Chapter 78

"You... how did you do that?"

Song Tianhao stared at the black boulder that had returned to its place, his face filled with astonishment and shock.

Even if Qin Shuo had truly broken through to the Tongmai Realm, it was impossible for him to be this strong? To push open a boulder that even several Tongmai cultivators working together could not budge?

In the cave, the Song family martial artists all looked at Qin Shuo with extremely strange eyes.

They had personally witnessed the Family Head's full-powered strike fail to move the boulder—could it be that this youth is even stronger than their own Family Head?

"Just a little trick." Qin Shuo smiled faintly, without elaborating.

When he first struck the black boulder, he already understood that brute force alone could not possibly open the entrance.

That black boulder weighs at least several hundred thousand catties; even if he had broken through to the Tongmai Realm, he could not possibly move it.

But when his body touched the cold black stone, the stone was still moved by him.

To be precise, it was moved by the Meta-Magnetic Earth Pearl within his body.

At that moment, Qin Shuo realized that this black boulder is some unknown magnetic material, whose magnetism is exactly opposite to that of the Meta-Magnetic Earth Pearl.

Therefore, when he struck the black boulder the second time, he directly summoned the Meta-Magnetic Earth Pearl, which caused the boulder sealing the entrance to fly apart.

Of course, his movement was very concealed, so even Song Tianhao and the others did not notice the existence of the Meta-Magnetic Earth Pearl.

Seeing Qin Shuo unwilling to say more, Song Tianhao did not press further, but his resolve to invest in Qin Shuo strengthened somewhat.

Young in age, not only is his strength outstanding, but his methods are also endless.

Most importantly, he knows how to conceal his abilities.

In this Earth Cave contest, the Song family nearly capsized in the gutter; the root cause was the Fang family concealing their strength, which dealt them a blow.

If it weren't for Qin Shuo's appearance, the Song family's future days would likely be difficult.

Thus, Song Tianhao grew increasingly appreciative of Qin Shuo's character of victory without arrogance—steady, grounded, worthy of friendship and reliance.

"Since you're all unharmed, let's descend the mountain. This time, Qin Xiao-xiong secured the Yuan Magnetic Grotto for our Song family; we will surely reward him handsomely." Song Tianhao smiled and clasped his hands.

"Family Head Song speaks too seriously." Qin Shuo lightly shook his head.

The Yuan Magnetic Grotto is sealed; who knows how long it will take to reopen it. The Song family martial artists no longer lingered and all descended the mountain along the way.

Just as they returned to the Song Mansion, the fat steward Luo Wansong hurriedly ran out, saying to Song Tianhao: "Family Head, something's wrong, the Tian Family Head has come, saying…… saying……"

Luo Wansong glanced toward Qin Shuo, wanting to speak but hesitating.

"What did he say?" Song Tianhao frowned.

Although he had already guessed the purpose of the Tian Family Head's visit, Luo Wansong's demeanor still made him displeased.

"He said…… he wants Qin Gongzi to give him an explanation!"

Luo Wansong withdrew his gaze, lowering his head, fearing Qin Shuo's anger toward him.

After all, he had once sold Qin Shuo's whereabouts to Tian Bai, which led to Tian Bai blocking Qin Shuo's path at the foot of Dongling Temple.

Now, Qin Shuo first severed Tian Bai, then defeated Fang Lin, and has already become a prominent figure in the Song family.

As a steward, others may give the Song family face and perhaps still be polite to him, but if Qin Shuo seeks trouble with him, even the Family Head might not protect him.

"Oh? You want me to give an explanation?" Qin Shuo's lips curled slightly.

Although he had long anticipated that the Tian family would not let this go, he did not expect them to come so quickly.

He hasn't even entered the door yet, and the other side is already waiting at the Song family—this news is truly well-informed.

Thus, he looked at the fat steward with a half-smile: "The Tian family's news is truly well-informed! Last time I went to Dongling Temple, I encountered Tian Bai blocking the road; now, having just returned from the grotto, I meet Tian Bai's father coming to demand an explanation.

Later, I must ask the Tian Family Head where he got this information—truly both swift and accurate!"

Upon hearing this, Song Tianhao and Song Yan both turned to look at Luo Wansong.

Although Qin Shuo's words were polite, both sensed the hidden meaning.

The Song family has someone informing the Tian family, and not just once.

Combined with Qin Shuo specifically mentioning Dongling Temple, it goes without saying who is informing the Tian family.

Because the one who arranged for Qin Shuo to go to Dongling Temple was precisely the fat steward Luo Wansong, and only he could know immediately when the Song family returned from the grotto.

"Sir, I……"

Luo Wansong was about to make excuses when Song Tianhao coldly said: "Go to the guard office and receive thirty lashes; from now on, you need not come here……"

Saying that, he no longer paid attention to the limp Luo Wansong on the ground and strode into the Song Mansion.

"Steward Luo, I trusted you so much, yet you actually schemed against my junior brother."

Song Yan's voice was icy: "If not for your years of service to our Song family, this debt would not be so easily overlooked."

"Young Lady, the old servant knows his mistake……"

The fat steward wept tears and snot, constantly begging for mercy, but Song Yan did not listen to his nagging, instead saying to Qin Shuo: "Junior brother, let's go inside."

"Mm."

Qin Shuo nodded, directly ignoring the fat steward's desperate pleas, and walked into the Song family together with Qin Shuo.

Regarding the fat steward's fate, he felt no sympathy.

Since the other party chose to betray himself, he should have the resolve to face exposure and reckoning.

Now that he has met this end, it is entirely his own doing.

Passing through two spacious courtyards, they arrived at the Song family's main hall.

Song Ci and Song Tianlin were already waiting.

Besides them, there was Tian Bai and a middle-aged man with a fierce aura.

At this moment, Tian Bai's severed arm had been reattached, wrapped in white bandages, his complexion still somewhat pale, sickly, his eyes dull.

Seeing Qin Shuo enter the hall, his eyes instantly blazed with hatred, and he gritted his teeth at the middle-aged man beside him: "Father, he is Qin Shuo."

Tian Zhan heard this, his gaze instantly locked onto Qin Shuo, his sharp eyes like a blade's edge, aggressive and pressing.

"Are you Qin Shuo?"

Tian Zhan stepped forward and stood before Qin Shuo, his voice icy: "Was it you who cut off my son's arm?"

Qin Shuo glanced at Tian Bai's arm, wrapped like a zongzi, and inwardly marveled—unexpectedly, this world still had the art of reattaching severed limbs, which was quite surprising.

He then lifted his eyes to Tian Zhan and said calmly: "Not bad. It was me who cut it."

"Good, very good! Since it was you who cut it, if you don't give me an explanation today, don't blame me for being impolite." Tian Zhan said coldly.

"Tian brother, this matter began with Tian Bai's sneak attack. Had it not been for Qin Xiao xiong's external training, he would already be dead. I think we should let this go." Song Tianhao advised in a deep voice.

"Let it go? Impossible!"

Tian Zhan flew into a rage, shouting: "Even if my son Tian Bai was at fault first, so what?"

He's just a country bumpkin—if he dies, he dies.

How could his worthless life compare to my son's arm?

Today, he must give my Tian family an explanation."

"You're being unreasonable and stubborn!" Song Yan snapped.

"Song Yan, don't be ungrateful. Bai er, however you put it, is your fiancé. Not speaking for him is bad enough, but you actually accuse me of being unreasonable—what's your motive?"

Tian Zhan raved like a mad dog, biting whoever he caught.

Afterwards, he glared viciously at Qin Shuo and said: "Boy, have you decided how to explain yourself?"

"No."

Qin Shuo shook his head and said: "Why don't the Tian family head tell me how you want me to explain? Perhaps I can satisfy you."

Hearing this, Tian Bai beside him thought Qin Shuo had yielded to his father's authority and immediately shouted:

"I want you to cut off your own arm, kneel for three days and three nights before my Tian family gate, and kowtow to apologize to me, Tian Bai!"

As soon as he spoke, everyone in the hall changed expression.

Song Tianhao even more so said coldly: "Tian Bai, spare where you can—if it weren't for Qin Xiao xiong holding back, you'd already be dead."

"Dead? Just a country bumpkin—does he really dare to kill me?"

Tian Bai gritted his teeth: "Today, if he doesn't cut off his own arm and kowtow to apologize to me, I'll have my father beat him to death to vent my hatred."

"You dare!"

Song Tianhao glared, his mighty aura radiating as he pressed down on Tian Bai.

"What do I have to fear?"

Tian Zhan roared, releasing the aura of a Tongmai Realm master, blocking Song Tianhao's sweeping pressure.

"Good! As you wish!"

As Tian Zhan and Song Tianhao stood swords drawn, Qin Shuo beside them spoke softly.

Tian Zhan raised his eyebrows.

He hadn't expected Qin Shuo to agree so readily.

The Second Elder Song Ci, seated above, suddenly changed expression and shouted sharply: "Be careful!"

But before his words faded, a loud dragon's roar echoed from the hall.

Blinding golden light flashed like lightning, too fast for Song Ci to stop, and slammed heavily into Tian Zhan's chest.

Crack!

A horrifying bone-cracking sound rang through the hall.

Then, everyone saw an arm fly high into the air, trailing blood, and crash down in the hall.