"Get out!"
Chu Zhenxiong's voice boomed like a mighty bell.
Chu Haojie's face turned ashen. He hadn't expected things to turn out this way - he had angered the old master and very likely incurred Qin Xuan's displeasure.
Chu Haoyun, however, was pleased to see this happen.
After today, there would be no changing who the successor was.
The atmosphere turned somewhat gloomy.
Qin Xuan glanced indifferently at Chu Zhenxiong and showed little reaction. Then he looked at Chu Haojie and asked, "Is that 100 million still valid?"
Chu Haojie immediately nodded. "Of course it's still valid. What happened wasn't your fault. I'll keep my promise."
Very good.
Qin Xuan nodded in satisfaction.
A man of principles like this was worthy of respect.
Just as Qin Xuan was about to leave, Chu Qingya suddenly shouted, "Grandpa, you have to do something about my dad! Giving someone 100 million for no reason is no different from burning money!"
Chu Zhenxiong became even more furious.
He hadn't expected to raise such a useless son who acted like his head was filled with water and kept embarrassing him!
Just as Chu Zhenxiong was about to speak, something unexpected happened.
A bald man with two followers barged in uninvited!
He was a complete stranger to the Chu family.
But Tie Shanhe's eyes were wide open and his heart sank into the abyss, feeling cold and hopeless...
These three men had come for him!
"Old Master Chu, I've heard today is your birthday. Please excuse this presumptuous interruption."
The bald man had his hands clasped behind his back. His words were polite but his tone was extremely arrogant. "We've come uninvited only to take Tie Shanhe away. We don't want any conflict with you, so I hope you'll kindly oblige, Old Master Chu."
To take Tie Shanhe away!
Everyone's expressions changed.
To brazenly come to the door on Old Master Chu's birthday and take someone away, how arrogant!
Chu Zhenxiong's eyes narrowed slightly. "Who are you? Why do you want to take Tie away?"
The bald man just smiled mysteriously and didn't answer.
Tie Shanhe took a deep breath and said, "He is Gao Qingyang, disciple of Master Wei Kuangsheng."
Master Wei Kuangsheng!
Everyone gasped in shock.
There were eight top martial arts masters in the South of the River region, each a leader in their own right.
Not only were they exceptionally formidable, but their power and wealth were also staggering.
And this Wei Kuangsheng was one of the eight grandmasters of the South of the River. He had made a name for himself 15 years ago and was still notoriously fierce!
Chu Zhenxiong had painstakingly built up his foothold in Yun City over the years. He didn't usually fear outsiders with power and influence, but he wouldn't lightly offend them without good reason either.
"Master Gao, why don't we sit down for a drink? The banquet is about to start. Whatever issue lies between you can surely be resolved."
Chu Zhenxiong was trying to mediate.
But Gao Qingyang sneered disdainfully. "Tie Shanhe injured my men half a month ago and crippled two of them. And you're telling me to sit down and have a drink?"
"..."
Chu Zhenxiong's brows furrowed. He realized this matter wasn't simple.
If he protected Tie Shanhe, he would inevitably offend Wei Kuangsheng.
If he didn't protect Tie Shanhe, word of this incident would spread and no master would be willing to serve the Chu family in the future, no matter how good the benefits offered.
He was caught between a rock and a hard place!
Just then, Tie Shanhe said gravely, "Old Chu, my master is Liu Qingyan. Protect me for now, and Master will deal with Wei Kuangsheng in the future. Don't be afraid of him."
Liu Qingyan!
Another explosive reveal.
Chu Zhenxiong was so shocked that his face turned red.
At just 28 years old, Liu Qingyan had already attained the level of martial arts grandmaster. She rarely appeared in public but still shocked the entire martial world of Dragon Country.
Calling her peerlessly elegant was no exaggeration at all!
"Is that true?" Chu Zhenxiong asked.
"My master doesn't normally let me reveal this. But I have no choice now." Tie Shanhe sighed.
For a middle-aged man to call a 28-year-old woman "master" was not only not strange, but commanded deep respect!
In that instant, Chu Zhenxiong looked steadily at Gao Qingyang, his gaze resolute. "I'll protect Tie. If you want to fight, go ahead and try!"
Gao Qingyang sneered contemptuously. "If I'm not mistaken, your Chu family doesn't have a grandmaster. And you, old bones, may be at the half-step grandmaster level but your health is ruined. I don't understand how you plan to stop me."
Just as Gao Qingyang finished speaking, the four inner force experts sitting at the table realized it was time to show off their skills.
They looked at each other and then simultaneously made their move.
But Gao Qingyang's two followers were like wooden statues, standing still without moving a muscle, their eyes full of mocking laughter.
In a flash, Gao Qingyang slammed his palm forward.
Bang bang bang bang!
The four Chu family experts instantly flew back and smashed the redwood tables and chairs.
"You..."
Tie Shanhe glared furiously.
Chu Zhenxiong and the others were also shocked.
With the same inner force realm, this man could take on four others effortlessly!
Gao Qingyang said indifferently with a faint smile, "I'm disciple to a martial grandmaster, so of course I improve by leaps and bounds daily. I've already touched on the threshold of half-step grandmaster level. Attaining that is just a matter of time. How will you stop me?"
Chu Zhenxiong's eyes immediately dimmed.
He finally realized he had no power to protect Tie Shanhe!
Although he was at the half-step grandmaster level, he was elderly and in poor health with hidden afflictions. He was no match for Gao Qingyang now...
At this critical juncture, Tie Shanhe struggled internally before finally throwing caution to the wind when he met Gao Qingyang's gaze.
Tie Shanhe suddenly turned to Qin Xuan and made a shocking declaration: "Save me! Name your price!"
In that moment, all sound and movement in the reception hall came to an abrupt halt.
Deafening silence.
Chu Zhenxiong, Chu Haoyun, Chu Qingqiu, Chu Qingya, even the four Chu family experts all felt Tie Shanhe had lost his mind.
However scared of death one might be, one wouldn't spout such nonsense, right?
Even Chu Haojie, who greatly admired Qin Xuan, felt Tie Shanhe was acting in desperation.
Qin Xuan was formidable but how could he possibly beat Gao Qingyang...
Amidst everyone's stunned thoughts, Qin Xuan slowly stood up and spoke. "If I remember right, when I let you go last time, you said you would come back to avenge yourself against me. In theory we're enemies, not friends. Why should I save you?"
Tie Shanhe hated himself for being loose-lipped back then!!
"Let bygones be bygones. If I can offer a bargaining chip that would tempt you, would you save me?" Tie Shanhe said.
"What bargaining chip?" Qin Xuan asked.
Tie Shanhe took out a jade pendant from his pocket and directly threw it over.
As soon as Qin Xuan caught the jade pendant, he felt its icy coldness throughout his body. This jade pendant actually contained a trace of inner energy.
"A mystic artifact?" Qin Xuan looked slightly surprised.
"Yes, a mystic artifact!"
Tie Shanhe forcefully suppressed the heartache and said, "I'll trade this for my life. Do you want it?"
Qin Xuan didn't know the use of this artifact yet, but he knew its value was definitely not attainable with just a few tens of millions...
After brief hesitation, Qin Xuan said, "Kneel down and repent for your reckless words last time."
After handing over a mystic artifact, he still had to kneel down?
Tie Shanhe nearly ground his teeth into dust.
Those who practiced martial arts valued their pride greatly. He was personally taught by a martial grandmaster and carried a towering arrogance. If he knelt today, it would surely damage his martial heart and limit his future prospects.
But if he still hesitated at this point, the fate awaiting him was death!
Tie Shanhe had no choice. He slowly knelt down.
With this kneel, his pride was completely shattered.
The scene before them made everyone present gape in shock. Their minds grew dizzy and confused, not understanding what was happening at all.
In the next moment, Qin Xuan's gaze directly fixed on Gao Qingyang, his tone extremely indifferent. "You can leave. I'll protect this man."
"..."
Gao Qingyang looked at him as if he were a fool. He was completely outraged.
Where did this damned clown come from?
"Get lost!"
Gao Qingyang suddenly attacked in rage, striking at Qin Xuan.
"Not bad, this Grand Fist actually has the beginnings of a half-step grandmaster level."
Qin Xuan's aura abruptly changed. With one hand clasped behind his back, he effortlessly caught Gao Qingyang's fist with just one hand.
"!!!"
Gao Qingyang's eyes instantly widened with a sense of fear.
This feeling was like facing his master Wei Kuangsheng - a powerlessness seeping from the inside out!
Crack—
The sound of bone fracture rang out.
Qin Xuan casually twisted Gao Qingyang's arm and flung him out with one hand. He stomped heavily on Gao Qingyang's leg.
"Ah!!!"
Gao Qingyang let out a miserable shriek as beads of sweat the size of beans appeared on his face.
Qin Xuan looked down condescendingly at Gao Qingyang, his clothes fluttering lightly as if by a breeze.
"I disdain to bully you with force and was letting you leave, yet you refused to listen."
"Your master's reputation can be your pride but never the capital for your arrogance. This world is far vaster than you can imagine."
"Today I break one of your arms and cripple a leg."
"Will you submit?!"
Silence descended upon the reception hall once more.
Gao Qingyang's screams and breathing sounded amplified many times over.
A teenage Grand Master!
Chu Zhenxiong was petrified, disbelief coloring his aged face as his tightly clenched fists trembled uncontrollably.
Chu Haoyun father and daughter, along with the four Chu family guests, had lost all color in their faces, shaken beyond belief.
As for Chu Qingya, she slid right off her chair onto the floor, as if her three souls and seven spirits had left her body.
Recalling how she had blamed her father and insulted Qin Xuan, Chu Qingya instantly crumbled.
Of all present, only Chu Haojie's face shone with excitement and elation.
Previously, he had thought Qin Xuan would likely become another martial arts Grand Master in his early twenties, after Liu Qingyan.
But now it was clear that Liu Qingyan was nothing compared to Qin Xuan!
Earlier, the old master hadn't believed him and made a teenage Grand Master sit on a cold bench, even telling Qin Xuan to get lost.
How satisfying! How gratifying!
Chu Haojie was so excited that the fat on his face jiggled uncontrollably.
Just then, one of Gao Qingyang's followers pointed at Qin Xuan and shouted angrily, "Do you know the consequences of offending Grand Master Wei?!"
"Consequences?"
Qin Xuan replied mildly, "Since I've crippled Gao Qingyang today, won't Wei Kuangsheng come seeking vengeance against me?"
Thinking Qin Xuan was afraid, the follower immediately became arrogant. "That's obvious! No one can insult the reputation of one of the Eight Great Masters south of the River!"
"Very good."
Qin Xuan's brows knitted as his eyes lit up sharply. "No better time than now. Tell Wei Kuangsheng to get over here now!"