The bodies of Leo and his grandson lay silently in the reception hall, untouched.
Nearby, Zhou Changqing sat calmly sipping his tea. He would occasionally exchange a few words with Ya Fei or refill Medusa's cup.
After about fifteen minutes, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from outside the door. A moment later, several gorgeously dressed old men with impressive auras pushed the door open, followed by a retinue of servants and guards.
The first thing the elders saw upon entering was the two corpses on the floor. At the sight, the expressions of everyone present—elders, guards, and servants alike—changed drastically.
One of the elders stared at Leo's body, his eyes turning cold as he fixed his gaze on Zhou Changqing. "Who are you?! How dare you commit murder in the Mittel Clan's territory!"
The other elders also glared at Zhou Changqing with hostility. These men were all elders of the Mittel Clan, and the one who had spoken was a close associate of Leo, belonging to the same faction within the clan. He had even been involved in the initial search for Zhou Changqing. Seeing Leo brutally killed on their own turf, how could he not be enraged? Yet, he hesitated to act immediately, wary of the power Zhou Changqing must possess to have killed Leo in the first place.
Ya Fei recognized these elders. Wanting to prevent another misunderstanding where Zhou Changqing was falsely accused, she prepared to explain. However, Zhou Changqing sensed her intention and placed a hand on her shoulder, stopping her. Ya Fei was only a Dou Zhe; her strength was too low. Having lived her life within the Mittel Clan, she was accustomed to resolving matters through its rules and procedures. She didn't understand that the truly powerful were never bound by such conventions. Besides, he was the one in the right.
Glancing at the Mittel elders, Zhou Changqing instantly gauged their strength. He lifted his teacup, took a sip, and said flatly, "None of you are qualified to speak with me. Fetch your Clan Head. If the Mittel Clan doesn't give me a reasonable explanation for today's events... heh..."
"Arrogant! Boy, don't think a little strength allows you to act so brazenly in our territory!"
"You want to see Clan Head Teng Shan? You're not worthy!"
"Enough talk! Let's take him down together and teach him the consequences of causing trouble in the Mittel Clan!"
The elders roared in succession. His words were a blatant provocation, a challenge to the authority of the Mittel Clan and a clear sign of disrespect toward them. How could they not be furious?
But just as they began to circulate their Dou Qi, preparing to strike, a tyrannical pressure suddenly erupted, crashing down upon them. It was as heavy as a small mountain, forcing the elders to bend over in an instant.
"A Dou Wang?!"
Feeling the oppressive force that restricted their every movement, the elders looked at the young man in horror. They could clearly sense that the terrifying pressure originated from him. As elders of the Mittel Clan, they were experienced enough to recognize the intensity of that aura—it was on the same level as their own Clan Head!
Zhou Changqing didn't even stand up. He remained seated, his gaze sweeping over them coolly. "Now, am I qualified to see your Clan Head?"
Hearing this, the elders' faces paled. They all regretted their impulsive words, inwardly cursing Leo. That fool! What gave you the courage to provoke a Dou Wang expert? Now you've dragged us into offending this titan! The entire Mittel Clan only had two Dou Wangs!
Elsewhere, on a walkway near the auction house, an old man suddenly paused. "Hm? This aura... a Dou Wang? And one I don't recognize. It's not one of the old-timers." His gaze shifted toward the source of the pressure. Recalling the message he had just received, the old man's brow furrowed. He quickened his pace, his form blurring as he flashed toward the reception hall.
Noticing the terror on the elders' faces, Zhou Changqing did not retract his pressure. The elders didn't dare move, beads of sweat forming on their foreheads. This Dou Wang had already killed Leo; they couldn't be sure he wouldn't kill them too if they made a wrong move. Their only hope was for the Clan Head to arrive. Killing a Mittel Clan elder in the auction house was no small matter; the Clan Head would certainly be alerted. Their fear was that he might not treat the situation with urgency and take his time coming. If anything went wrong in the interim, they would all be dead and buried by this time next year.
Just as the tension reached its peak, a voice infused with powerful Dou Qi resonated through the hall.
"Heh, my friend, has my Mittel Clan been a poor host? It seems you have been angered enough to kill one of our elders."
Zhou Changqing suddenly looked up toward a specific spot. An instant later, a figure seemed to materialize out of thin air, appearing exactly where he was looking. It was an old man dressed in magnificent black and gold robes, with two streaks of white hair at his temples, a handlebar mustache, and perpetually narrowed eyes. Seeing his appearance and sensing the faint but distinct Dou Wang aura emanating from him, Zhou Changqing knew his identity. It was the head of the Mittel Clan, Mittel Teng Shan.
The moment they saw him, the elders' tense nerves relaxed, and a hint of joy appeared on their faces.
"Clan Head!" they exclaimed, their voices filled with excitement as they struggled to bow under the pressure.
Ya Fei also stood at once and bowed respectfully.
Seeing his elders pinned by the pressure, Teng Shan's narrowed eyes opened slightly, and an equally potent aura of his own poured out from him.
Instantly, the two pressures collided, clashing and vying for dominance. The reception hall was filled with a phantom wind as the forces met, causing the tables, chairs, and decorations to tremble violently. The elders felt the weight on them lighten considerably, though it wasn't gone completely. Since the auras were not directed at them, the guards, servants, and Ya Fei were unaffected.
"Sir, it seems you owe me an explanation," Teng Shan said, his gaze fixed on Zhou Changqing. His narrowed eyes betrayed no emotion.
Zhou Changqing set down his teacup and rose to face him. "You must be Clan Head Teng Shan. An explanation? Heh, I believe it is you who owes me an explanation." He continued, "The way your Mittel Auction House treats its guests has been truly eye-opening."
Teng Shan's brow furrowed at his words. His gaze swept over everyone in the room, pausing on the bodies of Leo and his grandson before he spoke. "Can anyone tell me what happened here?"
This young man possessed strength rivaling his own at such a tender age. Beyond his personal talent, the power backing him must be immense. Teng Shan had no desire to provoke such a figure unless absolutely necessary. But if he simply let this go, what would become of the Mittel Clan's prestige? Therefore, his first priority was to understand the situation before deciding whether to fight or make peace. If his clan was in the right, then even if his opponent was powerful and well-connected, he, Teng Shan, would show him that the Mittel Clan was not to be trifled with. But if the young man was justified, he would have to consider the clan's reputation and the consequences of offending a formidable expert with a potentially terrifying background. One wrong move could cost the Mittel Clan dearly.
As the Clan Head's gaze passed over them, the elders looked at each other, unsure of what to say. They had only rushed over after hearing that someone had killed an elder in the auction house. They had no idea what had transpired between Leo and this young Dou Wang. Suddenly, a thought struck one of the elders, and his heart skipped a beat. Zhou Changqing... a year ago, wasn't that the name of the master craftsman he and Leo had sent men to find? It couldn't be such a coincidence, could it?
At that moment, Ya Fei stepped forward. "Clan Head, I know what happened. Please, allow me to explain," she said respectfully.
Teng Shan looked at her and nodded. "If you know, then you may speak."
"Yes, Clan Head," Ya Fei replied. "This is what happened..."
With his approval, she began to recount the events from the beginning. As the truth was laid bare, Teng Shan's expression grew darker and darker.