24: Wang Teng's visit only brought him humiliation.

The Zhao Family residence.

At this moment, the Zhao Family was no longer the glorious entity it once was.

Since the last time in front of the Chu Family gates, when they were forced to kneel and confess their sins while being watched by the whole city, and then compelled to publicly read a letter of self-reproach, the Zhao Family's face had been completely lost.

The head of the Family, Zhao Wuji, had taken to his bed, sighing and groaning all day long.

The entire Zhao Family was shrouded in a gloomy and miserable atmosphere.

When Wang Teng kicked open the Zhao Family's front gate with two guards in tow, this desolate scene was what met his eyes.

"Zhao Wuji! Get out here for this Young Master!"

Wang Teng's roar was like a thunderclap, exploding in the silent courtyard of the Zhao Family.

Several Zhao Family servants who rushed over upon hearing the noise turned pale when they saw it was Wang Teng from Black Stone City. They scrambled away to report.

Soon, several Zhao Family Elders emerged from the inner courtyard, surrounding a pale Zhao Wuji, who was being supported by others.

"Young... Young Master Wang, why have you come?" Seeing Wang Teng, Zhao Wuji's heart skipped a beat, and he forced a smile that looked worse than crying.

What he feared most now was seeing this jinx from Black Stone City.

"Why have I come?" Wang Teng sneered, his gaze cutting like a knife across Zhao Wuji's face. "Family Head Zhao, do you have the nerve to ask me that?"

"I'm asking you, where is that bitch Zhao Yanran? Tell her to get out here!"

Zhao Wuji's face turned pale at the word "bitch," but he didn't dare to talk back. He could only say submissively, "Young Master Wang, please calm down... my daughter... she is unwell and is resting in the backyard..."

"Resting? I bet she's thinking about how to climb into that trash Chu He's bed!" Wang Teng mocked mercilessly.

These words made the faces of everyone in the Zhao Family burn with shame.

"I didn't come here today to talk nonsense with you!" Wang Teng waved his hand impatiently. "My father said that out of respect for our families' past relationship, he won't hold the Zhao Family accountable for breaking the engagement. However, Zhao Yanran must return to Black Stone City with me!"

"She is the woman I, Wang Teng, was betrothed to. Even if she dies, her memorial tablet must be placed in the Wang Family's ancestral hall!"

His words were incredibly overbearing and left no room for argument.

Zhao Wuji's heart instantly sank to the bottom.

He knew Wang Teng wanted to take Zhao Yanran back to slowly torture her to vent his hatred.

But did he dare to refuse?

Having offended Chu He, the Zhao Family had already suffered a heavy blow to its Origin Qi. If they offended Black Stone City as well... then the Zhao Family would truly be wiped off the map of Qingyang City!

"What? Unwilling?" Seeing Zhao Wuji's hesitant look, a cold glint flashed in Wang Teng's eyes.

One of the guards behind him immediately stepped forward, and the aura of the eighth level of the Qi Gathering Realm erupted, pressing directly down on Zhao Wuji.

"Pfft!"

Zhao Wuji was already seriously ill. How could he withstand such pressure? He coughed up a mouthful of blood on the spot and slumped to the ground.

"Father!"

"Family Head!"

The members of the Zhao Family cried out in alarm, but no one dared to step forward.

"I'll ask you one more time. Will you hand her over or not?" Wang Teng looked down at Zhao Wuji with cold eyes.

Zhao Wuji lay on the ground, coughing violently, his eyes filled with despair and humiliation.

He knew he had no choice.

To save the Family, he could only sacrifice his daughter.

"I... I'll hand her over..." He squeezed those words out from between his teeth with all his strength.

Just then, a cold and weak voice came from the direction of the backyard.

"I will go with you."

Everyone turned to look.

Zhao Yanran appeared, dressed in a plain white gown, her face so pale it lacked any color. She slowly walked out from behind the moon gate.

Her body was still trembling slightly, but her eyes were exceptionally calm—as calm as a pool of stagnant water.

In these few months, she had experienced a transformation from heaven to Hell.

Her former pride and dreams had all been shattered by reality.

She hated Chu He. She hated why he hadn't revealed his strength sooner, causing her to miss her chance.

She hated herself even more, for being blind and short-sighted.

Now, retribution had come.

She knew what her fate would be if Wang Teng took her back. But she no longer cared.

When the heart is dead, what difference is there between a living person and a walking corpse?

"At least you're sensible." Seeing Zhao Yanran's despondent look, a sick sense of pleasure welled up in Wang Teng's heart.

This was exactly what he wanted: to ruthlessly trample underfoot the woman who once made his heart flutter!

"Take her away!" Wang Teng waved his hand.

The two guards immediately stepped forward, grabbing Zhao Yanran by her arms.

Zhao Yanran did not resist. Before being taken away, she turned her head and took a deep look at the Zhao Family residence—at those relatives who once pampered her but now left her to her fate.

In her eyes, there was no hate, only endless sorrow.

Then, she raised her head and looked toward the Chu Family's direction.

That direction was once the place she most despised and looked down upon.

And now, it had become an unreachable dream that she could never touch.

If... if only I hadn't been so heartless back then... Unfortunately, there are no "ifs."

Just as Wang Teng was satisfied and prepared to leave with his "trophy," a lazy voice rang out over the Zhao Family courtyard without warning.

"My Chu Family's grand ceremony has just ended, and the whole city is celebrating. Which blind fool dares to cause trouble in my Qingyang City?"

The voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.

Wang Teng's body suddenly stiffened!

The two guards behind him turned pale, looking as if they were facing a formidable enemy!

It was Chu He!

Why would he come?!

Everyone instinctively looked up toward the source of the voice.

On the roof of the Zhao Family courtyard, a person had appeared at some point.

The man was dressed in a green robe, standing with his hands behind his back. He had a tall, straight figure and a handsome face.

It was indeed Chu He!

He had actually arrived a long time ago.

From the moment Wang Teng kicked open the Zhao Family's gate, his Divine Sense had already locked onto this place.

He originally didn't want to bother with the Zhao Family's business.

In his eyes, a woman like Zhao Yanran was no different from a stone on the side of the road; her life or death had nothing to do with him.

However, this Wang Teng should never, ever have been so arrogant on Chu He's territory!

This was Qingyang City! It was Chu He's Qingyang City!

A dog from Black Stone City dared to show off here and kidnap a girl right in front of him?

If word of this got out, where would Chu He put his face?

Would any random cat or dog be able to run wild in his Qingyang City in the future?

So, he came.

"You... you are Chu He?" Wang Teng looked at Chu He on the roof, suppressing the shock and a trace of fear in his heart as he shouted with feigned bravado.

Chu He didn't answer him. With a flicker of his body, he landed silently in the center of the courtyard.

He didn't even spare Wang Teng a glance; his gaze fell directly on Zhao Yanran, who was being held by the two guards.

At the moment Chu He appeared, Zhao Yanran's long-dead heart skipped a violent beat for no reason.

Is... is he here to save me?

Does he... still have me in his heart?

An absurd yet irresistible thought began to grow wildly in her heart.

"Let her go." Chu He spoke indifferently, his voice still calm.

When Chu He's gaze swept over the two Qi Gathering guards holding Zhao Yanran, they felt a chill all over, as if they were being watched by an ancient Vicious Beast. Their limbs no longer obeyed them.

Seeing this, Wang Teng was both shocked and furious. He quickly stepped forward to block Chu He.

"Chu He! I advise you not to meddle in others' business!" he said through gritted teeth. "This is a private matter between my Wang Family of Black Stone City and the Zhao Family! This woman is my, Wang Teng's, fiancée! It is only natural for me to take my own woman away! It has nothing to do with you!"

He tried to use Black Stone City and "reason" to pressure Chu He.

"Your woman?" Chu He finally looked at him properly, his gaze like he was looking at an idiot.

"I recall that not long ago, Family Head Zhao personally came to the door and broke the engagement with your Black Stone City, right?" Chu He's gaze turned to Zhao Wuji, who was lying on the ground.

Zhao Wuji trembled under his gaze and quickly nodded like a chicken pecking at grain. "Yes! Yes! It was broken long ago! My daughter Yanran has long had nothing to do with Young Master Wang!"

"Did you hear that?" Chu He looked at Wang Teng, a mocking curl appearing at the corner of his mouth.

Wang Teng's face instantly turned the color of pig liver.

"So what!" he roared in humiliation and anger. "Even if the engagement was broken, she was still a woman I, Wang Teng, had my eye on! Who dares to stop me from taking what I want?!"

"Chu He, I'm warning you once more! My father is the City Lord of Black Stone City, a powerhouse at the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment! You'd better think carefully before offending our Black Stone City for an irrelevant woman!"

He brought up his father, hoping to intimidate Chu He.

"Early Stage of Foundation Establishment?" Chu He smiled upon hearing this.

He smiled very happily.

He took a step forward.

Wang Teng and the two guards behind him instinctively took a step back.

"Is your father being at the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment such a big deal?" The smile on Chu He's face gradually faded, replaced by a cold indifference.

Boom!

A pressure several times more terrifying than the one at the Li Family residence erupted from within Chu He!

Mid Foundation Establishment stage!

The unreserved, terrifying pressure of the Mid Foundation Establishment stage swept through the entire Zhao Family courtyard like a physical tide!

Thud!

Thud! Thud!

The two Qi Gathering guards Wang Teng had brought didn't even have time to scream before being forced to their knees by the pressure. Blood leaked from their seven orifices, and their bones made strained "creaking" sounds!

As for Wang Teng himself, although he was at the Peak of the ninth level of Qi Gathering, he was like a fallen leaf in a gale before this world-destroying pressure.

His legs shook uncontrollably, his knees buckled, and with a thud, he knelt straight down in front of Chu He!

His face was filled with boundless fear and horror!

Mid Foundation Establishment stage!

This Chu He was actually at the Mid Foundation Establishment stage!

The intelligence was wrong! There was a massive error in the intelligence!

At this moment, only endless regret remained in Wang Teng's heart.

He finally understood what kind of terrifying existence he had provoked.

"Now, I'll ask you one more time."

Chu He walked up to Wang Teng, who was kneeling and shaking like a sieve, and looked down at him.

"You dare to touch my people?"

"Just what do you think you are?"