Invincible Soul Emperor

Chapter 727: Chapter 727: There Is Actually Such a Thing

When Zheng Ming finally understood the gravity of the situation, he felt as if the sky had collapsed.

"Zheng Xiao! Look at the mess you’ve made! That young man already knew this lord!" Zheng Ming looked at his daughter with irrepressible fury. If he recalled correctly, his foolish daughter had even tried to capture the young man to make him her male pet! Heavens! If this lord finds out how audacious the Zheng Family has been, how could we possibly survive?!

Zheng Xiao had also realized what was happening. Seeing her father seething at her, she felt just as anxious. She never could have imagined Ye Qingchen possessed such a status! Had she known his true identity, she wouldn’t have dared to lay a single finger on him! "Father, it’s already come to this! Stop scolding me and help me think of a way out!" Zheng Xiao’s heart pounded with urgency. She wished she could go back in time and slap herself. How could I have been so blind as to offend him!

Zheng Ming wished he could strangle her. He blamed himself for spoiling her so much, allowing her to act so recklessly. Her lawless behavior had caused this enormous calamity, and he knew he was partly responsible. However, Zheng Ming knew now was not the time for such thoughts. He could only turn his gaze toward Ye Qingchen.

At that moment, Ye Qingchen smiled and nodded to Xue Feng. "Brother Xue, there’s no need for such courtesy. We were actually on our way to find you but were delayed in this outer city for a few days. By the way, seeing you with the Zheng Family, are you very familiar with them, Brother Xue?"

Xue Feng immediately shook his head. "The Zheng Family is just a minor clan subordinate to the Xue Family. If not for the incident on the back mountain, the Xue Family would not have sent anyone."

Ye Qingchen nodded in understanding. "I see. I’ve heard of the Xue Family, of course, but I never expected one of its subordinate clans to be so outrageously arrogant."

As soon as Ye Qingchen spoke, the members of the Zheng Family broke out in a cold sweat. Zheng Ming’s heart leaped into his throat. The lord from the Xue Family already suspected their involvement with the back mountain incident. Now, with Ye Qingchen’s words, that lord would surely not let the Zheng Family off the hook.

"Haha, young friend, could there be some misunderstanding with our Zheng Family? I have never seen you before, and our family would certainly never make things difficult for you!" In a flash of insight, an idea sparked in Zheng Ming’s mind. He feigned ignorance, his face a mask of innocence, as if Ye Qingchen were spouting utter nonsense.

Ye Qingchen watched his act with a cold, inward sneer. He definitely recognizes me. There’s no way he doesn’t know what his own daughter has been up to. Xue Feng simply observed the two men with an impassive expression.

"Family Head Zheng, your daughter falsely accused me and had me thrown into your prison," Ye Qingchen said, his voice level. "I’m sure quite a few people in the outer city witnessed it. You can’t deny this, can you?" He harbored his own anger toward the Zheng Family. Now that the Xue Family was here, he wouldn’t let the matter slide.

Hearing this, Xue Feng’s gaze sharpened on Zheng Ming.

Under Xue Feng’s piercing stare, Zheng Ming broke out in a cold sweat, yet he managed to remain outwardly composed. "So such a thing happened! Ah, young friend, I’ve been terribly busy recently. I was truly unaware of these matters! But, if I may ask, for what reason were you arrested?"

"For what reason? You’ll have to ask Miss Zheng about that," Ye Qingchen said, shifting his gaze to her.

Zheng Xiao stiffened her neck and said hurriedly, "Father! Listen to my explanation! I had a good reason! He was consorting with a thief, acting suspiciously! I was just trying to uncover the truth!"

Zheng Ming put on a serious expression and nodded. "Zheng Xiao! This is where you were wrong. To arrest someone without knowing their identity is simply outrageous!" His words were a deliberate jab at Ye Qingchen, and Zheng Xiao instantly understood his meaning.

"Yes, Father. But our family was only trying to maintain peace in the outer city. If someone of status were to break the rules and cause chaos, and we did nothing, wouldn’t the outer city fall into disarray?"

Zheng Xiao argued her case so reasonably that anyone who didn’t know the truth might have thought they were the righteous party.

Hearing this, Xue Feng turned to Ye Qingchen. "Brother Ye, is that really what happened?" Fortunately, Xue Feng didn’t believe a word the Zheng Family said. He knew Ye Qingchen and was certain he would never do such a thing.

Ye Qingchen watched the father-daughter duo perform before him with a cold smile. It seems this family is determined to see this through to the bitter end. "Then, wasn’t it you, Miss Zheng, who refused to release me and insisted on making me your male pet? Wasn’t it you, Miss Zheng, who abandoned the young woman with me all alone on the back mountain?"

At Ye Qingchen’s words, Xue Feng’s expression immediately darkened. He knew he couldn’t trust them; it sounded as if Ye Qingchen had suffered greatly at their hands. "Family Head Zheng, you had better give me a truthful account of this matter. Otherwise, you know the consequences when I find out the truth for myself," Xue Feng warned, his voice like ice.

Cold sweat beaded on Zheng Ming’s forehead. He looked at his daughter. Given the circumstances, he knew he had to be ruthless. He put on an expression of unforgivable fury, walked up to Zheng Xiao, and slapped her hard across the face.

SLAP!

It was a forceful blow, much harder than the last one. The moment it landed, Zheng Xiao’s cheek instantly swelled and turned bright red.

Zheng Xiao clutched her face, looking at her father with a mixture of disbelief and grievance.

Zheng Ming gave her no chance to speak. "Unfilial girl! Is this what I taught you?! You’re a grown woman, yet you do something like this! The audacity! Fine! Just fine! If I don’t teach you a proper lesson today, then I’m not your father!"

In the next second, Zheng Ming produced a long whip from seemingly nowhere and began to flog Zheng Xiao without mercy. She had never expected her father to actually strike her like this and began to wail loudly. "Father! Father, stop! It’s my fault, I was wrong! Can’t I just apologize to him?"

However, Zheng Ming was determined to discipline her. The situation had changed drastically. Xue Feng was clearly losing patience with their family. If they didn’t show the proper attitude now, the Zheng Family’s future would truly be in jeopardy.

CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!

The sound of the whip echoed through the air.

Ye Qingchen watched them with a cold smile. Just whipping her is letting her off too lightly. But given the circumstances, this punishment might be for the best. After all, Xue Feng alone can’t pose a real threat to the Zheng Family in the short term.