A group of over twenty people swarmed into the gambling house in a grand procession.
Among them were the young masters who had been with Bai Yuanrui earlier, several members of the Illusory Sea Jin Clan, a few senior figures from the Liujin Region, and leading them all was an old man dressed in a cyan robe.
Everyone in the hall recognized him—he was precisely the Ancestral Patriarch of the Illusory Sea Jin Clan, also the highly respected Da Qian True Being of the Liujin Region.
When Da Qian True Being appeared, Bai Yuanrui and Jin Jun became even more agitated. Ignoring the pain on their bodies, they scrambled up from the ground and rushed over, shouting.
"Ancestral Patriarch! Ancestral Patriarch! Your grandson Jin Jun is incompetent and has shamed our Jin Family! You must uphold justice for your grandson!"
Although Bai Yuanrui was not a member of the Jin Family, he had deep ties with them. Seeing Da Qian True Being now, he also rushed over, hoping for justice.
Da Qian True Being and several Jin Family elders, seeing Jin Jun and Bai Yuanrui beaten to such a state, were all furious, their faces livid as they roared angrily.
"How utterly outrageous! I want to see who dares to lay a hand on members of our Illusory Sea Jin Clan!"
"Where is that person now?"
The Illusory Sea Jin Clan was one of the top families in the Liujin Region. Now that their clan's younger generation had been beaten, the Jin Family members were naturally incensed. Even though this was Chixu Manor, they would not let the perpetrator go.
"It's him!"
Bai Yuanrui and Jin Jun pointed. The leading Da Qian True Being looked over. When he saw the white-robed man sitting opposite Elder Yan, his expression changed drastically, as if he had seen a ghost. The anger on his face vanished without a trace, replaced by terror—deep terror. His turbid eyes widened involuntarily.
"This junior pays respects to Da Qian True Being and all Seniors."
Elder Yan stood up and bowed to Da Qian and the others. Although he was the manager of the manor's gambling house, he was merely a manager. In terms of status, position, cultivation, and reputation, he was far inferior to Da Qian True Being.
"Only now do you know to call our Ancestral Patriarch 'Senior'?" Jin Hui sneered coldly. "Old Yan, weren't you just talking about rules earlier?"
"Senior Da Qian, I presume you already know the situation. The reason Jin Jun and Bai Yuanrui were beaten is due to matters at the gambling table. This is the rule of the Crimson-Letter Sect."
Elder Yan knew that Da Qian True Being had a good relationship with the manor's Master Wu. However, he also knew that no matter how close Da Qian True Being was to Master Wu, he would not dare to take action here. Therefore, Elder Yan was not worried at all.
As he spoke, Elder Yan continued to silently observe the Gu Qingfeng opposite him.
That man was still sitting there with his legs crossed, drinking Shuiyun wine, his expression calm—neither joyful nor sorrowful, neither fearful nor afraid. There was nothing. When Jin Hui arrived, he had been sitting like this. And now, with Da Qian True Being here, he was still sitting exactly the same, not even bothering to look up. He truly didn't, as if it didn't matter who the Jin Family sent or how many people came. He simply didn't care.
What gave this man such confidence?
Even if he was safe within the Crimson-Letter Sect's manor, he couldn't stay here forever. He would have to leave someday. Wasn't he worried at all?
Elder Yan didn't know. He couldn't figure it out.
At that moment, the Gu Qingfeng opposite him raised his hand, picked up a cup of wine, drank it in one gulp, and said lightly, "Why are you standing there? Continue gambling."
Continue gambling?
Elder Yan wondered if he had misheard. How audacious must one be to say such a thing at a time like this? You've beaten the disciples of the Illusory Sea Jin Clan, the number one family in the Liujin Region. Now their Ancestral Patriarch has brought so many people here, yet not only are you unafraid, you... you're acting as if nothing happened and want to continue gambling here?
This was truly...
"You dare to be so arrogant after beating our Jin Family members? Get out here!" Jin Hui roared furiously. Even though their Jin Family's Ancestral Patriarch Da Qian True Being had arrived and had a good relationship with the manor's Master Wu, he still didn't dare to take action within the manor because this was a Crimson-Letter Sect manor.
Of course, while he couldn't take action, he thought that given the relationship between the Ancestral Patriarch and Master Wu, dragging this person out shouldn't be a problem. Seeing the white-robed man still sitting there, Jin Hui could no longer contain himself. A brilliant light flashed around his body as he shouted, "I said get out—" Before he could finish, the previously silent Da Qian True Being suddenly roared, "How dare you!"
"Ancestral Patriarch, I didn't intend to take action. I just wanted to drag this fool who doesn't know his place..." As Jin Hui was speaking, Da Qian True Being swung his hand and slapped him hard across the face. The blow was so fierce that it not only shattered Jin Hui's cheek on the spot but also sent him sprawling to the ground.
No one knew why Da Qian True Being had struck Jin Hui, and with such severity!
"Ancestral Patriarch, why did you hit me? Why..." Clutching his cheek, Jin Hui was completely bewildered. But as soon as he opened his mouth, Da Qian True Being slapped him again, shouting angrily, "Shut up!"
Not only was Jin Hui confused, everyone present was dumbfounded, including Elder Yan. Everyone knew that Da Qian True Being doted on his clan's younger generation and rarely laid a hand on them. Why this time...
Just as everyone was puzzled, an even more shocking scene unfolded.
Da Qian True Being said in a heavy voice, "Jin Jun, kneel!"
Kneel?
What did that mean?
Jin Jun stood there in a daze, at a loss.
"Kneel!"
Da Qian True Being grabbed Jin Jun, pressed down on his shoulders, and with a thud, forcibly forced him to kneel on the ground.
"Jin Hui, get up!"
Da Qian True Being's voice came again. Jin Hui, who had been slapped to the ground earlier, stood up with a bewildered expression.
"Kneel!"
What?
Jin Hui asked, "Ancestral Patriarch, I..." His words were once again cut short as Da Qian True Being similarly pressed down on his shoulders, forcing him to kneel on the ground.
This scene was too bizarre, too inexplicable.
Jin Jun had been beaten. As the Jin Family's Ancestral Patriarch, Da Qian True Being not only failed to stand up for them but instead... instead made them kneel?
Was he afraid of the Crimson-Letter Sect's manor?
That couldn't be it!
Putting aside his relationship with the manor's Master Wu, even without that connection, Jin Jun was the one who had been beaten. He hadn't violated the Crimson-Letter Sect's rules. Why was Da Qian True Being making them kneel now?
No one knew the reason. Elder Yan was also thrown into confusion by the scene unfolding before him.
However, the matter was not over.
Because after Da Qian True Being forcibly made Jin Jun and Jin Hui kneel one after the other, an even more shocking scene occurred. Da Qian True Being actually... actually knelt on the ground himself.
Heavens!
What was going on?
Every single person in the hall was stunned.
"Senior Da Qian, you... what are you doing..." Elder Yan's face turned somewhat pale, because this scene was too eerie, making his heart flutter with unease.
Da Qian True Being knelt on the ground, bowed his head, and said with cupped hands, "This... this humble one Da Qian pays his respects to the Young Master!"
This humble one?
Pays his respects?
Witnessing this, no one could believe their eyes. They all knew that Da Qian True Being was a senior who had survived the lifespan tribulation and cultivated for over a thousand years. He actually... actually addressed himself so humbly as 'this humble one' before a young man?
And even paid his respects?
In the entire Liujin Region, who could possibly deserve a bow from Da Qian True Being?
Young Master?
This... just who was this white-robed man?!