I long to return home!

The old man in black robes glanced back at the injured Shen Lian, and with a slight nod, the terrifying spiritual pressure that had overwhelmed everyone dissipated with a flick of his sleeve.

"I'll give them a chance to explain..." The old man paused, then dispersed the black energy in his hand and said coldly, "At worst, the two countries will go to war."

Upon hearing this, Master Baiyu felt a chill run down his spine. He had learned during their previous casual conversation that Shen Lian had come to seek peace, not because the Yin Yue Empire was weaker than the Wuji Empire. On the contrary, if war were to break out, the Wuji Empire's national strength would be like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

This incident was caused by the Murong family, who maliciously injured a prince from another country. Once this news gets out, they will surely be attacked by hundreds of immortal sects.

"Speak quickly! What exactly happened? Who gave you the audacity!" Master Baiyu roared angrily at the middle-aged man, Murong Fu.

Murong Fu trembled violently, his eyes darting around as he looked at the cowering Murong Han behind him, stammering, "Yes...yes..."

The latter took a few steps back in fear, but still swallowed hard under the former's gaze. He walked to Bai Yu Zhenren's side, tugged at his robe, and said in a trembling voice, "Grandpa..." He swallowed again, glared at Murong Shuang, and said aggrievedly, "Grandpa, it was Murong Shuang who bullied Han'er first."

Upon hearing this, everyone's gaze fell upon Murong Shuang. She was also slightly angered by the stares, pursed her lips, and felt extremely aggrieved. Just as she was about to step forward to argue, Shen Lian raised his injured hand to stop her.

"First they insulted me, then they instigated others to injure me, and now they're spouting nonsense. The Murong family is truly something else. When my army arrives here in the future, I will definitely take a good look at them."

His golden eyes flashed, and his aura suddenly increased dramatically, revealing a hint of imperial demeanor. In particular, his last sentence terrified Master Baiyu.

Upon hearing this, Master Baiyu trembled with shock. Then, noticing that Shen Lian was speaking up for Murong Shuang, he weighed the pros and cons and raised his palm. With a "smack," the latter flew backward and crashed into the middle-aged man, angrily cursing, "How could the Murong family have given birth to such a wretched child as you!"

The crowd was shocked again. Murong Fu held his beloved daughter, who was bleeding from the beating, feeling sorry for her but not daring to say anything. Murong Qing, standing to the side, was too shocked to speak. They were practicing their swordsmanship just a moment ago, but now things had turned out like this.

Bai Qi, who had attacked someone, was trembling with fear. Soon, he felt an invisible, powerful pressure on his throat, and Murong Fu held him firmly in his hand, sternly rebuking him: "Bai Qi, the Murong family took you in back then because of your outstanding talent and the Hengshan Sect's high regard for you, and they adopted you as their godson. Now, I'm afraid we can't keep you."

Shen Lian watched this scene quietly, and coldly snorted. It was obvious that this person wanted to blame the huge mistake of attacking the prince on this person.

Before long, Bai Qi's trembling legs stopped struggling, his eyes rolled back, blood flowed uncontrollably from his mouth, and with his last remaining strength, he murmured, "Godfather..."

Seeing this, Master Baiyu remained silent. Compared to killing off members of the Murong family, killing an outsider with no blood relation was the most cost-effective way to resolve this dispute.

Murong Shuang watched quietly, her resentment not diminishing in the slightest. The real culprit was Murong Han, but she only suffered a swollen face and some blood loss, which was insignificant and she couldn't learn a lesson.

Suddenly, she felt her sleeve being tugged. Turning around, she saw Murong Qing standing beside her, looking frantic. "Eldest sister, please, please let second sister go. Our family is having a reunion dinner tomorrow night."

Seeing this pitiful scene, Murong Shuang wavered, as if she had almost forgotten why she had come back this time.

After a moment's thought, although the family ties weren't very strong, they were still considered family. Even if the dispute ended, the latter would still face considerable punishment.

She moved gracefully to Shen Lian's side, and said softly, in a tentative tone, "Your Highness... let me take you to get your wound bandaged first."

Although it wasn't explicitly stated, Shen Lian understood the meaning behind it. He glanced at Murong Qing beside him, having noticed her earlier, but hadn't expected it to be about this. However, upon hearing Murong Shuang speak, he suppressed his anger and sighed softly, saying, "Grandpa Zhang, that's enough."

Upon hearing the signal, the black-robed elder glared fiercely at everyone in the Murong family except for Master Baiyu, and coldly snorted, "For the sake of the year-end, let this matter rest. If there is a next time..." His gaze fell on Master Baiyu, "I will definitely take action personally."

Seeing Shen Lian and the others leave, Murong Fu took a deep breath, put down the dying Bai Qi, and shouted angrily, "Today, out of respect for the prince, I will spare your life. If there is a next time, I will not stop that senior from killing or dismembering you as he pleases."

Bai Qi clutched his throat and collapsed to the ground. He had only felt resentment at first, but the last sentence made him waver.

Murong Fu stepped aside and said sternly, "Go and receive forty lashes yourself." Then, as if it were none of his business, he came to Murong Han's side, his palm manifesting spiritual energy, and gently healed his wounds: "Han'er, does it hurt...?"

Murong Han looked aggrieved, as if she hadn't done anything wrong. She was completely different from before. She said aggrievedly, "Father, I was just teaching my brother to practice swordsmanship. I said a few words to Murong Shuang without thinking, and she hit me. Father, you must stand up for me."

Upon hearing this, Murong Fu hesitated for a moment. He still had some affection for his daughter Murong Shuang, but seeing Murong Han's pitiful and aggrieved appearance, he could only reply, "Alright, alright, Father will choose a day to seek justice for Han'er."

"Fairness, humph..." Upon hearing this, Master Baiyu looked furious and coldly stared at Murong Fu and his daughter, saying in a cold voice, "Fairness? Fu'er, I don't want to interfere with the children you've disciplined, but if they cause any more trouble, your position as head of the family will be over."

"Great-grandfather's teachings are correct. I, Fu'er, will certainly discipline him properly and will never let this happen again." Murong Fu bowed respectfully to Master Baiyu.

Master Bai Yu gave Bai Qi, who was slumped on the ground, one last cold look. The invisible pressure emanating from his eyes was chilling. Then he snorted and left with a flick of his sleeve.

It was a large detached house, located some distance from the main residence, and extremely quiet, but it didn't seem like a place where servants lived.

Inside the room, Shen Lian sat quietly on a wooden chair, looking at everything inside. The room was quiet yet filled with fragrance, and he even showed a shy expression. This was the first time he had ever entered a woman's boudoir.

After rummaging through drawers and cabinets, Murong Shuang came over carrying medicine bottles of various sizes and placed them on the table to examine them carefully.

This minor injury would have been easily treated by the black-robed elder, who was a Nascent Soul cultivator, but the reason he didn't do so was self-evident.

"This should be the bottle. With a few days of rest, the wound will heal completely." Murong Shuang examined a jade bottle that was neither too big nor too small.