Compared to Cangyun City, Chen Yang still preferred the small city of Lingjin in the Qiyun Road region, both for its culture and its way of life.
"It's been so long since I've had Lingjin food. I'm actually starting to miss it," Qin Qiu said, leaning against Chen Yang. She gazed out the car window at the familiar scenery and couldn't help but chuckle.
"Honey, you've gained weight," Chen Yang said in a mock-serious tone.
Qin Qiu was speechless.
Then, she raised a small fist and glared threateningly at him. "I'll give you one more chance to rephrase that."
"I like you even if you're plump."
Qin Qiu was speechless again.
The car soon exited the highway and entered Lingjin City proper.
Across the entire Qiyun Road region, Lingjin City had never been particularly prominent. However, because of the dicine launched by the Qin Corporation, its fa had skyrocketed overnight. Following this ca a continuous influx of pharmaceutical-related industries. The entire supply chain for raw materials was established, and spin-off industries blossod everywhere.
In less than a year, Lingjin City had taken on the air of the empire's "dicine Capital."
Just recently, large numbers of foreign investors had poured into Lingjin City with imnse capital. At first, everyone assud they were also here to develop their dical businesses. In reality, their target was the Qin Corporation.
With the Zhennan Prince deposed, the Qin Corporation had naturally lost its greatest backer, becoming a fat, juicy prize that made countless eyes turn red with greed. These foreign investors were the wolves who had caught the scent of blood.
People are forgetful. It's the age-old story: people laugh with the newcors, but who rembers the tears of the old?
More than half of Lingjin City's eight great families had been crushed by Chen Yang, and even so of the four super clans had been taught a lesson. Now, all that seed to be a fleeting mory, not even worth ntioning.
Or perhaps, without the status of Zhennan Prince, Chen Yang was nothing more than a pushover?
At the city's entrance stood a massive billboard. It featured a photo of Chen Yang wearing the Python Sparrow Devouring Dragon battle uniform, his back to the cara as he gazed into the distance. After that montous battle, identical photos had been erected in almost every city across this vibrant land.
"Boss, with the influx of these foreign investors, the Kang Family, one of Lingjin City's four super clans, was the first to erge as a collaborator. It seems they couldn't stand being left behind and wanted a piece of the pie," Yang Hu explained.
"Kang Youlong?"
Chen Yang vaguely recalled that during the inauguration ceremony for the Qin Corporation's pharmaceutical factory, the head of the Kang Family had co with lavish gifts to offer his congratulations. He had also expressed a sincere apology for his past transgressions.
"That's right. That back-stabbing dog," Yang Hu sneered.
Chen Yang looked at Qin Qiu. "Should I drop you at the Qin Corporation first?"
"Yes."
Qin Qiu nodded. Lingjin City was currently in turmoil, and with the Qin Corporation at the center of the storm, it was ti for her, the chairwoman, to go and take command.
With the plan settled, Yang Hu drove directly to the Qin Corporation. After dropping off Qin Qiu, the vehicle made a U-turn and headed straight for the Kang Family estate. Since they were already here and their opponents had already made their move, it was better to be direct. It would save ti and effort.
"By the way, Boss, I heard from that old codger, the Pill Dragon King, that you intentionally kept a wisp of Sword Qi in your body to force a breakthrough. How did that go?" Yang Hu asked eagerly, his eyes on Chen Yang in the rearview mirror. "Did you reach the sixteenth rank?"
Chen Yang just smiled without a word. It had certainly been risky, but the rewards were substantial.
Yang Hu grinned and didn't press the issue.
「Twenty minutes later.」
「The Kang Family estate.」
"Who are you looking for? Do you have an appointnt?" a Kang Family disciple guarding the gate asked, his expression unfriendly as he sized up the two unfamiliar faces.
"Tell Kang Youlong that Chen Yang is here to see him," Yang Hu said.
"Chen Yang?"
The Kang Family disciple frowned. The na sounded vaguely familiar, but he couldn't quite place it. "No entry without an appointnt," he said curtly. "Don't you know where you are? This isn't a place you can just walk into! You want to see our Family Head? Get lost!"
Yang Hu shrugged helplessly. "Looks like politeness is getting us nowhere."
As soon as the words left his mouth...
BOOM!
Yang Hu threw a single punch. The young disciple collapsed to his knees, blood streaming down his face.
"You... you..."
Without giving him a second glance, Yang Hu pushed open the main gate of the Kang estate and walked straight inside.
In the front courtyard, Kang Youlong was drinking tea and chatting rrily with several n, all of them holding cigars. The atmosphere was lively.
"Mr. Lu, with so many eyes on the Qin Corporation, we have to strike first!" Kang Youlong, the Family Head, was seated in a subordinate position. He smiled at the middle-aged man in the main seat and added, "Besides, the Qin Corporation's chairwoman, Qin Qiu, is the most beautiful CEO in Lingjin City. I'm sure you'll be interested."
"I've heard much about her. I'll certainly have to see for myself this ti," replied the man, Lu Kuang, nodding with a smile. He was about to say more when he suddenly looked up, his brow furrowing slightly.
At the sa ti, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed from the entrance.
Kang Youlong instinctively turned his head. In an instant, his pupils contracted violently. He shot to his feet, the cigar slipping from his fingers and falling to the ground.
"A-Admiral..."
"Oh?" Lu Kuang's interest was piqued. He then scoffed, "There's no Admiral anymore. There's only the War God of the State. Family Head Kang, have you forgotten?"
Taking a deep, shaky breath, Kang Youlong forced his chaotic thoughts to settle. That's right. What Nine Gates Admiral? The man before them was just a commoner now.
"Hmph!" Before Kang Youlong could speak, his youngest son, Kang Jie, stepped forward and said arrogantly, "Just anyone dares to barge into our family's ho? You should take a good look at what you are now."
The implication was clear: the Kang Family of today was not soone he could afford to offend. As the saying goes, a tiger stranded on the plains gets bullied by dogs.
Chen Yang casually raised his head, his gaze sweeping past Kang Jie to land on Kang Youlong. "Enjoying life as a dog?"
"Damn you!" Kang Jie erupted in fury, pointing a finger at Chen Yang. "What did you just say?"
"Chen Yang, for the sake of our past acquaintance, I'll give you so advice: be smart about this," Kang Youlong said, his tone still sowhat restrained despite the lingering fear he felt toward the younger man. "Without that title, nobody will take you seriously anymore."
"Is that so?" Chen Yang pulled over a chair and sat down with a flourish. He waved his right hand nonchalantly. "Kill one first."
WHOOSH!
In a single stride, Yang Hu seized the sneering Kang Jie, whose arrogant expression instantly twisted into a mask of horrified rage.
"What... what are you doing!" Kang Youlong demanded.
CRACK.
With a slight squeeze of his fingers, Yang Hu crushed Kang Jie's windpipe. The young man's head lolled to the side, his limbs went still, and he was dead.
The courtyard fell into a dead silence.
Chen Yang's fingers tapped a light, rhythmic beat on his knee. He asked in an unhurried tone, "What were you all just talking about?"
"You... you're no longer the Zhennan Prince! Don't be so arrogant!" Kang Youlong roared, his eyes blazing with hatred as he stared at his son's body, which had been tossed aside like garbage.
"The title of Zhennan Prince was revoked, but now he is the War God of the State," Yang Hu said with a shrug, cocking his head as if stating the most obvious fact in the world.
Chen Yang's gaze remained fixed on Kang Youlong. "You have partners in this, don't you? Give them a call."
Kang Youlong: "..."
Lu Kuang: "..."
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