The crossbow bolt shot out with blinding speed, nearing Kong Wudao's throat in the blink of an eye.
"What?"
Kong Wudao hadn't expected Tang Wan'er to attack him first. His face changed drastically. Was this woman insane?
The five great families and the Tang sect had no prior relationship, but also no animosity. Was she going to kill him over a few words?
Tang Wan'er's actions were incomprehensible to Kong Wudao, but he knew that wasn't the point. The point was that if he didn't do something, he would die.
At the critical moment, Kong Wudao fell backward rapidly, causing the three crossbow bolts to whiz past his forehead and embed themselves into a nearby lamppost. The bolts' terrifying power had directly pierced the metal pole.
"Tang Wan'er, you crazy woman, how dare you attack me?"
Although he had dodged Tang Wan'er's bolts, Kong Wudao was still shaken and yelled at her.
"So what if I attacked you?"
Hearing Kong Wudao's words, Tang Wan'er sneered and replied, "You don't respect the Tang sect, so does the Tang sect have to respect you and the Kong family?"
After speaking, Tang Wan'er slowly raised her right hand. A miniature crossbow was strapped to her wrist, its firing mechanism connected by a wire to her right pinky finger. With a mere flick of her finger, three more bolts would be unleashed.
"Kong Wudao, you reacted quickly and dodged three bolts. How about three more?"
Tang Wan'er's eyes were cold. "Show me your full strength and let's see if your reaction is faster or my bolts are faster."
"You..."
Kong Wudao was shocked by Tang Wan'er's audacity, attacking him so brazenly in broad daylight. His face contorted in anger.
However, Kong Wudao dared not face Tang Wan'er's crossbows head-on, as their power was truly terrifying.
"Haha, Wan'er, it's all a misunderstanding. Why the need for such hostility?"
Seeing this, Qi Tuojiang stepped forward with a smile. "Although the five great families and the Tang sect don't interact much, they are all powers dominating their respective territories. We should cooperate more to bring greater benefits. Falling out would benefit no one."
"Therefore, sometimes, it's better to have a friend than an enemy. Today, give me face and let's call it a day."
Qi Tuojiang smiled at Kong Wudao. "Young Master Kong's words earlier were by no means intended to belittle the Tang sect, and Wan'er's actions were also a misunderstanding. We can consider this an acquaintance made through conflict."
It had to be said that Qi Tuojiang was indeed a smooth talker. With just a few words, he managed to ease the tension between Tang Wan'er and Kong Wudao.
However, just as the two were about to take a step back and let the matter go, Shen Lang stepped forward and said to Qi Tuojiang, "Misunderstanding? He insulted the Tang sect, insulted my future father-in-law, Tang Jiutian. This is a misunderstanding?"
"Young Master Qi, you think you can make my fiancée let this go with just a few words? Are you overestimating yourself, or underestimating my fiancée and the Tang sect?"
Shen Lang smiled. "If you want to let this go, then Kong Wudao must kneel and apologize to the Tang sect and my future father-in-law, Tang Jiutian, who is far away in Shu."
"If he doesn't apologize, not only will my fiancée Tang Wan'er disagree, but even the Tang sect disciples and my father-in-law Tang Jiutian, who are far away in Shu, will not agree."
Shen Lang released Tang Wan'er and shrugged indifferently at Kong Wudao. "The opportunity has been given to you. Apologize or not, the choice is yours."
"You..."
Upon hearing Shen Lang's words, both Qi Tuojiang and Kong Wudao's faces changed drastically. This bastard Shen Lang was truly fanning the flames, seemingly afraid the fire would die down.
Apologizing was something Kong Wudao could not do, but if he didn't apologize, Tang Wan'er would not let it go. The situation had become a dead end.
"Young Master Kong, although you are a person of status, if you have made a mistake, you should apologize. Kneeling to apologize to Miss Tang Wan'er is not shameful."
Ye Shishi, who also enjoyed watching the show, chimed in at the crucial moment with a mischievous grin.
"Damn it, do I, who is about to kneel and apologize, deserve it? Do the Tang sect and Tang Jiutian deserve it?"
Hearing Shen Lang and Ye Shishi both urging him to apologize, Kong Wudao's rebellious streak was ignited again. He cursed, "Make me apologize, especially kneel and apologize? If you have the guts, come and try! Let's see who forces whom to kneel and apologize."
"You..."
Tang Wan'er was furious at Kong Wudao's words and gritted her teeth. She snapped, "Since that's the case, I'll show you how I'll make you kneel and apologize."
With that, Tang Wan'er moved her finger, activating the crossbow. Three bolts shot out towards Kong Wudao with incredibly terrifying explosive force.
Facing the incoming three bolts, Kong Wudao tried to dodge as he had before. However, he found that the moment the three bolts were fired, they exploded, transforming into dozens of fine needles as thin as cat's whiskers.
As fine needles, their speed increased dramatically. In a flash, they were upon Kong Wudao, leaving him no time to evade.
"This is the Tang sect's Golden Silk Fine Rain?"
Seeing the dense, fine needles as thin as cat's whiskers, Qi Tuojiang's face changed.
He knew the Tang sect's hidden weapons were unparalleled, especially their mechanical hidden weapons, which had reached an unmatched level. He never expected they could even design a hidden weapon like the Golden Silk Fine Rain.
The Golden Silk Fine Rain was a type of infinitely splitting fine needle. It would split upon being fired from the crossbow and would continue to split once it hit a person. Those struck by it would be unable to have the arrows removed and would surely die.
Kong Wudao was his companion, and Qi Tuojiang did not want to watch him die. Thus, at the critical moment, he lunged forward and swept all the incoming fine needles away with a wave of his white folding fan, saving Kong Wudao's life.
"Thank you..."
Kong Wudao was surprised that Qi Tuojiang had saved him at the critical moment and expressed his gratitude.
"Young Master Kong, you are too kind. We are brothers; this is what we should do."
Qi Tuojiang smiled slightly and then turned to Tang Wan'er, saying, "Wan'er, give me some face. Let's call it a truce, shall we?"
"Bullshit—"
As soon as Qi Tuojiang finished speaking, Shen Lang blurted out, "Why don't you give Wan'er some face and make Kong Wudao kneel and apologize? Remember, Wan'er's sect and her father were insulted by Kong Wudao. She is the victim, and you have the nerve to ask the victim to apologize?"
Hearing Shen Lang's words, the smile on Qi Tuojiang's face gradually disappeared. "Brother Shen, please stop fanning the flames, can you?"
Several times Qi Tuojiang had almost mediated the conflict between Tang Wan'er and Kong Wudao, but Shen Lang's constant meddling had not only failed to de-escalate the situation but had actually escalated it. Qi Tuojiang wished he could slap Shen Lang to death right then and there.