Chapter 50: Preparation

Madam Red had been looking at Su Tang with a smile. Su Tang finally noticed this and slowly turned his gaze toward her. Madam Red was very well-maintained; although she was nearly forty, she looked like a woman of twenty-eight or twenty-nine, possessing a unique mature charm.

The moment their eyes met, Su Tang immediately turned his head away in panic and swallowed hard. From Madam Red’s angle, she could clearly see Su Tang’s Adam’s apple bob.

After a moment, Su Tang secretly turned his gaze back to Madam Red, then quickly looked away again, perfectly expressing his inner struggle of wanting to look but not daring to, and being unable to stop himself from looking.

Madam Red laughed even more cheerfully. This proved that although her youth had passed, she still possessed an irresistible charm.

“Madam, should we bring that boy over?” the middle-aged man suggested once again.

Madam Red paused, as if remembering something. The smile on her face gradually disappeared, and she sighed, “Forget it, let’s talk about it in a few days. I am a bit tired, let’s go back…”

Given her status, Madam Red did not care whether the head of the Cheng Family felt awkward. She stood up and left with her followers. The head of the Cheng Family was left completely confused. After a few brief words, the guests at the second table also took their leave.

Back in the carriage, Wen Xiang smiled lightly and asked, “There should have been a chance at the banquet. Why didn’t you act?”

“I’m not crazy!” Su Tang said. “Gu Qijue was right by Madam Red’s side, and there were people from the Tie, Bai, Cheng, and Mu families. It would have been impossible to succeed.”

“You’re not crazy? Heehee, everyone is actually willing to help you assassinate Madam Red… I think we are all crazy, and quite badly so.” Wen Xiang shook her head, then asked, “Do you insist on doing it yourself? Why not let Xiao Buhui do it?”

“I have principles; whoever proposes the plan carries it out,” Su Tang said calmly. He was the one who primarily wanted revenge for Long Qi; letting Xiao Buhui do the deed would be using Xiao Buhui’s life to polish his own character.

Hearing this, Wen Xiang froze for a moment, then looked deeply at Su Tang. “Are you really sure?”

“I wasn’t very sure before coming here,” Su Tang said. “Now… I have some confidence. I can tell that Madam Red has a very casual personality. She is not the cautious or deeply calculating type. I have a chance to get close to her.”

“A pretty boy like you certainly has a chance to get close to her. What I worry about is that you won’t have a chance to leave,” Wen Xiang laughed.

“That is my concern. You should think more about how to deal with Gu Qijue,” Su Tang said.

At the mention of Gu Qijue, Wen Xiang’s face became miserable again. She did not want to face such a power ful enemy. Unfortunately, apart from her, no one else was a match for Gu Qijue.

Time flew by. A day later, news came from the Cheng Family that Madam Red was going to visit the Golden Bell Temple tomorrow. Meanwhile, the Cheng Family sent an invitation to Su Tang, asking him to visit the Cheng Family to discuss an important matter.

The Cheng Family was determined to change the balance of power in Changshan County. Although Madam Red was present, they would not easily attack the other three families, as that would force them to unite and resist the Cheng Family.

The situation at Miaodao Pavilion was very special. Great Master Wen and Long Qi had been killed one after another. Su Tang was just an inexperienced young man who had only been in charge of Miaodao Pavilion for a few days. To the Cheng Family, this was a heaven-sent opportunity, and they did not want to wait any longer.

Similarly, Su Tang did not want to wait either. At dawn, Su Tang, Wen Xiang, Xiao Buhui, Tong Fei, and Mo Xiaobai gathered in the back building of Miaodao Pavilion to make the final arrangements.

“These are gold notes from the Hengyuan Bank.” Su Tang placed a stack of gold notes on the table. “Mo Xiaobai found some unfamiliar faces to open these accounts. The denominations are all one or two hundred, so they won’t suspect us and cannot be traced. It works out to… eight thousand for each of us.”

Wen Xiang and the others looked calm, but Mo Xiaobai appeared excited. He hadn’t expected to get a share, let alone such a large amount.

“It’s a pity that the real estate of Miaodao Pavilion cannot be sold; otherwise, it would definitely alert the Cheng Family. Once we are gone, I wonder who will benefit in the end,” Su Tang said. “Xiaobai, distribute the gold notes.”

“Yes, Sir,” Mo Xiaobai grabbed the gold notes and began dividing them one by one.

“This is probably the last time we will be together. From now on, we go our separate ways… haha…” Xiao Buhui sighed. “Xiaobai, you’ve never had this many gold notes before, right? Have you thought about where to go?”

“It’s best not to ask,” Su Tang said. “We will leave separately. That way, if something happens to one person, it won’t affect the others.”

“True,” Xiao Buhui nodded.

As the gold notes were nearly distributed, Wen Xiang suddenly asked, “Are they all divided?”

“Yes.” Mo Xiaobai was a bit nervous. Could she be unsatisfied? Did she think a small figure like him received too much?

“I finally tricked you into giving them to me.” Wen Xiang smiled and grabbed the gold notes, then stood up and swayed as she walked toward the exit. “Everyone, goodbye. I must leave this place of trouble immediately.”

Xiao Buhui and Tong Fei were both stunned, and Mo Xiaobai was completely bewildered. Because Wen Xiang was responsible for the most important part; if Gu Qijue was not kept in check, Su Tang would have no chance of success.

Su Tang silently watched Wen Xiang’s back without saying a word.

At the door, Wen Xiang turned around and asked curiously, “Why aren’t you stopping me?”

“The legs are on your body. If you want to leave, who can stop you?” Su Tang said with a bitter smile.

“I really wanted to run away at first, but seeing you like this… I feel a bit bad.” Wen Xiang giggled and slowly walked back to sit in the chair. Then, her smile gradually faded, and she looked straight at Su Tang, saying word by word, “Remember, you owe me twice.”

“I won’t forget,” Su Tang said. Wen Xiang had saved his life before, and including this time, he indeed owed her.

“I knew it… Enshrined Expert Wen is not the type of person to desert the army before a battle,” Xiao Buhui smiled.

“You make it sound so easy,” Wen Xiang said with a stern face. “This heartless man gave the most dangerous task to me. If it were you, would you be willing?”

“If it were truly that dangerous, you would have refused from the start,” Xiao Buhui said.

“What do you mean?” Wen Xiang frowned.

“He means that you are not afraid of Gu Qijue,” Tong Fei suddenly interrupted. “He told me before that if one of the four of us were to become a Grandmaster, it would definitely be you.”

“What do you know…” Wen Xiang murmured, a trace of sadness flashing in her eyes.

Su Tang changed the subject. “Xiaobai, are you all ready? As soon as we enter the Golden Bell Temple, act immediately!”

“Sir, please rest assured. I have prepared over a dozen barrels of oil. In fifteen minutes at most, Miaodao Pavilion will become a pile of ashes, and nothing will be left,” Mo Xiaobai said. “Furthermore, I have collected all the records and registers hidden elsewhere. I will absolutely not let the Cheng Family benefit.”

“Good…” Su Tang breathed a long sigh. “I have failed Brother Long…”

The atmosphere in the hall became melancholy. Wen Xiang was slightly different, but Xiao Buhui and Tong Fei had worked for Miaodao Pavilion for over ten years. Knowing that Miaodao Pavilion would soon turn to dust and be forgotten, they naturally felt miserable.