Urban Seduction: Housewives Club Chapter 1972 - 301: Support from All Sides 1

A substantial crowd had assembled within the main family hall of the Zhang estate at that moment.

Positioned at the head of the room was a middle-aged man of imposing presence, seated alongside a youth in his early twenties.

These individuals were Zhang Jianyuan, the reigning patriarch of the Zhang family, and his son, Zhang Lingtian.

Surrounding them were more than ten men and women, while a man in his thirties stood across from them, bellowing in a fit of rage.

"Elder brother, Lingfeng might not be the most talented, but he is still your flesh and blood nephew! Tell me, are we going to seek vengeance for this atrocity or not?" the man roared.

Massaging his temples in frustration, Zhang Jianyuan replied, "Jiancheng, do not be so impulsive. Calm yourself. I am not suggesting we leave Lingfeng unavenged, but a proper discussion is required first."

"What is there to talk about? My only son has been turned into a cripple! How do you expect me to remain composed?" Zhang Jiancheng screamed back.

Zhang Jianyuan knit his brows and questioned, "A mere fifteen-year-old boy who can cripple Lingfeng and slay two bodyguards with a single strike—does that not strike you as bizarre?"

"What is so strange?" Zhang Jiancheng snapped. "It is obvious that the Zhang family from Jinling is just trying to dodge the consequences by making this whole ordeal seem more mysterious than it actually is."

"But you witnessed the surveillance tapes from the scene; it was undeniably Wang Yue who committed the act," Zhang Jianyuan stated with a sigh of helplessness.

"Brother, have you spent too much time away from reality?" Zhang Jiancheng asked, his eyes bloodshot. "With the technology available today, how difficult is it to fabricate a video?"

Upon hearing Zhang Jiancheng’s logic, several people within the hall nodded, finding his argument to be quite reasonable.

After all, anyone capable of slaughtering two Tianyuan Realm bodyguards belonging to Zhang Lingtian had to be a formidable warrior—likely at the peak of the Tianyuan Realm, or perhaps even having reached the Gui Zhen Realm.

A fifteen-year-old reaching the peak of the Tianyuan Realm? Such a feat seemed utterly impossible.

Zhang Jianyuan shifted his gaze to the individual sitting at the far end of the row and inquired, "Zhang Hong, what is your perspective?"

"Master, I have encountered this Wang Yue personally, and he certainly did not give off the aura of a Tianyuan Realm fighter. Therefore, I agree with the Second Master’s assessment," a sturdy, middle-aged man replied while standing up. This was Zhang Hong, the same man who had been met on the island.

Rather than showing gratitude for Zhang Hong’s support, Zhang Jiancheng lunged forward, seized Zhang Hong by his collar, and barked, "If you met Wang Yue, why didn't you end him then? If you had finished him, my son wouldn't be a cripple right now!"

Given Zhang Hong’s Cultivation, he could have easily shoved Zhang Jiancheng aside, but the massive disparity in their family status stayed his hand.

Instead, he could only offer a strained smile and explain, "As I mentioned before—they were broadcasting live at the time, and the footage of our meeting was shown. Had we killed them then, wouldn't it have been an open admission of our guilt?"

"Who cares? They are just a minor family from Jinling... If we kill them, we kill them. I doubt the Warriors Alliance would target our Zhang family over such a trifle," Zhang Jiancheng remarked with contempt.

"You are simply feeble and timid; do not use 'the family's interests' as a shield for your cowardice."

"Second Uncle, you are being unfair to Uncle Hong," Zhang Lingtian intervened. "It was my command that he not move against those people from Jinling. If blame must be assigned, let it be on me."

"I am not blaming him; I am just frustrated," Zhang Jiancheng muttered, letting go of Zhang Hong and sighing deeply.

He understood his elder brother’s temperament well—if he caused trouble or took his anger out on a subordinate, it would be forgiven. However, if he crossed Zhang Lingtian, the favored son, his brother would never be so lenient.

"My thanks, Young Master," Zhang Hong said, performing a traditional salute to Zhang Lingtian. Seeing the youth smile back at him, he felt a internal pang of disappointment.

This Young Master was not a fool like Zhang Lingfeng, but his intelligence was shallow. He was petty and knew how to manipulate loyalty, yet his tactics lacked true depth.

Regarding the previous incident—it was indeed his own order that had been followed. Had it not been for his own caution, someone might have truly attacked the Jinling group. He had often felt a sense of regret for that night, yet here he was, pretending to take the fall.

Employing a mix of mercy and authority was a valid strategy, but to a seasoned man like Zhang Hong, it felt amateurish.

Zhang Hong was fundamentally loyal to the Zhang family. As the heir, even if Zhang Lingtian had scolded him, Zhang Hong would have accepted it—after all, he had technically ignored his initial instructions. However, this calculated display of benevolence suggested a lack of genuine trust, which could inadvertently drive a wedge between them.

While Zhang Hong wouldn't betray the clan over something so small, his respect for the Young Master had significantly withered.

The other members in the hall remained silent; to them, Jinling was a backwater void of resources. Traveling there was viewed as a waste of effort.

After a moment, Zhang Hong rose and offered, "Master, since Young Master Lingfeng has suffered this misfortune, I carry part of the weight. Why not permit me to travel to Jinling to investigate this matter thoroughly?"

"Hmm..." Zhang Jianyuan paused, his trust in Zhang Hong being quite thin.

Zhang Hong was from a side branch of the Zhang lineage, and his ties to the main house were distant. Yet, the man was exceptionally gifted and sharp. Using only the fragmented Cultivation techniques provided to the side branches, he had managed to ascend to the Guizhen Realm through sheer will.

Furthermore, Zhang Hong held significant sway within the collateral branches; he had the kind of charisma where his word could mobilize many. This was a slight but notable threat to the main branch's dominance.

What was even more irritating was that Zhang Hong, despite being in his forties, still clung to a "moral code." If Zhang Jianyuan ordered something underhanded, Zhang Hong would only do the bare minimum. He was not a man one could fully rely on for dirty work.

Yet, to deny him now would only highlight Zhang Jianyuan’s distrust, potentially causing more internal friction.

While Zhang Jianyuan wavered, the hall doors were slammed open, and a man appearing to be in his mid-twenties marched inside.

"Second Patriarch," the people in the room called out. Rather than being offended by his brash entry, everyone rose to show their deference.

The Zhang family’s status as one of the four titans of Tianhai was built upon the backs of three masters who had attained the Deguan Realm.

The most powerful was a master at the mid-stage of the fifth level of the Deguan Realm, known as the Patriarch. The second in command was the man who had just entered; though he appeared youthful, he was over a century old and held the power of the second level of the Deguan Realm, thus earning the title Second Patriarch.

There was also a Third Patriarch, who sat at the late first level of the Deguan Realm.

These three were the foundation of the Zhang family, possessing authority that surpassed even the family head, Zhang Jianyuan.

"What has happened to Lingfeng? Why was I not notified immediately?" the Second Patriarch demanded, waving a hand for the others to sit.

Zhang Lingfeng was widely disliked for his debauchery, but the Second Patriarch was a rare supporter. He saw his own youthful spirit reflected in Lingfeng’s wild nature.

More importantly, Zhang Lingfeng was skilled at flattery; he frequently secured young, untouched girls for the Second Patriarch’s secret pleasures.