Wow, never giving up? Not stopping until the goal is achieved? Zhang Yuanqing gritted his teeth quietly, feeling utterly helpless, while maintaining a polite and gentle smile: "Mr. Xiaohou, may I ask—do you have any more matters to discuss?" Xiaohou Xin sat upright, slightly tilting his head toward Zhang Yuanqing, speaking calmly: "Just now at the Public Security Bureau, some topics were difficult to settle. If you'd be willing to help bring Wang Qian to light, I’d like to present a Prop as a token of appreciation for your assistance. Moreover, the Xiaohou Family holds considerable influence within the Five Elements Alliance. With your strong capabilities, and further support from our family, you’ll surely rise swiftly." Beside him, Xiaohou Tianyuan lounged lazily against his leather chair, scrolling idly on his Smartphone—no longer the impetuous, assertive office worker he once was. Zhang Yuanqing paused, suddenly realizing that this father-son pair had only made requests without offering any returns during their visit at the Public Security Bureau. They hadn’t even attempted to discuss anything seriously. Was it because Guan Ya and Li Dongze were present—acting as a buffer—so they’d merely tested the waters? Now proposing a Prop exchange seemed like a deliberate effort to create a contrast, hoping to surprise him into admiration... He muttered these thoughts to himself beneath his breath. "Mr. Xiaohou, don’t trouble me with such a small figure. My attitude is exactly the same as Chief Tianyuan’s—my position in relation to Zhishake Palace makes it difficult for me to challenge you," Zhang Yuanqing politely declined. Xiaohou Xin maintained steady eye contact, then said gently: "Two items!" How truly affluent they were—the Xiaohou Family’s professional designation is "Scholar." High-level Scholars command the skill of crafting Props—just like a game-world blacksmith. While each Prop depends on materials and skill levels, its creation involves significant costs. But with mastery over this craft, the Xiaohou Family holds an unmatched advantage compared to other factions. This allows them to maintain stability and extend their roots deeply into Taiyi Gate and the Five Elements Alliance. "I'm sorry," Zhang Yuanqing shook his head, pushing his bicycle toward departure. Suddenly, it seemed as though something had caught his wheels—looking down, he saw green vines emerging from the ground of the bike lane, like chains, tightly entwining his wheels. Xiaohou Xin calmly said: "Tianyuan, bring over his Smartphone." Xiaohou Tianyuan gave a slight smile, opened the car door, and placed on the roof of the bicycle a translucent, ethereal Crystal Ball. Instantly, Zhang Yuanqing felt an invisible membrane enveloping him—vehicles and pedestrians outside began to warp, sounds from the outside faded away completely. His face changed: "You... you've gone too far." Xiaohou Tianyuan licked his lips, then walked slowly toward him with a slow, confident grin: "Master Yuan Shi, I’ve heard you’ve successfully cleared two S-level Spirit Realms and are recognized by official Pilgrims as a true talent. Coincidentally, I’m not the most patient person—my tolerance for excellence is quite limited, especially when it comes to talented individuals." As he spoke, flames erupted from his shoes, blazing like an arrow trailing after its flight. He surged forward. The speed was overwhelming. Zhang Yuanqing quickly interlaced his arms across his chest in defense. A series of sharp, forceful kicks landed on Zhang Yuanqing’s arms—each strike felt like a whip lash—the sleeves turned to ashes and the skin on his forearms scorched with burns. Level 3? Zhang Yuanqing stiffened internally. After successfully blocking the initial wave of attacks, he immediately activated Night Wanderer and entered stealth mode. His form vanished instantly—like being erased from existence. Xiaohou Tianyuan stood firm in place, flames burning steadily beneath his feet as if riding on a wind-powered chariot, scanning the surroundings with sharp eyes. Suddenly, he noticed that the membrane on the left side of the barrier had been struck sharply, rippling like ripples across water. With precise footwork, Xiaohou Tianyuan shifted his weight—using his left leg as an axis—he then swept his right leg outward. A sharp burst of sound echoed—the air parted—and a rolling figure appeared in motion. It was Zhang Yuanqing himself. Xiaohou Tianyuan extended his hand into the air and summoned from his inventory a pair of dark-gold Manacles, tossing them with a flick. The Manacles adhered to Zhang Yuanqing’s ankles and locked automatically. As he observed this, Xiaohou Tianyuan gave a small smile—only for Zhang Yuanqing's body to then vanish as if shattered into images. A magic illusion! Then came a sound: "Crash!" Xiaohou Tianyuan saw a figure materialize nearby, stepping firmly and using the force of each foot to shatter his Smartphone completely. Seeing this, Xiaohou Tianyuan’s brows furrowed. This young man would rather act this way than compromise with the Xiaohou Family? Zhang Yuanqing exhaled deeply, remaining calm and stating: "If things continue like this, we’ll be at odds until one of us is defeated." Feeling the warmth of flames radiating from beneath his feet, Xiaohou Tianyuan’s temper was noticeably more fiery than usual: "You’re asking for death!" "Enough!" said Xiaohou Xin, observing the shattered Smartphone. He gently addressed Tianyuan: "Return now, Tianyuan." He looked deeply into Zhang Yuanqing's eyes with sincere apology: "My son is quite spirited—please don’t take this as an offense." Xiaohou Tianyuan’s temples bulged, struggling to hold back the growing intensity of his emotions. Finally, he managed to extinguish the flames burning on his shoes. In a flash, he restored his relaxed posture—utterly different from his earlier display of anger. "That's good," he chuckled, "You’re tough and resilient—quite satisfying to fight." He then walked back toward the black sedan, retrieved the Crystal Ball from the roof, and settled into the car seat. The black sedan sped off, merging into traffic. Xiaohou Tianyuan leaned his head out the window, giving a theatrical gesture of slicing through the young man’s neck. "My father," he said lazily, lying back against the leather seat, "this young man is quite strong—he's truly talented." "How could it be otherwise? When did a junior official dare to ignore our Xiaohou Family altogether? It’s admirable—such solid resolve only brings satisfaction when broken." "Understandably, we can apply pressure through family connections and contain him within the established rules," Xiaohou Xin said calmly. "But don't make foolish moves—he has an established record of merit. If he's injured or killed, the White Tiger Army will not accept it lightly." To lose a Pilgrim with recognized merit to the hand of a Spirit Realm family would be a direct conflict with the Five Elements Alliance—a matter far more significant than merely affecting ordinary members. Therefore, upon seeing Zhang Yuanqing shatter his Smartphone, Xiaohou Xin promptly called off the incident. "I understand," Xiaohou Tianyuan said with a cold smile. "Let’s focus on the other several members of Zhishake Palace," Xiaohou Xin added, tone darkening. "That woman revealed too many secrets during questioning at my brother’s office—she can no longer be retained. No matter what happens this time, she must be eliminated." Xiaohou Tianyuan complained: "My elder brother is just a useless person—he literally can’t move when he sees women. Without him, we'd have been caught off guard." At that moment, Xiaohou Xin noticed the blood on his son’s ankles and frowned. "You’re injured?" Xiaohou Tianyuan blinked, then looked down to see the skin of his ankle had been scratched. "Nothing serious," he said carelessly. ... "How very dominant the Xiaohou Family is—only for Wang Qian? Doesn’t it seem as though I’m in a secret alliance with Master of Zhishake Palace now?" Zhang Yuanqing watched the black sedan fade into the distance, then looked down at the prominent burns on his forearm. His expression darkened. Even if the Xiaohou Family is dominant, they wouldn’t dare kill him—unless they wished to declare war on the Five Elements Alliance. A member of merit who dies under the hands of a Spirit Realm family would demand repayment from the Five Elements Alliance—not matter how strong their current relationship might be. Otherwise, how could they command respect from mid-level and lower-ranking official Pilgrims? Therefore, Zhang Yuanqing decisively destroyed his Smartphone—ending this confrontation. But that doesn’t mean it’s over. The Xiaohou Family began with a subtle incentive, then moved to direct action when that failed. If Zhang Yuanqing were just an ordinary junior member without any merit, the Xiaohou Family would have likely only pressed gently and made minor demands. Even now—with the conduct displayed by both father and son—Zhang Yuanqing sensed that further quiet, underhanded strategies of pressure were sure to follow. Zhang Yuanqing unfolded a tissue, wiping away traces of blood from his fingernails, then carefully folded it and tucked it into his pocket, murmuring softly: "There will be no next time."