Chapter 10 : Chapter 10
Chapter 10: Zhang Qinhu’s Ruthlessness
“Young Master, that young man is no simple figure. I can’t see through him, but the attendant by his side is an expert.”
After Li Xingge’s group had gone far away, the guard beside Zhang Qinhu spoke to him with a grave expression.
“How does he compare to you?”
Zhang Qinhu asked.
“If I were to exchange blows with him, this subordinate would be defeated within ten moves.”
The guard looked somewhat ashamed.
Zhang Qinhu raised a brow, slightly surprised. He knew his own guard’s strength very well.
For him to admit that he would certainly lose within ten moves meant that the attendant by that Young Master Li’s side was at the very least at Major Accomplishment in the Physical Body Realm.
A cultivation of that level could already be called an expert even within the force standing behind him.
Young Master Li...
And yet there was no great family surnamed Li in Shenglong Prefecture.
Then just who exactly was this Young Master Li?
At once, Zhang Qinhu’s interest was piqued.
At the side, the guard read his expression and quickly said, “Young Master, shall this subordinate follow them and ascertain their identities?”
Zhang Qinhu shook his head.
Since the other party was unwilling to reveal his origins, there was no need for him to do something unnecessary and offend him.
Though his own background was formidable, he had no wish to make enemies for no reason.
Besides—
there was still a delicate little beauty right before him, waiting for him to dote on her.
“Come. Bring the little beauty and let’s head home!”
.......
.......
“Family Head, this Zhang Qinhu is from the Zhang family of the prefectural city. His father is Zhang Xingyi, Commander of the Prefectural Forces of Shenglong Prefecture.”
Li Yanzhao explained Zhang Qinhu’s background to Li Xingge.
“What an illustrious family background.”
Li Xingge said with genuine surprise.
Though he had already known that Zhang Qinhu’s identity was no ordinary one, he had not expected it to be this prominent.
The Commander of the Prefectural Forces, as the name implied, commanded all military forces of an entire prefecture.
His status was second only to the Prefect and the Vice Prefect, making him truly the third most important figure in Shenglong Prefecture.
And in addition to that, the Zhang Clan of the prefectural city standing behind him was one of the Five Great Families of Shenglong Prefecture, a terrifying existence with a Qi-Blood Realm Perfection expert seated within the clan.
It could be said that if Li Xingge had chosen to offend him today,
then by tomorrow, the Li family would no longer exist.
This was no joke.
For a great aristocratic clan like the Zhang Clan of the prefectural city, crushing the Li family would be as easy as moving a finger.
“Family Head, I think this Second Young Master of the Zhang family is interested in befriending you. If we can use him to build ties with the Zhang Clan of the prefectural city, then the day our Li family dominates Baihe County will be within reach.”
Li Yanzhao said excitedly.
Li Xingge glanced at Li Yanzhao and said calmly, “I know my own mind. Building ties with the Zhang Clan of the prefectural city is a matter for the long term. The urgent task before us is still to obtain the Qi-Blood Pill and help the Grand Elder advance to the Qi-Blood Realm. After all, strength is the true hard truth.”
Li Yanzhao also knew he had been too hasty, and he gave an awkward smile.
The group found an inn, rested briefly, and waited for tomorrow’s auction to arrive.
...........
In the southwestern corner of the prefectural city,
the famous territory of the Zhang Clan of the prefectural city was located there.
Pavilions and towers stretched in unbroken rows.
Majestic stone lions stood on either side, silently proclaiming the clan’s eminence.
Inside Zhang Qinhu’s courtyard,
Wenxi looked at the fat-eared Second Young Master Zhang beside her, and a trace of unconcealed disgust rose in her eyes. But thinking of his terrifying family background, she had no choice but to force a smile.
“What? Do you feel wronged to have lost yourself to me?”
Zhang Qinhu looked at the delicate beauty beside him, patted her curving rear, and laughed.
“To be able to offer myself to Young Master is this concubine’s honor.”
Though the disgust in her heart had reached the extreme, her face still wore an alluring smile.
Zhang Qinhu burst into laughter.
“That’s not what you were saying back at Green Willow Tower. I preferred the way you looked when you were all defiance and pride.”
“Young Master, this concubine knows her mistake. From now on, this concubine belongs to Young Master. I only hope Young Master will cherish me.”
Looking at the beauty who had always been cold and distant toward him now yielding at last, Zhang Qinhu did not feel as pleased as he had imagined he would.
Still, he replied casually, “Don’t worry. Stay with me, and from this day on, wealth and luxury will be yours without end.”
“Many thanks, Young Master.”
A smile bloomed across Wenxi’s charming face.
But in the next moment, the faint pain in her scalp brought back that unpleasant memory, and her face instantly darkened.
Her eyes turned, and a scheme sprang to mind.
In a sweet voice, she said, “Then can Young Master first promise me one thing?”
“What is it?”
“I want Li Xingge dead!”
Wenxi spoke with a face full of venom.
More than Zhang Qinhu, it was Li Xingge whom Wenxi hated most.
If he had not refused to save her, how could she have ended up losing herself to this fat pig?
“Young Master, he clearly knew I was a woman you had set your sights on, and yet he still treated me so roughly. He simply did not place you in his eyes at all.”
Thinking of the disdain in Li Xingge’s eyes when he looked at her, Wenxi ground her teeth in hatred.
A great beauty like her had thrown herself into his arms, yet he had discarded her like worn-out shoes.
Even if she had only meant to use him as a shield against this fat pig’s harassment, that should still have been his honor.
At her words, Zhang Qinhu’s face turned cold at once.
But Wenxi noticed nothing at all, and continued pouring out the resentment in her heart.
Suddenly, Zhang Qinhu cut her off.
“Wenxi, do you know something? I truly did like your face. It is so beautiful.”
Those inexplicable words made Wenxi’s heart tighten.
A terrible premonition suddenly rose in her chest.
“I know exactly what you are thinking.”
“For the past half year, you have kept me hanging at arm’s length. You were neither proactive nor rejecting, all while enjoying everything I gave you.”
“I know you look down on me. You wanted to marry into a great aristocratic house and become its mistress. But how could you possibly imagine that a great aristocratic house would ever fancy a lowly songstress like you?”
“In truth, I did not mind any of that. Because I liked this face of yours, I could endure it. I could even become a laughingstock among my own clansmen.”
“But you never should have tried to sow discord before me, trying to make my Zhang family create enemies out of thin air.”
“You are not worthy.”
After saying his piece, Zhang Qinhu began putting his clothes back on.
At the sight of this, Wenxi truly panicked.
She hurriedly threw her arms around Zhang Qinhu, tears streaming down her face as she pleaded in utter abasement, “Young Master, I know I was wrong. Forgive me. I truly won’t dare again. I’ll obediently be your little canary from now on.”
“If you had said those words earlier, I would have been very happy. But sadly, now it is already too late.”
Zhang Qinhu shook his head with a cold smile.
“It’s not too late, not too late...”
Zhang Qinhu did not respond again.
Instead, he turned toward the door and said, “Men.”
The door was pushed open.
Several trusted retainers entered.
“Young Master, what are your orders?”
Zhang Qinhu glanced at Wenxi on the bed, her face drained of all color, and said coldly, “She’s yours. Line up outside. Everyone gets a turn, one by one.”
The few confidants looked at the charming beauty and hesitated.
They all knew just how much their young master had doted on this woman before now.
But when they saw their young master’s face turning colder and colder,
none of them dared hesitate any longer.
They stepped forward, preparing to drag her away.
Seeing this scene, how could Wenxi not understand what was about to happen next?
At this moment, her eyes were full of disbelief.
She could not comprehend how the man who had once been so gentle with her, who had indulged her in everything, could treat her like this.
Only now, in this moment,
did she understand that this man, fat and squat like a marmot,
had held the power of life and death over her the entire time.
All of her previous behavior had been nothing more than dancing along the edge between life and death.
“Young Master, I know I was wrong! I really know I was wrong! I won’t dare again! Please spare me, please spare me!”
Having finally awakened to reality, Wenxi dropped to her knees and kowtowed frantically, begging for mercy.
But it did not move Zhang Qinhu in the slightest.
Her cries for mercy grew fainter and fainter in the distance.
From inside the room, a quiet voice drifted out:
“After you’ve had your fill, dispose of her. Make sure it’s done cleanly.”