C23 Divorce

Accept a palm strike from Qi Xiao? What a joke! The kid's internal strength was immeasurable. I've already exerted my full force, and he didn't even flinch. If I actually took a full-on palm strike from him, wouldn't it be the death of me?

I was about to decline when Lin Cheng's voice boomed from behind.

"Hahaha, Qi Xiao, surely you noticed Second Uncle was holding back just now? You really think Second Uncle should take a hit from you? Wake up, will you?"

My face shifted at his words. That's right, I've returned home a master, my internal strength placing me among the elite martial artists of West River City. Why should I fear a mere kid?

If I shy away from this palm strike, my lifelong reputation would be shattered!

Lin Pohe's face flushed with the effort of holding back his refusal. Instead, he put on an air of superiority and said coolly:

"Hmph, you're oblivious to the vastness of the world. Do you truly believe you can lay a finger on me?"

Qi Xiao clearly saw through Lin Pohe's bravado. The Lin family hadn't shown him any respect, so why should he extend any to them?

"Very well, Uncle Pohe, brace yourself!"

No sooner had the words left his mouth than Qi Xiao's palm struck, landing squarely on Lin Pohe's abdomen.

Lin Pohe braced for agony, but to his astonishment, Qi Xiao's palm merely rested lightly on his stomach. It was so gentle that even Lin Suxin would likely have been unharmed.

Could it be that Qi Xiao possessed some sort of protective amulet?

When Lin Cheng saw Qi Xiao's palm connect with Lin Pohe's abdomen without any apparent effect, he burst into scornful laughter:

"Qi Xiao, do you know who Second Uncle is? You took his leniency for weakness? You really think you can..."

But before Lin Cheng could finish his taunt, Qi Xiao uttered a single word.

"Break!"

"Boom!"

Lin Pohe's dantian swelled and contracted violently. He was sent flying like a cannonball, crashing into the wall behind him with such force that it crumbled, and before pain could register, darkness overtook him.

Qi Xiao withdrew his hand, steadied himself once more, and exhaled softly.

In that palm strike, he had employed the so-called hidden energy known to martial artists. A pulse of Genuine Qi was drawn into his palm but not released until it had gathered fully, at which point it burst forth in an instant.

With a single palm, he shattered Lin Pohe's Qi Sea, sending him hurtling through the air with such force!

A hush fell over the crowd.

The spectacle left everyone speechless, stunned into a silence so profound you could hear a pin drop in the banquet hall.

Lin Cheng's jaw dropped open wide enough to fit an egg.

What in the world just happened? Wasn't Uncle Pohe an expert in internal martial arts? How on earth did Qi Xiao send him flying with just one palm? Is this an illusion? Am I still dreaming?

Doubts like these surfaced in nearly everyone's minds.

It was some time before Qi Xiao spoke again.

"He could survive if we act quickly."

That snapped Lin Pohu out of his shock, and he hastily called for help for Lin Pohe.

Lin Pohe lay crumpled against the broken wall, his body a mess, blood spilling continuously from his mouth.

Despite their shock at Qi Xiao's display, the Lins, and particularly Lin Pohu, didn't forget this was their turf. Lin Pohu barked in fury:

"Qi Xiao! You dare to harm my brother in our Lin household? You're asking for death!"

Qi Xiao cast a glance at the man he once had to respectfully address as uncle and responded coolly:

"You all heard him; he told me to do it."

Lin Pohu found himself at a loss for words, and he wasn't alone. Almost everyone had heard the agreement, yet Lin Pohu wasn't about to let Qi Xiao off the hook so easily.

"Hmph, don't think you can do whatever you want just because you know some kung fu. In today's society, it's the wealthy who rule! And no matter how tough you are, you're still just a lackey to them."

Lin Pohu glared venomously at Qi Xiao.

"With one phone call, I can have a hundred people here. How can you, a mere pauper, hope to stand against that?"

Lin Suxin rose to her feet and added:

"Qi Xiao, being a brute doesn't make you a man. What do you have that could possibly impress the Lin family? Be realistic! I, Lin Suxin, am out of your league! If anyone is calling off this engagement, it will be me!"

Qi Xiao shook his head in resignation and let out a sigh:

"Alas, it seems the Lin family is not interested in making amends."

His voice suddenly rose in anger:

"Xue Rensheng, show yourself!"

The crowd was taken aback. Xue Rensheng? Wasn't he the CEO of A Group, with wealth ranking among the top in West River City? How could this unknown individual dare to summon Director Xue so boldly?

Yet, to everyone's astonishment, Xue Rensheng, seated at the Lin family's head table, actually rose to his feet.

"Mr. Qi, how may I assist you?"

Xue Rensheng was bowing reverently to this young upstart!?

"Qi Xiao, what...?!"

Lin Suxin was the picture of incredulity.

But Qi Xiao paid her no heed, addressing Xue Rensheng directly:

"Why are you attending the Lin family's private banquet?"

Xue Rensheng hadn't anticipated a rift between the Lin family and Qi Xiao, much less that today was the day Qi Xiao intended to call off an engagement. Had he known, he would never have come, not for all the world!

Sweating profusely, Xue Rensheng managed to say:

"The Lins sought my help to facilitate some business deals, which is why I was invited."

"Hmph!"

A single cold huff from Qi Xiao sent a shiver down Xue Rensheng's spine, prompting him to quickly add:

"My deepest apologies, Mr. Qi. I'll terminate all business arrangements with the Lin family forthwith!"

The Lins in attendance were utterly dumbfounded by the turn of events. The head of A Group, a titan among West River's financial elite, was kowtowing to the Qi family's so-called good-for-nothing heir?!

Lin Pohu was terrified, nearly collapsing to his knees! The banquet's main objective had been to secure a deal with Director Xue! The Lin family had everything lined up for the transaction. If the deal fell through, it would spell instant disaster for them!

"Director Xue... you can't do this! Our deal was set, wasn't it? You can't go back on your word!"

In a panic, Lin Pohu rushed to Xue Rensheng's side, his plea bordering on desperation.

At that moment, Xue Rensheng felt his own standing was precarious in the face of Mr. Qi's influence. The Lin family's concerns were the least of his worries. With a swift kick, he sent Lin Pohu tumbling, all the while hurling insults:

"Scram! You mongrels, if I had known you'd dare treat Mr. Qi this way, forget business—I, Xue Rensheng, would've personally flattened your Lin family! And you have the nerve to discuss business with me now?"

Young Master Pann was utterly shell-shocked. He fancied himself a "young entrepreneur," but in reality, he had merely started a few companies with his family's wealth. He had hoped to cozy up to Director Xue at this gathering.

Who could have imagined that Director Xue would grovel before Qi Xiao, whom he had once scorned? And to think he believed himself above competing with Qi Xiao for Lin Suxin's attention? Now, he looked nothing more than a fool!

Qi Xiao glanced at Xue Rensheng and remarked:

"Crush the Lin family? Pfft, do they even merit that?"

Xue Rensheng eagerly bobbed his head in agreement:

"Absolutely, Mr. Qi's word is law!"

Desperation was etched in the eyes of Lin Pohu and the rest as they regarded Qi Xiao. The man they had previously dismissed now held the Lin family's destiny in his hands.

Lin Suxin's gaze fell on Qi Xiao, her expression one of bewilderment. How had he, who was just days ago deemed worthless and idiotic, suddenly become a figure so influential that even a magnate like Director Xue sought his favor?

He was unworthy of her?

A bitter smile crossed Lin Suxin's face as she realized the truth—it was she who was unworthy of him.

Qi Xiao surveyed the room with a commanding presence, silencing the Lins with his mere gaze.

In terms of martial prowess, Uncle Pohe, the Lin family's strongest, had been sent flying with a single palm strike from Qi Xiao, his fate currently unknown.

Financially, the tycoon of the A Group was kowtowing to Qi Xiao. Did he seem like someone short on cash? The entire Lin family's wealth didn't even come close to a fraction of the A Group's.

Qi Xiao picked up the divorce decree once more and slapped it down on the table.

"Now, I, Qi Xiao, hereby divorce Lin Suxin. Any objections?"