Gao Wu: I'll enjoy the benefits, but you'll bear the side effects.

Seeing their son's strange behavior, Wang Fang and Gao Zhanlin were at a loss for words and could only sigh softly.

The sigh was filled with helplessness and heartache, as if a thousand words were stuck in his throat, yet he could not speak them.

Wang Fang slightly raised her hand and gently wiped the corner of her eye with her sleeve. The movement was accompanied by a barely perceptible tremor, as if she was trying to suppress the surging emotions in her heart.

The son must have been exhausted to this extent.

Wang Fang's eyes were filled with self-reproach. She broke the silence first, her voice slightly hoarse as she spoke:

"It's all our fault for being incompetent; otherwise, our son wouldn't have to work so hard, don't you think?"

Her eyes were slightly red, tears welling up as if they might spill over at any moment, and her lips were gently pursed, revealing her inner pain and guilt.

Gao Zhanlin gently patted her shoulder; the force of his hand was soothing, yet also somewhat heavy.

He frowned slightly, his face full of worry, and offered words of comfort:

"You're right, we've really put our son through a lot. We've lived a mediocre life, failing to provide him with a comfortable environment, and now we've put him in this predicament. It's our fault as parents."

As he spoke, his gaze remained fixed on the direction his son had gone, his eyes filled with worry and helplessness.

The two talked as they slowly walked toward the room.

The figure appeared particularly lonely in the dim light, and their steps seemed heavy, as if each step carried endless pressure and sorrow, as if the weight of the whole world was pressing down on their shoulders.

Gao Jie only slept for a short while before getting up because he really couldn't sleep. All sorts of complicated things kept popping into his mind. The intricate entanglements of interests and unpredictable dangerous situations were like a tangled mess in his heart, making him toss and turn and unable to fall asleep. He stayed up until dawn.

The Qin family sent over clothes. The clothes were of excellent quality, made of the finest silk, and embroidered with exquisite patterns. They exuded an air of luxury, yet made Gao Jie feel incredibly heavy-hearted.

He looked at the clothes, his brows furrowing slightly, his heart filled with disgust, yet he reluctantly took them and slowly put them on. As he dressed, his movements were somewhat mechanical; his fingers unconsciously clenched and unclenched, as if suppressing his inner resistance.

Afterwards, Gao Jie was taken to the Qin family's private council hall. The council hall was magnificent, with tall doors made of precious mahogany and inlaid with dazzling gemstones that shimmered brilliantly in the sunlight.

Upon entering the council hall, one can see that the walls are adorned with numerous valuable calligraphy and paintings, showcasing the Qin family's profound heritage and power.

A thick red carpet was laid on the ground. Walking on it, the sound of footsteps seemed to be absorbed, and the silence was unsettling.

Here, Gao Jie saw Qin Hailong's two sons, daughter, and wife.

Qin Xianglong was sitting in the main seat, holding a steaming cup of tea. The teacup was an exquisite blue and white porcelain cup with delicate landscape paintings on its surface.

He gently blew on the tea, then took a leisurely sip, his face full of smugness, as if the whole world was under his control.

After all, the entire Qin family now belongs to him. In his opinion, what problem could he not solve?

Just then, Gao Jie came in. Qin Hailong's death was related to Gao Jie, and Qin Hailong's son naturally knew this. The two of them immediately stood up.

Qin Lin's eyes were bloodshot, burning like flames, filled with rage and hatred. His fists clenched involuntarily, his muscles tensed, and a powerful aura emanated from him. He took a sudden step forward, his foot landing with a resounding thud, and roared with boundless fury:

"Second Uncle, what do you mean by this? Why did you let this guy come here? Don't you know what he does? He's one of the culprits who killed Father! How could you let him appear here? This is a grave disrespect to Father!"

Qin Lei echoed, his face so dark it seemed to drip water, veins bulging on his forehead, as he gritted his teeth and said:

"Now that things have come to this, how much more outrageous do you want to be? Do you want to trample on the last shred of dignity left in the Qin family? How can you face our father in the afterlife with such actions!"

Qin Xianglong gave a cold laugh, a laugh devoid of any warmth, as if it could freeze the surrounding air.

He gently set down his teacup, making a crisp sound, his eyes full of mockery, and slowly said:

"How dare you two criticize your second uncle like that? It's incredibly rude! Hasn't my sister-in-law ever taught you how to be polite? How can you be so disrespectful in front of your elders? With your meager abilities, you dare to shout and yell here. You really don't know your place."

"But sister-in-law, don't take this too hard. My brother is already like this, what good will it do if you take it to heart? He's gone, we can only look forward. This world is a dog-eat-dog world, instead of complaining here, you should face reality sooner."

"To be honest, we can only accept all of this calmly, as there's no way to change anything. As for the portion of the family fortune you're asking for, I simply can't give you any of it, understand? The Qin family's businesses now have new plans and arrangements, and every resource is related to the rise and fall of the family. There's no extra share left to give you. So stop making futile struggles."

Qin Hailong's wife, Wang Lili, immediately changed her expression. Her face flushed crimson, like a ripe tomato, and anger made her body tremble slightly. She strode forward, pointing a finger at Qin Hailong, her voice trembling with emotion:

"Second brother, this family fortune was earned through your brother's hard work. Now you're reaping the benefits without lifting a finger, and how can you speak like this? Don't you have any conscience? How can you be so ungrateful and seize what rightfully belongs to us!"

"Right now, in front of your two nephews, please return your elder brother's share of the inheritance to them. We don't want to make a scene, and your nephews and I don't want to fight you for anything, but please don't bully us, a widow and her children. We hope you can give us what we deserve. We only ask for a place to live, how can you be so heartless!"

Qin Xianglong rubbed his chin, a hint of disdain in his eyes, as if he were looking at a group of unreasonable ants.

"Sister-in-law, aren't you going too far with your words? I really want to give you these things, but unfortunately I can't. You know what these things represent, right? The Qin family's business is facing many challenges and opportunities right now, and every resource is crucial and cannot be divided up casually. I'm doing this for the sake of the Qin family's overall interests, so please don't be so ungrateful."

"In short, I'm not joking with you, sister-in-law. It's not that I won't allow you to want these things, but I just don't agree right now. What can you do about it? Humph, I'd like to see what tricks you can come up with."

After he finished speaking, he strode towards the door with an unquestionable arrogance, as if he did not want to get entangled with them any longer, and every step seemed to demonstrate his authority.

Upon seeing this, his two nephews, Qin Lin and Qin Lei, hurriedly came over.

Qin Lin rushed forward in a flash, his speed so fast that it created a slight gust of wind, and in the blink of an eye, he stood in front of Qin Xianglong.

He stood firmly on the ground in a horse stance, his fists clenched, with a faint glow emanating from them—a sign that he was channeling the martial arts power within his body.

He was using the "Wind-Breaking Fist" technique passed down in his family. This fist technique is fierce and powerful, emphasizing using force to overcome all methods. Every punch he throws has the power to split mountains and shatter rocks.

He said through gritted teeth:

"Stop right there! You stole the inheritance left by my father, and you still dare to talk like that? You're going too far! Does being my uncle give you the right to act like this? Today I'll show you the power of my 'Wind-Breaking Fist,' and see if you dare to be so arrogant again!"

Qin Lei chimed in, his hands moving rapidly in a series of hand seals as he chanted incantations. He was using the Qin family's secret technique, the "Spirit Shield Technique." A pale blue light screen appeared in front of him, radiating a soft glow. This light screen appeared thin, but it was actually indestructible and could withstand many powerful attacks.

His eyes widened in anger, and he shouted, "You'd better hand over your things before I get angry, or we'll make you regret it, do you hear me? We respect you as an elder, but you can't act so recklessly. If you continue to be so stubborn, don't blame us for being impolite!"

Qin Xianglong let out a cold laugh, which echoed in the empty council hall, sounding particularly jarring, as if it were about to pierce people's eardrums.

"You're not finished with me. Every single one of you, what strength do you still have? Do you think you're still under the protection of the Qin family? The Qin family has changed. What makes you think you can fight me? With your pathetic skills, you dare to show off your amateurish abilities in front of me? It's utterly laughable."

"You still want to make this work on me? Don't you guys think I'm easy to deal with? Gao Jie, what are you standing there for?"

He turned to look at Gao Jie, his eyes filled with command and threat, his gaze as tangible as if he wanted to see right through Gao Jie.

Gao Jie was stunned for a moment when he heard this. His mind went blank. He didn't expect Qin Xianglong to come over and remind him.

"Get to work! What are you standing there for? Do what you're supposed to do, send this whole family down to see my brother, and then you'll keep your position, and I'll keep mine, you hear me?"

Gao Jie finally realized why this bastard had sent him here.

It turns out he was planning to use me to kill his nephew and sister-in-law. I never expected this guy to be so shameless!

A surge of anger welled up in his heart, a anger that burned fiercely in his chest, as if it would devour him entirely.

But he had to endure it, his hands unconsciously clenching so tightly that his nails dug deep into his palms, leaving several deep crescent-shaped marks.

Wang Lili was also anxious. What kind of international joke was this? She just wanted to get some benefits for her two sons. How did she have to risk her life now?

Her body trembled violently, her face turned deathly pale, and her eyes were filled with terror, as if she were witnessing the end of the world.

She clutched her two sons' clothes tightly, her voice trembling with tears, crying out, "My sons, what are we going to do? How did we end up like this!"

Qin Lin and Qin Lei quickly shielded their mother behind them to prevent Gao Jie from doing anything rash, and Qin Lin even demonstrated his skills.

He took a deep breath, adjusted his internal energy, and continuously channeled martial arts power into his arms, making the light even more dazzling, like two burning flames.

He roared, "I'm a third-tier expert now! If you touch me, you're dead for sure. I'm not someone to be trifled with; don't think we'll just sit here and wait to die. Even if it costs me my life, I won't let you harm my mother in the slightest!"

As he spoke, he suddenly threw a punch forward. The punch was accompanied by a howling wind and carried the powerful force of the "Wind-Breaking Fist". Visible ripples of air instantly appeared in the air and surged towards Gao Jie, as if to tear him apart.

No sooner had he finished speaking than Qin Xianglong's men suddenly attacked.

It was a burly, black-clad expert. He stomped his feet on the ground and shot out like an arrow, so fast that only a blur could be seen.

He formed his hands into claws and unleashed the "Black Fiend Deadly Claw" technique. A layer of black light instantly enveloped his hands, and the claw shadows, almost tangible, appeared and disappeared within the light, exuding a sinister and terrifying aura.

He lunged at Qin Lin, his claws flashing through the air with a piercing whistling sound, and in the blink of an eye, he was in front of Qin Lin, viciously grabbing at his throat.

Qin Lin had no time to dodge. The sharp claw shadows tore through his spiritual energy defenses, leaving several deep bloody marks on his throat. Blood gushed out like a spring, and he collapsed into a pool of blood.

His eyes were wide open, filled with resentment and disbelief, as if he couldn't believe that all of this had happened so quickly, and the brilliance of life was rapidly fading from his eyes.

Qin Xianglong was taken aback, a look of surprise on his face. He hadn't expected things to develop so quickly.

"Gao Jie, you're amazing now! You killed him in one move. I really underestimated you. I didn't expect you to have such skills."

His eyes held a hint of doubt and suspicion, as if he suspected that Gao Jie was hiding his strength.

Gao Jie was completely bewildered when he heard this. When did he kill someone in one move?

He was filled with doubt, and before he could speak, he saw the person who had just made the move preparing to kill Qin Lei again.

The black-clad expert turned around, his footwork unpredictable and erratic, like a ghost, and instantly appeared in front of Qin Lei. He raised his claws, which radiated black light, and viciously grabbed at Qin Lei's chest, his aura seemingly about to pierce through Qin Lei's chest.

Gao Jie immediately stopped him. He exerted force with both legs and rushed forward like lightning, blocking Qin Lei at the critical moment.

He quickly formed hand seals and chanted the "Vajra Protection Mantra." A golden light screen instantly appeared in front of him, radiating an ancient and powerful aura.

This was a defensive technique he had learned by chance, and it always played an unexpected role in crucial moments.

His eyes were firm and resolute as he shouted, "Let's talk this out! You never told me you wanted to kill your nephew! I won't let you do that; that's the bottom line. If you dare to act recklessly again, don't blame me for being impolite!"

Qin Xianglong was surprised that he would dare to stand up and stop him.

"Gao Jie, you better get out of my way. Don't waste my time here, you hear me? Get the hell out of here right now. Don't forget your place and your situation. Don't ruin your plans. If you ruin my plans, I'll make you wish you were dead!"

His face turned extremely gloomy, his eyes were full of anger and threat, and his hands clenched unconsciously, as if he was about to personally teach Gao Jie a lesson at any moment.

Gao Jie shook his head, refusing to listen no matter what, which infuriated Qin Xianglong.

"Are you out of your mind? You're wasting your time here! Aren't you afraid I'll kill you? You think you can disobey my orders? You're courting death!"

As he spoke, he flashed forward and pounced on Gao Jie. He formed his right palm and unleashed the "Shattering Star Palm" technique. Starlight shimmered on his palm, as if the vast starry sky had been condensed into a single palm. With a devastating force, he slammed it down on Gao Jie's face.

Just as he was about to make a move, Gao Jie grabbed his wrist. Gao Jie's eyes sharpened, and his martial arts surged, flowing down his arm and into his palm, suddenly increasing the force in his hand.

He used the "Capturing Hand" technique, which emphasizes using skill to overcome force and deflecting heavy blows with minimal effort.

With a slight twist, he skillfully neutralized Qin Xianglong's "Shattering Star Palm" attack. Then, with a pull and a push, Qin Xianglong was knocked to the ground, lying there in a disheveled state, his face full of astonishment and anger. He never expected that he would be so easily subdued by Gao Jie.

Meanwhile, a skilled fighter rushed up and engaged Gao Jie in combat. The fighter wielded a long sword whose blade emitted a chilling light, seemingly capable of freezing the surrounding air.

He shouted and unleashed the "Whirlwind Blade Technique." His body spun rapidly, like a tornado, and the long blade in his hand unleashed countless blade beams. The dense blade beams swept towards Gao Jie as if they were tangible, tearing even the thick red carpet in its wake, as if to tear Gao Jie to pieces.

Not to be outdone, Gao Jie lightly touched the ground with his feet, leaped backward, and flipped in mid-air, skillfully avoiding the rain of blades.

Then, he drew a soft sword from his waist. The sword was flexible, but it became straight and hard after being infused with spiritual energy.

He unleashed the "Spirit Serpent Sword Technique," and the sword moved as nimbly as a serpent, weaving freely through the air. It collided with the incoming blade light, producing a crisp metallic clang.

Each collision sent sparks flying, and the two fought fiercely, evenly matched.

The way the opponent attacked was very distinctive, with each move accompanied by a sharp whistling sound, as if it could tear the air apart. Gao Jie's swordsmanship was also unpredictable, with skillful and agile moves that kept the audience on the edge of their seats.

These were all deadly moves; every single move from the black-clad expert was aimed directly at Gao Jie's vitals. Amidst the flashing blades and shadows, danger lurked everywhere.

Gao Jie was also very surprised at how he was able to dodge so easily! His body seemed to be driven by a mysterious force, and at the last second, he was always able to turn to the side, bend over, and lean back at extremely subtle angles to avoid the whistling deadly attack.

Not only could he dodge, but he could even carefully deal with the opponent's punches. When the opponent's attack, which was accompanied by a fierce wind, approached, Gao Jie's eyes instantly became extremely sharp. Like a keen cheetah, he accurately captured the trajectory of the fist.

He would either skillfully block with his arm, deflecting the powerful impact to one side, or use agile footwork to sidestep, letting the fist graz his clothes.

He then seized the opportunity to exploit a weakness in his opponent's attack and launched a counterattack. He spotted an opening after his opponent's punch and swiftly struck with his palm, the wind whistling as it carried a powerful force towards his opponent's ribs. If this palm strike landed, it would be enough to severely injure his opponent.

After a long back-and-forth, Gao Jie gradually figured out his opponent's attack rhythm and tactics.

After his opponent's longsword missed its mark, he moved like a ghost, his soft sword thrusting out at a tricky angle, the tip gleaming coldly, aimed straight at his opponent's throat.

The opponent was shocked and hurriedly swung his sword to defend, but his panic caused him to reveal a weakness.

Gao Jie changed his move accordingly, suddenly raising the hilt of his sword and slamming it heavily against the opponent's wrist holding the knife.

The opponent cried out in pain, and the long sword flew out of his hand. Gao Jie immediately followed up with a flying kick, striking the opponent in the abdomen, sending him flying and crashing heavily to the ground.

"I didn't mean to cause you any trouble. You forced me into this situation. As for what you want to do next, that's not my concern!"

Gao Jie said expressionlessly, his voice revealing a hint of indifference and determination.

Upon hearing this, Qin Xianglong and his men's faces turned extremely ugly. Their eyes widened in anger, and their faces turned red, as if they had been humiliated to the extreme.

They never expected that Gao Jie would dare to openly defy Qin Xianglong's orders and beat their men so badly.

Their anger was instantly ignited, and they even prepared to pounce on Gao Jie.

Before they could even make a move, Gao Jie used the same tactic again, knocking them to the ground with his swift movements.

Gao Jie's movements were fluid and seamless, leaving no time for anyone to react.

Qin Xianglong was completely enraged. His eyes were bloodshot, and the veins on his forehead bulged like winding snakes.

His body trembled slightly with rage, his teeth grinding together as if he wanted to devour Gao Jie alive.

"Gao Jie, what exactly do you want? Are you trying to mess with me? I've already given you face, but you still insist on doing this to me. Are you treating me like I don't exist? Do you think I won't do anything to you?"

Qin Xianglong roared, his voice echoing throughout the council hall, making everyone's ears ring.

Gao Jie didn't care about any of that; he simply ignored it.

His eyes revealed determination and fearlessness, as if he had already disregarded life and death.

He moved with lightning speed, charging once more towards those who still dared to resist. He knocked another person to the ground, and Gao Jie coldly replied:

"Originally, I didn't want to get involved in this matter, or even do anything at all, but I didn't expect you to go so far. For your own selfish desires, you're willing to instigate family feuds and harm your relatives. Do you have any humanity left?"

"And you've already made things the worst possible way, haven't you realized that yet? What you're doing will only plunge the Qin family into utter ruin. Aren't you afraid of retribution? The sea of ​​suffering is boundless, but there's always a shore to turn back from. You don't want your older brother coming to find you tonight, do you? If you continue to be so stubborn, you'll pay a heavy price sooner or later. Please, wake up."