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"So it's Senior Brother Zhou who has come for the inspection. We naturally trust you." Upon seeing Zhou Kunlin, Ling Mu is overjoyed and quickly responds.
Zhou Kunlin doesn't even glance at Qi Tian. In his eyes, Qi Tian is just a tiny ant that he could easily squash. If it weren't for the rules of the National Master Manor, he would've dealt with Qi Tian a long time ago.
Zhou Kunlin walks straight to the blood-stained hammer that had hit Wang Gai. With a gentle lift, he hoists up the four hundred-pound hammer. He examines it from all angles before setting it back on the ground. "I've checked it. The handle of this hammer is too old, it has already rotted."
As if to prove Zhou Kunlin's words, the hammer handle crumbles like fine sand and spills onto the ground, making it impossible to investigate further.
"I told you, it's already rotted," Zhou Kunlin casually states.
Surprised gasps echo from the crowd, astounded by Zhou Kunlin's actions.
"That's Senior Brother Zhou's signature technique, the Yellow Grade Top Quality Shock Pulse Hand. I heard that when the Shock Pulse Hand reaches its peak, it can directly shatter a person's meridians and internal organs without leaving visible wounds. Of the eighty-three seniors in the National Master Manor who have been fortunate to practice the Shock Pulse Hand, Senior Brother Zhou is the eighty-fourth. Each of them is an extraordinary talent, but for someone as young as Senior Brother Zhou to master the Shock Pulse Hand, he surely ranks within the top five."
"Top five? I think he's at least top three. Senior Brother Zhou is handsome, talented, and protective of his men. Ling Mu is so lucky to serve under him."
...
Zhou Kunlin appears indifferent to the crowd's discussions. These people are too insignificant, like sparrows on the ground. He is destined to soar like an eagle, why would he care about their opinions?
"I have inspected it, and the issue indeed lies with the rotted hammer handle. It was not deliberately broken by anyone. Qi Tian, do you have any other doubts?" Zhou Kunlin calmly looks at Qi Tian. He doesn't mind showcasing his benevolence, magnanimity, and poise in front of everyone else.
Zhou Kunlin was indeed taken aback by Qi Tian's next move. His tactic of "destroying evidence" was clever, but there's always a way to outsmart the crafty. Qi Tian grinned, pulling out a less than one foot long wooden stick. "Senior Brother Zhou, do you know what this is?"
Ling Mu's face drastically changes, saying, "How did you get hold of it?"
Why wouldn't Ling Mu be nervous? The wooden stick Qi Tian held was clearly the other half of the hammer handle. He had planned to keep the handle part, but the hammer had accidentally hit Wang Gai, leaving him flustered and tossing that half of the handle on the ground. Seeing Zhou Kunlin destroying the handle still attached to the hammer had brought relief to Ling Mu. He didn't expect Qi Tian to have snatched the discarded part of the handle amidst the chaos.
This kid is too cunning.
Zhou Kunlin's face slightly changes, a hint of killing intent flickering in his starry eyes. However, under the watchful eyes of everyone, he refrains from acting out.
"Senior Brother Zhou, what do you think the outcome would be if I submit this half-handle to the Enforcement Hall for examination?" Qi Tian shook the wooden stick in his hand, smiling.
"Senior Brother, you can't let him submit the handle. Please, you must help me retrieve it." Ling Mu pleaded to Zhou Kunlin. If the Enforcement Hall really came, he would be done for.
Zhou Kunlin closed his eyes, taking a deep breath before slowly opening them again. Looking straight at Qi Tian, the little ant he could swat to death with one slap, he says, "I've already inspected it earlier. The hammer Ling Mu used did in fact rot, this is undeniably true. However, Ling Mu indeed caused you a fright due to his negligence earlier. I can make the decision for him to compensate you with ten Essence Qi Pills, how does that sound?"
"Ten? Are you trying to send me away like a beggar? At least a hundred, or there's no point in talking." Qi Tian unceremoniously responded.
"Qi Tian, don't be too greedy, wanting even more after getting what you wanted." Yuan Dan admonished.
Qi Tian didn't even glance at Yuan Dan, this woman who was trying to climb the social ladder. "A hundred Middle-grade Essence Qi Pills, end of discussion. Otherwise, I'll just submit this half-handle to the Enforcement Hall. I believe they will be able to uncover the truth."
"Give, I'll give." Ling Mu chimed in prematurely, not even waiting for Zhou Kunlin to speak. If the Enforcement Hall were to get involved, he would be finished. It would be better for him to part with a hundred Middle-grade Essence Qi Pills.
"Good, deal." Qi Tian readily agreed. The Enforcement Hall being involved and being fair wouldn't benefit him in any way. On the contrary, acquiring a hundred Middle-grade Essence Qi Pills would be more useful.
Ling Mu felt his pockets awkwardly, "I'm sorry, I only have a few Middle-grade Essence Qi Pills on me. Can I pay you later? I'll bring you the Essence Qi Pills as soon as I can."
"No way, cash on delivery. Aren't you someone's lackey? When you're in trouble, your big brother just leaves you hanging?" Qi Tian smiled. "Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you, I don't want the pills, give me silver notes. I'm afraid there might be something shady in the Middle-grade Essence Qi Pills you give me, I could eat them and end up harming myself."
Ling Mu awkwardly looked towards Zhou Kunlin. "Senior Brother."
Zhou Kunlin felt like he was standing on a stove, the stares of those around him nearly roasting him alive. His handsome face twitched, never before had anyone made him feel so humiliated.
"It's over Ling Mu, I didn't expect you to be in such dire straits, not even able to borrow a measly 10,000 taels of silver. I suggest you follow me to the Enforcement Hall." Qi Tian spoke.
With a thud, Ling Mu knelt at Zhou Kunlin's feet, clutching his thigh, and wailed: "Senior Brother, I beg you to save me no matter what. I don't want to go to the Enforcement Hall."
Zhou Kunlin took a deep breath, just managing to suppress the anger in his chest. He reached into his chest, pulled out a thick stack of silver notes, and slapped it against Ling Mu's head. "More trouble than you're worth, take it."
Ling Mu hurriedly took the silver notes, got up from the ground, then ran over to Qi Tian, smiling obsequiously: "Here you go, these are the silver notes you wanted."
Qi Tian took the silver notes and casually stuffed them into his own chest, then waved his hand, saying: "Okay, I've accepted it."
"Oh." Ling Mu turned and left.
The crowd around them burst into laughter. Zhou Kunlin shut his eyes, unable to bear to watch. Ling Mu was so stupid!
"Ling Mu, are you a pig? Why haven't you quickly got the half of the hammer handle from Qi Tian?" Yuan Dan, reminded him urgently. She wasn't concerned about Ling Mu's fate, she just didn't want her beloved Senior Brother Zhou losing 10,000 taels for nothing.
Only then did Ling Mu react. He turned around and re-asked Qi Tian for the half hammer handle.
This time, Qi Tian quickly handed the recovered hammer handle back to Ling Mu. He had gotten what he wanted, if he still tried to use this thing to blackmail Ling Mu, he'd just be forcing Ling Mu into desperation, and he wouldn't get any advantage in the end.
"There's nothing for me to do here. Junior brothers, I'll take my leave." Qi Tian bowed his hands to the crowd and turned to leave.
"Senior brother, are you just going to let Qi Tian leave like that?" Yuan Dan watched Qi Tian's retreating figure, greatly unwilling. Qi Tian had lost face for Zhou Kunlin today, and she felt even worse than Zhou Kunlin. A little over a month ago, Qi Tian had been like a puppy under her feet, she could treat him as she pleased. But now, not only did he disdain her, he also made Zhou Kunlin, who she greatly admired, suffer greatly. How could she endure it?
"If I don't let him go, what do you expect me to do? Do you really want me to provoke the Enforcement Hall?" Zhou Kunlin watched Qi Tian's retreating figure, his face was as changeable as a summer's day.
"But he took 10,000 taels of silver from you." Said Yuan Dan urgently.
"It's only 10,000 taels, it won't break my bones. Later, I'll get it from those wealthy merchants, they want to pledge allegiance to me and they won't display more sincerity? As for the 10,000 taels Qi Tian took, sooner or later, I'll make him pay me back ten-fold." Zhou Kunlin secretly made a firm resolve, then he walked up to Ling Mu and Wang Gai.
When Wang Gai saw Zhou Kunlin approaching him, it was as if he had seen a lifesaver, he whimpered, "Senior Brother Zhou, I beg you to save me no matter what. I don't want to become a cripple."
Zhou Kunlin squatted halfway down, patted Wang Gai's shoulder and said: "Don't be afraid, I'm here for you. As your elder brother, I won't let you bleed or cry. I will take you to see Little Fairy Doctor now. She can definitely cure your leg."
"What? Senior Brother Zhou, you actually know Little Fairy Doctor?"
Just now Zhou Kunlin was left in an embarrassing situation by Qi Tian's few words, so the onlookers had started to look down on Zhou Kunlin a little. However, upon hearing Zhou Kunlin say he could take Wang Gai to see the Little Fairy Doctor, their eyes immediately lit up, much like wolves seeing a piece of fat meat.
"Yes, once when I was out training, I helped Little Fairy Doctor a bit and she owes me a favor. So, she agreed that I could turn to her for help in the future." Zhou Kunlin once again wore a confident smile on his face, his smile at this moment was like the rising sun, making people yearn for it.
...
Qi Tian received his silver notes, hastily left the Martial Arts Arena, headed to the Pill Hall in the National Master Manor, and bought sixty Middle-grade Essence Qi Pills. Then, he carried the pills back to his room.
Earlier, he had engaged Zhou Kunlin in a war of words, seemingly holding the upper hand. But Qi Tian knew his own situation. It was because Zhou Kunlin, like him, was wary of the rules of the National Master Manor. If they didn't exchange words but directly confronted each other, a hundred of him wouldn't be enough for Zhou Kunlin to kill. The impression Zhou Kunlin's Shock Pulse Hand made on him was too deep. Each time he thought of the hammer handle turning into fine sand, Qi Tian would shiver in fear.