Chapter 71: No Next Time

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Sigh, the lingering ghost? Won't stop until the goal is achieved? 

Zhang Yuanqing clenched his teeth in frustration, though he maintained a polite and gentle smile on his face. "Mr. Xiahou, is there something else you need?"

Xiahou Xin sat upright, slightly turned his head, and looked at Zhang Yuanqing on the roadside with a gentle tone. "Earlier at the Public Security Bureau, there were some things we couldn't openly discuss. If you are willing to help us lure out Wang Qian, I will offer a prop as a token of gratitude to you, young brother. In addition, the Xiahou family holds some influence in the Five Elements Alliance. With the young brother's abilities, if you receive further assistance from the Xiahou family, you will undoubtedly rise swiftly."

Beside him, Xiahou Tianyuan lazily leaned back in the leather seat, playing with his cellphone, no longer displaying the irritable demeanor he had in the office.

Zhang Yuanqing was momentarily taken aback, only realizing that this father and son pair didn't really intend to discuss business at the Public Security Bureau; they were just testing the waters because of Ya and Li Dongze's presence. And now, they were bringing up the exchange of props to create a contrast and surprise me... he thought to himself.

"Mr. Xiahou, please don't trouble a small person like me. My attitude is the same as the captain's. I can't afford to provoke Zhi Shaogong." Zhang Yuanqing politely declined.

Xiahou Xin's gaze remained unchanged as he slowly said, "Two props!"

Truly worthy of a prestigious family of 'Scholars,' they are indeed wealthy... Zhang Yuanqing sighed inwardly. The Xiahou family belonged to the 'Scholars' profession, possessing high-level crafting skills just like a blacksmith in a game. Although the creation of a single prop was limited by materials, skills, and other factors, it was still an immensely costly process. But with the Xiahou family's mastery of forging skills, they had an advantage that other forces couldn't compare to.

That was why they could stand tall and extend their roots into the Taiyi Sect and the Five Elements Alliance.

"I apologize!" Zhang Yuanqing shook his head and intended to leave on his bicycle.

However, in the next moment, the bike seemed to be caught on something. He lowered his head and saw green vines sprouting from the ground of the bike lane, wrapping around the wheels like chains.

Xiahou Xin said calmly, "Tianyuan, take his cellphone."

Xiahou Tianyuan's lips curved up as he opened the car door and placed a dreamy and mysterious crystal ball on the roof of the car.

In an instant, Zhang Yuanqing felt an invisible film enveloping everything around him. The vehicles and pedestrians outside twisted, and the outside sounds were cut off.

His expression slightly changed. "You guys..."

This was too overbearing.

Xiahou Tianyuan licked his lips, strolled leisurely, and sneered, "Yuan Shi Tianzun, I heard you cleared two S-level spirit realms, hailed as a genius by the official walkers. What a coincidence! This young master has a short temper and can't tolerate people. I especially enjoy beating geniuses."

As he spoke, his shoes burst into raging flames, and like an arrow trailing its afterimage, he charged forward.

The speed was astonishing. Zhang Yuanqing hurriedly crossed his arms to block his chest.

Papapap... The ruthless consecutive kicks were like whips, lashing at Zhang Yuanqing's arms, turning his sleeves into ashes and leaving burns on his skin.

Level 3? Zhang Yuanqing's heart shuddered. After blocking the first fierce attack, he decisively activated his ability, Night Walk, entering stealth mode.

His figure vanished instantly, as if wiped away.

Xiahou Tianyuan stood proudly in his original spot, his feet ablaze, seemingly treading on the Fire Wheels, his sharp gaze scanning around.

Suddenly, he saw the thin film to the left of the "barrier" being struck hard, rippling like water.

Xiahou Tianyuan shot out, using his left foot as the pivot, his right leg sweeping horizontally. With a "whoosh" through the air, he kicked out a rolling figure.

It was indeed Zhang Yuanqing.

Xiahou Tianyuan reached into the void with his right hand and pulled out a pair of dark golden shackles from his inventory, swinging it out.

"Click, click," the shackles adhered to Zhang Yuanqing's ankle and automatically locked in place.

However, in the next moment, Xiahou Tianyuan's eyebrows furrowed as Zhang Yuanqing's body seemed to shatter like a broken reflection, disappearing.

Illusion technique!

"Bang!"

Xiahou Tianyuan then heard a shattering sound and saw a figure not far away emerging, smashing the cellphone to pieces with a kick.

Witnessing this scene, Xiahou Tianyuan furrowed his brows even tighter.

This damn kid would rather resort to this kind of method than compromise with the Xiahou family?

Zhang Yuanqing exhaled without showing any emotion and said, "If we continue like this, it will be a fight to the death."

Feeling the scorching heat beneath his feet, Xiahou Tianyuan's temper became even more explosive than usual. "You're courting death!"

"That's enough!" Xiahou Xin in the car glanced at the shattered cellphone and calmly said, "Tianyuan, come back."

He gazed deeply at Zhang Yuanqing, apologizing, "My son is aggressive, please don't take offense."

Xiahou Tianyuan's forehead veins bulged, struggling for a moment before suppressing his fiery emotions. He "extinguished" the flames on his shoes and instantly returned to his lazy posture, completely different from his previous explosive state.

"Indeed, you're tough. Beating you is quite enjoyable," Xiahou Tianyuan chuckled, returning to the black sedan's side and putting away the crystal ball from the roof before getting into the car.

The black sedan sped away, merging into the traffic. Xiahou Tianyuan poked his head out of the car window and made a throat-slitting gesture towards the young man behind.

"Dad, this kid is pretty strong, a real talent," he lazily lounged on the genuine leather seat and said, "When did a low-level personnel dare not take our Xiahou family seriously? Tsk tsk, crushing such a tough nut brings such a sense of accomplishment."

"We can use the family's influence to suppress him and play him to death within the rules, but don't do anything stupid. He has merits to his name," Xiahou Xin said calmly.

Killing a walker with merits would lead to a much greater consequence than simply involving ordinary people. If they killed the walker, they would openly confront the Five Elements Alliance. The White Tiger troops would not rest until they had settled the matter.

So, after the young man smashed the cellphone, Xiahou Xin put an end to the matter.

"I understand," Xiahou Tianyuan replied with a cold smile.

"Focus on the other members of Zhi Shaogong. That woman has already revealed too many secrets to your elder brother; she can't be allowed to live. No matter what, she must be eliminated," Xiahou Xin said with a stern expression.

Xiahou Tianyuan grumbled, "Elder brother is just useless. He can't walk straight when he sees a woman. If it weren't for him, we wouldn't be so passive."

At this moment, Xiahou Xin noticed bloodstains on his son's ankle and frowned, "Are you injured?"

Xiahou Tianyuan looked down and discovered that his ankle was scratched. "It's nothing, just a minor issue," he casually replied.

...

"The Xiahou family is too overbearing. All this fuss over Wang Qian? If people don't know the truth, they might think I'm having an affair with the leader of Zhi Shaogong," Zhang Yuanqing complained, watching the black sedan disappear from his sight.

He lowered his head to look at the grim burns on his forearm, and his expression darkened.

Even though the Xiahou family was domineering, they wouldn't dare to kill him unless they wanted to start a war with the Five Elements Alliance. If a member with merits died at the hands of a spirit realm family, the Five Elements Alliance would demand retribution, no matter how influential the family was.

Otherwise, how would they gain the trust of the mid- and low-level walkers?

So, Zhang Yuanqing decisively destroyed the cellphone, ending the conflict. But it didn't mean the matter was over.

The Xiahou family was too domineering. First, they tempted him, and when it didn't work, they resorted to direct violence.

If he didn't have merits and was just an ordinary low-level member, would the Xiahou family have stopped there?

And even with his merits, based on the manner displayed by Xiahou Xin and his son, they would likely carry out vindictive retaliation later.

Zhang Yuanqing took out a tissue and wiped away the slight bloodstains from his fingernails. He carefully folded it and put it in his pocket, whispering to himself, "There won't be a next time."

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