The hall fell silent. It seemed no one had expected Yi Beidou to do such a thing.
Even Xu Zifeng, standing beside him, stared blankly for a moment at Xu Kehong lying on the floor. Then her expression changed. 'This is bad,' she thought.
She couldn't see anything good coming from Yi Beidou's actions.
'Is this the solution Yi Beidou mentioned before? It's utterly reckless!'
What problem could violence possibly solve in modern society? It would only give his opponents ammunition and put him in an even more precarious position.
Besides, this was Jinlin Manor. The first branch of the family lived here year-round, which meant their people controlled the entire security system.
Attacking someone—and a direct descendant of the first branch, no less—was not an issue that could be easily resolved.
"How dare you!"
Just then, a furious roar shattered the silence in the hall. A tall, middle-aged man in a sharp suit rushed toward Yi Beidou, and the security guards around the main building moved in unison.
'This is terrible!'
Xu Zifeng recognized the middle-aged man. He was Wang Wei, the head butler of Jinlin Manor and a key figure in the Xu Group's security department. He was a trusted confidant of the first branch.
The people of the first branch were detestable, but they weren't incompetent. Over the years, they had used the Xu Family's wealth and status to win allies and recruit many capable individuals.
Wang Wei was one of them. She had heard he'd studied Martial Arts since childhood, had been a mercenary, and possessed the strength to shatter stone tablets. A dozen ordinary adult men couldn't even get close to him.
Though the man was large, his footwork was surprisingly light, like plum blossoms falling in a flurry, dazzling to the eye.
He formed a sword-finger and stabbed at Yi Beidou's shoulder. The strike was vicious; for an ordinary person, it would instantly dislocate the shoulder and potentially cause irreversible soft tissue damage.
Plum Blossom Seven-Star Sword!
This man's skill had already reached the stage of harmonizing the internal and external. His attack was decisive, surging with killing intent. He was a Martial Arts expert forged in the crucible of life-and-death combat.
However.
WHOOSH!!
The moment Wang Wei reached Yi Beidou, a terrifying whistle of wind screamed past his ear. A large palm rapidly expanded in his peripheral vision, and an intense sense of crisis flooded his mind.
He wanted to dodge, but his body simply couldn't react. The man's palm seemed to lock onto him like a law of nature, like the inescapable hand of fate.
A monkey cannot leap from the Buddha's palm, and a man cannot escape his own destiny.
THUD!!
The impact of flesh on flesh was like a muffled explosion. The charging Wang Wei was sent flying sideways through the air by a single slap before crashing heavily onto the floor, making the entire hall tremble slightly.
His fate was identical to Xu Kehong's.
Seeing this, the five or six other security guards who had been swarming forward froze, caught between advancing and retreating.
All of them together were no match for Wang Wei, yet Wang Wei had been slapped to the ground by that young man without even a chance to struggle, losing consciousness instantly.
These were just regular security guards. At the Xu Family's level, they weren't authorized to carry firearms. With only riot-control weapons, they stood no chance against such an opponent.
Yi Beidou's gaze swept over everyone present. He had no interest in getting deeply involved in the petty squabbles of the Xu Family. His solution, therefore, was simple.
Cut the Gordian knot.
For twenty years, he had endured, retreated, and never fought back when struck or insulted. It wasn't because he was naturally kind or weak, but only because his Cultivation Technique was incomplete.
In truth, this way of acting was his true nature.
Born a demon, to roam the world, to take pleasure in vengeance, to be utterly lawless, knowing only the path of his own heart—how could there be room for forbearance within him?
"Where is the conference room? Take me there."
Seeing that the security guards didn't dare to approach, Yi Beidou turned back to Xu Zifeng and spoke.
Xu Zifeng was completely stunned as she stared at Wang Wei on the floor. She had witnessed his power before. At a Spring Festival family gathering, the first branch, wanting to show off, had him perform. He had pierced a solid wood table with his fingers. Another time, at the equestrian field, a horse bolted, and he lunged forward and physically wrestled the panicked animal to a halt. He was ridiculously strong.
But now...
This whole thing felt a little too surreal for her.
'Shocking! My cousin, who's been autistic for twenty years, is actually a peerless master?!'
Yi Beidou's palm rested on Xu Zifeng's shoulder, snapping her back to her senses. She turned to meet his calm eyes. "I told you I would solve this."
"Follow me," Xu Zifeng said, gritting her teeth.
She still didn't believe this matter could be resolved so easily.
In modern society, personal physical strength was the most useless thing of all.
But at this point, she had no choice but to see it through to the bitter end.
Under Xu Zifeng's lead, and watched by everyone in silent, sidelong glances, Yi Beidou walked slowly toward the back courtyard.
「Meanwhile, in the back courtyard's conference room.」
The upper echelon of the Xu Family was gathered, with the most important figures seated around a circular conference table. Behind them, a row of auxiliary chairs was also completely filled.
The Xu Family had prospered since the time of Old Master Xu. He had four sons, and their branches had flourished, filling the clan with descendants.
However, the Xu Family's leaders were all murmuring amongst themselves, because just a moment ago, Xu Guanren, the head of the first branch who was seated in the main position, had invited an outsider.
This man was very young, well-dressed in a suit, and had a refined demeanor. He wore a constant smile and held a string of Buddha Beads, which he fidgeted with ceaselessly—a stark contrast to his youthful appearance.
Following behind him was a middle-aged man in a loose-fitting suit. This man was tall with high cheekbones and several scars on his face. His hands were casually tucked into his pants pockets, but his eyes were like those of an Evil Ghost, making all the Xu Family executives in the room feel the hair on their necks stand up, as if they were lambs on a chopping block.
This middle-aged man stood exactly five paces behind the young man, a precise distance he maintained without deviation.
"Allow me to introduce you. This is Mr. Ruan of the Doli Group. The Doli Group is highly influential in the military, political, and business circles of several countries in the Nanyang region. Going forward, our Xu Group will engage in a deep partnership with the Doli Group to fully open up the Nanyang market and expand internationally."
Xu Guanren, seated in the main chair, wore a Tang suit. His hair was slightly graying, but his skin was taut and ruddy, a sign that he was well-maintained.
He was sixty-two this year, but he remained full of vigor and ambition.
Hearing Xu Guanren's words, everyone's gaze immediately fell on Xu Yao, who was seated opposite the main chair.
Everyone knew that the fourth branch's businesses were the ones facing problems in the Nanyang region. The reason for this was now crystal clear.
"So it was your Doli Group that's been causing trouble in Nanyang?"
Xu Yao, dressed in professional attire, was over fifty but also well-preserved. Her eyes were fixed on Mr. Ruan, who had casually taken a seat and was fidgeting with his Buddha Beads, as she asked the question.
"Ms. Xu, that's going too far. These are just normal business tactics."
Mr. Ruan still wore his smile.
"Xu Guanren, as the head of the Xu Family's first branch and the helmsman of the Xu Group, you conspire with outsiders to undermine your own family! How can you face the ancestors of the Xu Family?!"
Xu Yao roared, glaring at Xu Guanren in the main seat. At her words, the others in the room all had varying expressions.
"Little sister, the Xu Family's influence is waning, and your fourth branch's businesses have hit a bottleneck. It's time for a change. As long as you agree to sign the agreement and hand over management rights, you won't lose a single cent of what you're owed."
"Besides, with Mr. Ruan's influence, unfreezing your assets in Nanyang is a simple matter. As long as you cooperate, you won't suffer any losses. In fact, with the support of Mr. Ruan and the Doli Group, our future in the Nanyang region will be smooth sailing. The Xu Family will be revitalized. This is a matter of great benefit to the family. I've only used some necessary measures. How is that failing our ancestors?"
Xu Guanren's expression remained unchanged as he spoke calmly.
"There's no such thing as a free lunch. By relying on others, who knows what family interests you've sold out? You've already broken the rules by bringing an outsider to interfere in an internal family meeting. I'm not negotiating with you today. Goodbye."
Xu Yao's face darkened, and she stood up to leave.
She had navigated the business world for many years and was a shrewd operator. She was actually still very calm; her so-called anger was just an act, a delaying tactic. Now that she knew who was behind this, leaving would give her time to investigate and perhaps find a countermeasure.
"Ms. Xu, I am a very busy man. It wasn't easy for me to make this trip. I'd like to resolve this matter today, so I hope Ms. Xu can do me this favor."
Mr. Ruan said with a smile.
The instant his words fell.
SWISH!
The burly, middle-aged man standing behind him took a step, his figure moving like a phantom as he charged toward Xu Yao.