Chapter 115: Next Time, I Will Come to Confront You in Person

"You! You are a Grandmaster?!"

Zhao Weiming’s face was etched with shock, his eyes wide with utter disbelief.

He knew all too well the power behind his "Wild Horse Charges the Trough" palm strike. Even his senior brother, Shi Weijun—a ninth-rank master—would never dare to withstand it head-on, let alone emerge unscathed, unmoved, and instead repel the attacker with a mere counter-shock.

Only a Grandmaster could do that.

Grandmasters possess protective internal energy; as long as that energy remains, they could stand still and let a Houtian-realm martial artist strike them without suffering the slightest injury.

Yet, Zhao Weiming found it impossible to believe that Lin Yang, a youth in his early twenties, could be a Grandmaster.

"This is impossible! There are only four Grandmasters in Luocheng. Aside from them, only City Lord Yan and General Zhao of the Garrison District hold the rank. You cannot be a Grandmaster."

Though the facts lay bare before him, Zhao Weiming refused to accept it. If a new Grandmaster had emerged in Luocheng, it would be impossible for them to remain unknown.

"So you think that because I am unknown and lack the reputation of a Grandmaster, I am not one?" Lin Yang sneered.

"Exactly! A Grandmaster holds such status; if there were a fifth one in Luocheng, they would have made a name for themselves long ago," Zhao Weiming said, trying to deceive himself.

Lin Yang shrugged. "While I don't care about the reputation of a Grandmaster, I suppose it is time to make a name for myself. Otherwise, there will always be flies and mosquitoes buzzing around my ears. Let us start with you."

With that, Lin Yang moved with blinding speed. Before Zhao Weiming could even react, Lin Yang struck him with a palm, sending him flying into a car. The impact shattered the windows and buckled the door frame instantly.

*Pfft!*

Zhao Weiming spat out a mouthful of blood. His internal organs were severely damaged, and his sternum was fractured. With injuries like these, he would need at least half a year of recovery.

Wei Dagang and his subordinates were horrified, their faces turning as pale as paper, sweat pouring down their brows as they saw Zhao Weiming on the brink of death.

"You... you... you truly are a Grandmaster."

Wei Dagang was utterly stunned. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined he would offend a Grandmaster. Had he known Lin Yang’s true level, he would have swallowed his pride and retreated, even with the Cheng family as his backer. The Cheng family would never tear their relationship with a Grandmaster apart for the sake of a dog like him. After all, they had plenty of other dogs.

"Wei Dagang, I spared your life before so you could experience the agony of being unable to function as a man. Now that you have trespassed into my home, what say you for your crimes?"

A Grandmaster possesses a certain stature and dignity. If anyone offends a Grandmaster and is killed, it is simply their own fault; the City Guard Bureau would not even intervene. Of course, this would be different if a Grandmaster were wantonly slaughtering innocents.

Wei Dagang was distraught. The moment he confirmed Lin Yang was a Grandmaster, he knew he was doomed. Whether he could walk out of here alive was now uncertain. His patron was no longer of any use. Cheng Wanqing would never offend a Grandmaster for his sake, especially not a young Grandmaster with such limitless potential.

Wei Dagang fell to his knees with a thud. His subordinates, terrified and trembling, quickly followed suit, not daring to lift their heads.

"I deserve to die."

Wei Dagang prostrated himself on the ground, confessed his guilt, and began kowtowing to beg for mercy. Lin Yang had seen this scene far too often lately; his heart remained unmoved.

"I have seen enough of this kowtowing and begging for mercy lately. You are not the first. If I were to let you off lightly, it would be an insult to my status as a Grandmaster."

As he spoke, Lin Yang walked up to Wei Dagang and looked down at him. Wei Dagang dared not look up, fixing his gaze only on Lin Yang’s feet, his pathetic state lower than that of a dog.

"Grandmaster Lin, you are a man of great magnanimity. Please, for the sake of the Cheng family and Miss Wanqing, spare my miserable life. I am willing to offer all my wealth to buy it back."

Wei Dagang had already decided: if he could leave this place alive, he would pack his money, flee Luocheng, and never return.

"I can grant the Cheng family face, but that favor is only enough to keep Zhao Weiming alive; it cannot buy your life. As for your wealth, I have no interest in it."

Lin Yang finished his sentence and, without giving Wei Dagang another chance to speak, struck him on the crown of his head. Wei Dagang died instantly, his body slumping to the ground without a single mark on him.

Sun Bao and the other four subordinates were paralyzed with terror at the sight of Wei Dagang’s gruesome end. This was the majesty and authority of a Grandmaster: the power to decide life and death. The five of them could no longer hold it in; their pants were soaked, and they had wet themselves in fear. Even Sun Bao, a sixth-rank expert, had lost control.

Zhao Weiming watched this scene, utterly helpless. He felt no pity for Wei Dagang’s death; his only concern now was whether he himself could survive.

Lin Yang ignored them for a moment, turning his gaze back to Zhao Weiming.