As one of the two strongest millennium-old families, when had the Shui Family suffered such a humiliation? However, even after eating such a bitter pill this time around, none of the over hundred members dared to even make a squeak!
On top of the tree, Li Xue let out a light laugh as she said, “I never realized this in the past, but Ling Jian’s words are actually this incisive! For him not to change his occupation to be a bandit, the underworld is really losing out!”
In contrast, Ling Tian shook his head regretfully, “Ling Jian still hasn’t fully mastered it, and can’t speak well. If it was me, I would make sure that all of them would be angered to death after two sentences from me! To think that he only made them faint from anger, how useless!”
This caused Xiao YanXue to open her mouth in silent shock, as her eyes bulged.Even with Ling Jian’s standard, he still wasn’t satisfied? What sort of person was this guy?!
Seeing Xiao YanXue’s expression, Li Xue couldn’t hold in her laughter. She interjected, “Seems like this sister still doesn’t know the situation. Our dear young noble Ling here takes extreme joy in driving people to their graves by angering them. When you know him long enough, you will realize that any word spoken by this jerk here can cause the dead to start jumping within their graves in anger!”
Xiao YanXue could not help laughing too. However, her face suddenly turned red as she said in embarrassment, “How could I not know? I’ve long ago had a taste of it, this jerk is not a good man.” Li Xue nodded her head repeatedly in common understanding, sighing as she replied, “You make a lot of sense here!”
Ling Tian stared at them in return. “What sort of nonsense are you two silly little girls talking about? How am I not a good person? Just look at me, how could you find someone like me, who’s handsome, elegant, refined, master of brush and sword, an instantly likable person, naive and kindhearted but also pure and without flaws? All those words you said to this young noble were basically to slander and insult me!”
“Naive and kindhearted? Pure without flaws?” The two ladies laughed until the branches of the tree started to shake. Using such embellishments on Ling Tian was basically smearing the reputation these few compliments had!
“However, this matter still has some loopholes.” After laughing for a moment, Li Xue turned the topic back on track, “If Yu ManLou finds out about today, he would immediately connect the fact that the First Pavilion has joined the war. This will inevitably reveal the relationship we have with the First Pavilion.” As she spoke, she let out a sigh. “Ling Jian shouldn’t have killed the people from both families, for other than us, what other family would have the ability or the influence to benefit from this? Furthermore, with the agreement between you and Yu ManLou agreeing not to infringe each other’s territory within the five years, he will use that to blame you for foul play!”
“I believe otherwise!” Ling Tian laughed out. “Even if Yu ManLou were to suspect anything, it would only be a suspicion. He after all still does not have any sort of concrete proof to pinpoint the blame towards our Ling Family. Besides, the time between mine and Justice’s bet still has over a month to go. Within this month, everyone would believe that I’m busy escaping for my life. How would I even have the strength to go about planning such a big event? Thus, Yu ManLou’s thoughts would only stop at suspicions, and based on his mistrustful attitude as well as his habit of doing things after planning everything out, he would not rashly move at this point. After all, he has already started moving towards the Western Han army. Why would he initiate a war on another front? Isn’t that looking for trouble?”
“Without me at the helm, the Ling Family’s strength would be pushed down in Yu ManLou’s heart. Besides,” Ling Tian suddenly let out a strange smile. “The most interesting part about this matter is that five hundred first-tier experts from the Above Heavens sect secretly entered the compound of the Yu Family, likely to seek revenge. If we put the two things together, I believe Yu ManLou will definitely start to overthink things. After all, in this age, it’s hard to have an expert, let alone three like those black-robed men. And linking it with the once glorious Above Heaven… hehehe…” Ling Tian started to maliciously laugh.
“There’s such a matter?” Li Xue furrowed her brows in deep thought. “Even if that’s the case, we still cannot be too careless. Cautiousness will allow a ship to sail for ten thousand years! While Yu ManLou might have suspicions toward Above Heavens, he will still keep a lookout on us. After all, Above Heavens is still half a pugilistic sect and is different from how we operate. We have to guard against this point.”
Ling Tian nodded his head, saying, “This does make sense. We need to tighten our security then.”
Li Xue was however still pondering about his words, and suddenly asked, “Your meaning just now was that, before the half year bet is up…. For the next month or so you will not show your face?”
“Everyone in the world knows that I’m being pursued by Justice, so why should I risk it and show my face?” Ling Tian sniggered, “Wouldn’t it be better if I pulled the strings from behind the scenes? Don’t forget our objective, that is to let every single enemy die of anger without knowing why. That’s our greatest joy!”
“What kind of logic is that?!” Li Xue annoyedly huffed before laughing. “You’re really getting too used to being treacherous.”
“I’m innocent!” Ling Tian put on a bitter expression, “I’ve also busied myself for so many years, and spent this half a year in countless dangers. Can’t you let me take this month’s time to have a holiday for myself?”
“Take a holiday? I’m afraid it would make more sense if you were busier this month instead!” Li Xue laughed with some schadenfreude. “Inside the Ling Family Courtyard, I believe there are tons of matters waiting for your attention…”
“It can’t be?” Ling Tian’s face changed like he just ate a bitter pill. “I even wanted to take this chance to pick up some chicks…”
“In your dreams!” “Go and die!” Two offended hmphs were heard, and two hands caught Ling Tian’s ears, one on each side, twisting with force. Ling Tian screamed out in misery, begging humbly to be spared.
It seems as though this ancient tool of women was highly effective even when against an expert of martial arts!
Below them, the various warriors of the Ling Family unrestrainedly picked up the jewels and gold strewn all over the place, slowly categorizing them and placing them within the boxes prepared. They even wiped down each object before placing them in, really paying attention to all details.
As for the Shui Family, after a short period of rest, they began to collect the bodies of their partners, burying them. Both sides had their respective jobs, and no one interfered in the other, making the process seem extremely streamlined.
Ling Jian stood in his white robes at the side, his arms crossed with an icy expression on his face. The Elders of Shui Family seemed to wish to speak with him, but every time they walked near him, they would give up on their thoughts and return to their original location without a single word. Ling Jian’s posture fully displayed his attitude: No bargaining or negotiations! While the Shui Family was unsatisfied, looking at someone of Ling Jian’s caliber, they could only pinch their noses in resentment.
Finally, the Shui Family woodenly finished their jobs, carrying stomachs full of pain as well as the resentment towards the Ling Family as they returned to the city. Before they left, they did not even bother to bid farewell to Ling Jian and the rest.
As Ling Jian watched them leave, his face grew colder, and the killing intent thicker. The aura on his body fluctuated nonstop, and it was after a long while that he finally snorted coldly, turning his back to them.
If not for the sake of the plan, just their lack of politeness was enough to make Ling Jian slaughter all of them! Ling Jian had zero good impressions towards this group of Shui Family members, feeling that this group was just too untactful!
After a long time, the Ling Family warriors gathered most of the missing treasure, categorizing it into the different wagons. They actually filled up three huge wagons! This even made Ling Tian exclaim from the trees. He could not help but praise the conscientious efforts of the Yu Family members. They really embodied the point of ‘becoming rich through one’s own efforts’!
Li Xue twisted her mouth, nodding her head below, “Look clearly, that great assassin there had actually brought ten wagons here today!” Ling Tian smiled, and craning his neck down, he saw Ling Jian gazing at the other empty seven wagons, an expression of not knowing whether to laugh or cry plastered on his face.
“That guy can finally reveal a human expression! Furthermore, he seemed to have gazed a few times toward our location, with respect in his eyes! Could it be that he had discovered your presence?” Li Xue looked at Ling Tian in astonishment. “How did he achieve that? He could not discover me but actually managed to discover you. Isn’t that weird?”
After promoting further in his cultivation, Ling Tian’s movement techniques had already outstripped that of Li Xue’s, and not just by a small amount. However, Ling Jian could actually detect the presence of Ling Tian! This was an oddity that was difficult to explain.
Ling Tian only smiled deeply as he slowly spoke, “When two people have come into contact with each other often enough, there would be some mysterious resonance between both parties. Through this resonance, which we usually call telepathy, two people can detect each other around a certain distance. Little lass, do you understand now?”
“Cheh! What telepathy, you’re talking about intuition, right? Do men even have intuition?” Li Xue turned her nose up. “That’s the specialty of us women!”
“Wrong! Not only do men have some sort of intuition, but their intuition is largely accurate!” Ling Tian rebuked. “As for the intuition of women, it lies mainly within the domain of relationships, and is extremely unfathomable! But the telepathy I’m talking about regarding two people is not an intuition, but rather a mysterious sort of sense. It’s difficult to put into words, but it definitely exists. If not for the fact that Ling Jian deeply respects me from the bottom of his heart, there would not be such a response. This part has to do with this young noble’s charm! Are you guys surprised, envious maybe?”
Hearing the display of shamelessness coming out of Ling Tian, he immediately suffered the wrath of two angered ladies.
Underneath, Ling Jian saw that the mission had been accomplished, and sent the order to leave. In accordance with Ling Tian’s expectations he indeed left behind a carriage parked in a clearing within the forest, and imperceptibly bent his body towards their direction, before leaving in large steps.
The young noble was back, but since he chose not to show himself, he definitely had his reasons. So long as he knew that Ling Tian was safe, that was the best news for Ling Jian!
Ling Jian was clear about what he could and could not do, thus he knew what move he was supposed to take next!