24: Water Snake Gang

Qin Chen didn't hesitate: "Option one!"

As soon as he spoke, a warm current surged from the crown of his head straight to the soles of his feet, and the Meridians throughout his body instantly boiled.

Boom!

Cultivation superposition!

Middle Stage Great Grandmaster!

He spread his palm, and True Yuan condensed into a vortex in his palm; between his slightly parted fingers, there was actually the sound of wind and thunder.

At this moment, he was certain that crushing an ordinary Grandmaster would be as simple as squashing an ant.

"Is this the power of a Great Grandmaster?" Qin Chen grinned. "It really is exhilarating!"

He glanced out the window; it was about the first quarter of the Hour of the Tiger. "Wiping out a mere Water Snake Gang—isn't that as easy as reaching for something in one's pocket?"

But thinking of the mysterious Bronze Mirror from the simulation, he immediately became alert: "That thing is incredibly wicked; it's better to be cautious."

"This time I lasted ten breaths in the Bronze Mirror... Could it be that the stronger one's strength, the more durable the Soul becomes?" He rubbed his chin.

"Xiao Tianci didn't make a move this time. Could it be that he's already..."

At this thought, he suddenly shuddered: "Before I figure out the full story, I must stay low!"

"However, the Water Snake Gang must be destroyed tonight..."

After changing into Night-traveling clothes, he casually grabbed a piece of black cloth to mask his face. In the blink of an eye, he had arrived at the riverside stockade outside Longyang Town.

Inside the Water Snake Gang's lair, over twenty Acquired Martial Artists were snoring thunderously, completely unaware that a crisis had descended.

Qin Chen's boots lightly tapped the ground, and dozens of pebbles floated into the air in response. As True Yuan surged from his palms, the ordinary stones instantly turned into life-taking hidden weapons, passing through the window paper without even a sound.

"Urgh—"

Miserable screams rang out one after another, and the smell of blood instantly filled the entire courtyard.

Qin Chen walked slowly through the courtyard, deliberately leaving the father and son in the central wing.

Thinking of Ji Yang's usual arrogant face, anger churned in his chest, yet it also carried a bit of cat-and-mouse pleasure.

"Who is so blind?!"

Ji Wuming, who burst out of the door, had his pupils shrink—under the moonlight, a masked man stood in a pool of blood, his shadow stretched long, looking like a Life-claiming Reaper.

"Someone! Quick..." The shout suddenly got stuck in his throat as Ji Wuming realized the stockade was terrifyingly quiet; even the insect chirps had disappeared.

Qin Chen slowly pulled down his face mask, revealing white teeth: "Morning~"

"Qin... Qin Chen?!" Ji Yang stumbled back, his brain exploding with a buzz.

Swish!

Shadowless Steps brought a gust of wind, and the fallen leaves on the ground suddenly swirled up.

By the time Ji Wuming reacted, his throat was already firmly gripped by a palm like an iron pincer.

"Spare..." Ji Wuming's face was ashen. "We are willing to..."

Crack!

The sound of the neck bone breaking was crisp and pleasant, and the corpse hit the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

"Father—!"

Ji Yang's crotch went warm, and a foul-smelling liquid flowed down his legs to the ground. His entire face turned deathly pale from fright.

"Oh, so you're afraid of death too?" Qin Chen smiled brilliantly, but his eyes were as cold as ice. "Weren't you clamoring last time about making my sister your Concubine maid?"

"Wait... Wait! Brother Qin! Spare my life!" Ji Yang's teeth chattered as he fell to his knees with a thud, kowtowing frantically. "I was wrong! I was really wrong!"

"Spare you?" Qin Chen sneered. "If you ever broke through to become a Grandmaster, would you let my Qin Family go?"

"I would! I would, I would, I would!" Ji Yang spoke incoherently, snot and tears covering his face. "I... I can marry your sister! We'll be one family!"

Qin Chen smiled and slowly took a step forward.

Ji Yang trembled all over and shouted hysterically, "Wait! You can't kill me! I'm a Genius!"

"I can be your ox or horse! I'll call you my godfather!"

"As long as you don't kill me, I'll do anything!"

He had already been driven mad by fear, shouting randomly; as long as he could live, he would say anything.

"No need." Qin Chen grabbed his neck and lifted him up like a little chick, a faint smile still on his face.

Ji Yang's feet left the ground, and he struggled frantically, his hands desperately clawing at Qin Chen's arm as he roared, "Qin Chen! You bastard! I haven't done anything to wrong you, why are you killing me?!"

Qin Chen's gaze turned cold, remembering the tragic scene of the Qin Family's extermination in the simulation. He said faintly, "Because... you won't get the chance."

As soon as he finished speaking, True Yuan erupted!

Pfft—!

Ji Yang's internal organs were instantly shattered. His eyes bulged, and in his last shred of consciousness, only endless fear remained.

Bang!

The corpse hit the ground, silent.

Qin Chen scanned the surroundings, and after confirming there were no survivors, he flicked his finger. A wisp of True Yuan knocked over a candlestick, instantly igniting the entire stockade.

Boom—!

Raging flames soared into the sky, completely consuming the Water Snake Gang's stockade.

Reflected in the firelight, Qin Chen's figure gradually disappeared into the night.

After dawn, the news of the Water Snake Gang's extermination spread through Longyang Town like it had wings.

Towards evening, the Meng Wenbin brought his daughter Acting Pavilion Master Meng Duoduo to pay a visit.

After some pleasantries, the Meng Wenbin suddenly smiled and said, "Brother Qin, my Duoduo has always admired your son. Why don't we become in-laws?"

Acting Pavilion Master Meng Duoduo had a stiff face, her eyes filled with reluctance.

"Uncle Meng, this marriage proposal is probably inappropriate," Qin Chen suddenly spoke up.

The Meng father and daughter were both stunned—this famous waste actually dared to refuse?

"Heh!" Acting Pavilion Master Meng Duoduo's almond eyes widened, and she sneered in anger. "This Young Miss hasn't even complained about you being a was—"

"Duoduo!" The Meng Wenbin hastily stopped her, then turned with a forced smile. "Nephew, once young people spend time together, naturally..."

"Slap!" Qin Xiuwen stood up abruptly, feigning anger: "Rebellious son! Miss Duoduo has exceptional talent, yet you..."

"Father." Qin Chen lowered his voice. "The Water Snake Gang was wiped out, and it's said the killer used Grandmaster methods..."

"Is it too high-profile to arrange a marriage at this time?"

"If word gets out, others might think our two families joined forces to destroy the Water Snake Gang. Wouldn't that invite suspicion?"

The Meng Wenbin's expression changed abruptly, and the hand holding his tea trembled slightly.

He had come this time primarily to test if Qin Xiuwen had broken through to become a Grandmaster, since the method of the Water Snake Gang's extermination looked very much like a Grandmaster's work.

But Qin Xiuwen repeatedly guaranteed it was absolutely not the Qin Family's doing, and his expression was sincere, not seeming like a lie.

After a long silence, the Meng Wenbin found it hard to say more and could only take his daughter and leave.

"Ooh~" Qin Yu poked her head out from behind a screen and said with a smile, "My trashy brother, why are you different again today?"

Qin Chen's heart tightened, but on the surface, he laughed and flicked her forehead: "Little girl, don't talk nonsense."

"Don't flick my head! I'll get stupid!" Qin Yu pushed his hand away with disdain.

"Chener, tell the truth..." Qin Xiuwen's expression was more solemn than ever.

"Husband!" Lin Xueping quickly pressed her husband's arm. "Chener was clearly last night..."

"Father, don't worry," Qin Chen interrupted.

Qin Xiuwen took a deep look at him and said in a heavy voice, "Father doesn't know how you suddenly reached Perfected Innate Realm, but you must remember, there is always a heaven beyond the heaven and people beyond people. Do not be ostentatious in your actions."

No one knows a son like his father; they knew Qin Chen's playboy behavior over the years all too well.

For him to suddenly become a Perfected Innate Realm expert, anyone would be suspicious.

But how could they know—Perfected Innate Realm? That was already yesterday's news!

Now, he was a Great Grandmaster!

If he let his parents know, wouldn't they faint on the spot from shock?

Fortunately, a Great Grandmaster can restrain their True Yuan; as long as they don't make a move, outsiders can't see their depth at all.

In his parents' eyes, he was still just at the Perfected Innate Realm.

But Qin Chen keenly noticed—his sister Qin Yu was squinting her eyes, sizing him up suspiciously.

How did this little girl have a look like she could see through everything?

"Could she even see through a Great Grandmaster's disguise?" Qin Chen muttered in his heart, feeling uneasy under her gaze.

It seems this seemingly innocent and romantic sister is not that simple either!

He quickly found an excuse to slip back to his own small courtyard.

Lying on a lounge chair, Qin Chen felt delighted.

A Great Grandmaster!

How many could there be in the entire Yan Dynasty?

The number one expert, Xiao Tianci, is probably only a Great Grandmaster, right?

But thinking of the Heavenly Human Realm and those unknown dangers, he calmed down again.

Resisting the urge to go out and show off, he decided to review the simulation first.

The next day, he began the fourth simulation...