Chapter 8

Chapter 8

With a muffled grunt, Qing Ao was suddenly flung back several meters. Before anyone could clearly see the movement, Xie Yunshen was already in his face.

Clearly, Qing Ao had not come out on top in the first assault. He hadn't expected Xie Yunshen to not just defend but counterattack directly, launching a heavy punch straight at his throat.

Qing Ao's heart tightened. This was a fighter with terrifying combat experience and reflexes!

He was like two different people—one standing still, the other in motion!

Their arms clashed and separated in an instant, their movements crisp and decisive.

Everyone was surprised to see that not only had Xie Yunshen not suffered a loss, but Qing Ao had taken two consecutive blows to the throat and face in the blink of an eye.

Qing Ao didn't even have time to spit out his teeth. His face twisted and twitched as he gathered his strength and exploded into action.

With a side kick, he landed a blow on Xie Yunshen's shoulder and neck.

He had finally discovered Xie Yunshen's weakness: his durability was very poor. Simply put, his software was formidable, but his hardware was too weak.

As long as he could hit a vital point, he would immediately gain the upper hand.

Thinking this, Qing Ao, who had begun to doubt his life choices, now saw a glimmer of hope for victory. He fired up every fighting cell in his body.

However, ideals are beautiful, but reality is harsh. He soon realized he had underestimated Xie Yunshen's true strength.

In the following moments, he had no chance to strike Xie Yunshen's body. His opponent's speed allowed him to unleash a triple combo within a single second, while Qing Ao was hard-pressed just to block.

Everyone's nerves were on edge watching this fight, the atmosphere tense. The Bai family members, in particular, wore grim expressions, their hearts filled with conflict.

On one hand, they hoped someone would take the Top Star Gate down a peg. On the other hand, they didn't wish for the Yan family to grow even stronger.

You see, the Yan family's only shortcoming in the Southern Province was their glaring lack of trained martial arts experts.

Among the Five Great Families of the Southern Province, the other four families had each bred quite a few experts, with each family having seven or eight ranked within the top hundred.

The Yan family, however, only had three names on the list, and the only one truly comparable to others was Yi Wuyi.

But seeing today's events, it seemed the Yan family had more up their sleeve.

Everyone harbored their own ulterior motives. Only the insider, Yi Wuyi, watched with rapt attention from the side.

Xie Yunshen's explosive power was building, his techniques were becoming faster, and his movements were growing more unpredictable. Most people would tire as a fight dragged on, so how could someone get better the longer they fought?

Last time at the Yan residence, during the encounter with that masked man, Xie Yunshen's performance had already been astonishing.

Seeing him today, it was clear that last time, Xie Yunshen hadn't even used half of his true strength.

Qing Ao was also hard-headed. Even at this point, he refused to admit defeat. Even after having his right wrist bone broken, he didn't utter a single groan.

Shang Guanhong's face darkened. "Enough!"

No one stopped. Actually, Xie Yunshen did not stop.

Another exchange, and Qing Ao's head was kicked by Xie Yunshen again. The man crashed to the ground, spitting out two teeth he had treasured for a long time.

Just as Xie Yunshen was about to bring a crushing elbow strike down, aiming directly for Qing Ao's temple to end him,

Shang Guanhong finally couldn't help but look at Yan Shiqi. "Mr. Yan, what is the meaning of this!"

Yan Shiqi said, "Yunshen."

Xie Yunshen's attack halted at the very last moment. Qing Ao only felt a gust of fierce wind rush past his ear before dissipating into nothingness. Xie Yunshen stood up. His life was ultimately spared.

Shang Guanhong resumed his gentle and refined smile. "So he is an expert of the Yan family. Mr. Yan, why didn't you say so earlier? Look, I misunderstood."

Yan Shiqi said, "Mr. Shangguan, you should also discipline your people properly. If it weren't my man today, but someone else from the Bai family who was untrained and misunderstood by you, the consequences would be unthinkable."

The Bai family members all turned pale.

Shang Guanhong was taken aback for a moment, then let out a hissing laugh from his throat. "You are right. My master is still waiting for my return. I must take my leave first."

After this farce, Yan Shiqi also didn't stick around, bidding farewell to the Bai family.

The attitude of the Bai family's new head was noticeably more humble and courteous than before. "Mr. Yan, thank you for taking the time to attend my father's funeral."

In the end, he personally watched as Yan Shiqi and his party got into their car.

Only after the car had driven out of the villa district did the Bai family members turn to go back. Suddenly, they heard a voice from behind. "Patriarch Bai."

Patriarch Bai turned around and saw Yi Wuyi, who had just left with Yan Shiqi, running back.

Yi Wuyi approached him and said softly, "Patriarch Bai, the golden talisman on Old Master Bai's body might have a problem. Of course, this is just suspicion. Whether you believe it or not is up to you—those are Mr. Yan's exact words."

After saying this, Yi Wuyi turned and caught up with the black Lincoln.

Patriarch Bai's face showed shock. How could he not have thought of it!

Indeed, how could the matter of his own father's feigned death escape the notice of the Top Star Gate?

The Top Star Gate would never be so kind-hearted as to attend the funeral!

Back in the car, Yi Wuyi turned to Yan Shiqi and said, "Mr. Yan, I have already told them. However, is Old Master Bai really not dead?"

He then looked at Xie Yunshen, who was still twisting his injured neck, a hint of frustration in his eyes. Yi Wuyi guessed he was annoyed that he hadn't performed well earlier and had taken a kick from Qing Ao.

Yan Shiqi said, "As long as you conveyed the exact words, there's no problem."

Yi Wuyi understood. Indeed, in Mr. Yan's original words, he only mentioned that the talisman might have a problem; he didn't mention Old Master Bai's life or death.

Even if the old man Bai was truly poisoned to death, it was none of their business.

"But, why should we remind the Bai family?"

The Bai and Yan families were only superficially amicable; secretly, they had their own conflicting interests. The Bai family wouldn't wish the Yan family well either.

Yi Wuyi hadn't forgotten that last year during the martial arts ranking, when the Yan family fell behind among the Five Great Families, the Bai family had been quite sarcastic. The old patriarch had been angry about it for several days.

Yan Shiqi said, "Old Master Bai's death would not benefit the Yan family. Instead, it would enhance the Top Star Gate's intimidating power. But if he lives, the Top Star Gate will have one more enemy."

As he spoke, he looked at Xie Yunshen beside him. Yi Wuyi also looked at Xie Yunshen.

Facing their direct stares, Xie Yunshen mechanically turned to look out the window. Why were they both looking at him?

Yan Shiqi smiled slightly, pressing his left hand on Xie Yunshen's injured shoulder. His gaze was profound, as if lost in thought.

Meanwhile, Patriarch Bai returned to the mourning hall, both shocked and anxious.

Sure enough, the old master's complexion had taken on a faint bluish-purple hue.

The ice coffin was custom-made, with an outer layer of ice while the interior maintained a normal temperature. The seventy-year-old man lay inside after being given a sedative.

Patriarch Bai immediately removed the golden talisman, helped the old man up, and called the family doctor. After a flurry of activity, they finally pulled him back from the jaws of death.

Upon waking and learning everything that had happened, the elder Patriarch Bai asked, "How did Yan Shiqi know the golden talisman was poisoned?"

Patriarch Bai shook his head and sighed, "Sigh, in any case, we now owe the Yan family a major debt of gratitude."

Someone nearby worriedly said, "What's worse is, when did the Yan family secretly cultivate such a formidable expert? And how can we be sure there aren't other hidden masters lurking in the shadows?"

Old Master Bai waved his hand, "There's no need to worry about the Yan family anymore. After this, I've come to realize that they are the greatest force against Top Star Gate. Without them, our families would have no hope of breaking free from Top Star Gate's control."

"My thoughts precisely. So, I was thinking, why not arrange a marriage alliance between Yan Shiqi and the Bai family?"

"You mean, have Yan Shiqi marry Jinyan?"

"Exactly."

————

"Achoo!"

At the Yan residence, Xie Yunshen, who was receiving treatment for his neck and shoulder, suddenly sneezed.

Why did he have such a bad sense of foreboding?

Xie Yunshen never imagined that after all his efforts, the situation would turn out to be the complete opposite of what he had intended.

Old Xie vigorously massaged his injuries with trauma ointment, humming a tune about Guan Yu slaying Hua Xiong.

"Your grandson is injured, not acing the imperial exams," Xie Yunshen frowned.

Old Xie patted his head, signaling him not to move, "It's different. Today, you are the Guan Yunchang of the Yan family."

Seeing the sparkling admiration in the old man's eyes, Xie Yunshen suddenly understood why Yan Shiqi often closed his eyes when looking at him.

"Aren't you afraid I might be an imposter?"

Both Yi Wuyi and Yan Shiqi had doubted him, yet this old man had always accepted his changes as a matter of course.

Old Xie mulled over the words for a moment, "In my lifetime, I've seen all sorts of strange reversals. Nothing surprises me anymore."

Before dawn the next day, Xie Yunshen got up early and headed toward the back mountain. Gazing at the rising sun, his gaze was as hard as iron.

His encounter with Qing Ao, though victorious, had also brought a deeper crisis.

His weaknesses were too apparent. Qing Ao had only lost to him in speed and technique. In terms of strength and the ability to withstand blows, he was still far behind the top fighters on the combat rankings.

If he didn't improve his resilience in a short time, once he encountered more formidable experts, he would be the one lying on the ground with broken bones.

Suddenly sensing something, he glanced back. In the quiet, misty dawn, the study in the Yan manor was lit, and a defiant figure stood by the window.

Usually, at this hour, Yan Shiqi would already be working alone at his desk.

So Xie Yunshen wasn't surprised at all.

Yan Shiqi stood by the window in comfortable black loungewear, his posture natural and poised like an ancient bronze artifact. His resolute eyes were like a black sun piercing through the fog.

Xie Yunshen inwardly exclaimed again: How can he be this handsome? Where is justice in this world?

Their gazes met from afar in the morning light.

Xie Yunshen smiled and waved at Yan Shiqi.

The other man's tense lips relaxed.

Author's note:

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