Chapter 587 - 587: The Prince of the East Suffers a Setback

The corner of Cao Qing's mouth twitched.

'Is this Jiang Xinghai really so arrogant?'

However, he had lived a long life and was a master of concealing his thoughts. It wasn't time for a complete falling out just yet.

"Alright, Divine Doctor Jiang. I can accept the first condition. I will release an apology video and apologize to the public. The second condition is also no problem; we will donate five hundred million annually to charitable causes. But as for the third condition, I hope we can negotiate." Cao Qing's tone was resolute.

"Negotiate how?" Jiang Xinghai retorted.

"We can avoid having my entire clan, young and old, kneel at your doorstep. Instead, I will personally kneel in apology and guarantee that we will never engage in such behavior again," Cao Qing said earnestly. "I trust that shows sufficient sincerity."

Hearing this, Jiang Xinghai smiled. 'For the great Prince of the East to be willing to humble himself like this... he certainly has some nerve.'

But Cao Shan, standing nearby, was completely dumbfounded. How could his father make such a decision?

He tried to say something to Cao Qing, but his father simply waved him off and pushed him aside.

"Divine Doctor Jiang, I'll let you two talk."

At that, Elder Tang felt it was pointless to remain, so he beckoned to his companions and led them to the other side of the room.

He was clearly supporting Jiang Xinghai and wanted to avoid getting pleading looks from Cao Qing if he stayed.

Cao Qing, of course, saw through Tang Zhen's intentions. A wave of disappointment washed over him as he turned back to Jiang Xinghai. "Divine Doctor Jiang, what is your decision?"

"I can appreciate your sincerity, I suppose. But I want your entire family to apologize publicly, not just you."

Jiang Xinghai stared at Cao Qing, sticking to his decision, his expression stern and his tone carrying an official, commanding air.

Cao Qing froze for a second, the anger in his heart flaring.

'This young man isn't giving me any face at all!'

He was the Prince of the East, for crying out loud! He had personally trained four-star figures, yet here he was, being thwarted by a mere greenhorn. The humiliation was galling.

And another thing!

He had already decided to cast aside his own dignity and kneel in repentance for three days. An act like that would instantly shake all of Shanghai, and news of it would spread even farther!

It was humiliating, utterly humiliating!

But his very offer was meant to show Jiang Xinghai that his demands were inappropriate, to make everyone see that Jiang Xinghai was being ungrateful.

Yet Jiang Xinghai had completely dismissed it, even acting as if it were nothing. He still wanted the entire Cao Family to kneel! 'What an ungrateful brat!'

"Is there no room for negotiation?"

Finally, Cao Qing forced the words out. If Jiang Xinghai still refused to back down, he wouldn't mind teaching this boy a lesson himself.

Jiang Xinghai coolly lit a cigarette. "It seems the Prince of the East didn't understand me. As I said, the three conditions are non-negotiable. I will not back down."

"Brat, I've had enough of your insolence!" Cao Qing finally snapped.

"You old dog. It must have been difficult for you to hold back this long."

Jiang Xinghai remained unfazed. He could sense that his opponent's power was equal to his own; both had reached the initial stage of the Human Emperor Realm.

'So what?'

'This is the perfect opportunity to make a name for myself with a battle in Shanghai!'

"Hahaha! If that's how it is, then let's fight! If you win, I will agree to your conditions. What's more, my Cao Family will submit to you. How about it?"

Cao Qing took a step forward, a ferocious aura erupting from him. "Conversely, if you lose, not only must you withdraw your conditions, but you will also treat my great-grandson's illness and submit to the Cao Family! Do you dare?"

"That's exactly what I wanted!"

An aura surged from Jiang Xinghai as well. "Let's take this outside. I have no desire to ruin Marshal Feng's banquet!"

Cao Qing stared at the young man in astonishment, not expecting him to agree so readily.

But it didn't matter. 'Either way, I'm the winner.'

The two men left the banquet hall in unison.

The nearby crowd, thoroughly stunned, naturally followed them out.

From the moment Cao Qing had entered the hall, all eyes had been on him.

He was the Prince of the East, after all—a paragon of the older generation whose cultivation had reached the Human Emperor Realm!

As for Jiang Xinghai, he was a newly promoted four-star general. Outsiders only knew him as a Divine Doctor, with no idea of his true strength.

But now, Jiang Xinghai was revealing his formidable power, showing no fear of the Prince of the East, Cao Qing.

This could only mean one thing: Jiang Xinghai was a master of both Medical Martial Arts!

Of course, only five people were aware of this fact: Tang Zhen, Zhong Yunman, Nightingale, Cao Shan, and Zheng Wuji.

Everyone had been watching Cao Qing and Jiang Xinghai ever since they began their conversation at the banquet.

「And now—」

Everyone had gathered in the plaza outside the reception hall.

This battle between the Prince of the East and the new four-star general was destined to be explosive, regardless of who won or lost.

"Elder Cao, Jiang, this is just a spar. Let's keep it civil," Tang Zhen, being the most respected figure present, felt compelled to step forward and say.

"Don't worry, Elder Tang. I'll know when to pull my punches," Jiang Xinghai said with a slight smile, the cigarette still dangling from his lips.

Cao Qing nearly stumbled. He hadn't said a thing, yet his opponent was shamelessly claiming he'd be the one pulling his punches. 'The audacity!'

"Elder Tang, you know I never bully my juniors."

Cao Qing naturally had to respond. He gave a nod and a slight smile before his gaze landed back on Jiang Xinghai.

"You may have the first move."

With the cigarette still in the corner of his mouth, Jiang Xinghai clasped his right hand behind his back and made a beckoning gesture with his left.

"You!"

Cao Qing was so incensed by Jiang Xinghai's arrogance that he felt like he could cough up blood.

'That look... it's as if he's looking down on the entire world. How infuriating!'

"Fine!"

Cao Qing raised his fist and lunged forward. He would show Jiang Xinghai through his actions that experience always trumps youth!

A powerful wave of force shot from his fist, blasting toward Jiang Xinghai.

However, Jiang Xinghai didn't dodge. Just as Cao Qing's fist was about to land, he simply lowered his left hand.

Cao Qing's eyes widened at the sight. 'Is this kid really that arrogant?'

The other onlookers, with the exception of Zhong Yunman, all wore grave expressions.

Jiang Xinghai's move was indeed far too arrogant!

The most excited person there was Cao Shan.

He could already picture the scene: Jiang Xinghai sent flying by his father's punch.

BANG!

A thunderous boom echoed out, and the very air around them seemed to ripple from the impact.

Jiang Xinghai had actually taken the full force of Cao Qing's blow with nothing but his own body.

'He might be a young and aggressive talent, but this is just suicidal!'

But!

When they saw Jiang Xinghai still standing in the same spot, his face only slightly flushed, not sent flying and showing no signs of injury, everyone was completely floored.

Cao Qing's eyes were wide with utter disbelief.

He never would have imagined that he'd failed to send Jiang Xinghai flying with a single punch.

"You... How did you do that?" Cao Qing asked, taking a deep breath.

Jiang Xinghai sneered. "Did you really think you could defeat me with brute force alone?"

Cao Qing's face turned ashen. He was speechless, his heart burning with rage.

'Brute force?'

'How ridiculous!'

He had poured his entire life into cultivating to his current level, only to be provoked by a junior. It was a tremendous blow to his pride.

"To be unharmed by my punch, you are indeed impressive. You already stand at the apex of your generation. But you are also unfortunate, because your good luck runs out in front of me," Cao Qing snarled, glaring at Jiang Xinghai.