Words of Others, Mere Ants and Flies. The Blade in Hand, That Is the Root!

Feng Jianyun sneered, "You need potent medicinal ingredients that have been aged properly. Either Tiger Bone Marrow Strengthening Paste to temper the bones, or Century Blood Ginseng Pills to nourish the tendons and membranes!"

"These precious medicines have long been monopolized by the major families in the city, our martial arts school, and those factions backed by Blood Refining masters."

"Whatever circulates on the open market is either substandard or carries an astronomical price tag."

"Not to mention, the treasures required for the Organ Cleansing and Blood Refining realms are even harder to find in this world!"

"Ask your Senior Brother Zhang if he hasn't exhausted his family's savings just to purchase these medicines."

Lin Qing turned his gaze toward Zhang Shun.

Zhang Shun opened his mouth, but in the end, he could only nod bitterly.

"That journey was truly a brush with death."

Feng Jianyun revealed a smile that said 'as expected.'

He finally fixed his gaze on Lin Qing and said indifferently, "You have no background, no resources, and mediocre talent."

"Junior Brother Lin, forgive my bluntness, but if you could somehow manage to break through to the Bone Forging Realm of the Third Barrier, it would be a miracle—as if your ancestors' graves were smoking with good fortune."

These icy words sliced open the bloody reality and laid it bare before everyone.

Talent and resources are like two insurmountable chasms.

They lie between ordinary martial artists and true experts.

Feng Jianyun leaned forward slightly, a smile of condescension on his face as he said to Lin Qing, "However, since Junior Brother Zhang has highly recommended you and claims you have extraordinary potential, I can give you a chance to prove yourself."

He pointed toward the window, toward the direction downstairs where low, deep barks could be heard.

"I keep a Western Region Mastiff at my estate. It is exceptionally ferocious; even a strong man is no match for it."

"If you can go down there and spar with my beloved dog, and manage to last for the duration of one incense stick without being defeated, then I will acknowledge that you have some courage and strength."

"In that case, our circle might just make an exception and let you get a foot in the door. How about it?"

Fighting a mastiff as a pledge of loyalty to join their circle?

This was no longer simple contempt; it was a naked insult.

To equate a person with a beast—the implication was self-evident.

Perhaps in the eyes of Feng Jianyun.

Lin Qing's value was not even equal to that of the animal he kept.

The table fell into silence.

Third Senior Sister Zhao Hongxiu frowned even deeper, yet she remained silent.

Eldest Senior Brother Qi Yunfei held his wine cup, his gaze fixed on the river view outside the window as if his mind were elsewhere, offering no comment on the farce unfolding before him.

Liu Ying kept her eyes lowered, her slender fingers playing with the hem of her clothes, seemingly bored.

Zhang Shun's face flushed red, and he stood up abruptly, "Second Senior Brother! You..."

"I appreciate your good intentions, Feng Jianyun."

A calm voice interrupted him.

Lin Qing slowly stood up, his face revealing neither anger nor joy.

He swept his gaze across the people at the table and suddenly felt a sense of profound dullness.

He had not come here to cling to anyone.

He had only wanted to see this so-called core circle and gather some information.

Now that he had the information, he could clearly see the arrogance and narrow-mindedness of this group.

Those with different paths do not seek to conspire together.

Why stay here and invite humiliation?

He cupped his hands toward Zhang Shun, his tone apologetic.

"Senior Brother Zhang, thank you for your help in bringing me here today."

"However, I am of mediocre talent and humble background; I truly cannot climb to the heights of the circle you and the other senior brothers and sisters occupy. Staying would only increase the awkwardness."

"I have ruined everyone's mood today, and I apologize. I shall take my leave."

Having said that, he no longer looked at anyone, including the now-grim-faced Feng Jianyun.

He turned around and walked with steady, composed steps toward the door of the private room.

Throughout the entire process, apart from Zhang Shun, who opened his mouth instinctively, none of the other four—Qi Yunfei, Liu Ying, and the rest—spoke a word to ask him to stay.

There was not even a single polite pleasantry.

Their silence was, in itself, an attitude.

The door to the private room was pulled open gently, then closed just as softly.

The figure of Lin Qing vanished outside the door, as if he had never appeared at all.

"Hah..."

Feng Jianyun let out a scoff, shattering the silence.

He cast a sidelong glance at the livid Zhang Shun.

"Junior Brother Zhang, your methods for winning people over have certainly improved—bringing any stray cat or dog into our circle?"

"Could it be that you've joined some low-rent gang and picked up some unsavory tricks?"

Zhang Shun's chest heaved violently; he wanted to retort, but seeing that Qi Yunfei remained silent and that Zhao Hongxiu and Liu Ying showed no reaction, he knew that speaking further would only be asking for humiliation.

He abruptly cupped his fists and said stiffly, "Senior Brother, everyone, this younger brother shall take his leave!"

Without waiting for a response, he turned and strode out in pursuit.

Zhang Shun rushed out of the River Gazing Pavilion and onto the street, where the lanterns were just being lit, his gaze scanning the area anxiously.

The street was bustling with pedestrians and a constant flow of carriages.

Lin Qing was walking alone amidst the crowd.

Zhang Shun hurried to catch up, shouting, "Junior Brother Lin, wait!"

Lin Qing paused, but did not turn around.

"Junior Brother Lin, are you alright? That's just how their personalities are."

"Sigh, I shouldn't have brought you to meet them so rashly."

Zhang Shun panted, shaking his head in frustration.

"Brother Shun, have you ever heard a saying?"

Lin Qing still did not turn around.

"What?"

Zhang Shun was taken aback.

"The words of others are but the buzzing of ants and flies. The blade in one's hand is the only foundation."

With those words, Lin Qing stepped into the crowd.

Like a river flowing into the sea, he soon vanished without a trace.

Zhang Shun stood where he was, watching that tall, slender figure, a complex emotion welling up in his heart.

There was resentment toward Feng Jianyun and the others.

But even more, there was an apology and an inexplicable sense of loss toward Lin Qing.

He had originally intended to use this opportunity to let Lin Qing touch a higher circle, hoping it might provide him with some assistance.

He had not expected that it would instead cause Lin Qing to suffer such humiliation.

But fortunately.

This junior brother of his seemed to possess a resilient spirit.

"Sigh, Junior Brother Lin..."

Zhang Shun sighed, muttering to himself.

"This matter was my poor arrangement; I was far too hasty."

He realized that he had perhaps underestimated the arrogance ingrained in the bones of those inner-city youths.

He had also underestimated the pride within Lin Qing's heart.

That young man was not someone who could be easily manipulated or forced to live under another's shadow.

After that unpleasant banquet at the River Gazing Pavilion.

Lin Qing poured all his energy into improving his strength and uncovering the mastermind behind the scenes.

The intelligence network of the Ge Pao Society was truly extraordinary.

Through Zhang Shun's channels, Lin Qing spent a bit of silver and quickly obtained detailed information regarding Pan Yun, the head manager of the Security Hall.

However, the results left him slightly surprised.

Pan Yun was not merely an ordinary manager for the Pan Family.

He was a martial artist in the Tendon Opening Realm; though nearly forty, his tendons and bones were polished to a solid state, and it was said that he had achieved great mastery over the Pan Family's ancestral Silk Entangling Hand.

More importantly, he worked under the Second Young Master of the Pan Family, and while not part of the core lineage.

He still held a certain foundation and standing within the Pan Family.

"A second-stage martial artist. The Second Young Master of the Pan Family..."

Lin Qing tapped his fingers lightly against the tabletop, his brows furrowed.

If he were to rashly make a move against Pan Yun, setting aside whether he could successfully kill a Second-Stage martial artist, even if he succeeded, it would inevitably arouse the suspicion and thorough investigation of the Pan Family.

By then, as a neighbor who had a grudge against Security Hall and possessed martial prowess, he would undoubtedly be the primary suspect.

The risk was too great; the losses would outweigh the gains.

"My strength, it is still not enough!"

Lin Qing took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the churning killing intent.

Before possessing absolute strength and proper means, this grievance could only be endured for the time being.