These past few days, he had observed that martial artists were mostly hot-tempered, ruthless, vindictive, and absolutely not to be offended.
Jiang Tian and he were both from Jinling. It was possible that if Zhao Yuankun or Zhao Hao flew into a rage, even they might be implicated. Being expelled from the Martial Alliance Assembly would be the least of their worries—they might even end up with broken limbs.
He strode toward Jiang Tian, pointing and gesturing aggressively, his face full of disdain. “You’ve got some nerve, kid! How dare you lay a hand on Zhao Hao! Are you tired of living?”
“What business is it of yours if I hit him? Are you his family’s lapdog?” Jiang Tian remained perfectly calm, a faint smile on his lips.
In my past life, you always had the upper hand, crushing the Jiang family. Back then, I had nothing and could only watch helplessly as tragedy unfolded.
But in this life, I, Jiang Taichu, have returned from ten thousand years of cultivation, with power beyond ordinary comprehension, godlike and saintly. Killing you would be as easy as reaching into a bag—why should I be polite to you?
Xia Miao hadn’t expected Jiang Tian to talk back so boldly. He was momentarily stunned, then, processing the meaning behind Jiang Tian’s words, his face flushed red and then turned pale with rage, almost choking on his anger.
“Jiang Tian, have you lost your mind, daring to speak to me like this? Do you believe I can destroy you and your Medicine King Group in an instant?” Xia Miao suppressed his fury, his eyes dark and menacing.
The threat carried immense confidence.
“Oh?” Jiang Tian’s eyes turned slightly cold, a trace of faint surprise flashing across his face.
I’ve already killed Chen Bo and Sun Hao, those two vanguard leaders, yet it seems the coalition of the three major families hasn’t collapsed. Their strategy targeting the Jiang family continues to advance steadily. Otherwise, Xia Miao wouldn’t be speaking like this.
It appears there truly is a transcendent force behind these Jinling factions, providing them with powerful support.
Seeing Jiang Tian frowning in deep thought, Xia Miao mistakenly believed he had intimidated him, growing even more smug. With a frivolous expression, he said, “Jiang Tian, now you’re scared, aren’t you? Hurry up and kneel to Zhao Hao to apologize, beg for his forgiveness. Otherwise…”
Several other young masters from Jinling also pointed at Jiang Tian, hurling threats with arrogant and domineering attitudes.
“All of you, shut up!”
At that moment, a sharp shout rang out as a tall, middle-aged man strode in quickly.
Xia Miao turned and saw him, startling in fear. Then, like a loyal dog seeing its master, he scurried over, pointing at Jiang Tian indignantly. “Uncle Zhao, this guy hit Brother Zhao Hao! I was just lecturing him! He’s completely insane, doesn’t know his place!”
Then, with a flattering smile, he bowed obsequiously. “Uncle Zhao, please understand—this guy has always been a useless good-for-nothing in Jinling. We all despise him. His actions have nothing to do with us…”
“That’s Zhao Yuankun!”
“Truly impressive and extraordinary in demeanor!”
Chu Mengyao, Tang Bao’er, Ye Feng, and the other young masters present all looked at Zhao Yuankun with admiration, instinctively stepping back to clear a path as if beholding a deity.
Zhao Yuankun dominated Jiangxi Province. His Qiankun Group spanned multiple industries like hotels, real estate, and mining, with assets worth tens of billions. If not the richest in Jiangxi, he was at least among the top three.
Such a wealthy and powerful family was already beyond comparison for these relatively well-off but small-scale families.
Moreover, they were a martial arts family, with talents emerging generation after generation, experts as numerous as trees in a forest, possessing transcendent power—like a dragon soaring in the sky. This was even more beyond their reach.
“So this is the Jiangbei Master Jiang? I never expected him to be so young…” Zhao Yuankun stared at Jiang Tian, inwardly shocked, barely registering Xia Miao’s accusations.
He knew Jiang Tian was young, but seeing him in person, he realized Jiang Tian was even younger than imagined—fair-skinned, handsome, resembling a youth not yet twenty.
Yet, it was this seemingly under-twenty young man who, in an overwhelmingly dominant and nearly invincible manner, had swept across more than half of China in just half a year, dominating Lingnan, making martial artists across the land wary of him.
“This situation has escalated!”
“Probably even if Jiang Tian kneels and begs for mercy now, he won’t get a chance to live!”
“Serves him right! Doesn’t know his place. Does he think he can act recklessly here? Treating it like his Jiang family’s backyard?”
Seeing Zhao Yuankun fix his gaze on Jiang Tian, Chu Mengyao, Tang Bao’er, Ye Feng, and the others felt a mix of schadenfreude.
This kid really doesn’t know the meaning of death, daring to hit Young Master Zhao Hao. This time, you’re deader than dead!
This is Zhao Yuankun—a dominant force in a province, someone even high-ranking officials and billionaires treat with respect. No matter how good Jiang Tian is at fighting, it’s useless. He has no choice but to admit defeat and yield.
Only Lin Monong looked worried, her eyes reddening as she stepped forward to explain. “Patriarch Zhao, please don’t be angry. There were reasons for this incident. Lei Gang tried to force me, and then Jiang Tian stepped in to uphold justice for me…”
“Monong, shut up!” Xia Miao barked harshly, thinking this girl was utterly clueless. He then pointed arrogantly at Jiang Tian. “Kid, how dare you not kneel before Patriarch Zhao? You’ve got some nerve!”
“Scum, who gave you the right to speak here?”
Zhao Yuankun’s furious roar suddenly erupted.
Slap!
A crisp slap echoed through the hall. Everyone saw a figure fly out like a ragdoll.
For a moment, they thought Zhao Yuankun had struck Jiang Tian.
Lin Monong even screamed in fright, closing her eyes, unable to bear the tragic scene to come.
But upon closer look, the one lying on the ground wasn’t Jiang Tian—it was… Xia Miao!
Xia Miao’s face was swollen like a pig’s head, purplish-red like an eggplant. Blood mixed with broken teeth dribbled from his mouth, and he was half-conscious.
In that instant, everyone felt as if they were in a dream, utterly dumbfounded and shocked.
What was going on?
Shouldn’t Zhao Yuankun be avenging his son by crushing Jiang Tian? Why did he hit Xia Miao?
But what came next was even more shocking.
Under everyone’s stunned and horrified gazes, Zhao Yuankun respectfully clasped his fists, lowering his proud head, and said reverently:
“I, Zhao Yuankun of Hubei, pay my respects to Master Jiang! Please forgive my son for his offense!”
At that moment, everyone present felt an electric current run from their spines through their limbs to the top of their heads, a tingling sensation exploding from their crowns, spreading outwards like ripples under the grand, setting sun.
Everyone was dumbstruck, unable to believe what they were seeing, filled with confusion and bewilderment.
This was Zhao Yuankun—an immensely powerful figure—yet he showed such respect to Jiang Tian?
“Bao’er, am I dreaming? Please pinch me…” Chu Mengyao’s beautiful eyes widened, murmuring in a daze.
“Who exactly is he? Why does a big shot like Zhao Yuankun seem to respect him so much?” Tang Bao’er’s ample chest heaved violently, creating dazzling waves. She was so shocked she felt dizzy, not even hearing Sister Yao’s words.
“Master Jiang? What kind of title is that, forcing even the mighty Zhao Yuankun to bow his head?” Even Ye Feng, who loved to peek, forgot to look at Tang Bao’er’s beautiful and exquisite chest at this moment. Instead, his eyes were wide open as he stared in disbelief at the shocking scene before him.
“So he… he is Master Jiang. And I actually provoked him!” Only Zhao Hao suddenly understood, his face turning as pale as paper, shrinking like a quail.
Just now, he had… brushed shoulders with death!
“Haha, Brother Zhao, you’re too kind! I didn’t know your son’s identity and was a bit heavy-handed. Please forgive me!” Jiang Tian clasped his fists in return, his gaze sharpening slightly, inwardly sighing.
This Zhao Yuankun was indeed a formidable character. Even with his son beaten so badly, he could maintain his composure.
A family elder had already checked Zhao Hao’s injuries. Fortunately, his meridians and energy sea weren’t damaged. With a few days of rest, he’d be fine—no serious harm done.
“Of course, of course!” Zhao Yuankun smiled apologetically, clasping his fists. “My son has always been spoiled, developing an arrogant and domineering personality. It’s good that Master Jiang taught him a lesson. I should thank Master Jiang!”
Everyone was shocked and dumbfounded.
Zhao Hao had been beaten so miserably, yet Zhao Yuankun wasn’t angry—instead, he was thanking Jiang Tian.
If they hadn’t witnessed it themselves, they wouldn’t have dared believe it.
It all seemed like an enormous joke.
“What was it you said earlier? About destroying me and making the Medicine King Group collapse?” Jiang Tian walked leisurely toward Xia Miao, hands behind his back, as if taking a stroll in a park, asking with a smile.
“M-Master Jiang, I was wrong. Please spare my life!” Xia Miao’s face was filled with terror as he knelt on the ground, begging for forgiveness.
Jiang Tian was smiling, but to Xia Miao, it felt like the gaze of a demon king from hell, carrying a whiff of death.
Though he didn’t understand Jiang Tian’s identity, seeing Zhao Yuankun show such respect, he knew Jiang Tian was definitely someone he couldn’t afford to offend—killing him would be as easy as reaching into a bag.
Sure enough, Zhao Yuankun chuckled lightly, casually saying, “Master Jiang, this ignorant scum—just kill him outright!”
“M-Master Jiang, Patriarch Zhao, I know I was wrong. Please, please don’t kill me! I don’t want to die…” Seeing a servant draw a gleaming dagger and approach with a sinister grin, Xia Miao was terrified, his mind reeling. His face turned deathly pale, his body trembled uncontrollably, and his voice was choked with sobs. Under the shadow of death, all his dignity was cast aside; he only wanted to survive..
In that extreme fear, Xia Miao’s body jerked violently.
He lost control of his bladder, his pants soaking wet, a pungent, foul odor spreading around him.
“Patriarch Zhao, that’s enough!” Jiang Tian smiled lightly, stopping Zhao Yuankun, his expression calm and leisurely. “He’s just an ant. If I wanted to kill him, he’d already be a corpse. Why would I need someone else’s hands?”
Zhao Yuankun nodded, signaling the servant to stop.
Jiang Tian looked down at the kneeling, submissive Xia Miao, his face full of mockery. “You dare threaten me? Dare to set your sights on the Medicine King Group? Don’t think just because you can manipulate stock prices and scam a few retail investors, you’re something special.”
“In my eyes, you’re nothing but a weak, incompetent waste who only pretends to be a hero by venting on a few foolish women. If you want to move against the Jiang family, you’ll have to ask for my permission first!”
