Fuck, what is this, a ghost that won't stop haunting me? They won't rest until they get what they want?
Zhang Yuanqing gritted his teeth silently, frustration welling up inside him, though his face remained polite and composed with a warm smile.
"Do the two Mr. Xiahou still need something from me?"
Sitting upright in the back seat, Xiahou Xin turned his head slightly to look at Zhang Yuanqing standing by the roadside and said gently:
"There were things we couldn't say openly back at the Public Security Bureau. If you're willing to help us fish out Wang Qian, I'll give you a prop as a token of appreciation. Besides, the Xiahou family carries a certain weight within the Five Elements Alliance. With your capabilities, and our support, you're destined for great things."
Next to him, Xiahou Tianyuan lounged lazily in the leather seat, fiddling with his phone. The unruly temper he showed in the office was nowhere to be seen.
Zhang Yuanqing paused in surprise, then realized—back at the Bureau, the father and son had only made demands, not offers. So they never intended to talk business there.
Because Guan Ya and Li Dongze were around? It was just to test me? And now they're suddenly offering props as compensation to make it feel like a pleasant surprise…? he muttered inwardly.
"Mr. Xiahou, please don't make things difficult for someone like me. My superior's stance is my stance. I can't afford to provoke the Palace of Slaughter." Zhang Yuanqing politely refused.
Xiahou Xin's expression remained unchanged as he looked at him and said slowly:
"Two items."
No wonder they're from a Scholar bloodline—damn rich... Zhang Yuanqing thought to himself.
The Xiahou family specialized in the Scholar profession. High-level Scholars possessed the skill to forge props, much like blacksmiths in games.
Though creating a prop was resource-intensive, limited by materials and skills, the Xiahou family's mastery of forging gave them a huge edge over other factions.
That's how they managed to maintain their power and dig roots deep into both Taiyi Sect and the Five Elements Alliance.
"Sorry!"
Zhang Yuanqing shook his head and began pushing his bike to leave.
The next moment, the wheels jammed. He looked down—
Vines of vibrant green were sprouting from the pavement, wrapping around the wheels like chains.
Xiahou Xin said calmly, "Tianyuan, get his phone."
Xiahou Tianyuan smirked, opened the door, and placed a shimmering crystal orb on the roof of the car.
In an instant, Zhang Yuanqing felt an invisible membrane envelop the surroundings. The outside world—cars, pedestrians—twisted and warped, their sounds completely muted.
His face darkened. "You..."
This was outrageous.
Xiahou Tianyuan licked his lips and strode forward, sneering:
"Yuan Shi Tian Zun. Heard you cleared two S-level spirit realms. They call you a genius. Funny, I've got a small heart and no tolerance. I love beating up geniuses."
As he spoke, flames erupted beneath his shoes. Like a flaming arrow, he shot forward.
Too fast!
Zhang Yuanqing barely had time to cross his arms to shield his chest.
Slap! Slap! Slap!
A series of savage kicks cracked down on his forearms like whips, burning his sleeves to ashes and leaving scorched marks on his skin.
Level 3?! A chill crept down Zhang Yuanqing's spine. After blocking the initial flurry, he immediately activated Night Wanderer and entered stealth.
His body vanished from sight, as if erased from the world.
Xiahou Tianyuan stood proudly, flames roaring beneath his feet like a storm-riding deity. His eyes scanned around like hunting hawks.
Suddenly, a ripple spread across the left side of the barrier—someone had slammed into it.
Xiahou Tianyuan instantly pounced, pivoting on his left foot, right leg sweeping out with a sharp crack, kicking a rolling figure back into the open.
It was Zhang Yuanqing.
With a flick of his hand, Xiahou Tianyuan pulled a pair of dark golden shackles from his inventory and hurled them.
Clack!
They clamped onto Zhang Yuanqing's ankle, locking automatically.
Seeing this, Xiahou Tianyuan smirked.
But in the next second, Zhang Yuanqing's figure shattered like a mirage—vanished.
Illusion!
Crash!
A loud shattering noise rang out. Not far away, Zhang Yuanqing's form reappeared, ruthlessly stomping his phone into pieces.
Xiahou Tianyuan's brow twisted.
This bastard would rather destroy his phone than give in to the Xiahou family?
Zhang Yuanqing exhaled slowly, his face blank.
"If we keep going... it's going to be a fight to the death."
The heat from the flames beneath Xiahou Tianyuan's feet surged. His temper flared hotter than usual. "You wanna die?!"
"Enough!"
Xiahou Xin, still in the car, glanced at the shattered phone and said coolly, "Tianyuan, come back."
His gaze landed back on Zhang Yuanqing, deep and calculating.
"My son is hot-blooded. Please don't take it personally."
Xiahou Tianyuan's forehead bulged with veins. After a moment of hesitation, he extinguished the flames under his shoes and suppressed the raging fury inside him.
He resumed his languid pose, once again the lazy brat from before.
"Not bad. Tough skin. Beating you up was kind of satisfying."
He gave a mocking chuckle and returned to the black car, retrieved the crystal orb from the roof, and slipped inside.
The car sped off, vanishing into the flow of traffic.
As it disappeared, Xiahou Tianyuan leaned out the window and made a slicing gesture at Zhang Yuanqing.
"That kid's strong. Real potential," he said, sprawling on the leather seat with a lazy grin. "Since when do bottom-tier lackeys dare look down on the Xiahou family? Tsk... Breaking bones like his feels satisfying."
"We can use our influence to suppress him within the rules," Xiahou Xin replied flatly. "But don't do anything stupid. He's earned merit."
Killing or seriously injuring someone with official merits would trigger heavy retaliation from the White Tiger Soldiers.
Killing a decorated official walker was tantamount to declaring war on the Five Elements Alliance—a far graver offense than harming civilians.
Which was why Xiahou Xin had ended the confrontation the moment Zhang Yuanqing smashed his phone.
"I know," Xiahou Tianyuan replied, his grin turning cold.
"Shift the focus onto the other members of the Palace of Slaughter," Xiahou Xin said darkly. "That woman already leaked too many secrets to your brother. She can't be allowed to live. This time, no matter what—it ends with her death."
Xiahou Tianyuan grumbled, "Big bro's useless. Falls for a woman and forgets who he is. If not for him, we wouldn't be in such a passive position."
Just then, Xiahou Xin noticed blood on his son's ankle and frowned.
"You're hurt?"
Xiahou Tianyuan blinked, then looked down—his ankle was indeed scratched and bleeding.
"It's nothing. Just a scratch," he muttered.
...
"The Xiahou family is too damn arrogant. All this fuss for one Wang Qian? Anyone watching might think I'm sleeping with the Palace Lord or something."
Zhang Yuanqing watched the black car vanish from sight and finally turned away, grumbling.
He glanced at the burns on his forearm, and his face darkened.
The Xiahou family wouldn't dare kill him outright—not unless they wanted open war with the Five Elements Alliance. A member with official merits being killed by a legacy faction? The Alliance would make the Xiahou family pay in blood—connections be damned.
Otherwise, how could they maintain order? What would the lower ranks think?
So Zhang Yuanqing had decisively destroyed his phone to end the confrontation.
But this was far from over.
The Xiahou family had shown their true colors. First came temptation. When that failed—they turned to force.
If he were just an ordinary bottom-tier member, would they have shown any restraint?
Even with his status, given how these two father and son operated, retaliation in the dark was only a matter of time.
Zhang Yuanqing pulled a tissue from his pocket, carefully wiped the blood from under his nails, then folded the tissue and pocketed it. His voice was low and cold:
"There won't be a next time."