"Grandmaster, I... I injured your grandson?"
Chen Ningshuang, despite the immense pressure and fear, still refused to bow her head.
She was confident in her talent. Given time, she would undoubtedly become a grandmaster within three to five years, and within fifteen years, she would surely break through to the realm of a great grandmaster!
Jiang Yunhuang snorted coldly. This girl was somewhat attractive and would make a decent personal maid for Che'er.
"Of course, but I am not someone who blindly favors family over reason."
"Based on the surveillance footage and eyewitness accounts, you were the one who actively injured my grandson. My Che'er even tried to help you out of the situation... but you rejected his goodwill!"
Chen Ningshuang fell silent because what Jiang Yunhuang said was indeed true.
"I... I didn't know he was an ordinary person. I thought he was a martial artist too!"
Jiang Yunhuang narrowed his eyes slightly. He understood now!
No wonder his Che'er had been slapped by her. It was all an act—pretending to be weak to deceive her and forcibly bring her to his side.
He truly understood now, the old master of understanding!
"Hmph... What? You look down on ordinary people, do you?"
"According to Article 121 of the Martial Artists Management Regulations enacted before 2004..."
As the director of the Martial Artists Management Bureau, Jiang Yunhuang, though fundamentally a rough man, had spent years studying and now spoke with an official tone.
But this approach had a peculiar effect on Chen Ningshuang.
"Grandmaster Jiang, I want to know... will my mistake implicate the Chen family of martial artists?"
The pure and icy girl began to feel fear.
"I have already sent a grandmaster-level martial artist to annihilate Chen Family Village..."
As soon as these words were spoken, Chen Ningshuang's face turned deathly pale.
Annihilate... Chen Family Village?
Why... why? Just because I accidentally injured your grandson?
You would annihilate the entire Chen Family Village? Slaughter hundreds of lives?
And my father is still in seclusion at home...
"No! Grandmaster... all the fault is mine alone. The people of Chen Family Village are innocent. I will take full responsibility... they are all innocent!"
It was clear that Chen Ningshuang's heart was in complete turmoil.
"Hmph, as a disciple of a martial arts family, when you make a mistake in the secular world, the collective punishment mechanism is naturally applied. Surely you know this, don't you?"
With just a glance, Jiang Yunhuang made Chen Ningshuang shiver with fear.
The pressure of a great grandmaster... it was too terrifying!
"Please... show mercy. I am willing to atone with my death! Please spare the Chen family!"
A flash of determination appeared in Chen Ningshuang's eyes.
For her father, her brother, and the entire Chen family, she was willing to sacrifice herself.
"Whether I forgive you or not... that depends on what my grandson says. If Che'er does not forgive you... then tomorrow I will annihilate the entire Chen Family Village!"
"No—"
All of Chen Ningshuang's aloofness vanished in an instant. She understood that she had to gain the forgiveness of that Young Master Jiang.
Otherwise—
The entire Chen family would be annihilated!
Was it cruel?
But this was the brutal reality, for standing before her was a heavenly-level great grandmaster. Even if all the ancestors in the Chen family's graves were resurrected, they would still be no match for him.
"Where is Young Master Jiang? I... I will personally go and beg for his forgiveness!"
Jiang Yunhuang nodded slightly. He had done what he needed to do.
He had crushed this girl's arrogance, threatened her with the lives of the entire Chen Family Village... and now he would deliver her to Che'er!
Under such intimidation, no matter how proud she was, she would have no choice but to obey.
In truth, he was bluffing. Although the Jiang family was powerful, annihilating a village of hundreds of people in one go... if evidence were found, it wouldn't end well.
After all, this was a society governed by law, and one had to abide by the rules.
......
Chen Ningshuang was released on bail.
But the pressure on her did not ease in the slightest.
She couldn't be sure that she would gain Young Master Jiang's forgiveness.
After all, Young Master Jiang hadn't laid a hand on her. He had only spoken one sentence to her... and she had been the one to injure him.
Anyone would be furious. What if he refused to forgive her... what would she do then?
The thought of hundreds of people in Chen Family Village being mercilessly slaughtered, rivers of blood flowing... her heart felt as if it were being twisted by a knife.
No! She absolutely could not allow this to happen!
Even if it meant sacrificing everything, even if she had to serve tea and water as Young Master Jiang's maid, she had to gain his forgiveness.
Soon, she was brought to the hospital room.
"Che'er, I've brought her to you."
Jiang Yunhuang walked with a commanding presence, pushing Chen Ningshuang to Jiang Che's bedside.
"I've already ordered people to take control of Chen Family Village. Che'er, if there's anything you're not satisfied with, just tell your grandfather... I guarantee that not even a dog in Chen Family Village will survive."
With that, the old man turned and left, but not before giving a thoughtful glance at Dong'er by Jiang Che's bedside.
The spacious hospital room was now occupied only by Jiang Che and Chen Ningshuang.
Well... and Dong'er, who sat quietly by the bed, not speaking or moving, almost like an invisible presence.
But her long silver hair was impossible to ignore.
Jiang Che, lying in the hospital bed, glanced at Chen Ningshuang.
The girl was indeed beautiful, cold and aloof, as if she looked down on everyone. Even when she saw him... though she appeared humble on the surface, her inner pride remained intact.
"Hmph... you injured me, and yet you have the nerve to come here?"
Chen Ningshuang: "......"
She didn't want to come, but if she didn't... the entire Chen family would be destroyed!
The girl bowed slightly, "Young Master Jiang, I'm sorry... it was my fault. I hope you can forgive me."
Jiang Che chuckled lightly, his expression arrogant, "Is this how you ask for forgiveness?"
Still acting so high and mighty?
Then he gave Dong'er a meaningful look.
Dong'er immediately understood, releasing the aura of a peak Transformation Realm martial artist. But she merely glanced at Chen Ningshuang indifferently before obediently sitting back down by Jiang Che's bedside.
So obedient! Jiang Che patted Dong'er's head, as if petting a cat.
But Chen Ningshuang's heart was in turmoil!
Peak Transformation Realm???
How was that possible?
It wasn't the realm itself that shocked her—after all, she could reach that level in a year or two at most.
What truly stunned her was the girl's age!
Was this girl even five feet tall? And she looked so young... probably four or five years younger than herself. How could she possibly be at the peak Transformation Realm?
For someone who prided herself on being a genius, this was a devastating blow!
"Young... Young Master Jiang, it was my fault. I shouldn't have attacked you. Please... forgive me!"