Chapter 54: The Gathering Storm at the Yuan Family

Chapter 54: The Gathering Storm at the Yuan Family

"What?! You're courting death!" Yuan Liuhe's face twisted with rage. He hadn't expected such defiance from Xiao Chen.

The hall's atmosphere turned glacial. Angry glares, sharp as knives, pierced Xiao Chen.

"You bastard, what are you talking about? Who do you think you are?" Yuan Liuhe snarled. "Even your mother would listen to me! You dare refute me?"

Xiao Chen's expression hardened. "Uncle, I respect you as an elder, so I address you as such. But you should act like an elder!" he retorted. "You're my mother's closest relative, yet you treat me this way? Because of an outsider, you want me to kneel and apologize? Am I a worm? Is this how you treat family? Ridiculous!"

Xiao Chen smirked, hands behind his back. "In your eyes, Meng Yang is a peerless genius because of the Meng family backing him. You don't dare offend him. That's your business. What does it have to do with me? Just because I didn't act like a spineless dog in front of him, I have to apologize? Uncle, is this how you lead the family? If Meng Yang asked you to hand over the Yuan family, would you do it?"

His words were blunt, shocking the Yuan family. They hadn't expected such sharp words from Xiao Chen. Even Yuan Liuhe paled.

Yuan Ye seethed. He was furious that Xiao Chen dared to be so disrespectful, putting his father in an awkward position.

"Good!" Yuan Liuhe trembled with anger. "So good! I didn't expect Chen Fa to raise such a son! You're a good-for-nothing with a sharp tongue!" He paused, then added with venom, "But what's the point? You've offended Young Master Meng. He could crush you with a word!"

"Crush me with a word?" Xiao Chen scoffed. "You overestimate him. Even if I let him hit me, he wouldn't dare lay a finger on me!" He raised his head proudly, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. "You all believed Yuan Ye, but did anyone ask me what really happened?"

"That is what happened! I didn't lie!" Yuan Ye interjected.

"You didn't lie? Then tell me, what did I say that offended him? Was it that I killed Xiao Lei, or that I'm the number one genius of the Xiao family?" Xiao Chen smiled faintly. "These things can't be easily fabricated. Do you think I'd tell lies that are so easily debunked?"

"You…" Yuan Ye hesitated. Xiao Chen's words made sense. But could he really have killed Xiao Lei? It was too unbelievable.

Before Yuan Ye could respond, Xiao Chen continued, "Do you know why Meng Yang inquired about me later? Do you know why?"

"Why?" someone asked.

Xiao Chen flicked his sleeve, a display of subtle power. "Because he knows my identity. He can't afford to offend me! I won't apologize to him. He will apologize to me!"

His words were met with laughter.

"Haha, what did I just hear? Feng Yang wouldn't dare offend him?"

"That's hilarious! Feng Yang apologize to him?"

"You're a good-for-nothing. I doubt Young Master Meng even knows you exist."

"Where does he get the nerve to say such things? Delusional!"

Even Yuan Qingfeng shook his head. He found Xiao Chen's words absurd. The Xiao family in Yunhai City was nothing compared to the Meng family, backed by one of the Seven Great Houses!

Yuan Mengyao looked at him with disdain.

"Enough!" a voice boomed. Master Yuan walked in, supported by his cane. "You can all go back. The Meng family won't attack the Yuan family over a squabble between juniors. The Yuan family isn't that weak." He glanced at Yuan Liuhe. "Xiao Chen might have been wrong, but he's right about one thing. My Yuan family won't abandon its own for wealth."

"Yes, I understand," Yuan Liuhe replied softly.

"Xiao Chen, you were wrong too. He's your uncle. How can you speak to him like that?"

"I understand, Grandpa," Xiao Chen said, bowing slightly.

Yuan Liuhe snorted and left.

Yuan Ye glanced at Xiao Chen. "The Meng family will be at Grandfather's birthday banquet. Do you think Meng Yang will be afraid of you? I'd like to see how this ends! Dare you say that in front of Meng Yang?" He left quickly.

Ten days passed. Master Yuan's birthday banquet arrived. The Yuan family was decorated with red carpets, the air filled with joy. This was a major event, a time for the Yuan family to celebrate and for its branches to network.

Soon, a luxurious carriage stopped at the gate. A middle-aged man in a purple cloak stepped out. "Zi Fei of Yunhai City has come to congratulate Master Yuan!" he announced.