He chatted with Qin Qiu for half an hour.

After hanging up the phone, Chen Yang instructed Yang Hu, "Look into a man named Chu Jiang."

"This guy is ranked first on the Hidden Dragon List. I'll find out where he lives right away," Yang Hu nodded.

So he called Qin Qiu just another plain face and came to appraise her for his little brother? And marrying his brother is supposed to be a blessing from a past life for her? He's asking for a beating!

Meanwhile, at the residence of the Qin Royal Family.

Qin Qiu leaned against the window, propping her chin with one hand and watching the drizzling rain. The corners of her mouth turned up slightly, but her lips quickly pursed again as she looked up at the sky.

Another moonless night.

TAP, TAP, TAP.

The sound of footsteps echoed from the courtyard.

Besides Qin Meng, there was a man in his fifties with a weathered look. He was Qin Feng, Qin Meng's grandfather, and also Qin Gang's only friend in the Qin Family.

"Qin Meng, Grandfather Qin Feng," Qin Qiu ran out of her room and greeted them with a smile.

Qin Feng nodded slightly. "Xiaoqiu, I was just passing by and came to check on you."

"Thank you, Grandfather Qin Feng." A warmth spread through Qin Qiu's heart. In the entire, vast Qin Family, only these two could bring her any comfort. "By the way, is there any news about my grandfather being reinstated into the family?"

"Sigh..." Qin Feng let out a long sigh. "It's difficult, but rest assured, I will do everything in my power to make it happen."

"Heh!"

Suddenly, a cold laugh came from outside the door. "As long as I, Qin Zhuo, am here, that waste Qin Gang will never be allowed back into the Qin Family!"

"The only reason he could step through our gates this time is because his two granddaughters are of use to my Qin Family."

With his hands behind his back, Qin Zhuo walked slowly into the small courtyard. His sinister eyes glanced at Qin Feng. "Let me give you a piece of advice: don't meddle in business that isn't yours, or you might get dragged down too."

"And you!" Qin Zhuo pointed at Qin Meng, his words dripping with malice. "You belittled Chu Jiang, the number one prodigy on the Hidden Dragon List, a top-tier young talent, making him sound worthless. Who do you think you are?"

"He was the one who was rude first," Qin Meng's expression faltered as she tried to explain.

"Even if he hit you, you would have to take it!" Qin Zhuo sneered. "You should know your place."

"You..."

Qin Meng seethed, but Qin Feng quickly held her back. He then addressed Qin Zhuo, "You know Qin Gang's situation. He just wants a final wish fulfilled before he dies. Why must you keep holding this against a dying man?"

BOOM!

A violent aura erupted from Qin Zhuo, enveloping Qin Feng.

PFFT...

Qin Feng coughed up a large mouthful of blood and collapsed to the ground.

Crippled.

The vast gap in their cultivation realms was so great that Qin Feng couldn't even withstand a simple burst of his aura. His life force began to drain away like water.

"Grandfather..." Qin Meng scrambled to support Qin Feng, glaring at Qin Zhuo with eyes that looked ready to split with rage.

"Do I need you to teach me how to conduct my affairs? You're courting death!"

With a flick of his sleeve, Qin Zhuo turned to leave. "All of you better behave. Otherwise, you'll all die."

BANG.

The courtyard gate was slammed shut.

Staring at Qin Zhuo's retreating back, Qin Qiu gritted her teeth, her fists clenched tightly. He's gone too far!

"Grandfather, how are you?" Qin Qiu and Qin Meng both held up Qin Feng, asking anxiously.

COUGH, COUGH.

Qin Feng coughed up more blood and struggled to shake his head. Before he could utter a single word, his head lolled to the side and he fainted.

He wouldn't live more than three days.

***

「The next day.」

The rain, which had fallen for a full day and night, finally ceased. The weather warmed, and tender buds sprouted from the greenery, filling the air with vibrant life.

Early in the morning, a story suddenly hit the headlines on Qiyun Road.

Chu Jiang, Number One on the Hidden Dragon List, Publicly Challenges Lord Yang!

The article reported that Chu Jiang had publicly declared he disdained comparison with any of his peers. He even claimed that if Lord Yang, the top master on the Dragon Brilliance List, were to suppress his cultivation to the same realm, he would still be fated to lose.

These words weren't just arrogant; they were outlandishly so.

However, it also displayed the kind of spirit and confidence befitting the number one talent on the Hidden Dragon List.

One was number one on the Hidden Dragon List, the other number one on the Dragon Brilliance List. Although a chasm separated the two, if they were to fight in the same realm, the question of who was stronger was certainly worth exploring. As a result, a clamor erupted online, with people hoping Lord Yang would step forward to spar with Chu Jiang.

BANG!

Inside a five-star hotel, Chu Jiang saw the news and slammed his palm on the coffee table. The marble top immediately spiderwebbed with cracks.

"That damn woman! She really dared to release the story?"

Chu Jiang ripped a button off his shirt and began pacing with his hands on his hips, a towering rage boiling inside him. The woman he was talking about was, of course, Qin Meng. And she had indeed been the one to leak the story for no other reason than that she couldn't stand Chu Jiang's arrogance and the way he looked down on everyone.

Even though I'm confident enough, the other guy is Lord Yang, after all. He single-handedly blasted through the entire Dragon Brilliance List. Isn't that enough to prove his strength?

"Jiang'er, no need to worry." His father, Chu Changping, a middle-aged man standing beside him, smiled faintly. "Lord Yang is a legendary figure. Why would he bother with something so trivial?"

"If he were to fight you and lose, how could he show his face again? And even if he won, people would just think it was expected. It's a completely thankless endeavor for him!"

Hearing this, Chu Jiang's expression gradually relaxed.

Chu Changping patted his shoulder and said in a low voice, "Since it's certain Lord Yang won't get involved personally, this is a golden opportunity for you."

"Dad, you're not... suggesting I should go public and confirm the rumors, are you?" Chu Jiang wasn't a fool; he knew exactly what his father was implying.

"Not just confirm them. Raise the stakes. Say that among your peers of the same realm, you disdain to be compared with anyone."

Chu Jiang was speechless.

"That way, your reputation as the True Dragon, number one on the Hidden Dragon List, will be firmly established." With that, Chu Changping made his decision. "I'll go arrange it with the media right now."

Chu Jiang was stunned for a moment, then a slow grin spread across his face. He's right. Since it's certain Lord Yang won't intervene, why not use this to make a name for myself? Interesting. Haha!

***

After breakfast, Yang Hu reported to Chen Yang. "Boss, that guy, Chu Jiang, is staying at the Nanlin Hotel. He's gotten ridiculously arrogant, even publicly claiming he's invincible among those in the same realm. The way I see it, he's only acting like this because he's betting you won't stoop to his level. Give him an inch, and he'll take a mile."

Chen Yang shrugged. "But I promised Xiaoqiu I'd beat him up."

"Besides, I've got you, don't I?" Chen Yang said as he walked toward the business van. "Go beat him up."

"Hehe..." Yang Hu's face lit up, and he hurried to follow.

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