Hashimoto Yōjirō could never have imagined that the so-called Dog Flower Divine Art held this meaning. He couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration for the martial artist who created this technique; what kind of irreverent mind must they have possessed to conceive of such a divine art?
Soon, only admiration remained in Hashimoto Yōjirō’s heart. While the Dog Flower Divine Art might seem somewhat beneath notice, one had to admit it was a supreme form of martial endeavor. Especially when Qin Fen, whose style was usually a torrent of unrestrained power, suddenly shifted to the tricky fluidity of the Dog Flower Divine Art—it was like facing two entirely different opponents, allowing him to completely dictate the rhythm of the battle.
Qin Fen stretched the fingers of both hands, looking up at the Mag-Lev vehicle slowly descending from the sky.
A woman emerged from the vehicle. She appeared to be no older than her early twenties, clad in a black warrior uniform that accentuated her lithe figure. Her bright eyes emitted a moist, shimmering light. Facing Qin Fen, who had just killed someone with a swift strike, she showed not a shred of fear or panic; her delicate features remained composed and serene.
A Seven-Star martial ability, in the face of a Martial Dao Sixth Master like Qin Fen, was certainly nothing worth boasting about. Yet, her composed demeanor instantly left a profound impression on those present.
The serenity and calm shining in her moist eyes were not a forced expression. Through them, Qin Fen could clearly perceive her inner world: she maintained true composure even after confronting him, a master of unarmed combat.
The tranquility reflected in her eyes made it hard to imagine that a genuine fight to the death had just taken place, and the deceased was one of her own people.
The woman who descended from the Mag-Lev vehicle was starkly different in attire from Wang Xiao and Liu Wenjun’s previous outfits. The black warrior uniform, designed to highlight the graceful curves of her body, featured a large character for "Heaven" ($\text{}$) embroidered in gold thread on the chest, and a character for "Gate" ($\text{}$) embroidered in gold thread on each cuff.
Tianmen! The woman displayed her affiliation openly on her clothing, unlike the concealment adopted by Wang Xiao and Wenjun—it was an open declaration.
“Interested in joining Tianmen?”
The woman didn't spare a glance at the remains of Wang Xiao. Her calm voice held a peculiar sweetness, as if the martial master who had just died were not a member of Tianmen.
Qin Fen paused slightly at the sound of her voice. Though her tone was calm and sweet, it carried a subtle, distinct flavor—it was hypnosis!
During his rookie training camp, Qin Fen had been relentlessly drilled by his eccentric instructors, and in Instructor Hao's psychology class, hypnosis was a required discipline.
Unlike Instructor Hao's methods, Qin Fen could sense that this woman’s hypnotic cadence was laced with something else. It was this 'something else' that made listening to her supremely comfortable, easily prompting an impulse to act according to her words.
It possessed a touch of that overwhelming, commanding aura that could instantly subdue others, making them involuntarily straighten their spines.
Qin Fen glanced at the ruined sofa nearby, and the floor littered with sand and cement:
“I’m more interested in hearing about compensation for the damage to my new place.”
The woman smoothly retrieved a checkbook from her handbag and scribbled a long string of zeros onto a slip.
She flicked the torn check with her slender fingers, sending it spinning rapidly through the air before it landed precisely in Qin Fen’s palm. “Join Tianmen, and it’s all yours.”
“One hundred million?” A genuinely delighted smile spread across Qin Fen’s face. “This is only the second time in my life someone has tossed a check with such a high figure at me. It’s just a pity; the amount on this check clearly lacks the sheer audacity of that first one. I suppose this shows the difference between a Divine Beast faction and others?”
A faint surprise flickered in the woman’s eyes. Even Martial Dao Masters who might refuse such a sum usually displayed profound shock upon seeing the figure; yet this man merely smiled happily.
“The bearing of a Divine Beast is truly unparalleled in this era,” the woman replied, her expression still serene. As she closed her handbag, she added lightly, “Tianmen is still lacking compared to that level for now. By joining Tianmen, perhaps you too can become a Divine Beast, rather than being recruited by one.”
Qin Fen had to admire the woman’s composure. Facing the gap in status compared to a Divine Beast, she didn't try to boast that her faction was equal, as some lesser powers did. She frankly acknowledged the difference with quiet self-possession, demonstrating both clear judgment and foresight, and then dangled a grand prospect—the chance to join Tianmen in the pursuit of Divine Beast status.
“I am very interested in becoming a Divine Beast, but that is a future matter,” Qin Fen rubbed the tip of his nose. “However, if we can’t even handle the immediate issues, dreaming about the future isn't ambition; it’s the foolishness of someone brainless.”
The woman stared quietly and deeply at Qin Fen for several seconds, nodding her beautiful forehead repeatedly. For the first time, a hint of appreciation appeared in her eyes.
Beside her, Jizhen Xuanyi watched the woman emerge from the vehicle with palpable surprise. Despite possessing only Seven-Star martial prowess, she maintained an aura equal to that of the Martial Dao Master Qin Fen. What sort of iron will did she possess?
“There are only two paths for those who kill members of Tianmen…” The woman moved her palm, and a card spun through the air, landing before Qin Fen. “This is my calling card. Find me when you’ve decided you want to join Tianmen. You don't have much time.”
It was an exquisite card. The most prominent characters, “Tianmen” ($\text{}$), were embossed in gold. Four faint yellow seals, denoting rank, were printed in the center.
Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden (Jiutian Xuannü). Qin Fen paused slightly looking at the title on the card, then remembered Tianmen’s strict hierarchy—such calling cards would naturally bear titles instead of names.
With that pronouncement, the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden turned and walked back into the Mag-Lev vehicle, the ten-centimeter heels of her shoes tapping the accelerator.
Vroom!
The Mag-Lev vehicle let out a roaring bellow. Seated inside, the calm eyes of the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden showed a faint flicker of surprise and confusion for the first time. Usually, the car would leap into the air with a light tap on the accelerator; why wouldn't it today...?
The Mag-Lev vehicle’s dashboard indicated that the engines were already operating at high horsepower, but the scenery around the vehicle remained unchanged; the entire car was stuck in place.
What was this? The Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden peered into the rearview mirror and was startled again; she had found the reason the vehicle couldn't ascend.
The young Martial Dao Master who had just struck down Wang Xiao, the King of Dog Flower Fist, now had one hand resting on the rear stabilizer wing of the Mag-Lev vehicle. His grip was perfectly placed—at one of the sturdiest and most critical points of the Mag-Lev. As long as a powerful force restrained that spot, the vehicle could not take flight.
However, this restraining force was not a mere few hundred or thousand kilograms. The Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden knew that a Martial Dao Master could unleash crushing impact force instantly, turning the Mag-Lev into scrap metal effortlessly. But someone who could hold the vehicle motionless, seemingly without exerting any effort, like this Martial Dao Master behind her, was exceedingly rare.
Releasing the accelerator and shutting off the engine, the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden leaned out of the car, a hint of displeasure crossing her brow. “What is the meaning of this?”
“No meaning,” Qin Fen stepped forward, reached into the vehicle, gripped the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden’s shoulders, and yanked her out of the chassis. “We can discuss joining Tianmen later. If you won't pay the money, then I’ll have to impound your vehicle and sell it at a second-hand market to cover the debt.”
The usually placid Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden’s expression stiffened for the first time, her eyes fixed on Qin Fen with utter incomprehension.
She could not believe such a person existed in this world—one completely unmoved by a figure of one hundred million, indifferent to the threats of the massive Tianmen organization, yet obsessively focused on a few thousand dollars worth of furniture and sofa.
What she found even harder to fathom was the sheer brute force of his methods. In the past, even opponents maintained a polite, gentlemanly demeanor toward her, showing the chivalry expected of men. Never had she encountered such a crude action as this.
Bang! Qin Fen slammed the car door shut, flicked a finger toward the road ahead, and said to the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden, “The exit is that way. If you don't pay up, you can walk back from there.”
The Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden stood firm, arms crossed over her chest, glaring fiercely at Qin Fen, her previous air of lofty superiority utterly shattered.
Qin Fen ignored the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden and turned to Jizhen Xuanyi. “Do you have the license for driving a Mag-Lev vehicle?”
“Yes.”
“Drive it away,” Qin Fen declared decisively, flicking his wrist. “Find the nearest second-hand market and sell it.”
Jizhen Xuanyi froze. “Master, this vehicle doesn't have complete paperwork; it can't be sold.”
“Sell it for ten thousand.” Qin Fen slapped the hood of the Mag-Lev. “A vehicle like this, sold for just ten thousand, is practically a giveaway. I’m sure someone seeing that price will figure out how to handle the subsequent paperwork.”
“Ten thousand?” Jizhen Xuanyi couldn't believe his ears. This vehicle could easily fetch several hundred thousand, perhaps even a million, if sold normally, yet Qin Fen priced it at a mere ten thousand.
The next moment, Jizhen Xuanyi understood: the price Qin Fen set for the vehicle wasn't based on its inherent value, but on the value of the damaged furniture and construction debris.
“You!”
The Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden stepped sideways, blocking the car door, her hands on her hips, glaring venomously at Qin Fen. She had never encountered such a boorish person.
“Master—”
Jizhen Xuanyi looked at the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden blocking the vehicle and suddenly felt constrained, unsure of what to do. Before the words could fully leave his mouth, a large hand shot out.
The Seven-Star level Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden was no match for the Martial Dao Master Qin Fen. At this moment, her appearance, her bearing, and the power of her background were all useless illusions. Qin Fen grabbed her by the neck and lifted her clear off the ground as easily as snatching a small chicken.
Ignoring the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden’s frantic scratching and striking, Qin Fen addressed Jizhen Xuanyi straightforwardly:
“Drive the car away. After you sell it, find me at the Shengjing Military Command.”
Jizhen Xuanyi stomped the accelerator. The Mag-Lev vehicle shot into the air with a whistling sound of displaced air.
The Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden’s feet finally touched the ground. Her scattered gaze held a faint, misty sheen of tears, and her voice was slightly choked. “You... you bully women—”
“I am merely collecting compensation for the furniture you damaged,” Qin Fen gestured toward the three injured recruits on the ground. “I hope you expedite the transfer of their medical fees to my account. Otherwise, events like the one just now might repeat themselves.”