Zhang Fan's words, spoken with such a calm tone, caused Qi Jun to pause.
"You're good at putting on a show, but showing off in front of me like this, do you know it could get you killed?" Qi Jun turned his gaze onto Zhang Fan, a cruel smile appearing on his chiseled face, sending a shiver down the spines of Qi Wenxuan and the others.
The young masters standing beside Qi Jun looked at Zhang Fan with a hint of pity. They knew that no one who had angered Young Master Jun had ever met a good end.
And the man before them would be no exception.
Among those seated at the table, the three women Qin Luoshui, Lin Ruyue, and Xu Youran were not worried at all. They knew that no matter who Qi Jun was, Zhang Fan was someone he couldn't afford to offend.
However, Geng Lesheng and the others appeared somewhat concerned.
While they knew Zhang Fan possessed considerable skill, to the point that even young masters like Jiang Shaochen dared not act presumptuously in his presence, Qi Jun was different from Jiang Shaochen.
In terms of background and identity alone, they were not on the same level. A young master of the Qi family could be considered among the top young elites of Yan Jing, while Jiang Shaochen could only be ranked second-tier.
In terms of strength, Jiang Shaochen was merely a second-generation heir who relied on his family's influence and lived idly.
But this Qi Jun was a genuine True Qi master, and his extended service in the military meant his training far surpassed that of ordinary individuals.
Even with his Neijin fully perfected, Geng Lesheng's heart tightened as he faced Qi Jun. He knew he was far from a match for this burly man.
"You dare kill me?" Zhang Fan looked up, calmly meeting Qi Jun's gaze.
As soon as Zhang Fan spoke, everyone's attention turned to Qi Jun. Qi Wenxuan watched him nervously, fearing he would give an affirmative answer.
Even the diners from the other two tables on the second floor who had not left were intently watching Qi Jun, eager to see what he would do next.
"Heh heh." Qi Jun did not answer Zhang Fan's question but let out a cold laugh and slowly walked towards him.
The moment Zhang Fan's hand touched Qin Luoshui's back, he had already condemned Zhang Fan to death in his heart. However, he wouldn't openly kill Zhang Fan here.
Although his status as a young master of the Qi family and his connections within the military meant that killing Zhang Fan on the spot would only result in minor trouble, it was best to avoid it if possible.
"Qi Jun, what do you want?" Qin Luoshui frowned as she watched Qi Jun approach Zhang Fan and asked sternly.
"Naturally, to teach him a lesson," Qi Jun replied with a smile.
"This scoundrel actually has some skill. How about you spar with him?" Zhang Fan ignored Qi Jun and looked at Qin Luoshui with a smile.
"Alright," Qin Luoshui replied, slightly surprised, and nodded.
She was now a Xiantian level expert, but her practical combat experience was severely lacking. At most, she could only spar with Lin Ruyue, which yielded minimal results.
While Qi Jun's strength might be lacking, his combat experience and techniques should be decent enough for her to practice with.
After speaking, Qin Luoshui stood up, much to everyone's astonishment, and blocked Qi Jun's path.
"Using a woman as a shield, is that the confidence with which you dare speak to me?" Qi Jun sneered at Zhang Fan, looking at Qin Luoshui who stood before him.
Zhang Fan, ignoring Qi Jun's mockery, said to Qin Luoshui, "Although your combat experience is practically zero, your foundation is solid. Can you defeat him within ten moves?"
"I'll know when I try," Qin Luoshui replied uncertainly.
"You're seeking death!" Being ignored, Qi Jun became furious. He took a step forward, intending to push past Qin Luoshui and grab Zhang Fan directly.
However, Qin Luoshui unleashed a spinning kick. Her straight, slender leg swept out with extreme speed, causing Qi Jun's angry expression to turn grave.
He realized that Qin Luoshui had cultivated True Qi, and judging by her appearance, her strength was considerable. He dared not underestimate her.
Facing Qin Luoshui's kick, Qi Jun couldn't ignore it. He retracted his hand that was reaching for Zhang Fan and placed it horizontally in front of him, blocking the sweeping leg.
Yet, he still underestimated Qin Luoshui's strength. That single kick sent a jolt up Qi Jun's arm, forcing him back three steps. Each step left a distinct imprint on the thick wooden floor.
"Luoshui, how could you..." Qi Jun was incredulous. He had known Qin Luoshui since childhood, but he had never known she was a martial artist.
Moreover, judging by the power of that kick, Qin Luoshui's strength was comparable to that of an ordinary peak True Qi master, even surpassing his own.
However, before he could finish speaking, Qin Luoshui's fist, formed from her fair, jade-like hand, shot towards him.
Her fist looked delicate, but Qi Jun, having already suffered a setback, dared not underestimate it. He dodged Qin Luoshui's attack with a sidestep, then skillfully retreated, moving to her flank, and reached for her wrist.
Although his strength was slightly less than Qin Luoshui's, he was confident that with his extensive combat experience and technique, he could subdue her.
At the same time, he was somewhat surprised. Qin Luoshui was also a martial artist, making them a perfect match.
The original Qin Luoshui, while top-notch in appearance, temperament, and figure, was only rated nine out of ten in his heart. The missing point was because she didn't practice martial arts, which was a slight regret for Qi Jun, who was somewhat obsessed with cultivation.
But now, Qin Luoshui was undoubtedly a perfect ten in his eyes.
However, Qin Luoshui did not feel the same.
Zhang Fan had said she could defeat Qi Jun within ten moves, and more than half of those moves had passed, yet Qi Jun was still struggling. If she couldn't defeat him, wouldn't that be embarrassing?
Qi Jun intended to use minimal force to overcome great resistance, but he didn't realize his opponent was far more than just 'great resistance.'
The gap between a True Qi master and a Xiantian Grandmaster was indeed not small. Even Qin Luoshui, a Xiantian Grandmaster with virtually no combat experience, was dominating Qi Jun, a True Qi master with extensive combat experience, and held a stable advantage.
"Qin Luoshui is actually this powerful?" Geng Lesheng and Qi Wenxuan stared in disbelief at the graceful figure. Both of them knew how formidable Qi Jun was, so Qin Luoshui suppressing him was truly hard to believe.
On the other hand, Xu Youran and Lin Ruyue had known about Qin Luoshui's strength for a long time. She was already at the Xiantian Grandmaster level, so defeating a True Qi master like Qi Jun was naturally not a problem.
Su Xuan, standing beside Qi Wenxuan, gazed at Qin Luoshui with adoration. If only she possessed such strength.
"Thump!"
Qin Luoshui threw a punch. Her fist appeared light, but when it landed on Qi Jun, his face instantly turned red. He suffered a heavy blow and was sent flying backward, crashing into an empty dining table.
...