A Thousand Gold Pieces Ring Out

Qian Biao's words were like blades, each one slicing deep into the arteries of everyone present.

Let alone Hong Zheng, even the Aunt and the eldest daughter were filled with an inability to believe or accept what they were hearing.

Over this period, they could no longer remember how much money they had spent on Hong Ming.

Now, with Qian Biao's words, it felt as though all that money had been cast into the sea.

That was not the main point; the point was that the hope of their entire family had been completely shattered!

Ignoring the despair of Hong Zheng and the others, Qian Biao signaled his two lackeys directly.

The two understood instantly, grabbed the short clubs in their hands, and stepped forward.

Just as they were about to strike, they were stopped by a detestable and familiar voice: "Qian Biao, what do you think you are doing?"

The voice was like a thunderclap, exploding out of thin air and giving the two a fright.

"Su Qiang?" Upon seeing the newcomer, Qian Biao furrowed his brows and said in a deep voice, "This is a matter between me and the Hong Family; what does it have to do with you?"

Su Qiang had already learned of the situation and quickly arrived in front of Hong Zheng and the others, shielding them behind him.

He looked straight at Qian Biao, showing no fear, and asked, "How much money do Old Man Hong and the others owe you?"

"Oh? It looks like you intend to play the hero for them?"

Qian Biao raised an eyebrow. He hadn't bothered to look for trouble with Su Qiang, yet this fellow had delivered himself to his doorstep.

Without a shred of courtesy, Qian Biao sneered, "In that case, as long as you can produce ten taels of silver, today's matter will be wiped clean!"

His tone was playful; ten taels of silver was not a small sum, and he was certain Su Qiang could not afford it.

Yet, just as he was filled with such confidence, Su Qiang produced the money without a moment's hesitation.

A flash of silver-white shot into his vision like an arrow, making Qian Biao's eyelids twitch violently. He actually had it?

Damn it, he had miscalculated!

If he had known, he should have asked for more.

He wanted to change his words, but he suddenly caught Su Qiang's cold gaze and felt a chill inexplicably rise throughout his body.

He pursed his lips and ultimately swallowed the words that had reached his throat.

There would be other days; Su Qiang might be able to protect the Hong Family for a moment, but he did not believe the fellow could protect them for a lifetime!

"Let's go!"

After taking the money, Qian Biao left with a livid face, not even looking back.

Hong Zheng and the others seemed as if they had just regained their senses, their eyes hollow and filled with confusion.

"Old Man Hong, are you all alright?"

Seeing the dazed expressions of the group, Su Qiang asked with concern, sensing that something was very wrong.

The sound entered his ears, and Hong Zheng grasped it tightly as if it were his last straw of hope.

He struggled to ask, "Ah Qiang, you are knowledgeable; tell Old Man Hong, is what Qian Biao said true?"

"This... there is indeed such a saying." Su Qiang subconsciously wanted to hide the truth, but upon meeting Hong Zheng's gaze, he could not bear to lie.

The old man already knew of this matter; even if he did not confirm it from him, he would ask others.

Once these words were spoken, the luster in Hong Zheng's cloudy eyes faded at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Su Qiang's words were, without a doubt, a death sentence for Hong Ming!

Fearing that Hong Zheng might lose his will to live, Su Qiang quickly added, "Old Man Hong, don't worry. The deadline hasn't arrived yet; Ah Ming still has a very good chance!"

He said this without any conviction; it was more of a verbal comfort.

Hong Zheng heard him, but his expression remained the same. He forced a smile and said gratefully, "Ah Qiang, thank you for this time."

"It's nothing, Old Man Hong. You all helped my family quite a bit in the past."

Seeing that it was ineffective, Su Qiang sighed inwardly, but he replied with a simple, honest smile.

He knew that Hong Zheng and the others were in a terrible state of mind and needed time to be alone.

After offering a few more words of comfort, he took his leave.

The small courtyard returned to its cold silence, but compared to before, it now held a bone-deep desolation and an inescapable sorrow.

Every inch of air felt like a boulder blocking their chests, pressing down so hard that Hong Zheng and the others could barely breathe.

For a long, long time, no one spoke; each kept their eyes lowered, remaining silent.

It was not until the Aunt spoke that the silence was broken: "Father, let us... split the family."

Once these words were out, she felt a sense of relief, a release that was difficult to put into words showing on her brow.

However, to the ears of the eldest and youngest daughters, it was like a bolt from the blue. Both snapped their heads up, staring at the Aunt in astonishment.

The Aunt, meanwhile, stared straight at Hong Zheng, her expression unwavering.

"A Yi's mother..."

Hong Zheng was equally shocked by the Aunt's words; he opened his mouth, but could not squeeze out a single word for a long time.

"Second Sister-in-law, you must not be impulsive. If the family splits and scatters, how are we supposed to go on living?"

The eldest aunt came to her senses and hurriedly tried to persuade her.

The younger aunt chimed in as well: "That's right, Second Sister-in-law. No matter how difficult the Lamb Interest is, if we grit our teeth and carry it together, we will surely make it through!"

The two of them spoke one after another, desperately trying to persuade her, attempting to hold this broken family together.

"There is no need for you to persuade me."

The aunt shook her head, not wishing to say more.

She had truly had enough of these days spent living in constant fear.

This time, with the help of Su Qiang, they had escaped disaster, but what about next time?

Without obtaining the land deed, Qian Biao would certainly not let them off easily. Splitting the family would be better for everyone.

Seeing that their persuasion was fruitless, the eldest and younger aunts hurriedly looked toward Hong Zheng.

Hong Zheng was unusually devoid of emotion; he attempted to use Hong Ming to bind the aunt and maintain their relationship.

But, inexplicably recalling what Qian Biao had said, he truly could not bring himself to say it.

Even he felt that Hong Ming's prospects were slim, let alone the aunt and the others.

Sigh!

With a heavy sigh in his heart, Hong Zheng finally compromised: "Since it has come to this, then..."

"Aunt, I have only just become a martial artist, why are you thinking of splitting the family?"

Just then, an abrupt voice cut into Hong Zheng's words like a needle finding a gap.

The autumn wind in the small courtyard seemed to hear it and stopped dead, and the air suddenly solidified, freezing for a split second.

Hong Zheng stood up abruptly, as if he hadn't heard clearly, and asked stammeringly: "A-Ming, you, what did you just say?"

"Grandfather, Aunt, Eldest Aunt, Younger Aunt, I have good news to tell you: I have cultivated Bright Force and become an official martial artist!"

Facing the gazes of the few, Hong Ming spoke in a solemn, resonant voice.

He had cultivated Bright Force!

He had become an official martial artist!

This short sentence lingered in everyone's ears like a magical incantation, refusing to dissipate for a long time.

It instantly caused the old man's dim eyes to regain their vitality, glowing as if he had come back to life.

Tears of joy streamed down his face, and he was so moved that he kept repeating: "Heaven has opened its eyes, the ancestors are watching over us..."

"A-Ming, did you really succeed?" The aunt was half-doubting, worried about being deceived.

Hong Ming did not speak; words were useless, so he showed them the real deal.

He stepped out with a wide stance, clenched his palm into a fist, and in an instant, punched out, causing a sudden explosion in the air.

Bang!

This roar, like a thunderclap, struck everyone's heart and soul!

Seeing this, the aunt and the others no longer had a shred of doubt.

Hong Ming took the opportunity to explain: "Aunt, this is what they call the 'thousand gold cannot buy a single sound' of a Bright Force martial artist!"

No one spoke.

The younger aunt swallowed hard, her slender fingers, which had been gripping the corner of her clothes, slowly loosened, and she felt an inexplicable sense of security.

The eldest aunt's tense body suddenly relaxed, and the color returned to her face, which had just lost its blood.

The aunt, however, remained frozen in place, recalling what she had just said, her face burning with embarrassment as she appeared somewhat at a loss.

Hong Ming stepped in to ease the situation: "Grandfather, Aunt, Eldest Aunt, Younger Aunt, let's not just stand here. I bought some good food, let's celebrate later!"