Chapter 71: The Ones You Owe an Apology to Are Them!

Qi Yun immediately sensed that something was wrong and strode quickly to Chen Yuyi’s side.

“Mr. Chen, what’s happened?” she asked.

Behind her, two more people were making their way toward them—a refined and scholarly middle-aged man and a hale, silver-haired elder. Their arrival did not go unnoticed; the onlookers set aside their curiosity for the moment and greeted them respectfully.

The middle-aged man was none other than Huo Songxian, master of the Splendid Manor, and the distinguished elder was Luo Songxing, a renowned authority in traditional medicine throughout the Jiang River region.

“Jiachao, what’s going on here?” Huo Songxian asked.

Qi Yun, realizing that Chen Yuyi was ignoring her and behaving with marked indifference, immediately sensed the gravity of the situation. She cast a cold glance at the others and said, “How dare you offend Mr. Chen!”

Huo Jiachao’s heart skipped a beat. The young masters around him seemed confused, but they could sense that something was amiss.

At that moment, Huo Jiadong, emboldened by his father's arrival, stepped forward before his brother could speak. “Father, you’ve come just in time! This man has been causing trouble at our Splendid Manor. We tried to make him leave, but he refused. Brother Po Jun was just about to deal with him!”

Slap!

Before the words had even left his mouth, Huo Songxian’s hand struck him across the face. The man’s usually gentle features now wore a hint of anger.

He did not know Chen Yuyi personally, but seeing Qi Yun immediately move to shield him, and hearing her address him as Mr. Chen, he had already guessed the man’s identity. Moreover, Chen Yuyi’s presence exuded an aloofness that set him apart from ordinary men, reinforcing Huo Songxian’s suspicion.

Just moments ago, Qi Yun had mentioned to him that Mr. Chen was in the main hall, which was what prompted him to come and meet this guest in person.

His younger son’s words left him in no doubt as to what had transpired—this group had clearly provoked the wrong man, and he was deeply angered. Of all the people they could have crossed, why did it have to be Mr. Chen?

Huo Jiadong was stunned by the blow. “Father, why did you hit me?”

Both the young masters and many in the crowd were baffled. A strange feeling crept into their hearts—the man who threatened to cripple someone might not be a lunatic after all; perhaps he was someone truly formidable. Yet they still hadn’t guessed his true identity.

Fang Kai, who knew Sister Yun well—he wasn’t even qualified to carry her shoes—grew anxious when he saw her standing by that man’s side. When Young Master Huo was slapped the moment he spoke, Fang Kai’s fear only mounted.

The mother and daughter known as Little Rabbit had been tense all along, but upon seeing Qi Yun arrive, they finally felt a measure of relief. With Mr. Huo now present as well, surely the matter would be resolved.

Huo Jiachao, meanwhile, was growing increasingly uneasy. Had he misjudged the situation? Could this man be the very Mr. Chen everyone had been talking about lately? The more he considered it, the more unsettled he became—that earlier sense of apprehension had not been unfounded.

Lin Pojun looked at the Huo family in confusion, unable to make sense of the scene. He had just arrived from Shangdu and was unfamiliar with the affairs of Jiangcheng.

Qi Yun saw that even Mr. Huo was disciplining his son, so she said no more. She had only been gone a short while, yet these foolish brats had already come to harass Mr. Chen—her anger made her chest heave.

“Fools! Apologize to Mr. Chen at once!” Huo Songxian’s gentle demeanor was gone, replaced by a thunderous command to his younger son.

“Why should I apologize to him? He’s a thief! I’m already being lenient by not breaking both his legs!” Huo Jiadong, clutching his face, vented his frustration on Chen Yuyi.

Huo Songxian was appalled. He slapped his son again. “You worthless fool! Do you want to bring ruin to the Huo family?”

With that, he set his son aside and turned to Chen Yuyi, bowing deeply. “Mr. Chen, forgive my lack of discipline. Please, do not take offense!”

His action sent a wave of astonishment through the hall.

What was happening? Who was this man? Why had Mr. Huo said that offending him could bring disaster to the Huo family?

They began to realize they were out of their depth.

Without waiting for his father’s prompting, Huo Jiachao hurried forward, bowing low before Chen Yuyi. “Please forgive me, Mr. Chen. I did not recognize you and have offended you. I beg your pardon!”

The young masters looked on in disbelief. Those whose parents were present were instantly seized by them, their faces etched with terror. The parents struck them hard on the head—no mercy was shown even to those whose parents were absent; any child with a connection to them received the same treatment.

These young scions, who were rarely even scolded at home, now found themselves beaten mercilessly.

For the parents had finally realized which Mr. Chen this was.

The young masters, dazed and wronged, stared at their parents in confusion, wanting to ask why they were being punished, but the fear on their parents’ faces silenced them.

One by one, they were dragged before Chen Yuyi, lined up like children in a kindergarten.

“Apologize to Mr. Chen!” their parents hissed.

Though still bewildered, the young masters were thoroughly cowed, their heads bowed low as they trembled, murmuring, “We’re sorry, Mr. Chen.”

Fang Kai was dumbfounded, shrinking back instinctively. But Chen Yuyi’s gaze fell upon him.

At that moment, Huo Jiadong realized the enormity of his mistake. All arrogance gone, he began to tremble uncontrollably.

Huo Jiachao shot him a look and barked, “Go and apologize to Mr. Chen!”

Huo Jiadong’s knees buckled. He collapsed before Chen Yuyi. “Forgive me, Mr. Chen! Forgive me, Mr. Chen! Forgive me, Mr. Chen!”

The mother and daughter called Little Rabbit dared not even breathe. Little Rabbit herself looked on with pride—her older brother truly was formidable, reducing them all to submission.

Yuan Xiang, for reasons she could not explain, was trembling—not from fear, but from a strange excitement, perhaps even joy.

Lin Pojun watched, deeply curious. Who was this Mr. Chen, to command such awe?

Fang Kai broke out in a cold sweat. The faint gaze from Chen Yuyi filled him with terror; all he wanted was to escape.

Huo Jiadong, regretting everything, blamed Fang Kai for misleading him. Noticing Fang Kai’s attempt to slip away, he rushed over and seized him. “Where do you think you’re going?”

Knowing he was in deep trouble, Huo Jiadong hoped that by acting quickly he might yet save himself. He dragged Fang Kai before Chen Yuyi. “Mr. Chen, it was all his fault. I’ve brought him to you.”

Fang Kai, too frightened to resist, immediately fell to his knees, his head bobbing up and down in supplication. “Please spare me, Mr. Chen! Please spare me, Mr. Chen! Please spare me!”

“I told you, you must leave one of your legs behind,” Chen Yuyi said coolly.

At these words, everyone present sighed inwardly, including the young masters. Mr. Chen had given Fang Kai a chance—if he had knelt earlier, perhaps Mr. Chen would not have demanded a leg.

But Fang Kai had been too self-assured, and now he would pay the price.

No one dared plead for him. The parents clung tightly to their children, terrified that Mr. Chen might turn his wrath on them as well.

“And the ones you owe an apology to are them.” Chen Yuyi suddenly pointed toward Little Rabbit and her mother.

As his finger settled on them, all eyes turned to the mother and daughter.