Chapter 118 : Chapter 118
Chapter 118. Blatant
As soon as those words fell, the room went silent.
In the distance, Xiao Han’s hand, which was holding the teacup, stiffened slightly. Then a hint of amusement appeared on his face, and he thought to himself that this was rather interesting.
Even if this was meant to win someone over, was it not a little too blatant?
Xu Yuan gave a dumbfounded laugh, as though he did not even know what to say. Shaking his head, he said softly,
“Right now, the two families are locked in conflict. The Bai Family is losing ground at every turn, while I am already a six-meridian Workshop Master in Shangyang Residence. I lack neither status nor resources. I would have to be out of my mind to jump onto the Bai Family’s sinking ship.”
The young man remained calm and unhurried as he shook his head.
“My lord Xu, Shangyang Residence may be powerful now, but beneath such a great tree, there are countless rotten dealings. And you, moreover, came from the ranks of the menial servants... Even if these Workshop Masters do not say it aloud, you can still tell that they are rejecting you.”
He paused, watching Xu Yuan’s reaction, then continued, “But our Bai Family is in need of talent. Whoever is strong enough and whoever has the greater merit rises to the top. There will absolutely be nothing like Shangyang Residence, where people are used only through favoritism and personal ties...”
“The higher-ups also said that if you come over, then even Yang Cang may not be beyond being touched...”
“That is enough.”
Xu Yuan cut him off coldly, staring straight at him as his tone suddenly turned icy. “You people have investigated me quite thoroughly, have you not?”
“It is true that some of my colleagues have been a little distant because of my background. But given enough time, we will naturally grow familiar. As for merit, the family handled it openly and fairly. I have no grievance at all. Why would I need to move against Yang Cang?”
Hearing that, a trace of anxiety flashed across the young man’s face, and he still tried to persuade him further.
“My lord Xu, you—”
“And one more thing.”
Xu Yuan raised a hand to stop him, his tone now edged with impatience.
“You came here in the open to persuade me to defect. Never mind whether it would succeed or not. You have already put me in an awkward position. Is this the Bai Family’s idea of sincerity?”
“Well... our Bai Family is simply eager to recruit worthy men...”
The young man gave an embarrassed laugh and stammered, unable to say anything coherent.
Xu Yuan lifted his teacup, lowered his eyes, and took a sip. Then he said flatly, “See him out.”
Xiao Qi immediately stepped forward and made a gesture of invitation.
The young man still wanted to say something else, but Xiao Qi gave him no chance and half-pushed, half-escorted him out of the hall.
As the footsteps faded into the distance, silence returned to the room.
Xiao Han set down his teacup and could not help laughing. “The one pouring tea? Workshop Master Xu, your tongue is sharp enough.”
Xu Yuan shook his head with a smile and did not respond to that.
Xiao Han restrained his laughter and said seriously, “Still, the man the Bai Family sent is rather interesting. They knew perfectly well that I was present, yet they still dared to speak so boldly. Are they truly stupid, or was it deliberate?”
Xu Yuan leaned back in his chair, his gaze deepening. “Deliberate.”
Xiao Han was taken aback and turned to look at him.
“They sent a man like that to say those things right in front of you. They were never truly hoping to win me over.”
Xu Yuan spoke slowly. “They wanted to borrow your mouth and spread this matter around.”
Xiao Han immediately understood the key point.
Once word spread that Xu Yuan had been in contact with the Bai Family, nobody else would know exactly what had been said or how he had responded.
But the fact that he had been approached at all was already a thorn.
Especially in a family like Shangyang Residence, someone of humble birth who had only recently suffered suppression was the easiest kind of person to draw suspicion.
Even if the upper ranks had already soothed things over for him, what if something still went wrong?
“What a clever move.”
Xiao Han smacked his lips. “It looks crude, but in truth it is vicious.”
Xu Yuan nodded and let out a helpless sigh. “The Bai Family did this for no other reason than to disgust me.”
Xiao Han could not help laughing. “Who would have thought the Bai Family would be so brazen? Workshop Master Xu has truly suffered a disaster from out of nowhere.”
“Indeed.” Xu Yuan gave a bitter smile as well.
He would have to be a complete fool to turn to the Bai Family at a time like this.
Even if he defected, he would not be trusted there, and he would also face retaliation from Shangyang Residence. There were a hundred harms in it and not a single benefit.
In a seemingly casual tone, Xiao Han said, “Still, just as that young man said, if you are being pushed aside here, then would it not be wide open seas and boundless skies over there?”
“Workshop Master Xiao jests.”
Xu Yuan studied the other man’s expression, then suddenly asked, “This time, it was merely dirty water deliberately splashed on me by the Bai Family. Should I go and explain the matter to Chief Overseer Zhao?”
Xiao Han waved a hand. “As a Workshop Master, your status is far from low. Why should you fear mere gossip and rumors?”
“Do not worry. I can testify for you here. Still, the Bai Family man’s methods were truly low. If I run into him on the front lines this time, I will definitely make him suffer for it.”
Xu Yuan nodded, poured tea, and drank with Xiao Han, though in his heart he was already calculating all the possibilities for the battle the day after tomorrow.
...
In the blink of an eye, the night of the tenth arrived.
The night was as dark as ink, and the moonlight was veiled behind the clouds. It was the perfect time for a night battle.
This time, Shangyang Residence had brought its forces to bear and launched a full offensive across the entire line of the Bai Family’s territory.
Xu Yuan’s and Xiao Han’s two wards in the Level Three zones advanced side by side along the same sector, serving as the vanguard of the entire offensive.
Faced with such a ferocious assault, the Bai Family did not dare meet them head-on. All they could do was set ambushes in the shadows, sending out small detachments to harass them again and again in an attempt to delay Shangyang Residence’s advance.
Shouts of killing, the clash of weapons, and screams rose and fell through the darkness.
Xu Yuan and Xiao Han stood side by side atop a slightly elevated rooftop, looking down over the battlefield below.
Martial artists from both sides were tangled in fierce combat. Firelight illuminated figures darting back and forth. Some fell, some gave chase, and some fled in collapse.
For the most part, the Bai Family was retreating in defeat after defeat.
“It seems the Bai Family’s fate is nearly exhausted now,” Xu Yuan said softly as he watched the battle below.
Xiao Han nodded, a trace of emotion passing through his eyes. “That is right. The Bai Family is already down to its last few breaths.”
“Once the family fully takes control of Yiquan Prefecture City and consolidates the resources there, then for meritorious men like us, both status and resources will naturally rise with the tide.”
He paused, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. “By then, what will a six-meridian Workshop Master amount to? Perhaps in a few years, you and I may both have a chance to challenge the extraordinary meridians.”
Just as he was imagining the future, Xu Yuan’s expression suddenly shifted, and his gaze shot toward the darkness straight ahead.
Noticing the change in his face, Xiao Han turned to look as well.
There, a shadow suddenly appeared, walking slowly through the night.
The firelight illuminated the newcomer’s features: a middle-aged face with an honest, heavy look to it, his robes snapping in the night wind. It was none other than the Bai Family’s Workshop Master, Chen Donghai.
“You two are certainly in high spirits, already thinking about the future here,” he said with a smile. His voice was not loud, yet it carried clearly into both their ears.
Xiao Han’s expression tightened slightly. Turning to Xu Yuan, he spoke in a low voice.
“This man is Chen Donghai, a Bai Family Workshop Master. He was also the one who planned those spy networks and ambush operations before. He is a rather sinister man and not easy to deal with.”
Xu Yuan gave a faint nod, fixed his gaze on Chen Donghai, and called out loudly, “Since we made preparations, it is only natural to think a little about what comes afterward as well.”
“Oh? Then this must be Workshop Master Xu?”
Hearing that, Chen Donghai turned to Xu Yuan with feigned surprise, gave him a slow once-over, and smiled.
“You truly are young and promising. But with talent like yours, if you entered our Bai Family, your cultivation speed would definitely be even faster!”
“The Bai Family’s foundation is far richer than Shangyang Residence’s. When the time comes, helping you deal with Yang Cang would hardly be impossible!”
Xu Yuan smiled faintly, his voice calm. “Workshop Master Chen, are these scraps of nonsense all you have left to repeat?”
“Speaking of which, I actually have quite a bit of fate with both the Bai Family and you. Things like your spy hideouts and the raid on the medicinal fields... I had some part to play in all of them. But between martial artists, it is better to settle things with our hands.”
In a deep voice, Xiao Han said, “Chen Donghai, at your age, you still came out strolling around? Are you not afraid of throwing away that old life of yours here?”
Chen Donghai burst into laughter, perfectly at ease. “As luck would have it, I had someone read my fortune. If nothing else, there is one thing I am sure of in this life: I am meant to live long!”
“I would not be so certain!”
Before Xu Yuan had even finished speaking, his qi and blood had already started surging through his body.
He stomped down hard with one foot, producing a dull explosive boom as he shot forward like an arrow loosed from the string!
When Chen Donghai saw this, not only was he not alarmed, he was delighted instead. He was a veteran six-meridian expert with deep reserves. In his own mind, he held an absolute advantage.
This Xu Yuan did not know the height of heaven or the depth of earth. All the better. He could use this chance to teach him a painful lesson and crush Shangyang Residence’s momentum.
“Do not—”
Xiao Han had just opened his mouth to stop him when he saw Xu Yuan glance back at him in the midst of his charge and give him a look.
“Workshop Master Xiao, together!”
Xiao Han froze. “Huh??”