He Ziqing struggled to sit up in the flower bed, his bloodshot eyes staring fixedly at Chen Yang. He could clearly feel that he'd broken at least three ribs, and the pain pierced him to the marrow. Worst of all, so many people were watching—and they were all acquaintances.

This…

His face flushed red and his eyes filled with venomous resentment as his hands dug fiercely into the soil.

Liu Xuan covered her mouth, her expression a mask of terror. She knew He Ziqing's strength; he had reached the fourth rank last year, a full two ranks higher than her! In theory, that should have been enough to defeat most people. But now... Liu Xuan instinctively shrank back. What would have happened if that had been me? Suddenly, her entire face turned scarlet with shame. Thinking of how provocative and arrogant she had been just moments ago, she was flooded with an unbearable sense of mortification.

Liu Changzheng, Liu Xuan's grandfather, along with the rest of the onlookers, exchanged shocked glances. Ren Tong's adopted son was clearly not what they had expected. Anyone who could so easily defeat a fourth-rank Fist Master was a master in their own right.

Chen Yang dusted off his pant legs and walked away without a backward glance.

But just then, a furious He Ziqing scrambled to his feet in the flower bed and bellowed at Chen Yang, "What's so skillful about a sneak attack? If you have any guts, fight me fair and square!"

He was so consumed by rage that he blurted out the words without thinking. He was the one who attacked first, so how could he accuse Chen Yang of a sneak attack? As soon as he spoke, many in the crowd shot him disdainful looks. It was obvious he was just a sore loser. What a disgrace.

Chen Yang didn't say a word or break his stride. He simply flicked his right hand, sending the withered leaf he had been toying with flying backward.

SWOOSH!

With a piercing whistle, the leaf grazed He Ziqing's cheek and, with a sharp THWACK, embedded itself deeply into the ginkgo tree behind him.

The tree, as thick as a water bucket, shook violently, its branches rustling as a shower of leaves fluttered down. The swirling golden leaves seemed to blot out the sky.

The crowd stood like a collection of statues, rooted to the spot and motionless. Only their eyes, wide with utter terror, showed they were alive.

How… how is this possible? A mere withered leaf had generated such tremendous force that it had nearly split the ginkgo tree. Just who is this man?

He Ziqing wiped his cheek, a smear of crimson appearing on his fingertips. His mind suddenly buzzed and went blank. If that had been off by just a few centimeters… The thought terrified him so completely that he collapsed in a heap on the ground, his spirit utterly broken.

As the saying goes, amateurs watch the spectacle, while experts see the skill.

Liu Changzheng sucked in a sharp breath. He could see that Chen Yang's strength was at least at the sixth rank, if not higher! Old Ghost Ren's adopted son is formidable!

"Grandfather, this, this…" A completely dumbfounded Liu Xuan stared at Liu Changzheng in terror.

Liu Changzheng gave a self-deprecating chuckle. "He's a true master. I'm afraid even I wouldn't be his match."

Liu Xuan's pupils contracted, thoroughly frightened.

"What's going on here?" Pan Hong walked over, his gaze sweeping the scene before pausing on He Ziqing for a moment. He approached Liu Changzheng with a puzzled expression.

Liu Changzheng shook his head and laughed. "Old Ghost Ren's adopted son is something else!"

"Are you talking about Chen Yang?" Pan Hong sneered. "What's he capable of?"

"Old Liu, you have no idea!"

Just as Liu Changzheng was about to elaborate, he was interrupted by a sudden, sharp noise.

CRACK!

Without any warning, the ginkgo tree snapped in half and slowly toppled over. Everyone cried out in alarm and scrambled to the side.

Their pupils contracted to pinpricks. The break in the trunk was exactly where the withered leaf had struck. In other words, the man had actually felled a tree with nothing but a single leaf.

What kind of monstrous strength is this?

Liu Changzheng's lips twitched. He took a deep breath and said, "See that? This is Chen Yang's handiwork."

"What's so surprising about that? Can't you and my Pan Yang do the same?" Pan Hong said dismissively, his opinion of Chen Yang sinking even lower. What's so impressive about showing off here? It's so juvenile!

"He did it from seven or eight meters away," Liu Changzheng said flatly. "With a withered leaf."

Pan Hong was speechless.

Liu Changzheng picked up a leaf from the ground and held it out to Pan Hong. "Why don't you have your Pan Yang give it a try?"

Pan Hong fell silent.

"We all underestimated him," Liu Changzheng said, shaking his head. "I thought his strength was just a bit above the sixth rank, but now… he seems utterly unfathomable."

Pan Hong stared blankly at the broken tree, completely dumbfounded. Could this be the source of his pride?

At his side, Liu Xuan suddenly tugged on Liu Changzheng's sleeve. "Grandpa, I… I want to ask him to be my master! You and Old Master Ren are old friends, aren't you? Could you talk to him for me?"

"Are you saying your grandfather isn't a good enough teacher?" Liu Changzheng rolled his eyes, speechless.

Liu Xuan stuck out her tongue. "That's not what I mean! He's stronger, and he's young. I think we'd have more to talk about."

"Have you forgotten how you were cursing him just a few minutes ago?"

Liu Xuan's face fell, and she fell silent for a moment before muttering, "I was in a bad mood… I can apologize."

"Alright, alright!" Liu Changzheng waved his hand helplessly. "I'll take you to pay him a visit later. But don't get your hopes up. That young man is very proud."

"Okay, okay!" Liu Xuan was overjoyed.

Pan Hong remained silent, lost in his own thoughts.

「Meanwhile.」

A luxury van slowly stopped in front of Ren Tong's small villa.

The rear window rolled down, and two men poked their heads out, their eyes fixed intently on Zhou Yufei, who was watering the flowers in the courtyard.

"Tsk, tsk, she's even prettier in person. A real masterpiece!" a man with a scar on his forehead and half an ear missing said with a squint and a chuckle.

Beside him, a tall, thin man in a blue suit holding a cigar nodded in satisfaction. A smirk played on his lips. "Pan Xue has good taste, that's for sure."

His name was Pang Wenxuan, the very same Pang Dashao that Pan Xue had mentioned earlier. After giving Pan Xue a three-million-yuan finder's fee for the address, he had hurried right over.

"Pang Dashao, I'll go grab her for you!" said the man with the missing half-ear—Lin Bao, also known as Bao. He rubbed his hands together, speaking with eager anticipation.

"How crude!" Pang Wenxuan chuckled. "You can't be rough with a beauty like this. What if you hurt her?"

He tore a check from a checkbook and handed it to Lin Bao. "Go. Give her one million now. You can pick up the other nine million at my club tonight. And tell her I'd like to see her in a dress."

"You got it!" Lin Bao pushed open the car door and scampered toward the courtyard.

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