Willow catkins filled the sky as the wind arose.

Leaving the Meixin Community, Qin Lie remained in a semi-dazed state.

I thought he was just a minor Sixth Grade Martial General, but who would have expected him to suddenly become the renowned Lord Yang? Most crucially, it seems this Lord Yang intends to stand up for me?

Just as this thought crossed his mind, Qin Lie let out a self-deprecating laugh.

What am I, really? In the end, I'm just basking in Qin Qiu's reflected glory. Without her, would Lord Yang have appeared at my eightieth birthday banquet? Would he have declared that the Qin Family will not fall? Still… Yang Qian was right about one thing. Lord Yang is strong, but his strength is ultimately his alone. Can he truly stand against the eighty thousand Personal Guards of the Yang Family?

He hesitated, but in any case, it was at least one more layer of protection. Qin Lie shook his head to clear it, no longer dwelling on the matter as he hurried back to the Qin Family estate.

When he arrived, however, the scene that greeted him sent him into a rage.

"Qin Lie, get out here this instant! Surrender your arms!"

"You caused this disaster, so why should all of Qiyun Road have to bear the consequences for you? Old King Qin? You're not worthy of the title!"

"You old fool, it's time you stepped aside and let someone virtuous take your place!"

A crowd of thousands had surrounded the entrance to the Qin estate, forming an impenetrable wall. They waved flags and screamed insults, each more vicious than the last. Aside from the personal attacks, their most common demand was for Qin Lie to surrender, satisfy all of the Yang Family's demands, and not drag the people of Qiyun Road into his mess.

Their momentum was overwhelming, and the crowd was in a frenzy. Each and every one of them acted as if they were truly fighting for justice. Never mind the fact that they were paid actors following orders; even if their protest had been spontaneous, how could this mob possibly claim to represent all of Qiyun Road? Would the good men of Qiyun Road truly be so spineless?

"My lord," Qin Wei said, stepping in front of Qin Lie. "Let's take the side door to avoid getting entangled with them."

"Hmph!" Qin Lie scoffed. "This is my home. Why should I sneak through a side door instead of using the main gate? What kind of logic is that?"

With that, Qin Lie strode forward, pushed Qin Wei aside, and marched directly toward the crowd.

"Look, it's Qin Lie! Surround him!" someone yelled.

Instantly, everyone turned to look. Then, with a great RUSH, they all swarmed toward him.

BANG.

Qin Lie stomped his foot, and the very ground shuddered. Countless cracks spiderwebbed out from beneath his boot. Though he was in his eighties, he was still bursting with vigor. In an instant, the entire area fell silent. The protestors glanced at each other, frozen in place and hesitant to move. They were, after all, only paid to make a scene; none of them were willing to risk their lives for it.

"What do you think you're doing?" Qin Lie demanded, standing with his hands clasped behind his back, his profound gaze sweeping over the crowd. "My Qin Family, even tracing back three generations since we put down roots in Qiyun Road, has always been compassionate toward the people and supported the development of their livelihoods. I, Qin Lie, can say with a clear conscience that I have never wronged a single citizen of Qiyun Road.

"Now that my family is in trouble, I do not ask for your support. But I will never accept or yield to you slandering me with such vile and false accusations! If you truly think that I have implicated you, then by all means, come at me!"

Qin Lie stood tall, his words sharp and his eyes burning with intensity.

The crowd was suddenly silent. Many of them lowered their heads, their faces tinged with shame. He was right. Whenever a natural disaster struck, the Qin Family was always there, either making donations or sending their own to work alongside the public at the disaster sites. When traffic became too congested, it was the Qin Family who had built overpasses on the busiest avenues. Racking their brains, they couldn't recall a single misdeed committed by the family.

Faced with Qin Lie's piercing stare, the people grew uneasy.

"Make way! All of you, move it!" Qin Lie roared when no one spoke.

The crowd of thousands immediately parted, clearing a wide path down the middle.

THUD. THUD. THUD.

With his back ramrod straight, Qin Lie walked at a steady, unhurried pace through the path they had formed. The people on either side either bowed their heads or wore looks of apology.

BANG!

The great gates of the Qin estate slammed shut, and the crowd began to disperse. The entire Qin Family had now entered a state of full battle readiness.

「At the same time.」

On the Lingjin River, the eighty thousand Personal Guards of the Yang Family had assembled. The water level of the river surged, rising another thirty centimeters.

On the flagship, Yang Tianli stood erect at the bow. Behind him were not only the core members of the Yang Family but also a host of noble families from Qiyun Road who had turned traitor. These turncoats stood with expressions of reverent submission, their faces plastered with fawning, sycophantic smiles.

In their lifetimes, they had never dreamed they could board a warship of the Golden Summit Yang Family; naturally, they cherished this opportunity greatly.

"Granduncle!"

A young man boarded the warship from a speedboat and walked directly up to Yang Tianli. He was in his early thirties, tall and imposing, with a vigorous air about him. As he approached, the local dignitaries from Qiyun Road all bowed their heads in reverence.

This was Yang Qin, the Second Son of the Yang Family—Yang Jin's second brother and Yang Qian's younger brother. Compared to his older and younger siblings, he, the middle son, seemed far more calm and experienced.

"What's the word from the other side?" Yang Tianli asked indifferently.

Yang Qin pursed his lips in annoyance. "I went over with the utmost sincerity, requesting to see their commanding officer, but they put on an incredibly high and mighty act!"

He had just visited the opposing force, bearing lavish gifts, hoping to get acquainted with them and probe their true purpose. In response, he received a single word.

"Scram!!"

Yang Qin had been instantly furious. He was the commander-in-chief of eighty thousand Personal Guards, yet they dared to treat him with such an attitude? But their power was on full display. Anger was one thing, but provoking an unnecessary conflict was another, so he had no choice but to return in frustration.

"Hmph!" Hearing Yang Qin's account, Yang Tianli fixed his piercing gaze on the opposing fleet and sneered. "Such arrogance. Once I have a free moment, I'll investigate your background thoroughly and teach you a proper lesson."

"Lord Yang, there's a rumor in Qiyun Road that this force is here for that old bastard Qin Lie, so you needn't pay them any mind!" said Chu Jiang, the top talent on the Hidden Dragon List, his voice full of eager flattery.

Chu Jiang had come to Qiyun Road originally to deal with the Qin Family. Now that the Qin Family's empire was about to collapse, he was naturally the first to sever all ties and latch onto the great tree that was the Yang Family.

Even if you're going to be a dog, you have to be the most badass dog there is!

"Yes, yes, that's the rumor that's been spreading all over Qiyun Road about this mysterious force," the other turncoats chimed in, following Chu Jiang's lead.

"They say the enemy of my enemy is my friend," Chu Jiang said with a grin. "Since they were so unappreciative, they've missed their chance to build a good relationship with your esteemed Golden Summit Yang Family. It's their loss."

Yang Qin shot him a passing glance, but even that brief look sent a thrill of pleasure through Chu Jiang.

"We have no reason to concern ourselves with them, of course," Yang Qin said nonchalantly. "After my brother's funeral the day after tomorrow, I will pay them another, more proper visit."

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