69: They went to the Xiong Mansion

Qin Chen asked curiously, "This jade pendant is very precious, right? Why are you giving it to me?"

The Female Shopkeeper replied in a flat tone, "It is merely an ordinary jade pendant, just a gift our shop has prepared for valued guests."

"Alright, then many thanks, Shopkeeper!" After thanking her, Qin Chen took the jade pendant, tucked it into his robes, and turned to leave.

Watching Qin Chen's retreating figure, the Female Shopkeeper wore a serious expression. "To reach the Perfected Innate Realm at such a young age, he would be suitable to serve as an attendant for that girl, Ruyan."

Mentioning Ruyan, she couldn't help but furrow her brows. "I wonder what that girl has been busy with lately; has she forgotten even me, her Great-Aunt?"

The Liu Ruyan she spoke of was no ordinary figure—she was one of the ten great prodigies carefully nurtured by the Liu Clan Immortal Family. Not only did she possess the Hunyuan Immortal Body, but she had also already cultivated to the Nascent Soul stage at such a young age.

And this Female Shopkeeper's background was even more extraordinary—her name was Liu Jinfeng, the Second Elder of the Liu Clan Immortal Family, and the very Female God of Slaughter who had annihilated an army with a single palm and turned the Imperial Capital into ruins.

As for that black-gold "Twin-Fish jade pendant," it appeared ordinary, but it was actually a "treasure" that many Cultivators dreamed of but found difficult to obtain; with it, one could enjoy certain privileges within the Liu Clan Immortal Family.

Because Qin Chen had long since used the System to disguise his own cultivation as the Perfected Innate Realm, even when facing this "Female God of Slaughter," his true strength remained unexposed.

If Liu Jinfeng knew that the young man before her was already at the Heavenly Human Realm, she would likely be shocked as well.

After leaving, Qin Chen walked slowly down the main street of the Slave Market.

While passing by a slave shop named "Xiong Clan Trading Firm," an argument between a woman and the shopkeeper at the entrance caught his attention.

Seeing the name on the signboard, Qin Chen paused his steps.

"Xiong Clan Trading Firm? It couldn't be that much of a coincidence, right?"

"To think a woman would dare to argue directly with the Xiong Family?"

The woman piqued his curiosity—she had a slender waist, long legs, an oval face, and a dignified and beautiful appearance; she was truly a pure and lovely beauty.

After listening to their argument, Qin Chen realized that this woman was none other than Kuang Min.

Remembering that the Xiong Clan was still a hidden threat, his thoughts stirred, and he activated the Illusionary Form Technique—

The next moment, his face rippled slightly, and he transformed into a dark-skinned, ordinary-looking middle-aged man.

After changing his appearance, he walked closer, and the sound of the two arguing became increasingly clear to his ears.

"Miss Min, these two female slaves were specifically requested by our Young Master, and we are just about to send them back to the Xiong Estate." The shopkeeper looked troubled.

Kuang Min frowned tightly. "Go tell Young Master Xiong that I have bought these people; consider it a favor I owe him. Will that work?"

"This... I cannot make that decision; the Young Master will beat me to death!" The shopkeeper looked distressed.

Hearing this, Qin Chen confirmed—this Xiong Clan Trading Firm was opened by Chief Inspector.

In the first simulation, besides Meng Wenbin, the hidden threats that destroyed the Qin Family remaining were Chief Inspector and Meng Wenbin, who had not yet been dealt with.

If Meng Wenbin died, it would easily arouse suspicion toward the Qin Family, so he had not moved against the Meng Family for the time being.

Originally, he wanted to put Chief Inspector aside for a while, but since he had run into him today, he might as well take care of it while he was at it.

Thus, Qin Chen stepped forward and said to the shopkeeper, "The Young Master told me to pass on a message: get these two female slaves back to the estate immediately."

The shopkeeper looked at Qin Chen suspiciously. "Who are you?"

"I am the Young Master's new attendant; he ordered me to come and urge you to hurry up and send them back." Qin Chen's tone was calm.

The shopkeeper nodded, then opened the iron cage and led out the two female slaves, who were bound by chains.

Kuang Min immediately blocked their path. "You are not allowed to take them away!"

Qin Chen turned to Kuang Min and said, "Miss Min, my Young Master said that if you really want these two female slaves, you might as well come with us to the estate to discuss it."

Kuang Min glared fiercely at Qin Chen, but in the end, she followed them toward the Xiong Estate.

Not long after, Qin Chen and Kuang Min arrived at the Xiong Estate with the shopkeeper.

Just as they entered the door, a Young Master dressed in brocade robes smiled and came forward to greet them, his gaze falling on Kuang Min. "Yo, Miss Min! What wind blew you here? Truly a rare guest!"

"Xiong Jie, can you release those two female slaves?" Kuang Min asked sternly.

Xiong Jie smiled and sized up the two female slaves, then turned to look at Kuang Min. "Release them? It's not impossible. However, you know what I want."

"Anything other than marrying you, other conditions can be discussed!" Kuang Min replied with a cold face.

"But I want nothing else but to marry you." Xiong Jie's smile did not fade, but his tone deepened. "Otherwise, what fate these two female slaves will meet... you should know in your heart!"

"Oh?" Qin Chen suddenly spoke up. "What fate? I'd like to hear it."

Xiong Jie turned his head at the sound and swept a cold gaze over him. "I am speaking with your master; when is it your turn to interrupt?"

Clearly, Xiong Jie mistakenly believed that Qin Chen was Kuang Min's guard.

Kuang Min was also stunned upon hearing this, looking suspiciously at Qin Chen, and then at Xiong Jie.

Qin Chen, however, smiled and walked forward, wrapping an arm around Kuang Min's waist, and said, "Min'er is my maid; when is it the turn of an ant like you to covet her?"

Kuang Min's body trembled. She hurriedly tried to shake off Qin Chen's hand and raised her hand to slap him—

Who would have thought that Qin Chen would casually raise his hand and easily lock her wrist, leaving her unable to move.

Kuang Min was shocked in her heart: she was clearly at the Early Stage of the Innate Realm, yet she hadn't even seen how he moved, and she had been easily restrained by him?

Only then did Xiong Jie realize something was wrong, and he asked Kuang Min in suspicion, "This kid isn't your person?"

"Didn't I make myself clear just now? She is my maid." Qin Chen's mouth curled up slightly.

"Let go!" Kuang Min shouted coldly.

"You, let her go! Otherwise, I will make sure you cannot walk out of Nanjiang City!" Xiong Jie's eyes widened in anger, almost spitting fire.

"Where is your father? Call him out." Qin Chen's tone remained flat.

"You know my father?" Xiong Jie's tone softened slightly.

Calming down and thinking about it, he felt that Qin Chen was not quite right—who would dare to barge into the Xiong Estate to cause trouble, and then open their mouth asking to see the Family Head?

"I am here to destroy your Xiong Family. If your father is not here, that is a bit troublesome." Qin Chen said indifferently.

Once these words were spoken, the entire courtyard seemed to suddenly drop in temperature, and everyone felt a chill down their spines.

Kuang Min opened her eyes wide, looking at Qin Chen in disbelief. She suddenly thought of something and asked in a trembling voice, "Could it be you... who destroyed the Jin Family and the Dragon Family?"

As soon as she said this, Xiong Jie's legs immediately went weak; he swallowed his saliva and subconsciously took a few steps back.

Seeing that Qin Chen did not deny it, Kuang Min immediately rebuked him coldly, "You Devil Head! How can you destroy people's families at will? Are you not afraid of divine retribution?"

Qin Chen, however, laughed. "Are there few rival families that your father and brother have secretly destroyed? Don't tell me you are unaware."

"And this Chief Inspector, relying on being the Chief Inspector of Nanjiang City, forcibly occupies others' properties, forces good people into slavery, persecutes herb farmers, fosters bandits to increase his own importance, assassinates geniuses..."

Qin Chen, word by word, exposed all the evil deeds committed by the Kuang Family and the Xiong Family one by one.

Xiong Jie argued tremblingly, "This world is inherently ruled by the strong! Among the martial arts families of the world, who isn't like this? By what right do you come to cause us trouble for no reason?"

Qin Chen understood, of course—this martial arts world operated in just this way: survival of the fittest, where strength speaks. Many things, even if not done openly, would involve eliminating opponents in the shadows.

"So, now I have come to collect you." Qin Chen said indifferently.

After saying this, he raised his hand and flicked it, and a stream of True Qi transformed into a blade, which slashed across Xiong Jie's legs with a "swish"—

"Ah—!"

Xiong Jie screamed, his legs instantly severed, and he collapsed to the ground, letting out a heart-wrenching howl.

The shrill cries attracted teams of Xiong Family guards, and upon seeing the scene, they immediately surrounded Qin Chen.