Chapter 1115: Finally Arrive At Zhang Family Residence
Chapter 1115: Chapter 1115: Finally Arrive At Zhang Family Residence
Reaching into his inner robes, Zhang Zhenyu pulled out a heavy gold-embossed token and flashed it directly in front of the guard’s face.
The guard’s eyes widened in sheer panic the moment he caught a clear sight of the crest engraved on the token.
"S-Sir! I am deeply sorry! I had no idea it was you!" The guard immediately dropped his spear and bowed low, trembling.
"So, are we permitted to enter now?" Zhang Zhenyu asked calmly.
"Yes! Yes! Of course! Please, go right ahead!" The guard nodded frantically, waving his hands to signal the gatekeepers to raise the heavy wooden iron bars.
Bai Xifeng watched the entire interaction from her horse with sharp interest. It appeared that Zhang Zhenyu possessed some genuine, formidable influence and power in this region after all.
"Lady Bai, you and your friends are more than welcome to stay at my family’s estate to rest for the night." Zhang Zhenyu offered, turning back to her with a polite smile.
"Oh... Thank you! That would be wonderful." Bai Xifeng stated cheerfully.
"Yeah, awesome! That means we don’t have to spend a single dime on inn rooms tonight!" Ning Shoukai whispered loudly from behind them, grinning.
With that settled, Zhang Zhenyu took the lead and guided their party straight through the city streets toward his residence. However, when they finally arrived at the grand gates of the Zhang Estate, a newly hired guard immediately stepped out, brandishing his weapon and blocking the entrance.
"Halt! Who goes there?! What business do you have at the Zhang Estate?!" The guard shouted arrogantly, eyeing their dusty group up and down. "Leave this place right now! Otherwise—"
However, before he could even finish his threat, Zhang Zhenyu cut him off as he stepped out of the carriage.
"Otherwise what? What exactly are you planning to do to me on my own doorstep?" Zhang Zhenyu questioned him coldly, his eyes narrowing.
"We will kill—" The arrogant guard began to respond, but before he could finish his stupid sentence, a heavy boot kicked him squarely from behind!
BAM!
The guard stumbled forward, and the senior guard who had kicked him immediately stepped past him, bowing deeply and respectfully toward Zhang Zhenyu.
"First Young Master! Welcome back home!" The senior guard greeted him with utmost deference.
"Hmm... Finally, a familiar face." Zhang Zhenyu snorted softly, crossing his arms. "Did this fool just get hired while I was away?"
Zhang Zhenyu cast a cold, fleeting glance at the clueless guard scrambling off the dirt.
"Yes, First Young Master. He was hired just three days ago." The senior guard nodded rapidly.
The guard was shocked when he heard the title. First Young Master.... He was doomed.
The newly hired guard froze, his entire face draining of colour the exact moment he heard that title.
First... First Young Master?!
A wave of utter dread washed over him. He was completely, irrevocably doomed!
Meanwhile, the other nearby guards secretly let out quiet sighs of relief, immensely glad that they had not been the clueless idiots who spoke up first to insult their master.
"Fire him immediately. I have no use for guards who threaten my guests." Zhang Zhenyu stated coldly.
"Understood, First Young Master!" The senior guard responded without a second thought.
"W-What?! No! Please, First Young Master, don’t fire me! I beg for your mercy!" The guard frantically dropped to his knees, begging desperately.
"Noisy." Zhang Zhenyu muttered, annoyance flickering in his eyes.
The senior guard did not hesitate for a fraction of a second. He raised his hand and struck the back of the crying guard’s neck with a sharp palm strike. The incompetent guard instantly collapsed onto the stone pavement, knocked completely unconscious.
"First Young Master, please enter." The senior guard stated politely, gesturing toward the opening gates.
"These distinguished people travelling with me are my honoured guests. Ensure that everyone treats them with the highest level of respect." Zhang Zhenyu instructed firmly.
"Yes, First Young Master! We will serve them with the utmost care!" The senior guard nodded repeatedly, bowing deeply to show his obedience.
Bai Xifeng and the rest of her group were personally led to the luxurious eastern courtyard, where spacious, well-appointed guest quarters were prepared for every single one of them.
Not long after they had settled in, a polite servant arrived at their door and invited them to attend the evening banquet. When they arrived at the grand dining hall, the immense room was already buzzing with activity and packed full of people from various branches of the family. Bai Xifeng and her companions were ushered to a prominent table set right near Zhang Zhenyu and his immediate family.
"Are these young kids really your personal guests, Cousin Zhenyu?" One of the young men at a nearby table spoke up, eyeing the group with a condescending smirk.
"Yes, they are." Zhang Zhenyu admitted plainly, taking his seat.
"What on earth are you doing, mingling and getting acquainted with a random bunch of teenagers?" The man sneered with a light scoff. "If you are really that desperate for proper friends, you can just tell me. I would not mind pulling you into my inner circle of distinguished companions."
"You should not judge others strictly by their youthful appearance." Zhang Zhenyu replied calmly, his tone laced with subtle, sharp warning.
"Manjing, that’s enough out of you." A stern old man sitting near the head of the table silenced the rising tension. He then turned his keen, experienced gaze toward Zhang Zhenyu. "Zhenyu, who exactly are these distinguished young people? Introduce them to the family."
Zhang Zhenyu stood up gracefully, introducing Bai Xifeng and her companions one by one with utmost respect. Then, his expression turned dark and serious as he began explaining the harrowing circumstances of how they had met.
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