Chapter 52: Performance On Point

This shouldn’t be happening; my acting has always been impeccable. How could that old fellow possibly see through me? Wang Tianhong smiled faintly as he walked over to Li Jian San’s side. “Sir, let us see you off.”

Hearing this, Li Jian San finally breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness, it was just a false alarm…

Just as Li Jian San was about to step out of the Wang family’s gates, a voice rang out from deep within the manor. “Wait!”

The voice was low and carried a hint of age, but Li Jian San paid it no mind. “No need for anyone else to see me off; I’m pressed for time, so I’ll be leaving.”

Upon hearing this, the voice from the depths of the Wang estate grew urgent. “Wang Tianhong, you rascal, keep him here for me!”

Li Jian San felt a sense of impending trouble and swiftly activated his movement technique to escape.

However, as soon as he stepped outside the Wang family gates, an elderly man in traditional attire blocked his path.

The elder spoke coldly, “Sir, you’d best stay for now.”

“And if I insist on leaving?” Li Jian San steeled himself and asked.

Seeing the tension between the two, Wang Tianhong hurriedly stepped forward.

“Ancestor, what are you doing? He… he’s a genius from a powerful faction, we can’t afford to offend him.”

“Master Li, please calm yourself. This is the supreme patriarch of our Wang family. He has been in secluded cultivation and may not know of your status, hence the misunderstanding.” Wang Tianhong smiled as he explained to Li Jian San.

Li Jian San’s brows relaxed slightly. “If that’s the case, I won’t pursue the matter.”

He prepared to leave, but as he passed by the Wang family patriarch, he was suddenly stopped by a pair of large hands. “I told you, you cannot leave!”

Wang Tianhong grew anxious and protested. “Ancestor, please let go. He’s an extraordinary talent from beyond our region; are you senile?”

The Wang patriarch’s face hardened. “Senile? I think you’re the fool here, worshipping some kid as if he’s a deity.”

Wang Tianhong, now fearful, pleaded, “Ancestor, he’s a genius from afar, his strength is beyond my comprehension. If you anger him, aren’t you pushing the Wang family into the fire?”

The patriarch roared, furious. “Why do you think he’s just concealing his aura, pretending to be a master?”

“Martial artists can use mysterious methods to hide their aura, masking their cultivation. Haven’t I taught you this before?”

“If he truly is a genius from elsewhere, why would he come to such a small place? What could he possibly want from us?”

The patriarch trembled with anger. “How did I ever let a brainless fool become head of the family! It infuriates me!”

Suddenly, Wang Tianhong snapped to clarity.

Yes, if he were truly a genius from beyond, why would he come here? He wouldn’t covet mere spirit stones from us.

Then, could it be…?

Wang Tianhong turned sharply to Li Jian San. “You dared deceive me!”

Li Jian San smiled, genuinely curious. “When did I ever deceive you?”

Wang Tianhong replied angrily, “You kept saying you were a genius from afar!”

Li Jian San asked again, “Oh? When did I say that?”

“You still deny it! Didn’t you tell me to join your faction?”

Li Jian San’s face broke into a pure, innocent smile. “Hey, hey, let’s be clear. I never claimed to be some genius from beyond; you said that. And you were the one who offered to join my faction. I was planning to let you join my Shengjing Sect. And if you’re not joining now, by the way, the fee is strictly non-refundable.”

“You, you—!” Wang Tianhong was flushed with anger, yet speechless.

Hearing Li Jian San’s response, the patriarch’s expression darkened as he addressed Li Jian San coldly. “Boy, you’re bold indeed, daring to toy with my Wang family. I see you’re courting trouble.”

Li Jian San scoffed at his words. “Heh, so what if I toyed with you? Is your Wang family truly so formidable?”

The patriarch let out a cold laugh. “It’s been ages since I’ve seen such an arrogant fool.”

His expression grew grimmer. “Boy, I don’t care who you are. You’ll pay for this. If you hand over the spirit stones you stole and your storage ring, then cripple your own cultivation and kneel to beg for mercy, I may spare your life out of kindness.”

Beside him, Wang Yang added darkly, “Yes, yes, kneel and beg, then cripple both your hands and feet!”

Li Jian San glanced at them and replied indifferently, “Sorry, anything I, Li Jian San, acquire is like food I’ve eaten—never to be spit out. As for the storage ring you want, to hell with you.”

Hearing this, Chu Xi’er couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh.

“Father, this brat is far too arrogant. No need for more words—just have him crippled,” Chu Xi’er spoke up.

After she spoke, Wang Yang pointed at her. “Father, I say this girl looks quite delicate. We could have some fun with her.”

“She does look pretty. Should help me vent some anger.” Wang Tianhong’s eyes lit up wickedly as he looked at Chu Xi’er.

“Father, I called dibs first…” Wang Tianhong seemed a bit disappointed, but as long as he could torment Li Jian San, he kept silent.

“Don’t worry, after I’m done, you can have your turn.”

Upon hearing this, Wang Tianhong was delighted. “Thank you, father!”

The patriarch then ordered, “Men, cripple this brat!”

As soon as he spoke, Wang Tianhong’s expression turned terrifyingly sinister. “After you cripple him, break his hands and feet, then hang him up and beat him slowly. Remember, don’t kill him—I want to torment him, so he knows the price of mocking me.”

“Little lady, come here and entertain your grand master.” Under Wang Tianhong’s menacing gaze, Chu Xi’er’s expression changed and she moved closer to Li Jian San…

Meanwhile, at the Alchemist Guild.

“This tea is truly excellent, Old Mo. I’ll give it to you, but that treasured apprentice of yours—you’d best not fight me for him.”

“Bah, bah, bah! You think that lousy tea is enough for me to give you my precious disciple? Dream on!”

“Sigh, you’re all making such a fuss over my apprentice—there’s really no need.”

“What do you mean, your apprentice? Watch your words.”

“Your apprentice? Shameless…”

The tranquil courtyard, once peaceful for tea, now echoed with the furious bickering of three alchemists.

“Masters, I have something to report,” Xu Fu said as he approached.

“What is it?” Master Mo asked.

“It’s like this—just now, the staff reported that Li Jian San is currently at the Wang family manor.”

“What’s my precious apprentice doing there?”

“It’s said Li Jian San crippled one of the Wang family’s youths, then played tricks on their clan, swindling eight thousand spirit stones. They’re currently in a standoff. I thought things looked grim, so I came to tell you.”

Xu Fu answered truthfully, though his heart was uneasy. This little troublemaker has stirred up such a mess; who knows if the three masters will intervene. If they don’t, I’ll have to step in myself…

“My apprentice toyed with the Wang family—doesn’t he look down on them? They dare hassle him? Are they ignoring me?”

“What! Those Wang family trash dare lay hands on my precious apprentice!”

“To bully my disciple is courting death!”

Upon hearing this, Master Mo’s face turned furious, his aura erupting instantly.

Master Jin and Master Qi were incensed as well.

Xu Fu was so shaken he staggered back, inhaling sharply. Now that their apprentice has gotten someone else into trouble, why do they look so justified?

Only now did he realize how much Li Jian San meant to the three elders.

“You stay here; I’m heading over now. I won’t let my apprentice be bullied.” Master Jin said angrily to the others.

“Bah, I’ll go too!”

“Hey, listen, he’s my apprentice. Don’t get ahead of yourselves…”

And so, the three old men set off grandly for the Wang family residence.

“I seem to have underestimated how much that little rascal Li Jian San means to these old fellows.” Watching the elders depart, Xu Fu gave a bitter smile, shook his head, and sighed, “The Wang family’s century-old legacy ends today.”