Geez, persistent spirits? Unyielding until their goals are achieved? Zhang Yuanqing gritted his teeth quietly, full of resignation, while offering a polite and gentle smile: "Mr. Xiaohu, Mr. Xiaohu, is there anything else I can assist you with?" Now that they're proposing to exchange props—do they want to create a contrast, to surprise me? He mumbled to himself. "Mr. Xiaohou, don't make me this humble person feel uncomfortable. The attitude of Shizhang is my own; I cannot afford to clash with the Zhishika Palace." Zhang Yuanqing politely declined. Xiaohou Xin gazed at him steadily, then slowly said, "Two items!" How truly affluent they are—indeed, the Xiaohou family are scholars, and high-ranking scholars command the craft of prop-making, much like blacksmiths in a game. Though each prop requires materials and skill, and thus comes at a considerable cost, the Xiaohou family's mastery of this craft gives them an advantage unmatched by other factions. This is why they have remained strong, and their roots have firmly taken hold within the Taimei Gate and the Wuxing Alliance. "Sorry!" Zhang Yuanqing shook his head and pushed his bicycle toward the exit. Then, suddenly, the wheels seemed to be caught by something—so he looked down. Green ivy shoots emerged from the pavement of the bike path, coiling around the wheels like a chain. Xia Hou Xin said calmly, "Tian Yuan, bring his phone over." Xia Hou Tian Yuan gave a slight smile, pushed open the car door, and placed a translucent, dreamlike crystal sphere on the roof. Instantly, Zhang Yuanqing felt an invisible membrane enveloping the surroundings; vehicles and pedestrians outside began to warp, and the sounds from outside were completely cut off. His face turned pale. "You... you're too forceful." Xia Hou Tian Yuan licked his lips, stepped forward steadily, and said with a chuckle, "Master Yuan Shi, I've heard you've cleared the S-tier spiritual realm twice, earning acclaim from the official travelers as a prodigy. Well, just happens—my patience is rather short, and I can't stand geniuses. I especially enjoy giving them a good beating." As he spoke, flames erupted from his shoes, blazing like a swift arrow trailing after its path, charging forward. The speed was so rapid that Zhang Yuanqing quickly crossed his arms, shielding himself in front. Crack! Crack! Crack! A relentless series of powerful kicks struck Zhang Yuanqing's arms like whips, reducing his sleeve to ash and leaving scorched marks on his forearm. Three stars? Zhang Yuanqing stiffened in his mind. After successfully withstanding the first wave of attacks, he immediately activated Night Stroll, entering stealth mode. His figure vanished instantly, as if erased. Xia Hou Tianyuan stood proudly in place, his feet blazing with flames, as if riding on a wind-and-fire wheel, his gaze sharp and scanning the surroundings. Suddenly, he noticed the thin membrane on the left side of the barrier being struck hard, rippling like ripples in water. Xia Hou Tianyuan launched a precise strike, using his left foot as a pivot and sweeping his right leg across—crack! A spiraling figure emerged from the air. It was Zhang Yuanqing. With his right hand, Xia Hou Tianyuan reached out into the air, summoning a pair of dark golden manacles from his inventory and tossing them into the air. "Clack! Clack!" The manacles automatically clamped onto Zhang Yuanqing's ankles, locking securely in place. Seeing this, Xiahou Tianyuan's lips curled slightly, but in the very next moment, Zhang Yuanqing's body seemed to shatter like a fragmented reflection and vanished. A phantom illusion! "Crack!" Immediately, Xiahou Tianyuan heard a sound of breaking. He saw a figure emerging from afar, stepping deliberately and crushing the phone into fragments with each footfall. Witnessing this, Xiahou Tianyuan furrowed his brows. This stubborn young man was willing to go this way rather than compromise with the Xiahou family? Zhang Yuanqing exhaled steadily, speaking without emotion: "If this continues, it will be a matter of life or death." Feeling the intense heat radiating from beneath his feet, Xiahou Tianyuan grew more irritable than usual: "You're trying to kill yourself!" "Enough!" Xiahou Xin, inside the car, glanced at the shattered phone and said calmly, "Tianyuan, come back." With deep, steady eyes, he fixed his gaze on Zhang Yuanqing and apologized, "My son is fiercely competitive—please don't take it personally." Xiaohou Tianyuan's temples bulged with veins as he struggled, finally suppressing the ever-burning intensity of his emotions, putting out the flames on the shoes. Instantly, he regained his lazy demeanor, a world apart from his earlier fiery outburst. "Indeed, he's tough—solid build, and it's a pleasure to hit him," Xiaohou Tianyuan scoffed, returning to the black sedan, folding up the crystal orb atop the roof, and stepping inside. The sedan sped off, merging into the traffic flow. With his head propped out the window, he gestured to the young man behind, making a neck-crushing motion. "Dad, this kid is quite strong—he's got real potential," he said lazily, lying back in the leather seat. "When did it come to this that a lower-level employee dares to look down on our Xiaohou family? Remarkable backbone—only when you break it do you feel truly accomplished." "We can leverage family connections to pressure him, operate within the rules to wear him down, but don't make a fool of ourselves—he has solid achievements to his name," Xiaohou Xin said calmly. The young man had merits to his name; minor incidents would be acceptable, and the Five Elements Alliance would at most issue a formal reprimand. But if he injured or killed the other party, the White Tiger troops would not rest content. Killing an official envoy with recognized achievements was equivalent to openly severing ties with the Five Elements Alliance—a matter far more serious than merely affecting ordinary individuals. Thus, after the young man crushed the phone, Xiahou Xin halted the incident. "I understand!" Xiahou Tianyuan smiled coldly. "Let us focus the attention on the other several members of the Zhishik Palace," Xiahou Xin said, his expression grave. "That woman has uncovered too many secrets from your brother; she cannot be allowed to remain. This time, regardless of what happens, she must be eliminated." Xiahou Tianyuan complained, "My brother is just a liability—he can't even move when faced with a woman. Thanks to him, we're in such a passive position." At that moment, Xiahou Xin noticed a smear of blood on his son's ankle, and frowned. "You were injured?" Xiahou Tianyuan was startled, and looked down to realize his ankle had been scraped. "He didn't really care much," said Zhang Yuanqing. "The Xiahou family is being rather domineering—just for Wang Qian, they're making such a big fuss. I almost thought I had a secret affair with the Master of Zhishika Palace!" As he watched the black sedan fade from sight, he turned his gaze back, unable to help but complain. He glanced down at the severe burn marks on his forearm, his expression growing gloomier. Even though the Xiahou family was bold, they wouldn't dare kill him unless they wanted to go to war with the Wuxing Alliance. A member with a solid record of merit, if killed by a spiritual realm family, would surely demand reparation from the Wuxing Alliance—no matter how close their ties. Otherwise, how could they gain the trust of the mid- and lower-level official agents? Thus, Zhang Yuanqing decisively wiped out his phone, ending the confrontation. But that didn't mean the matter was over. The Xiahou family was indeed overly assertive—first offering inducements, then resorting to direct action. If Zhang Yuanqing had no such merit and were merely an ordinary, lower-level member, would they have stopped short at mere Yet even he, given the demeanor of the Xiaohou family father and son, would likely continue to deliver subtle, coldly targeted strikes and retaliations in the future. Zhang Yuanqing took a tissue, wiped away the traces of blood from the crevices of his fingernails, carefully folded it, and tucked it into his pocket, murmuring softly: "There won't be a next time."