Chapter 8: Hit Him
Chapter 8: Hit Him
Facing such ferocity, Elder Fang was so terrified he couldn’t utter a word.
Before his son Fang Chi became a Qi Refiner, he never encountered someone so powerful and imposing. And after Fang Chi showed his talent, other Qi Refiners treated Fang respectfully. Who dared act fierce toward him?
So unexpectedly, his own nephew was the first to show him the intimidating power of a Qi Refiner!
Qi Refiners, those who nurture their Innate Qi to become stronger, held immense pressure over ordinary folk. Elder Fang, grieving his eldest son’s sudden death and feeling deeply sorrowful, was already mentally weak. How could he withstand this pressure? His face turned as pale as paper. If not for his experience dealing with powerful figures and his strong composure, he would have fainted by now.
“Haha, Chang Chang, don’t scare your uncle-in-law so!”
Seeing Elder Fang utterly terrified, the uncle felt an indescribable thrill inside. He pretended to scold his son, then turned to Elder Fang. “Brother-in-law, now, why couldn’t we just talk nicely? Things are different now. The Fang Family has lost its Qi Refiner. From now on, our family connection will rely on my Chang Chang for support. So, about that land deed…”
His wife muttered beside him, “Why bother being polite? The Fang Family always relied on their eldest son to bully others. Now that he’s dead, who will protect you? Hmph, even the funeral feast outside has no takers. Still trying to act mighty like the old days?”
“Bu..bully? What are you talking about? My… my family has always treated yours…” Elder Fang stammered, furious and anxious, unable to form a coherent sentence.
He truly didn’t understand. This brother from his wife’s side, actually a distant cousin, came to Willows Lake City with his family years ago after a flood ruined their village. The Fang Family gave them a house, land, ensured they were well-fed and clothed. Later, when their son wanted to train at the academy but lacked talent, it was he, Elder Fang, who secretly bribed the academy Elder Mentor with a fortune to secure a spot, hiding it even from his eldest son. Worried they couldn’t afford the expenses, he even gave them one-tenth ownership of the Twelve Continuous Docks…
Such wholehearted generosity—driven by his family being alone in Willow Lake with no other relatives—purely came from a desire to help and foster goodwill. He never imagined that as soon as his eldest died, they’d turn into such schemers.
What baffled Elder Fang most was their attitude, as if they regarded his family as enemies!
“Gi…give it to them. Whatever you want now, cough cough, I cannot control anymore…” Master Fang cried out intermittently with heavy coughing.
Meanwhile, the shop managers in the hall acted as if their mouths had been sewn shut. Silent and speechless, they simply watched the scene unfold. None stepped in to mediate. Their faces showed mixed emotions—some distressed, some indifferent, others cold. It seemed the Fang Family had genuinely fallen. If even the business of the Twelve Continuous Docks could be taken so easily, what about their other ventures inside and outside the city…
“Who said anything about giving it away?”
Fang Cun slowly stood up, frowning. “If we give away all our business, where will I get my spending money?”
“What?”
The whole uncle’s family looked at him in shock.
Hearing this, Master Fang was so startled he jumped up. He grabbed Fang Cun’s sleeve, pleading desperately, “My child, don’t argue! Just give it to them and send them away. Your brother is gone. I still need you for support in my old age. Why provoke them? If you need silver, we still have it at home. Just take it from the treasury… Please don’t fight with your cousin!”
“Father, don’t you find Uncle’s family behaving strangely?”
Fang Cun turned and steadied Elder Fang. With a knowing grin, he looked over at the uncle’s family and then scanned all the managers in the inner hall. “Before, whenever this cousin wanted something here, he’d only dare cry and fuss to his parents. If something wasn’t handed to him fast enough, he’d roll on the floor pretending to have fits. To calm him, you two elders snatched away quite a few toys from my hands for him! Now look at him, acting so bold and forceful. And he looks so proud, like he’s finally accomplished something!”
Master Fang listened, his beard trembling, unsure how to respond.
Fang Cun chuckled. “I actually understand their family. In the past, when they got a house and land from us, they didn’t feel thankful. Because our house was bigger, and our land was bigger than theirs. So they only felt resentment, only thought we hadn’t given them enough or done enough. Even though we looked after them, even got this cousin into the academy, they just felt awkward and humiliated each time they came to us for help. They had to smile and flatter us. After we worked hard to fulfill their ridiculous requests, they still felt deeply wronged!”
“But it’s different now!”
He stared directly at the uncle’s family, especially at his menacing-looking cousin. Cold laughter laced his voice. “Our eldest brother is gone. The tables have turned. Before, we had a Little Immortal Master backing us. Now, we have none, but they have a Minor Qi Practitioner. From now on, their backs are straight. They don’t need to depend on anyone’s favor anymore. No more sucking up for favors. So naturally, the grand mansion and the thriving businesses should go to them, right? Isn’t this the perfect opportunity to release all those perceived grievances they suffered under the Fang Residence roof?”
“True, times are changing…”
Fang Cun spoke slower now, his gaze fixed on Cao Chang with a sly smile. “Cousin Cao, my dear cousin. Now you’ve made something of yourself, haven’t you? No longer the ‘poor boy,’ are you?”
Master Fang heard this, utterly stunned, unable to tell if he wanted to laugh or cry.
The surrounding managers stayed quiet, quietly avoiding Fang Cun’s gaze as it passed over them.
The uncle’s family, however, listened to Fang Cun’s seemingly cheerful words and became increasingly dazed. The words weirdly resonated deeply with them. They almost wanted to clap! Then it hit them—the boy was mocking them!
The uncle was the first to snap. “You little brat! How dare you disrespect your elders!”
His wife indignantly nudged her son Cao Chang, glaring resentfully at Fang Cun.
“Fine words,” Cao Chang finally reacted, recalling the past. He, already two years into academy training, mastering spells and projecting power, was supposed to be above ordinary people. Yet, whenever Fang Cun pulled a stern face, he still involuntarily felt fear. But now! Things were different! The Fang eldest was gone. And now… He, Cao Chang, possessed training!
“Your revered big brother’s dead! Let’s see how tough you act now!”
Rage pulsed within him. He made a move to grab Fang Cun…
“Don’t hurt my son!”
Master Fang saw the killing intent and almost fainted in fright. He threw himself in front of Fang Cun as a shield.
Fang Cun just frowned deeply. Suddenly, he smashed his teacup onto the floor.
CRACK! The sound was sharp and piercing.
The quarreling aunt and uncle, and the attacking cousin Cao Chang all jumped at the noise. The hall’s managers flinched.
Though in their hearts they knew the Fang Family’s Little Immortal Master was gone, its backing vanished, the awe surrounding the deceased Fang Chi lingered. Seeing the infamous Second Young Master of the Fang Family truly lose his temper still stunned them instinctively.
“Cousin Cao Chang, you’ve entered the academy, learned skills. You really think highly of yourself now, huh? Boasting about teaching me a lesson!”
Fang Cun stepped forward, tilting his head slightly. He stared coldly at Cousin Cao Chang, his face displaying bare disgust.
Shua Shua Shua!
Just then, rapid footsteps echoed outside the hall. Over a dozen burly house guards, exuding fierceness, surged into the main hall! Each held a crossbow forged from gleaming ox hide, sinew cord taut like steel wires! The lethal tips of the crossbow bolts shimmered coldly under the candlelight, icy and menacing.
They advanced and formed an encircling wall, trapping the uncle’s family of three firmly in its center.
Staring at the deadly bolts almost touching their faces, all three froze. Their legs instinctively went weak.
“You… what is the meaning of this?” The uncle managed a complete sentence after tremendous effort, his legs shaking like loose reeds.
Fang Cun looked at them indifferently. “Legends say Qi Refiners have remarkable skills… impervious to blades and spears…”
“Well, I wonder… can these crossbow bolts kill you?”
Silence.
…
Not a sound in the hall. Everyone stared, transfixed with disbelief, at Cao Chang held captive by the crossbows.
The aunt and uncle had never seen such a scene. Point-blank bolts threatened to pierce their faces any moment. Frozen by panic, they dared not speak. Their eyes locked desperately onto their son. Surely their son, trained as a Qi Refiner at immense silver cost annually, could handle this…
Cao Chang, his chubby face trembling, stared wide-eyed at the menacing bolt tips. The cold glint… the occasional blue shimmer… poison? Though he knew some defensive spells, what if all fired simultaneously?
…
“…You… dare you…” It took multiple false starts before he managed to squeeze out the words, his voice trembling.
The entire inner hall stood deadly silent. Managers, assistant managers – all watched pale and trembling. No one dared utter a sound. Inside, they were horrified. Who hadn’t heard tales of Qi Refiners’ powers? But to see armed servants holding a Qi Refiner hostage with crossbows? That was unprecedented!
And… would Second Young Master Fang truly order the shots?
Cao Chang, however weak, was an academy Disciple! And with his older brother gone… injuring Cao Chang now…
“C-Cun Cun… son, do NOT be impulsive!” Even Master Fang trembled as he urged. “Ordinary weapons cannot harm a Qi Refiner…”
“Oh really?”
Fang Cun tilted his head slightly and smiled faintly. “I don’t believe it!”
The whole hall was stunned rigid. At that moment, Fang Cun suddenly barked: “Xiao Qingliu!”
“Right here, Young Master!” A slender, monkey-like youth dashed into the hall from the side, his eyes gleaming lively.
Fang Cun gave his order, expressionless: “Hit him!”
Xiao Qingliu grinned. “Got it!”
While everyone watched in utter confusion, Xiao Qingliu lunged forward.
SMACK!
A crisp, sharp crack echoed as his palm struck Cao Chang’s face.
Struck, Cousin Cao Chang froze where he stood. A bright red palm print bloomed distinct on his cheek.
Auntie, uncle, and all the managers in the hall gaped. This servant boy had unbelievable nerve! Clearly a nobody, yet he dared physically strike the Minor Qi Practitioner?! What if the Qi Refiner reacted…
But after delivering the slap, Xiao Qingliu glanced back at Fang Cun. Seeing the Second Young Master sipping his tea calmly, with no sign of stopping… he flashed another grin. Turning back, another slap landed! Then another! Seeing Cao Chang instinctively flinch back, Xiao Qingliu hopped up—like a monkey—and smacked him again! Left! Right! Smack after smack!
“Stop hitting my son!”
Finally, his mother rushed through, wailing miserably. She wrapped Cao Chang in a hug, shielding him with her body.
Xiao Qingliu finally stopped. He shook out his hand, muttering, “Definitely a Qi Refiner! His hands even tingled!”
The hall stood utterly silent. All managers and young bosses stared, eyes wide with disbelief. This was an academy Disciple who trained in mystic arts! An exalted Qi Practitioner throughout Willow Lake City! And he let a servant publicly slap his face? Forget whose hand hurt! Everyone worried only—how long before the Qi Refiner finally exploded with rage? What then?
Under the stares of everyone gathered, Cousin Cao Chang trembled all over. His plump face was swollen and covered in red streaks. Uncontrolled fury clearly boiled in his eyes. Sweat dripped down his temples as if volcanoes raged within him. His gaze locked onto Xiao Qingliu, standing boldly with arms crossed.
Xiao Qingliu just stared back, grinning… utterly fearless.
Around them, the crossbows were held unwaveringly. Tiny speckles of blue flickered under the candlelight. The chilling glint of metal seemed to press into the very skin.
Finally… Cao Chang could contain himself no more. Rage shattered his rationality!
Thus…
His eyes rolled back. Collapsing heavily to the floor, he began to convulse violently.
Young Master Cao had always possessed this signature talent: starting fights the moment things displeased him.
But when clearly outmatched… his final trick was to collapse on the spot and fake convulsions.