Chapter 41: A Dead Man

Great Master Wen showed a look of mixed surprise and joy. His gaze slowly scanned across Wen Xiang and the others. The true identities of the four Enshrined Experts had always been a secret of Long Qi. He had tried every possible way to find out in the past, but to no avail. Now that he had finally seen them, it meant he also had a chance. The four Enshrined Experts followed Long Qi, so they could naturally follow him as well, as long as he offered more than Long Qi did. If he truly could not win them over, there were other ways. After all, too many people in Changshan County hated these four Enshrined Experts!

Looking at Great Master Wen, Su Tang smiled again. Then, he placed the teacup on the table and said calmly, “Brother Long, are you kidding me?”

Long Qi had been focused on protecting Wen Xiang and the others. No matter how confused or young Su Tang was, he understood how things worked. The only purpose of letting Wen Xiang and the others remove their disguises was to make the atmosphere of a violent clash thicker and more determined. Great Master Wen actually failed to sense the killing intent in this move. Instead of being alarmed, he was pleased. In that case, Su Tang could truly make his decision.

“Me? What about me?” Long Qi did not expect Su Tang to point the finger at him and asked in astonishment.

“A few days ago, you told me that the Great Master was critically ill and probably had only two or three months left,” Su Tang said with a smile. “But I see that the Great Master is in great spirits and is very strong for his age. Forget two or three months, he could live another twenty or thirty years without any problem.”

“I am not a Practitioner, so of course I couldn’t tell he was faking his illness,” Long Qi said.

“Long Qi, I believe I have treated you well. I didn’t expect you to curse me like this behind my back!” Great Master Wen shouted angrily.

“Don’t be angry, don’t be angry. Your health is more important,” Su Tang hurried to play the peacemaker, then smiled and said, “To be honest, Great Master, if you asked us to wait two or three months… that would definitely be fine. It would pass in the blink of an eye. I can wait. But, if you want me to wait twenty or thirty years… that is simply too much!”

“What? I am too much?” Great Master Wen did not understand for a moment.

“Bastard!” The attendant behind Great Master Wen shouted at Su Tang.

“Ten thousand years is too long; we must seize the moment,” Su Tang said softly. “Right now, I don’t even want to wait a quarter of an hour.”

Great Master Wen showed a look of horror. He finally understood Su Tang’s hidden meaning, but he found it hard to believe. He had argued with Long Qi for so long that their relationship had even become like enemies, but he had never thought about moving to eliminate Long Qi. On one hand, it was because of that noble person; on the other hand, it was because of past lessons. Tang Wanli’s Juxian Pavilion had lost so miserably because his old brothers were almost wiped out, while the newcomers did not get along and were filled with conflicts and schemes. Long Qi had taken advantage of the gaps, winning some over, provoking some, and assassinating others, gradually gaining the upper hand.

Many forces in Changshan County coveted the Miaodao Pavilion, so Great Master Wen knew very well that he should exercise restraint. They could argue and hate each other, but they absolutely could not fight. When the nest is overturned, no egg remains unbroken!

Who would have known that someone would play entirely by their own rules? This was the first time the Great Master had come to the Miaodao Pavilion since Long Qi’s departure, and Mr. Su had unscrupulously revealed his killing intent.

“You dare to offend your superior?!” Great Master Wen’s attendant already placed his right hand on the hilt of his sword.

“Don’t play with your toy, or you will regret it,” Xiao Buhui said with a smile.

Tong Fei looked at Xiao Buhui and frowned. With a flick of his toe, he sent the round hammer on the floor flying up and then caught it gently in his hand.

Wen Xiang pulled a pair of gloves made of an unknown material from behind her waist and put them on her slender, spring-onion-like palms.

Only the withered old man was looking at Long Qi. He was Long Qi’s servant, so he naturally put Long Qi’s decision first.

The temperature in the hall seemed to drop to the freezing point instantly. Mo Xiaobai’s face turned pale as he hid far to one side. He had thought that when Su Tang came, he would help Long Qi put pressure on the Great Master. He didn’t expect this pressure to be a bit too much…

Rows of cold sweat appeared on the forehead of Great Master Wen’s attendant. The strength of the four Enshrined Experts was impossible to gauge, and he did not believe he was a match for any one of them.

Great Master Wen could not believe the scene before him. How many days had Su Tang been in office? He had already won the trust of several Enshrined Experts?! It was impossible!

“Wait a moment,” Long Qi suddenly said. “Mr. Su, the Great Master has already lost his home and family for this Miaodao Pavilion… Give him a peaceful end. Just think of it as… pitying him.”

Great Master Wen’s hands trembled slightly, not from fear, but from anger. Since when did he, Wen Ping, need anyone’s pity?!

Su Tang remained silent for a moment. Long Qi suddenly calling him Mr. Su made him feel a bit uneasy.

“Brother Long, if I had died a few days ago, who would have pitied me?” Su Tang smiled.

“Mr. Su, do you know what you are doing?!” Great Master Wen stood up indignantly and slammed his palm heavily on the table. “The Miaodao Pavilion was created by my own hands. I am the true owner of the Miaodao Pavilion! Do you want to rebel?!”

“That is too absurd,” Su Tang replied lazily. “The vast majority of Spirit Tools are made by blacksmiths and leatherworkers, but look at the famous Spirit Tools in the world; how many are in the hands of blacksmiths and leatherworkers?”

Great Master Wen was speechless for a moment.

“I have a friend who found a Magic Orchid in the Black Forest, and as a result, a group of bandits followed her all the way with evil intentions. I inherited a family estate, and several petty people worked in the shadows, determined to seize it,” Su Tang said in a mocking tone. “You have lived until your eyebrows and beard are white, yet you don’t even know such a simple truth? Just because you created it, inherited it, or found it doesn’t mean it will always belong to you. Moreover… you abandoned the brothers who fought and died for you and secretly escaped with your family. You gave it up at that time.”

Great Master Wen’s face turned ash-grey. Although Su Tang’s words were not violent, the attitude he showed was extremely firm. This matter would definitely not end peacefully today.

“I am injured, so I won’t stay here and get in the way.” Su Tang stood up and walked slowly outward. Mo Xiaobai reacted and hurried forward to support Su Tang, and his body intentionally or unintentionally blocked Su Tang. If Great Master Wen and the attendant suddenly attacked, he would use his own body to buy time for Su Tang and for the Enshrined Experts to act.

“Su Tang, you still don’t know who I am, do you?” Great Master Wen sneered. “I…”

Su Tang turned back and glanced at Great Master Wen, saying calmly, “A dead man.”

A sharp light flashed in Great Master Wen’s eyes. The hand that had slammed on the table was about to move when another slender hand suddenly appeared and pressed down on the back of his hand. Great Master Wen felt as if a mountain had been placed on the back of his hand, and he could no longer move. Then, he heard a soft, regretful voice: “Great Master, why bother? Why go through all this…”