276: You can't object!

“Xiaobai, let’s go,” Shui Yanling reminded Su Xiaobai, seeing him lost in thought.

“Oh,” Su Xiaobai smiled and followed, feeling that this trip to Lian Prefecture wouldn't be boring.

The group arrived at the grandest building, adorned with gold and jade, making one think it was a royal palace.

Along the way, people around them bowed to Shui Yanling.

Then they cast curious glances at Su Xiaobai.

They had never seen this person before, yet he was brought into the headquarters by the Young Miss. What was his identity?

Entering the headquarters building, Su Xiaobai and the others arrived at a spacious Family Hall.

There weren't many people in the hall, but each one had a grim, unsmiling Face, giving off a sense of oppression.

Inside the hall were several armchairs, occupied by the Peak of Linglong Merchant Guild's power, while others respectfully stood on both sides.

Seated at the very top was a red-haired middle-aged man, bearing a three-tenths resemblance to Shui Yanling, currently deep in thought with his eyes closed.

But the more he was like this, the more he gave off a heavy sense of oppression.

Su Xiaobai narrowed his eyes, looking at the red-haired man… First Realm, with dense Qi. He should be Linger’s father.

At this moment, his gaze drifted to the side.

A white-bearded Old Man sat below Linger’s father, his aged Face unsmiling, giving off an impression of being difficult to talk to.

Huh? Isn’t this the Grand Elder? Did he just finish his business and rush over? Su Xiaobai couldn't help but chuckle inwardly.

The Grand Elder, who was resting with his eyes closed, suddenly felt a gaze on him and couldn't help but open his eyes.

Then he saw Su Xiaobai’s half-smile.

His brows immediately furrowed.

A mere Early Stage Infant Transformation dares to mock this Old Man? If it weren't for the current inappropriate occasion for anger, this Old Man could take your life on the spot! the Grand Elder snorted coldly in his heart.

He then continued to rest with his eyes closed, no longer paying attention to Su Xiaobai.

Shui Yanling took a deep breath, stepped forward slowly, and respectfully said to the man seated on the topmost armchair, “Father.”

The man slowly opened his eyes and said faintly, “Kneel.”

Shui Yanling wanted to say something more, but she didn’t dare to speak, so she bent her knees and knelt obediently on the floor.

“Do you know what you did yesterday?” Water Lingtian said in a deep voice.

“…I know. But daughter doesn’t like Zhou Qiang, which is why…”

“Silence!” The man’s roar was deafening, causing the space to tremble.

Shui Yanling felt her breathing become difficult, and the words on the tip of her tongue dared not be spoken.

Water Lingtian stood up; his build was imposing, like Mount Tai, looking less like a businessman and more like a thug.

“Do you know that your grandfather passed away not long ago, and a group of ‘jackals, wolves, tigers, and leopards’ around us are thinking about how to carve up our Business Association?!”

“Grandfather passed away?!” Shui Yanling’s pupils suddenly contracted, and she looked up at her father in disbelief.

“This is not your fault. This matter was originally a Family secret. I thought I could keep it hidden for a while longer, but I didn't expect it to be leaked for no reason,” Water Lingtian sighed.

But then his tone suddenly turned cold, “However, Father should have made it very clear in the letter that you must, no matter what, establish a good relationship with the Zhou Family’s Eldest Young Master and satisfy all his demands.

The Zhou Family Old Ancestor recently advanced to First Realm and is one of the few top Prodigies in Lian Prefecture. We must rely on this great tree to escape this crisis.”

“But you not only disregarded my words but even injured the Zhou Family’s Eldest Young Master. Do you admit your mistake?” Water Lingtian raged, and terrifying pressure permeated the entire hall.

Many high-ranking officials with weaker strength showed painful expressions.

Facing this overbearing man, Shui Yanling revealed an innate fear, kneeling on the ground, her delicate body trembling uncontrollably.

“Dau… Daughter knows…”

Just as she was about to humbly admit her mistake as usual, a tall figure blocked her in front.

Immediately after, her father’s heavy oppressive feeling disappeared.

“President Shui is a bit too overbearing. With just a word from you, you want Linger to become your sacrifice?” Su Xiaobai walked forward with a smile.

Under his narrowed eyes, a hint of coldness was reflected.

“Where did this reckless thing come from! Do you have a say here?” An Elder cursed at Su Xiaobai.

Slap!!!

As soon as he finished speaking, he felt a burning pain in his Face, then his Face distorted, and his whole body spun 360 degrees, falling heavily to the ground.

Rumble!

“Ah! Who, who hit me!” The Elder clutched his swollen Face, climbed to his feet, and roared at everyone with a distorted Face.

“Keep your mouth clean, or next time it won’t just be a slap,” Su Xiaobai retracted his palm, his voice as cold as ice.

“You, it’s you! You dare to hit me, watch me…” The Elder rolled up his sleeves, ready to attack Su Xiaobai.

Su Xiaobai glanced at him sidelong, a hint of killing intent, like a cold pond, emanating from his eyes.

The Elder’s hair immediately stood on end, his pupils suddenly contracted. At this moment, the pressure Su Xiaobai gave him was like a coiled Dragon.

This person is not to be trifled with!

He swallowed, taking a step backward.

But his Face wouldn't allow it, so he shouted loudly, “I have never seen this person! Where are the guards? Drag him out! Drag him out!”

But no one paid attention to his clownish act.

On the contrary, everyone looked at Su Xiaobai with solemn expressions.

Because even they hadn’t seen Su Xiaobai’s move just now.

To reach Early Stage Infant Transformation at such a young age, he must be a top Prodigy from some power.

“Who are you?” Water Lingtian sat down, resting his chin on his hands, scrutinizing Su Xiaobai.

No matter how outstanding Su Xiaobai appeared, it still couldn't sway him.

This was the arrogance of a Supreme Realm expert; which of them hadn't been a Prodigy in the past, but very few could reach the Supreme Realm.

And clearly, he didn't believe Su Xiaobai could reach the Supreme Realm.

“I…”

Just as Su Xiaobai was about to speak, a cackling sound like an old hen suddenly came from outside the door.

“Cackle, cackle, cackle!” Water Lily walked in, swaying her round fan, her backside wiggling left and right.

Seeing Shui Yanling kneeling on the ground, a barely perceptible smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.

After she entered, another beautiful woman in palace attire walked in gracefully, holding a man’s arm.

She scanned the hall, showing no expression.

This was a woman who didn't show her emotions easily.

“Second Young Miss, Eldest Young Miss, and Eldest Son-in-Law have all arrived.”

“The Second Young Miss has been at odds with the Third Miss since childhood. This time, she’s probably here to add insult to injury.”

The Elders on the side whispered among themselves.

Water Lily looked at Su Xiaobai, smiling, “Father, I recognize him. He’s the wild man my little sister keeps outside.”

At these words, the pupils of all the high-ranking officials in the headquarters showed a hint of shock.

They couldn't help but look at Shui Yanling.

The latter lowered her head, neither answering nor refuting, clearly acquiescing.

“Oh? So it’s you. You actually dare to come before me, aren’t you afraid I’ll kill you?” Water Lingtian’s tone was neither cold nor warm.

But the killing intent revealed in his eyes was already self-evident.

Shui Yanling was greatly anxious. She knew that bringing Xiaobai back would definitely reveal their relationship.

But she hadn't expected Xiaobai to get into a conflict with the headquarters' Elders as soon as he entered. Now, those people probably all wished her father would kill Xiaobai!

Father is First Realm; even if Xiaobai uses that mysterious Devilish Qi, he is definitely not his match.

Her heart plunged into an unprecedented urgency.

She couldn't let Xiaobai Face all this alone! A look of determination flashed in Shui Yanling’s eyes. She stood up from the ground and spread her arms, blocking Su Xiaobai.

“Father, Xiaobai and I truly love each other. Please let us be together!” She looked at Water Lingtian with a pleading expression.

“Hmph! This is truly rebellious!” Water Lingtian angrily slammed the armrest of the armchair, pointing at Shui Yanling and cursing:

“The Family bestowed upon you wealth and honor, giving you a status difficult for ordinary people to achieve. Now that it’s time for you to contribute to the Family, is this how you repay the Family?”

“You reject a great husband from the Zhou Family and choose this unknown boy? What’s so good about him?

Even if the Heavenly King Old Ancestor came today, I will absolutely not agree to this marriage!”

Shui Yanling bit her silver teeth, confronting him, “Then why must it be me who marries? You don’t only have me as a daughter!”

“Do you think I don’t want to? Your Eldest Sister is already married, her status is unsuitable; your Second Sister’s promiscuous nature, first, it’s uncertain if the other party would even want her, and if she really went, who knows how much Face she would lose for the Family!

The most suitable candidate is only you!”

Water Lily: “…”

Although not having to be a tool for Family marriage was good, why couldn't she feel happy?

Water Lingtian said to Shui Yanling in an unchallengeable tone, “I’m telling you, whether you want to get married today or not, you still have to! You have no right to object!”