189: Chapter 189 Backed by a Powerful Tree

The air seemed to solidify into substance, and the tense atmosphere was suffocating.

At the entrance of the Qin Family mansion, the withered hand of Half-step Martial King Qin Wentian, which contained destructive power, hovered half a meter above Lin Fan's head, unable to advance even an inch further.

It wasn't that he didn't want to strike down, but rather that a warm Jade Talisman suspended in mid-air was currently emitting ripples of pale green light.

These ripples appeared soft, yet they easily neutralized Qin Wentian's terrifying palm wind, which was powerful enough to crush a tank.

"Qin Wentian, you certainly are putting on quite a show of authority."

An incredibly flat voice abruptly emanated from the Jade Talisman.

The voice wasn't loud; there was no thunderous explosion or hysterical roar. It was as casual as an old friend chatting.

But the moment he heard this voice, Qin Wentian's furrowed old face instantly lost all color, becoming as pale as paper.

His eyes, which had been shining like golden lamps, were now filled with unbelievable terror as he stared fixedly at the Jade Talisman.

"Ye... Saint Ye?"

Qin Wentian's voice was trembling, a fear originating from the depths of his soul.

As a Half-step Martial King, he knew better than anyone what the words "General Ye Canglan" represented.

It was the pinnacle of human martial arts, the stabilizing force that suppressed a nation's destiny, and moreover... an insurmountable chasm.

As the voice faded, the green light on the Jade Talisman suddenly condensed, transforming into the illusory but majestic figure of an old man.

The old man stood with his hands behind his back. Even though it was just a projection of a divine sense, his world-disdaining aura made everyone present feel as if they couldn't breathe.

"Did I allow you to touch him?"

General Ye Canglan's projection lowered its head slightly, gazing calmly at Qin Wentian.

*Thud!*

Without any hesitation, the previously overbearing and god-like Qin Wentian's knees buckled, and he knelt heavily on the ground.

This kneel shattered the bluestone slabs at the Qin Family's entrance and also crushed all the dignity the Qin Family had accumulated over a century.

The surrounding martial artists watched with mouths agape, their jaws nearly hitting the floor.

They never imagined in their wildest dreams that the plot would twist so drastically.

One moment, the Qin Family ancestor was displaying god-like power, intending to execute a madman.

The next moment, this ancestor was kneeling before someone?

"Saint Ye, please appease your anger! Saint Ye, please appease your anger!"

Qin Wentian lay prostrate on the ground, his forehead dripping with cold sweat, showing none of the demeanor of a powerful expert. "This junior... this junior did not know Major General Lin was your..."

"Did not know?"

Lin Fan suddenly moved at this moment.

He dropped his previous martyr-like expression of facing death with equanimity and instantly switched to his signature Shrewd Merchant face.

He slowly tucked his officer's ID back into his pocket, then clutched his chest, retreating two steps with a pained expression, leaning against the truck tire nearby.

"Ouch... my head is so dizzy."

Lin Fan groaned weakly, his acting exaggerated yet precise. "Even though that palm didn't land just now, that... that whatever mental pressure has already seriously damaged my central nervous system."

"I feel like my soul is trembling now. This might leave a permanent psychological shadow and even affect my future martial arts foundation."

At this point, Lin Fan peeked at the kneeling Qin Wentian through the gaps in his fingers, a cold arc curling at the corners of his mouth.

"Old man, weren't you quite arrogant just now? Wanted to cripple me?"

"Come on, continue. I'll stand here and let you hit me."

Qin Wentian trembled all over, his head buried even lower, not daring to respond at all.

General Ye Canglan's projection gave Lin Fan a faint glance, a trace of helpless amusement flashing in his eyes, before looking back at Qin Wentian with a cold tone.

"Qin Wentian, your Qin Family hired assassins to kill an active-duty officer and attacked a military restricted zone. How do you plan to settle this debt?"

Qin Wentian's heart chilled.

He knew that if he couldn't satisfy General Ye Canglan and Lin Fan today, the Qin Family might truly be erased from the Capital.

Hiring assassins to kill Lin Fan had crossed the military's bottom line.

"Saint Ye, this matter... this matter was entirely the doing of that rebellious son, Qin Hai! This old man has been in seclusion for many years and was unaware!"

Qin Wentian gritted his teeth. To preserve the family, he had to make a choice.

"Unaware?"

Lin Fan sneered, pointing at the unconscious Qin Hai on the ground. "A simple 'unaware' and it's over? The floor of my warehouse was damaged by him, my spirit has been traumatized, and so many of my brothers..."

He pointed at the group of second-generation heirs behind him who were watching the show with brooms. "They were all frightened. Shouldn't we calculate the compensation for lost work, mental distress, and nutrition?"

Qin Wentian took a deep breath and slowly raised his head, a flash of ruthlessness in his eyes.

He knew what Lin Fan wanted.

Face, and substance.

"Rest assured, Major General Lin. The Qin Family... will definitely give you a satisfactory explanation."

After saying that, Qin Wentian suddenly stood up and stepped in front of the unconscious Qin Hai.

"Rebellious son, bringing such a great disaster upon the family, what use is there in keeping you!"

Accompanied by a violent shout, Qin Wentian raised his foot and stomped hard on Qin Hai's previously intact left leg.

*Crack!*

The loud sound of a bone snapping rang out.

"Ahhh!"

The previously unconscious Qin Hai was jolted awake by the excruciating pain, letting out a shrill scream. He curled up like a shrimp, cold sweat instantly drenching his entire body.

But before he could see who had hit him, he was met with even more furious slaps from Qin Wentian.

*Slap! Slap! Slap!*

Qin Wentian swung his hands left and right, each slap infused with spiritual energy. He knocked out several of Qin Hai's teeth, and his cheeks instantly swelled like a pig's head.

"Apologize to Major General Lin!"

Qin Wentian pressed Qin Hai's head down like he was pinning a dead dog, slamming it hard against the ground.

*Thump! Thump! Thump!*

The dull sounds of kowtowing felt like they were striking the hearts of the onlookers with every beat.

So ruthless.

This was his own son, and the family's Second Elder.

But in the face of absolute strength and power, and the survival of the family, this bit of blood relation seemed so fragile.

Qin Hai was now dazed from the beating, his face covered in blood and his consciousness blurred. He could only instinctively beg for mercy: "I was... wrong... Major General Lin, spare me..."

Lin Fan watched this scene coldly, his heart not wavering much.

This was the cruel law of the world of high-level martial arts.

If he hadn't had the trump card of General Ye Canglan today, if he were just an ordinary Grandmaster, then the one with a broken leg kneeling on the ground right now would be him, Lin Fan.

In fact, he wouldn't even have the chance to kneel; he would have directly become a corpse.

"That's enough."

Lin Fan waved his hand and said with a look of disgust, "Stop performing this self-injury ruse here. You're getting blood all over the ground, and I'll have to trouble the janitor uncle to clean it up."

Qin Wentian's movements stiffened. He stopped, turned around, and cupped his hands toward Lin Fan. "Major General Lin, I have already punished this rebellious son. Do you see..."

"This is just the interest."

Lin Fan stood up straight, the playfulness in his eyes vanishing, replaced by a light called "greed."

He walked up to Qin Wentian, extended a hand, and lightly rubbed his thumb and index finger together.

"Let's be reasonable. Since we've finished discussing the logic of the physical level, let's now talk about the logic of the economic level."

"Ancestor Qin, shall we go inside and chat? I'm a bit timid, and the wind is strong outside; I'm afraid I won't hear the quote clearly."

Looking at Lin Fan's mercenary face, the corners of Qin Wentian's mouth twitched violently.

He suddenly felt that it would have been better to let General Ye Canglan slap him to death just now.

Doing business with this little demon would likely be more terrifying than undergoing a lightning tribulation.

"Please... Major General Lin, enter for a talk." Qin Wentian gritted his teeth and made an inviting gesture.

Lin Fan nodded with satisfaction and turned back to wave at Zhao Wujing and the others.

"You guys, turn off the loudspeaker and stand guard at the entrance."

"If I don't come out in half an hour, keep playing the recording, but switch to the DJ version this time."

Zhao Wujing and the others suppressed their fear and responded loudly, "Yes, Chief!"

Lin Fan straightened the collar of his military uniform and strode over the Qin Family's high threshold with his head held high.

His back looked so arrogant that it made people want to hit him, yet they had to acknowledge his position.