A voice like thunder.
Evan Lin spoke, his words booming in everyone's ears.
Many people instantly changed color.
"What nerve! He actually dares to demand that Walter Shang, the Shang patriarch, come out and kneel to welcome him?" Someone's face twisted as they stared at Evan Lin.
"How could the Shang patriarch be someone you can just meet whenever you want? Does he really think that after what just happened, he can scare Walter Shang into submission?" another person shook their head and sighed.
"No idea what trick he just used to blast all those peak internal-strength fighters away, but honestly, in the eyes of the Shang family, even internal-strength experts aren't considered true heavyweights."
The onlookers kept their distance, watching from afar.
Patrick Liang's face twisted in agony. Hearing Evan Lin's words, his lips curled into a vicious smile.
"You injured the Shang family's guards, and now you're bluntly demanding to see the Shang patriarch? What do you think this place is!"
Patrick Liang's face had gone pale. His arm was completely numb, and seeing Evan Lin spouting such wild words, he could only hope Walter Shang would hurry up and come out.
Lily Liang frowned, her gaze at Evan Lin filled with surprise.
She really couldn't understand how Evan Lin could suddenly seem like a completely different person, and judging by his attitude, he didn't appear the least bit afraid of the Shang family.
"Is this lunatic seriously unaware that the Shang family is backed by the ancient-martial Rowe clan?"
Lily Liang cursed, "Too stupid! Daring to demand Walter Shang kneel in public—if he doesn't die, who will?"
Originally, Lily Liang was interested in Evan Lin's money and strength, and had even planned to make him her fallback guy.
But now, seeing Evan Lin act so recklessly—publicly provoking the Shang family—her gaze toward him was filled with disgust.
So what if he's rich or powerful?
If you challenge the Shang family's authority in public, you'll end up nothing but a corpse.
The very next moment—
"Outrageous!"
A sharp shout echoed from within the Shang estate.
Someone strode out from inside.
"You?"
Sheldon Shang stepped out, standing there and looking out toward the crowd.
When he saw the ground littered with fallen internal-strength fighters, his eyelid twitched. Then, spotting Evan Lin standing not far away, his face turned cold. "Who the hell are you, and what do you want here?"
"This is the Shang estate. It's not a place for punks like you to run wild!"
Sheldon Shang's eyes were icy. He clenched his fists, and a fierce gale of martial energy whipped up around him. Hundreds of needle-like energy threads hovered at his sides, radiating a chilling aura.
"Just you, coming out alone?"
Evan Lin glanced at him and shook his head. "If your patriarch comes out to kneel and welcome me, I can be merciful and leave the Shang family half a thread of incense—some bloodline to survive."
At those words, not only did Sheldon Shang's brow furrow sharply, but the people nearby erupted in an uproar.
Lily Liang's gaze toward Evan Lin grew even more disdainful.
"Does he really think he's somebody now?"
Ben Liang's mother snorted, "Leaving the Shang family only half a thread of incense? Does he actually think he can wipe out the whole clan?"
"The Shang family's strength is way beyond anything an ant like him could imagine."
A few women kept chattering and laughing nonstop.
The fear they'd felt after Patrick Liang was injured by Evan Lin vanished completely thanks to Evan's words.
They just found it laughable.
"Such big talk."
Sheldon Shang stared coldly at Evan Lin. "The gates of the Shang estate aren't open to just anyone."
"And our patriarch has never met with any insignificant nobodies. Someone like you, arrogant and blind to your own limits, dares to shamelessly offer to let the Shang family survive?"
"I'm dying to see what kind of guts you've got today—let's see if you can back up all that big talk!"
"Anyone who dares to disrespect the Shang family is asking for death!"
Sheldon Shang's voice was sharp as ice.
"Here's the deal: there's three steps between us. If you can take those three steps forward, I'll kill myself right here and now."
Evan Lin just shook his head, unruffled.
As soon as Evan spoke, Lily Liang and the others couldn't help but crack up at his words.
"Sheldon Shang is a first-grade Vajra!"
"Did this kid get so spooked by Sheldon's threats that he lost his marbles?"
"What nonsense! This is just ridiculous!"
The crowd kept jeering, but Sheldon, who was about to rush right in, stopped in his tracks at Evan's words. He arched an eyebrow and let out a cold, mocking laugh.