Chapter 116, Part One: Therefore

Rain Jin-hong’s heart sank in despair. If the truth were to be exposed today, the Rain family would inevitably become the target of public scorn.

Yet the man before him was frustratingly steady. Though his moves were nothing extraordinary, they flowed like water—continuous, unyielding, and tenacious. Rain Jin-hong found himself utterly unable to break free from his opponent’s grasp.

He knew the situation was critical; no matter what, Tang Tian must not be allowed to cement the accusations.

A fierce glint flashed in Rain Jin-hong’s eyes. His hands circled swiftly, fingers striking like a pipa’s strings in sudden unison.

A low hum vibrated, like the resonance of a plucked string echoing through a hollow chamber.

Liang Qiu’s expression tightened. He snorted coldly, his palms pressing together before slowly pushing outward. His movements were painstakingly slow, as if every action required immense effort. His garments billowed, and the air around him seemed to halt.

The two forces collided with a thunderous clash.

Liang Qiu grunted, sinking his weight as his feet sank deep into the soil. His clothes tore apart like butterflies scattering in the wind as he staggered back ten steps, each footprint etched clearly into the earth.

Rain Jin-hong looked even worse—his hair disheveled, a trickle of fresh blood at the corner of his mouth.

But now was no time for anything else. Seizing the moment to create distance, he shouted fiercely, “Tang Tian, don’t you dare slander the Rain family! The feud between the Rain and Shangguan families is no secret to us! That is a family grudge, but today, this is a personal vendetta! Zeqing and I have long admired Miss Qianhui, though we know we don’t deserve her and can only drown our sorrows in wine. Friends, is this love and loyalty wrong? How is it any different from yours? Our sincerity is witnessed by heaven and earth! This battle today is for only one thing: Tang Tian, such a vulgar man, is utterly unworthy of Miss Qianhui!”

The young masters perched atop the lamp posts all showed expressions of heartfelt sympathy. Rain Jin-hong’s words struck a chord deep within them.

Rain Zeqing steadied himself and feigned righteous indignation. “Indeed! I am the one who instigated this! I won’t back down! I take full responsibility for my actions. If you have any tricks, bring them all to me! To die for Miss Qianhui is a death well deserved!”

Sadness and sympathy spread among the crowd, many with reddened eyes.

Shangguan Wei grew frantic. He had not expected these two to be such skilled orators. Just moments ago, he thought he had exposed the Rain family’s sinister plot; now, it seemed they were poised to turn the tables.

“To die well deserved?” Tang Tian grinned, baring his teeth. “Very well.”

The crowd immediately snapped out of the sorrowful atmosphere Rain Zeqing had created. Tang Tian’s smile now appeared savage and merciless.

Pointing at Rain Zeqing, Tang Tian ordered, “Strip him naked.”

Rain Zeqing’s face paled as he screamed, “A gentleman may be slain, but never humiliated!”

Shangguan Wei charged forward without hesitation, but Tang Tian stopped him, pointing to the others. “Let them handle it. Everyone except Huo Yanguang is untied.”

Shangguan Wei quickly unbound the ropes restraining the young masters.

“No one hesitating will get a scolding!” Tang Tian sneered.

The young masters, like startled lambs, immediately surged forward and stripped Rain Zeqing clean.

Rain Jin-hong’s eyes bulged in fury, but he was tightly entangled by Liang Qiu, who, for once, had ignited his true fury. Rain Jin-hong’s desperate performance to turn the tide was his own fault.

Liang Qiu’s wrath was profoundly terrifying.

No matter what Rain Jin-hong tried—even the deadly moves he had just used—he could not break free from Liang Qiu’s grip.

Turning to the assembled young masters, Tang Tian’s gaze swept over them.

They were all as silent as the grave.

“From today onward, I am your leader!” Tang Tian waved his hand dismissively. “Alright, call me boss!”

The young masters glanced at each other hesitantly.

“Hmm?” Tang Tian squinted.

Startled, the young masters quickly called out, “Boss!”

Tang Tian frowned. “Did you not eat? Louder! If I hear anyone whisper again, I’ll throw them off this post.”

“Boss!” The young masters strained their voices, their necks flushed red as they shouted.

Only then did Tang Tian show satisfaction. But his eyes caught sight of one still bound—Huo Yanguang—who remained silent.

“Hey, why aren’t you shouting?” Tang Tian pulled Huo Yanguang over by one hand.

“Kill me if you want!” Huo Yanguang’s eyes blazed with fury.

“Excellent. I admire those with backbone.” Tang Tian clapped his hands. “Strip him too!”

Huo Yanguang’s face darkened as he roared, “You dare?”

Tang Tian grinned. “Why wouldn’t I?”

“Using violence to humiliate others isn’t the way of a man!” Huo Yanguang spat out.

“I beat you. You’re my captive now,” Tang Tian said matter-of-factly. “I can deal with my captives however I want, no need for their consent.”

Seeing Tang Tian’s smug expression, Huo Yanguang wished he could tear him limb from limb.

“Strip him! Anyone who refuses, think carefully,” Tang Tian waved his hand.

The young masters, already cowed by Tang Tian’s intimidation, reluctantly stepped forward.

“Brother Guang, sorry about this.”

“Brother Guang, you have to bow your head under the eaves.”

“Brother Guang, life’s like being forcibly subdued—if you can’t resist, you can only endure…”

Huo Yanguang nearly spat blood. If he weren’t bound, he would have slapped the one who said “forcibly subdued” down.

But as hands touched his clothes, his scalp tingled with dread. The thought of being stripped like Rain Zeqing and hung up made him shiver.

“Wait!” In desperation, Huo Yanguang shouted. All eyes turned to him, and he felt his face burning.

“Bo...boss…” he squeezed out through clenched teeth.

Tang Tian shook his head. “Too soft.”

Huo Yanguang went all out, closed his eyes, and shouted, “Boss!”

Shouting that word brought both humiliation and relief—a feeling oddly reminiscent of the fabled forced submission… Damn it! Who just said forced submission?

Tang Tian smiled approvingly and waved his hand. “Good, good. From now on, you’re under my protection.”

Huo Yanguang felt utterly powerless to speak up.

Is this what it means to give up after forced submission? Damn it! Who said that forced submission?

Rain Zeqing’s face was ashen, filled with inexplicable rage and sorrow. A chill ran through him as countless eyes filled with pity and mockery fixed on him. He wished he could vanish into the earth.

Tang Tian! Just wait! The Rain family will never let you go!

Those mysterious elders will never let you go!

When that time comes, this day’s humiliation will be repaid a hundredfold!

At that moment, Tang Tian’s voice rang out like forged steel from above, addressing the entire plaza.

“I don’t care who you are or which family you belong to. I don’t care what you think. I don’t care how powerful you are. I don’t know much, and I can’t do much. But I am never afraid to fight! Anyone who dares be my enemy must be ready to face my wrath and counterattack.”

From his lofty vantage, Tang Tian looked down at the dense crowd, grinning fiercely. Yet his words left no one smiling.

“Therefore,”

The boy standing atop the lamp post, scorched and smoke-stained, bared his white teeth in a resolute, unyielding voice that echoed across the square like a decree of judgment.

“The Rain family must perish!”

***

“The Rain family must perish…”

“The Rain family must perish…”

The echoes reverberated through the plaza and within everyone’s hearts.

The vast square fell deathly silent.

Each person was deeply shaken by this utterly domineering declaration. Never before had anyone dared to say such words so openly, in front of so many enemies.

Behind Tang Tian, the young masters were all struck dumb. Even Ming Zichun, Yun Yi, and others stared in disbelief. Even the defiant Huo Yanguang was stunned by Tang Tian’s words.

Was he not afraid of making more enemies?

Was he not afraid of being besieged on all sides?

…

Shangguan Wei was shaken by Tang Tian’s words but soon felt something ignite within him. He clenched his fists tightly. What was this tingling numbness all over his body? What was this burning sensation in his veins? What was this feeling that, even if he died fighting alongside the young master, he would have no regrets?

The young master…

Even the lady could not achieve this.

At some point, Yaya had crawled out, climbing nimbly onto Tang Tian’s shoulder, her small face flushed red with excitement as she pounded her little armored chest.

Tang Tian lifted a foot, resting it on the edge of the lamp post’s railing. His defiant gaze swept over the crowd below. Slowly, he raised his right fist, cloaked in flickering azure furnace flames like a blazing torch in the night, capturing everyone’s attention.

Taking a deep breath, Tang Tian suddenly shouted, “Shangguan family!”

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