For a moment, Ma Hongyu hesitated, feeling awkward, and laughed dryly, "Young Master Ning, please don't joke around. I apologize to you."
"Heh, who's joking with a scumbag like you? Wasn't it some idiot who just said he'd kneel and call me daddy if I saved Grandpa Zhou?" Ning Xingchen sneered.
"Yes, it was Ma Hongyu who said that," Zhou Sitong chimed in, enjoying the show.
"Young Master Ning, please spare me!" Ma Hongyu, outwardly respectful, secretly hated Ning Xingchen. He had never been so humiliated in his life.
"Not kneeling? Grandpa Zhou, do your words count?" Ning Xingchen turned to Zhou Yuanda.
"I, Zhou Yuanda, keep my word. What I say, I do!"
"Good. Grandpa Zhou, I don't know what this dog means to your family, but I was insulted and just want an apology," Ning Xingchen said coldly.
Hearing this, Zhou Yuanda turned to Ma Hongyu with a grim expression, "Beast, kneel down and apologize to Young Master Ning immediately!"
In Zhou Yuanda's eyes, Ma Hongyu was just a dispensable piece of trash. Ma Hongyu's father only had a minor share in the Zhou family's company and wasn't a core member. If Zhou Yuanda got truly angry, both Ma Hongyu and his father would be kicked out of the Zhou family.
"Grandpa Zhou, I would never question Young Master Ning's skills. There must be some misunderstanding…" Ma Hongyu groveled, looking like a complete lackey in front of Zhou Yuanda.
After all, Zhou Yuanda was the head of the Zhou family, a giant in Donghai, with interests in real estate, finance, the internet, and retail. As one of the four major families, their background and power were formidable.
Zhou Yuanda's eyes widened with rage, "Young Master Ning is the most honored guest of the Zhou family. Offending him is offending me. Apologize immediately!"
Ma Hongyu was utterly terrified, nodding frantically, "Yes, yes, I'll admit my mistake right away."
He knelt at Ning Xingchen's feet, kowtowing, his voice trembling with anger he had to suppress, "Daddy, I was wrong, please forgive me!"
"Oh? That's quite the apology. I wonder if it's sincere." Ning Xingchen smiled faintly, displeased as he saw a flash of hatred in Ma Hongyu's eyes.
"I'm sincere," Ma Hongyu seethed inside, vowing to kill Ning Xingchen when given the chance.
"Grandpa Zhou, keeping this fool around will only cause trouble. Might as well kick him out of the Zhou family," Ning Xingchen said, aiming to eliminate future threats.
"Xingchen, you're right. We'll do as you say." Zhou Yuanda, whose life Ning Xingchen had saved, agreed immediately.
"Dad, isn't this a bit much? The Zhou family needs people right now," the eldest son, Zhou Fei, protested, feeling like his father was Ning Xingchen's puppet.
"Zhou Fei, do you not want to be the family head anymore? If you're uncomfortable, I can pass the position to Sitong," Zhou Yuanda warned coldly.
Everyone in the Zhou family was stunned. The old man's respect for Ning Xingchen was astonishing, willing to give him the entire Zhou family if necessary. Anyone who opposed Ning Xingchen faced severe consequences, and Zhou Fei quickly shut up, fearing his father's wrath.
"Housekeeper Wu, issue my order to the entire board: as of today, expel Ma Hongyu and his father from the company," Zhou Yuanda declared firmly.
"Grandpa Zhou, how can you…" Ma Hongyu was shocked, unable to comprehend what he heard. Despite the dirty work he and his father had done for the Zhou family, they were being cast out.
Without the Zhou family's backing, Ma Hongyu's future was bleak, his luxurious life vanishing.
"Why! Why! Ning Xingchen, damn you! If I can't live well, neither can you. I'll kill you today!"
Suddenly, Ma Hongyu, kneeling on the ground, lost his mind and charged at Ning Xingchen with a military knife he pulled from his pocket, eyes red with rage.
"Senior, watch out!" Zhou Sitong screamed, the blade in Ma Hongyu's hand gleaming menacingly in the sunlight.
"Ma Hongyu, stop!" Zhou Yuanda shouted.
But Ma Hongyu was too close to Ning Xingchen, and everyone saw the knife heading for Ning Xingchen's chest.
Ning Xingchen remained calm, a cold smile playing on his lips. He had nearly mastered his Bajiquan techniques and was eager to test them on Ma Hongyu. Additionally, a powerful energy had inexplicably gathered in his dantian.
"Bajiquan!"
Ning Xingchen suddenly jumped, his right foot gathering perfect strength, and kicked Ma Hongyu's chest with immense force.
Boom!
A thunderous sound followed, Ning Xingchen's kick like iron, crushing Ma Hongyu's chest with a bone-breaking impact.
Ma Hongyu's body flew across the room, slamming into the wall. Blood sprayed from his mouth, splattering the floor.
The onlookers gasped, seeing Ma Hongyu's face mangled, nose flattened, mouth bloody, teeth knocked out—a gruesome sight.
Everyone was stunned. Ning Xingchen's medical skills were impressive, but his physical prowess was even more shocking. A single kick had shattered Ma Hongyu's ribs, displaying incredible power.
Ma Hongyu lay limp on the ground, moaning twice before blacking out.
"Take him out and throw him outside. He's a disgrace," Zhou Yuanda ordered coldly.
Sensing danger, Su Tianding tried to sneak away. Though he hadn't deeply offended Ning Xingchen, he knew Ning Xingchen wouldn't be pleased with him either. Moreover, he had promised to eat feces if Ning Xingchen succeeded.
"Everyone, see you around. I'm leaving," Su Tianding said, attempting to slip away.
"Leaving, my ass! Stay right there!" Ning Xingchen shouted, grabbing Su Tianding.