Chapter 125: Chapter 125: The One I Hate the Most Is You
In the great hall of the Wang Family estate.
Wang Mingxiu, the current Patriarch of the Wang Family, and all the Elders wore grave expressions. They stared at a young man who was calmly sipping his tea, their faces etched with unmistakable apprehension. It was hard to imagine that a seemingly frail and slender youth could command such cautious treatment from the prestigious Wang Family of the Imperial Capital, yet it was an undeniable fact.
As the youngest Seventh-Grade Alchemist in the Empire’s history, and the only one at that grade currently in the Empire, his additional status as a Young National Hero was enough to make most of the families in the Imperial Capital scramble to curry his favor.
At this thought, the Wang Family Elders felt a sense of resignation. ’If we had known Qin Ya would reach such heights, we would never have dared to offend him. We would have even tried to get on his good side.’
But now, that was all impossible.
From the moment Qin Ya killed Wang Yan, from the moment Wang Yuanhong hired an assassin to kill him, there was no longer any possibility of reconciliation between them.
TAP, TAP, TAP...
The sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the hall as a beautiful woman entered. Just as she was about to offer a greeting, her eyes fell upon Qin Ya sipping his tea. It was the face she had dreamed of slicing into a thousand pieces countless times. Instantly, an icy killing intent erupted from her. Wang Yuanhong’s expression twisted into a savage snarl. "Qin Ya, die!"
With that, she thrust out her palm, striking at Qin Ya.
Wang Yuanhong’s Cultivation was not to be underestimated; she had reached Earth Element Realm Perfection. Her palm strike cut through the air with a piercing whistle, startling the Elders.
"Yuanhong, stop!"
Wang Mingxiu barked the order, but Wang Yuanhong, consumed by rage, was in no state to listen. Instead of retreating, she put even more force into her attack.
Qin Ya’s expression remained placid. He stayed seated, sipping his tea, completely disregarding Wang Yuanhong. Seeing this, an Elder standing near Qin Ya’s side paled slightly. In a flash, he moved, intercepting Wang Yuanhong’s palm with his own.
"Fifth Elder, what do you think you’re doing!"
Wang Yuanhong stared in astonishment at the Fifth Elder blocking her path.
"Yuanhong, that’s enough!" the Fifth Elder commanded sternly.
A soft chuckle was heard.
Qin Ya slowly set down his teacup. He looked at Wang Yuanhong and chuckled. "I killed your son, and you want to slice me into a thousand pieces. Yet your own kinsman stands in your way to protect me, your mortal enemy. It’s quite comical, isn’t it?"
Hearing this, the faces of the Elders in the hall turned ashen. Their gazes, fixed on Qin Ya, burned with fury. This was especially true for Wang Mingxiu; wisps of killing intent began to emanate from him as his hand tightened, crushing the hard pearwood armrest of his chair into splinters.
They were furious, vexed, and filled with hatred!
But they could not push their entire family into the Abyss. Qin Ya’s status was plain to see. If they acted against him, the entire family would pay the price.
"Teacher Qin," Wang Mingxiu said, his voice dangerously low. "I respect you as a Seventh-Grade Alchemist. But if you continue to be insolent, don’t blame me for taking action. I believe that as long as you don’t die, His Majesty and the others won’t do anything to the Wang Family."
"Heh, a fair point." Qin Ya seemed to back down, no longer taunting them. He turned to Wang Yuanhong and said, "I am Qin Ya, a name I’m sure you know well. I came here today for one reason... to kill you."
Killing intent filled the air. But Qin Ya knew that with so many Wang Family experts protecting her, his chances of killing Wang Yuanhong were minuscule. "However," he continued, "I am a reasonable man. So, let me just ask you, madam: did you or did you not go to the Black Market to hire an assassin to kill me?"
Wang Yuanhong’s face was like ice, her eyes filled with a bottomless chill. "I want to kill you," she said coldly. "I want to flay you and eat you alive to avenge my Yann’er."
"However, hiring assassins is beneath the Wang Family."
Hearing this, everyone from the Wang Family breathed a collective sigh of relief. ’It seems that despite her hatred for Qin Ya, Wang Yuanhong still has some sense left. She didn’t reveal the truth.’
"Oh? Very good. So you deny it."
"Why should I admit to something I haven’t done?" Wang Yuanhong said through clenched teeth, desperately suppressing her boiling rage. "Qin Ya, I know you’re a Seventh-Grade Alchemist and a Young National Hero. The Wang Family can’t touch you. But you can’t just make baseless accusations. If I say I didn’t do it, then I didn’t do it."
"I never expected you to admit it anyway," Qin Ya said with a faint smile. He then turned to Wang Mingxiu. "Patriarch Wang, I hope you won’t come to regret this."
With that, Qin Ya turned to leave.
Just then, Wang Yuanhong suddenly shouted after him, "Qin Ya! I challenge you to a duel to the death! I will avenge my son! Do you dare accept?"
"Yuanhong!"
"You can’t!"
The Elders’ faces paled as they all rushed to dissuade her.
Wang Yuanhong sneered and looked at Wang Mingxiu. "Don’t worry, I won’t implicate the family. As of this moment, I am no longer a member of the Wang Family."
"I ask the Patriarch to expel me!" she declared.
Qin Ya gave an indifferent smile and turned his head back. "You truly are eager for revenge, madam. But what makes you think I would give you that opportunity?"
"Qin Ya, you coward! Are you scared?"
Wang Yuanhong’s eyes were brimming with killing intent. She took a step forward, glaring at Qin Ya as she spoke with cold fury.
"It’s not that I’m scared. It’s just no longer necessary."
Ignoring Wang Yuanhong’s attempts to provoke him, Qin Ya walked directly to the Wang Family’s training grounds. He took a deep breath, gathered his True Essence in his throat, and roared, "All disciples of the Wang Family, listen! Those who leave the Wang Family of their own accord within two days will be spared. If you persist in your foolishness, you will face the consequences! The consequences...!"
The last word echoed throughout the Wang Family estate, lingering for a long, long time.
Everyone in the Wang Family was completely baffled.
"Damn, who does he think he is? That the Wang Family will disband with a single sentence from him? What a joke. Is this how ignorant a Young National Hero is supposed to be?"
"Hmph, how could someone like him become a National Hero? What a disappointment."
"The Wang Family is a prestigious clan in the Imperial Capital with a deep and powerful heritage. How could we be shaken by a mere Spiritual Element Realm Martial Artist? He’s courting death."
...
’What is he doing?’ Wang Mingxiu frowned, a sense of unease creeping into his heart. Qin Ya’s actions were so strange that he couldn’t help but overthink their meaning.
The other Elders looked at one another in confusion.
Wang Yuanhong suddenly turned to Wang Mingxiu. "Mingxiu, tell me. You and the Elders... you all knew that I went to the Black Market to hire an assassin, didn’t you?"
"Yes," Wang Mingxiu admitted without hesitation.
Hearing this, Wang Yuanhong’s face twisted into a sneer. "If the one causing trouble for the Wang Family today wasn’t Qin Ya, but Muui Yunlie, or Huaa Que, or even His Majesty... then to preserve the family, you would have handed me over, wouldn’t you? Your own wife! Wouldn’t you!"
A flicker of conflict crossed Wang Mingxiu’s eyes before he answered in a heavy voice, "Yes!"
"Good. Good. Fine." Wang Yuanhong let out a miserable laugh that grew louder and louder until she was cackling. "Hahaha! What a pathetic Patriarch you are! You can’t avenge your own son! You can’t even protect your own wife! What’s the point of you being the Patriarch? What is the point?!"
"Do you know who I hate the most right now? It’s not Qin Ya. It’s you!"
With that, Wang Yuanhong turned and walked away, her face a mask of cold indifference.
