!

If you know what’s good for you, immediately kneel before this young master, kowtow three times, call me ’Grandpa’ three times, and then crawl out of Qingzhong Town like a dog!

Otherwise, today I’ll let you walk in upright, but you’ll leave horizontally—no, in pieces!”

The atmosphere instantly became extremely tense!

Within the Zhong Family manor, several powerful auras faintly and unreservedly rose, locking onto Lin Jingyu like venomous snakes, all of them Late Stage Qi Refining.

As soon as Zhong Peng gave the order, they would immediately strike, crushing this ignorant Lin Family brat with the force of thunder.

Lin Jingyu’s eyes completely turned cold, chilling to the bone.

The Spiritual Qi in his body quietly circulated at high speed, and the powerful Mental Energy brought by the Spirit Refining Art was ready to be unleashed.

Even if it meant exposing part of his powerful Mental Energy trump card, he would make this dissolute young master pay a heavy price.

Behind him, the three Cultivators at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining—Shui Sheng, Gu Yue, and Wang Meng—also had frosty expressions.

They hadn’t expected this Zhong Family brat to act in such a manner.

Even if they killed him on the spot, the Zhong Family wouldn’t dare to say much!

Their Spiritual Qi condensed within them, just waiting for Lin Jingyu to make a move.

”Stop! Presumptuous! Rebellious son! What kind of outrageous nonsense are you spouting!”

A furious roar, filled with shock, disbelief, and a trace of unnoticeable panic, exploded like a sudden clap of thunder or a lion’s roar.

It resounded from the deepest part of the Zhong Family manor, the rolling sound waves even rattling the tiles on the manor gate.

Immediately after, a figure shot out from the inner courtyard like lightning, its Spiritual Qi fluctuations strong and powerful, appearing instantly before the main gate. The strong wind it generated sent Zhong Peng’s several followers staggering backward, unable to stand firm!

The newcomer was a Middle-aged Cultivator dressed in luxurious brocade robes, with a dignified face and a short beard. His aura was deep and profound, far surpassing everyone present.

His eyes gleamed with sharp light, revealing him to be a Ninth Layer of Qi Refining master with a solid Foundation! He was none other than the current Zhong Family Patriarch, Zhong Peng’s father—Zhong Yue!

Upon seeing his father suddenly appear, Zhong Peng was not afraid. Instead, he seemed to have found a greater backer and pillar of support. Pointing at Lin Jingyu, his voice became sharp with excitement and malice:

”Father! You came just in time! This is that ignorant little bastard from the Lin Family! He actually dared to...”

”Slap!”

A resounding slap, infused with Spiritual Qi and loud enough for half the street to hear, landed heavily and without warning on Zhong Peng’s face.

The force was far beyond a usual reprimand, directly sending Zhong Peng, who was at Qi Refining Sixth Layer, flying off the ground, spinning half a circle in the air, then crashing heavily onto the bluestone pavement like a broken sack.

”Pfft...”

Zhong Peng spat out a mouthful of blood mixed with several broken teeth. Half his face swelled visibly at a rapid pace, turning purple and blue, like an over-fermented steamed bun.

His ears rang, golden stars danced before his eyes, and he was completely stunned by this merciless, sudden slap.

He couldn’t even feel the pain immediately, only boundless shock and bewilderment.

The entire scene fell silent!

One could hear a pin drop!

Not only Zhong Peng was stunned, but all his followers behind him, the Zhong Family disciples, stewards, and Guest Elders who had rushed over upon hearing the commotion.

And even the passersby Cultivators in the distance, attracted by the noise and peeking to watch, all seemed to have been collectively subjected to a immobilization spell.

Their eyes wide, mouths agape, expressions frozen on their faces, as if they had seen the sun rise from the west or rivers flow backward.

The Patriarch... actually struck the Young Patriarch with such heavy hand, in broad daylight? And all for a youth from the declining Lin Family?

Zhong Yue didn’t even look at his son, who was groaning like a dead dog on the ground. His usual dignified and shrewd expression had long been replaced by extreme shock, dread, and a hint of deep-seated fear.

His forehead instantly broke out in fine cold sweat, and a chill ran down his spine. His gaze was fixed on Lin Jingyu, as if he wasn’t looking at a person.

But a volcano that could erupt at any moment, incinerating him and the entire Zhong Family.

This was an Alchemist capable of refining top-Rank Medicinal Pills, with limitless potential.

With a single call, there would be hundreds of Late Stage Qi Refining masters in the Southeast Market Town who would want to owe him a favor.

He could easily crush the Zhong Family.

His gaze quickly swept over Gu Yue, Wang Meng, and Shui Sheng behind Lin Jingyu, who appeared calm but whose eyes were as cold as knives. His heart sank even further, as if plunging into an ice cave.

He almost staggered as he hurried to Lin Jingyu, under the incredulous gazes of everyone, who looked as if they had seen a ghost.

He actually bowed deeply, almost ninety degrees, to Lin Jingyu, a youth whose cultivation was only at Qi Refining Fourth Layer, lowering his posture to the dust.

His voice trembled uncontrollably with extreme respect, even a hint of pleading:

”Is this... is this Young Friend Lin Jingyu?”

Please forgive me! Please forgive me!

My dog of a son is ignorant! Incorrigible! Blind! He offended Young Friend, and I, Zhong, am incompetent in raising my child. I truly... I truly deserve to die a thousand deaths!

I beg Young Friend... I beg Young Friend to be magnanimous and forgive us!”

Silence!

A deathly silence persisted, broken only by the sound of wind sweeping fallen leaves across the street, and the suppressed, heavy, and horrified breathing of the crowd.

Everyone’s minds were racing, trying to process this bizarre scene that completely surpassed their understanding! Had the world gone mad!

Zhong Yue, however, paid no attention to anyone’s gazes. He straightened up, then quickly turned to Gu Yue, Wang Meng, and Shui Sheng behind Lin Jingyu.

The smile he forced onto his face was uglier than crying. He repeatedly clasped his hands, his voice filled with extreme dread:

”President Gu Yue! Elder Wang! Shopkeeper Shui Sheng! To... to have the three of you grace my humble little town with your presence, I, Zhong, am truly... truly terrified! I am utterly ashamed! My rebellious son caused trouble and disturbed the three of you. I, Zhong, am extremely sorry. I will surely arrange a grand feast later and severely punish this rebellious son to apologize to the three of you!”