Zhou Songyang was indeed seriously injured. Not only were several of his ribs broken, but his internal organs had also been shaken and displaced. His internal injuries were far more severe than his external ones.

Once Zhou Yufei came back to her senses, she hurried to Zhou Songyang's side and asked with concern, "Second Brother, how are you?"

"I won't die!" Zhou Songyang forced a wry smile, then glanced at Chen Yang. "This boyfriend you've found... he's not bad at all!"

Despite his anger, he couldn't help but genuinely admire Chen Yang's strength. He had been so proud to reach the sixth rank at thirty-two, a feat that placed him among the top few in all of Qingqiu Dao. But Chen Yang? He wasn't even thirty, and he had already stepped into the seventh rank. That was truly formidable.

"This guy is too heavy-handed! Don't worry, I'll give him a piece of my mind later!" Zhou Yufei said indignantly.

Zhou Songyang quickly waved his hand. "It was my own lack of skill. Don't make it seem like I'm a sore loser!"

Zhou Yufei barely managed to stifle a laugh.

Chen Yang walked over with a grin. "Brother-in-law, I should be qualified to meet Grandfather now, right? I'm no longer just some Tom, Dick, or Harry, am I?"

"Definitely not!" Zhou Songyang's face darkened. His own words were a slap in the face. The harsher I was before, the more it stings now! He almost killed me with a single punch! If word of this got out, people would laugh their heads off. How could I ever show my face in Qingqiu Dao again?

In his mind, Zhou Songyang cursed Chen Yang again before begrudgingly pointing behind him. "Go on, hurry up. Grandfather is waiting for you in the main hall!"

"Thanks for letting me win, Brother-in-law. I hope we can spar again sometime!" Chen Yang said with a smile.

Zhou Songyang's heart trembled, and he nearly collapsed on the spot. This guy is just too much of a bully! he cursed inwardly.

Zhou Yufei quickly pulled Chen Yang along, asking with bewilderment as they walked toward the main hall, "Chen Yang, who exactly are you? How are you so strong? What rank of Fist Master are you?"

"Aren't I just a good-for-nothing freeloader who married into your family? Besides, I'm not worthy of someone as outstanding as you," Chen Yang said with an indifferent shrug.

Zhou Yufei rolled her eyes, speechless, and pressed, "Are you going to tell the truth or not?!"

In fact, she had long sensed that Chen Yang was no ordinary person. From many small details, she could feel he was hiding something. Could a worthless man make Lingjin City's Lord Hu kneel and beg for mercy? Could a worthless man close a four-million-yuan deal with a single phone call? Could a worthless man defeat a sixth-rank Fist Master in a single move? If he's considered worthless, are there any elites left in this world?

Faced with Zhou Yufei's interrogation, Chen Yang adopted the attitude of a dead pig that fears no boiling water. "I am telling the truth!"

Zhou Yufei gritted her teeth, so frustrated she wanted to bite him.

She was about to press him further when she saw her grandfather, Zhou Jingyuan, standing at the entrance to the main hall, watching them.

Zhou Jingyuan was not a tall man, but he exuded a powerful, imposing aura that commanded respect without a word of anger, making it difficult for anyone to meet his gaze. Dressed in white training clothes, he stood there with the distinct air of a sage.

Zhou Yufei immediately grew nervous, her hand tightening around Chen Yang's as her palm began to sweat.

In the Zhou Family, this old man was a god. Almost every member of the younger generation feared him.

She took two deep breaths before finally calling out, "Grandfather, Yufei is back!"

"It's good that you're back," Zhou Jingyuan nodded, his eyes scrutinizing Chen Yang from head to toe. He then smiled faintly. "I heard you seriously injured Songyang?"

"I warned him, but he wouldn't listen," Chen Yang replied calmly, then countered, "Elder, you aren't planning to stand up for him, are you?"

Zhou Yufei's heart leaped into her throat. To her, his words were nothing short of outrageous!

Zhou Jingyuan's eyebrows twitched slightly, surprised by Chen Yang's nonchalant attitude. He then laughed. "He was injured because his skills were lacking. He has no one to blame but himself!"

"You're quite impressive!" Zhou Jingyuan nodded in appreciation. "By the way, who was your master? And what rank are you now?"

"I studied under the Martial Department. As for my rank, I'm sorry, Elder, but I cannot divulge that."

His actual strength was a secret known only to himself, Yang Hu, and a few members of the Elders' Court. After all, as the long-term guardian of the Hanyun Valley border, his power was a formidable trump card against foreign enemies.

"However, you can consider me seventh-rank," Chen Yang then added, perhaps feeling it was improper to refuse an answer outright.

"Isn't that answer a bit too perfunctory?" Zhou Jingyuan smiled. In all these years, it seemed no one had ever dared to speak to him like this. Just consider him seventh-rank? How casually he put it.

Chen Yang simply smiled without saying a word. Despite Zhou Yufei's subtle signals, he remained unmoved.

The smile on Zhou Jingyuan's face grew wider as he continued, "May I ask your position in the Martial Department? Coincidentally, Yufei's eldest brother is also in the Martial Department. He currently holds the position of a Sixth Grade Military General!" He spoke with obvious pride in his eldest grandson.

"That's incredible!" Chen Yang said, giving a thumbs-up.

Zhou Jingyuan asked cheerfully, "And you?"

"Not worth mentioning," Chen Yang replied with a helpless smile.

Zhou Jingyuan said no more. He silently chided himself for blurting out his grandson's position so quickly. Who would dare state their own title after that? Wouldn't that be like showing off one's meager skills before an expert—a blatant attempt at self-humiliation?

After a moment, Zhou Jingyuan waved his hand. "Yufei, take Chen Yang for a walk around the estate. You will both join the family banquet tonight."

"Yes, Grandfather!"

Zhou Yufei let out a huge sigh of relief and quickly pulled Chen Yang away.

Once they had left the main hall, Zhou Yufei couldn't help but complain, "You've really got some nerve, talking to my grandfather with an attitude like that!"

"Is there a problem? Was I supposed to be trembling with fear?"

"You..." Zhou Yufei was at a loss for words. However, when she thought back on Chen Yang's calm and confident demeanor, a sense of admiration bloomed within her. In the entire, vast Zhou Family, who would dare act like that? Even her eldest brother had to be on his best behavior when he returned. This guy certainly has an impressive air about him!

At that thought, she found herself feeling increasingly satisfied with Chen Yang.

As they departed, the old butler, Zhou Zhengfu, approached Zhou Jingyuan with a smile. "Master, what do you think of the young man?"

"Quite impressive. He's a standout among the younger generation," Zhou Jingyuan said, nodding as he watched Chen Yang's retreating figure. He then shook his head. "A pity he is of little use to our Zhou Family."

Zhou Zhengfu understood the meaning behind his words and sighed. "If it weren't for this arranged marriage, he would have made a fine grandson-in-law, wouldn't he?"

"In this world, there are no 'ifs,' only certainties. He and Yufei are fated to meet but not to be."

Zhou Zhengfu nodded. "Master, what do you plan to do? Will you send him away before the engagement ceremony?"

"A guest is a guest. How could we send him away?" Zhou Jingyuan said impassively. "Besides, only by letting him witness the disparity between himself and the other party will he truly give up."

"Master, aren't you afraid he'll cause trouble?"

Zhou Jingyuan shook his head with a light chuckle. "With his meager strength, can he really stir up waves in our Zhou Family?"

"True," Zhou Zhengfu laughed self-deprecatingly. "Furthermore, the Eldest Young Master is about to return from the Martial Department. With him here, even an eighth-rank Grandmaster wouldn't dare act recklessly."

"Inform everyone that everything will proceed as planned."

"..."

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