Qin Zhuo was clad in a black robe, his salt-and-pepper hair combed back meticulously. He exuded a vibrant, imposing aura. Tall and imposing, he had a square face framed by eyes as sharp as a hawk's, which occasionally flashed with a chilling gleam that sent shivers down the spine. Judging by his appearance alone, one could not tell he was a man nearly sixty years old.

It was under Qin Zhuo's coercion that Qin Gang had joined the Martial Department in the first place. It was also because of Qin Zhuo that Qin Gang had been expelled from the family. Therefore, while Qin Gang felt extreme fear towards his older brother, he also harbored exceptional resentment. This man's heartlessness had reached a daunting degree.

"My Qin Family has more outstanding descendants than trash," Qin Zhuo stated arrogantly as he stared at Qin Gang. "In the years you have been gone, the Qin Family has produced three seventh-rank Military Generals, and one who has even reached the high position of Eighth Rank! Don't even mention a mere Sixth Grade Martial General. Even if there were ten more, what would they amount to before my Qin Family?"

Qin Zhuo was dismissive, his deep eyes full of mockery. This mockery, and his use of the word "trash," were clearly aimed at Qin Gang. It was as if he were saying, "The Qin Family invested everything in training you, yet you stopped at the sixth rank. Look at everyone else in the family. If you aren't trash, what are you? What right does trash like you have to remain in the Qin Royal Family?"

"Eighth Rank? Heh..." Qin Gang laughed and shook his head mockingly. Yes, an Eighth Rank could certainly crush a Sixth Grade Martial General. One could even say the two weren't in the same league at all. But! Is Chen Yang a Sixth Grade Martial General? He's the Nine Gates Admiral, a title conferred by the Zhennan Prince himself! Forget one Eighth Rank Military General; even ten more would be nothing!

"You, an old cripple, still have the gall to laugh at others?" Qin Zhuo's right hand shot out, grabbing Qin Gang's neck and lifting him from the bed like a chick. "Trash like you," he said coldly. "If it weren't for that prescription, even looking at you would be an insult to me!"

BANG!

Qin Gang was thrown to the ground.

Qin Gang's face flushed crimson as he coughed violently. After a struggle, he managed to stand and asked faintly, "Have you truly shed every last bit of brotherly affection? Do you really see me as a complete outsider?"

"Haha!" Qin Zhuo laughed as if he had heard the world's funniest joke, shaking his head with a sneer. "When have I ever shown mercy to a good-for-nothing? What right does trash like you have to appeal to my affections?"

"As for being an outsider, you just happen to share the Qin surname with me. What distinction is there between insider and outsider?"

The words could not have been more cutting. In his eyes, Qin Gang had absolutely no connection to the Qin Royal Family.

"Good. Very good." Qin Gang nodded earnestly. "Then there's nothing more to say." If his brother had shown even a shred of affection, he would have revealed Chen Yang's identity to make Qin Zhuo back down. As long as some bond remained, it wouldn't be right to burn all bridges. Alas, he had been overthinking it. In that case, he would just have to let Chen Yang do as he pleased. He wouldn't even bat an eye if the entire Qin Royal Family was destroyed. If you are cruel, then I will be merciless.

"From the sound of it, you want to turn on me?" Qin Zhuo's interest was piqued. The corner of his mouth twitched into a smirk. "Or perhaps you have some backing that makes you think you can take me on? Me, and the entire Qin Royal Family?"

SMACK.

The moment he finished speaking, Qin Zhuo slapped Qin Gang across the face. Qin Gang collapsed to the ground, blood trickling from his mouth. Already plagued by old injuries, his vitality instantly withered to its lowest point.

"Come on, come on. Let's hear it."

PTUI!

Qin Gang spat out a mouthful of blood. He struggled back to his feet and glared at Qin Zhuo. "There's nothing! Since you insist on taking me, let's go!"

With that, Qin Gang turned and began to straighten his clothes. His dull, jaundiced eyes were filled with venom and a sinister sneer. Just you wait!

"I'm not just taking you. Your family has to come with me too!" Qin Zhuo sneered.

Qin Gang nodded. "Simple enough. Just go to the Qin household and arrest them later."

"Look at you, you spineless coward. It makes me sick," Qin Zhuo mocked mercilessly. "Even the dog my Qin Family keeps has more guts than you! Trash is trash, always showing its true colors."

Qin Gang didn't get angry. He calmly organized his belongings and replied indifferently, "Don't be so arrogant. The Qin Royal Family certainly has some power and is indeed one of the top forces in Qiyun Road. But don't forget, so long as you can't blot out the sky with a single hand, you will eventually meet your match."

"Hmph." Qin Zhuo sneered. "Across all of Qiyun Road, my Qin Family *can* blot out the sky with a single hand! Who dares defy our will?"

"And what about outside Qiyun Road?" Qin Gang interjected coolly.

Qin Zhuo fell silent. His expression shifted several times before he said sullenly, "The outside powers have always minded their own business and stayed out of ours. And even if push came to shove, my Qin Family fears no one."

Qin Gang simply smiled and said no more.

「Xianlai Restaurant Grand Hotel」

Today's banquet for the Qin Corporation was held in this grand, fifty-year-old hotel. Inside the vast hall, Chen Yang and Qin Qiu were naturally the center of attention.

Holding wine glasses, the pair moved from table to table. Whenever Chen Yang offered a toast, everyone would stand up nervously. They would hold their glasses with both hands, lowering them again and again when clinking them with his in a clear display of humility.

Beside him, Qin Qiu felt like she was in a dream. She never would have imagined that these influential figures would one day be congratulating her! The way they went out of their way to flatter her felt completely unreal.

At this moment, Chen Yang was like a deity, inspiring a reverence in the crowd that made them want to kneel and worship him.

Not far away, Luo Sulan and Qin Mo were seated at a table with Luo Sulan's side of the family. Watching Chen Yang being adored and flattered by the crowd like the moon surrounded by stars, Luo Sulan felt a complicated, indescribable emotion welling up inside her.

"Sulan, you've found a wonderful son-in-law! Just look at those powerful figures... my, my. Don't forget about your big brother in the future!"

"A Sixth Grade Martial General, and with outstanding military achievements! Sulan, my youngest son—your nephew—has always dreamed of being a Martial Guard. Could you ask Chen Yang to help arrange a good post for him?"

"Sulan, I know I was wrong about some things in the past. I hope you won't hold it against me."

One after another, the people at the table spoke up, their attempts to curry favor completely undisguised and shamelessly on display.

Luo Sulan couldn't get enough of it; the flattery sent her soaring. When had she ever been fawned over like this? Beaming, she graciously accepted all their requests, saying in a lofty tone, "These are all trivial matters. After the banquet, I'll speak to my good son-in-law about them. He won't dare refuse me."

"You probably don't know this, but at home, he always listens to me and treats me like his own mother."

These words made Qin Mo, sitting beside her, roll his eyes. He quickly pulled his mother aside and whispered, "Mom, aren't you the least bit embarrassed? Have you completely forgotten how you used to treat my brother-in-law?"

Luo Sulan was left speechless. Her face turned visibly red, furious but unable to talk back. That's right... after everything she'd done to him, would he even deign to look at her now? For a moment, a wave of extreme regret washed over her, flooding her mind and wracking every nerve in her body, leaving her feeling lost and miserable.

After the banquet ended, Qin Qiu approached Chen Yang. A little tipsy, her rosy cheeks gave her an added touch of sensuality, making her look like a ripe peach. "Chen Yang," she said, "we're planning to visit Grandpa in the hospital. We think it's best to bring him home. Are you coming with us?"

"I still have some things to do, so I'll pass," Chen Yang replied. "Let's all meet at home tonight before we head to Tianque City."

"Okay," Qin Qiu agreed.

This time, upon hearing that Chen Yang was taking Qin Qiu to Tianque City for the holidays, Luo Sulan said nothing at all.

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