Upon learning that his two children had fought fiercely in the tavern, Yun Bahe, like a furious lion, burst into the tavern.
In the tavern, tables and chairs, and the floor were all shattered.
Yun Cangxue, drenched, her hair disheveled, stood frozen, with her cheeks swollen as if stuffed with a high bun.
Yun Canglang looked annoyed and stood still too.
Seeing Yun Canglang’s hand, Yun Bahe was initially overjoyed, Canglang’s hand could move again!
But then he saw the petrified Huang Que and the indifferent Yun Sheng nearby.
That female Mage again?
How come I encounter her everywhere?
The marks of magic used all over the tavern floor and the Yun Family guards lying around made Yun Bahe feel even worse.
In Yun Bahe’s mind, if a Yun Family member made a mistake, even if it required punishment, it should remain within the Yun Family.
Yun Canglang disciplining Yun Cangxue was a family matter.
But the female Mage was an outsider, her acting against Yun Cangxue and her son was unacceptable!
"Dad, my elder brother hit me, he even wanted to kill Yuyu!" Yun Cangxue, as if stupefied by Yun Canglang’s strike, cried incessantly upon seeing Yun Bahe.
She pulled Tang Yu, whose knees were both broken, and both knelt before Yun Bahe, crying non-stop.
She understood her father very well; ever since her eldest brother Yun Canghai left the residence, the continuity of the family line had become of utmost importance in her father’s eyes.
Because of his disability, her elder brother had always refused to marry and have children; their Yuyu, although disappointing, had become the only hope for continuing the family lineage in Yun Residence.
"Cangxue... sigh," Yun Bahe, a man of resolute character, was especially protective.
Seeing the tragic state of the mother and son, his prior dissatisfaction faded significantly.
He had already heard about today’s incident from the Yun Residence’s secret informants on his way here, and indeed, the root cause was Tang Yu’s failure to meet expectations.
Among his three children, Yun Canghai had the most carefree personality, Yun Cangxue was stubborn and strong-willed, and Yun Canglang was more reserved, but among the three, Yun Canglang was the most righteous.
Today, Tang Yu nearly insulted a member of the Yun Family Army, and if Tang Yu didn’t come up with a proper apology, Yun Canglang would indeed handle it with military discipline. But even though he was disappointing, they still were members of the Yun Family.
"Canglang, the matters of Yun Family Army, Cangxue owes you an explanation, but these are family matters, there’s no need for military discipline. You’ve already hit, and even broke Yuyu’s knees, let this matter pass for now. As for you..." Yun Bahe’s tone suddenly shifted, his eyes angrily fixed, looking at Yun Sheng.
"Young lady, you hit my daughter and injured my guards, if I, Yun Bahe, do not seek justice today, I fear our Martial Saint General Mansion will hardly have a foothold in Great Zhou," said Yun Bahe, a murderous aura evident in his tone.
Even if the tavern ruckus was well censored, it must have already spread throughout the entire Imperial Capital.
Tomorrow in the court session, Elder Chen and that group of civil servants will surely criticize Yun Bahe for lax discipline.
In such a case, Yun Bahe must find a scapegoat for today’s issue, and the most suitable candidate right now is Yun Sheng.
Yun Sheng scoffed sarcastically, unable to suppress the chilling of her heart.
"Dad, Miss Yan is my lifesaver, it is fair to say she healed my hand. For you to defensively protect Cangxue and her son and unjustly blame Miss Yan, I strongly disagree," Yun Canglang had not expected his father to shift all blame onto Yun Sheng.
Father, has he lost his senses!
Yun Cangxue and her son were overjoyed on their faces, for once Yun Bahe made a move, that annoying female Mage was undoubtedly doomed.
"I haven’t finished speaking. Although you injured Yun Cangxue and her son, you indeed have been a great benefactor to the Yun Residence. Cang Lang’s hand was also saved thanks to your intervention, for which I am immensely grateful," Yun Bahe said, slightly bowing to Yun Sheng.
The actions of Yun Bahe startled several people in the tavern.
Yun Bahe, esteemed as a Great Zhou Martial Saint and appointed to a top rank, was given a special privilege by the late Emperor to wear a sword in court and not to perform rituals to Emperor Zhou.
This bow to Yun Sheng was an honor not even Emperor Zhou had received.
In Yun Sheng’s heart, it wasn’t just a shock; Yun Bahe, in terms of seniority, was her biological grandfather, how could she accept such a bow.
She promptly sidestepped to push Huang Que forward, "Old General, I cannot accept this gesture. It’s only natural for a doctor to heal. If the Yun Residence truly owes anything, it’s to the soldiers of the Yun Family Army and their families."
Yun Bahe had already investigated the Yun Family Army’s situation, Yun Cangxue had indeed ceased their military pay, and for the past five years, the Yun Residence had never disbursed any military salary to them.
Many of their families had suffered hunger and cold, and the entire barracks now seemed like loose sand, with numerous people dying from starvation or freezing each year.
"No... Huang Que dares not," Huang Que, seeing the gray-haired Yun Bahe, was scared witless and fell to her knees, repeatedly kowtowing, "Although Huang Que had grievances against the Yun Residence, she never bore resentment towards the Old General’s family. Huang Que’s mother suffered a hemorrhage during childbirth, and it was Young General Yun who urgently summoned the doctor, saving my life. Our father used to say, for this lifetime, the Huang family are subordinates of the Yun Residence."
Huang Que’s forehead hit the ground like a chicken pecking at rice, quickly bruising and bleeding.
Upon seeing this, Yun Cang Lang felt even more remorseful.
A shadow of gloom crossed Yun Bahe’s eyes.
The love of parents, his actions today inverting right and wrong to protect Yun Cangxue and her son, but he too carried the burden of the innocents involved—his heart was never at ease.
"Clear accountability, this is the ancestral instruction of the Yun Residence, the debts we owe, I shall inevitably repay. But the debts owed to us, I shall also reclaim. Young Lady, considering the life you saved, I can spare your life. But your Magic Soul cannot be left intact," implied Yun Bahe, intending to disable Yun Sheng’s Magic Soul.
"Heh, but what if I refuse," Yun Sheng’s expression darkened, her heart feeling chillingly cold.
This is her beloved grandfather? To protect an unworthy descendant, he would destroy her Magic Soul?
Such high-handedness and irrationally,—no wonder her father, Yun Canghai, angrily left the Martial Saint General Mansion.
What an ignorant young lady, in such circumstances, still not begging for mercy.
Yun Bahe couldn’t help but feel frustrated; he had already left Yun Sheng with a way out, just disabling her magic, nothing more; he wouldn’t harm her at all.
But had she pleaded, maybe he would have been merciful due to a moment of softness, yet this defiant young woman responded without leaving any room for mercy, embarrassing Yun Bahe completely.
"Hmph, truly ignorant of youth, in front of me, your refusal means nothing. To avoid others saying that I, an old man, bully the young, I will use only 10% of my power to duel with you. If you can withstand three moves from me, I will let you go," Yun Bahe’s eyes were stern as he glared directly at Yun Sheng.
Yun Cang Lang hearing this, stepped forward, only to be stopped by several hidden guards of Yun Residence.
It seems the challenge of three moves from the Martial Saint couldn’t be avoided.
A trace of bitterness crossed her heart, Yun Sheng smiled wryly and stepped forward.
"Then please, Old General, grant me your moves!" Yun Sheng held the Magic Wand in her hand and saluted with a fist in palm.