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

A significant 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 stature, accompanied by a youth in his early twenties.

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

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

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

Massaging his temples in annoyance, Zhang Jianyuan responded, "Jiancheng, do not be so impulsive. Calm yourself. I am not suggesting we ignore Lingfeng’s plight, but a proper discussion is required first."

"What is there to talk about? He is my only child, and now he has been crippled! How do you expect me to remain composed?" Zhang Jiancheng screamed.

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 peculiar?"

"What is so strange?" Zhang Jiancheng shot back. "It is obvious that the Zhang family from Jinling is spinning a web of mystery just to dodge their responsibility for this."

"But the surveillance logs from that location clearly show it was Wang Yue’s doing," Zhang Jianyuan replied with a sigh of helplessness.

"Big brother, have you lost touch with the modern world?" Zhang Jiancheng’s eyes were bloodshot as he spoke. "With the technology available today, how difficult is it to fabricate a video?"

Upon hearing Zhang Jiancheng’s argument, several people in the hall nodded their heads, finding his logic sound.

After all, any individual capable of slaughtering two Tianyuan Realm bodyguards belonging to Zhang Lingtian would have to be a formidable master—likely at the peak of the Tianyuan Realm, if not already having stepped into the Gui Zhen Realm.

A fifteen-year-old reaching the peak of the Tianyuan Realm? Such a notion was virtually inconceivable.

Zhang Jianyuan shifted his gaze toward the man seated at the far end and inquired, "Zhang Hong, what is your perspective?"

"Master, I have encountered this Wang Yue personally, and he certainly did not possess the aura of a Tianyuan Realm expert. Therefore, I concur with the second master’s assessment," a sturdy, middle-aged man stated as he rose. It was Zhang Hong, the same man who had met them on the island.

Rather than showing gratitude for the support, Zhang Jiancheng lunged forward, seizing Zhang Hong by his collar and shouting, "Since you met Wang Yue, why didn't you end him then? If you had killed him, my son would not be a cripple today!"

Given Zhang Hong’s Cultivation, he could have easily thrown Zhang Jiancheng off, but he dared not resist due to the vast disparity in their social standing.

Instead, he maintained a forced smile and explained, "I have mentioned this before—they were broadcasting a live-stream at the time, and the footage of our meeting was public. Had we struck them down then, wouldn't we be openly confessing our guilt to the world?"

"What does it matter? 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 insignificance," Zhang Jiancheng remarked with a sneer.

"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 chimed in. "I was the one who commanded him not to move against those Jinling people. If blame must be assigned, let it fall on me."

"I am not blaming him; I am merely frustrated," Zhang Jiancheng muttered, letting go of Zhang Hong and exhaling sharply.

He understood his elder brother’s temperament perfectly—venting anger on a servant was one thing, but if he insulted Zhang Lingtian, the favored son, his brother would never overlook it.

"My thanks, Young Master," Zhang Hong said, offering Zhang Lingtian a respectful salute. Seeing the youth’s smile, he felt a silent pang of disappointment.

This Young Master was not as dim-witted as Zhang Lingfeng, but his cleverness was shallow. He was petty and sought to buy loyalty with transparent maneuvers.

Regarding the previous incident—it was indeed the Young Master’s order. Had Zhang Hong not resisted, someone might have actually attacked the group from Jinling.

Zhang Lingtian had previously expressed regret over that decision, yet now he was theatrically taking the fall for it.

While using a mix of benevolence and authority was a classic leadership tactic, it appeared amateurish to a seasoned veteran like Zhang Hong.

After all, Zhang Hong was devoted to the Zhang family. As the Young Master, Zhang Lingtian had every right to reprimand him for his initial disobedience, and Zhang Hong would have accepted it without complaint.

However, this calculated display of "kindness" indicated a fundamental lack of trust in Zhang Hong’s loyalty, which ironically risked alienating him from the family.

Though Zhang Hong wouldn't betray the family over such a small slight, his opinion of the Young Master had plummeted.

The rest of the council remained passive; to them, Jinling was a backwater void of resources. Traveling there felt like a waste of their time.

After a moment of silence, Zhang Hong stood and offered, "Master, since Young Master Lingfeng has suffered this tragedy, I feel a sense of responsibility. Perhaps you will allow me to travel to Jinling to conduct a thorough investigation?"

"Hmm..." Zhang Jianyuan paused. His trust in Zhang Hong was thin.

Zhang Hong hailed from a distant branch of the family, yet he was exceptionally bright and gifted.

Relying only on the fragmented Cultivation techniques of the main house, he had successfully ascended to the Guizhen Realm through sheer willpower.

Furthermore, Zhang Hong held significant sway over the collateral branches; his influence was such that many would follow his lead. This was a minor yet persistent concern for the main lineage.

Even more irritating was the fact that despite being in his forties, Zhang Hong still clung to a personal moral code.

If Zhang Jianyuan ordered him to perform a dishonorable task, Zhang Hong would likely only go through the motions. He was not a convenient tool.

Still, a direct refusal might signal a lack of trust, potentially triggering the very complications Zhang Jianyuan wished to avoid.

While the Patriarch wavered, the doors to the hall were slammed open. A man who appeared to be in his late twenties marched inside.

"Second Patriarch," the occupants of the hall murmured. Instead of taking offense at the rude entry, everyone rose to offer their deepest respects.

The Zhang family’s dominance in Tianhai was rooted in their three Deguan Realm masters.

The foremost among them was a powerhouse 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 looked youthful, he was a centenarian with the power of the second level of the Deguan Realm, earning him the title of Second Patriarch.

A third Patriarch also existed, currently at the late first level of the Deguan Realm.

These three were the true foundations of the Zhang family, holding authority that surpassed even Zhang Jianyuan’s.

"What has befallen Lingfeng? Why was I not notified immediately?" the Second Patriarch demanded, gesturing for the others to sit.

Most of the family loathed Zhang Lingfeng for his debauchery, but the Second Patriarch was different.

He saw a reflection of his own youthful wildness in the boy and appreciated his spirit.

More importantly, Zhang Lingfeng was skilled at flattery, frequently procuring young virgins for the Second Patriarch’s pleasure.