The Qin family.
As the largest family in Nanyun City, it had a vast network of descendants.
Males married outside, and females took husbands from outside, with absolutely no outflow of members.
Consequently, quite a number of people had gathered on the scene, totaling several hundred.
For a long time, when Qin family members were bullied, even when the other party was in the right, they would typically bow their heads and admit fault to avoid suppression by the Qin family. No one dared to confront the Qin family to the bitter end.
The death of a member of the younger generation due to a conflict had never occurred in history.
Qin Hu was just one among many of the younger generation; his death had virtually no impact on the Qin family.
However, this matter concerned the Qin family's reputation.
Although Qin Hu was killed with a single palm strike from Qin Zhan, the instigator was an outsider.
If the Qin family showed no reaction to this incident, it would only lead outsiders to believe that the Qin family was in decline and could be bullied. Then, it was possible that another member of the younger generation, and then a third, would die.
Though the matter seemed small, its implications were significant.
All Qin family members who could make it had arrived, ready to see how the family head would handle this affair.
Qin Tianhuo, who appeared quite young, sat in the main seat of the reception hall, quietly reading a book.
"They've arrived!"
As Chu Fan and Qin Zhan entered everyone's sight, led by Qin Tianming, all eyes focused on Chu Fan.
They were very curious about what kind of power this person possessed that could persuade Qin Zhan to strike down Qin Hu.
As members of the Qin family, they all understood Qin Zhan's reclusive nature; he maintained the same expression towards everyone.
Furthermore, the number of people in the Qin family who could command Qin Zhan's actions could be counted on one hand.
An outsider persuading Qin Zhan to kill a Qin family member?
If this hadn't already happened, any Qin family member would have dismissed it as a wild fantasy.
"You damned wretch, to kill your own nephew, are you even human?"
"And you, you despicable wretch, you will pay with my son's life."
Zhan Xiyu suddenly rushed out from the crowd, wielding a wooden stick she had found from who knows where. Shouting curses, she charged towards Qin Zhan and Chu Fan.
"Xiyu!"
Qin Tianming exclaimed, rushing to stop her.
Did she want to die by daring to confront Qin Zhan?
However, Zhan Xiyu, whose mind was on the verge of collapse, paid no heed to his pleas.
Moreover, when a woman became frenzied, her strength was immense, and Qin Tianming couldn't restrain her for a moment.
Zhan Xiyu, with her arms flailing wildly, lunged at Qin Zhan, her wooden stick aimed directly at Chu Fan.
Chu Fan did not move. The wooden stick was caught by Qin Zhan mid-air and immediately crushed.
*Crack...*
The crisp sound echoed.
Qin Zhan paid no mind to who Zhan Xiyu was. With a backhand, he sent her flying with a slap.
A wave of gasps rippled through the crowd. They hadn't expected Qin Zhan to be so ruthless, not only killing her son but also striking the mother when she made a desperate move.
"Qin Zhan!"
Qin Tianming roared, his breathing rapid, his eyes red as he glared at Qin Zhan.
If not for his inferior strength, he wouldn't have cared if Qin Zhan was his cousin and would have made him pay dearly.
Qin Zhan's expression remained calm. He stared at Qin Tianming and asked, "What? Do you want to lie on the ground too?"
His words were icy, his demeanor indifferent, giving the impression that Qin Tianming was not a family member in Qin Zhan's eyes, but rather an outsider.
At that moment, everyone felt as if they were witnessing a ghost.
"You..."
Qin Tianming was so infuriated he could barely respond. He could only turn to Qin Tianhuo in the hall, hoping their family head would step forward to deliver justice.
Qin Tianhuo's strength wasn't particularly great; he was only at the Half-step Grandmaster realm. However, his strengths lay in his intellect, his mind, and his long-term vision.
He put down his book, stood up, and walked out. He said to Qin Tianming, "Uncle Ming, you should escort your aunt to get treatment. I will handle this matter."
Qin Tianming nodded and quickly went to assist others in carrying away the unconscious Zhan Xiyu.
"You are Wuming?"
Qin Tianhuo walked up and stared at Chu Fan, asking.
Chu Fan was not surprised that his information had been investigated. He calmly replied, "I can be, or I cannot be."
*Whoosh...*
The Qin family members around widened their eyes, their faces filled with astonishment.
They had heard many rumors about Wuming but had never seen the person himself.
They hadn't expected him to be so young.
Rumor had it that Wuming was at least a fifth-rank Grandmaster. Now that they saw him alive, and confirmed his youth, many of the Qin family youngsters who also followed the martial path cast envious glances, wishing their own talent could be as dazzling as Chu Fan's.
Guests are welcomed guests.
Even more so for a young Grandmaster with exceptional talent.
Qin Tianhuo smiled and nodded, gesturing politely, "Shall we go inside to talk?"
There were too many people outside, and many matters were indeed difficult to discuss. Chu Fan nodded and followed Qin Tianhuo into the reception hall.
*Bang!*
The wooden door of the hall was directly closed.
Outside the door, the Qin family members were in an uproar, all speculating on how the family head would handle the matter.
Some believed that the Qin family's dignity could not be violated, and even if this person were Wuming, he would have to pay a price.
Others argued that Wuming possessed extraordinary talent, and such a powerful individual should be befriended and recruited. Opposing him would bring no benefit to the Qin family.
As for Qin Hu's death, no one cared much, as there were sixty to seventy people in total among the younger generation like him.
A wastrel who spent his days indulging in revelry was dead, and it was for the better, saving the family's funds and strength.
Inside the hall, after Qin Tianhuo invited Chu Fan to sit, he asked Qin Zhan, "Brother, why did you strike down Qin Hu? Can you give me a reason?"
He could have spared Qin Hu's life, but in the end, he killed him directly.
This situation was not entirely consistent with the earlier agreement between them.
Qin Tianhuo was busy with the development of the Qin family's ventures and implicitly entrusted Qin Zhan with supervising the conduct of the Qin family's disciples.
At that time, Qin Tianhuo had explicitly stated that no matter how great a mistake a Qin family disciple made, or how severe the punishment, as long as they kept their lives, it would be fine.
After all, the Qin family had plenty of money, and even if they were crippled and bedridden, they could still be supported.
But if they died, it would be difficult for him, as the family head, to explain to their parents.
Qin Zhan raised his brow, impatiently stating, "He's dead, so what reason is needed?"
"A second-generation heir who only knows how to eat, drink, and have fun is a waste of food when alive."
"If Qin Tianming wants a reason, he can come and talk to me!"
"He isn't much older than Qin Hu. If he dares to talk nonsense, I'll let him know what it feels like when his son was struck down."
Faced with Qin Zhan's arrogance, Qin Tianhuo, despite being the family's spokesperson, was somewhat helpless. He could only force a smile to ease the tension in the room. kanδん
Then, he turned to face Chu Fan and said with a smile, "Wuming is likely not your real name, is it?"
"What should I call you if I don't know your real name?"
Knowing the real name would allow for the investigation of more information, thus enabling him to gauge whether to befriend him or to act decisively and kill him to establish the Qin family's authority.
Chu Fan casually replied, "It's just a name; it's not important!"
"However, I do have something I'd like to discuss with the Qin family head. I wonder if the Qin family head is interested?"
Qin Tianhuo's eyes flickered. After a few seconds of thought, he nodded and said, "Please, speak!"