"Don't give me that! Jiang Tong doesn't leave at any other time — it just so happens that the moment I, Jing, show up, he suddenly decides to leave?" A voice as loud as a gong blared out in rage.
Jiang Chen and his group hadn't even approached before they heard the man shouting from a distance.
"Chief Jing, he truly has gone out. Word is that the Young Marquis is returning, and the Third Master rode out to meet him beyond Bojiang City."
It was plain to see that the servants of the Marquis's estate were well-trained in courtesy and etiquette.
"The Young Marquis? Hmph! That useless wastrel Jiang Chen?" The voice, rough as a cracked gong, dripped with contempt.
"I don't care where Jiang Tong went. I'll wait right here!" The Jing man's tone was thoroughly overbearing.
From a distance, Jiang Chen's brow furrowed slightly. Having cultivated the Wind-listening Ear, his hearing was now sharper than Jiang Tong's own, so he could make out the conversation clearly.
"A Chief Jing? Could it be Jing Man of the Purple Thorn tribe?" From his predecessor's memories, Jiang Chen knew that under Jianghan Prefecture's jurisdiction, there were ten major tribes.
The Purple Thorn tribe was the most formidable among them — one of the top two in all of Jianghan Prefecture's ten tribes.
Because of this, Jing Man had always been rather domineering. In all of Jianghan Prefecture, no one could rein this man in except for the Marquis of Jianghan, Jiang Feng himself. Everyone else had to give Jing Man a wide berth.
Hearing his arrogant tone now, calling Jiang Tong by his name without the slightest respect, it was clear this man was domineering to an extreme degree.
Jiang Tong gave a bitter smile and shook his head gently. "Chen'er, only your father can keep Jing Man in check. When we get there, you go straight into the estate and I'll deal with him."
It was obvious that even Jiang Tong harbored considerable wariness toward this Jing Man.
Every territory had its share of troublemakers — Jiang Chen understood that well enough.
Rude and overbearing language didn't particularly bother him. But if Jing Man's behavior crossed a certain line, Jiang Chen absolutely would not stand by and do nothing.
No one wanted an unruly troublemaker under their rule who refused to obey and constantly stirred up problems.
"Let's go."
Jiang Chen's tone was calm as he rode forward at the head of the group.
"Oh! The Third Master and his party have returned." The servants at the Marquis's estate spotted the approaching horsemen at once, recognizing Jiang Tong and his son immediately.
However, what caught their attention was that Jiang Tong and his son flanked a young man riding between them. The youth had the long arms of an ape and the lean waist of a wolf, and the subtle movement of his starry eyes carried a sense of authority both familiar and foreign.
Jiang Tong bellowed, "Why haven't you all greeted the Young Marquis?"
The Young Marquis?
Three years had transformed Jiang Chen completely. Aside from a faint resemblance to his former appearance, everything else — his temperament, his build — was utterly different from the young man who had left Jianghan Prefecture three years ago.
"Greetings to the Young Marquis!"
The servants of the Marquis of Jianghan's estate had undergone rigorous training. They immediately dropped to their knees in salute.
Jing Man's group, however, merely looked at their leader without making any move to kneel.
Jing Man stood with hands on his hips, his gaze sidelong and his manner thoroughly insolent. He looked Jiang Chen up and down with a lazy appraisal.
"The Young Marquis? My apologies — I, Jing Man, only bow to the Marquis of Jianghan himself. Until I see the Marquis in the flesh, I'm afraid I won't be kneeling."
Jing Man's subordinates stood behind him with half-smirks on their faces, sizing up Jiang Chen. Their expressions held none of the respect one would expect upon meeting the Young Marquis — a few of them were even making exaggerated faces at each other.
"You're Jing Man, then?" Jiang Chen felt a flash of irritation but wasn't about to cause an outright scene. "Whether you bow or not, I am still the Young Marquis of Jianghan Prefecture. I only have one question — you've brought people here to create a racket at the estate gates. What exactly is the reason? Have you no sense of decorum?"
Jing Man let out a booming laugh. "What's the reason? You'll have to ask Jiang Tong about that!"
Jiang Tong's expression turned awkward. "Jing Man, this is a private matter — let's discuss it privately. The Young Marquis has only just returned today. Let's not disturb him."
"Disturb him? It's even better that he's here — he can serve as a witness." Jing Man's wide mouth split into a grin.
"Whatever the matter, we'll discuss it inside. Making a scene out here — do you have any regard for the dignity of nobility?" Jiang Chen's expression darkened as he strode into the estate first.
Jiang Tong, mildly surprised by Jiang Chen's commanding bearing, followed him inside.
Jing Man let out a cheeky laugh but showed no hesitation, trailing in after them.
Once inside the estate, tea was served and everyone took their seats. Only then did Jiang Chen turn his gaze to Jiang Tong. "Third Uncle, tell me — what exactly is going on?"
"Ah, Chief Jing, you and I have been friends for decades. You accepted the bride-price ten years ago. Must you really go so far as to tear up the engagement? Besides, the two children—"
Jing Man waved a hand dismissive. "Stop right there! The moment you don't mention the children, it's fine — but you bring them up, and I'll speak plainly. It isn't that I, Jing, am going back on my word. It's simply that the child herself is unwilling. Surely you wouldn't want your son to marry my daughter only for the two of them to be at each other's throats, raising hell for everyone around them?"
Bride-price. Engagement. The child's unwillingness.
Jiang Chen quickly grasped the heart of the matter.
So that was it — Jing Man had come to break off the engagement.
"Chief Jing, tell me, are you dissatisfied with the bride-price? Too little, or something else? All of that can be discussed. What has my Jiang family done to fall short in treating your daughter, given our status and standing?"
Jiang Tong was suppressing his anger carefully, his tone not entirely harsh, trying to salvage the situation.