As Chen Fan strode closer, Elder Shao's eyes showed unease. "Mr. Chen, can't we be more flexible?"
"There is no room for flexibility."
Killing intent surged, and the entire venue seemed to hold only Chen Fan, with everyone else appearing as insignificant as ants before him.
His voice was cold. "Those who err and show no remorse deserve to die. I gave you, Elder Shao, a chance, but you ultimately could not bring yourself to be ruthless, caring only for an undeserved reputation. This is why you have failed to properly raise your descendants."
"Your family's principles appear strict, but in reality, they lack authority. When your descendants err, they are eventually indulged, and you cover for them, thus they harbor false hopes!"
"Fortunately, you have many descendants; one less is not a significant loss!"
Elder Shao's body trembled, his face shifting in expression. He hesitated and struggled internally, but ultimately slumped onto a long bench, dejected.
The icy, steely voice and the palpable killing intent rendered the Shao family members speechless with fear.
Many who had spoken disrespectfully earlier now turned pale under Chen Fan's overwhelming aura and might.
Shao Moqing, already guilty and terrified, began to tremble and shrink back, lacking the courage to flee.
Soon, Chen Fan arrived before Shao Moqing.
A middle-aged man stepped forward nervously, blocking Chen Fan's path. "You, you can't hurt Qing'er!"
This man was Shao Moqing's father.
Mustering his courage to intervene, he felt like a lone boat in an endless storm, liable to capsize at any moment.
This time, Chen Fan showed no further courtesy. He raised his hand and pushed the middle-aged man aside, sending him tumbling.
"No, don't kill me, I was wrong, I'll turn myself in..."
Tears streamed down Shao Moqing's face.
"Too late!"
His only reply was two cold words.
Chen Fan reached out with one hand, grasping for Shao Moqing's neck.
"No, please don't!"
The same middle-aged woman lunged forward, grabbing Chen Fan's arm and shrieking, "I won't let you hurt my son, I'll fight you to the death..."
Chen Fan's arm tensed, and the woman was flung aside.
His hand tightened around Shao Moqing's neck, and with a slight squeeze—
*Crack.* Shao Moqing's head lolled to the side, his eyes dimming in profound terror.
Watching this, Elder Shao's body shook, and pain flickered in his eyes.
"No..." the middle-aged woman wailed, "Qing'er, my Qing'er, you lunatic, murderer, I will not forgive you! I will make you pay back a hundredfold the suffering you've inflicted on Qing'er, sob..."
Chen Fan gently placed Shao Moqing's corpse down and turned to face Elder Shao.
A flicker of grief crossed the elder's clouded eyes.
The younger generation of the Shao family, having finally recovered from Chen Fan's overwhelming killing intent, gathered around, but none dared to make a move.
"Everyone must pay the price for their mistakes. A price that wasn't too great initially becomes irrecoverable due to the harborer of false hope!"
Chen Fan said indifferently, "My apologies, Elder Shao. I hope this did not affect your birthday banquet. Farewell!"
He strode towards the exit.
The Shao family members, however, would not let him leave and blocked his path.
Of course, Chen Fan's killing intent had now subsided, no longer imposing the immense pressure and deterrence he had earlier.
Qin Tianyou's gaze sharpened.
"Let him pass!"
Elder Shao's face was dejected. His normally robust spirit seemed to have aged ten years in an instant.
"No, you can't let him go! I want him to pay with his life for Qing'er!"
The middle-aged woman screamed, her voice laced with venom.
"Father, how can we just let this go?"
The middle-aged man, Shao Moqing's father, also roared with unwillingness.
"Make way!"
Elder Shao shouted again.
The crowd parted.
"When Lin'er returns, I will definitely avenge Qing'er!"
The middle-aged woman shrieked.
Chen Fan paid no heed, striding out of the Shao residence and driving away.
The outdoor banquet continued, with the guests utterly unaware of the astonishing events that had transpired within the Shao family.
Only after Chen Fan and his companion had left did Elder Shao turn to face the middle-aged couple, their faces etched with hatred.
He then gestured to Shao Baihua.
"The man named Chen earlier killed Cao Fang of the Cao family, Wu Zekuan of the Wu family, and He Yifeng of the Yin Cheng Club the night before yesterday!" Shao Baihua said with a heavy tone.
"I don't care, I want him to pay with his life! Father, and all of you, you watched that man kill my Qing'er! How heartless can you be..."
Everyone fell silent.
"Lin'er is already on her way. Her brother is dead; she won't let this rest!"
"If the Shao family can't help, I'll rely on Lin'er, and on the Xu family of Xiling!"
The middle-aged woman screamed like a madwoman, "I don't care about right or wrong, I don't care about others' lives! All I know is my Qing'er is dead, and I want him to accompany her to the grave!"
...
Hanjiang Hotel.
A Mercedes-Benz van screeched to a halt. Jiang Lizong and Su Yingxia hurried into the hotel and approached the presidential suite on the top floor.
Several robust bodyguards stood at the door, blocking their way.
"Young Master Yuan just called us!"
"Miss Su?" one of the bodyguards asked promptly.
Su Yingxia nodded.
"Please come in!"
The bodyguards bowed respectfully and opened the door.
Inside the luxurious presidential suite, a young man stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the bustling night view of Hang Jiang.
Another woman, wearing sunglasses and her face veiled, sat on the sofa, creating a peculiar atmosphere.
The young man turned his head and walked over with a smile, saying respectfully, "Miss Su Yingxia?"
"Hello, Young Master Yuan!"
Su Yingxia looked at the man before her, her eyes sparkling.
The man was in his late twenties, tall and slender, wearing a perfectly tailored suit that exuded both stability and youthful dynamism. He was handsome, refined, and possessed an extraordinary presence, like a dragon among men, radiating approachability.
"I never expected Miss Su to be so stunningly beautiful. It's a pity you are already spoken for, otherwise, I would certainly pursue you ardently."
A blush crept onto Su Yingxia's face.
Before she had broken up with Chen Fan, she had considered Jiang Shaolong a dragon among men and eagerly wished to marry him. Now, seeing Yuan Liangping, she felt Jiang Shaolong paled in comparison, with no room for comparison. Yuan Liangping's exaggerated compliments, though a polite gesture, made her heart flutter like a startled deer.
"Young Master Yuan, I am Jiang Lizong, Yingxia's father!" Jiang Lizong hastily extended his hand to greet him.
Yuan Liangping shook his hand in a perfunctory manner, his attitude noticeably cooler.
"Please sit. Young Master Xu was instructed by Elder Chen and is currently en route from the capital; he should be on a plane by now!" Yuan Liangping said. "Young Master Xu and I are close friends. I happen to be in Hang Jiang, so he asked me to come ahead to understand the situation and see if I could assist you!"
Su Yingxia finally understood. When she received Yuan Liangping's call, she had assumed he was the one sent by Elder Chen. It turned out to be otherwise. However, she felt even more pleasantly surprised now. This Young Master Yuan was none other than the eldest young master of the Yuan family in Jiangbei, a prominent figure among the younger generation there. With not only the mysterious Young Master Xu sent by Elder Chen but also the intervention of this Young Master Yuan, rescuing Jiang Shaolong would undoubtedly be effortless. The time for the Su family's rise was now within reach.
"We are grateful for the trouble you and Young Master Xu are taking. The situation is as follows..." Jiang Lizong quickly began to explain.