Skinning and Sinew-Pulling

Before the words had even faded.

Qin Jiu stepped into the hall almost at the same moment.

Wang Yue followed a half-step behind, head lowered, keeping close at his side.

"Greetings, Family Head."

"Uncles and elders, no need for such formalities."

Qin Jiu waved a hand.

Then he turned his head and gave Wang Yue a slight nod.

These few men were all collateral branches of the Qin Family. As for the guest elders and retainers employed by the Qin Family, they had not been summoned, because the matter to be handled tonight was a private family affair, and he did not wish outsiders to know of it just yet.

Wang Yue, seeing this, said nothing and strode directly toward Qin Xiong.

The latter seemed to sense what was coming.

A vicious glint flashed in his eyes as he suddenly lunged at Qin Jiu.

But fast as he was, Wang Yue was faster.

His figure flickered, and that withered palm slammed fiercely into Qin Xiong's chest.

"Pfft—"

"Boom."

Qin Xiong coughed blood and flew backward.

He crashed straight through the chair behind him, shattering it to pieces.

All of this happened too quickly.

By the time the other four reacted, Qin Xiong was already lying on the ground, blood seeping from his mouth and nose.

"This..."

Their expressions shifted dramatically.

But they exchanged glances, and none of them made a move.

"What a ruthless heart."

"You actually dared to cripple my meridians."

Qin Xiong's eyes were wide with fury.

Yet he struggled several times and still couldn't get up from the floor.

Qin Jiu's face was expressionless. He walked to the main seat of the hall and sat down, then spoke calmly: "The main branch bestowed martial arts upon you to guard the Qin Mansion. Yet not only did you lack any intention to protect, you harbored wolfish ambitions against the main branch, colluding with gangs and plotting rebellion."

"Taking back your martial arts is only the beginning."

"According to the Qin Family rules, Uncle Wang, read out his crimes."

"Yes."

Wang Yue bowed to him.

Then he turned to look at the others and said: "Qin Xiong secretly colluded with the Fisher Gang and the Chai Gang leaders, plotting in the shadows to seize the Qin Family's foundation. He promised them the secret formula of the Qin Family spirit beasts, intending to join forces with the two gangs tonight to strike against our Qin Family. This is a grave offense."

"According to family law, he is to have his martial arts abolished and be sentenced to flaying and tendon extraction."

"You're spitting blood and slandering me!"

Fear flickered in Qin Xiong's eyes.

Wang Yue snorted coldly: "Still stubborn even at death's door."

He clapped his hands as he spoke.

A gaunt figure walked in from the doorway.

The moment Qin Xiong saw this man, his pupils contracted uncontrollably.

"Greetings, Family Head. Greetings, all stewards and commanders."

The man was not very old. He bowed to everyone first, then continued: "This humble one is named Wei Yan, Qin Xiong's trusted confidant. Two months ago, he began secretly contacting the two gangs. During that time, he repeatedly ordered me to relay real-time information about the Qin Family guard squad and the Hundred Beasts Garden to the Fisher Gang and the Chai Gang."

"Yesterday, Qin Xiong heard that the Family Head planned to form a marriage alliance with the Han Family."

"He then had me send word to the two gangs, telling them to gather their men tonight, prepare to kill Elder Wang and the Family Head, and intended to divide the Qin Mansion with the two gangs..."

"How dare you!"

The other four were furious upon hearing this.

Qin Xiong's face turned ashen.

He struggled to kneel on the ground.

"I beg the Family Head for mercy. This matter was my doing alone. Qin Xiong is willing to accept punishment, I only ask that the Family Head not take his anger out on my wife, children, and elders at home."

"Mercy?"

"Considering the many merits you've rendered to the Qin Family, I can spare you the punishment of flaying and tendon-drawing."

Qin Jiu's expression was indifferent as he said, "Everything else will be carried out according to clan law. Rest assured, I'll see that your entire family departs together. Guards, take Qin Xiong away."

"No..."

Qin Xiong's eyes were filled with terror as he kowtowed repeatedly.

But he was quickly dragged out by the men waiting outside the hall.

Then.

Qin Jiu turned his gaze to the others.

"You are all my uncles and elders, bearing the blood of the Qin Family in your veins. If any of you believe the Qin Family is doomed, you are free to take your households and leave the Qin Mansion—I will not stop you. But if you harbor other intentions, I urge you to think thrice before acting."

"Even if you don't consider yourselves."

"Do not end up like Qin Xiong, only remembering your wives and children at the last moment."

He showed no leniency.

Choosing to act before everyone tonight was itself a warning to them.

The foundation of the Qin Family was built by Qin Guihong through sheer effort, drop by drop. It was not because of these collateral branches that the Qin Family grew strong; rather, it was after the Qin Family became powerful that the collateral branches gathered and gradually swelled. Now that Qin Guihong was dead, it was hard to say whether Qin Xiong alone had harbored crooked thoughts.

Even ordinary households had cases of 'eating the widow's portion.'

Let alone a great clan like the Qin Mansion.

A warning now was far better than another Qin Xiong appearing later.

As these words fell.

The expressions of the other four men in the hall shifted, uncertain and troubled.

"Tonight, I summoned you all not only for Qin Xiong's matter, but also to discuss something with you, my uncles and elders."

At this.

Qin Jiu's expression softened as he spoke again: "In the past few days, after the Qin Family was attacked by demons, the Han and Qian families also suffered similar demon assaults in succession. You must have heard something about it, more or less."

"I originally thought my father's death was an accident."

"Now it seems more like a conspiracy."

"What do you all think?"

A man in his early thirties, with a straight and sturdy build, frowned and said, "Though demons delight in drinking human blood, most lack intelligence and know only slaughter. Logically, such a ferocious beast appearing within the city should have indiscriminately gone on a killing spree."

"Yet it bypassed the densely populated outer city."

"And struck directly at the inner city to attack the three great families."

"There must be someone pulling the strings behind this."

Qin Jiu looked at the speaker.

This was the commander of the Qin Family's guard force, named Qin Xuanzhou. He was currently the most outstanding in martial arts talent within the Qin Family—barely thirty years old, yet already at the Great Perfection of the Three Refinements. He only needed to channel his internal force through his meridians to step into the Internal Strengthening realm.

Qin Jiu pondered for a moment, then nodded at Qin Xuanzhou.

Afterward, he looked at the others.

But the other three remained very silent.

As if still nursing grievances over what had just happened.

None of them spoke.

Qin Jiu was not angered. After a brief pause, he said, "The reason I called everyone back to the Qin Mansion is precisely because this matter is not simple. But for now, no one knows the schemes of those behind it. We can only hold our ground and adapt to changes."

"Commander Xuanzhou, you must strictly guard the Hundred Beasts Garden during this time."

"Make sure nothing goes wrong there."

"As for the rest of you, do not go out during this period. Regarding the demon matter, I will assign some personnel to investigate."

Having said this.

Qin Jiu paid no heed to what they thought, rose, and left the hall.

"'Uncles and elders' this, 'uncles and elders' that, yet when he dealt with Qin Xiong's family, his face showed not a single ripple."

Inside the hall.

An old man's eye twitched as he watched Qin Jiu disappear into the night. He muttered, "It's a pity his martial arts haven't succeeded. Such sharpness may not be a good thing—after all, even when the family head was at his peak, he was never this ruthless."

"Watch your words."

"Uncle Wang, when will my pill be finished refining?"

On the road.

He turned his head and asked Wang Yue.

"Tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?"

Qin Jiu mused, "Then when you go to the Four Seasons Pharmacy to pick up the medicine tomorrow, see if you can arrange for that deputy hall master to meet with me."