Qin... Qin Jishi?
The Zhang Family members blinked hard, thinking they had seen wrong.
He had clearly been scared to death, yet he actually dared to step forward?
Unfortunately, what use was it even if he stepped out? At most, it would only hasten his death.
After their initial astonishment, the surrounding factions broke into mocking laughter.
"Looks like we underestimated this good-for-nothing from the Zhang Family. Never thought he would dare stand up and face this. No matter what, this at least proves he is a man."
"So what if he is a man? I can already imagine how miserable he will be in a moment."
"Exactly. Even Yang Kun and Zhao Tai could not stop this. What gives him the right?"
A mere ordinary man—forget facing the Black Eagle Prefecture, even against any martial cultivator, the only fate awaiting him was death. There would not be the slightest ripple...
"Uncle Qin has made his move." Yang Xuan's expression shifted. "Brother Zhao, watch closely. The real show is only just beginning."
"What do you mean?" Zhao Xiong was puzzled. "Brother Yang, what exactly is Qin Jishi's background?"
"I do not know either!" Yang Xuan shook his head. "In any case, he is not someone anyone can afford to provoke."
This only made Zhao Xiong even more confused. He had once asked his father about it, and Zhao Tai had only said one thing at the time: no matter what happened, as long as it involved Qin Jishi, even if the Zhao Family had to exhaust everything they possessed, they had to support him with all their strength.
Just what kind of background did he have? He was not even afraid of the Black Eagle Prefecture?
While Zhao Xiong secretly pondered this, Liu Kai radiated dense killing intent.
"Qin Jishi, I'll kill you." Enemies meeting face-to-face were especially red-eyed, not to mention that the other man had crippled his manhood. How could Liu Kai swallow this rage?
"Kai'er!" Liu Qiang snapped, lowering his voice. "Do not act rashly. Qin Jishi has shown himself now, clearly touching Elder Sun's fury. Even if we do not make a move, Elder Sun will. Just rest assured."
Sun Baitan wanted to take Zhang Shiqing away, and Qin Jishi actually dared stop him. Would he let Qin Jishi go?
Not only Liu Qiang, but the vast majority of those present had already imagined what kind of fury Qin Jishi would soon endure.
"Who are you?" Sun Baitan was clearly displeased, his sharp gaze fixed on him.
"Qin Jishi!"
"Qin Jishi?" Sun Baitan narrowed his eyes. "So you are the chief culprit."
"Good!"
"Very good!"
"Clap clap clap!"
Sun Baitan even began applauding. "Qin Jishi... there was a road to heaven, yet you refused to take it; hell had no gate, yet you came knocking. Good, very good."
With just one look, Sun Baitan could tell that Qin Jishi was undoubtedly an ordinary man.
There was not the slightest ripple of profound energy on him. Dealing with him would be as easy for Sun Baitan as crushing an ant. If Qin Jishi had not been the chief culprit, he would not even have been qualified to speak to him.
"Stop right there!" Qin Jishi raised a hand. "I do not want to waste words with you. Before I get angry, obediently kneel down and kowtow three times, then get as far away as you can. Do not let me see you again."
Silence!
Almost the instant those words fell, the entire scene became deathly still.
They stared at Qin Jishi in disbelief, their eyes filled with terror.
Did he truly think he had lived too long, daring to speak to Sun Baitan like that?
"Impudent!" Eagle Three was the first to react. He glared viciously at Qin Jishi. "Apologize to Elder Sun immediately, or death will be your only end."
Qin Jishi folded his arms, his face expressionless.
"You are courting death!" That attitude thoroughly enraged Eagle Three, who released his killing intent without concealment.
The Zhang Family members looked incomparably grim. They wished they could devour Qin Jishi alive.
Damn it!
He was incapable of accomplishing anything, yet excelled at ruining everything.
"Qin Jishi..." Tang Xiulan could endure no longer. "Are you trying to get our Zhang Family killed?"
No matter how everyone pointed and criticized him, Qin Jishi remained unchanged, with no shift in expression.
At that moment, Zhang Shiqing walked back in front of him and smiled softly. "Where is that stubbornness of yours?"
Qin Jishi: "..."
Seeing Qin Jishi at a loss for words, Zhang Shiqing smiled again. "You must have the confidence to deal with Sun Baitan. Let me see just how strong you really are."
"Who said I was going to fight?" Qin Jishi replied casually.
"Not fight?" Zhang Shiqing frowned slightly.
"Have you never heard of subduing the enemy's army without fighting?" A faint smile appeared at the corner of Qin Jishi's lips.
Everyone's eyes remained fixed on Qin Jishi. Many people inwardly sighed that the Zhang Family had truly found themselves a fine "son-in-law."
Sun Baitan's eye twitched, and his tone turned cold to the extreme. "What did you just say?"
"Deaf?"
Qin Jishi smiled. "I'll say it one last time. Before I get angry, kneel and kowtow to me three times, then get as far away as you can."
Creak!
Unforgivable!
As an elder of the Black Eagle Prefecture, Sun Baitan was treated with the utmost respect wherever he went. Yet now, some wet-behind-the-ears brat dared speak to him like this.
He had to die!
Otherwise, if this matter spread, where would Sun Baitan put his face? Where would the Black Eagle Prefecture's dignity remain?
"Eagle Three, kill him for me." Sun Baitan forced the words out through clenched teeth. "Do not let him die too easily."
"Understood!" Eagle Three had long been poised and ready, prepared to strike at any moment.
It was over!
The Zhang Family had faces ashen as death. They could imagine that after Qin Jishi died... if Sun Baitan's rage did not subside, the entire Zhang Family would be implicated.
In contrast to the Zhang Family, the Liu Family mocked and gloated in every way, kicking a man when he was down. The resentment they had suffered earlier was almost entirely vented at this moment.
"Kai'er, what did I tell you?" Liu Qiang sneered darkly.
"Father, I was too impulsive earlier." Liu Kai stared ahead with a hideous expression.
"Qin Jishi, you dared provoke Elder Sun. Let's see whether you die or not. Once you are dead, Elder Sun's fury will surely spread to the Zhang Family as well. Then no one will escape."
Almost everyone believed Qin Jishi was doomed to die.
Facing Eagle Three as he approached, Qin Jishi's expression remained completely unchanged.
"Look, that brat has been scared stupid. Where is that arrogant posture from when he was spouting nonsense just now?"
"Hmph, facing an Earth Fiend Level Five expert, forget him—even anyone else would go numb."
Just as everyone believed Qin Jishi was about to be crushed into pulp by Eagle Three—
Qin Jishi took a Sound Transmission Stone from his robes. It glowed with light. "Qingfeng, you already know the full course of events. Have Pan Xu speak with them."
As he spoke, Qin Jishi tossed the Sound Transmission Stone to Eagle Three. "Someone wants to speak with you."
Eagle Three subconsciously caught the Sound Transmission Stone and said sinisterly, "Brat, you are at death's door and still playing tricks. Today, no one will be shown any respect even if they plead for you."
"Is that so?" Qin Jishi gave a half-smile. "Does even Pan Xu have no standing?"
"Impudent..." Eagle Three's gaze was like an eagle's. "You dare directly call our Young Prefecture Lord by name. Unforgivable."
"Heh." Qin Jishi chuckled and shook his head. "Whether you will be forgiven or not, the person on the other end of the Sound Transmission Stone will tell you."
Seeing how calm Qin Jishi was, Eagle Three hesitated and turned his head. When Sun Baitan saw the questioning look Eagle Three cast over, he nodded slightly.
Qin Jishi was acting like this because there was clearly someone behind him. Sun Baitan wanted to see exactly who dared refuse to give the Black Eagle Prefecture face.
Having received permission, Eagle Three slowly raised the Sound Transmission Stone to his ear, his tone filled with utter disdain. "Who are you, to dare treat our Black Eagle Prefecture with such contempt..."
Before you continue