"Cut..." Ma Deju sneered dismissively.
"So it's the steward!"
Ma Ruolin continued her brother's sentiment, "Oh, so he's on the same level as our Big Yellow!"
"Mmm-hmm... yes! But our Big Yellow is leashed, while the Luo family's isn't!"
"That's right. When we go back this time, let's untie Big Yellow's chain too!"
"I think that's a good idea!"
The brother and sister bickered back and forth.
It was only by the end of their conversation that Chu Tian finally understood; Big Yellow was a dog.
Luo Qingyu, standing opposite, naturally understood as well.
Anger immediately surged within him as he demanded, "Patriarch Ma, is this how you discipline your disciples?"
Just as he was fuming with rage.
*Slap...*
A resounding slap echoed through the air.
Everyone present was a martial arts master.
They naturally noticed that the moment Luo Qingyu finished speaking.
A blur of motion shot out from the Ma family's side.
Then, it returned to its original position.
After the figure returned and stopped, the voice finally reached everyone's ears.
Luo Qingyu stood frozen.
A bright red palm print slowly materialized on his face.
This figure was, of course, Chu Tian.
He stood, deliberately or not, directly behind Madam Ma.
Baring his teeth, he spat, "Hmph... a dog's lackey dares to question the Patriarch's disciplinary methods?"
"Aunt, I've already spoken up for you. Don't lower yourself to the level of a dog, and don't let it anger you."
As he spoke, he flicked his hand.
While Ma Ruolin and Ma Deju had been speaking indirectly,
Chu Tian now directly called Luo Qingyu a dog.
Fearing that others might not have understood, he added in a voice clear enough for all to hear, "His skin is so thick. My hand hurts from hitting him, and his head didn't even shatter."
"They say dogs have bronze heads and iron bones but soft waists. It's truly a profound saying!"
Chu Tian's action stunned everyone present.
No one had seen his speed;
They only saw a blur appear before Luo Qingyu.
Then return, and in Luo Qingyu's enraged state, with him on guard, delivered a resounding slap.
This brat was too audacious.
He had actually struck Luo Qingyu in front of Master Luo the Eighth.
Luo Qingyu's entire face turned red, not just from the slap, but from anger and humiliation.
In full view of everyone, he hadn't even seen Chu Tian's movement.
And he had been slapped!
If this news spread, wouldn't he be laughed at mercilessly?
"You..." Luo Qingyu took a step forward, about to advance.
"Retreat..."
Suddenly, Luo Lingshan's low voice boomed.
"Eighth Uncle..." Luo Qingyu looked at him, unwilling to back down.
"You, a mere steward, spoke disrespectfully to the Ma family Patriarch. You deserve to be hit!"
"Go on, attend to your duties."
After speaking, Luo Lingshan waved him away.
"But they..."
He was naturally referring to Ma Deju and Ma Ruolin, who had indirectly called him a dog.
He wouldn't pursue Chu Tian hitting him, because he had indeed defied the Ma family Patriarch, Ma Lingling, and deserved the beating.
Pursuing the matter further would only bring him more shame. He wanted to quickly move past the humiliation of being slapped in front of everyone.
"Hmph..."
Luo Lingshan's gaze turned towards him with a hint of displeasure.
"What are the statuses of the Ma family's eldest young master and eldest young lady?"
"And what is your status?"
"They called you a dog, and you still want to retaliate now?"
Luo Qingyu paused. His anger had overwhelmed him, and he had forgotten their identities.
Now, though unwilling, he hesitated, cast a deep look at Chu Tian and the others.
With a cold glint in his eyes, he turned and left.
He savored Luo Lingshan's words. Not retaliating now did not mean he wouldn't retaliate later!
"Alright, now that that's settled, Madam Ma, can you hand him over?"
Luo Lingshan said, his low voice devoid of anger.
It was unclear what his thoughts were at this moment.
"And what if I refuse?"
Madam Ma opened her eyes and said.
"Madam Ma, do not let one outsider jeopardize the harmony of our eight great families!"
Upon Luo Lingshan's statement, several families immediately chimed in their agreement.
They urged the Ma family to hand Chu Tian over.
The Lin and Zhang families were the most vocal.
Chu Tian scanned the crowd. Only three families remained silent.
The Qi family, the Qin family, and the Song family.
These three families maintained their silence.
He could understand the Qi and Song families' silence, as their own descendants, Qi Shushu and Song Zijing, were involved in the matter.
As for why the Qin family remained silent?
Chu Tian saw a young girl there, clinging to an older woman's arm and coquettishly pouting.
The woman looked exasperated and glanced at Chu Tian.
Then, she patted the back of the young girl's hand.
The girl immediately smiled and even kissed the woman's cheek.
This caused the woman to glare at her fiercely.
Witnessing all this, Chu Tian's curiosity was piqued.
What was going on? It seemed the girl's plea concerned him.
And she was seeking help from the woman. Could it be that she wanted to help him?
While he was speculating wildly,
Madam Ma let out a cold哼, and everyone immediately fell silent.
Clearly, she still held considerable influence.
Chu Tian was unaware that this group of people truly feared the old woman.
This was because all these family heads had personally witnessed, in their childhoods,
Their own fathers being brutally dealt with by this old woman.
One woman had beaten seven grown men.
She had thrashed them for a full hour, which was three hours.
In the end, the seven men were severely injured by her.
Some suffered broken limbs, while others had their internal organs displaced.
They didn't know the specific reason.
All they knew was that the eight family heads had gathered to discuss something.
Ultimately, Madam Ma erupted in fury and attacked.
At this very moment, the old woman was still alive, while most of their fathers had already been buried.
It was rumored that the family heads who had been buried were connected to the matter they had discussed back then.
What that matter was, perhaps only the living elder of the Song family and Madam Ma knew.
At this moment, after her哼, Madam Ma said calmly, "Who says Chu Tian is an outsider? He is our Ma family's son-in-law!"
"Ah?"
Chu Tian, who was still looking around, was stunned upon hearing this.
Since when had he become the Ma family's son-in-law?
He instinctively glanced at Ma Lingling.
This aunt of his was indeed beautiful. Her long legs were truly lovely.
Her skin was tender and smooth, like a baby's. He wondered how she maintained it!
Though he didn't know her age, she looked to be around twenty-three or twenty-four.
If it weren't for her mature aura, Chu Tian would have thought she was an unmarried maiden.
Seeing Chu Tian look at her, Ma Lingling's face inexplicably flushed. She shot him a reproachful glance and said.