Chapter 52: Time Waits for No One

“Grandson-in-law? Which grandson-in-law?” Su Xuefeng asked in return.

Blinking, Luo Ning countered, “Does Old Master Su have many grandsons-in-law? I am referring to the one who was granted a marriage by the Lord of Yunzhou.”

So, it was that damned criminal.

In reality, Su Xuefeng had only this one grandson-in-law.

Recalling Su Shan's death, his fury surged, and he said fiercely, “Miss Luo, did that criminal offend you?”

“No problem, I will take men to settle the score with him right now.”

“He has already rolled back home. A criminal and an ugly freak has no right to attend my birthday banquet.”

As soon as these words were spoken, Luo Ning's expression froze instantly.

She was from Yunzhou City and was not well-versed in the Su family's internal affairs; most of what she knew was hearsay.

At this moment, Luo Ning felt she might have misunderstood something, and she couldn't help but ask tentatively, “I heard that the Su family's position among the Four Great Families today was established by your eldest son, Su Zhenglong. Does he also have no right?”

After speaking, Luo Ning stared intently at Su Xuefeng.

“Of course he has no right. That sickly ghost only acts tough with me because he holds a bit of minor credit. I wish I could cleanse our lineage of him.”

Su Xuefeng spoke indignantly, failing to notice that Luo Ning's expression was becoming increasingly grim.

Meanwhile, Su Zhengtao was adding fuel to the fire, cursing Su Zhenglong's family, Sikong Jing, and Su Yuexi incessantly.

In particular, when mentioning Su Shan, his rage boiled over, and he could not stop his verbal onslaught.

After ranting for a long time before finally calming down, Su Xuefeng said, “Miss Luo, let us go find that criminal now...”

*Rip!*

Before he could finish, Luo Ning suddenly snatched the paper invitation he had just handed over and, to the stunned silence of both men, tore it into shreds.

“In fact, your Su family has no right to cooperate with my Luo Shui Jade House either.”

Having said her piece, Luo Ning turned and left with her entourage.

In the blink of an eye, Luo Ning had disappeared from before the father and son, leaving them staring at each other.

“What is this Luo Ning doing? Is she playing with us?” Su Zhengtao was utterly bewildered, his mind blank.

At that moment, Su Yun ran out, speaking with conviction.

“I know! It must be that criminal who deeply offended the Luo Shui Jade House.”

“Last time, their jade hairpin was snatched back from Miss Luo by that criminal using the influence of General Chouye.”

“That is why Miss Luo is angry, and our Su family is being caught in the crossfire.”

Su Yun's words sent Su Xuefeng into a rage; beyond that, they truly could not fathom a reason for Luo Ning to personally come and toy with the Su family.

*Pfft...*

Mocking laughter erupted from the surroundings. Having such a criminal for a grandson-in-law was truly a streak of eight lifetimes of bad luck for Su Xuefeng.

The faces of Su Xuefeng and Su Zhengtao turned as black as the bottom of a pot, nearly causing them to spit blood.

“That bastard, it's that criminal again,” Su Zhengtao cursed repeatedly.

Just then, a servant ran up hurriedly and whispered something into his ear.

Su Zhengtao's expression instantly darkened. After he and Su Xuefeng saw all the guests out, he whispered, “Father, Su Zhenglong is about to die. Dr. Sun has been going in and out several times.”

“Our people learned from Dr. Sun's medicine boy that Su Zhenglong can't hold on much longer.”

Ever since learning that Sikong Jing possessed treasures, Su Zhengtao had sent people to keep watch, and now the results were in.

His spirit jolted, and a cold light flashed in Su Xuefeng's eyes.

“No, it is not yet time to act. That criminal likely has a trump card in his hand.”

Su Xuefeng had previously stated that he would find an opportunity to force Sikong Jing to hand over the treasures taken from the Fierce Beast Bandit Group.

The opportunity was this: Su Zhenglong was unconscious and unable to resist, a time when Sikong Jing would be unable to play his trump card.

Hearing this, the corner of Su Zhengtao's mouth curled up. “That criminal just went out.”

His spirit jolted again, and Su Xuefeng clenched his fists tightly, letting out a sinister low growl, “Good. Time waits for no man. Let us go now and take Su Yuexi and Su Zhenglong hostage to force the criminal to hand over the treasures.”

With that, the father and son charged toward the courtyard where Su Yuexi was located without hesitation.

“Yuexian, Yuexian!”

Mei Xiaofang was still wailing in the courtyard, calling out loudly.

Suddenly, she heard footsteps outside the courtyard and looked up in surprise, “Yuexian, are you back?”

But her joy froze instantly. It was not Su Yuexian who had arrived, but Su Xuefeng and his son.

Mei Xiaofang's face changed drastically as she backed away step by step. “Su Xuefeng, what are you doing here?”

Her heart pounded wildly; they clearly came with ill intent. She knew that Su Shan's death could never be brushed aside so easily.

Su Zhengtao stepped forward boldly. “Men, seize her!”

The Su family experts behind him lunged forward and directly restrained Mei Xiaofang.

As Mei Xiaofang screamed and yelled, Su Yuexi, who was cultivating in her room, opened her eyes and rushed out.

“Mother...”

But in the next moment, Su Yuexi was also seized. In an instant, she and Mei Xiaofang were tied to the pillars.

Staring at Su Xuefeng, Su Yuexi asked indignantly, “Grandfather, didn't you say that as long as I participated in the Yunzhou Grand Competition selection, you would no longer hold a grudge against us? Why are you doing this to us?”

She truly could not understand why her grandfather had gone back on his word.

“Rest assured, I will not kill you. You will, of course, still participate in the competition; this is a separate matter.”

A sinister grin played on Su Xuefeng's face. Without further explanation, he stepped into Su Zhenglong's room.

Seeing this, Mei Xiaofang screamed again, “You old beast! Don't you dare touch Yuexi's father!”

But Su Xuefeng ignored her entirely and walked straight in.

When he and Su Zhengtao emerged again, they were carrying the still-unconscious Su Zhenglong. Amidst the grief and indignation of the mother and daughter, they casually threw Su Zhenglong onto the cold ground.

“What on earth are you trying to do? Yuexi's father won't be able to take it!” Mei Xiaofang was on the verge of a breakdown, her eyes filled with tears.

“Father, Father...” Su Yuexi shrieked repeatedly.

In the next instant, a straight figure flashed into the courtyard—it was Sikong Jing, returning from the Heavenly Martial Pavilion.

He had heard the cries of Su Yuexi and her mother from afar.

When he saw the state of the three people in the courtyard, Sikong Jing's blood boiled with fury. “Su Xuefeng, if you want to die, I can fulfill that wish for you.”

At this moment, Sikong Jing also couldn't understand what Su Xuefeng was suddenly up to, but he didn't care.

Su Yuexi was still tied up.

But just then, Su Zhengtao pressed a large blade against Su Yuexi's neck and said coldly, “Criminal, you'd better not move.”

In an instant, Sikong Jing froze, his fists clenched tight.

“Ah, Jing, don't be in such a hurry. Grandfather won't harm you.”

“Besides, Yuexi is so beautiful now; how could Grandfather have the heart to strike her? I want her to bring glory to our family.”

At this point, a smirk curled on Su Xuefeng's lips as he feigned a kind expression, adding, “Grandfather is doing this out of necessity. Who told you to be so impulsive?”

Sikong Jing frowned slightly. He indeed could not sense any killing intent from Su Xuefeng, so he asked coldly, “Spit it out if you have something to say.”

With another curl of his lip, Su Xuefeng revealed the look of an old fox and said, “The 'Wild Blade Rampage' and the 'Three Swords of Piercing Rock'—you obtained those two green jade slabs from the Fierce Beast Bandit Group, didn't you?”

Sikong Jing was stunned. What was this old man thinking?

He was the one who had engraved those two green jade slabs himself; what did they have to do with the Fierce Beast Bandit Group?