A powerful sense of oppression engulfed the courtyard.
The shattered gate trembled as a figure stepped through.
Golden robes, steady footsteps, a large saber at his side.
Through the gates walked Zhang Guowei,
"Enough!"
The remaining Zhang Clan guards all clasped their hands and bowed towards him.
The remaining Jiang clan members did the same.
He nodded politely acknowledging their bow.
His eyes fell upon the ruined estate.
His son passed out under a pile of roof tiles.
Then to Wu Tianmo, standing firm.
His golden aura started to radiate, physically manifesting onto his body like a coat of gold burning like flames.
"Explain."
His eyes met Wu Tianmo's,
"For if not, the four clans of Heimu Village will become three."
Wu Tianmo turned, now only holding the hilt of his training sword.
"Patriarch Zhang, what is the punishment for rape and murder."
Zhang Guowei paused, he couldn't see the aura of Wu Tianmo anymore.
Only noticing a faint red aura radiating from his very being.
Even him, a Patriarch, a Peak Meridian Opening Realm cultivator felt primal fear.
Wu Tianmo faced him, proud, unwavering.
Zhang Guowei spoke firmly,
"Patriarch Wu... explain yourself."
Zhang Guowei saw the mortals beaten bloody but didn't look close enough, those were the daughters of Jiang Fushui.
They had been assaulted, their primal yin seized.
Zhang Guowei looked at his guards seething with anger,
"Zhang Mingyu come here."
One of the Zhang Guards that was kicked by Wu Tianmo clutched his chest and walked over.
Zhang Guowei commanded,
"Explain"
Zhang Mingyu clasped his hands and bowed to the Patriarch,
"Patriarch, it's like this..."
While Zhang Minghao could order the guards as he pleased, they still served the Patriarch over anyone.
Zhang Mingyu detailed how the Young Master found out about Ling'er's engagement and drank his sorrows away.
That he decided to have a taste before the Wu Patriarch could complete the ceremony.
Zhang Guowei stared at his son, who now was faking being passed out to not face his fathers wrath.
"Minghao!"
Minghao sobered up immediately clasped his bloodied hands and bowed towards Guowei,
"Yes... Patriarch."
Zhang Guowei looked his son in the eyes, filled with disappointment,
"Is what he says true?"
Zhang Minghao smirked,
"No Patriarch!"
Zhang Guowei raised an eyebrow,
"Oh? Then what is your truth."
Zhang Minghao took a moment to think of a convincing lie,
"It's like this..."
*Smack*
Zhang Minghao's head snapped to the side, blood sprayed from his lips and his body went flying into the other pillar holding the roof up, causing it to partially collapse.
Everyone froze.
Even Wu Tianmo was stunned.
Zhang Guowei lowered his hand his expression calm.
"Kneel"
Zhang Minghao crawled over on all fours until he was in front of his father.
His arms were weak struggling to support him still numb from the fight.
He nearly buckled under his father's pressure but he placed his forehead on the ground and knelt in front of his father..
Zhang Guowei spat next to him,
"You're the heir of the Zhang Clan"
"You represent my name."
"You represent this village."
His voice remained steady.
"And yet....you behave like a beast."
Zhang Minghao clenched his fist as blood dripped from his mouth,
"I... I am the young master of!"
Zhang Guowei released his aura,
"Silence"
His aura pressed down, crushing all sense of defiance that Minghao had.
"You're not worthy of that title."
He looked at Wu Tianmo with appreciation,
"Patriarch Wu"
His voice remained calm,
"You have done what I should have done myself."
Wu Tianmo spat some blood onto the ground nearby,
"Patriarch Zhang, I'm waiting for your answer."
Zhang Guowei looked back at him with fire in his eyes, Wu Tianmo was clearly not giving him any face.
It was at this time that Jiang Fushui and another man, entered the estate.
A dignified middle aged man with green robes and long black hair with streaks of white.
"My Flying Carp Merchant Group is also interested in knowing, what is the punishment for Rape and Murder?"
He looked around, there were tens of dead mortals,
Two daughter's of a yellow merchant were assaulted.
He released a bit of his green aura.
Wu Tianmo frowned,
Is everyone but me a damn Meridian Opening Realm cultivator...
Zhang Guowei internally thought,
Things have gotten complicated.
"Merchant Leader Jiang Ronghai, I assure you I will provide a proper explanation and compensation for today's events."
Jiang Ronghai walked forward between the Zhang Patriarch and the Jiang sisters.
He smiled maliciously,
"I would hope so, if not, we might need to re negotiate our current arrangement with Heimu Village."
Zhang Guowei looked back at his son who was still kneeling,
"The punishment for rape in Heimu Village is castration"
Zhang Minghao's body shuddered as he slightly lifted his head,
"They were mortals!"
Before he could continue a flash of golden saber aura erupted from Guowei's blade over his son's head.
The courtyard was silent as the sun had begun to set.
Minghao bashed his head against the ground repeatedly.
"P...please...Father...no...."
Zhang Guowei walked to his son and lifted him up,
Zhang Minghao smiled thinking his father was about to protect him.
Zhang Guowei looked into his son's eyes as his hand gathered qi below.
*Smash!*
Zhang Minghao fell to his knees with his hands over his private area tears streaming down his face.
Zhang Guowei turned and motioned for his guards to grab Minghao and leave,
"This matter ends here."
Zhang Guowei gave one last glance towards Wu Tianmo then leapt over the walls of the estate and out of sight.
---
The Zhang Clan Left the Courtyard.
---
Ling'er rushed out of the nearly fallen central hall and embraced Wu Tianmo, streams of tears running down her face.
He consoled her and wiped the tears from her face,
"Stop crying, It's all over now. Your family may come and live at my estate from now on if you wish."
Her body trembled uncontrollably as she buried herself deeper into his embrace.
Jiang Ronghai walked towards Wu Tianmo,
"Patriarch Wu, you may of just changed the future of this village."
He smiled,
"Do you have a moment? I have something I wish to discuss with your Wu Clan."