Qian Biao's words were like knives, each one slicing into the crowd's vital arteries.
Let alone Hong Zheng—even Auntie and Eldest Aunt could hardly believe or accept it.
By now, they had lost track of how much money they had spent on Hong Ming.
Now, with Qian Biao's words, it seemed all that money had gone down the drain.
That wasn't the point. The point was that the hopes of their entire family had been utterly crushed!
Paying no heed to Hong Zheng and the others' despair, Qian Biao glanced at his two lackeys.
The two understood at once and raised their short clubs, stepping forward.
Just as they were about to strike, a familiar voice they hated stopped them. "Qian Biao, what are you trying to do?"
The voice rang out like thunder from a clear sky, making the two jump.
"Su Qiang?" Seeing him, Qian Biao knitted his brows and said in a low voice, "This is between me and the Hong Family. What's it to you?"
Su Qiang already knew what had happened. He hurried over to stand in front of Hong Zheng and the others, shielding them behind him.
He looked Qian Biao straight in the eye without the slightest fear. "How much do Grandpa Hong and the others owe you?"
"Well, looks like you're planning to stick your neck out for them?"
Qian Biao raised an eyebrow. He hadn't gone looking for trouble with Su Qiang, but the man had come right to him instead.
Without the least bit of courtesy, Qian Biao sneered. "In that case, if you can come up with ten taels of silver, we'll call it even today!"
His tone was mocking. Ten taels of silver was no small sum, and he was certain Su Qiang couldn't pay it back.
But while he stood there full of confidence, Su Qiang reached for his money without hesitation.
A flash of silver shot into view like an arrow. Qian Biao's eyelid twitched. He really had the money?
Damn it, he'd miscalculated!
If he'd known, he should have asked for more.
He wanted to change his tune, but then he met Su Qiang's cold gaze, and a chill inexplicably swept through him.
He pressed his lips together and swallowed the words that had been on the tip of his tongue.
There was plenty of time yet. Su Qiang might be able to protect the Hong Family for a while, but he refused to believe the man could protect them forever!
"Let's go!"
After taking the money, Qian Biao left with a livid face, without looking back.
Hong Zheng and the others seemed to come to their senses only then, their eyes vacant and bewildered.
"Grandpa Hong, are you all right?"
Seeing how dazed the group looked, Su Qiang asked with concern.
At the sound of his voice, Hong Zheng clung to it like a drowning man to the last straw.
He asked with difficulty, "A Qiang, you've seen a lot. Tell Grandpa Hong—is what Qian Biao said true?"
"Well... there is such a saying." Su Qiang had instinctively wanted to hide the truth, but when he met Hong Zheng's eyes, he couldn't bring himself to do it and changed his answer.
The old man had already learned about this. Even if he didn't get confirmation from Su Qiang, he would ask someone else.
As soon as he heard those words, the light visibly faded from Hong Zheng's clouded eyes.
Su Qiang's words had all but sentenced Hong Ming to death!
Afraid Hong Zheng might do something rash, Su Qiang hurriedly added, "Grandpa Hong, don't worry. The deadline hasn't arrived yet. A Ming still has a good chance!"
He said it without conviction, more like empty reassurance.
Hong Zheng seemed not to have heard him. His expression stayed the same as he forced out a smile and said gratefully, "A Qiang, thank you for helping us this time."
"It's nothing, Grandpa Hong. Your family helped mine a lot in the past, too."
Seeing that his words hadn't helped, Su Qiang sighed inwardly but answered with a simple grin.
He knew Hong Zheng and the others were in terrible spirits and needed some time alone.
After offering a few more words of comfort, he took his leave.
The courtyard fell silent again, but compared to before, it now held a bone-deep desolation and an inescapable grief.
Every inch of air felt like a boulder crushing their chests, leaving Hong Zheng and the others unable to breathe.
For a long, long time, no one spoke. They each lowered their eyes and sat in silence.
At last, Auntie broke the quiet. "Father, let's split the family."
As soon as she said it, she seemed to feel a great weight lift from her shoulders. An indescribable sense of relief showed between her brows.
But to Eldest Aunt and Youngest Aunt, her words were like a bolt from the blue. They snapped their heads up and stared at her in shock.
Auntie kept her eyes fixed on Hong Zheng, her expression unwavering.
"A Yi's mother..."
Hong Zheng was just as startled by Auntie's words. He opened his mouth, but for a long while, he couldn't manage a single word.
"Second Sister-in-law, please don't be rash. If the family splits apart, how are we supposed to get by?"
Once Eldest Aunt came to her senses, she hurried to persuade her.
Youngest Aunt chimed in as well. "That's right, Second Sister-in-law. Even if the Lamb Interest is hard to bear, we can grit our teeth and face it together. We'll make it through somehow!"
The two took turns pleading with her, doing everything they could to hold this broken family together.
"You don't need to persuade me."
Auntie shook her head, unwilling to say more.
She had truly had enough of living in constant fear.
This time, Su Qiang had helped them escape disaster. But what about next time?
Without the deed to the land, Qian Biao wouldn't let them off easily. Splitting the family would be better for everyone.
Seeing that their attempts to persuade her had failed, Eldest Aunt and Youngest Aunt hurriedly turned to Hong Zheng.
Unusually, Hong Zheng showed no emotion. He had meant to use Hong Ming to bind Auntie to the family and keep their ties intact.
But then he remembered what Qian Biao had said, and found that he couldn't bring himself to speak.
Even he thought the odds for Hong Ming were slim. What more could be said about Auntie and the others?
Sigh!
With a heavy sigh, Hong Zheng finally gave in. "Since that's the case, then..."
"Auntie, I've only just become a martial artist. Why are you already talking about splitting the family?"
At that moment, a sudden voice cut into Hong Zheng's words like a wedge slipping through a crack.
The autumn wind in the courtyard seemed to hear it and abruptly stopped. The air froze for a brief moment.
Hong Zheng shot to his feet. As if unsure he'd heard correctly, he asked in a daze, "A Ming, what... what did you just say?"
"Grandpa, Auntie, Eldest Aunt, Youngest Aunt, I have good news for you. I've developed Bright Force. I'm an official martial artist now!"
Meeting their gazes, Hong Ming announced it solemnly and clearly.
He had developed Bright Force!
He was an official martial artist!
That short sentence seemed to ring like a magic spell in everyone's ears, lingering long after it was spoken.
At once, life returned to the lightless eyes of the old man, and they shone again as if he had come back to life.
Tears streamed down his face. Overcome with excitement, he kept repeating, "Heaven has opened its eyes. Our ancestors have blessed us..."
"A Ming, you really did it?" Auntie asked doubtfully, afraid she was being deceived.
Hong Ming said nothing. There was no point in talking. He showed them the real thing instead.
He planted his feet, drew his fist back at his waist, and punched out in an instant. The air cracked with a sudden boom.
Bang!
The thunderous crash struck straight into everyone's hearts!
After hearing it, Auntie and the others had not the slightest doubt left.
Hong Ming took the chance to explain. "Auntie, that's the 'sound worth a thousand pieces of gold' of a Bright Force martial artist!"
No one spoke.
Youngest Aunt swallowed. Her slender fingers, which had been clutching the hem of her clothes, slowly relaxed, and for some reason, she felt much safer.
Eldest Aunt's rigid body suddenly loosened. The color that had drained from her face now returned.
Auntie, however, stood rooted to the spot. Remembering what she had just said, she felt her face grow inexplicably hot and didn't know what to do with herself.
Hong Ming tactfully changed the subject. "Grandpa, Auntie, Eldest Aunt, Youngest Aunt, don't just stand there. I bought some tasty food. Let's celebrate in a little while!"
Before you continue