Are You Blind?

The Liu Family crowd looked at Qin Jishi, their faces written all over with mockery and disdain.

"Carrying a dead rat at his waist and pretending to be a hunter—why doesn't he just fly up to the heavens?"

"Sound transmission? What a mysterious farce. No matter how powerful the force behind him is, can it compare to Black Eagle Prefecture?"

"Just watch. He'll die a miserable death soon enough. There probably won't even be scraps left of him."

Even the Yang Family was so insignificant before Black Eagle Prefecture. He was merely a lowly mortal, and a live-in son-in-law at that—what heaven-reaching abilities could he possibly possess?

If he truly had a background no weaker than Black Eagle Prefecture, would he have become a live-in son-in-law?

What a joke!

It was not only the Liu Family disciples who thought so. Everyone present thought the same.

Especially the forces watching from the sidelines; they were shaking their heads with mocking smiles.

Yet the scene that unfolded next instantly silenced them. Their eyes went wide, their jaws dropped, and beyond their shock was a deep disbelief.

Eagle Three's initially disdainful expression changed when the voice from the Sound Transmission Stone rang out. First came alarm, then utter terror, and finally extreme respect.

What was going on?

Everyone present blinked furiously, unable to believe what they were seeing.

They could not fathom who was on the other side of the Sound Transmission Stone to make Eagle Three so reverent.

The Zhang Family disciples, whose eyes had been filled with lifeless despair, saw the change in Eagle Three's expression. A glimmer of light suddenly flashed through their eyes, followed by an inexplicable surge of hope.

No—

How could this be?

Could Qin Jishi truly have a powerful background behind him?

They looked at Qin Jishi's calm face, and their gazes began to change.

"What is going on?" Seeing Eagle Three approach him with the Sound Transmission Stone in hand and a face full of reverence, Sun Baitan furrowed his brows and asked in a low voice, "Who is on the other end?"

"Gulp!"

Eagle Three swallowed hard and lowered his voice. "It... it's the Young Prefecture Lord..."

The Young Prefecture Lord?

Sun Baitan's face instantly darkened upon hearing that. How could Qin Jishi be connected to the Young Prefecture Lord?

Though Black Eagle Prefecture appeared united on the surface, it was secretly divided into two major factions.

The Young Prefecture Lord's faction was led by Black Eagle Prefecture's Great Elder and was currently the stronger side.

The Second Young Master's faction was led by Black Eagle Prefecture's Second Elder. Though it was weaker than the Young Prefecture Lord's faction in terms of strength, the Second Young Master had displayed exceptionally dazzling talent. Not only had he become a disciple of Black and White Academy, he was also a peerless genius on the Heavenly Rankings. His future potential was limitless, and there was a great chance that he would replace Pan Xu...

The two factions openly and secretly battled one another, constantly squeezing and undermining each other. Sun Baitan belonged to the Second Young Master's faction.

Qin Jishi had actually become entangled with Pan Xu. Sun Baitan could not help but feel a headache coming on.

He could already imagine that Pan Xu would certainly use this matter to ruthlessly suppress him.

Huff—

After taking a deep breath, Sun Baitan tried his best to steady his emotions. He took the Sound Transmission Stone and flashed away into the distance.

This action only made everyone more confused, while deepening their curiosity about Qin Jishi's background.

"Young Prefecture Lord." Sun Baitan's tone was somewhat stiff. "Are you connected to Qin Jishi?"

"Eighth Elder, I have already learned the full story. You actually dared to borrow Black Eagle Prefecture's name to throw your weight around and bully others. I do not wish to waste words. From now on, everything will be handled according to Qin... Young Master Qin's wishes. If you provoke Young Master Qin's dissatisfaction, I will report to my father and have you stripped of your elder's position."

On the other end of the Sound Transmission Stone, Pan Xu wished he could press Sun Baitan to the ground and grind him to death.

Of all people, who did you have to offend? You actually offended the Young Pavilion Master—are you blind?

Damn it!

Was he trying to condemn Black Eagle Prefecture to eternal damnation?

Sun Baitan's eye twitched. "Young Prefecture Lord, even if you are connected to Qin Jishi, you cannot boost another's prestige while extinguishing our own? I represent Black Eagle Prefecture. If we weaken our own name, it will not be easy for you to explain yourself to the Prefecture Lord."

What a joke. Asking him, a dignified elder of Black Eagle Prefecture, to obey Qin Jishi's wishes—where would he put his old face afterward? If word got out, would people not laugh their teeth out?

"Eighth Elder!" Pan Xu's voice was clearly chilling to the extreme. "I do not want to repeat myself a second time. Do you think I do not know? This entire affair was caused by the Liu Family's resentment. They were outmatched, and they have no one to blame but themselves for their lack of ability. If you dare to use Black Eagle Prefecture's name as a tiger's skin to frighten others, then your elder's position has come to an end as well."

After a slight pause, Pan Xu continued, "I know you belong to my second brother's camp, but let me make this clear: I am now the Young Prefecture Lord of Black Eagle Prefecture. Do not question me. I am still capable of removing you from your position as Eighth Elder. You should know how to choose."

Sun Baitan clenched his fists, his body trembling violently, his eyes filled with ferocity and rage.

But what could he do even so? The time was not yet ripe. Even the Second Elder did not dare tear all pretenses apart with the Young Prefecture Lord, much less him, the Eighth Elder.

More importantly, Pan Xu was not lying. Given his current status, removing Sun Baitan would not be a problem.

Sun Baitan dared to rage but not speak. If he truly lost his position as Eighth Elder and Black Eagle Prefecture's protection, the enemies he had offended in the past would certainly leave him without even a burial ground.

"Eighth Elder, I will give you only three breaths to consider. After three breaths, I will contact my father. By then, the entire Azure Wave Imperial Capital will know that you have been expelled from Black Eagle Prefecture."

"One!"

"Two!"

"..."

Just as Pan Xu was about to say "three" and close the Sound Transmission Stone—

"Young... Young Prefecture Lord..." Sun Baitan's voice was hoarse, even trembling faintly. "Fine... I... I agree... Everything will be done according to Qin Jishi's wishes."

"Very good!" Pan Xu lowered his voice. "You had better keep your word. If Young Master Qin is dissatisfied in the slightest, then the next person speaking through the Sound Transmission Stone will be my father."

As the words fell, the Sound Transmission Stone shut off.

Smack!

Sun Baitan viciously smashed the Sound Transmission Stone onto the ground, then repeatedly ground it beneath his foot. His furious roar was like thunder. "Damn it, damn it..."

"Ah!"

Seeing Sun Baitan's nearly crazed appearance and the killing intent that seemed to blanket the heavens, everyone shuddered in fear and instinctively retreated several steps.

This was the prelude to a coming storm.

"Ji... Jishi..." Zhang Jinhua was being supported by someone, his heart burning with anxiety. "Go... go quickly... Hurry... If you do not leave now, it will be too late."

Even Zhang Jinhua believed that whoever Qin Jishi had contacted must have enraged the other side, and Sun Baitan's reaction only confirmed their suspicions.

"Uncle Zhang, it's fine." Qin Jishi gave him a faint smile.

"This..."

"Master," Tang Xiulan spoke up, "he caused this disaster, so he should bear the consequences. Hasn't he already dragged us down badly enough? This is what he deserves."

Worry was written all over Zhang Jinhua's pained face.

At that moment, Zhang Shiqing asked doubtfully, "Who did you contact? What did you say?"

"What?" Qin Jishi smiled. "Are you afraid?"

"Afraid?" Zhang Shiqing shook her head. "You are not afraid, so what do I have to fear?"

Qin Jishi said nothing further. He merely watched Sun Baitan calmly. It was precisely this behavior that made Zhang Shiqing even more curious.

Under everyone's gaze, Sun Baitan slowly approached, carrying boundless fury.

At the same time, Liu Qiang and his father exchanged smiles and stepped toward Qin Jishi.