"As everyone knows, Huang Zhijie of your Martial Association confessed to everything and committed suicide at the Xue estate, fearing punishment for his crimes."

As he spoke, Chen Yang turned and raised his glass toward Zhang Zhi. "You're not going to tell me that this Huang Zhijie wasn't a member of your Martial Association, are you?"

Zhang Zhi was speechless.

He was left completely unable to offer a rebuttal.

The guests in the hall were finally starting to piece things together. With curious expressions, they quietly waited to see how events would unfold.

The day Huang Zhijie knelt before the cameras and confessed his crimes, he didn't claim the Martial Association had ordered him to do it, but his status as a Three-Bag Elder was undeniable.

Because the Martial Association was involved, people only dared to discuss it in hushed tones behind closed doors. No one would mention the matter in public.

Logically, with Huang Zhijie's death, the issue should have been closed for good. Yet, unexpectedly, someone was still pursuing it.

"Cat got your tongue?" Chen Yang gestured to Zhang Zhi again. "Go on, explain yourself. Otherwise, this coffin has room for one more."

"This…"

"Could it be this fellow doesn't even respect the Martial Association?"

Chen Yang's unending stream of shocking statements made the surrounding guests gasp. Even when they whispered among themselves, they kept their voices incredibly low, terrified of provoking him.

Zhang Zhi's face paled at the blatant threat. He wanted to retort immediately, but when he met Chen Yang's piercingly cold gaze, an involuntary shudder ran through him, and his scalp went numb.

How sinister!

Besides Zhang Zhi, Qi Zhentian was also terrified by those words.

Although this was his first time meeting Chen Yang, the man's confident and indifferent demeanor told him this was no reckless, hot-headed fool.

He's definitely a man of his word!

Qi Zhentian had a terrible premonition. If something happened to Zhang Zhi on his territory, the wrath from that Six-Bag Elder was not something he could withstand.

However, before he could speak, Chen Yang spoke first. "Hurry up. My patience is limited."

He was as unruffled and serene as clouds drifting leisurely across the sky.

Hmph!

Zhang Zhi clenched his fists. Although he was furious, he couldn't deny a flicker of fear. The man's indifferent attitude and razor-sharp words were far too potent.

Perhaps trying to save face, Zhang Zhi said coldly, "Huang Zhijie was indeed a member of our Martial Association. He was in charge of medical affairs for the Lingjin City region, so it was inevitable he would have conflicts with Qin Donglai. It's perfectly understandable that he'd kill someone out of hatred!

"This was his personal affair. What does it have to do with our Martial Association?"

He was certainly arrogant, but he wasn't a fool. The fact that this man dared to storm the Qi estate, and all by himself at that, made him wary. The smart move now was to distance himself from the matter, placate this man, and then find an opportunity to call for backup.

"Since it was Huang Zhijie's personal affair, why did Elder Cao Hua admit he was the one who gave Huang Zhijie the order to kill Qin Donglai?" Chen Yang grinned.

His smile was warm, almost refined, yet it sent a shiver down everyone's spines.

In an instant, Zhang Zhi's mind reeled as if an electric current had shot through him.

Did he kill Cao Hua? They said people from the Martial Department came to clean up after Cao Hua's death, which means… this guy in front of me is from the Martial Department?!

Ah!

All his defiance evaporated, and his face turned deathly pale.

He had guessed his opponent was influential, but he had never imagined he would be the man who killed Cao Hua.

"That just means Cao Hua and Huang Zhijie were partners in crime. What does that have to do with Young Master Zhang? You have no evidence, so your continued questioning is pointless."

Xiang Yang, who had met Zhang Zhi once before, immediately jumped in to defend him with a reasoned argument.

Zhang Zhi nodded repeatedly, shooting Xiang Yang an appreciative glance.

"Without a doubt, your Martial Association and the Qi Family plotted together to murder him after your negotiations with Qin Donglai failed."

Chen Yang shook his head. He no longer asked questions, stating it as a final verdict.

Qi Zhentian and Zhang Zhi both fell silent.

In truth, Chen Yang was right. But facing his aggressive approach, they were at a complete loss.

"My original plan was to deal with everyone from your Qi Family who was involved today."

Chen Yang put down his wine glass, picked up a damp napkin to wipe his mouth, and spoke in an unhurried tone.

All eyes were fixed on him.

"But then I reconsidered. I can't let you off that easily. Since the anniversary of his death is approaching, I hope your Qi Family, along with the Martial Association, will personally go offer a stick of incense for Qin Donglai and give him three heavy kowtows!"

Suddenly, the hall plunged into a dead silence.

But before anyone could recover, Chen Yang continued, "After that, I'll put all of you in front of Qin Donglai's tomb.

"Only then can this be considered a perfect ending."

Even the normally unflappable and experienced Qi Zhentian couldn't help but tremble.

To hear such words spoken with the indifference of a passing breeze amplified their lethality, chilling everyone to the bone.

"I've said it before: Qin Donglai's death has nothing to do with the Martial Association, and even less to do with me! And I don't care who you are, you'd better think twice. The Martial Association is not to be trifled with!

"My grandfather is a Six-Bag Elder of the Martial Association. If you dare touch me, you can't bear the consequences!"

Zhang Zhi was thoroughly terrified. All he could do now was invoke the name of the Martial Association and his grandfather.

But Chen Yang just laughed. He said with a dark smile, "Never mind that your grandfather is merely a Six-Bag Elder. Even if it were the Association President himself, if he needs to be dealt with, he will be."

Zhang Zhi: "…"

Qi Zhentian: "…"

The crowd: "…"

This was beyond arrogance! Was he planning to go against the entire Martial Association?

One must understand, the power of the Martial Association was not something the Qi Family of little Lingjin City could ever compare to. Even the four great superfamilies combined didn't amount to one-thousandth of its strength! In this nation, the Martial Association was a leviathan.

And this man dared to provoke it?

What a fool's dream!

"Are you an idiot? Do you have any idea what you're saying? Do you know what our Martial Association is capable of?" Zhang Zhi laughed in fury. In all his thirty-odd years, he had never met anyone so utterly insane.

With that, he sneered and turned to leave.

Chen Yang said nothing. He slowly picked up a dinner knife from the table, toyed with it for a moment, and then flicked his wrist.

WHOOSH!

The air seemed to split, letting out a sharp, piercing sound.

As a Fist Master, Zhang Zhi's senses were exceptionally sharp. He whipped his head around, only to be met with a silver glint moving as fast as lightning.

What?!

His pupils constricted instinctively, but before he could react, the knife pierced his throat.

Clutching his neck with both hands, he stared at Chen Yang with terror and disbelief as he slowly crumpled to the ground.

Suddenly, everyone in the hall was dumbfounded.

"He… he dared to attack Young Master Zhang?"

"Does he truly not know how terrifying the Martial Association is?"

Zhang Zhi, so full of swagger just moments ago, was dead? Just like that?

Not far away, Qi Zhentian, watching Zhang Zhi's lifeless body, stumbled back, nearly collapsing.

"Family Head Qi, I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you with the burial. Do remember to find a scenic spot with lovely mountains and clear water!" Chen Yang said, wiping his hands as he walked toward the exit. "Oh, and don't forget about paying respects at the grave."

Watching Chen Yang's departing figure, Qi Zhentian gnashed his teeth, his eyes burning with venomous hatred.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.