Chapter 115

Chapter 115: The Demeanor of a Ruthless Hero

The entire hall fell silent, so quiet that one could hear a pin drop. Everyone stared at the pile of ashes on the ground, their faces showing shock and even terror.

The situation had escalated beyond control.

Wen Xu stared in disbelief at the spot where Zhao Tong had perished, his body trembling violently with rage and grief. Was Uncle Zhao really gone, just like that?

For a major family heir, a personal steward was far more than a mere bodyguard or attendant—they were confidants. Once an heir succeeded the family, their steward would ascend to a high-ranking position within the family.

Zhao Tong held even greater significance for the Wen family. The family was small, consisting only of Wen Xu and his sister, Wen Yu. Zhao Tong wasn’t just Wen Yu’s former subordinate; he had also been her mentor.

When Wen Yu first entered the military, Zhao Tong, a seasoned officer of the Eastern Army, had guided her. She deeply respected him.

After Zhao Tong was injured and retired, he joined the Wen family, serving as Wen Xu’s personal steward and teaching him everything he knew. Wen Xu had long regarded Zhao Tong as family, respecting him like an uncle.

And now, Zhao Tong was gone—dead at the hands of the Qin family.

“No–!” Wen Xu let out a despairing cry, throwing himself over Zhao Tong’s ashes and weeping uncontrollably, his heart wracked with unbearable pain.

Gu Anran, on the other hand, was almost paralyzed with fear. Someone had actually died in front of her.

Her body trembled as she realized how naive she had been. Though from a modest background, she had always been well protected, surrounded by kind people.

Her world had been one of fairy tales and flowers. Death, schemes, and conspiracies had always seemed distant concepts, completely beyond her imagination. For her, the darkest thing she could conceive was campus bullying.

Zhao Tong’s death marked the first time she had ever witnessed someone dying, and it shattered her understanding of the world. For the first time, she understood how dangerous—and how dark—the world truly was.

Wen Xu’s eyes turned bloodshot as he roared at Yuan Quan in fury, “Qin Xian killed someone during an auction! He blatantly violated the rules of the Divine Revelation Auction House and Imperial law! Why haven’t you arrested him yet?”

His eyes were filled with hatred and venom.

Yuan Quan’s expression turned grim. He knew Qin Xian had set him up. He hadn’t expected Qin Xian to be so audacious and ruthless, daring to kill a former Imperial Colonel in public.

Yuan Quan had never intended to completely sever ties with the Wen family. Wen Xu might not have been someone worth much deference, but his sister Wen Yu—and even the Regent—would not take this lightly. With someone dead, however, the stakes had changed.

And the deceased wasn’t just anyone—it was Zhao Tong. Zhao Tong was not only a personal steward but also a trusted former subordinate of Wen Yu and a key figure in the Wen family.

His death would not go unanswered, and it was impossible to distance himself from the responsibility. Yuan Quan would have to address the situation, but no matter how he handled it, he would end up offending either the Qin family or the Wen family.

Qin Xian was forcing him to take a side.

As Yuan Quan stared expressionlessly at Qin Xian, he realized he had no choice. Punishing Qin Xian would not only provoke the Qin family but also fail to appease the Wen family. The hatred in Wen Xu’s eyes made that clear. In the end, it would mean alienating both families.

The only option was to commit fully to one side—to align himself entirely with the Qin family.

Yuan Quan gave Qin Xian a long, piercing look. Although he was furious at being outmaneuvered by a younger man, he had to admit that Qin Xian’s plan was both ruthless and precise.

If Wen Xu had died instead, the Wen family would have gone mad, and the Regency Government would have turned against the Qin family, pushing the Empire to the brink of civil war.

If someone less significant had died, the Wen family might have swallowed their pride, and Yuan Quan wouldn’t have been forced to take sides.

But Zhao Tong’s death was the perfect choice—forcing Yuan Quan’s hand without completely severing ties between the Qin family and the Regency Government. Qin Xian had completely cornered him and the Wen family.

This was the mark of a true ruthless hero. Compared to him, Wen Xu was nothing more than an impulsive fool.

Having made his decision, Yuan Quan didn’t hesitate. His expression turned cold as he said flatly, “Zhao Tong initiated the threats and was defeated due to his own lack of strength. His death was his own doing.

As for you, Wen Xu, Miss Gu, and the rest of you…” Yuan Quan’s icy gaze swept over Wen Xu and his group. “As the overseer of the Dicine Revelation Auction House, I hereby declare you all persona non grata. Guards, escort them out!”

The crowd erupted in shock, unable to believe Yuan Quan’s words.

Yuan Quan wasn’t just offending the Wen family—he was outright disrespecting the Regency Government! Hadn’t the Divine Revelation Church always remained neutral? Could it be that they were now siding with the Qin family?

This revelation was a bombshell for the Empire’s major factions.

Wen Xu trembled with rage but was powerless against Yuan Quan’s blatant partiality. Pointing at Yuan Quan, he roared, “Fine! The Wen family will remember this! Just you wait!”

Qin Xian smiled faintly, utterly indifferent. Yuan Quan, meanwhile, remained grim-faced and silent.

Wen Xu carefully gathered Zhao Tong’s ashes, placing them into his storage space. Throwing one last venomous glance at both Qin Xian and Yuan Quan, he left with Gu Anran and the others in tow.

As Wen Xu’s group departed, Yuan Quan turned to Qin Xian, his voice low and icy. “Young Master Qin, are you satisfied now?”

Qin Xian’s smile didn’t falter as he replied lightly, “You merely made the correct choice.”

Seeing Yuan Quan still fuming, Qin Xian leaned in slightly and whispered, “Overseer Yuan, the Qin family has always hoped for changes within the Divine Revelation Church. For example… the position of Pontiff?”

At these words, all the anger vanished from Yuan Quan’s face, replaced by a calculating calm.