"I see that you are a person who understands etiquette, and your manners are quite proper, but how could you be so reckless regarding today's matter? Don't you know how many affairs there are in this residence, and yet you dragged me here just for your little maid? Is your maid's life really that valuable?!" With his very first sentence, Stanley Norton expressed extreme dissatisfaction toward Gavin Norton, as if he might punish him at any moment.

Calvin Norton's face lit up with joy, while Colin Norton's brows furrowed.

"Since you don't like it, why did you come at all? Just say the word and throw that girl out!"

This was what Colin Norton truly thought, but he didn't say it aloud, not even letting it show at the corners of his mouth. For Stanley Norton to hold the position of Clan Magistrate in the Ning Prince's residence, he naturally had his abilities. Not to mention, his martial cultivation had already reached the seventh level of Qi Refinement, making him a high-level martial artist.

In the nine levels of Qi Refinement, every three levels mark a threshold. Martial artists who advance from the third to the fourth level, entering the Qi Condensation stage, are one in a hundred. Those who go from the sixth to the seventh level, entering the Qi Manipulation stage, are one in ten thousand.

In this era, martial arts flourished, but true top-tier martial artists were rare. Ninety percent of martial artists would remain at the third level of Qi Refinement for life. Of the remaining ten percent who could reach the fourth level, only one in ten would have a chance to step into the Qi Manipulation stage. Of those, at most, they would reach the ninth level of Qi Refinement. Only a very lucky few would have a chance to go further—a chance even rarer than one percent.

The ninth level of Qi Refinement was almost the end point for all martial artists.

The Qi Manipulation stage was the symbol of a martial artist's glory!

Stanley Norton possessed this glory, and he was very likely to go even further, stepping into the eighth level of Qi Refinement.

So just by standing there, even without saying a word, his presence alone was enough to make people feel suffocated.

Gavin Norton also felt immense pressure. He was just a thirteen-year-old boy, and his martial cultivation was only at the first level of Qi Refinement. It could be said that Stanley Norton could crush him with a single finger.

Taking a deep breath, Gavin Norton raised his head and said, "Fourth Granduncle, it was indeed presumptuous of me to invite you here this time, but I was not wrong to have Yan Cui bring the message!"

"Not wrong? Are you saying that your maid stealing something could affect the peace of the Ning Prince's residence?!" Stanley Norton's expression darkened, and his aura surged, pressing fiercely toward Gavin Norton.

This overwhelming aura even affected the others nearby. Calvin Norton, being just a minor figure at the late stage of the Qi Induction realm, was forced to retreat repeatedly by this pressure, but inside, he was secretly delighted. Gavin Norton had outsmarted himself this time. From Stanley Norton's words, he had directly pinned the theft on Lühé. In this way, even if Gavin Norton had a stomach full of words and reasons, he wouldn't be able to say a thing.

Gavin Norton's breath caught, his body trembled slightly, yet under this pressure, he still raised his head. "Fourth Granduncle, the reason I invited you here is indeed because of a matter that concerns the peace of the Ning Prince's residence!"

"Oh?!" Seeing that Gavin Norton actually withstood his aura without retreating, a trace of surprise flashed in Stanley Norton's eyes.

Aura, as mysterious as it sounds, was well understood by martial artists like him. Aura is cultivated; it is intangible. If one's will is strong, even a seven- or eight-year-old child could withstand the aura of a Martial Saint. Of course, this is only in theory. If the subordinate's will is weak, even someone of the same or lower rank could force you back with their aura.

The aura Stanley Norton had just displayed was only a fraction, but it was not something an ordinary thirteen- or fourteen-year-old could withstand. Gavin Norton did not retreat a single step, which at least showed that his will was much stronger than Calvin Norton's.

Sensing the other's interest in him from his tone, the corners of Gavin Norton's mouth twitched slightly, revealing a faint smile. Beneath that smile, however, was a trace of cold sharpness.

"Our Great Xia Dynasty is founded on the principles of propriety and law. Everything must be done with etiquette and rules. The Ning Prince's residence is one of the most prestigious families in the Great Xia, renowned for both civil and martial virtues, and naturally must uphold rules. The problem now is that someone in the family is breaking the rules, with servants bullying their masters, even killing them. If such things spread in the residence, how could the Ning Prince's residence ever know peace?!"

"Servants bullying their masters, servants killing their masters!!"

Stanley Norton's brows shot up, and a cold, fierce aura flashed from his body. Though it lasted only a moment, it was like the most chilling evil energy from the depths of the underworld, making everyone's heart skip a beat, followed by an endless chill.

Chapter Five: The Seventh Lady

"That's right, servants bullying their masters, servants killing their masters!" Gavin Norton's face was already pale, and the cold sharpness hidden at the corner of his mouth finally surfaced. "Three months ago, I fell into the pond at Zhifeng Garden. Everyone in the residence thought I slipped and fell, but that was not the case. I was pushed into the pond by him!"

Gavin Norton turned and pointed in the direction of Calvin Norton.

At that moment, time seemed to freeze in Baihua Garden. Everyone's eyes turned to the direction Gavin Norton was pointing!