Volume 1, Chapter 18: The Sinister Truth

Song Xinghui exclaimed in shock.

He might not recognize others, but he certainly knew Yun Pinghai! Both the Yun family and the Song family were among the four great families of Tiannan, and he had seen Yun Pinghai more than a few times. However, he was merely a fringe member of the Song family; had he not possessed some ability, he would never have had the chance to even make an appearance. Yet, Yun Pinghai was one of the true power-holders of the Yun family!

Yun Pinghai ignored Song Xinghui and walked directly up to Qi Wuxie.

"Mr. Qi, I apologize for the fright you’ve had."

Yun Pinghai spoke with a smile, though his heart was filled with astonishment. Around Qi Wuxie lay numerous corpses, the air thick with the stench of blood. Had he not been in a high position, accustomed to such sights, he might have vomited on the spot. Beside him, Yun Zhiqiue frowned, clearly feeling physically repulsed by the bodies on the ground. Behind them, Qi Feng and the others remained calm, as if such matters were entirely mundane to them.

Qi Wuxie nodded at Yun Pinghai, then turned his gaze to Yun Zhiqiue. "The environment here is not ideal. If you are uncomfortable, you should wait outside."

Yun Zhiqiue shook her head. "I am fine."

Seeing this, a strange light flashed in Yun Pinghai's eyes. "Mr. Qi, what is going on here? Did you kill all these people?"

Yun Pinghai felt a sense of displeasure. If Qi Wuxie were a wanton murderer forcing him to clean up the mess, he would truly doubt whether Qi Wuxie was capable of saving his father.

Qi Wuxie nodded, but added, "These people wanted to kill me, so I killed them. Is there a problem? As for why, ask him."

Qi Wuxie did not want to elaborate. Hearing this, Yun Pinghai looked at Song Xinghui.

"Song Xinghui, what is going on here? Were you planning to threaten an honored guest of my Yun family?"

The words "honored guest" struck Song Xinghui with a jolt.

"Yun Pinghai, what business does this little animal have with your Yun family? This is a matter between him and me. I advise you not to interfere!"

Song Xinghui was deeply wary of Yun Pinghai. Though the man was an ordinary person, his power was immense. However, he was representing the Song family now and could not show weakness.

Nearby, Zhou Tianxiong felt the wariness in Song Xinghui’s expression, and his heart surged with waves of panic. Song Xinghui was a man of the Song family; the only people who could make him wary were members of the four great families! Could this man with the surname Yun truly be from the Yun family?

Zhou Tianxiong’s heart sank. If he were truly from the Yun family, today’s situation might not be easy to resolve.

Yun Pinghai’s gaze sharpened. "A matter between you and him? Then I would like to hear how my honored guest has offended your Song family."

Song Xinghui snorted. "This brat kills the innocent wantonly and threatens friends of the Song family. You tell me, does he deserve to die?"

"Kills the innocent wantonly? Hah! What a joke!" Qi Wuxie laughed upon hearing this. "Five years ago, the Zhou family framed my father and sent him to prison, where he died in injustice. Zhou Tianhao even tried to run me over with his car. For these past five years, they have humiliated my mother and sister in every way possible. You call this wanton killing?"

"Their feud with me is the blood debt of a murdered father. Even if they died a thousand or ten thousand times, it would not be enough! As for the others, they rushed in to die of their own accord—they deserved it!"

Qi Wuxie’s gaze turned icy. "Song, since you want to protect the Zhou family today, then try it—see if you can actually save them! Likewise, if you dare to lay a single finger on my mother or sister, I will make your Song family pay a hundredfold!"

As these words filled with murderous intent fell, Yun Pinghai and the others finally understood the cause.

"So, his father was actually killed by the Zhou family!" Yun Zhiqiue’s heart sank. She finally understood why Qi Wuxie had killed so many people. A father’s murder—an irreconcilable feud!

She had arrived in Yun City five years ago and had heard of the pharmaceutical company Qi Family Pharma; it was quite famous then. Not long after, however, the company was acquired by the Zhou family. She hadn't paid much attention to it at the time, but she never imagined it had anything to do with Qi Wuxie.

Yun Pinghai was silent. He had never expected it to be a matter of this nature. Commercial competition was rarely fair or just, and there were always gray areas, but the murder of a parent was a grudge no one could ever forget. It was no wonder Qi Wuxie had come for blood.

A cold light flashed in Yun Pinghai’s eyes as he looked at Song Xinghui.

"Song Xinghui, I am going to manage today’s affair! Qi Wuxie is an honored guest of the Yun family. I will not allow you to bully him. The grievances between him and the Zhou family should be settled by them alone!"

"And what if I say no?" Song Xinghui said, his face darkening.

"No? If you want to say that, bring Song Jingshan here to try. As for you, you aren't qualified. Now, stand aside and watch quietly! Otherwise, you will not leave Tiannan alive!"

The cold, indifferent words echoed. Song Xinghui felt as if he had swallowed something foul; he was incredibly uncomfortable. The Song Jingshan mentioned by Yun Pinghai was the Third Master of the Song family, one of their power-holders—someone he rarely had the chance to see. Although he was a half-step grandmaster, he dared not lay a hand on Yun Pinghai.

The Yun family was an old, established clan. While they had shown signs of decline in recent years, they were still more powerful than the Song family. He had come representing the Song family, but that did not mean he had the qualifications to negotiate with Yun Pinghai.

Seeing Song Xinghui bow his head, Zhou Tianxiong felt a sudden, frantic sense of doom. If Song Xinghui wouldn't help him, how could the Zhou family possibly withstand this killing god, Qi Wuxie? Furthermore, even if he wanted to use underhanded tactics, the Yun family certainly wouldn't allow it.

At this thought, a look of struggle appeared on Zhou Tianxiong’s face. He looked at Qi Wuxie. "Qi Wuxie, what do I have to do for you to let my grandson go?"

The moment these words were spoken, everyone present was shocked. Zhou Tianxiong had caved! The man who had dominated Yun City for decades had surrendered just like that? Yet, it was expected; in front of the Tiannan Yun family, even the Song family—another of the four great families—wouldn't dare to offend them. How could the Zhou family possibly be a match?

Qi Wuxie’s gaze was indifferent. "Zhou Tianhao must die, and all direct descendants of the Zhou family must die as well. As for the collateral branches, those who did not participate can be spared."

Hearing this, Zhou Tianxiong stumbled back, his fists clenched tight. His aged face was a mask of anger, gloom, and unwillingness. If all the direct descendants of the Zhou family were killed, how was that any different from exterminating the clan?

"Qi Wuxie, do you really have to be so ruthless?"

"Ruthless? When you framed my father and sent him to die in prison, were you not ruthless? When Zhou Tianhao crushed my bones and threw my body into the Yun River, was he not ruthless? When you forced my mother and sister to live in a dark, sunless basement, eating discarded vegetable leaves, and subjected them to endless humiliation over these five years, were you not ruthless?"

Qi Wuxie suddenly laughed, though his eyes burned with turbulent killing intent. "I haven't slaughtered every single person in your Zhou family; that is already an act of mercy! Now, you have only one choice: either hand over the murderer who killed my father, or the entire Zhou family will accompany him to the grave!"

The icy words, laden with murderous intent, made the hearts of Yun Pinghai and the others tremble.

The members of the Zhou family looked on with grief and indignation. Someone couldn't help but shout, "Qi Wuxie, do you really think you are invincible and can do whatever you want? I don't believe you dare to wipe out our Zhou family! The Inspector of Yun City will never let you go!"

"Shut up!" Zhou Tianxiong barked with a dark expression, looking up at Qi Wuxie. "Qi Wuxie, do you really want to fight our Zhou family until we both perish?"

"Perish together? You aren't worthy!" Qi Wuxie sneered. "Since you won't hand over the killer, I'll do it myself!"

*Bang!*

He stomped down with force, crushing Zhou Tianhao’s skull.

"Hao'er!" Zhou Tianxiong’s eyes were bloodshot, his killing intent soaring. "Everyone from the Zhou family, attack! I will reward whoever kills Qi Wuxie with ten billion!"

Zhou Tianxiong’s body trembled. That was his most beloved grandson, and he had just died at the hands of Qi Wuxie. Yun Pinghai and the others had not expected him to be so ruthless.

"Mr. Yun, should we intervene?" asked the heads of the Qi family and the Tongwei Martial Arts School. The master of the Tongwei school was a master of internal strength.

"No, let’s see how he handles it," Yun Pinghai shook his head.

Qi Wuxie’s gaze was calm. Seeing the Zhou family members still trying to resist, he lunged forward.

*Bang!*

Li Baiguang, the Zhou family’s primary warrior, was sent flying with a single slap, half his face shattered. As for the other thugs raised by the Zhou family, they were no match for Qi Wuxie at all. Within moments, they all lay dead at his feet.

Watching the sea of corpses, Zhou Tianxiong finally showed fear and retreated rapidly.

"Old man, tell me: who killed my father!" Qi Wuxie reached Zhou Tianxiong and demanded sternly.

Zhou Tianxiong looked at Qi Wuxie, a crazed, laughing expression suddenly appearing on his aged face. "Hahaha! Qi Wuxie, do you think you’ve avenged yourself just by finishing off our Zhou family? Impossible! Your father isn't even dead! There is someone else who wanted you dead! But I won't tell you who targeted your Qi family five years ago! You will never know where your father is!"

Zhou Tianxiong laughed, suddenly drew a gun, and aimed it at his own head.

*Bang!*

His brains splattered.

Zhou Tianxiong! Dead!

Seeing this, everyone was stunned. They had never imagined that Zhou Tianxiong would be so resolute as to commit suicide! Qi Wuxie stood frozen, Zhou Tianxiong’s words echoing in his mind.

*My father isn't dead? Someone else targeted the Qi family? Impossible, this old man must be lying to me!*

Qi Wuxie took two steps back. But if it wasn't the Zhou family, then who could have targeted them? Why would Zhou Tianxiong rather kill himself than tell him?

*Ding-dong!*

Just then, his phone rang. He pulled it out and received a text message! The sender was his Seventh Senior Sister, whom he hadn't seen in three or four years!

"Little Junior Brother, there is more to your father’s situation than it seems. The Zhou family was just being directed, and the person who directed them is from Shangjing!"

That was the content of the message. Staring at the phone, Qi Wuxie was stunned. His Seventh Senior Sister would never lie to him. But if the Zhou family was merely following orders, then who was the person behind them?

"Shangjing... who is it that wants to kill my father? Could it be related to Grandfather?"

Qi Wuxie thought rapidly. He had once asked his grandfather where their ancestors were from and why they never visited their ancestral graves during the New Year. He remembered his grandfather’s expression at the time—lonely, yet filled with anger—as he simply said the word "Shangjing."

*It seems the problem might lie with my grandfather’s generation, and the source is in Shangjing! I need to find a time to go to Shangjing. Perhaps then I will know the truth of what happened back then.*

In the hall, many wealthy men felt endless emotion seeing Zhou Tianxiong and the rest of the Zhou family throw their lives away. Zhou Tianxiong was dead. The Zhou family’s direct line was effectively wiped out. A great family, gone just like that. But from this day on, there was one more person in Yun City who could not be provoked!

Qi Wuxie!

*I must tell the youngsters in my family clearly when I get back—no one is to offend him!* the wealthy men thought to themselves.

Watching the deaths of Zhou Tianxiong and the others, Song Xinghui’s face turned livid, and he left without looking back. Remaining behind was the Grandmaster Yang Ming; he didn't know whether to stay or go. Yang Ming’s expression was terrible—who could have guessed that a brat driven away like a stray dog by the Zhou family back then would possess such overwhelming power!

"Grandmaster Yang, do you still wish to avenge your four disciples?" Qi Wuxie looked at Yang Ming.

Yang Ming’s body shivered, and he offered a smile that looked worse than crying. "It was my own indiscretion earlier. They sought their own deaths; I cannot blame anyone else."

Qi Wuxie shook his head, having no desire to pursue it further. "Get lost."

Yang Ming felt as if he had been granted an amnesty and left immediately. The guests in the hall also scattered quickly. Shen Xuan’er lay on the ground, completely distraught, having finally gone insane. Her mother, Yu Ping, hid in a corner, shivering, not daring to even glance at Qi Wuxie.

Seeing that the matter was resolved, Qi Wuxie looked at Yun Pinghai.

"Thank you for coming today."

Yun Pinghai waved his hand repeatedly. "It’s a small matter. As long as I could be of help to you, Brother Qi, that is all that matters."

"Then look, now that it's over..." He watched Qi Wuxie nervously, terrified of a refusal.

Qi Wuxie nodded. "What I promised, I will do. Let's go. I will resolve your father’s old injury."

Yun Pinghai was overjoyed, and Yun Zhiqiue’s face brightened as well. "Grandfather, you are finally saved!"

Following this, the group left the hall. As for the corpses on the ground, the head of the Qi family had already arranged for people to stay behind and handle the aftermath.

They drove to a manor in Yun City, arriving in less than half an hour. Yun Pinghai led Qi Wuxie upstairs to a spacious room. On a white bed lay the elderly Mr. Yun, his face pale. In the room, aside from the Yun family members, there was an elderly man with gray hair and a young girl by the bedside; the former was currently performing acupuncture on the old man.

"Father, I have brought Brother Qi!" Yun Pinghai entered the room with Qi Wuxie.

The elder opened his eyes weakly.

"Mr. Qi, let me introduce you. This is the Divine Doctor Hua Xusheng of our China, a descendant of the legendary physician Hua Tuo! And this is his granddaughter, Hua Qingqing."