Chapter 11: Name Only, No Reality

Chapter 11

"Thank you, Lord of the City, for notarizing this."

Qinchuan had also secured his copy of the bet agreement and thanked the Lord of Great Wilderness City.

The Lord of Great Wilderness City appeared somewhat disinterested and waved his hand dismissively at Qinchuan and the members of the Zhao Family, signaling for them to leave.

Seeing this, neither Qinchuan nor the Zhao Family lingered and took their leave one after another.

After stepping out of the City Lord's Mansion, the members of the Zhao Family were visibly elated.

"Hahahaha, now that we have this bet agreement, and with the personal notarization from the city lord, we just have to wait until after the New Year's celebration ceremony. Then, the vast property of the Qin Family will be ours," one of them said with jubilation.

"Qinchuan, no matter how talented you are, how does it feel to be ultimately forced to sign such a humiliating contract? To act according to the rules set by the Zhao Family?" mocked the head of the Zhao Family, laughing heartily.

Initially, if it hadn't been for this twist, his Zhao Family would have had to pay a hefty price to swallow up all of the Qin Family's properties.

But now, with the bet agreement in hand, everything was different.

In two months' time, at the Great Wilderness City New Year's celebration ceremony, his Zhao Family could easily, through a few contests, swallow up all of the Qin Family's properties without paying any price!

"Hehe, act according to the rules set by the Zhao Family?"

Upon hearing this, Qinchuan sneered mockingly, "Zhao Tianheng, do you really think that if I didn't want to sign this bet agreement, your Zhao Family alone could make me change my mind?"

"What a joke!"

"Didn't you previously ask about the mark on Zhao Wujie's face? Why don't you ask him again now and see what really happened?"

Having said that, Qinchuan smiled contemptuously and left with his head held high.

"Hm?"

Hearing Qinchuan's words, Zhao Tianheng's expression darkened, and he turned his gaze to Zhao Wujie, asking sternly, "Wu Ji, what's with the palm imprint on your face? Who did it?!"

Zhao Wujie then explained in detail what had transpired.

As Zhao Tianheng learned that the palm imprint on Zhao Wujie's face was indeed made by Qinchuan, and after hearing the series of remarks Qinchuan had made that showed no regard for the Zhao Family, he was taken aback.

"What did you say?! The slap on your face was from Qinchuan?"

"And this bet agreement wasn't signed due to threats or coercion from you, but rather he requested to sign it willingly?!"

Zhao Tianheng was in disbelief.

He couldn't believe that even though the Qin Family had almost been driven to a desperate situation by his Zhao Family, Qinchuan still dared to be so audacious and rampant as to strike the eldest son of the Zhao Family!

Not only that but he had also spoken boldly, showing no regard for the Zhao Family?

And even took the initiative to sign an extremely unfavorable and unequal bet agreement for the Qin Family?

Where on earth did he get such confidence?

Had he gone mad?

With an indecisive expression, Zhao Tianheng glanced at the departing figure of Qinchuan, no longer harboring thoughts of catching up and defending his son's honor. He merely snorted coldly and narrowed his eyes, "Hmph! To think that this child dares to be so audacious even now!"

"However, I want to see if, in two months, at the City Lord's Mansion's New Year's celebration ceremony, this child can continue to be so unbridled. At that time, I'll settle this account with him properly!"

"Then, I will ensure his utter defeat and disgrace, and condemn the Qin Family to a position from which they will never rise again!"

...

Qinchuan quickly returned to the Qin Residence.

However, at this moment, inside the Qin Residence, there was nothing but gloom and despair.

Many martial artists and armored soldiers who had been previously recruited by the Qin Family, as well as some other retainers, were entertaining thoughts of leaving the Qin Family to seek their fortunes elsewhere.

"Originally thought that after Qinchuan took charge of the Qin Family, with Qinchuan's methods, there might genuinely be a slim chance of bringing the Qin Family back from the brink, but now it seems, I was mistaken..."

"I didn't expect Qinchuan to be such a coward! He actually submitted to the Zhao Family's intimidation, and personally handed over the business that the Qin ancestors built, to the Zhao Family."

"..."

As Qinchuan walked into the Qin Residence, he heard some of the martial artists and armored soldiers that the Qin Family had originally recruited leaving the Qin Residence in groups, talking amongst themselves.

When their gaze fell upon Qinchuan, who was entering the residence, these Qin Family armored soldiers immediately became tense and silenced their discussions.

Out of respect for Qinchuan's reputation, although they had already decided to leave the Qin Residence, they still respectfully saluted and greeted him: "Family Head."

"Are you leaving?"

Qinchuan glanced at these martial artists and armored soldiers who planned to leave the Qin Family and said, "The salary that my Qin Family offers to our guards is, I believe, the most generous of all the great families in Great Wilderness City. Once you leave the Qin Residence, I think you will be hard-pressed to find another family as generous as mine."

"Family Head, I think you are more aware of the current situation of the Qin Family than we are. There's no longer any point in us staying."

One of the martial artists and armored soldiers said upon hearing this.

"Oh? And what is the situation with the Qin Family now?"

Qinchuan looked at the martial artist and armored soldier curiously and asked.

The other martial artists and armored soldiers were somewhat intimidated by Qinchuan's authority, especially since the scene where Qinchuan had slain over a hundred Qin Family armored soldiers in mere moments the day before had been shocking and profoundly memorable.

Thinking that Qinchuan was going to reprimand them for leaving, they couldn't help feeling uneasy.

The martial artist and armored soldier being stared at by Qinchuan took a deep breath and said, "Family Head, who doesn't know that you've signed an unequal wager treaty with the Zhao Family, essentially selling the entire Qin Family to the Zhao Family?"

"After the annual celebration conference held by the City Lord's Mansion ends in two months, all of the Qin Family's industries will become the properties of the Zhao Family."

"Now, the Qin Family exists in name only."

Upon hearing this, Qinchuan immediately laughed: "Exists in name only?"

At this time, some more martial artists and armored soldiers who had been recruited by the Qin Family were walking out of the residence, carrying their packs, apparently also planning to leave the Qin Residence.

"Hehe, since you all believe that the Qin Family is now only a shell of its former self and have decided to leave, I will say no more."

"I only wish you all bright futures after leaving the Qin Residence."

Having said that, Qinchuan didn't bother to say any more and let those martial artists and armored soldiers leave.

The group of martial artists and armored soldiers had thought that Qinchuan might try to retain them, but to their surprise, Qinchuan didn't try to persuade or detain them at all.

Even if Qinchuan had tried to retain them, they would not have changed their minds about staying in the Qin Residence.

Because in the current state of the Qin Residence, they saw no hope at all. As they said, the Qin Residence now existed in name only.

Groups of martial artists and armored soldiers left the Qin Residence one after another, without much attachment.

Qinchuan didn't try to keep them either; their departure did not stir any emotion in his heart.

Those who were willing to stay didn't require him to say much.

Those unwilling to stay wouldn't benefit from more words.

He only hoped that in two months, they wouldn't regret their decision to leave the Qin Residence today.