Chapter 167: Flattering the Grandmaster

Jian Tui Zhi stepped through the door, and the Grandmaster-level pressure instantly spread, like an invisible great net enveloping the entire Banquet Hall.

Everyone subconsciously held their breath, their faces turning pale.

"Who just laid hands on Young Master Duanmu and still dares to speak wildly? Step forward and meet your death, lest I have to act and make your death look disgraceful!"

His gaze, like a knife, swept across everyone's faces.

Wherever he went, the crowd stepped aside, no one daring to meet his eyes.

Duanmu Hongjie puffed out his chest proudly and pointed at Jiang Feng.

"Old Jian, it's him! Jiang Feng, that useless waste! Not only did he beat my man, but he also dared to humiliate me. Please punish him, cripple his hands and feet, and let him see your might!"

Jiang Gang hurriedly echoed.

"Old Jian, it's him! This kid knows no limits, too arrogant, you must give him a good lesson!"

Everyone looked at Jiang Feng, their eyes full of schadenfreude and pity.

Jian Tui Zhi's gaze locked onto Jiang Feng, his brows slightly furrowing.

When he entered earlier, he only paid attention to Duanmu Hongjie and didn't see Jiang Feng's face; now Jiang Feng approached, and he slowly discerned his features.

The next second, Jian Tui Zhi's complexion changed abruptly!

His previously sharp eyes instantly turned fearful, the Grandmaster pressure around him instantly receded, and the fierce aura he had moments ago vanished completely.

He widened his eyes, his voice trembling slightly.

"Mr. Jiang, how could it be you?"

Jiang Feng nodded and gave a faint smile.

"Master Jian, long time no see."

"Really… it's really you!"

Jian Tui Zhi's face instantly forced out a flattering grin; he hurried forward, clasped his hands in a bow to Jiang Feng, his deference absurdly excessive.

"I was truly rude earlier, I didn't know it was you; please don't take offense!"

This sudden change left everyone in the Banquet Hall dumbfounded.

What the heck?

Just a moment ago the Grandmaster master was bristling with killing intent, how does he become so deferential the instant he sees Jiang Feng?

Jiang Gang's flattering smile froze, his eyes filled with disbelief.

He rubbed his eyes hard, thinking he had seen wrong.

The most shocked was Duanmu Hongjie.

He stared wide‑eyed at Jian Tui Zhi's respectful demeanor toward Jiang Feng, as if he had seen a ghost.

"Jian Tui Zhi! Have you lost your mind? He bullied me, beat my man; you could have let it go, yet you flatter him so? Are you here to help me or to help him?"

Jian Tui Zhi's complexion darkened slightly, and he turned his head toward Duanmu Hongjie.

"Young Master Duanmu, watch your words! What status does Mr. Jiang have, that you could defame him?"

"What status does he have? Isn't he just a worthless guy running a small medical hall?"

Duanmu Hongjie was incensed.

"How dare you!"

Jian Tui Zhi barked sharply.

"Mr. Jiang is a distinguished guest of Yitian Pavilion! Not to mention me, even if your aunt Duanmu Ya, the Pavilion Master, were present, upon seeing Mr. Jiang she would treat him with respect, daring not the slightest negligence! How could you dare to disrespect Mr. Jiang?"

"A distinguished guest of Yitian Pavilion?"

Duanmu Hongjie was stunned.

"Jian Tui Zhi, stop spouting nonsense! He's just someone who runs a small medical hall; how could he be a distinguished guest of Yitian Pavilion? What kind of people are Yitian Pavilion's guests? How could he possibly be one? You must have been deceived by him!"

Not only him, everyone present found it unbelievable.

What is Yitian Pavilion? It's a top‑tier Chamber of Commerce in Jiangnan.

The guests inside are either rich or noble; Jiang Feng, who runs a medical hall, could never be a Yitian Pavilion guest.

Jiang Gang also hurriedly said, "Old Jian, have you mistaken the person? Jiang Feng is just an ordinary man, who opened a small medical hall called Jishi Hall; how could he be a Yitian Pavilion guest?"

"How could I have mistaken?"

Jian Tui Zhi's expression turned serious.

Had I not seen Mr. Jiang's features clearly just now, it would have almost caused a huge mistake! Young Master Duanmu, this time you've truly caused a disaster, daring to offend Mr. Jiang; even the Pavilion Master couldn't protect you!

"I don't believe it!"

Duanmu Hongjie still refused to believe.

"You're certainly lying! I'm calling my aunt right now to have her judge! I want to see whether he truly is a Yitian Pavilion guest!"

After speaking, he took out his phone and, in front of everyone, dialed Duanmu Ya's number.

The call connected quickly.

"Aunt! The Jian Tui Zhi you sent is completely unreliable! He knows the person who bullied me, yet not only does he refuse to help punish him, he treats him with utmost respect, calling him some Yitian Pavilion guest! You must take my side!"

Hearing this, Duanmu Ya on the other end of the line instantly became angry.

"What? Jian Tui Zhi dared to do that? That's utterly unacceptable! Hand the phone to Jian Tui Zhi; I want to ask him what really happened!"

Duanmu Hongjie looked at Jiang Feng smugly and handed the phone to Jian Tui Zhi.

"Here, my aunt wants to speak with you! Let's see how you'll spin this!"

Jian Tui Zhi took the phone and, respectfully toward the other end, said,

"Master of the Pavilion."

"Jian Tui Zhi! What on earth are you doing?"

Duanmu Ya's voice was filled with anger.

"Hong Jie is my nephew; he's being bullied, and you not only didn't help him, but you even treated that person with respect. Do you not want to stay at Yitian Pavilion?"

"Pavilion Master, you have misunderstood."

Jian Tui Zhi explained calmly.

"The one bullying Young Master Hongjie is none other than Jiang Feng, Mr. Jiang. Mr. Jiang is a distinguished guest of our Yitian Pavilion."

"That Mr. Jiang who refines the bone‑tempering pill?"

On the other end of the phone, Duanmu Ya was stunned for a moment.

"Exactly!"

The line fell into a prolonged silence, and only Duanmu Ya's heavy breathing could be heard.

Duanmu Hongjie's smug smile gradually faded, and a hint of unease rose in his heart.

He could feel that his aunt's attitude seemed to have changed.

After a full half minute, Duanmu Ya's gritted‑teeth voice finally came through the line.

"Jian Tui Zhi! Listen carefully! You must appease Mr. Jiang! No matter what method you use, you must not let Mr. Jiang bear a grudge against our Yitian Pavilion, nor against the Duanmu Family! Even if you have to kill that useless Hong Jie, you must still satisfy Mr. Jiang!"

"If Mr. Jiang has even the slightest dissatisfaction, you and Hong Jie will not have a good life!"

"What?"

Duanmu Hongjie heard those words and, as if struck by lightning, was instantly stunned.

His aunt actually said that even if they kill him, they must satisfy Jiang Feng?

How could that be possible?

He dared not believe his ears and snatched the phone.

"Aunt! Have you got it wrong? He's just a worthless owner of a small Medical Hall; why are you so afraid of him? Let Jian Tui Zhi punish him quickly!"

"Shut up! You fool!"

Duanmu Ya's voice was filled with endless anger.

"If it weren't for you stirring up trouble and offending Mr. Jiang, why would there be so many problems? What kind of person is Mr. Jiang that you could provoke? From now on, I don't care about you; take care of yourself!"

Having said that, Duanmu Ya hung up the phone directly.

Duanmu Hongjie clutched the phone, his face full of incredulous expression, and his body began to tremble involuntarily.

He couldn't fathom what Jiang Feng's background was, how he could make his aunt so fearful, even to the point of sacrificing him!

Jian Tui Zhi looked at Duanmu Hongjie's despondent state, his eyes showing not a hint of sympathy.

He had just heard the Pavilion Master's order with his own ears: even if they kill Duanmu Hongjie, they must satisfy Mr. Jiang.

Duanmu Hongjie recovered and roared at Jian Tui Zhi.

"Jian Tui Zhi! My aunt must have been deceived by you! Act quickly and punish him! I am the Eldest Son of the Duanmu Family; you cannot obey him!"

Jian Tui Zhi's expression darkened, without any hesitation, he raised his hand and slapped Duanmu Hongjie's face hard.

"Slap!"

A crisp, loud slap rang, especially piercing in the quiet Banquet Hall.

Duanmu Hongjie was spun around in place by the slap.

He covered his face, eyes wide open, looking at Jian Tui Zhi in disbelief.

"You… you dare hit me?"

Jian Tui Zhi's gaze was icy.

"Young Master Duanmu, this slap is a reprimand on behalf of the Pavilion Master! Who let you offend Mr. Jiang? If Mr. Jiang is not satisfied, you will have to endure the ensuing hardships yourself!"

Having said that, he turned his head toward Jiang Feng, and forced another flattering smile onto his face.

"Mr. Jiang, does this handling satisfy you?"