Three hurried days passed in the blink of an eye.
Ling Chen had stayed locked in his room the entire time without stepping outside, while Ling Zhongshu, Ling Zhongheng, and the others paced back and forth anxiously outside.
"Big brother, how is Chen'er doing?"
"Indeed. The young master's Dantian was shattered and his meridians destroyed. Who knows if the spiritual herbs and elixirs we brought him earlier had any effect? Shall I go search for some more?"
"No need."
Ling Zhongshu waved a hand.
Truth be told, he was the most anxious of all in his heart, but as the head of the family, he had to keep his composure.
Just as they were speaking, the door was pushed open, and Ling Zhongshu immediately hurried forward.
"Chen'er!"
"Your son greets you, Father."
Today, Ling Chen had purposely changed into a white robe, giving him the dashing air of an elegant young scholar. Seeing so many people guarding the door, a sudden warmth filled his heart, and he cupped his fists and said, "Thank you, Father and uncles, for your concern. My Dantian has already recovered."
"Really?!"
Ling Zhongshu was overjoyed, and the others crowded around as well. Seeing Ling Chen's ruddy complexion and steady aura, they broke into smiles and said:
"It must be the ancestors blessing us! The young master has finally recovered!"
"Even though his cultivation was lost, with the young master's talent, he will catch up in a year or two at most."
"Haha, Chen'er, you truly did not disappoint your father."
Tears welled up in Ling Zhongshu's tiger-like eyes. He turned his head to wipe them away secretly, then suddenly his tone darkened.
"Chen'er, why don't you stay at the estate today, and we'll let your third uncle handle the annulment..."
"No need."
Ling Chen naturally knew what his old man was worried about.
In the past, he had given his heart and soul to He Qinglan, showing deep and unwavering affection. His father was afraid he would be coaxed away again by a few sweet words and couldn't bear to act.
But in reality.
Ling Chen had no idea how long he had spent within the Immortal Suppressing Coffin; a hundred years had passed in the snap of a finger, and his state of mind had already undergone a heaven-shaking transformation.
Not only was He Qinglan ungrateful and devoid of a conscience, but she had also colluded with outsiders to frame him.
If he did not exact this revenge, Ling Chen would never find peace of mind.
"Father, I will handle this matter personally. Whatever the He Family took from our Ling Family—leave aside the elixirs and spirit stones—even if it's a single needle or a thread, they will spit every last bit of it back out."
"Good!"
Ling Zhongshu clapped and laughed aloud. This was the son of Ling Zhongshu; he would never be trapped by a mere display of soft sentimentality.
"Third brother, gather our men. We set out at once."
"Understood, big brother."
Before long, a mighty and imposing crowd was already waiting outside the Qin Family estate.
Passing pedestrians saw this scene and were so frightened they dared not come close.
"What's going on? Is the Ling Family about to go to war with someone?"
"Don't you know? Today the Ling Family is going to the He Family to annul the marriage, and they're demanding that the He Family cough up everything they've swallowed over the years."
"The young master of the Ling Family has finally woken up. I've always said that He Qinglan woman wasn't worthy of the Ling Family's young master."
"Let's go, let's go. There's a good show to watch."
In an instant.
It seemed as though the entire population of Luoyan City was heading toward the He Family estate.
……
"Family Head, they're here! The Ling Family is here!"
"There are so many people, even Ling Zhongshu came, along with at least three Golden Core elders."
"Quiet, all of you!"
He Yuan let out a cold snort, a savage grin flashing across his face. He was no longer someone who had to live under another's thumb; if the Ling Family dared to come, it would be no different from marching to their deaths.
"Men, guard the entrance well!"
At his command.
Every member of the He Family swung into action.
Ever since learning Qin Yan's identity, they felt their spines stiffen. What was the Ling Family supposed to be? In front of Young Master Qin, they were nothing more than ants.
"Listen up, all of you!"
"The Ling Family relies on power to bully others and is utterly arrogant. If they want to step foot into my He Family's gates today, they must first make that stinking brat Ling Chen kneel on the ground and kowtow eighteen loud kowtows as an apology to our family's Zhao'er!"
"Otherwise, no one is stepping a single foot into my He Family."
"Understood, Family Head!"
"Zhao'er, come inside with me."
He Yuan strode proudly toward the house. This time, he was going to humiliate the Ling Family thoroughly in front of everyone in Luoyan City, and then catch them like turtles in a jar.
A quarter of an hour later.
The Ling Family members had arrived outside the He Family gates. The moment they approached, the He Family servants on guard duty immediately blocked their path with hostile expressions and let out a sneer.
"Well, well, if it isn't the Ling Family's good-for-nothing young master, Ling Chen! What's this? Marching aggressively to our He Family—you couldn't possibly be here to settle scores, could you?"
This loud declaration.
Everyone around heard it crystal clear.
"Are they insane? A mere He Family servant dares to speak to Ling Chen like that?"
"I'd say the He Family has lost their minds. They've just given up and broken the jar since it's already cracked."
"Maybe the He Family has had something to rely on for a while now. Didn't they say a young master from a prominent Qingzhou clan is pursuing He Qinglan? Perhaps..."
The sounds of discussion rose and fell in waves.
Yet the He Family servant didn't care in the least, pressing the attack even more aggressively.
"Ling Chen, my Family Head said that if you want to step through our doors, you'd better obediently kneel on the ground and kowtow to beg for forgiveness! Daring to strike our He Family's young master—why don't you weigh your own worth first!"
Kowtow?
Beg for forgiveness?
Ling Chen suddenly smiled.
It seemed the He Family truly believed that having a powerful backer allowed them to act with total lawlessness.
Before he even had to move, Ling Zhongheng, whose temper was explosive, was the first one who couldn't hold it back. With a flash, he suddenly appeared right in front of the He Family servant and hoisted him up by the collar.
*Slap!*
A single palm strike landed, instantly reducing the He Family servant into a mass of pulp.
With a casual toss, he hurled the body heavily against the He Family's main gates. With a loud *bang*, the entire set of doors shattered into pieces, scattering everywhere.
In that very instant.
Everyone caught sight of He Yuan standing inside, his face turning livid and his teeth grinding in rage.
He knew the third master of the Ling Family had a fiery temper, but he never expected the man to be so completely lawless as to commit murder the moment they met.
"You—you are utterly brazen!"
"Men! Someone come here!"
With a roar.
Every member of the He Family swarmed out, sticking closely to He Yuan's side.
The atmosphere grew taut.
Murderous intent filled the air.
Ling Chen narrowed his eyes slightly and raised a brow with a smile.
"The He Family Head has quite a fiery temper. My third uncle helped you put down a disobedient dog, and instead of showing gratitude, He Family Head, why are you shouting about killing and fighting?"
"Ling Chen, you little brat, shut your mouth!"
"What?"
Ling Chen looked toward Ling Zhongheng with a blank expression.
"Third Uncle, did you hear something? Why is there such loud dog barking?"
"Haha, Chen'er, you heard right. It's an ungrateful old dog, too."
"Shut up! I told you to shut up!"
He Yuan trembled with liver-racking fury, his face turning an unsightly shade of black.
"My, my, why is the dog barking getting louder and louder?"
As he spoke, Ling Chen casually tossed a spirit stone onto the ground and made clucking noises with his mouth.
"Don't bark, don't bark. Here are your dog bones right now."
This scene instantly cracked the onlookers up into laughter.
"The Ling Family's young master is too savage. He actually treats He Yuan like a dog."
"I'd say that old fellow isn't even as good as a dog. Back then he licked the Ling Family's boots endlessly, but now that he's climbed up a high branch, he actually wants to turn around and bite back."
"Eat up, old dog He! Hurry up and eat!"
"Haha, the Ling Family's young master is generous! A single spirit stone should buy plenty of dog bones."
He Yuan was so enraged his face turned red and his neck swelled, his eyes bulging like copper bells as he stared fixedly at Ling Chen.
How had this damned brat suddenly grown such a sharp tongue?
Thinking back to the past, whenever Ling Chen came to the He Family, wasn't he always utterly respectful? Yet now he dared to speak to him like this—truly lacking all sense of heaven and earth.
And a good-for-nothing like that still wanted to marry his daughter? In his dreams!
"Ling Family brat, stop your chattering and stirring up trouble here. Say what you have to say, spit out whatever you came to spit, and be done with it. This old man doesn't have time to watch you go crazy here."
"Is that so?"
Ling Chen clicked his tongue twice, his expression abruptly turning icy.
"The He Family Head is truly a busy man of great importance. You couldn't possibly be too busy selling your daughter, could you?"
"You!"
He Yuan flew into a rage.
"You brat, stop talking utter nonsense! My daughter has already cut all ties with you, so stop trying to swan around like a toad wishing to eat swan meat. Why don't you take a piss and look at your reflection? A good-for-nothing like you isn't worthy of even a fraction of Qinglan."
"Not worthy?"
Ling Chen sneered and spat on the ground.
"I'm going to be worth enough to crush her to death!"
"Hurry up and call her out so everyone can see the difference between humans and beasts!"