Chapter 279 - 279 163 The Final Test

279: Chapter 163: The Final Test 279: Chapter 163: The Final Test Li Xiang looked at him upon hearing this and saw the other’s gentle and warm smile.

Despite that, he couldn’t help but twitch his mouth, muttering to himself:

“Go with you?

Do you think I’m stupid?

Anyone with a normal brain wouldn’t just go with you in this situation.”

He immediately shook his head, refusing, “No need for the Aromatic Tea Pavilion.

If you are worried about the Sun being too strong, we can go to my place instead, since no one is at home right now.

Let’s just hurry and speak there.”

The group exchanged glances upon hearing his words, and Su Changqing, who was at the front, nodded slightly, saying, “In that case, we will impose.”

Li Xiang curled his lips and then pointed to several luxury cars, saying, “I say, be careful when you park your cars, we have quite a few wild kids in this neighborhood.”

After he finished speaking, he turned and headed home, and a crowd followed him inside the building, while the few acting as bodyguards softly discussed the matter.

“Hu Peng, what did I tell you?

He wouldn’t just go with us, right?

You’ve lost the bet.

Don’t forget the hundred push-ups later.”

“Psh, don’t get too smug.

The real test isn’t over yet.

Whoever loses will have to do handstand walks up the stairs.

I’m just worried you might collapse from exhaustion then.”

They were discussing this when they stopped, clearly having arrived.

Li Xiang’s home was very ordinary, a three-bedroom apartment without any fancy decor—just a typical household.

After clearing the table and pouring some water for everyone, Li Xiang finally sat down,

Looking at the group across from him, he couldn’t help but feel a surge of pressure.

However, he knew he had to face whatever was coming.

“Now, if you have something to say, say it.

But let me make it clear, I’m just an ordinary person and don’t have the capability to do business with you.”

“No, you do,” Xiao Shun shook his finger, saying, “You have a very important secret.”

Li Xiang feigned ignorance.

“Friends, you keep saying I have a secret, but honestly, I don’t know what secret I could possibly have?”

Xiao Shun shook his head, smiling, “Still not giving up?

I can remind you.

Have you heard about the ‘Lord Sword Immortal’ that started circulating recently?”

Li Xiang’s expression faltered.

“‘Lord Sword Immortal’?

You don’t mean that Sword Immortal from the internet, do you?

I’ve heard of it.

What about it?

Does it have something to do with the secret you mentioned?”

He paused to ponder deliberately, then displayed a confused expression.

“You couldn’t possibly think that I’ve met him, could you?”

“No, you’ve not only met him, you know him!” Xiao Shun stated confidently.

Li Xiang’s face was full of astonishment, “I know him!?

How could you think that?”

Seeing that the others didn’t speak, but were staring intently at him, he felt a jolt inside, yet still feigned shock as he said:

“Haha, my friends, you must really be mistaken.

Although I’ve heard about the Sword Immortal and watched videos, I must say, all that stuff is fake.

Actually, the last incident involving the Sword Immortal was just a scam.”

He said this and recited verbatim a post he had just seen on the internet.

His argument was logical, well-thought-out, and even referenced several similar past incidents, making a compelling case difficult to refute.

“So I say, this so-called Sword Immortal is entirely fake, just a ploy by internet live streamers to boost their fame.

How could you possibly think that this Sword Immortal truly exists?”

Everyone hadn’t expected such a statement from him, and for a moment, it felt as though the script had gone awry.

Xiao Shun then exercised his arguing ability, attempting to debate him a few times, but all his attempts were rejected one by one.

Ji Xiaoqi quietly pinched him from behind, snapping him back to reality.

“Cough cough, there are some things we all clearly know, so let’s not waste any more words.

Now, let’s get back to the main topic and discuss our business.”

“What business?” Li Xiang said warily.

Xiao Shun smiled, shifting from his previous low-level arguer demeanor to a high-status tycoon’s grin.

“It’s simple, we want to make a deal with you, paying for information and contact details about the Sword Immortal.”

Li Xiang was startled, thinking to himself that this was indeed the case; these guys really wanted to buy information about the organization from him.

But, if he told them, wouldn’t that make him a betrayer of the organization?

He was about to refuse outright when Xiao Shun preempted him, saying, “I know what you’re about to say, but you’d better listen to me finish first.”

As he spoke, he gestured to someone behind him, and Ji Xiaoqi hastily handed over a check that had been prepared in advance.

“Here is a deposit, two million.

Should you agree to tell us the news, after validating the truth of the matter, an additional eighteen million will be left, which will be transferred to your bank account in a suitable fashion.”

“Twenty million for one piece of information; I believe this transaction should be quite worthwhile.”

Li Xiang was stunned by the sudden show of financial effort, his eyes somewhat glazed as he stared at the check handed to him.

“Moreover, you can rest assured, like you, we’re just ordinary people seeking Transcendent abilities.

Our purpose in seeking the Sword Immortal is purely to become disciples.”

Xiao Shun’s voice continued, seductive as a Demon.

“For you, there’s no loss at all.

You just need to tell us the information and contact details of the Sword Immortal.

As for who said this information, we will also keep it confidential for you.

You could even gain a few fellow disciples like us.

Why not?”

Li Xiang audibly swallowed, his fingers itching to grab the check on the table.

“We know your father once failed in business and accrued debts of tens of thousands, and it must feel terrible to have debt collectors knocking daily, right?

Just nod now, and all this money will be yours.”

Thinking again of his family’s strained circumstances, if he really took this money, it could indeed free him from the constant harassment of debt collectors.

“Twenty million, twenty million…”

This figure was constantly echoing in his mind, and as the other party had said, if they kept it confidential, it probably wouldn’t affect him, right?

Worst case, with the twenty million in hand, wouldn’t he be free to live comfortably in the days to come?

Li Xiang watched the check on the table intently without blinking, feeling his throat dry, as if the air around him had frozen.

Not just him, even Xiao Shun and others were intensely focused on that small piece of paper, this moment of testing having reached its most critical point, whether he could pass the evaluation depended on what happened now.