Flexible Morals

"Elder brother, how could you do this?"

Qin Qing also stared at his elder brother in disbelief. If he had known that Qin Yan's chance to join the Azure Blade Gang had not been taken from him, nothing could have persuaded him to join his elder brother in splitting up the family.

After all, they had spent a great deal of silver to send their third brother to the Azure Blade Gang.

Since ancient times, a family could prosper only when its brothers were of one mind.

Once one brother rose above the rest, the others could bask in his reflected glory.

Qin Qing now regretted it so bitterly that his guts were nearly turning green. Pointing at Qin Zhao, he said through gritted teeth, "I never should have listened to you and split up the family."

Seeing the equally contemptuous looks all around him,

Qin Zhao suddenly felt a chill through his whole body and began trembling uncontrollably.

"Idiot!"

Chen Hui looked at Qin Zhao, at a loss for words. How could this elder brother be so stupid?

With Qin Yan's excellent talent, all he had to do was stay on good terms with him, and wouldn't he be feasting and drinking well in the future?

Instead, he had insisted on cutting off Qin Yan's path forward like a mortal enemy.

There was no possibility of reconciliation between the brothers now.

Faced with everyone pointing fingers at them and Qin Yan's murderous gaze,

Zhao He was already trembling all over with fear, hiding behind her husband.

"Husband, what do we do now?"

Zhao He had known about it too and had even helped devise the plan.

"So what if I did it?"

Seeing that there was no avoiding the matter today, Qin Zhao shoved Zhao He aside, a hint of madness on his face.

"I'm the eldest son, but Father gave you all the best things.

"I refuse to accept it! Why should everything be spent on you?

"I'm his son too, but even when his grandson wanted a decent set of clothes, he wouldn't pay for it."

Qin Zhao pointed at Qin Yan and roared his accusations!

"Stupid beyond saving."

The old village chief was full of disappointment. If Qin Yan rose to prominence, the benefits Qin Zhao could have gained as his brother were unimaginable.

Yet because of those petty gains early on, he had become so jealous of his own brother that he had even wanted to destroy him.

"This brat—I'd like nothing better than to wring his neck."

Li Meng was also left speechless when he heard this.

In this day and age, even ordinary people who couldn't read a single word knew to nurture the cleverest and most promising person in the family.

Even if there was only a one-in-ten-thousand chance of breaking free of their present class, people would still pursue it tirelessly.

But the Qin brothers had done the exact opposite!

Their actions were enough to leave one breathless.

Beside him, Chen Hui nodded in complete agreement.

If his own son had such talent, he'd wake up laughing from his dreams.

It was incomprehensible!

At that moment, Qin Yan walked toward his dear elder brother, his face cold.

"Qin Yan, I'm your elder brother! An eldest brother is like a father!

"You're not allowed to come any closer!"

Qin Zhao's expression turned panicked. "I order you..."

Smack!

Qin Yan lashed out with a fierce, powerful whip kick, instantly breaking Qin Zhao's thigh.

Qin Zhao flew through the air and slammed heavily into the ground, screaming wildly in agony.

"Husband!"

Seeing this, Zhao He rushed in front of Qin Zhao and knelt between him and Qin Yan, pleading, "A-Yan, your elder brother was wrong about all of this. His heart was blinded by pig fat."

As she spoke, she slapped herself wildly. Her face turned blood-red in an instant, clear fingerprints appearing on it.

"As your sister-in-law, I apologize to you for him. I've wronged you too.

"If you want to kill someone, kill me. Don't touch my husband!"

Zhao He's pleading, humble as dust, drew looks of sympathy from quite a few villagers.

They had never expected this woman, a shrew notorious throughout the village, to go so far for Qin Zhao.

"A-Yan!"

The old village chief sighed and patted Qin Yan on the shoulder.

"If word gets out that you killed your brother, you'll be ruined!"

Qin Yan took a deep breath. He truly couldn't understand how Qin Zhao's mind worked.

He was both stupid and wicked.

"Get lost! If I see you again, I'll beat you every time I do."

Qin Yan cast Qin Zhao a look of disgust. The old village chief was right: killing Qin Zhao might bring him a moment's satisfaction, but the unseen trouble it left behind would affect him too greatly.

Some things could only be done in secret, away from the light.

If Qin Yan killed Qin Zhao today, the words "cold-hearted by nature" would stain him for the rest of his life.

Everyone would be on guard against him.

That would have an enormous effect on Qin Yan's future prospects.

Morality was like a piece of clothing: when needed, one could put it on for show.

It can't be helped. My morals are very flexible, after all.

The Qiao Family affair had taken an unexpected turn!

But having discovered Qin Yan, a piece of uncut jade, Chen Hui and Li Meng were already eager to report the good news to Li Wenqing.

"Brother Qin, we have important business to attend to, so we won't stay and chat."

Chen Hui cupped his fists and smiled at Qin Yan.

"If you two have business to attend to, please go ahead."

"Farewell!"

"Farewell!"

After seeing the two men off, Qin Yan's heart remained heavy. What truly mattered next was the Azure Blade Gang's leader.

He did not know what decision the man would make upon hearing about him.

Likewise, whether Chen Hui and Li Meng would report the matter truthfully was something he had to consider.

People could show one face in public and another behind your back.

His so-called elder brother was the best example.

He was still too weak!

But Qin Yan had no regrets. How could life always be smooth sailing? One either hacked through thorns and brambles and pressed onward,

or lay down and gave up!

But in these troubled times, he had no chance to lie down.

The villagers around him had certainly enjoyed watching the spectacle, but the threat of famine remained a major concern weighing on their minds.

After a great disaster, it was not uncommon for the fields to be strewn with the bodies of the starving.

As for Qin Qing, his second brother, he still had some regard for their family ties. But since they had already severed their bonds, they would have nothing more to do with each other for the rest of their lives.

Seeing that Qin Yan paid him no attention at all,

Qin Qing breathed a sigh of relief, but also felt a trace of loss.

The Qin family had truly fallen apart!

Qin Qing felt an indescribable regret. From this day on, he would no longer have any connection to the brother he had once had.

"Husband, they say that even when bones are broken, the tendons still connect them. A-Yan is still angry right now.

"When he's a little older, the anger in his heart will fade."

Wang Fu comforted him.

"I hope so!"

Bitterness filled Qin Qing's heart, a feeling he could not put into words.

"Qin Zhaolin's son, Qin Yan!"

As Li Wenqing of the Azure Blade Gang listened to Chen Hui and Li Meng's report, a trace of surprise appeared on his faintly wrinkled face.

"He beat Qiao Shanwei to death with his bare hands. He's a promising seedling.

"Bring him to see me.

"If he's truly as you say, you two will have rendered the gang a great service."

A smile touched Li Wenqing's lips, and he could not help looking forward to it.

"We were only doing our duty!"

Delight flashed across Chen Hui and Li Meng's faces. Leaving aside the gang leader's reward,

Qin Yan owed them a favor.

They had not only earned silver on this trip, but also rendered a service and gained a future expert's favor. They had struck it rich.

If only things like this would happen a few more times!

As for Qiao Shanwei, they had long since put him out of their minds.

A dead man had no value at all.

What was more, he had killed a brother of the gang. A man like that deserved to die.

"Qin Yan!"

At the Fierce Tiger Martial Arts School!

A brilliant smile spread across Di Feng's face.

"He beat a Qi-Blood Realm fighter to death with his bare hands. Good, good. He's a promising seedling."