But three thousand taels was indeed no small sum.
Nángōng Wǎn'ér looked at Jiāng Chén nervously. Would he really use her to pay off the debt? What would she do then!
Xiè Sāndāo was overjoyed. Not only could this job connect him with the Jiāng Family, but he could also get his hands on such a young lady. It was killing two birds with one stone.
Jiāng Chén pondered for a moment, seeming to hesitate and struggle.
"I've made up my mind."
"Haha, a wise man knows when to adapt. Little lady, come with brother…"
Xiè Sāndāo grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth. Suddenly, a gust of wind struck. It was so fast that there was no time to dodge. He saw a fist rapidly expanding before his eyes.
Bang!
Xiè Sāndāo felt a piercing pain in his eye sockets and stumbled back several meters. He plopped onto the ground, his head reeling. After a long while, he came to his senses.
"You brat! You dare to hit me!"
Jiāng Chén said, looking serious. "It's a joyous occasion, and I didn't want to make a move, but I had no choice. You deserved it!"
Not only Xiè Sāndāo, but also the onlookers were stunned. For so many years, Jiāng Chén had been a good-for-nothing who was bullied by everyone. Even though he had some brute strength, he never dared to fight back. Yet now, Jiāng Chén had struck first and beaten Xiè Sāndāo. Was this still the Jiāng Chén they knew?
Many more felt a tremor in their hearts. "This is bad. Jiāng Chén hasn't even reached the Qi Condensation stage yet, how dare he anger Xiè Sāndāo? He's a ruthless and wicked fellow. Jiāng Chén is going to suffer a great loss."
Xiè Sāndāo had bullied men and women in Tianwu City for many years. Although his strength was not comparable to some experts, he was rarely matched on the streets.
"You're looking for death!"
Xiè Sāndāo got up, cursed, and threw a punch. With the Jiāng Family as his backing, he had even fewer scruples. True qi surged within him, and he even intended to kill Jiāng Chén with a single punch. He was already at the fifth level of Qi Condensation, and his punch carried nearly ten thousand jin of force!
A whistling gust of wind followed. The hearts of the onlookers tightened.
"Chén'er!"
Jiāng Hǎi shouted anxiously, but he was just an ordinary person, unable to protect Jiāng Chén. In a flash,
Jiāng Chén moved. True qi churned within his body. He met the punch head-on.
Xiè Sāndāo felt an immense force and was sent flying backward. "What!"
The onlookers were dumbfounded. Jiāng Hǎi was also stunned because this situation defied common sense. The air fell into a brief silence.
Jiāng Chén hadn't even reached Qi Condensation, yet he had repelled Xiè Sāndāo, who was at the fifth level of Qi Condensation, with a single punch? If the previous blow could be considered a sneak attack, this one was a head-on confrontation. At this moment, everyone held their breath, their eyes filled with disbelief.
"This… this… I'm not mistaken, am I? Jiāng Chén knocked Xiè Sāndāo down with a single punch?"
"How is that possible? Among the younger generation, who other than Young Master Jiāng Fēng can repel Xiè Sāndāo with one punch?"
Xiè Sāndāo's underlings behind him were even more shocked. Seeing their boss sent flying, they almost thought their eyes were playing tricks on them. They knew they had bullied Jiāng Chén many times before. When did this naive fool, who used to be at their mercy, gain such strength?
Jiāng Chén even took the time to adjust his bright red wedding robe, seemingly unconcerned about repelling Xiè Sāndāo. He had merely done a trivial thing. Chapter 9: My Father Doesn't Recognize Characters.
"Big brother!"
"Boss!"
A dozen or so underlings rushed forward, helping their boss, who had fallen to the ground. Under Jiāng Chén's punch, half of Xiè Sāndāo's body ached. There was shock and apprehension in his eyes. Had he not yet succeeded in condensing qi? As a martial artist at the fifth level of Qi Condensation, he should have been able to crush a martial artist in the Body Tempering Stage. Even geniuses from great clans would not have been his match. Yet, facing Jiāng Chén, he had been repelled by a single punch!
He said with a dark expression, "You hid your strength! You've reached the Qi Condensation stage!"
Jiāng Chén's lips curved into a mocking smile. "Of course I haven't reached the Qi Condensation stage yet. If I had, you would have been dead with that punch just now."
Xiè Sāndāo was furious, his face contorted. How dare a mere Body Tempering Stage martial artist act so presumptuously in front of a Qi Condensation cultivator!
His blood qi surged, and his true qi erupted with his anger. His palms seemed to be coated with a red glow.
"Martial Skill! This is a Martial Skill!"
Some people recognized the technique Xiè Sāndāo was using and exclaimed. Some of them had reached the Qi Condensation stage, but even the lowest-grade combat skills cost thousands of taels, which was beyond their means.
"No wonder he's so arrogant in our Tianwu City, he's actually learned a Martial Skill! Who can be his opponent!"
"Jiāng Chén is in trouble now!"
Xiè Sāndāo threw a punch, which transformed into several red fist shadows that shot towards Jiāng Chén. Jiāng Chén remained impassive. This kind of combat skill, which was all form and no substance, had an attack power even less than that of a Second-order Demon Beast. Not to mention that his current strength had reached twenty thousand jin. He swung his fist.
Slap! Slap! Slap!
The red fist shadows suddenly exploded, and the air currents shattered, scattering outwards like ripples. Jiāng Chén retreated several steps, his face flushing slightly. He stopped after staggering back a few steps.
"So what if you have some brute strength? You're still too young. This is a combat skill; you can't just resist it head-on."
"After all, there's a difference of a whole realm. Although Jiāng Chén hasn't reached Qi Condensation, he's only one step away!"
"Xiè Sāndāo is quite skilled. With these few moves, not many Qi Condensation cultivators could be his opponent…"
Actually, in terms of strength, Jiāng Chén didn't need to confront Xiè Sāndāo directly. But after absorbing the blood qi of over a dozen demon beasts, he felt that his physical defense had also greatly improved. This Xiè Sāndāo was quite strong, and it was a good opportunity to test his current limits.
The expected scene of Jiāng Chén bleeding did not occur. He only staggered back a few steps. Xiè Sāndāo became even more furious. He had to make this brat understand the consequences of offending him today.
"Blazing Consecutive Flames!"
His palms glowed even redder and instantly turned into scorching flames. His body shot towards Jiāng Chén like an arrow loosed from a bow. The flames linked together, and his palms waved, forming a scorching sea of fire that seemed about to engulf Jiāng Chén.
"Chén'er! Dodge quickly!"
His grandfather Jiāng Hǎi's voice was drowned out by the flames. A raging inferno ignited before Jiāng Chén, its momentum terrifying.
"Someone's going to die!"
A commotion arose from the surroundings. The scene was too terrifying. The scorching flames erupted like fireworks, reaching a height of over ten meters.
Jiāng Chén shielded Nángōng Wǎn'ér behind him.
"Fierce Wind Howl!"
A sudden gust of hurricane appeared out of nowhere, temporarily slowing the spread of the flames. Even from a distance, the surrounding people could feel the suffocating heat. In their eyes, Jiāng Chén was already as good as dead. Even those who used to look down on Jiāng Chén now felt pity in their eyes. Some women had even closed their eyes, unable to bear witnessing Jiāng Chén being burned to ashes.
Just then, a scene that everyone could hardly believe unfolded again. Jiāng Chén took a step forward and threw a punch. This punch seemed extraordinarily gentle, yet it crossed the flames, as if the terrifying fire had no effect on him. It reached its target in an instant and struck Xiè Sāndāo's chest with a resounding boom.
Boom!
Xiè Sāndāo was sent flying backward, crashing heavily to the ground. Even with the extraordinary physique of a Qi Condensation cultivator, several ribs were broken. He struggled to get up and spat out a mouthful of blood.
"This… this is impossible!"
His heart was filled with shock. Why! His martial skill was rarely matched by anyone of the same level, except for the disciples of noble families. How could Jiāng Chén, a Body Tempering Stage good-for-nothing, break this move?
The minds of the onlookers could no longer keep up with the changes before their eyes. It could be said that in their hearts, Jiāng Chén had always been the martial arts degenerate who broke the record for the worst talent. But today, Jiāng Chén had repeatedly shattered their perception.
"How is that possible!"
"That sea of fire was so terrifying, and Jiāng Chén wasn't burned to death! He even defeated Xiè Sāndāo!"
"What Martial Skill did he use? Why wasn't he afraid of the flames?"
If the first repulse of Xiè Sāndāo was due to his strength, then the second was due to his extraordinary combat talent. The combination of the two resulted in such formidable attacking power!
Nángōng Wǎn'ér's face was also filled with surprise. Although she was a demon, she knew that even with a difference of one realm, the disparity in strength was huge. But what was happening before her seemed to exceed her understanding. A martial artist at the fifth level of Qi Condensation was utterly helpless against Jiāng Chén at the Body Tempering Stage! Only she understood that the seemingly gentle punch exceeded ten thousand jin in power! Even the Gargoyle Race, known for their immense strength among the demon race, would find it difficult to possess such power at the same cultivation level as Jiāng Chén!
"All show and no substance."
Xiè Sāndāo glared with wide eyes. This sentence had also been said by the expert who taught him the Martial Skill. But how could Jiāng Chén, merely at the Body Tempering Stage, possess such insight!
"Big brother!"
"Big brother, are you alright?"
A few underlings hurriedly helped up Xiè Sāndāo. If their boss had no power to fight back against Jiāng Chén, what could they do? Xiè Sāndāo felt as if his chest had been hit by a massive boulder, the pain piercing to the bone. He was already severely injured.
Jiāng Chén slowly lowered his arm and said lightly, "With your meager abilities, you dare to extort me, and you even dare to flirt with my wife? Scram! Don't appear before me again, or I'll beat you every time I see you!"
"You…"
Xiè Sāndāo gritted his teeth and stood up. Blood was already seeping from his chest, and his face was pale. The courtyard fell silent. Everyone was completely stunned. What kind of strength did Jiāng Chén possess? He hadn't even reached Qi Condensation, yet he had defeated the Qi Condensation stage Xiè Sāndāo in just a few moves and left him in such a state.
A righteous voice broke the temporary silence. "Enough! Jiāng Chén! You've disappointed me too much!"
A handsome young man in white robes appeared, looking dashing and righteous. "Jiāng Chén, I heard today was your wedding, so I came specifically to attend the ceremony. I never expected to witness such a disgraceful scene. Not only do you owe money, but you also injure others. How could the Jiāng Family produce a scoundrel like you!"
Jiāng Fēng stepped onto the stage indignantly, his expression conveying a sense of righteous indignation and a desire to help the weak.
Xiè Sāndāo seemed to have found a savior. He cried out mournfully, "There are still good people in the world! Young Master Jiāng Fēng, you must seek justice for me! Do you see? He refuses to pay his debts and beats people. If you hadn't appeared in time, this villain would have beaten me to death…"
Jiāng Fēng was considered the embodiment of justice in Tianwu City. His appearance at this moment immediately swayed public opinion. "Young Master Jiāng Fēng has already spoken up, so the debt must be real!"
"If that's the case, then Jiāng Chén is truly despicable, not only owing money but also being so ruthless in his actions."
"He's a beast!"
"Beast? He's worse than a beast!"
The crowd was indignant and began to curse him. Xiè Sāndāo's acting skills improved, smearing the blood from his chest all over his face. He wailed, recounting the wrongdoings of Jiāng Chén and his father. Several officers in uniform also entered, standing behind Xiè Sāndāo with smug smiles, clearly in collusion and having already conspired. They immediately delivered their verdict. "The evidence is conclusive. Either you hand over the courtyard, or you pay the money. Otherwise, according to Human Race law, your entire family will be imprisoned!"
Jiāng Chén, however, remained calm. He glanced at the officers and asked, "May I see the loan receipt?"
"Are you trying to destroy the evidence!"
Xiè Sāndāo was extremely cautious. Jiāng Chén smiled. "Today is my wedding day. So many neighbors are watching, and the officers are here, as is the Jiāng Family's top genius, Jiāng Fēng, as a witness. If I were to destroy the loan receipt, wouldn't that confirm that I owe you money?"
As he spoke, he couldn't help but glance mockingly at Jiāng Fēng.
Xiè Sāndāo hesitated, but then he saw Jiāng Fēng give him a look, indicating that everything had been arranged. Only then did Xiè Sāndāo feel at ease and handed the loan receipt to Jiāng Chén.
Jiāng Chén took the loan receipt and examined it carefully. The paper was old, but the ink was fresh. A closer look revealed it to be a forgery. However, it would be difficult to use this as evidence. Moreover, Xiè Sāndāo was a rogue and a scoundrel; even if it were fake, he would not admit it.
"Xiè Sāndāo, this forged loan receipt is quite well done."
Xiè Sāndāo's eyebrows shot up. "What forged loan receipt? This is a real loan receipt!"
Although he had personally watched Jiāng Fēng write this loan receipt, he absolutely refused to admit it.
Jiāng Chén smiled slightly. "However, a fake is still a fake. This loan receipt of yours has a loophole."
"What loophole?"
Xiè Sāndāo was also a little uneasy. Had something really been discovered?
"Your loan receipt is too well-made, which made you overlook one point: my father is illiterate. He can't even write his own name."
"Your father, your father is illiterate?"
Xiè Sāndāo's expression instantly froze. Jiāng Fēng's face also turned extremely ugly.
"That's right. Look at my father's signature. Not only is the handwriting neat, but it's also in the popular block font from these past two years. Honestly, even if my father lived another lifetime, he couldn't write such beautiful characters."
Jiāng Chén's tone was filled with regret. Xiè Sāndāo looked at Jiāng Fēng for help. How could Jiāng Fēng have overlooked such an important piece of information as Jiāng Liè's illiteracy? Jiāng Fēng also panicked inwardly. He had only focused on forging the loan receipt and hadn't paid attention to the details of the handwriting. As for whether Jiāng Liè was literate or not, he didn't know either. Seeing Xiè Sāndāo's pleading gaze, he remained unresponsive.
Xiè Sāndāo had no choice but to resist stubbornly. "How could your father be illiterate! He's the top expert of the Jiāng Family, how did he learn his Martial Skills?"
Jiāng Chén said seriously, "My grandfather taught him by following the cultivation manual. You can ask my grandfather. Chapter 10: Every Word Carries Weight."
"Yes! Yes! My son has high martial talent, but he was mischievous since childhood and couldn't read a single character. I can testify to that."
How could Jiāng Hǎi not understand Jiāng Chén's intention? He quickly supported him. The surrounding neighbors also began to whisper. "It seems Jiāng Liè really can't read. Last time I asked him to write a letter, he refused."
"Alas, when eating at the restaurant and charging to an account, he always drew circles. He definitely can't read."
"He never liked attending private school since he was young. I watched him grow up, and I didn't expect him to die prematurely…"
Jiāng Chén scanned the crowd and then declared resoundingly, "Xiè Sāndāo, if you can find proof of my father's handwriting, I believe these officers will enforce the law impartially. Forget about the silver, I'll even give you the courtyard, no questions asked! However, my father died for the country. Even if some insidious people slander him…"
As he spoke, he glanced at Jiāng Fēng. "Even if some insidious people slander him, it cannot obscure my father's brilliant military achievements, nor can it obscure the contributions my father made to the Jiāng Family! Go and ask every member of the Jiāng Family. Without my father, how could the Jiāng Family have achieved its current glory? This courtyard was earned with my father's life. But if you have no proof, then you are intentionally slandering a fallen soldier! Extorting the family of a martyr! Until this matter is clarified, I, Jiāng Chén, will not rest!"
Jiāng Chén's words, spoken one by one, thundered in everyone's ears. These words were like knives stabbing into Jiāng Fēng's heart, making his face extremely unsightly. Seeing him like this, some people began to understand. Indeed, over the years, Jiāng Liè had gained too many resources and glory for the Jiāng Family. He had even personally gone to the battlefield and died for the Human Race. Even if some people spread rumors that he was a deserter, how could the people of Tianwu City not understand that iron-willed man? During the demon beast siege, Jiāng Liè fought valiantly and refused to retreat. After a day and a night, mountains of demon beast corpses piled up. Sū Wēi's father was saved by Jiāng Liè in that battle. He single-handedly led the Jiāng Family from an ordinary small family to the foremost family in Tianwu City. Everyone knew all these achievements by heart. It could be said that, apart from Jiāng Chén, Jiāng Liè was almost a perfect existence in everyone's hearts. Only his degenerate son, Jiāng Chén, was not only foolish but also had not inherited Jiāng Liè's martial talent, leading such a prodigy to have white temples before the age of forty. It could be said that without Jiāng Chén, Jiāng Liè would have lived a completely different life. It was rumored that Jiāng Liè had gone to the battlefield because he saw no hope in his foolish son, which is why everyone disliked Jiāng Chén even more.
"If it's possible that Jiāng Chén owes money, then it's possible that a great hero like Jiāng Liè would owe money to Xiè Sāndāo."
"Jiāng Liè was a master at the Peak Innate Realm. How could he owe a mere thousand taels of silver?"
"I say, this Xiè Sāndāo saw that Jiāng Liè was dead and came to extort them…"
Hearing the murmurs around him, Jiāng Chén's eyes fixed on Xiè Sāndāo. "Speak, where did this loan receipt come from? And who instigated you!"
Cold sweat beaded on Xiè Sāndāo's forehead. He dared not speak for a moment. Jiāng Fēng's face turned as dark as charcoal. His scheme had been exposed by Jiāng Chén on the spot. Although the onlookers dared not make a sound, the way they looked at him had changed. And the root of all this was this Jiāng Chén, who was called a good-for-nothing!
Jiāng Chén's gaze became sharp as he said word by word, "You didn't forge the loan receipt and conspire with others to seize my Jiāng Family courtyard, did you!"
Xiè Sāndāo took half a step back. He had only acted this way to cling to Jiāng Fēng's coattails. But if he were branded with slandering and defaming a fallen soldier, even exile would be considered lenient. Xiè Sāndāo said nervously, "Give me back the loan receipt!"
Jiāng Chén, however, pulled the loan receipt back. "Xiè Sāndāo, I can't give this loan receipt back to you. You forged the loan receipt and slandered a Human Race martyr. Martial artists all over the world go through fire and water, risking their lives for the Human Race, yet behind the scenes, there are scoundrels like you at work. Officers, what do you think should be done? If you don't intervene, we'll report it to the Prefecture Office! If the Prefecture Office doesn't handle it, we'll report it to the Eastern Barrens Commandery. I still don't believe there's no justice in this world!"