The God of the Human Realm!

Chapter 32 Family Reunion (Part 2)

‘Click! ’

Hong Yuan closed the door, then released a burst of energy from his palm, vibrating the wooden bolt inside and locking the room from the inside.

Having successfully solved the locked-room murder case, Hong Yuan summoned the madam and said with a smile, "Madam, Shao Tang and I are going to a banquet, so we won't return that room yet. The servants will be guarding it for now, so you and the girls shouldn't disturb us."

The madam glanced at Huang Shaotang, who was following closely beside Hong Yuan, looking dazed and pale, but she wasn't surprised.

This young master of the Huang family spends all his time in the company of women, and has long since exhausted himself. After another night of this, it's no wonder he looks so weak and listless.

Seeing that Huang Shaotang did not object, the madam chuckled, "Good, good! Since the young master has spoken, I will obey. However, after Master Huang's good time is over, the young master must come with Young Master Huang to take care of the girls in Tan Chun Pavilion."

"Easy to say!"

Hong Yuan laughed heartily, then clapped his hands loudly, attracting the attention of all the girls and patrons present. He then announced loudly, "Today is a lucky day for Master Huang. Those who are destined to meet him should share in the joy."

He placed one hand on Huang Shaotang's shoulder, the two appearing very familiar and close, and laughed loudly, "I've made the decision on behalf of my brother Shaotang, to congratulate Master Huang. All expenses for today will be charged to Master Huang's account."

Upon hearing this, the entire Tan Chun Pavilion fell silent for a moment, and many people wore strange expressions.

The father takes a concubine, and the son hosts banquets at a brothel. This father and son are truly bizarre.

However, this thought only lasted a moment, and then the girls and patrons cheered loudly, all of them beaming with joy.

"Is Young Master Huang serious?"

Huang Shaotang felt a sudden sharp pain in his shoulder. His face twitched, and he forced a smile onto his pale face: "It's...of course it's true."

As soon as he finished speaking, cheers erupted.

"Madam, prepare a double-flavored drink for me."

"I'll take on ten..."

"Me too!"

The madam beamed and, in a sweet voice, moved closer to Huang Shaotang, pulling his hand into her bosom: "Young Master Huang is so generous. When you come back, I'll have Xi'er and Yun'er come and keep you company."

I've given my friends a treat. As for whether I'll be sued by the girls or brothel owners for debt collection later, that's none of my business.

After all, Huang Shaotang agreed to the terms, so if any corrections are needed, Huang Shaotang should be asked to make them.

Leading Huang Shaotang out of Tanchun Pavilion, as soon as they reached the street, the cool morning breeze cleared Huang Shaotang's muddled mind. His eyes darted around, looking left and right.

Snapped!
A hand gripped his shoulder, causing Huang Shaotang to shudder. Hong Yuan chuckled as he looked at him.
"Brother Shaotang, you're not thinking of running away, are you? We haven't seen each other for many days, and I was just about to catch up with you, my old classmate. If you run away, that would be a huge disrespect to me. Brother Shaotang, you wouldn't be so heartless, would you?"

“How could this be, how could this be…” Huang Shaotang said dryly.

Hong Yuan raised his hand and pressed it against Huang Shaotang's neck. The latter froze instantly, and then felt a strange force that pierced his neck with excruciating pain.

Hong Yuan quickly raised his hand.

He was still a little short of the level where he could combine strength and gentleness and control his power at will. He could only barely control his strength. If he delayed even a moment longer, the power he had released would not be able to be taken back, and he would be blown to pieces again.

Huang Shaotang had clearly anticipated the fate of his servant, and was so frightened that his face turned pale. His legs went weak and he was about to kneel down: "Brother Hong, spare me! We've been classmates for many years, like brothers!"

Huang Shaotang was filled with immense fear.

He never thought Hong Yuan would come back alive after selling him into that hellhole. In just half a month, he had almost forgotten about this 'beloved friend'.

Unexpectedly, the other party not only returned, but also possessed ruthless methods that resembled sorcery.

The Huang family also has its own martial arts guards, but even if they have martial arts masters at the core level, they will only protect Huang Guiling; Huang Shaotang is not qualified to enjoy such protection.

Moreover, Huang Shaotang was not interested in the hard work of martial arts, so he was unaware of the mystery of internal strength and assumed that Hong Yuan had mastered sorcery and magic.

Hong Yuan lifted him up with one hand and laughed, "Brother Shao Tang, do you feel pain in your neck? If it does, that's good. I've planted a hidden force there. If I don't remove it, it will explode with a 'bang' in at most half an hour. Isn't that interesting?"

This is just fooling idiots.

Let alone the fact that Hong Yuan is not yet at the level of being able to control his energy at will, even if he were, a soft force injected into an enemy's body would be like water without a source if it was not triggered, and would dissipate in at most a dozen breaths.

Ultimately, physical strength is nothing more than the condensation of one's own vital energy and blood.

Huang Shaotang, unaware of this, found it uninteresting, his smile more like a grimace: "Brother Hong, I was wrong, please let me go."

"What did you do wrong?" Hong Yuan said with great interest. "How about this, from now until we get to the Huang residence, think of a hundred of your faults, and I'll forgive you."

“Brother Hong…” Huang Shaotang’s tears were almost flowing.

"Crying? Crying also counts as time!"

Huang Shaotang had no choice but to rack his brains to admit his mistake.

They rushed to the Huang family mansion.

Hong Yuan didn't press Huang Shaotang about why he betrayed him; that would be too melodramatic and pointless.

It's simply that they feel the path to success through the imperial examinations is blocked, this "friend" is no longer valuable, or they harbor resentment from the past and no longer need to hide it.

Does Huang Shaotang really have some 'difficult reason' or 'unavoidable' situation that would make him let it go?
Right now, it's just a cat playing with a mouse and using Huang Shaotang's identity to enter the Huang residence.

If we're talking about a happy family reunion, then it really has to be a happy family reunion.

Hong Yuan hated the endless drama of the older generation seeking revenge after the younger ones were killed, so he simply went for it and gave the whole family a life of wealth and prosperity.

Rongqing Lane, east of the city.

The Huang family mansion, with the three characters "Guilingzhuang" engraved on a huge plaque in front of the gate, occupies a very large area.

At this time, the Huang residence was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and although it was daytime, it was brightly lit everywhere.

The front yard, with dozens of tables set up, still felt quite spacious.

Rongqing Lane was a gathering place for many wealthy families and officials in Qingxu County. In addition, many wealthy people from other places who had cooperation with Guilingtang came here. The courtyard was always filled with laughter and was very lively.

Some of the merchants who arrived early couldn't help but mutter, "It's just taking a concubine, why make such a big fuss? Anyone who didn't know better would think it's like marrying a wife."

Someone nearby chimed in, making a light finger-twisting gesture, and chuckled, "What do you know? He takes a concubine every two years, throws another party, and just the gifts he receives are enough to make him rich. Old man, what gift did you give Master Huang?"

"I……"

Before the merchant could reply, a loud announcement rang out from the hall: "County Magistrate Zhang has arrived!"

The noise stopped abruptly, and the conversation ceased.

A group of well-dressed wealthy merchants, magnates, and officials in the courtyard rose and gathered at the gate to greet them.

Some merchants were suspicious but dared not be presumptuous. They simply lowered their voices and asked, "Who is this County Magistrate Zhang? How can he be so imposing? His demeanor is probably even more imposing than that of a county magistrate."

"Brother, are you from out of town? Is this your first time visiting Qingxu County?" someone whispered in reply. "Hehe! The Zhang family is the most prominent family in Qingxu County, having been rooted here for over a dozen generations. As for the county magistrate..."

The person who answered scoffed, "I've almost forgotten his surname. That county magistrate was a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) in the second year of the Tianfeng era. He served as a Hanlin official for several years before being demoted to Qingxu..."

Upon hearing this, not only the merchant but also some people who were unaware of the situation smiled knowingly.

In the seventh year of the Tianfeng reign, stipends for students were suspended. A few years later, Emperor Tianfeng died, and the current emperor ascended the throne and immediately issued an edict to abolish the imperial examinations.

Since a century ago, the central government of the Great Yin Dynasty had gradually lost its control over the local areas.

With the decentralization of power, the civil and military systems at the state, prefecture, and county levels were almost entirely controlled by local powerful families, clans, military leaders, nobles, and wealthy households.

When the imperial edict abolished the imperial examination system, it was as if even the central government of the Great Yin Dynasty had completely given up, practically telling the local authorities, "Do whatever you want, I don't care anymore!"
That magistrate of Qingxu County was probably among the last batch of officials who passed the imperial examinations.

When such a person arrives in a local area, he has no foundation whatsoever, no real power, and he has almost lost even the last bit of his reputation.

It would be strange if they could win against the local bully.

A wealthy family like the Zhangs possessed ample funds and provisions, numerous fields and shops, and operated many businesses. With a mere call, they could easily summon hundreds of brave and capable retainers. If the so-called county magistrate were sensible enough to simply act as a rubber stamp, the wealthy family might not tolerate such an idle person.

Any slight transgression would likely result in being stabbed seven times in the back and forced to commit suicide.

Outside Guilingzhuang, guests and their carriages made way for them.

A group of forty or fifty guards surrounded a middle-aged man in brocade robes with a broad face and wide mouth.

These dozens of guards were led by four bodyguards wearing leather armor. The rest of the guards, though not wearing leather armor, were all dressed in uniform cotton-padded jackets, with knives at their waists, and their bodies made a clanging sound as they walked.

Clearly, these guards had iron plates embedded in their coats for protection.

"I have only taken a concubine, yet it has attracted the esteemed presence of County Magistrate Zhang. It is truly an honor to have my humble abode graced with such presence!"

Huang Yihe, who calls himself "Master of Guiling Mountain," personally came out to greet them, laughing heartily as he stepped forward and bowed.

Although he was nearly seventy years old, his hair was neatly combed and without any blemishes, his face was ruddy, and he walked with agility and lightness, showing no signs of old age.

Although he treated the county magistrate with great courtesy, he showed little obsequiousness, clearly indicating that he had the confidence to back it up.

County Lieutenant Zhang also laughed heartily, stepped forward and took Huang Yihe's hand, saying, "Brother Guiling, you're too kind. You and I are both working for the Commander and live in the same city, so we should visit each other more often and be close to one another. Saying such formal things makes us feel distant."

"It was Huang's fault. Later at the banquet, Huang poured wine for Brother Zhang to apologize."

County Commandant Zhang looked Huang Yihe over a few more times and sighed, "I have long heard that Brother Guiling is skilled in health preservation and is also knowledgeable in alchemy. Even the Commander has praised him highly. Only after meeting him today do I realize that what he said is true. I will definitely learn more from Brother Guiling in the future. I hope you will not refuse."

Huang Yihe's face twitched: "Haha, it's no big deal. Brother Zhang, please come in and take a seat!"

County Commandant Zhang waved his hand, and the guards around him dispersed, forming a protective circle around him in the center, with four guards in leather armor following closely behind.

In fact, even excluding the guards brought by County Magistrate Zhang, the wealthy guests and masters in the courtyard today brought quite a few attendants. In addition, the guards and servants that Guiling Manor already had made the defense extremely strong.

After County Magistrate Zhang took his seat, Huang Yihe summoned the steward and instructed him, "County Magistrate Zhang has arrived. We shouldn't keep him waiting. Let's move the banquet forward!"

"This... Young Master Shaotang has not returned yet."

"Hmph! That wretched son of a man has run off somewhere to fool around again. Never mind him, I'll deal with him after today!"

Huang Yihe snorted coldly, waved his hand, and returned to the manor.

Hong Yuan also arrived at Guiling Manor at this time. Looking at the bustling crowd outside the gate, he couldn't help but sigh, "How lively! Congratulations, Brother Shaotang, you have gained another stepmother."

Huang Shaotang seemed completely stunned, not hearing his teasing at all. He was still deep in thought and said to himself, "I have another mistake. I shouldn't have stolen the old man's concubines. But even if I hadn't stolen them, those concubines wouldn't have lived for more than half a year. I didn't steal them; I was just afraid of wasting them!"

"I was wrong……"

"Hmm?!" Hong Yuan looked at Huang Shaotang with surprise and praised, "Brother Shaotang, it seems I underestimated you."

He slapped Huang Shaotang across the face, jolting him awake. He immediately thought Hong Yuan was going to kill him and was about to kneel down and beg for mercy.

"Alright, Brother Shaotang, we've known each other for many years, how could I really blame you? I believe you didn't do it on purpose, there's no need to be afraid."

Hong Yuan patted Huang Shaotang on the shoulder, his face full of warmth: "We were just joking around!"

Huang Shaotang stared blankly at Hong Yuan. In his fear and panic, he had long lost the ability to think and could no longer distinguish between truth and falsehood. "Brother Hong, do you really believe me?"

“Of course, look, didn’t I take you home?” Hong Yuan pointed to the gate of Guiling Manor and laughed, “If I didn’t trust you, why would I have sent you back?”

"By the way, Brother Shaotang, this is my first time visiting Master Huang. I wonder how many older and younger brothers you have? Please don't be impolite."

Huang Shaotang said blankly, "Two older brothers and three younger brothers, of which the legitimate son is..."

"There's no need to mention that. I, Hong, don't engage in any kind of sectarian or non-successive religion. I treat everyone equally." Hong Yuan waved his hand to interrupt.

As they spoke, the two had already arrived at the gate of the manor.

Upon reaching his home, Huang Shaotang finally breathed a slight sigh of relief. However, the thought of the servant who had died so tragically and inexplicably still chilled him to the bone, and he dared not move rashly.

Several servants came out to greet him. Upon seeing Huang Shaotang, they said anxiously, "Young Master Shaotang, why are you only returning now? The banquet is about to begin. The young masters are leading the young ladies to congratulate the master. You should hurry..."

Immediately, they noticed Hong Yuan and a servant spoke up: "And this gentleman is..."

"I am a good friend of your young master. I came to offer my congratulations upon hearing of Master Huang's joyous occasion!"

Hong Yuandao.

“Since you are a friend of the young master, it is perfectly acceptable for you to take a seat, but…” A servant pointed to the long sword hanging at Hong Yuan’s waist and said, “Please remove your weapon.”

Hong Yuan glanced at Huang Shaotang.

Huang Shaotang felt a chill run down his spine and hurriedly said, "This...this won't be necessary!"

With a "thud," Hong Yuan casually tossed the steel knife to his servant.

For him, the difference between having a weapon and not having one was not significant. His martial arts skills were not weak, and his combat power was indeed reduced by a bit without a weapon. But weapons are not such inconvenient things.

Before long, several servants led the way, guiding Hong Yuan and Huang Shaotang forward.

The servants originally intended to lead Hong Yuan to the banquet, but seeing that Huang Shaotang did not object, they thought that the young master might also know Master Huang, so they did not speak.

Hong Yuan walked through the banquet tables and saw that although the dozens of tables were not full, the area was packed with people. There were also guards and servants patrolling the surrounding corners. In total, there were probably several hundred people.

Hong Yuan laughed instead!
The more people there are, the easier it is for things to get chaotic. Once things get chaotic, how can you coordinate and fight together?

Given the size of the manor and the number of people there, he could easily escape with a simple leap after succeeding.

As for whether there is any danger?
Hong Yuan pinched the bridge of his nose. The perception granted by [Clear Vision and Penetrating the Mysterious] already gave him an extremely strong ability to perceive danger. After his comprehension increased by five strands, his spiritual perception underwent some mysterious changes.

At this moment, at the front of the banquet, Huang Yihe sat upright, receiving congratulations from his children. The one in the lead was a middle-aged man in his forties, dressed in fine clothes, who spoke in a loud voice: "Father, your son wishes you a long and blessed life, a long and healthy life, and the addition of a wonderful spouse..."

"Father!" Huang Shaotang felt a great sense of relief upon seeing Huang Yihe, like a rabbit finally escaping from the jaws of a tiger, and quickly ran forward.

No matter how fast he ran, Hong Yuan simply took a large stride and continued running alongside him.

Interrupted from offering congratulatory words, Huang Yihe frowned and looked at Huang Shaotang, who was disheveled and panting heavily. He was even more furious: "You unfilial son, look at the state you are in! How dare you come out and embarrass me? Go and change your clothes!"

Normally, Huang Shaotang would tremble with fear when Huang Yihe scolded him like this, but at this moment he only felt very safe.

Once he had this thought, and recalling how he had been terrified by Hong Yuan on the way to Tan Chun Pavilion, feeling utterly humiliated, he immediately forgot the threatening words of "half an hour".

Or perhaps they feel that they have the upper hand because they outnumber the opponent, and even if some kind of sorcery is planted on their neck, they can still grab them and force them to break free.

Huang Shaotang's courage surged, and he pointed at Hong Yuan, raising his voice: "Father, listen to me, it's all because of this guy surnamed Hong..."

"Master Huang!"

Hong Yuan ignored Huang Shaotang and stepped forward to greet him before he could finish speaking.

Huang Yihe sensed the hostility in Huang Shaotang's words and naturally became unfriendly. His face darkened, and he asked in a deep voice, "Who are you?"

Huang Shaotang cried out again, "Father, quickly have him arrested—"

A hand suddenly reached out and grabbed Huang Shaotang by the throat. The latter struggled desperately, but was as weak as a little quail.

Huang Yihe pressed his arms down on the chair, ultimately not getting up. He considered himself a big shot in the county and didn't think this kid in front of him could cause any trouble. His face darkened: "What do you want?"

The sudden commotion drew everyone's attention, who peered out and whispered among themselves, wondering what had happened. Even the county magistrate frowned, waved his hand, and gestured for his two guards to go and take a look.

As for the Huang family's guards, the servants quickly gathered towards the center of the arena.

"I think……"

Hong Yuan grabbed Huang Shaotang and lifted him up, like a blacksmith with decades of experience, and swung his sledgehammer in an instant.

Swish!
While Huang Shaotang was still in mid-air, Hong Yuan swung him around halfway with one hand, and with a whoosh, he slammed into Huang Yihe's head!
Wishing you and your family joy and happiness!

(End of this chapter)