Qin Yuan's speech was delivered entirely from a position of chastising Qin Heng. He looked down from on high, assuming Qin Heng would surely listen to him.

The onlookers all wore interested expressions, their gazes turning to see how Qin Heng would respond.

Qin Heng, the young director of the Daqin Group, the good-for-nothing of Tianhai. This had been a topic of discussion in Jinling City's elite circles for a while. However, until now, it had merely been hearsay, and no one knew the actual situation. Many people gathered around to watch the excitement.

Of course, some people also egged on the situation.

"Exactly! Go apologize to Young Master Yang! What kind of status does he have? You should feel honored just to be here, yet you dare to be late and even dress so casually!"

"Such a lack of manners! Both are from the Qin family, yet how different you are from Qin Yuan! This is Jinling, not Tianhai or Beijing. Put away your dandyish antics!"

The crowd buzzed with noisy, chaotic chatter, nearly everyone goading and mocking Qin Heng.

No one took him seriously.

Jinling was the six-hundred-year territory of the Yang family. Even the Daqin Group from Beijing might not dare to offend the Yangs here. Mocking a good-for-nothing fellow hardly counted for anything.

At this time, Chen Qingzhu and Du Wei also approached.

"Young Master Qin Yuan, Mr. Qin didn't come with us, so he is a bit late. There's a reason for it," Chen Qingzhu said, coming over to smooth things over. "Mr. Qin certainly didn't do it on purpose."

"Mr. Qin? That's quite a title. It seems you enjoy using your position as vice president of the Daqin Group to deceive women everywhere!"

Qin Yuan's face turned even gloomier, as if he were looking at Qin Heng with the disappointment one feels for unrealized potential. "It seems I need to talk to Uncle Four and have your position revoked for now!"

Qin Yuan's father was Qin Fa's older brother, and Qin Fa ranked fourth in the Qin family, hence Qin Yuan referred to Qin Fa as Uncle Four.

In his view, the "Mr. Qin" Chen Qingzhu mentioned surely referred to Qin Heng's position as vice president of the Daqin Group. He never considered that Qin Heng was actually the head of one of Tianhai's four major families!

"Young Master Qin Yuan, you've misunderstood. Our Mr. Qin isn't..." Chen Qingzhu still wanted to explain.

"Misunderstood?" Qin Yuan directly interrupted her. He looked at Qin Heng with a cold laugh and said, "Then enlighten me, Heng. What did I misunderstand? Why were you late, and why did you turn up to this gathering of Jinling's elite wearing a tatty tracksuit?"

"Why?" Qin Heng gave Qin Yuan a faint glance, chuckled, and said, "How I conduct myself is none of your concern. This hall is filled with nothing but mediocre ants and contemptible, grovelling mayflies, so insignificant and utterly base. My presence here is a blessing you've cultivated over ten lifetimes."

Silence!

A deathly silence!

Once Qin Heng's words came out, the entire venue fell quiet, everyone staring at him in disbelief!

Had he gone insane? To dare say that this whole room was filled with ants and mayflies, and that they were so insignificant and base? Who did he think he was? The President of America?

Not far away, Yang Zuobin also froze. His expression was one of surprised curiosity as he looked at Qin Heng, as if he'd found an interesting toy.

"Do you know what you're saying?" Qin Yuan glared, then bellowed, "This is a gathering hosted by Young Master Yang, inviting the socialites and tycoons of Jinling and its neighboring cities! Those who are here are all top-tier figures! A stomp of their foot could make hundreds of thousands tremble, and yet you dare call them ants and mayflies! Who gave you the gall?"

"Socialites? Heh." Qin Heng sneered and said indifferently, "Power, wealth, reputation—to me, these are all but vacuous entities. Without real strength in one's own hands, in the end, it's all for naught. 'If one seeks not the Great Dao to escape delusion, then even with talent, can one be called a true man? A hundred years flash by like a spark from flint; a lifetime's fortunes are but bubbles on water. Obsessed with chasing profit and fame, one fails to see their own form wither away. Tell me, even if gold is piled as high as mountains, can it buy you freedom from impermanence?'"

"You! Madman! I'll tell Uncle Four and have him teach you a good lesson!" Qin Yuan was livid, his face ashen with anger, appearing completely frustrated by what he deemed a failure to live up to expectations.

However, deep in his eyes lay a sliver of smugness!

This was going too smoothly! It was all going far too smoothly! Qin Yuan had initially worried that Qin Heng wouldn't be easy to fool. He hadn't expected him to be so cooperative. Now, Qin Heng's reputation as a good-for-nothing was set in stone. Not only was he useless, but he was also arrogant and ignorant! In the future, the Daqin Group will surely be mine, Qin Yuan's!

"Excellent! A fine saying indeed: 'Can heaps of gold piled like mountains buy you freedom from impermanence?'"

Suddenly, a lofty and indifferent voice sounded. Yang Zuobin approached, sizing up Qin Heng with a smile. "I've read Zhang Boduan's 'Understanding Reality.' It seems Young Master Qin here seeks immortality! HAHAHA!!"

"Seeking immortality, cultivating immortality, you say! Don't tell me it's by staying up all night playing 'cultivation' games! Calling him useless is really quite fitting! HAHAHA!!"

"Damn, I'm dying of laughter! The young director of the Daqin Group is hilarious; my stomach hurts from laughing! How many stages have you reached in your 'cultivation,' great Master Qin?"

"Cultivating immortal Master Qin, can you spare me two Immortal Pills? HAHAHA!!"

The crowd started laughing along with Yang Zuobin. In their eyes, Qin Heng had become a complete joke.

"Xiao Heng! Apologize to Young Master Yang immediately!" Qin Yuan hurriedly jumped out and said to Qin Heng, "You've gone too far! You have no idea how important Young Master Yang is. Even Uncle Four would treat Young Master Yang with respect here. Apologize to him now!"

"Wait!" Yang Zuobin suddenly waved his hand to stop Qin Yuan. Looking at Qin Heng with a smile, he said, "It appears Young Master Qin Heng has never experienced anything of the outside world, as pure as a blank sheet of paper. Rare indeed, truly rare!"

In Yang Zuobin's view, Qin Heng's performance was like that of a student who had never stepped out of school and had no contact with society. He was far too naive, and Yang Zuobin felt he could easily manipulate him with just a little trickery.

"Please forgive him, Young Master Yang. Xiao Heng indeed hasn't been through much," Qin Yuan chuckled and said. "He's just a high school senior, never really done anything, hardly ever spent time at the company. This is his first time at this kind of social gathering."

On the surface, he was defending Qin Heng. However, his words were actually telling everyone that Qin Heng was incompetent, inexperienced, and knew nothing!

As expected, after hearing Qin Yuan's words, the surrounding people looked at Qin Heng with even more disdain.

"I see," Yang Zuobin nodded and then smiled at Qin Heng. "Then let me widen your horizons. My Yang family has been in Jinling for seven hundred years. Our ancestors were once the governors of Jinling, holding immense power. From the Ming Dynasty to the Republic of China, we have been the true rulers of Jinling City. Even now, over seventy percent of Jinling's catering, entertainment, service industries, real estate, and heavy industry are controlled by our Yang family. Any place you go in Jinling could belong to us. Even if the Emperor himself came to Jinling, he'd have to bow down before my Yang family!"

As Yang Zuobin said this, his eyes slightly narrowed, and he said to Qin Heng, "Now, great Master Qin, you know what you've done and what you should do, right?"

HISS!

The people around couldn't help but suck in a sharp breath of cold air. Although they all knew of the Yang family's great power in Jinling, hearing it straight from Yang Zuobin made a much greater impact!

This was truly the local Emperor of Jinling!

In Jinling, Yang Zuobin could crush anyone he wanted to!

It was over! Qin Heng was completely finished!

The crowd looked at Qin Heng with eyes full of pity. Having offended Yang Zuobin in Jinling meant certain death!

"Mr. Qin, Sister Chen..." Du Wei said, somewhat flustered, whispering, "Should we... maybe we should ask the elders back home?"

"It's no use. Even the Family Heads of the four great families wouldn't dare to anger Young Master Yang here!" Qin Yuan shook his head and said, "Xiao Heng, it's still not too late if you kneel and kowtow to apologize to Young Master Yang now!"

"Qin Fa is a dragon among men, truly exceptional. It's such a pity he has a worthless son like you." Yang Zuobin lightly savored his red wine, looking at Qin Heng with a face full of scorn. "Kneeling and kowtowing isn't necessary. I'm a man who only recognizes benefits. Go home and tell your dad, Qin Fa, to cough up three hundred billion in company shares. Otherwise, don't even think about leaving Jinling City!"

"Hehe... HAHAHA!!" Qin Heng suddenly burst out laughing, startling everyone around him.

The surroundings erupted in an uproar, everyone staring over in astonishment.

What was going on?

"What are you laughing at?" Yang Zuobin frowned.

"I'm laughing because you're rushing headlong to your death without even realizing it!" Qin Heng looked coldly at Yang Zuobin and sneered, "You don't even know who I am, yet you dare to spout such nonsense in front of me. Are you tired of living?"

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