Chapter 204 - 192: It Is Impolite Not to Reciprocate

"Yes, sir!"

The Iron Guard Commanders immediately led their men into action.

"Huh?"

Everyone present was stunned.

What kind of order was that?

Aside from the Shen Family members, everyone here had come early to build connections and offer gifts. What did Shen Lang mean by sealing off the Shen Family estate?

The faces of Shen Haoxuan and the other Shen Family Elders fell. This... looked as if Shen Lang was about to move against the Shen Family.

If the Iron Guard of Evil Wind Valley made a move, how could the Shen Family possibly withstand it?

Even if they could, they wouldn’t dare!

But Shen Lang suddenly laughed and said, "Everyone, please don’t worry. It’s nothing serious. I just don’t want word of what just happened here to spread too quickly. Isn’t the Shen Family about to host a banquet? Let’s just consider the previous incident a minor prelude. Next, the Shen Family will properly entertain all of you. Tonight, no one leaves until they’re drunk. How does that sound?"

As he spoke, he turned to look at Clan Leader Shen Haoxuan.

Shen Haoxuan was looking at him with a pitiful expression. But upon hearing his words, it was as if he had drunk from a cool spring or sweet dew in the middle of summer. Every pore in his body opened up in a state of utter bliss.

"Excellent, excellent! No one leaves until they’re drunk! Someone, come and prepare to receive our guests immediately!"

He strode out as if he’d been injected with chicken blood, ordering the Shen Family members to entertain the visiting guests and the people from Evil Wind Valley. He was going to throw a grand banquet for everyone.

"Hahaha! Good, no one leaves until they’re drunk!" The crowd immediately erupted in laughter.

It was a false alarm... ’As expected, it pays to give gifts early. Coming late is no good!’

’If we’d known Shen Lang was an Elder of Evil Wind Valley, we should have acted sooner. We should have secured a good relationship with the Shen Family from the very beginning!’

For a time, the joyous atmosphere at the Shen Family estate reverberated throughout all of Celestial Phoenix City...

Within the crowd, Shen Lang casually glanced in the direction of the square’s exit.

’I wonder how Old Chu’s investigation is going. Before I returned to Celestial Phoenix City, the people from Tayun Academy told me they hadn’t seen any sign of Xu Daolin. But since he already passed information to Drunken Thousand Cups and has started making his move, there’s a ninety percent chance he’s already back in the city.’

’If Xu Daolin has already begun, Celestial Phoenix City is about to undergo a major upheaval. It just so happens that the Shen Family is celebrating my father’s birthday, causing a stir throughout the city. If I were Xu Daolin, I would definitely choose this moment to strike. First, I’d send experts to suppress the experts at the City Lord’s Mansion, forcefully subduing or directly killing them. Then, I’d use the City Lord’s Mansion’s authority to move up the date of the city-wide martial arts tournament.’

’Right now, Ye Xiao Zheng is here at the Shen Family estate, and even several of his top experts have left the City Lord’s Mansion. This is the perfect time to make a move.’

’If Xu Daolin uses this opportunity to start the tournament early, he will certainly take the stage himself and crush the disciples of the various factions with his Spirit Martial Realm Cultivation.’

’Next, a conflict with Ye Xiao Zheng is inevitable. But with helpers like his senior brother Long Fong and the backing of that old scoundrel Yuwen Huaji, Ye Xiao Zheng will have virtually no chance to turn the situation around.’

’But Ye Xiao Zheng also has backing in the Imperial Dragon Sect, which is how he managed to wrest control of Celestial Phoenix City from Evil Wind Valley in the first place. Forcibly seizing control of the City Lord’s Mansion would be quite troublesome. Even if Xu Daolin defeats the disciples of all the other powers and becomes a universally acclaimed genius, he still wouldn’t have enough prestige to pull it off. The major factions wouldn’t submit to him, and the Imperial Dragon Sect would likely raise objections.’

Shen Lang took a couple of steps on the stairs. As the Shen Family members guided the crowd towards the banquet hall, his mind was rapidly deducing all the potential developments.

’Xu Daolin is a man of deep cunning, sly as a fox yet ruthless as a wolf. The mere appearance of people from the Holy Light Sect and Evil Wind Valley on the Tala Prairie was enough for him to exploit the situation and try to drive a wedge between the two Sects... So, when it comes to dealing with the City Lord’s Mansion, there must be a better way. The question is, what could it be? What kind of event could legitimately suppress the City Lord’s Mansion, allow the insignificant Xu Family to rise to power, and also resolve the issue with the Imperial Dragon Sect?’

’If he just uses Yuwen Huaji’s power to suppress them, it won’t necessarily go smoothly. The people within the Imperial Dragon Sect are constantly scheming against each other for power; they won’t let Yuwen Huaji gain such an advantage for nothing.’

Suddenly, a sharp glint flashed in Shen Lang’s eyes. ’Back then, my father went to Black Wind Ridge because of a message from Xu Daolin’s old man. The Xu Family must have known about the Demon Corpse, or rather, the Demon Martial Artists, from the very beginning! Ye Xue was using them, but they were also using Ye Xue!’

Once he figured out this crucial point, everything else fell into place. Shen Lang’s train of thought immediately became clear.

’If it were me, after righteously defeating the disciples of all the major powers and making a name for myself in a single battle, I would then drag that Demon Martial Artist out of the City Lord’s Mansion. I’d expose Ye Xiao Zheng’s collusion with the Demon Dao to the public, completely crushing him and making it impossible for him to ever recover!’

’At that point, Ye Xiao Zheng will become the public enemy of all of Celestial Phoenix City, and all the credit will go to the Xu Family! They’ll ride this momentum to rise to the top. Then, Yuwen Huaji will appear, and with a pincer attack from both sides, they’ll force all the powers in Celestial Phoenix City to submit obediently! From then on, Celestial Phoenix City will belong to the Xu Family!’

’Once the Xu Family occupies Celestial Phoenix City and gains the support of the Imperial Dragon Sect, they’ll spend a decade or so developing and growing stronger. Then, when Yuwen Huaji breaks through to the King Martial Realm and everything is ready, the Xu Family can begin their push to become a Profound Iron Level Influence under his leadership!’

After thinking everything through, a murderous glint flashed through Shen Lang’s eyes, and he smiled as he looked at the distant sky.

The winter sun felt warm on his skin, but Shui Qingwu, who had just walked up to Shen Lang, felt a wave of coldness wash over her.

’It is impolite not to reciprocate. Xu Daolin, just you wait...’

’Oh, Xu Daolin, Xu Daolin... if you hadn’t provoked me, if your Xu Family hadn’t gotten involved in my father’s affairs, I couldn’t be bothered with you... But since you’ve already taken things this far, even with that old fogey Yuwen Huaji protecting you, I will make sure all your efforts come to nothing. And then, I’ll cut you down with a single strike!’

"Hey, what are you thinking about? Uncle Tian and the others are over there waiting for you!" Shui Qingwu lightly poked Shen Lang’s arm with her finger.

Shen Lang paused, following her gaze. He saw his parents smiling in their direction, with Xue Dangdang standing beside them, waving.

"I’m coming," Shen Lang said with a broad smile.

Then, Shen Lang turned to glance at Shui Qingwu and said, "From now on, you can’t be so impolite to me. I’m going to be your elder, you know."

Shui Qingwu’s eyebrows shot up. "What do you mean!"

Shen Lang smiled faintly. "That lady from the Shui Family just now, what do you call her?"

"That’s my aunt..." Shui Qingwu said, momentarily stunned.

"There you go. I call her ’Big Sister,’ and you call her ’Aunt’... You get it."

After saying that, Shen Lang quickened his pace and hurried over to his parents.

"Bastard! How dare you take advantage of me!"

Shui Qingwu shook her little fists at Shen Lang’s back, but then she immediately burst out laughing with a PUFFT.

The entire Shen Family estate was now sealed off; people could enter, but not leave. The banquet was still being prepared.

And amidst the lively atmosphere of Celestial Phoenix City, a dark undercurrent was surging...

’Xu Daolin, I have high hopes for you. I’ll keep the news of my return under wraps for a while to let you carry on with your plan. Don’t you dare disappoint me.’

Shen Lang smiled and strode toward where his parents were.

People from the various factions came forward one after another to greet him.

The Shen Family estate was now extraordinarily lively, buzzing with voices.

However, there were still people outside who were completely unaware of what was happening at the Shen Family estate.

Deng Jianchen was one of them.

Back then, he had come to Celestial Phoenix City with Shui Qingwu and Lang Buqun as a "Flower Guardian," only to encounter a Demon Corpse at Black Wind Ridge.

Shen Lang had appeared as the Ghost-faced Man and given him a bottle of Giant Potion to drink.

After the great battle, Lang Buqun and the handmaiden Cai Ying had escaped quickly and were still alive and kicking. Deng Jianchen, however, had been bedridden for over a month.

On this day, while wine cups were clinking at the Shen Family estate, Deng Jianchen finally couldn’t take it anymore.

’Damn it, my body’s finally healed, but after lying around for a month, I’m bored out of my mind! I’m gonna go for a stroll, check out some girls.’

No sooner said than done. Deng Jianchen grabbed his sword and headed out of the courtyard.

In the courtyard, Uncle Zhou, who was practicing his punches with a Step Technique, was surprised to see him come out. "Jianchen, where are you off to?"

Deng Jianchen flashed a brilliant smile. "I’m going to the brothel!"

But Uncle Zhou didn’t believe him for a second. Who announces they’re going to a brothel so righteously?

The proper way would be to say it furtively, with shifty eyes, "I’m going to get my hair washed..."

"Be back early," Uncle Zhou advised. "Buqun and Cai Ying went shopping. If you run into them, tell them to come back together. Today’s the last day of the Tayun Academy trial, so Qingwu should be back too."

"Got it."

Having been cooped up in bed for a month and bored half to death, Deng Jianchen felt like he had been reborn.

Walking down the street and seeing the women passing by, he instantly felt that life was truly beautiful. ’Today is a good day, everything I wish for will come true, today is a good day...’

’Open the door and welcome the spring breeze...’

’Grandma’s balls! That damn Giant Potion had me laid up for over a month. Right now, even a cow looks pretty to me! I’ve got to go get some flower wine first! That bastard Lang Buqun... Qingwu told him to take care of me, but look at him, going out shopping and drinking with Cai Ying every day! I’ve done the math, and those two are definitely hooking up!’

Deng Jianchen came from a prominent family and was handsome and debonair. Back at Jialan Academy, plenty of women had thrown themselves at him.

He rarely ever went to that sort of pleasure-seeking establishment.

But now he was in Celestial Phoenix City. Although he had been here for over a month, the only thing he was familiar with was his bed.

Driven by desperation, he had no choice but to seek out such a place to solve his "problem."

He casually stopped a young woman on the street and asked, "Miss, which way to the brothel in Celestial Phoenix City?"

"Pervert!"

The woman spat, covered her face, and hurried away.