"Slap!"
Hong Tianyin raised his hand and delivered a fierce slap across Zheng Ding's face.
The heavy rain had not stopped, and the roadside was littered with puddles.
Zheng Ding, struck squarely, fell back into a puddle, his body instantly covered in mud.
Hong Tianyin, still seething, roared, "Old man, if you want to die, don't drag me down with you!"
"And another thing!"
Hong Tianyin turned to the surrounding soldiers and shouted, "Hero Zheng provoked someone he shouldn't have, and it serves him right to be beaten to death!"
"That's bad enough."
"He also tarnished the reputation of our Su Hang Military Region, leaving a very poor impression of us in the minds of the important figures sent from above..."
"Such behavior, which disgraces military bearing and discipline, makes him unfit to be a soldier of our Su Hang Military Region!"
"I declare!"
"Hero Zheng is discharged from military service, and no member of the Zheng family will ever be allowed to join the military again!" With that, Hong Tianyin led his troops away at high speed.
*Boom!*
Hong Tianyin's words were like a thunderclap, causing the newly risen Zheng Ding to collapse back down.
Zheng Haoxiong, quick-witted and nimble, quickly supported him.
This was a devastating blow to the Zheng family!
Because...
Even if Bai Zihe hadn't died, they wouldn't have lost much, only facing the threat that loomed ten days later.
And Zheng Hero, as a member of the military region, would have been posthumously honored as a martyr if he had died, making the Zheng family martyrs' kin, protected by the military.
Anyone who dared to lay a hand on a martyr's family would have to consider the threat from the military region!
With this connection, if the Zheng family utilized it well, they had a high chance of becoming even stronger and reaching new heights of glory!
But now, Zheng Hero was discharged from military service...
The Zheng family was nothing anymore.
"Zheng Ding!"
Chen Zhengnan also stepped forward, his voice cold, "If you want to die, by all means, go in there."
"But I fear you, an old man, cannot bear the consequences!" With that, he gestured for his driver to depart.
With two powerful figures leaving consecutively, the Zheng family's hearts sank into despair.
It was over.
Even they dared not make a move against Bai Zihe.
What future awaited the Zheng family?
Or rather... did the Zheng family even have a future?
Standing in the pouring rain, gazing at Bai Zihe's villa, the Zheng family disciples were in utter turmoil.
"Patriarch!"
"Let's do as Bai Zihe said. This is our only chance!"
"That's right, Patriarch!"
"There's no good end for those who oppose Bai Zihe!"
"Patriarch..."
The Zheng family disciples, already terrified, could no longer help but urge him.
"What's the panic!"
Despite his disheveled state, Zheng Ding still held some authority within the Zheng family.
His roar silenced the murmurs.
"Given what our Zheng family did to the Bai family four years ago, do you think Bai Zihe will let us off?"
The Zheng family members all fell silent.
Indeed!
The Bai family was gone!
Bai Zhanhong had his legs broken!
Lin Wanzhen was dead...
With such deep-seated hatred, even if they knelt and begged for mercy now, would Bai Zihe spare them?
The sky grew darker.
A group of people stood in the pouring rain, lost and despairing.
The roadside lamp flickered out in the cold wind, casting a lingering gloom over their hearts.
"We are not without a chance."
Zheng Ding's voice rang out again, like a light igniting their hope.
Zheng Haoxiong suddenly awoke, "Grandpa, you mean..."
"Yes!"
A glint flashed in Zheng Ding's clouded old eyes: "Although Bai Zihe has a significant background, that other person's strength is even greater."
"That's right."
"If that person were to make a move, Bai Zihe would undoubtedly die."
"The Zheng family is saved!"
Some core disciples who knew the inside story had their eyes light up.
"Haoxiong."
Zheng Ding instructed, "Go now and inform the Ling and Qin families."
"Four years ago, they were also involved in dealing with the Bai family, and they certainly didn't get a small share of the spoils afterwards!"
"Now that Bai Zihe has returned in force, it shouldn't be just our Zheng family bearing the brunt!"
Zheng Haoxiong nodded and replied, "I'll do it right away."
Su Hang Ling Family.
Upon receiving the news from Zheng Haoxiong, Patriarch Ling Dalong was both shocked and enraged.
He was shocked that Bai Zihe was so formidable that even the Governor of Su Hang and the Commander of the Military Region dared not cross his path!
He was enraged that Bai Zihe had killed Zheng Hero, an important member of the Zheng family, truly intending to uproot all three families?
Ancestral Hall.
Ling Dalong's sharp eyes swept over his assembled kin, and he said gravely, "Speak your minds. What should we do?"
"Father!"
Ling Chengbai, from the eldest branch, immediately stated, "How Bai Zihe treats the Zheng family now, he will surely treat our Ling family in the same way in the future!"
"The three great families are now like grasshoppers on the same rope!"
"Since Zheng Haoxiong has come to us, we must unite and deal with Bai Zihe together!"
The Ling family members all nodded in agreement.
"Father!"
Ling Chengkong, from the second branch, spoke with a chilling voice, "It was confirmed last night that it was this Bai Zihe who crippled Feng'er that day!"
"How can we turn a blind eye to such a deep-seated vendetta?"
"I propose we kill Bai Zihe and declare an unending war on the Bai family!"
"Seconded!"
"I agree."
"Bai Zihe must die!"
All members of the Ling family reached a consensus.
Ling Dalong remained silent for a moment, then asked, "Then tell me, how do we bypass the military and political powers!"
Even the Governor and the Commander feared Bai Zihe.
Even if they wanted to deal with him, it would likely not be easy to implement.
"If the direct approach won't work, we can resort to underhanded tactics!"
Ling Chengbai's words jolted everyone.
Ling Dalong's expression brightened, and he gestured for him to continue.
"There's a new expert on the Black Dragon List. For a price, they'll take any mission and kill anyone!"
"In three months, they've completed eighteen assassinations, including that of a high-ranking government official of a nation."
"Moreover, the Black Dragon List is extremely discreet with its employers, so even if the assassination fails, we'll have no worries!"
"Good!"
Ling Dalong commanded, "Chengbai, go and post the mission now."
"One hundred million, to take Bai Zihe's dog life!"
...
Su Hang Qin Family.
Qin Yuntian, the only male descendant of the third generation.
Having his legs broken by Bai Zihe naturally made the entire Qin family extremely anxious.
Old Master Qin, Qin Shengtian, had even hired the renowned physician Hua Xian at a great expense to treat him.
However, after several courses of treatment, there was no progress whatsoever.
Today was the seventh day.
Seeing Hua Xian conclude his treatment, Qin Shengtian stepped forward to inquire, "Divine Doctor Hua, how is Tian'er's leg?"
Divine Doctor Hua sighed, "His leg has recovered well, but to restore sensation, it might be a bit difficult."
Difficult?
This meant it was possible, but at a considerable cost.
Qin Shengtian immediately declared, "Divine Doctor Hua, please name any conditions. As long as Tian'er's leg can be cured, any price can be paid!"
"It's not that serious."
Divine Doctor Hua pondered for a moment and said, "The biggest problem with his leg is blocked meridians, or in layman's terms, the nerves haven't recovered."
"The nerve damage at the time was too thorough. Despite my continuous acupuncture treatments, the effect has been minimal."
Divine Doctor Hua shook his head repeatedly and added, "If there was a pill made from Golden Thread Qilin Bile, combined with further treatment, it could be cured in one go!"
"Golden Thread Qilin Bile?"
Qin Yuntian's father, Qin Yougong, hastily inquired, "Where can this be obtained?"
"As far as I know, it will be available at the Su Family's auction tomorrow night!"
"Excellent!"
Qin Shengtian's mood immediately lifted, and he quickly instructed, "Yougong, go and prepare immediately. We must bid for this Golden Thread Qilin Bile tomorrow night!"
"Father, I'll go do it now!"
Qin Yougong ran off excitedly.
Qin Shengtian let out a long sigh, "Divine Doctor Hua, we will be indebted to you this time."
"Saving lives and healing the injured is the duty of a physician!"
Divine Doctor Hua exchanged a few polite words and then left the Qin family.
After seeing off Divine Doctor Hua, Qin Shengtian received news from Zheng Haoxiong, and was equally shocked: "This Bai Zihe can make both the Governor and the Commander avoid his edge; he must have a significant background."
"But the more powerful his background, the sooner he must be eliminated, otherwise, if he is allowed to grow, he will become a great disaster, and it will be too late to regret it!"
With these thoughts, Qin Shengtian immediately summoned all members of the Qin family.
"Father!"
"Bai Zihe is ultimately a threat, and he must be eliminated!"
Qin Yougong was the first to step forward and state his position.
Having had his leg crippled by Bai Zihe, he already harbored deep hatred.
"I agree with Second Brother!"
"Four years ago, we were too careless and didn't finish him off, which led to Tian'er's lesson today."
"This time, no matter what, we cannot let him escape again!"
Eldest son Qin Wuguo also declared resolutely.
The Qin family members also responded one after another, vowing to eliminate Bai Zihe.
"Good!"
Qin Shengtian made the final decision, "Tomorrow, the entire Qin family will fully participate in the bidding for the Golden Thread Qilin Bile!"
"And then."
"Everyone, regardless of the cost, will take Bai Zihe's dog life!"