Facing Shen Qing's words, the members of the Xiao Family all grew dissatisfied, and Zhang Mei's expression turned especially gloomy.
"Shen Qing, this is an internal matter of the Xiao Family. As an outsider, you have no right to interfere."
Shen Qing sneered. "Xiao Yuyan is my third senior sister. Since you want to force her into a marriage, how is that none of my business?"
"With me here today, let's see who dares to force my third senior sister to do anything!"
Shen Qing's tone was domineering as he stepped forward and pulled Xiao Yuyan directly behind him.
Seeing this, Xiao Yuyan felt a surge of warmth in her heart, a look of deep gratitude welling up in her eyes as she gazed at Shen Qing.
Bang!
Hearing this, the members of the Xiao Family slammed their hands on the table and stood up.
"Audacious!"
"Shen Qing, you are far too arrogant," Xiao Tong said, his gaze turning chillingly cold.
"You're nothing more than some punk from the mountains. Don't think that just because you lucked into some connections with the eldest miss of the Li Family, you can act so wildly in front of the Xiao Family."
"Besides, Young Master Wang is still here today. What kind of thing do you think you are, Shen Qing, to dare act so lawlessly here!"
Heh!
Shen Qing sneered inwardly; he cared nothing for Xiao Tong's threats.
At that moment, Wang Zhou spoke.
"You must be Shen Qing?"
"I've already heard about you from the Xiao Family. I didn't expect you to actually be this arrogant."
"But this is not a matter for you to meddle in. Get lost, right now!"
Wang Zhou tilted his chin up, adopting an arrogant attitude toward Shen Qing, his eyes filled with contempt.
The Xiao Family members added fuel to the fire from the side. "Young Master Wang, this Shen Qing is overbearing and aggressive. He's the one blocking this whole thing."
"Before this, he even acted violently and raised hell right here in our Xiao Family. We beg Young Master Wang to make the decisions for us!"
Wang Zhou gave a slight nod, his expression playful. "He's just a bumpkin, nothing that can make waves."
He looked at Shen Qing. "Shen Qing, Xiao Yuyan is a woman I have set my sights on. You have no right to stop it."
At these words, the members of the Xiao Family all burst into excited laughter.
"Shen Qing, hurry up and get lost! Do you dare ignore what Young Master Wang said?" Backed by Wang Zhou's support, Zhang Mei instantly grew smug and triumphant.
Shen Qing's expression turned icy. Wang Zhou's attitude and tone were blatantly condescending.
Faced with such insulting words, even a clay figurine had three parts of fire, let alone a living man.
"You want me to get lost?"
"You're not even worthy!" Shen Qing retorted domineeringly.
What?
This statement shocked the entire room. The members of the Xiao Family were utterly astonished, scarcely believing their own ears.
Wang Zhou was slightly startled, followed immediately by a dark expression.
"Arrogant!"
"Shen Qing, you've got some real nerve, daring to speak to me like that?" Wang Zhou rebuked.
Shen Qing sneered with mockery. "You're only this arrogant because you're leaning on your family. Without the power of the Wang Family, you're a whole pile of nothing."
Bang!
As if poked right where it hurt, Wang Zhou slammed the teacup in his hand fiercely onto the ground.
"Shen Qing, you're courting death."
"How dare you insult me like this! Today, I'd like to see how much strength you actually have."
"A-Qiang!"
With a gloomy expression, Wang Zhou dropped his command, and a burly man in black over two meters tall with a fierce and menacing presence stepped out from beside him.
The burly man's gaze was ice-cold, the chill in his eyes as sharp as a blade.
Xiao Yuyan looked on with deep worry, but Shen Qing smiled and grasped her hand.
"There's no need to worry!" Confidence filled Shen Qing's smiling face.
Seeing this, Wang Zhou scoffed derisively. "Shen Qing, I hear you can fight. Go on, then, have a proper match with my bodyguard."
"A-Qiang, break both of his legs for me!"
Wang Zhou issued the order directly.
The Xiao Family members present all wore excited expressions, the looks they cast at Shen Qing filled with mockery and ridicule.
"Shen Qing, you're finished now! This Mr. A-Qiang is Young Master Wang's personal bodyguard—rumor has it he's a combat expert from the provincial capital. You're bound to lose today without a doubt!" Xiao Tong laughed heartily.
The gathering of Xiao Family members all reveled in schadenfreude, crossing their arms to watch the show.
Shen Qing remained unhurried. Instead, he stepped directly forward.
"Is that so?"
"Just as well—I haven't had a chance to spar with any experts since coming down the mountain. Let me see just how strong these big-city combat experts really are!" Shen Qing loosened up his joints, an excited look on his face.
A-Qiang had already reached him. A man of few words and vicious deeds, he struck without a moment's hesitation.
He threw a heavy punch straight at Shen Qing's shoulder.
This blow carried immense force; if an ordinary person were hit, their bones would likely shatter on impact.
Shen Qing let out a cold laugh. With a casual grab, A-Qiang's fist landed squarely in his palm.
"And here I thought you were some kind of expert. Is this all the strength you've got?" Shen Qing mocked in disappointment.
Crack!
As he tightened his five fingers, everyone heard a crisp snap of breaking bone.
"Agh!"
A-Qiang clutched his fingers and shrieked, his face twisting in agony.
"Courtesy demands reciprocity—take a punch from me!"
With a low shout, Shen Qing threw a punch of his own, striking A-Qiang squarely in the chest.
A-Qiang screamed as his body flew backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily onto the ground.
Gasp!
An uproar broke out among the Xiao Family members, who could hardly believe their eyes.
"You're actually this strong?" Wang Zhou's expression turned ice-cold as well, his glare fierce enough to eat people.
None of them had expected Shen Qing's fighting skills to be so formidable.
Shen Qing walked forward, striding straight up to Wang Zhou.
His movement startled the Xiao Family members, who hurriedly scolded him, "Shen Qing, what do you think you're doing? Get away from Young Master Wang right now!"
At this moment, Wang Zhou's face was as dark as ink. "Shen Qing, I admit I underestimated you."
"But if you think that means you can act however you please, you are gravely mistaken."
"The influence of the Wang Family is beyond anything you can imagine. If you kneel down right now and kowtow to apologize, I might still let you go!"
With a chilling expression, Shen Qing said, "Your subordinate lost, yet you still dare talk like this."
"I know the Wang Family is powerful, but I, Shen Qing, am not a soft persimmon to be kneaded at will."
"Today, I'll teach you a lesson so you know what respect means!"
With those words, Shen Qing made his move.
"Shen Qing, you wouldn't dare..." Wang Zhou raged.
Before he could finish, Shen Qing's hand landed on his shoulder.
Crack!
The sound of snapping bone echoed out.
"Ah! My arm!"
Wang Zhou clutched his shoulder and screamed in agony.
"Stop right there!"
"Shen Qing, you're an absolute madman, actually daring to lay a hand on Young Master Wang."
Zhang Mei and the others turned pale with fright, their expressions full of terror.
Clambering up from the ground in a pathetic state, Wang Zhou burned with rage, his glare murderous.
"You... you actually dared to beat me!" Wang Zhou's fury erupted to the heavens.
Shen Qing sneered at him. "So what if I beat you? If you want revenge, you're welcome anytime."
"Next time, I'll kill you outright!"
Filled with shock and fury, Wang Zhou felt the anger in his chest erupt like a volcano.
"Fine, fine, fine!"
"Since you're this brazen, Shen Qing, I will never let you off."
"Just wait—I'll make sure you die without a burial place!"
Leaving behind those words, Wang Zhou fled in utter humiliation, his figure quickly vanishing from everyone's sight.