Consulting Sir

Cang Sheng could tell that the other party had ill intentions, and his smile immediately faded.

Wusheng Mountain was a hill several dozen miles outside Hua City.

With its rugged terrain, easy to defend and difficult to attack, it had gradually become a gathering place for bandits and mountain outlaws.

Over a hundred years ago, some cultivators who had committed crimes fled to this mountain.

Relying on their formidable combat skills, they quickly took control, absorbed the local bandits, and founded a sect.

From then on, anyone who wanted to transport goods from Hua City had to bow to the will of Wusheng Mountain, paying a toll just to pass through.

The sect master of Wusheng Mountain was no ordinary man.

Having defected from a major sect, his vision, strength, and ambition far surpassed those of common bandits.

He claimed to be a righteous cultivator, helping the local government suppress outlaws, and often organized his disciples to perform good deeds, earning him the admiration of Hua City's citizens.

But in private, they carried out the work of thieves—a far cry from the image they projected to the people and the authorities.

The merchants of Hua City had long suffered under Wusheng Mountain’s grip but could find no way to rid themselves of this entrenched evil. They could only endure being exploited.

Just as Cang Sheng was about to step forward and defend his father-in-law,

Situ Taili moved ahead and held him back.

Situ Taili’s face was grim, clearly seething with anger.

"Could the Young Master Chen explain what he means by that? The Situ estate has never once skimped on its tributes. Today is a day of great joy for us here—I ask that you show some restraint."

As the head of the Situ household, Situ Taili had to assert his authority.

If Wusheng Mountain dared to make trouble on such an important day, he would have no choice but to fight to the bitter end.

In terms of raw strength, Wusheng Mountain was certainly stronger than the Situ family.

But the Situ family had deep roots in Hua City and maintained close ties with the other great houses.

Those families, too, had long resented Wusheng Mountain.

If Situ Taili were truly pushed to his limit, he could rally the other families to stand together against the mountain sect.

"Oh? The Lord of Situ seems a bit worked up. I’m just here for the wedding, aren’t I? Here’s my gift—please accept it."

With that, Chen Dahai tossed the saber he was carrying directly into Situ Taili’s hands.

"You—!" Situ Taili fumed.

"Father-in-law, they’re here to cause trouble!"

Situ Taili raised his hand, cutting Cang Sheng off.

Cang Sheng was burning with rage but did not dare defy his father-in-law, so he held his tongue.

Situ Taili believed such matters should be handled by the elder generation.

He didn’t want his new son-in-law to bear the brunt of the conflict.

Spotting the steady stream of guests, he chose to suppress his anger for the moment.

Given the situation, Chen Dahai and his men hadn’t yet openly caused chaos, so it would be unwise to confront them outright.

After a moment’s deliberation, weighing the pros and cons, Situ Taili said: "Since Young Master Chen Dahai has come to attend the wedding, then by all means, be our guest. Steward, show the young master to his seat."

"Heh heh heh, I hope I’ll have a few drinks with the bride later..."

Chen Dahai sneered and strode toward the manor.

By custom, the bride was supposed to retire to the inner chambers after the ceremony.

For Chen Dahai to say he wanted to drink with the bride was a blatant provocation against both the Situ family and the newlyweds.

Cang Sheng’s rage flared again.

He glared at the arrogant Chen Dahai, his teeth clenched, as if he might attack at any moment.

"Cang Sheng, the wedding comes first. Don’t do anything rash. Stay here and greet the guests. I’ll inform Master Yi about Chen Dahai."

Situ Taili quickly advised him.

"Yes, Father-in-law." Cang Sheng clasped his hands in acknowledgment, forcing down his fury.

Over the past few days, the bond between the two men had grown strong.

Once Situ Taili decided to marry off his daughter, he saw no need to make things difficult for his future son-in-law.

That was the wisdom of a shrewd merchant.

Many foolish parents, even after their children are betrothed, continue to interfere—

often leading to the couple’s eventual ruin.

Such a lose-lose situation was a cardinal sin in business.

Beyond cold calculation, Situ Taili had also grown to genuinely admire Cang Sheng the more he got to know him, and he held him in high regard.

Cang Sheng’s swordsmanship improved every day, making Situ Taili quietly regret having once underestimated him.

For Cang Sheng, it felt as though he had gained a father.

In recent days, Situ Taili had treated him with warmth and kindness, a stark contrast to his former severity.

When Situ Taili stood in front of him to face Chen Dahai,

that small gesture meant protection.

It deeply moved Cang Sheng, making him feel the care of a true family member—giving him the sense of belonging he had long missed.

Upon hearing that Situ Taili was going to find Big Brother Yi Feng, Cang Sheng felt somewhat reassured.

As far as he was concerned, as long as Big Brother Yi Feng was around, everything could be resolved.

He continued to welcome the never-ending stream of guests.

Meanwhile, Situ Taili searched through the crowd for a figure in white robes.

After asking several clansmen, he finally found Yi Feng near the wedding altar, inspecting the arrangements.

"At long last, Master Yi. There’s something I’d like to discuss with you."

Situ Taili approached him.

Feeling Yi Feng’s calm and composed demeanor, Situ Taili couldn’t help but feel much of his anxiety melt away.

Yi Feng gave him an inscrutable impression—as if the man could do absolutely anything.

Yi Feng simply nodded slightly without speaking.

Situ Taili first explained the situation with Wusheng Mountain, then recounted Chen Dahai’s recent behavior.

"Wusheng Mountain has always acted tyrannically. That wastrel Chen Dahai saw Qingyi at the market a year ago and has been obsessed with her ever since.

He openly told me he fancied her and intended to have her. He said once he was done with his business, he would take her up the mountain.

That scoundrel treated my daughter like a plaything he could toss around. Wretch beyond words. But Wusheng Mountain’s power is great, so I could only keep Qingyi confined to the estate.

After a long period of vigilance with no sign of him, I assumed he had been joking. But it turns out he really came—and on today of all days.

I worry Wusheng Mountain’s men might cause trouble during the banquet. I implore you, Master Yi, to think of a plan. If a conflict erupts and the other families refuse to step in, the Situ household will be in grave danger."

On his way to find Yi Feng, Situ Taili had turned many possibilities over in his mind.

If Chen Dahai stirred trouble after the ceremony,

and the other families held back, while Wusheng Mountain had a plan to cause chaos—then there was no guarantee he could handle it peacefully.

Yi Feng maintained a gentle smile, showing no trace of unease, and said: "Pay them no mind. Just focus on receiving your guests."

Seeing Yi Feng’s unhurried demeanor, Situ Taili’s anxious heart steadied somewhat.

He did not know the full extent of Yi Feng’s power—

but a man who could casually discard high-grade weapons and cultivation techniques like trash, must certainly be unfathomably strong.

"With your words, Master Yi, I am at ease."

Yi Feng nodded slightly and said, "Several old friends of the Cang family's ancestors will also be attending Cang Sheng's wedding. You must receive them well."

Yi Feng pointed to the two tables closest to the stage.

"Set those two tables aside. They are all considered family of Cang Sheng, so we must be thorough in our courtesies."

Upon hearing Yi Feng mention the old friends of the Cang family's ancestors, Situ Taili couldn't help but feel a bit surprised.

He had never heard of the Cang family ancestor's name, nor had he ever heard that the Cang family had any friends.

Situ Taili wasn't sure about the situation, but since Yi Feng had said so, he went ahead and made the arrangements accordingly.

Situ Taili cupped his hands and said, "Very well, Master Yi. I will make the arrangements immediately."

"Good, thank you for your trouble," Yi Feng replied with a slight smile and a nod.

Situ Taili found several clan members and had them stand guard by the two tables, instructing them that these were reserved seats for the Cang family ancestor's old friends and that no one else should be allowed to sit there.

Seeing that Situ Taili had handled everything properly, Yi Feng slowly swept his gaze across the entire grand outdoor feast, quietly observing the various expressions of the crowd.

Over a thousand seats were arranged on the scene, bursting with noise and excitement, a lively spectacle.

Nearly ten thousand guests had arrived.

Moreover, more guests were continuously streaming in to take their seats.

The farther side tables were set aside specifically for the common folk of Hua City.

They took their seats according to their social status, each one sitting where they thought they belonged.

At the farthest distance from the stage were some beggars in tattered clothes.

This was the grand feast they had been eagerly anticipating for a long time.

These beggars also understood the rules.

Before attending the wedding banquet, they would go to a nearby river to wash themselves.

When they arrived at the banquet, they would pick some flowers as gifts for the hosts.

The guests on site were all familiar with the customs, and they felt nothing unusual about the beggars taking their seats. The atmosphere was harmonious and pleasant.