Chapter Thirty: Now, Do I Still Need to Apologize? (Fourth Update) An extra chapter for my dear readers!

Previously, Xia Shenghui, who had strutted about with pride, basking in the praise and flattery of the crowd, now found himself reduced to the status of a dog, kneeling on the ground in utter despair. Xia Shenghui bitterly regretted his choices; at last, he realized he had been manipulated by someone with ulterior motives. Led by Jiang Shaoqi and Zheng Xuan, a group of people had sneered at Jiang Yu, painting him as worthless. Xia Shenghui, intoxicated by his own swelling ego, had finally hit an immovable wall.

If it hadn’t been for those instigators, how could he have brought such calamity upon himself?

Jiang Yu smiled lightly. “Just now, in front of all these scions of noble families, I made you, Xia Shenghui, lose face. You joined forces with others to try and drive me out.”

Then his expression chilled, and a supreme aura burst forth from him. Though his cultivation had been destroyed and he would need to start anew, the pressure of the Eminent Immortal of Ming Cave still lingered. Mere mortals, how could they withstand even a fraction of this vast force?

All his dignity enveloped Xia Shenghui.

“Now, in front of countless witnesses, I make you kneel and beg forgiveness. Are you convinced?”

Xia Shenghui felt as if an invisible mountain pressed upon his back. His hands and feet turned cold, sweat poured from his body, and he wept bitterly, banging his head on the ground. “I submit. Completely and utterly.”

Xia Ning, usually aloof and reserved, now wore a face so cold it seemed to slice a layer of frost from the air. Had this little brat not offended Jiang Yu, the Xia family would not have needed to make such a grand gesture to atone. If Jiang Yu remained unmoved, even Xia Wuchang and her father would have to step in.

Compared to resolving the rift with Jiang Yu, what did a little lost pride matter? He was a giant of the present age, an untouchable dragon in the heavens.

After a brief standoff, Jiang Yu’s expression softened, and he sighed. “Very well. Since I promised everyone that if the daughter of the Xia family herself came to invite me, I would return and attend the banquet.”

A promise worth its weight in gold—spoken, then fulfilled.

Xia Ning’s brows relaxed in joy, and the tension in her heart slowly eased.

“Jiang Yu, please.”

Xia Ning stepped aside, making a respectful gesture.

Jiang Yu and Xia Ning walked side by side at the front, followed by the Xia family’s senior members. Xia Shenghui slunk along at the back, his heart in turmoil.

…

Silkway Hotel, in a luxurious suite.

Jiang Yu stood with his back to the crowd, swirling the wine in his glass with an air of leisure and ease.

A man dressed as a manager knelt on the floor, his eyes vacant, trembling all over. Just three minutes ago, he had been forcibly brought to this suite by a few bodyguards.

Upon entering, he saw Xia Shenghui, Xia Ning, and several others.

As a lobby manager of Silkway Hotel, the highest level he usually encountered was the hotel director. Someone like Xia Ning, a true daughter of nobility, he might see only a few times a year. Faced with such a scene, the manager collapsed in fear.

In the center of the crowd stood the youth who had been driven away just a moment before.

“Mr. Jiang,” the manager cried, “I was wrong. I failed to recognize greatness. Please, spare me.”

His gaze swept over Xia Shenghui, battered and bloodied, and he shuddered, quickly lowering his head.

Xia Ning spoke coldly, “Get out. From now on, you are officially dismissed from Silkway Hotel. Moreover, from today forward, all Xia family businesses are forbidden from hiring you.”

The manager’s face fell, and he sat down heavily. In the end, two bodyguards carried him out.

Xia Ning glanced cautiously at Jiang Yu’s youthful profile, noting how he remained indifferent to everything.

“Jiang Yu, are you satisfied with this outcome? If not, I’ll dismiss the entire staff.”

Since entering, Jiang Yu had remained silent.

Now, he finally spoke. “No need. The others are innocent; there’s no reason to implicate them.”

Jiang Yu acted according to his own principles and would not easily drag others into his affairs.

“I’m sorry. It was my oversight; I didn’t expect such a thing to happen.”

Only when facing Jiang Yu did Xia Ning set aside her pride.

Xia Shenghui was utterly stunned by what he witnessed.

The dignified daughter of the Xia family, famed alongside Xia Qinghan as a prodigy, treated Jiang Yu with such respect—almost humility.

Who was this young man, really?

Jiang Yu took a deep breath. “Let this matter end here.”

A rare smile appeared on Xia Ning’s face.

Unbeknownst to her, a fine sheen of sweat had formed on her pale forehead.

Her father’s only attitude toward the incident was to do whatever it took to quell Jiang Yu’s anger.

Who could blame the Xia family? A giant of the present era carried weight far beyond ordinary measure.

In the shifting landscape of sects and traditions across the land, many renowned schools endured, populated by masters of formidable power. Yet these figures seldom appeared in public life, serving instead as guardians of their sects—only emerging in times of existential crisis.

Even among the wandering cultivators active in the secular world, their influence was like thunder, their status akin to divine authority.

At this level, one could negotiate directly with the nation itself.

The most famous case had once shaken the military, who, in order to recruit a master, nearly offered a straight promotion to major general within three years. Though it came without real power, the treatment matched the rank. Even then, such terms failed to sway the master.

So what could the Xia family of Jiangbei, with all their wealth and influence, hope to achieve? Before the nation, they were still insignificant as ants.

Within ten paces, your fate lies in my hands—not in heaven’s.

This was the capital with which a true master could look down on all, daring the world to challenge him.

The door to the suite opened, and two beautiful young women entered.

Seeing Jiang Yu, they paused, then smiled at Xia Ning. “Happy birthday, Xia Ning.”

They presented an exquisitely carved jade pendant; its quality was extraordinary—old mine, glassy texture, imperial green. Its market price ran into the millions.

The other woman gave a set of imported cosmetics, lavishly packaged.

Xia Ning accepted them without a second glance. “Thank you.”

Before leaving, the two women glanced at Jiang Yu again. Strange—wasn’t he thrown out just now? How was he here with Xia Ning?

Could it be that Jiang Yu knew Xia Ning?

An incredulous thought flashed in their minds.

Next, guests arrived one after another, bearing gifts of every kind. In the end, even valuable antique paintings and calligraphy appeared.

The most precious was a golden-eyed jade toad, seemingly blessed by a high monk, symbolizing prosperity.

Truly, among the children of wealthy families, any casual gift was worth six figures or more.

The room was piled high with presents.

Xia Ning paid them no mind, as if they were mere cabbages at the roadside.

At this moment, Jiang Shaoqi and his group entered, smiling.

He held a jade hairpin, entirely emerald green. Just as he was about to speak, his smile froze when he saw a certain figure.

“Jiang Yu?”

Jiang Shaoqi’s eyes widened, thinking he was seeing things.

Zheng Xuan, Han Chen, Jiang Ziyue, and the others all stared in disbelief at Jiang Yu standing beside Xia Ning.

“Ji—Jiang Yu, what are you doing here?” Zheng Xuan asked, stunned. Wasn’t he thrown out?

“Young Master Xia, what happened to you?”

Everyone noticed Xia Shenghui’s disheveled appearance.

Xia Shenghui wished the earth would swallow him whole.

Jiang Yu’s expression was calm. “I told you, once I left, someone would regret it.”

Zheng Xuan sneered, “Jiang Yu, did you sneak back in when no one was looking?”

She turned to Xia Ning. “Miss Xia, you probably don’t know him. He’s just a failure from the Jiang family, without an invitation. I don’t know how he got in here and managed to stay with you. You’d better look into it so nothing goes missing.”

Xia Ning’s face was ice cold.

She replied, “Have you not realized yet? Jiang Yu was personally invited by me.”

In an instant, Zheng Xuan’s eyes widened in shock.

What was going on?

Jiang Yu actually knew Xia Ning?

Jiang Shaoqi was dumbfounded, thinking he had misheard.

Jiang Ziyue gaped, her words stuck in her throat like fish bones.

“Xia Shenghui, look at the trouble you’ve caused!”

At the mention of this, Xia Ning nearly wished to tear Xia Shenghui apart.

Xia Shenghui jumped, stammering, “Mr. Jiang, I’m sorry. I failed to recognize your greatness and offended you.”

With that, he could no longer withstand the immense pressure and collapsed onto the floor.

Jiang Yu looked at Jiang Shaoqi and his group with a half-smile. “I said, Xia Shenghui is not qualified to receive my apology.”

“Now, do you think I owe him an apology?”

At this moment, everyone was utterly dumbfounded.