Though Qing Fen lacked Lin Fei's astonishing skills, his slap still landed solidly.
The impression that slap left was every bit as powerful as the one Lin Fei had dealt the Song Family's eldest young master.
After all, he had struck his own daughter on her birthday, and likewise in full view of everyone!
Qing Lixue clutched her burning cheek, where five vivid red finger marks had already appeared against her fair skin.
Her father's action had truly caught her off guard, leaving her stunned for a moment before she looked at Qing Fen in disbelief. "Dad, you hit me?"
Qing Lixue's eyes reddened. Never had she felt so wronged. "It's my birthday today, and you hit me in front of all these guests?!"
Her voice choked with tears, her eyes red, like pear blossoms drenched in rain.
Qing Fen's heart trembled too. A trace of reluctance crossed his face, and his lips moved hesitantly.
Whatever else, she was his daughter. How could he not care?
But she had repeatedly offended Immortal Master Lin, even turning black into white and siding with Song Hao to go against Lin Fei. That had also left Qing Fen beside himself with fury.
Every member of the Qing family over the past four thousand years owed their survival to Lin Fei's kindness. Otherwise, their clan would have been wiped out four thousand years ago-how could she treat their benefactor like this?!
Qing Fen hardened his heart and gritted his teeth. "Yes, I hit you, you unfilial daughter! I blame myself for not disciplining you properly!"
Tears swam in Qing Lixue's eyes, her heart filled with grief and indignation. She grabbed a large piece of cake beside her and hurled it to the floor, then stamped viciously on it with her delicate silver high heel. "I'm not celebrating this birthday anymore! Do whatever you want!"
With that, Qing Lixue wiped her tears with one hand, shoved aside the people in front of her, and ran outside.
"Miss Qing..." Many of the guests panicked, thinking, What the fuck is going on here?
Qing Fen immediately turned toward the security guards and barked, "Well? Go after her!"
The security guards were utterly bewildered.
Fuck, you're the one who drove her away. Why do we have to chase her and put up with her temper?
Despite those thoughts, people drawing high salaries really did have a different level of professionalism. The two guards immediately answered and hurried after her, calling as they ran, "Miss Qing, wait!"
Watching this, Song Hao felt not the slightest sympathy for Qing Lixue. He only thought Qing Fen had truly gone mad.
Damn it, even if I provoked him first, shouldn't you know how to assess the situation, Qing Fen? Making an enemy of me, when I'm about to swallow up the Ji Family, all for some charlatan-isn't that sick in the head?
"Uncle Qing, this matter can't just end here today," Song Hao continued, his expression dark. "You owe me an answer."
Already seething, Qing Fen let out a cold laugh at those words. "An answer? What kind of answer do you want? You provoked an honored guest at my Qing family's banquet, then spread rumors that Miss Ji was about to marry you, sullying her reputation."
"Never mind Immortal Master Lin. Any man with even a little fire in his blood would never accept his beloved being subjected to such humiliation."
At the word "beloved," Ji Yaoguang's expression immediately grew a little unnatural, and she seemed somewhat at a loss.
In Lin Fei's eyes, however, she looked especially adorable, drawing a rare smile of heartfelt pleasure from him.
Whether as Empress Yaoguang, whose might awed the four seas, or as the female CEO firmly seated at the top of the Ji Family, this demure, feminine side of her was always a rare sight.
Just then, Qing Fen stepped forward and declared forcefully, "Song Hao, if you have a problem with that, have Song Qingyun come talk to me!"
Qing Fen's words rang out with steely force, each one striking the ground with weight. The imposing presence of a man long accustomed to high office was revealed in full, shocking everyone present.
Song Hao's heart jolted. He had not expected Qing Fen to be so resolute. That forceful, confident presence was practically identical to his own father's when he grew serious.
His face darkened, and he said hoarsely, "Chairman Qing, are you going to oppose my Song Family?"
Song Hao's form of address had changed. He no longer used the relatively affectionate "Uncle Qing."
Yet Qing Fen merely sneered and said firmly, "It's not me opposing your Song Family. You're the one opposing me."
"I'll make myself clear right here today." He drew a deep breath, then declared each word with absolute resolve. "Anyone who opposes Immortal Master Lin opposes me, Qing Fen!"
As his words fell, the entire gathering erupted in an uproar.
Song Hao's face paled, and Ji Yaoguang also looked at Lin Fei in shock.
No one could have anticipated that Qing Fen would say such a thing!
What tremendous resolve and commitment did that take?
Lin Fei sighed almost imperceptibly but said nothing. He recalled Qing Yuntian from back then, that ancestor of the Di People who wore a felt hat, held a bamboo staff, and had a falcon perched on his shoulder. How similar his temperament had been to that of Qing Fen before him.
The bright moon remained, yet old friends were nowhere to be found.
Qing Fen swept his gaze around and said gravely, "I know some of you must think I've gone mad, that I've become muddleheaded. But Immortal Master Lin has shown me great kindness, and I must remember it. There's plenty I don't know, but I do know one thing-a person must never forget a kindness, or he's no different from a beast!"
"No, that's not right. Even dogs know gratitude. Anyone who forgets a kindness is worse than a beast!"
Clearly, Qing Fen's words held no intention of claiming credit or currying favor. That air of righteous conviction could not be faked.
Everyone present was bewildered and uncertain, speculating about what exactly Lin Fei had done to make Qing Fen so deeply indebted to him.
Many were moved by Qing Fen's emotions, feeling a solemn respect for him for a time.
But as Song Hao listened, his eyelids twitched uncontrollably.
Damn it, doesn't that speech sound like Qing Fen is calling all three generations of our Song Family ungrateful wretches, worse than beasts?!
Song Hao was so furious that his heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys were all trembling. He had never expected Qing Fen to act so ruthlessly when he grew serious, leaving him not a shred of face.
"Fine, fine, fine!" Song Hao said through gritted teeth. Those three consecutive repetitions of "fine" showed the fury in his heart.
"Qing Fen, just you wait! The day will come when you regret this!" Song Hao spat out the threat, then immediately headed for the door.
Having lost this much face, why stay and let everyone laugh at him?
Uncle Qing, Chairman Qing, Qing Fen-the transition through those three forms of address had taken only a few brief moments.
I'm the Song Family's eldest young master! I've never suffered this kind of humiliation in my life!
Only after watching Song Hao leave did Qing Fen's expression ease somewhat. He said quite courteously, "Everyone, my apologies. I invited you here today to attend my daughter's birthday banquet, only for something like this to happen. I'm sorry for spoiling your enjoyment."
Everyone hurriedly assured him it was fine and that he was being too polite. Some even expressed concern for Qing Fen instead, but he merely exchanged a few casual pleasantries.
"Everyone, I still have a few things to discuss with Immortal Master Lin, so please excuse me." After saying this, Qing Fen walked over to Lin Fei.
"Immortal Master, may I have a word with you in private?" he asked respectfully, seeming an entirely different person from his earlier forceful self.
Seeing Lin Fei nod, Qing Fen immediately gestured for him to proceed. "Immortal Master, this way, please."
Meanwhile, at the entrance to the Ji Family villa, Song Hao irritably pulled out a cigarette.
He thought for a moment, and a cold, sinister smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
After finishing the cigarette, Song Hao took out his phone and placed a call. "Senior Brother, how have you been lately?"