Chapter 165: Chapter 165: Who is behind the curtain?
He knew Qin Lan was no fool. It was highly likely she had learned the true cause of her motherâs death years ago, and everything she was doing now was for revenge.
"Are you insane? If I wanted to kill him, would I do it in a place like this?" Qin Lan sneered. "Do you think everyone is as stupid as you, leaving such a sloppy mess?"
"Ling Liao, youâve done so many wicked things in your life. Itâs only fitting that your family line will end with you. Be careful you donât drag yourself down as well."
"My mother is watching you from the heavens."
"Insolent!" Ling Liao bellowed, raising his hand to slap her.
But a large hand shot out and clamped down on his wrist. No matter how hard he struggled, he couldnât move it a single inch forward.
With a burst of Qi Force, Chen Xiao sent Ling Liao stumbling back seven or eight steps, his face livid as he glared.
Qin Lan spoke, enunciating each word. "Ling Liao, you worthless trash, a second-rate figure in the Ling Family who isnât even presentable. You dare to act arrogant in front of me? It would be more fitting to send your two younger brothers. You, the so-called Family Head of the Ling Family, are nothing but a useless figurehead."
"Your son was trash, too. Thatâs why he died such an obscure and pathetic death!"
Her words were lethally sharp, striking right at his heart and causing Ling Liao to tremble uncontrollably.
"Seize her!" he roared. "I want her to pay for my sonâs life with her own!"
SWOOSHâ
The martial arts experts behind Ling Liao instantly lunged forward like lightning. As a great clan in Zhonghai, the Ling Family naturally had many experts in its service. Although Ling Liao, as the Family Head, was far inferior to his two younger brothers, he still had the authority to command a few of them. In the blink of an eye, they descended upon Qin Lan, enveloping her in a terrifying murderous aura.
However, in the next second, several dull thuds echoed almost simultaneously.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Before the astonished crowd, the martial arts experts were sent flying backward like rag dolls.
THWACK! THWACK! THWACK!
They crashed violently against the wall, spitting up blood. Their chests were caved in, and their bodies went limp as they slid to the floor.
Ling Liao was completely dumbfounded. These experts of his were all Grandmasters at or above the Energy Transformation level. They were among the most formidable warriors in the Ling Family, ranging from the Middle Hua Realm to the Late Stage of Energy Transformation, yet they were all defeated in an instant? His horrified gaze fell upon the young man standing beside Qin Lan.
Chen Xiao nonchalantly withdrew his fist. His gaze, as cold and sharp as a blade, fixed on Ling Liao. "Will you get out on your own, or do I have to make you?"
Chen Shuyu shrieked like a madwoman, "Qin Lan! You bitch! You killed my son! You owe me his life! Pay for it! Die!"
"Iâll make sure you die a miserable death with no body to bury!"
"I didnât kill him," Qin Lan said coldly. "What the hell does Ling Zhenghaoâs death have to do with me?"
"Even if you didnât kill him, he came to Yuncheng City because of you! You should still accompany my son to the grave!"
"And this man beside you must be your lover, right?"
"It must be because you were cheating, you slut, and my son found out! Thatâs why you killed him!"
"Our Ling Family will never let you go!"
"Youâre right," Qin Lan sneered. "I did cheat on your son. So what? He was a worthless piece of trash. If I wasnât going to cuckold him, who would I? Are you satisfied with that answer?"
"Ling Liao, Ling Zhenghaoâs death today is the price for your endless injustices. But I suggest you stop making a scene here. Instead, you should focus on finding out who really delivered heavenâs justice." Each of Qin Lanâs words was like a knife plunging into Ling Liaoâs chest.
No matter how useless Ling Zhenghao was, he had been Ling Liaoâs only son. Now, with his death, Ling Liaoâs family line was well and truly severed.
"Leave this matter to the city patrol. Donât come looking for me in a frenzy again, or I wonât be so courteous." With those cold words, she turned and left with Chen Xiao. It was bad luck to remain there any longer.
Behind them, furious roars and curses echoed, but Qin Lan paid them no mind.
After leaving the hotel, Chen Xiao lit a cigarette and spoke casually, "The Ling Family doesnât seem all that impressive. If you had nothing to do with this, why would you be afraid of them?"
Ling Liaoâs performance had been mediocre, and the martial arts experts he brought were no match for Chen Xiao. He couldnât understand why Qin Lan was so wary of them.
Qin Lan took a deep breath. "That was just the tip of the iceberg of the Zhonghai Ling Family. Ling Liao is the current head of the Ling Family, but only in name."
"The truly formidable ones are his two younger brothers."
"His Second Brother is the Bureau Chief of the Jinyi Bureau of Zhonghai. He commands immense power; a mere stomp of his foot could make the entire city tremble. The Jinyi Bureauâs authority is vast, with the power to execute first and report later, demanding absolute obedience. If he were to make a move, it would be a devastating catastrophe for me."
"In the face of such a state apparatus, personal martial strength is insignificant."
"The man is notoriously sinister and ruthless. Countless people in Zhonghai have fallen at his hands."
"Compared to him, a man like Ling Liao is just an amateur."
"As for the Ling Familyâs Third Brother, heâs just as ruthless. Iâve heard heâs a disciple of some Hidden Sect, holding an extremely high status and possessing terrifying strength. Years ago, Hong Kaiting, one of the three great Grandmasters of Zhonghai, threatened to annihilate the Ling Family. But the day after he made that threat..."
"His head was found hanging on his own front gate."
"All twenty-four members of the Hong Family were wiped out."
"The incident sent shockwaves through all of Zhonghai."
"Itâs said that the one who acted was the mysterious Third Brother of the Ling Family."
"That event made all the other families in Zhonghai afraid to ever provoke the Ling Family."
Qin Lan took another deep breath. "If not for my Qin Familyâs Grand-Uncle protecting the clan, the Ling Family would have likely trampled all over us long ago."
"However, over the years, the Ling Familyâs power has grown, and theyâve become increasingly reckless, to the point they no longer respect my Qin Family. With whatâs happened now, they certainly wonât let me off easily."
"Whatâs more, there are people within my own Qin Family who want me dead..."
Jinyi Bureau? Hidden Sects?
Chen Xiao rubbed his nose. He was certainly aware of them. The Jinyi Bureau was a special agency established by the Divine Land to handle matters in the shadows, recruiting only the most exceptional individuals, each one formidable. The fact that the Ling Familyâs Second Brother could become the Bureau Chief of the Jinyi Bureau of Zhonghai was a testament to his strength. And the Hidden Sect to which the Ling Familyâs Third Brother belonged was an entity that struck fear throughout the Martial Arts World. Legend had it that these Hidden Sects had very few disciples, but every single one was terrifyingly powerful. Any one of them could unleash a bloody storm in the secular world. The great families often had the backing of a Hidden Sect in the shadows.
The Hidden Gate I belong to probably counts as a Hidden Sect, too,
he mused.
Itâs just that the old man accepted even fewer disciples: only my three senior sisters and me.
Qin Lan took a deep breath. "Even though I was talking tough back there, this matter must be investigated thoroughly. Otherwise, the Ling Family and the people in the Qin Family who want me dead will definitely use this as an excuse to move against me."
"But if the real culprit is found... they wonât be able to pin the blame on me so easily. The Qin Family would never stand for it. After all, our family still has its reputation to uphold."
"Most importantly, I have to find out who is trying to frame me!"