Invincibility starts when I see the BOSS health bar.

Chapter 949 Team

"Master's plans are thorough and meticulous, truly showing great foresight for our Xiao'er!" Shen Xinlian raised her head, gazing tenderly at Qian Chongyue, her face filled with absolute trust and obedience. "We will leave everything to Master's arrangements!"

She thought her plan was flawless, but little did she know that she had only a superficial understanding of the power structure and ecological rules within the Foolish Underworld.

This so-called "starting from the bottom and then striving for promotion" embellishment is a ridiculous and unnecessary joke in an organization like the Foolish Underworld, which is completely infiltrated by various powerful families and where they tacitly understand each other.

The so-called "parachute appointment" is a common practice for them to appoint their sons to positions of power. It is so common that no one takes it seriously.

Everyone knows perfectly well that this is just some little ancestor from some family who was sent in to gain prestige; it's just a formality.

The new head of the household usually wouldn't bother offending the major families over such a "trivial matter."

Qian Chongyue's seemingly reasonable explanation was almost certainly a delaying tactic to appease her.

Seeing that Shen Xinlian was so "sensible" as to back down, Qian Chongyue secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He was about to say a few soft words when he saw Shen Xinlian's mind change, and a deeper calculation flashed in her beautiful eyes.

Her voice was still soft, but it carried a probing hook.

“By the way, sir,” she said casually, “I’ve heard some rumors these past few days. They say that there’s a power shift within the Foolish Underworld, and the personnel arrangements are extremely tense and complicated. Everyone is vying for positions, and trying to get someone in is probably harder than climbing to heaven.”

She paused, observing Qian Chongyue's expression, and then uttered an even more earth-shattering idea:

"If... if it's really difficult, sir, why don't you consider... transferring Jin Xun's position as hall master to our Xiao'er? He has been holding the position of hall master for many years, but he has not been able to advance to the next level or become the prefect. It seems that he has encountered a bottleneck and is probably at the end of his rope."

How about... Master, you decide to let him switch professions? Or perhaps you could let him help manage some of the Qian family's core industries? Either way, he'll be serving the family.

Wouldn't that leave his original position as hall master vacant? Perfect, it'd make room for his brother, letting Xiao'er take over. Brothers supporting each other would be a heartwarming story. Master, what do you think of this plan...? Is it feasible?"

Although Shen Xinlian was completely unaware of the specifics of the Foolish Underworld, she was indeed extremely accurate and ruthless in understanding and manipulating people's hearts.

This sudden, seemingly gentle but actually piercing suggestion was like a sharp icicle, stabbing straight into the most delicate balance point in Qian Chongyue's heart!

On one side are his current wife, who is beautiful, favored, and "reasonable," and his own son, on whom he places high hopes.

On one side is an outstanding descendant of the family, rare in his own right, who has established himself in the Foolish Underworld through his own abilities, holding a pivotal position and capable of handling things independently.

Two forces clashed and pulled fiercely within him, causing Qian Chongyue to feel immense difficulty and irritation in an instant.

The palm and the back of the hand... they're both my flesh and blood!

He barely had time to think before instinctively resorting to his "delaying" tactic once again.

He forced a slightly exaggerated smile, a smile that was both reassuring and deliberately mysterious, and patted Shen Xinlian's hand.

"Oh dear, my lady! This matter can't be rushed! Don't be impatient! Just wait and see!"

He lowered his voice, a hint of smugness in it, "Madam, don't forget, the position of Prefect of Yudi is still undecided. It's uncertain who will take it! Who knows... hehe, the new Prefect might be someone secretly placed by some high-ranking nobleman who is on good terms with our Qian family, or someone who accepted our generous gifts! If that's the case..."

A hint of smugness flashed in his eyes.

"By then, if our Xiao'er wants a minor position as a hall master, does Madam think... that's still a difficult thing? Isn't it a piece of cake? Hahaha!" As he spoke, he couldn't help but burst into laughter, his smugness almost overflowing.

Although most of his sons were useless, the foundation that Qian Chongyue built from scratch, the connections he accumulated, and the wealth he amassed were incredibly substantial in the capital!
The situation he built single-handedly is so profound and his skills so adept that few in the capital can compare.

The three parts smugness and seven parts arrogance in his tone were like the flavor of fine wine, which was easily detected by the worldly-wise Shen Xinlian.

She knew that if she pressed on and contradicted him further, she would only be asking for trouble and might even ruin the favorable situation she had just gained.

Satisfying a man's pride and vanity at the right time is also an important tool for her to consolidate her position.

Immediately, Shen Xinlian followed Qian Chongyue's lead, instantly transforming into his most fervent admirer. Her eyes shone with star-like adoration, and her cherry lips parted slightly as exaggerated yet precise praise poured out like a machine gun, making Qian Chongyue overjoyed and laughing heartily. The gloom brought on by the lady's "unreasonable desires" and the troubles of the Foolish Underworld seemed to have been swept away.

"My lord's strategic planning and decisive victories are truly beyond my reach!"

"What masked men, what foolish underworld—before the master's wisdom, they are nothing but clay chickens and earthen dogs!"

"Xiao'er is so fortunate to have a father like you, Master, who plans for him! I thank you on Xiao'er's behalf for your great kindness!"

After a barrage of undisguised compliments, Qian Chongyue couldn't stop smiling, feeling triumphant.

Their eyes met unexpectedly in mid-air, and the atmosphere gradually heated up. Shen Xinlian's cheeks flushed, and Qian Chongyue's eyes were also filled with familiar tenderness and desire.

He reached out, wanting to embrace her slender, soft waist. Shen Xinlian half-heartedly resisted, her shyness mingling with anticipation. Their faces drew closer and closer, their warm breaths almost mingling, and an alluring atmosphere filled the air...

at this time!

“Report——!!!”

A sharp, urgent announcement, tinged with panic, shattered the tranquility and warmth of the hall like a bucket of quenched ice water!
Shen Xinlian's shyness instantly turned into astonishment and embarrassment. She abruptly turned around, pretending to be flustered, quickly straightened her slightly disheveled clothes, and sat back down on the armchair next to her. Her face instantly regained its dignified and proper expression, but a deep impatience and resentment flashed in the depths of her eyes.

Qian Chongyue's interest was abruptly cut short, and his face suddenly darkened, as if it could drip water. Suppressing his overwhelming rage at being interrupted, his tiger-like eyes flashed like lightning as he glared at the trembling figure prostrate on the ground outside the hall. His voice, sharp as ice, demanded, word by word:

"What is it?! Speak quickly!" The tone clearly indicated that if the person's report was not substantial enough, a miserable end awaited him.

The trusted servant who came to deliver the message was terrified by the sudden drop in temperature in the hall and the murderous gaze of the master. He was drenched in sweat, his forehead pressed against the cold floor tiles.

But thinking of the earth-shattering news he had just received, he knew he had to report it, even if it meant gritting his teeth! He practically crawled into the hall, his voice trembling uncontrollably:
"Master! Madam! Shocking... shocking news! Just now... just now an urgent report came from the Underworld... saying... saying that Young Master Jin Xun... he... he..." "Stop stammering! Speak quickly! What happened to Jin Xun?" Qian Chongyue's heart clenched, and an extremely ominous premonition, like a cold snake, coiled around his heart.

The servant trembled at the reprimand and almost cried out, "Young Master Qianjin... was stabbed to death in the street by villains today! The manner of his death... is said to be extremely gruesome! The entire Underworld is in shock and is conducting a thorough investigation! We... have already been notified of the Qian family... the follow-up..."

What? ! !
Qian Chongyue seemed to have been struck head-on by a thunderbolt, and he sprang up from his chair! His wide eyes instantly became bloodshot, filled with extreme shock and disbelief, which then transformed into boundless rage!
Jin Xun… his exceptionally talented and promising son… is dead?!

He was murdered?!

In the street?!

Snapped--! ! !
With a loud bang, the sturdy nanmu wood tabletop shattered! Wood chips and broken porcelain flew everywhere like exploding shrapnel!
The moment Shen Xinlian heard the news, she was struck dumb. She covered her mouth tightly with her delicate hand in horror, letting out a short, suppressed gasp. Her big eyes were instantly filled with genuine horror and shock that she could not accept!
The enraged head of the Qian family, Qian Chongyue, paid no attention to her.

The veins on his forehead bulged and throbbed like angry dragons, his eyes were bloodshot like those of a man-eating beast, and his whole body exuded a terrifying aura that made people suffocate!
He stared intently at the messenger servant who was almost slumped to the ground, his voice icy cold, devoid of any warmth, each word seeming to be ground out from between his teeth:

"Who?! Who killed! My! Son!!!" The voice was filled with boundless hatred and murderous intent, as if it wanted to tear the messenger to pieces!

The servant, terrified, lay prostrate on the ground, his voice barely audible, filled with boundless fear: "Foolish...foolish underworld...they say...the perpetrator...was extremely fast and ruthless...without warning...fled on the spot...on the spot without a trace...at present...we still...still don't know who the real culprit is..."

"waste--!!!"

Qian Chongyue's roar was like that of a wounded beast, filled with boundless rage and tearing pain, and instantly resounded throughout the main hall of the Qian family mansion!

That roar was filled with the intense pain of a father who had suddenly lost his outstanding son, and it was also mixed with a deep-seated hatred for the murderer in the shadows!

His face, contorted with rage, was utterly terrifying.

Shen Xinlian kept covering her mouth, her body trembling slightly, her face deathly pale.

But no one could see that in her wide, terrified eyes, beneath her hands covering her lips, deep within that shocked and horrified expression, a wave of almost uncontrollable, ecstatic joy was silently surging and churning, eventually transforming into an uncontrollable smile that rushed to her eyes, faintly outlining an imperceptible arc at the corner of her covered mouth.

It's truly... a miracle! My mother and I are so lucky!
All the worries, all the planning, all the forbearance...

At that very moment, as if the giant hand of heaven had suddenly parted the fog, a golden road unfolded before her eyes, unexpectedly yet perfectly!
"With Qianjin Xun gone, my son's succession to the position of Hall Master of the Foolish Underworld is a foregone conclusion!"

A secret and intense joy surged within Shen Xinlian, a secret delight that almost overflowed from the corners of her eyes and brows, but she forcibly suppressed it.

This ecstatic joy formed an almost ironic and stark contrast to the volcanic eruption of fury that Qian Chongyue was displaying in the center of the hall.

"Cough! Cough cough cough—!!!"

Perhaps it was because of excessive anger and turmoil that his old ailment was aggravated.

Qian Chongyue suddenly hunched over, bursting into a heart-wrenching cough, his aged face instantly turning bright red.

That was a fatal old wound he sustained in his early years of wandering the martial world, where he lived a life of danger and bloodshed. He had been taking precious medicines and carefully recuperating, and it had been dormant for many years without any signs of healing.

Who would have thought that a mere news of death would trigger his long-standing illness, making him feel as if he wanted to vomit up his internal organs.

"Master! Master, please don't upset yourself. The greater good is at stake..."

Shen Xinlian's eyes instantly lost their smugness, replaced by deep worry and fear. She quickly stepped forward, gently patting Qian Chongyue's violently heaving back with her slender hand, soothing him with a gentle yet urgent tone.

However, at this moment, Qian Chongyue's mind and eyes were completely occupied by the five bloody words "Qian Jin Xun Shen Si" (meaning "a thousand gold pieces seek death"), so he couldn't care about anything else.

The devastating news of his son's murder was like a red-hot iron, scorching his reason.

He suddenly straightened up, still coughing, but his voice boomed like a tiger's roar, shaking the dust off the beams: "Those useless bastards in the Underworld! Can't they even investigate a single person?! They can't even protect a single hall master! Where is he?! Immediately! Right now! Go and fetch Qian Haiyun for me! Call everyone in our Qian Family Team who can breathe!"

Qian Haiyun?
The moment the name was uttered, Shen Xinlian's hand, which had been gently stroking, froze, and her expression changed drastically.

That was the core figure of the Qian family's strongest force—the Qianyun Team, the captain and head instructor of the Qian family, whose strength was unfathomable.

The fact that this group of people was mobilized, and that it was ordered by Qian Chongyue himself, means that this is no small matter to investigate. It is a matter of using the full strength of the family to launch a bloody revenge!

"……master."

Shen Xinlian's mind raced, her lips moving as she tried to stop this obviously overly intense reaction. But when she raised her head and met Qian Chongyue's bloodshot, beast-like eyes filled with rage, all the words that were on the tip of her tongue were frozen by a cold fear and swallowed back down.

The messenger, who had been trembling with fear from the previous shock of the Thousand Peaks Mountain, felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He scrambled out of the oppressive hall, barely managing to get his shoes off, and answered "Yes."

Before long, hurried and forceful footsteps could be heard outside the door.

A slender figure dressed in a tight-fitting outfit strode into the hall with a brisk pace; it was none other than Qian Haiyun, the head instructor of the Qian family.

She had a heroic face and a straight posture like a pine tree. Even in her haste to get there, she did not lose the demeanor of a martial artist that she had honed through years of training.

"Master." Qian Haiyun clasped his hands in a crisp salute.

However, Qian Chongyue didn't exchange a single pleasantry. His scorching gaze was fixed on her, and he cut to the chase, his voice heavy with grief and burning with a frenzied rage: "Haiyun, news just arrived from the Underworld that your brother Jin Xun... has been murdered by villains and died in the line of duty! He died tragically on the streets of the capital! I ask you, are you willing to avenge this blood feud for your brother, for my son Jin Xun?!"

"Wh-what?!?"

(End of this chapter)