Chapter 695 - 550: Shut Him Up! (4)
There are only people who bow their heads to me, Qin Fan! There is nothing that will make me, Qin Fan, bow my head!
This was the aura of a Heavenly Venerate, an extreme arrogance ingrained to the bone.
This was to be expected. Back in the Cangqiong Continent, this arrogance had defined his actions for centuries. Now, in a mortal world filled with beings as insignificant as ants, who could possibly make him bow his head?
War or peace, it made no difference. The only prerequisite was that no one cross his bottom line. Otherwise, he wouldn’t mind unleashing a storm of blood and carnage. As a being with his sights set on becoming an Ascension Immortal, the lives of these mortals were inconsequential to him. If need be, he could simply wipe them all out. What was the big deal?
Hearing Qin Fan’s jaw-droppingly arrogant words, everyone at the table held their breath. Their solemn expressions were fraught with a palpable tension. Although they were on Qin Fan’s side and knew his words weren’t aimed at them, a chill still crept up their spines.
Once he finished speaking, Qin Fan broke the dead silence with a carefree laugh. He picked up the wine jar and casually began to pour and drink the fragrant, smooth Daughter’s Red.
After three small cups, Ye Congjun shook his head with a wry, helpless smile.
"I’m not surprised by that answer, but I still feel utterly powerless," he sighed, looking at Qin Fan, who was savoring the wine.
"No, Elder Ye. You, and everyone else here, have not yet reached the point of no return. You can choose to walk away. As I said, I won’t force anyone. You are all free to make the choice you feel is safest. I also won’t hold any grudges or feel any animosity toward any of you. After all, stepping back might seem like the wisest choice. It’s just human nature; it doesn’t count as betrayal or selling out. I would never think of it that way."
He had been a loner in his previous life. Now that he had the chance to be reborn—to once again enjoy the love and warmth of a family, to live happily with Yinuo, and to protect his sister from harm—this was more than enough for him. As for other people or matters, he had adopted a detached view of them since the moment he returned. His thinking was now incredibly straightforward: if you dared to bet on him, he would reward you with a pleasant surprise. If you cowered and chose to play it safe, that was fine too. He didn’t care.
"Young friend Qin, your words bring me shame! If we were to do that, how would we be any different from fence-sitters?" Ye Congjun said, shaking his head.
Setting down his wine cup, Qin Fan said seriously, "No, this has nothing to do with being a fence-sitter. It’s just human nature when faced with a matter of great importance. The reason I agreed to Elder Ye’s invitation today was to make this crystal clear. The future is uncertain. In the eyes of many, I’m just seeking my own doom, acting out of ignorant fearlessness, with only annihilation awaiting me. So, you must all think carefully. Though your presence by my side may not offer me much tangible help, I still need you to take a decisive stand. Either you advance and bet that I, Qin Fan, will achieve eternal glory, or you retreat and bet on my premature demise. Our friendship over these past few months has been a precious one. Consider it well. There’s no pressure."
However, the moment his words fell, Ma Yunbin declared without a second thought, "Master Qin, you only get a few chances to bet big in life. I, Ma Yunbin, am all in!"
"Master Qin, this old man is all alone and has nothing left to consider. Our friendship across generations is a rare thing. I won’t be a turncoat who goes where the wind blows, nor will I stand idly by!" Lai Zhuge added with a weathered chuckle.
"Since you are unwilling to bow your head, young friend Qin, then my Ye Family will stand tall with you! We’ll bet on this, be it fortune or disaster. To aspire to a glorious summit, one must be prepared to be shattered to pieces! I still have that much conviction!" Ye Congjun declared after taking a deep breath.
At this, Ye Jizu clenched his fists, his tense face flashing with excitement.
As for Ye Jizong, his brow was deeply furrowed. He wanted to say something but couldn’t muster the courage to speak. In the Ye Family, the Old Master’s word was absolute law. Even if the patriarch decided to gamble away the entire family, he had no real power to interfere.
At their decisions, Qin Fan nodded with a solemn expression, his entire bearing shifting. The magnificent aura of a Supreme who had long stood at the pinnacle of the Cangqiong Continent emanated from him. He then promised resonantly, "Good. Since you’ve all decided, I’ll waste no more words. If it truly comes to that, you need only secure Jiangzhou and look after everyone in the No.1 Group. Pay no mind to the rest. Be it a mountain of blades, I will flatten it. Be it a sea of fire, I will extinguish it! As long as I do not fall, I will grant glory to your family names!"
BUZZ. BUZZ. BUZZ.
Suddenly, just as Qin Fan’s words faded, a buzzing sound broke the stark silence, vibrating from Ye Jizu’s pocket.
"Sorry, let me take this call," Ye Jizu said, instinctively standing up while pulling out his phone.
He initially planned to step outside, but upon seeing the caller ID, he froze and immediately answered the call.
As soon as the call connected, a grim voice reported from the other end, "Grand Elder, we’ve identified the mastermind behind the airport sniper!"
"Don’t report to me just yet. Where are you now?" Ye Jizu asked, glancing reflexively at Qin Fan.
"Grand Elder, I’m in Tianhe!" the man on the other end replied, confused.
"Come to the Ye Family residence immediately!" Ye Jizu commanded.
Although utterly confused about the Grand Elder’s intentions, the man on the other end of the phone still replied promptly, "Yes, Grand Elder, I’m on my way!"