Everyone stared at Lin Mu in stunned silence. They already knew the Fire Cloud Sect's Leader was about to challenge him, yet Lin Mu had gone ahead and killed their Second Elder?

Is he trying to make a mortal enemy of the Fire Cloud Sect? This guy is completely unreasonable. The crowd felt their minds reel, at a complete loss for words.

After killing the two Elders from the Fire Cloud Sect, Lin Mu turned his gaze toward the man who had been sitting in his chair, silent the entire time.

The man was in his early thirties, with a refined appearance. He emanated an air of nobility, and his eyes exuded an innate pride that seemed to radiate from his very bones, as if it were something he was born with.

This was the pride of a descendant of the Fang Family!

This was Fang Shaoning of the Jiangling Fang Family!

Fang Shaoning watched Lin Mu, his lips curling into a faint smile. "Lin Mu? Lin Wudi?"

He shook his head and chuckled. "No wonder you dare to kill a member of my Fang Family. You do have some backbone." He paused, his tone shifting. "A pity."

Fang Shaoning said indifferently, "With your rank of sixteenth on the Heaven's List, you are nothing before my Fang Family!"

His words sent a slight shock through the entire hall.

Lin Mu is ranked sixteenth on the Heaven's List, yet that means nothing to the Fang Family?

Fang Shaoning suddenly stood up, a faint smile on his face. "Lin Mu, out of respect for you being a Martial Arts Grandmaster, I will offer you a way out."

"Oh?" Lin Mu replied, a smile playing on his lips that wasn't quite a smile. "Let's hear it."

"Become a servant of my Fang Family. If you do, I can guarantee I won't kill you, nor will I trouble the Qin Family." Pointing to Qin Luoli beside him, he added, "Including this woman. Although I've taken a fancy to her, I can bestow her upon you."

Fang Shaoning's face was filled with supreme confidence, as if he were certain Lin Mu would agree.

"As long as you agree, I will not hold you accountable for the crime of killing a man from my Fang Family. The condition is that from this day forward, you will be a servant to my Fang Family, and the Qin Family must also serve us!"

Upon hearing this, everyone's jaw dropped in disbelief.

Make Lin Mu a servant to the Fang Family? And not hold him responsible? This… Where does Fang Shaoning get such audacity and confidence? Was he scared out of his wits by Lin Mu's earlier display? Otherwise, how could he possibly say such things?

"Become a servant for your Fang Family?" Lin Mu tilted his head, looking intently at Fang Shaoning. "And you've set your sights on my woman?"

His tone seemed devoid of any emotion.

Fang Shaoning smiled and nodded. "That's right. Become a servant to my Fang Family and serve us for life, without a hint of betrayal!"

He then pointed a finger at Qin Luoli. "This woman's appearance and temperament are both top-class, and her abilities are not bad either. She is certainly qualified to be my handmaiden. But, seeing as you are about to become a servant to my Fang Family, what does it matter if I bestow her upon you?"

Qin Luoli's expression turned grim. Her hands involuntarily clenched into fists, anger flaring in her eyes. This Fang Shaoning was humiliating her so brazenly, and worst of all, he was doing it right in front of Lin Mu!

Lin Mu gently took her hand and asked in a soft voice, "How would you like him to die?"

His question hung in the air. Who was to die? Naturally, it was Fang Shaoning.

Qin Luoli took a deep breath, gritted her teeth, and said hatefully, "I want to smash his mouth!"

"Okay."

Lin Mu smiled, then slowly walked towards Fang Shaoning, a faint smile still on his face. To the onlookers, however, that smile was as cold as a winter gale. It wasn't a smile at all, but a killing intent so intense it had reached its peak.

"Lin Mu, what do you think you're doing?" Fang Shaoning's face paled slightly as he snarled, "You dare act so presumptuously in front of me!"

SLAP!

The only response he received was a crisp slap across the face.

"Ah!"

The blow was exceptionally powerful, sending Fang Shaoning spinning in a full circle. The moment he stopped, Lin Mu backhanded him again.

SPIT!

This time, the slap knocked two of Fang Shaoning's teeth out.

"Lin Mu, you dare hit me?!" Fang Shaoning clutched his face, staring at Lin Mu in utter disbelief.

The others were just as shocked.

Lin Mu… he actually dared to strike Fang Shaoning? This man is simply reckless, with no regard for the consequences!

"Your mouth is so foul. Didn't you brush your teeth before coming out?" Lin Mu raised his hand again and delivered another slap.

Fang Shaoning desperately wanted to dodge, but to his horror, he found he couldn't move. He could only stand there, watching in terror as Lin Mu's palm struck his face again.

"Lin Mu!" Fang Shaoning's face instantly swelled up like a pig's head and was covered in blood. But his eyes were full of venomous hatred as he stared at Lin Mu and said grimly, "You'll pay a heavy price for hitting me today!"

SLAP! SLAP!

Two more slaps sent Fang Shaoning crumpling to the ground, screaming in agony.

"Lin Mu, you dare!" he roared. "The power of the Fang Family is far beyond your imagination! We can even mobilize the Martial Alliance! Annihilating a single Grandmaster is a trivial matter for us!"

Fang Shaoning gave a sinister smirk. "Lin Mu, you think you're strong, do you? Are you stronger than the entire Martial Alliance?"

The Jiangling Fang Family had always maintained a good relationship with the Martial Alliance.

"Even if you're a skilled fighter, do you dare challenge the Martial Alliance?" Fang Shaoning smiled cruelly. "Moreover, my Fang Family also has connections within the Military Department!"

The mention of the Military Department made everyone's expression change drastically. Given their status, they knew things ordinary people didn't, like the existence of martial artists and the Martial Alliance. And the Military Department ranked even higher than the Martial Alliance! This was no ordinary military; it was rumored to be filled with countless experts, each one a master among masters.

"Do you know why Guan Chengye didn't dare help the Qin Family, even though he knew they were in trouble?" Fang Shaoning sneered. "It's because someone gave a warning, and he didn't dare make a move!"

Everyone finally understood. They now knew why Fang Shaoning had been so certain that the Guan Family wouldn't intervene, that River City was under his control, that the Qin Family was doomed, and that Lin Mu would surely die. The Fang Family's influence was far stronger and deeper than any of them had imagined.

"A Martial Arts Grandmaster?" Fang Shaoning scoffed. "You're still subject to the Martial Alliance's authority. You wouldn't dare defy them and kill me, would you?"

He slowly stood up, rubbing his swollen face. Seeing Lin Mu remain silent, he assumed his words had terrified him, and his killing intent grew colder.

So you're arrogant? When you become a servant of my Fang Family, your woman will become my plaything.

Thinking this, Fang Shaoning's expression grew even more ferocious. He pointed at Lin Mu and spat, "Get on your knees and admit your mistake! If your attitude is satisfactory, I might just spare your worthless life!"

Hearing Fang Shaoning's words, everyone assumed Lin Mu would have to agree. After all, who would dare to offend both the Martial Alliance and the Military Department? That was suicide, even for a Grandmaster.

However, Lin Mu just laughed.

It was a laugh that made one's scalp tingle.

He looked at Fang Shaoning and slowly shook his head.

"The Fang Family? The Martial Alliance? The Military Department?"

Though a smile was on Lin Mu's face, his voice was filled with a murderous intent that was almost tangible.

"You think too highly of them!"

The murderous intent erupted like a volcano, threatening to tear through the roof of the hall.

"And you overestimate yourself far too much!"

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