A father’s command is hard to defy — a father’s command carries such weight!

City Lord Situ didn’t believe it. Madam Situ didn’t believe it. Situ Xin’er didn’t believe it either — that Situ Haonan would defy his father’s command!

Seeing Situ Haonan lift his head at Jun Beiyue’s words, Madam Situ felt a surge of unease in her heart and couldn’t help but speak up. “Haonan, our whole family has come today. Even if the matter is as great as the heavens, you should at least come home first and discuss it slowly with us!”

As she spoke, she pinched Situ Xin’er, who finally came back to her senses and hurriedly chimed in, “Brother, come home. I’ll let go of everything between us — just come home with us!”

City Lord Situ kept his face stern and serious, but Madam Situ was clever enough to know that with Jun Beiyue now involved, even if they pressed Situ Haonan, forcibly taking him away would not be easy!

The key lay with Situ Haonan himself!

If he wanted to leave on his own, they couldn’t stop him — and neither could Jun Beiyue!

If a father’s command couldn’t compel him, then they would have to move him with family affection. No matter what, getting Situ Haonan home was the priority!

City Lord Situ clearly understood his wife’s intention and said nothing more, only fixing Situ Haonan with a cold stare.

Madam Situ let go of Situ Xin’er and took two steps toward Situ Haonan, her voice turning gentle. “Son, come now, let’s stop this and go home. Look at you — you haven’t been home in over half a year, not even for the New Year. You and your sister haven’t had a drink with your father in so long.”

As she spoke, she edged carefully closer to Situ Haonan.

No one knew what was going through Situ Haonan’s mind in that moment, whether this show of family affection had truly touched him. His face was expressionless, yet there was a faint, unmistakable pain visible between his brows.

He was choosing. He was definitely choosing.

Ziqing watched Madam Situ coldly, finding this so-called mother repulsive. This wasn’t motherly love — if anything, it was warmth twisted into a weapon, using family ties to coerce Situ Haonan!

So often, the things that were never shown in ordinary times but suddenly appeared at critical moments were the most false of all.

Watching Madam Situ draw closer step by step, Ziqing couldn’t help but tighten her grip on Jun Beiyue’s hand. She was afraid — afraid that Situ Haonan would give in!

If Situ Haonan gave in, then everything they had worked for would be wasted!

Even if the effort was wasted, that alone wouldn’t matter much — they could try again. But without Situ Haonan, what could she possibly use to persuade Yelu Qianqian to change her mind?

Without Situ Haonan, Yelu Qianqian’s entire life would be finished!

She wouldn’t even have the right to die — she would be forced to live out her days in humiliation within the Western Liang royal household!

Ziqing almost couldn’t help herself from speaking up to warn him, but for some reason she chose silence instead. She wanted to see for herself what choice Situ Haonan would ultimately make!

She didn’t want to influence him — she only hoped he wouldn’t disappoint everyone again!

At last, Madam Situ reached Situ Haonan and looked directly into his eyes. But just as she reached out to pull him into an embrace, Situ Haonan suddenly took a step back — and then kept retreating, farther and farther away!

Madam Situ was struck with alarm. “Son!”

City Lord Situ, too, abandoned all restraint and said urgently, “Son, whatever the matter is, let’s discuss it at home!”

Even his father had softened. Situ Haonan clenched his jaw tightly. Though he was a grown man, he suddenly felt an urge to cry. Since childhood, when had his father ever compromised with him? When had he ever called him “son” with such deep affection and warmth?

Wasn’t this exactly what he had longed for all his life?

But it had come too late — far too late, at entirely the wrong moment. He knew clearly that once he went back, there would be no leaving again.

“Brother! Let’s go home!” Situ Xin’er grew anxious as well. But Situ Haonan no longer paid them any mind. He looked toward Jun Beiyue, said nothing, and exchanged only a single glance — a look that the two of them alone understood. Just one glance, and then he turned and leapt up onto the rooftop, following Shadow away.

“Stop right there!”

At last, City Lord Situ’s temper broke. He shot suddenly into the air, the movement as fierce and sharp as a hawk spreading its wings!

At the very same moment, Jun Beiyue blocked his path, brows raised, eyes cold and disdainful, brimming with provocation.

“Jun Beiyue, this is an internal matter of Situ City. Kindly… stay out of it!” City Lord Situ said coldly — the first time he had ever spoken to Jun Beiyue without courtesy.

“Situ City’s internal affairs are of no interest to me. But someone hurt my woman, and until there’s an accounting for that, no one is leaving!”

As for lack of courtesy, Jun Beiyue could match him and more, his warning domineering and absolute.

“Is Prince Yao intending to make an enemy of the martial world?” City Lord Situ demanded loudly.

Jun Beiyue shot back just as boldly, “City Lord Situ, are you intending to make an enemy of the Da Zhou court?”

The martial world and the imperial court had always kept to their own separate spheres. But no matter how one looked at it, the court would always outweigh the martial world — however vast the martial world’s influence, it remained scattered, fragmented power.

The court, however, held true authority — the power of imperial decree!

City Lord Situ immediately drew his sword. But in that same instant, Jun Beiyue swept his arm through the air, and a blade of wind forced City Lord Situ’s hand open — his longsword clattered back into its sheath!

City Lord Situ’s brow furrowed in shock. It had been so little time since they last met, yet this young man’s martial skill had advanced by leaps and bounds!

Jun Beiyue withdrew his hand, clasping it behind his back. Among masters, a single exchange was often enough to settle the outcome. City Lord Situ had come in person to give chase, no doubt bringing considerable numbers with him — but this was Da Zhou, Jun Beiyue’s own domain!

Even a mighty dragon couldn’t overpower a local snake on its home ground — and before Jun Beiyue, City Lord Situ could hardly even be called a mighty dragon!

Chasing down Situ Haonan today was simply not going to happen!

Sure enough, City Lord Situ made no further move, only saying coldly, “Jun Beiyue, Prince Nanzhao doesn’t trust Yelu Chenyi, doesn’t trust the Empress of Dong Qin — but he will surely trust this old man.”

City Lord Situ knew a great deal about the matter of the Charm Incense — after all, it was he who had originally made the introduction to the elder of Duku!

Jun Beiyue’s wild, defiant expression instantly turned sinister. He said in a low voice, “Is that so? Then don’t you forget — your century-old Situ City sits right between Da Zhou and Nanzhao. As long as Da Zhou stands, your Situ clan must fall.”

“How dare you!” City Lord Situ drew a sharp breath, only now realizing he truly did not understand this young man at all.

“See for yourself whether I dare,” Jun Beiyue shot back.

Jun Beiyue dared — something even City Lord Situ himself might not dare to do. Situ City wasn’t his alone; it belonged to the martial world, its seat of alliance leadership for centuries. He couldn’t afford to gamble with that.

The matter involving Situ Haonan touched on the imperial court — something even the alliance leader of the martial world couldn’t account for to his own people, let alone this.

What else could City Lord Situ do? He gave a cold snort and stepped back.

But to everyone’s surprise, Jun Beiyue pressed forward relentlessly, closing right in on him, repeating the same words: “You hurt someone, and now you think you can just leave?”

City Lord Situ ground his teeth in fury. “Jun Beiyue, don’t push this too far!”

Behind them, Ziqing felt a flicker of worry. Though she was thoroughly sick of Situ Xin’er’s attitude, she hadn’t lost her sense of reason — this was not the moment to push Situ City into a corner!

After all, there was still urgent business waiting in the western borderlands and the northern frontier!

What exactly was this man Jun Beiyue planning to do?