The Lei family chose the most luxurious five-star hotel in the provincial capital to host the birthday banquet.
All fifteen floors of the hotel had been completely booked out by the Lei family.
At the entrance, luxury cars arrived one after another. The people stepping out were either fabulously wealthy or of exalted status.
Shadow stood respectfully beside Xiao Zhan and lowered his voice.
“Hall Master, I’ve already sent people to infiltrate the Lei family and investigate. Within half an hour at most, we’ll know whether the young master is at the Lei residence.”
Xiao Zhan nodded and strode toward the hotel.
The ones in charge of greeting guests were members of the Lei family’s younger generation. Among them was a woman in her early twenties, Lei Zhen’s half-sister from the same father, named Lei Xueting.
The moment she saw Xiao Zhan approaching, Lei Xueting stepped forward and blocked his path. After sizing him up from head to toe, she tossed him a flirtatious glance and smiled.
“Handsome, the hotel’s been fully booked by my Lei family today. You’re not allowed to go in.”
The other young members of the Lei family burst into laughter.
Someone teased,
“Xueting, this guy’s pretty cool. Once the banquet’s over, why don’t you take him out for some fun?”
Lei Xueting smiled faintly, glanced at Xiao Zhan, then pulled out her phone.
“Leave your number. Later, you can accompany me shopping.”
Shadow sneered inwardly.
Countless women admired his master; daughters of world-class powers and elite families alike, yet not a single one had ever earned more than a glance from him.
Sure enough, Xiao Zhan didn’t even acknowledge Lei Xueting. He simply stepped forward, intent on entering the hotel.
Anger flashed in Lei Xueting’s eyes. Furious, she laughed instead.
“Do you know who I am?”
“I’m the Lei family’s precious jewel. It’s your honor that I even took a liking to you!”
Xiao Zhan cast her a cold glance and replied casually,
“You don’t look like a precious jewel to me, more like a pig in heat.”
The moment those words landed, Lei Xueting exploded.
The other young people stared in shock.
They couldn’t believe someone actually dared to call Lei Xueting a pig right to her face.
Trembling with rage, Lei Xueting’s chest heaved violently. She pointed at Xiao Zhan, eyes wide, and shrieked,
“Kneel. Right now. Bang your head on the ground! If I’m satisfied, maybe I’ll spare your worthless life!”
The instant she insulted Xiao Zhan, Shadow’s gaze turned icy. A steel needle had already appeared between his fingers.
If Xiao Zhan so much as nodded, not a single one of these Lei brats would leave alive.
Yet Lei Xueting was completely oblivious to the fact that she was courting death. She continued her threats,
“I’ll count to three. If you don’t kneel and kowtow, I swear you’ll die horribly!”
“With my Lei family’s power, making a few people disappear in Wanshan Province is easier than eating and drinking! And it won’t just be you, your family, your friends, all of them will suffer with you!”
Xiao Zhan had intended to ignore this shrew like a barking dog, but the moment she threatened his family, a terrifying killing intent erupted from him.
His daughter’s fate was still unknown, and yet someone dared to threaten his loved ones right in front of him. This was suicide in the most blatant form.
Xiao Zhan walked slowly up to Lei Xueting and raised his hand.
Smack!
Lei Xueting was sent flying several meters sideways, her body lifted clean off the ground. Half her face was mangled beyond recognition, blood and flesh a mess, most of her teeth shattered and scattered.
“You’re finished! You’re dead!” The other Lei youths panicked and retreated, hurriedly pulling out their phones to call for help.
Clutching her ruined face, terror filled Lei Xueting’s eyes. Then, like a madwoman, she scrambled to her feet, snatched a dagger from one of her companions, and screamed as she charged at Xiao Zhan.
Smack!
Another backhanded slap.
Lei Xueting was sent flying again. The other half of her face was destroyed this time. She crashed to the ground, barely alive, her body twitching uncontrollably.
The remaining youths no longer dared to block Xiao Zhan. They could only watch helplessly as he walked into the hotel.
The banquet was being held in the grand hall on the fifth floor. By the time Xiao Zhan arrived, several hundred people had already gathered, including prominent families from across Wanshan Province, as well as well-known figures from the martial world.
Xiao Zhan took a seat and calmly swept his gaze across the crowd.
Standing beside him, Shadow pointed toward a middle-aged man chatting with guests about twenty meters away.
“Temple Master, that man is Lei Biao; Lei Zhen’s father.”
Xiao Zhan gave a soft “Mm,” accepted a glass of red wine from Shadow, and took a small sip.
A few minutes later, members of the Lei family’s younger generation rushed into the hall and whispered urgently into Lei Biao’s ear.
Lei Biao’s face darkened visibly. His gaze swept across the hall before locking onto Xiao Zhan.
Sensing the ferocity radiating from Lei Biao, the surrounding guests quickly parted, leaving a clear path, yet all eyes were fixed on Xiao Zhan.
Lei Biao walked up to him with a cold expression, killing intent flashing in his eyes.
“Young man, you’re unfamiliar. Which family’s young master are you? As far as I recall, my Lei family never invited someone like you.”
Xiao Zhan gently swirled the wineglass in his hand. The crimson liquid inside looked thicker than blood.
Expressionless, he glanced at Lei Biao.
“I heard the Lei family’s young master, Lei Zhen, is quite the outstanding figure. I came especially to take a look.”
Lei Biao snorted.
“If you only came to look, then why did you ruin my daughter’s face?”
“Do you have any idea what happens when you offend the Lei family?!”
“Your daughter?” Xiao Zhan frowned slightly. “You mean that barking dog at the hotel entrance?”
The entire banquet hall fell deathly silent.
Every guest held their breath, secretly wondering who this audacious young man was, bold enough to call Lei Biao’s daughter a dog to his face.
Lei Biao had never been insulted like this before. Uncontainable rage surged within him. Furious, he laughed instead.
“Good. Very good. Looks like you came here deliberately to smash my Lei family’s banquet.”
“Since that’s the case, I’ll oblige you!”
With a gesture from Lei Biao, the Lei family guards scattered throughout the hall immediately converged.
Lei Biao swept his gaze around and declared loudly,
“For years, my Lei family has focused on business and never gone looking for trouble, but that doesn’t mean any stray cat or dog can provoke us.”
“Everyone, tell me: how should I deal with this brat?”
Many of the guests had business ties with the Lei family and feared their power. They immediately shouted,
“Patriarch Lei, since this punk wants to die, grant his wish!”
“That’s right! Break his arms and legs and throw him into the mountains to feed the wild dogs!”
Shadow’s icy gaze swept over the speakers, memorizing each of their faces.
The Lei family guards charged forward, howling like madmen.
With a flick of Shadow’s wrist, dozens of steel needles appeared between his fingers.
A fierce gust swept past. In the next instant, every guard collapsed to their knees, screaming in agony.
Ten-centimeter-long steel needles had completely pierced through their kneecaps.
Many martial experts in the hall could tell at a glance, based on this move alone, that Shadow was at least an Earth-rank peak expert!
Lei Biao snorted coldly.
“No wonder you dared to come stir up trouble at my Lei family, so you brought an Earth-rank peak expert with you.”
“But do you really think that’s enough to challenge the authority of the Lei family?!”
Lei Biao ripped off his suit jacket, revealing his muscular physique. A powerful Earth-rank peak aura burst forth from his body.
He glared at Xiao Zhan and growled,
“Brat, you know nothing about how terrifying the Lei family truly is!”
“Today, no matter who you are, I’ll personally twist off your head!”
The moment his words fell, Lei Biao stomped hard against the ground.
The solid floor tiles shattered instantly, sparks flying.
At the same time, Lei Biao charged forward like a ferocious tiger descending the mountain, both hands curling into claws as he lunged for Xiao Zhan’s head.
Shadow’s figure flickered. A black, double-edged sword about a foot long appeared in his hand, its entire body gleaming with cold light.
Feeling the sudden surge of Shadow’s aura and sensing the soul-chilling sharpness of the blade, Lei Biao’s heart skipped violently.
Had the opponent been hiding his strength?
The answer was yes.
The crowd saw only a black shadow flash past Lei Biao.
In the next instant, Lei Biao’s iron-hard hands were severed cleanly at the wrists.
Two still-twitching palms dropped to the floor with a dull thud, blood spraying everywhere.
Lei Biao finally reacted. Agonizing pain tore through him, forcing out a scream as cold sweat drenched his entire body.
The guests cried out in shock, faces drained pale by the brutal, bloody scene.
The martial artists hurriedly retreated, afraid of being caught in the crossfire.
Those who had earlier insulted Xiao Zhan felt their legs go weak, the urge to flee overwhelming them.
Shadow raised his hand. Dozens of steel needles shot out, instantly piercing through the banquet hall doors.
“Anyone who leaves without permission,” he said coldly, “will die.”