Qin An stared at Kong Zhang's back, a cold smile on his face.
Courtesy might work on others, but it was utterly useless against someone like Kong Zhang.
With men like him, only by standing your ground could you make him yield.
The weaker you were, the stronger he became.
Now, for instance, Qin An had demanded the Yellow Sand Pearl with such force that Kong Zhang had no choice but to submit.
The two left the first floor and soon reached the top of the tower.
No one was on the top floor. Their footsteps echoed far through the empty space.
Kong Zhang had remained silent the entire way, his fists clenched tight.
Once they reached the top, he walked to the innermost room and pressed his hand against the wall.
The wall was smooth as a mirror.
As Kong Zhang pressed it, a square seam appeared.
The moment the seam formed, a Hidden Compartment sprang open.
Inside lay a round pearl.
The pearl was yellow, with pale golden light flowing within it. Looking closely, one could almost hear a soft rustling from inside.
It was as if yellow sand were blowing through a space of its own within the pearl.
Kong Zhang picked up the Yellow Sand Pearl, turned in silence, and handed it to Qin An.
Qin An took it and tucked it into his robe.
After a long silence, Kong Zhang spoke in a low voice.
"Lord Qin, from this day on, you've lost the support of those who were wavering. Things will be harder for you."
Qin An said evenly, "It doesn't matter to me. You're the ones who should care, not me."
Kong Zhang gritted his teeth. "Since you're so confident, Lord Qin, I'll say no more. Do as you please."
He had said