"I'd appreciate it if everyone could step aside for now. I'm treating guests today!" Nangong Tian declared.
After he finished speaking, a subordinate behind him produced a substantial piece of gold from his懷 and tossed it to the innkeeper.
Upon seeing this, the innkeeper dared not say another word. As for the other patrons present, they were afraid of causing trouble and hastily scrambled to leave.
Nangong Tian was the eldest young master of the Nangong family, and the Nangong family were the rulers of Man City.
In a place like Man City, anyone who dared to disrespect the Nangong family would find their entire family's corpses adorning the mass grave the next day.
In an instant, only Wu Tao and the mother-daughter pair remained in the inn, the entire establishment falling into silence.
As for Wu Tao, he didn't even glance at them, acting as if nothing had happened, continuing to drink his fine wine and enjoy his snacks.
"Esteemed brother, I am treating guests today. Would you mind moving to another place?" Nangong Tian, finding Wu Tao somewhat of an eyesore, frowned slightly and said.
Wu Tao turned around at his words, cast a contemptuous glance at Nangong Tian, chuckled, and said, "I don't need you to treat me, and not everyone is qualified to invite me..."
"And I strongly dislike being disturbed when I'm eating."
"I'm very angry right now. You are the ones who should leave..."
The moment Wu Tao uttered these words, the expressions of everyone around Nangong Tian changed in unison.
Several burly men stepped forward, raising their sleeves and clenching their fists, intending to teach Wu Tao a lesson.
A murderous glint flashed in Wu Tao's eyes, and a tyrannical, bloodthirsty aura, like that of a king of beasts, erupted from his body, overwhelming the surroundings.
The terrifying presence caused the very air to become heavy.
The intense killing intent made these dozens of people feel as if they were adorable little rabbits who had suddenly encountered a ferocious tiger baring its bloody maw.
They were so terrified that cold sweat streamed down their backs, and they collapsed to the ground, their faces ashen.
Nangong Tian, who had remained standing, observed Wu Tao for a long time. Faced with this mysterious and unfathomable man, he ultimately dared not make a move.
"My apologies, sir. Once I've dealt with matters here, I will leave with my men immediately. Please bear with us for a moment." Nangong Tian, having backed down, bowed respectfully and spoke courteously.
Nangong Tian walked to a secluded corner and said to the young woman, "Sister, it's time for you to come with me. Father has ordered that you be brought back today!"
The young woman lowered her head without speaking. Under the table, she clenched her skirt tightly.
It appeared she was contemplating an escape.
"Sister, you must understand that you have no chance of escaping. Why force my hand unnecessarily..." Looking at the young woman, Nangong Tian said in a deep voice, "If you won't consider yourself, nor our family, you should at least consider your child."
As he spoke, his gaze fell upon the little girl behind the young woman, and he sighed softly.
Although the young woman remained silent, she clearly hesitated at Nangong Tian's words.
The young woman's name was Nangong Xue.
All of this began three years ago on a certain day.
Nangong Xue, with her daughter in tow, had left the Nangong residence. While strolling through the streets, she was spotted by Sima De, who was patrolling the county town.
Nangong Xue was extraordinarily beautiful, and her figure was also excellent, with a voluptuous, well-curved physique.
Sima De, like most men, glanced at her casually.
However, the moment he clearly saw Nangong Xue's face, his body stiffened, and he was utterly transfixed, his eyes revealing a look of infatuation.
Seeing Sima De staring at her so brazenly, Nangong Xue became extremely angry. She grabbed her daughter and hurried back towards the Nangong residence.
A young woman pulling her daughter, with a middle-aged man trailing behind, naturally drew the attention of those nearby.
But Sima De was dressed in opulent robes, and no one dared to play the hero and prevent his misdeeds.
And so, Nangong Xue found herself in immense trouble.
From childhood, Nangong Xue had been betrothed to her childhood sweetheart, Hu Siyi.
As time passed and they both grew up, Nangong Xue and Hu Siyi naturally got together, held a grand wedding, and became husband and wife.
Because they had been childhood sweethearts, their marital relationship was very good.
Hu Siyi had excellent martial arts talent and cultivated diligently, his status steadily rising. Nangong Xue, with her gentle and virtuous nature, doted on him. The young couple's lives were prosperous.
However, during a fierce battle between the Nangong family and the Gu family, Hu Siyi charged into the fray at the forefront, leading the charge and slaying numerous enemies.
But because Hu Siyi had charged too far ahead, he was surrounded by the enemy and met his end on the battlefield.
Nangong Xue and her daughter, Nangong Yu, never saw Hu Siyi return.
Meanwhile, although Nangong Xue was gradually aging, she became even more captivating. To avoid trouble, she rarely left the Nangong mansion and lived a very low-key life.
As a result, Nangong Xue and Nangong Yu, the mother and daughter, enjoyed two years of peaceful life.
If things had continued this way, Nangong Xue and Nangong Yu would have lived out their lives safely.
Alas, on that day, the spirited Nangong Yu insisted on going out to play in the streets. Nangong Xue, unable to refuse her daughter, took her for a walk.
This outing, however, led to trouble.
It attracted the lecherous patrolling official, Sima De, who, disregarding Nangong Xue's status as a mortal and her reputation as a widow, proposed to take Nangong Xue as his concubine. Nangong Xue naturally refused.
However, Nangong Xue's father, Nangong Yue, was extremely pleased with this proposed marriage and hastily agreed.
In his eyes, his daughter's happiness was never as important as the family's prosperity and flourishing.
Thus, the matter was settled. As a powerless widow, she could not resist it, nor could she control it.
If it were only this, Nangong Xue, for the sake of her daughter and with the family's consent, would have endured the humiliation and become Sima De's concubine.
But after Nangong Xue went to great lengths to investigate Sima De's character, she realized that she would rather die than drag her daughter into such a fiery pit.
It turned out that Sima De, a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator, did not regard mortal women as anything. Women married to him as concubines held a lower status in his eyes than even the servants of the Nangong mansion, and he frequently beat and scolded them for the slightest offense.
Furthermore, Sima De had a penchant for mother-daughter pairings; he would sleep with the mother, then the daughter.
Often, after marrying a young woman with a daughter, he would not even give the young woman a proper look and would abuse her. Later, when her beauty faded, she would be directly cast out of the household.
The daughter that the young woman brought with her would also suffer Sima De's cruel hand once she grew up.
As their wedding day approached, Nangong Xue, summoning her courage, took her daughter and went into hiding. She remained in hiding for several years.
With the wedding day imminent, Nangong Xue and her daughter's sudden disappearance naturally sent the entire Nangong family into a rage.
If this marriage were to go awry, the Nangong family could very well be annihilated by the furious Sima De.
Therefore, the Nangong family sent people to search for Nangong Xue while simultaneously trying their best to appease Sima De.
After a while, the young woman looked up, her eyes filled with tears, and said to Nangong Tian, "Elder brother, for the sake of our sibling relationship, please let me go."
Looking at the pitiful young woman, Nangong Tian couldn't help but sigh. He shook his head and said, "Sister, don't be willful. You know this isn't something I can decide, and Father won't let this matter go..."
"Moreover, you and your daughter are specifically requested by the great immortal Sima. If we fail to apprehend you, the entire Nangong family will be wiped out."
Hearing this, the young woman gritted her teeth and said word by word, "I will not go back, nor will I be a concubine to that lustful Foundation Establishment cultivator. I would rather die!"
"No, you must go back and be the great immortal Sima's concubine, or my Nangong family will face utter ruin..."
"For the lives of all our clan members, sister, I will show no mercy..." Nangong Tian said with determination. "Sister, you will come with me today, or must I personally bind you and take you?"
The young woman hesitated for a long time, unsure of what to do.
"Why aren't you inviting the eldest young lady home? What are you standing around for?" Seeing the young woman's hesitation, Nangong Tian instructed his subordinates.
Dozens of burly men stepped forward in unison, cupped their fists, and said, "Miss, please. If we have offended you in any way, please forgive us."
In the blink of an eye, these dozens of burly men surrounded the young woman and her daughter. At this moment, the mother and daughter were trapped with no escape.
Without external help, it was impossible for the mother and daughter to leave this place.
"Don't you hurt my mommy..." Just as the dozens of burly men surrounded the mother and daughter, the little girl hiding behind the young woman stepped forward, baring her tiny fangs, and shouted fiercely, "Don't you dare hurt my mommy!"
"Rest assured, we will not harm your mother. However, you and your mother must return with me today, no matter what." Nangong Tian looked at the little girl, a rare trace of gentleness appearing on his face, and said slowly.
"You're a big bad guy! You're all bad guys! Let go of my mommy, you scoundrels..." Hearing this, the little girl yelled at Nangong Tian.