Medical and Martial God

Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Because of Face

This apology was impeccable in every aspect—attitude, posture, wording, volume, and emotion. It could have served as a textbook template for how to apologize.

However, Ye Xiu remained unmoved. He didn’t even glance at Ming Shixiong, simply leaning back in his chair with his legs crossed as he lit a cigarette and began to smoke.

This irked Xing Feihu and Xue Wanchun. For a junior like Ye Xiu to behave this way in front of them, even lighting up a cigarette without offering them one—he clearly had no respect for them.

”Divine Doctor Ye, Old Ming is still standing,” Xue Wanchun reminded him, his displeasure evident.

”I haven’t forbidden him from sitting down,” Ye Xiu said with a faint smile.

”You...” Xue Wanchun was furious. This kid dared to speak to him with such a tone; he was courting death. But he ultimately restrained himself and said to Ming Shixiong, ”Old Ming, please, sit down.”

Ming Shixiong sat down awkwardly. Ye Xiu’s attitude made him deeply uneasy. He had even dared to challenge Xue Wanchun, which showed he clearly had no intention of letting the Ming Family off the hook.

Xing Feihu also understood Ye Xiu’s stance. This brat doesn’t know what’s good for him. Despite his inner curse, he maintained a smile. ”As the saying goes, to err is human. Old Ming has already acknowledged his mistake. Divine Doctor Ye, won’t you please give him and the Ming Family a chance to start anew?”

Flicking ash from his cigarette, Ye Xiu stated expressionlessly, ”I’ll spare the Ming Family on one condition: Ming Shixiong brings my mother and grandparents back to life.”

”You...” Xing Feihu could no longer maintain his facade. His face darkened as he asked, ”Divine Doctor Ye, are you saying you refuse to show me any respect?”

”And will Elder Xing do me the courtesy of not intervening in my feud with the Ming Family?” Ye Xiu countered.

”Who are you to deserve my courtesy?” Xing Feihu said coldly.

”If Elder Xing won’t show me any courtesy, why on earth should I show you any?” Ye Xiu shot back with a cold laugh.

”You...” Xing Feihu slammed his hand on the table and shot to his feet. ”Ye Xiu, you’re pushing your luck!”

The negotiations had completely broken down, and the atmosphere in the private suite instantly grew tense.

Murong’s palms began to sweat. Ye Xiu is too stubborn. Doesn’t he understand the simple principle of living to fight another day?

”Divine Doctor Ye, I, Xue Wanchun, don’t often ask for favors,” Xue Wanchun said, rising to his feet with a teacup in hand. ”Today, I’m specifically asking you to do this for me. Let the Ming Family go, what do you say?”

With a casual squeeze, he crushed the ceramic cup. The threat was clear; the unspoken message was that the cup’s fate would be his.

”As the Hall Master of Tiger Roar Hall and a Grandmaster of the Ancient Martial Circle, Elder Xue’s temper isn’t as good as mine,” Xing Feihu warned with a grim face. ”If you refuse to give him face, you will not be able to bear the consequences.”

”Just give Elder Xue the respect he’s due,” Murong advised softly. Just agree for now and get revenge on the Ming Family later!

”The feud for my mother’s murder is irreconcilable. When it comes to revenge, I will give no one face,” Ye Xiu declared firmly.

SLAP!

”Shameless whelp!” Ming Shixiong angrily slammed the table and stood up. He turned to Xue Wanchun and snarled, ”Elder Xue, stop wasting your breath on him. Just kill him.”

Ye Xiu laughed and turned to Xing Feihu and Xue Wanchun. ”Do you two see this? Is this what you call a man who has realized his mistake?”

”Ye Xiu, there’s no point in hiding things anymore,” Xing Feihu said, his expression grim. ”I’ll tell you the truth. If you don’t agree to spare the Ming Family, then this day next year will be the anniversary of your death. You’d better think carefully.”

Ye Xiu’s expression turned ugly, and a murderous killing intent boiled in the depths of his eyes.

However, he didn’t rush to act. Instead, he asked, ”Elder Xing, do you know why I sent you the evidence?”

Xing Feihu sneered. ”You wanted to use your influence to force me to have Xing Haiqing and Ming Yue call off their engagement.”

”No!” Ye Xiu shook his head. ”This was me being courteous before resorting to force.”

Xing Feihu was taken aback. ”What do you mean?” For a moment, Xue Wanchun and Ming Shixiong were also confused.

”I have no grievance with the Xing Family. It would be unfair for your family to be implicated because of my revenge against the Ming Family,” Ye Xiu said without emotion. ”I sent you the evidence as a gift to the Xing Family, but also as a warning. I was hoping the Xing Family would stay out of my feud with the Mings.”

At this, Ye Xiu’s voice dropped to a frigid tone. ”If the Xing Family insists on helping the Ming Family against me, then I’ll have no choice but to take care of the Xing Family as well. You had better think this through, Elder Xing.”

PFFT!

Upon hearing Ye Xiu’s words, Xing Feihu, Xue Wanchun, and Ming Shixiong couldn’t help but laugh out loud. Even Murong was left speechless.

”Ye Xiu, your ability to boast is far more impressive than your medical skills,” Xing Feihu said with a disdainful laugh. ”Don’t tell me you plan to release the evidence to clear your name, wait for a national media frenzy, and then announce the relationship between our families to attack the Xing Family with public opinion?”

”How naive!” Xue Wanchun sneered. ”Do you think the Xing Family can be destroyed so easily? Mere public opinion will do nothing more than cause our stock price to fall a little.”

Ming Shixiong remained silent. He and Ming Yue had never told Xing Feihu or Xue Wanchun about Ye Xiu’s immense wealth, the terrifying power that had annihilated the Li Family and Ruiding Pharmaceuticals, or his Great Grandmaster strength that even the Ye Family feared. But just as Xue Wanchun had said, Ming Shixiong didn’t believe Ye Xiu could actually destroy the Xing Family. Even if he had the power, the government would never allow it.

”So, it seems Elder Xing is determined to be my enemy?” Ye Xiu asked.

”As long as you promise to give up your revenge on the Ming Family, we can be friends,” Xing Feihu replied.

The implication was obvious: if Ye Xiu didn’t agree, the Xing Family would be his enemy.

”Ye Xiu, I’ll ask you one last time!” Xue Wanchun demanded. ”Are you truly going to refuse me and not spare the Ming Family?”

”Then let me ask you a question, Elder Xue,” Ye Xiu countered. ”The Ming Family ruined my life and murdered my mother and my grandparents. Should I not seek revenge for that?”

”I don’t care about that!” Xue Wanchun stated forcefully. ”I promised Elder Xing I would help resolve this feud, and I must see it through. If you don’t agree, you will not leave this room alive today.”

Murong panicked at his words, jumping to her feet. ”Elder Xue, Ye Xiu is my boyfriend! If you dare to touch him, you will be making an enemy of the Mu Family of Han Yun!”

”This is Jin Ye City, not Han Yun!” Xue Wanchun said coldly. ”Let alone you, even if your grandfather were here himself, he couldn’t protect Ye Xiu. Besides, do you really think your grandfather will ever find out that I was the one who killed him?”

”You’re going to kill me to silence me?” Murong asked, her voice trembling.

”No outsiders can know about Ye Xiu’s death. I will certainly not allow you to tell your grandfather how he died,” Xue Wanchun declared, his killing intent palpable.

Murong’s body trembled, and her face turned as pale as paper. I accompanied Ye Xiu to this dangerous banquet hoping to protect him, but I never imagined I’d be dragged down with him.