“You little b*stard! If you manage to walk out of the Xu household in one piece today, I’ll take your last name!”

Xu Jiahao clutched his face, still roaring with rage, trying to rush at Su Jie, but was tightly held back by Xu Jiazhi.

This group of younger Xu family members watched Su Jie lounging casually in front of them, all fuming to the point of bursting a lung. Yet none of them made a move. 

First, they had clearly seen that Su Jie’s combat ability was terrifyingly strong. That security guard, Ah Hua, was a brawny fighter skilled in hand-to-hand combat, capable of taking down three to five ordinary men easily—yet Su Jie had floored him in one move. Second, it was obvious that Huang Dingyi was protecting Su Jie, so the other guards dared not intervene.

After all, these younger members didn’t actually hold real authority within the Xu family.

“Mr. Huang, these guys still think you’re siding with me,” Su Jie chuckled. He couldn’t care less what this junior crew thought. In fact, he saw the entire Xu family as a hollow tree—big in size but rotten at the core. One good storm and the whole thing could collapse. No one here was capable of holding things together.

Especially among this so-called younger generation—not a single one of them was worthy of carrying on the legacy, let alone making something new of it.

Huang Dingyi appeared to be shielding Su Jie, but Su Jie knew better—he was actually protecting these younger family members, worried Su Jie might lash out violently.

“I can’t help it,” Huang Dingyi said, still shaken. “People from the Typhon Training Camp left a lasting impression on me. Every one of them is a stone-cold killer. They could kill with a sheet of paper, even a drop of spit. Their techniques are impossible to guard against. That’s not martial arts—it’s pure assassination. Ancient Chinese kung fu used to be called killing arts, but even that was open and righteous. Typhon’s techniques are the pinnacle of spy-level assassination: poison, hidden weapons, explosives, and all sorts of unthinkable methods. Sometimes two people could be walking past each other, not even close, and suddenly the other one drops dead. Even the cops on the scene can’t find a trace, and the coroner can’t determine a cause of death. I’m afraid you know these kinds of techniques.”

“You mean they can kill from a distance, and even a forensic exam can’t tell how the person died? Typhon Training Camp is that dangerous?” Su Jie found it unbelievable, but then again, this world is full of unsolved mysteries.

Besides, the human body is fragile. Many substances, even a speck invisible to the eye, can kill a person a hundred times over—like certain cyanides.

Even with Su Jie’s reinforced internal arts and superhuman recovery, poison would still end him just the same. He was still flesh and blood.

‘Looks like I’ll need to study up on these assassination techniques,’ Su Jie thought to himself. ‘Otherwise, if my sister really does switch companies, the Feng family might go all-out and play dirty. Typhon’s inner workings are off-limits, but I do know Coach Odell. He likely knows all the training camp’s assassination methods. I might not learn them, but I need to understand them well enough to defend against them.’

“What are you thinking about?” Huang Dingyi asked, seeing Su Jie quiet and assuming he was silently admitting it.

He truly feared Su Jie might know some terrifying methods—silent, invisible death.

“It’s fine,” Su Jie replied. “I won’t touch them. Don’t worry.”

Just then, hurried footsteps echoed—it was Xu Ziqiang, with several bodyguards in tow.

The moment he entered, his eyes locked onto Su Jie.

“The old master has something to say. You’re all to wait in the main hall,” Xu Ziqiang commanded with authority. Even Xu Jiahao quieted down.

“Jiazhi, take Jiahao to treat his face, then go to the main hall,” he added. Then he nodded slightly to Huang Dingyi. “Master Huang, please help maintain order. If these youngsters start fighting, it’ll reflect poorly on the Xu family. I’ll handle the matter from here. You go ahead and rest.”

His tone was polite, but the message was clear—Huang Dingyi was meddling in family affairs.

Huang Dingyi understood but didn’t let it show. He stood up. “Ziqiang, you’d better keep your eyes open. That young man has a serious background. I won’t get involved in this anymore.”

He patted Su Jie on the shoulder. “Little Brother, make sure you visit my academy sometime. We’ll have a good exchange. I’ve got fine liquor.”

“No problem. I’ll follow up on the app project too,” Su Jie thought to himself. ‘This Huang Dingyi is an interesting guy—and a client, after all.’

And with that, Huang Dingyi left—without even glancing at Xu Ziqiang.

Xu Ziqiang noticed this and was stirred. Huang Dingyi had been close to the Xu family since his father’s generation, serving as their martial arts coach—akin to a private tutor in the old days. The Xu family had always emphasized respect for teachers. From early on, they had strict rules about being polite to mentors, so even Xu Ziqiang didn’t dare speak harshly to him.

Plus, Huang Dingyi now had many disciples and considerable influence.

“What exactly does he see in this kid?” Xu Ziqiang couldn’t help but feel deeply annoyed by Su Jie—borderline disgusted. In fact, the entire Xu family held no goodwill toward Su Jie or Xu Ying.

Especially now, watching Su Jie remain seated without the slightest attempt to show respect, Xu Ziqiang grew even more irritated. He wanted nothing more than to slap the arrogance out of him.

The younger generation had all exited—even Xu Jiahao didn’t dare act up. He knew this was a crucial moment. Stirring more trouble would leave a bad impression on the old man, potentially losing him his share of the inheritance. On the other hand, if he behaved, he might just get a bigger cut.

As he left, his gaze was filled with hatred—mortal enemy levels. But his mind was already calculating how to snitch and maximize his gain.

He looked like a playboy on the outside, but underneath he was cold, cunning, and ruthless.

Xu Jiahong had also left. He hadn’t said a word the whole time, but Su Jie could feel his venomous gaze—this guy wasn’t going to let things slide either.

Now, only Su Jie and Xu Ziqiang remained in the hall. Security guards stood outside.

“Stand up,” Xu Ziqiang commanded.

“Say what you want.” Su Jie had originally tried to be polite, but after this farce, he was completely disillusioned. Even if his grandfather gave his mom control of the company, it would never reverse the family’s decline. She’d be constantly blocked, plotted against, and sabotaged.

This visit was just closure for his mom. From now on, they’d live quietly. The Xu family looked prosperous on the surface, but beneath it all was a tangled mess—not worth the effort or risk.

Since the Xu family treated him with no respect, there was no reason to keep smiling.

“You…” Xu Ziqiang’s face turned white with anger. “Is this what Xu Ying taught you? Do you have any respect for your elders?”

“Then you sit.” Su Jie stood up and pointed at his own chair.

Xu Ziqiang got even more furious but soon narrowed his eyes and calmed down. “You’re Xu Ying’s son, aren’t you? She left the family over twenty years ago. Her actions cost us a huge business deal and weakened our foundation. Now she wants to come back just because the old man is dying? Trying to grab a piece of the inheritance? Isn’t that a bit delusional?”

“I don’t know anything about inheritance,” Su Jie replied. “As for why I hit Xu Jiahao—you know exactly what he did. But arrogance and prejudice have blinded you.”

“You little punk, so full of yourself,” Xu Ziqiang sneered. “Here’s my offer: five million. I’ll give you and Xu Ying five million right now. Take the money and leave—don’t ever come back. Deal? If you want more—tens or even hundreds of millions—then you won’t get a single cent, and I’ll make sure you regret ever stepping foot here.”

He sat in the main chair, coldly waiting for Su Jie’s answer.

“Five million might go a long way in this kind of backwater town,” Su Jie glanced around. “But in S City, it might buy you a toilet.”

“You—!” Xu Ziqiang nearly coughed up blood. 

Su Jie hadn’t even raised his voice, but that casual remark cut deep—mocking him as a country bumpkin.

Xu Ziqiang took a deep breath, at a loss for words.

“If you’re going to be difficult, don’t blame me for being rude,” he finally said, standing up and heading out. Then he barked to the guards, “Don’t let this kid take a single step outside. Bring Xu Ying to the conference room.”

“Hm?” Su Jie moved in a flash and strode to the door.

Wham!

Three guards rushed to subdue him.

Before, they hesitated because Huang Dingyi was there. But now that he was gone and Xu Ziqiang had spoken, they didn’t dare defy orders.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Three thuds later, all three guards were on the ground.

Su Jie had trained extensively in dealing with multiple attackers. His body dropped low, movements tight and compact. His feet hooked and kicked in swift, sweeping arcs—low and fast like a swirling ground wind. Wherever he passed, men flew.

“Enough, Su Jie—don’t fight them!” came a voice from the door.

“Mom? What are you doing here?” Su Jie turned and quickly moved to her side, eyes scanning around protectively.

It was indeed Xu Ying. Her presence here was risky—alone, surrounded by hostility, any dirty trick could humiliate her.

“Xu Ziqiang, whatever happens between us adults is one thing,” Xu Ying said coldly. “But using your son to falsely accuse mine of theft? Since when did the Xu family stoop to such disgraceful, low-life tactics?”

“Xu Ying, you know why you’re really here,” Xu Ziqiang sneered. “You didn’t visit the old man once all these years. Now you come running the moment you hear he made a will? After all the damage you caused this family back then, you’ve got the nerve to show your face and fight over the inheritance?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep