Xiao Xuanye's aura was terrifying. It radiated outward, causing even the air to feel dense and heavy, pressing down on everyone, making it hard to breathe and tightening their chests. A deathly silence fell over the stadium.
"We… we pay our respects to President Xiao!"
Those close by stiffened for a few seconds before dropping directly to their knees. Then, those farther away subconsciously followed suit.
RUSTLE!
In the blink of an eye, a vast crowd was kneeling, prostrating themselves in greeting and crying out their respects.
In the entire stadium, only a few remained standing, but even they bowed deeply. Even Hong Yuanfei of the dical Immortal Sect lowered his proud head, not daring to act rashly.
Of course, he was displeased. He believed that with the dical Immortal Sect's thousand-year heritage, there was no need to grovel before Xiao Xuanye. But what could he do when the man commanded such powerful modern weaponry and so many elite subordinates? At his call, he could strike down gods and buddhas alike!
Throughout the entire stadium, only Lin Tang stood ramrod straight. To him, Xiao Xuanye's killing intent was but a gentle spring breeze. He was about to speak, to challenge the old bastard to a fight, when Shen Youling quickly wiped away her tears and flashed Xiao Xuanye a brilliant smile.
"Godfather, please calm your anger. You must have seen wrong. I wasn't crying at all, not a single tear. I beg you to spare Lin Tang."
"Hmm?" Xiao Xuanye looked at her. He was silent for a mont before speaking. "I can spare him today for the sake of this adoption ceremony. But there won't be a third ti, Youling. Once you officially beco my daughter, I expect you not to defy your father again."
"Yes, I understand. I will listen to you in everything from now on…" Shen Youling sighed.
She understood he was hinting that her future marriage was his to decide. He knew she had specifically called Lin Tang here to disrupt the arranged matchmaking he had planned. Such small acts of defiance were not sothing he would tolerate. It was just like the princesses and noble ladies of old. They enjoyed high status but were often forced into political marriages. A single imperial edict would decide their husband, and they had no choice but to obey. That was their fate.
"Lin Tang, you should go," Shen Youling urged him in a low voice. "This is my fault. I shouldn't have called you here. It won't happen again."
"You really don't have to compromise like this…" Lin Tang said earnestly.
"Just go!" Shen Youling snapped, her voice filled with a mix of irritation, disappointnt, and sorrow. "I'm putting myself through all this just so Godfather won't kill you! Why can't you appreciate it instead of rambling on?"
She was overco with anguish.
"You're always so self-righteous." Interrupted so brusquely, Lin Tang simply shook his head and left with Lee Encai.
This ti, no one stepped forward to stop them.
Hong Yuanfei wanted to say sothing, but Xiao Xuanye patted him on the shoulder. "Nephew Hong, you are a guest from afar, so you must abide by the host's rules. Once you leave my territory, you may do as you please. But here, you will not be insolent."
"...I was presumptuous!"
Although Xiao Xuanye's pat was not forceful and didn't hurt, Hong Yuanfei felt an overwhelming nausea, as if he were about to vomit blood. His back was drenched in a cold sweat.
Lin Tang, enjoy your little bit of freedom. After this ceremony, I'll co for you… he thought, carefully putting away the poison-warding pearl.
Expressionless, Lin Tang led Lee Encai out of the stadium.
Hua Fengchen spotted him instantly, his face lighting up with glee.
"Well, well, Lin Tang. Weren't you acting all high and mighty? Thought you were worthy of seeing your ex-wife, did you? How does it feel to be kicked out by President Xiao?" he sneered, hiding behind his bodyguard, Xiong Guangfa, to avoid another slap.
Lin Tang had no interest in the coward. He was about to get into his car when two people approached.
"Master Lin, what's happening?"
"Brother Lin, what ex-wife? I don't understand…" Chen Shanchun and his granddaughter, Chen Yuyan, had arrived together.
They had only heard that President Xiao had adopted a daughter with a disfigured face and was offering a substantial reward for any famous doctor who could treat her. As the chief physician of the Xuanhu dical Pavilion, Chen Shanchun couldn't miss this opportunity to showcase his dical skills. Getting on President Xiao's good side would be even better.
Seeing that the grandfather and granddaughter knew Lin Tang, Hua Fengchen was about to start shouting insults again. But Hua Tianxiong recognized Chen Shanchun and quickly shoved his son, forcing him to shut up before stepping forward to make pleasantries.
"Chief Chen, you haven't heard? The daughter President Xiao adopted is nad Shen Youling. This Lin Tang here has such terrible character that President Xiao threw him out…"
After Hua Tianxiong's quick explanation, Chen Shanchun and Chen Yuyan finally understood. They looked at Lin Tang with eyes full of sympathy.
"I have to go. We'll talk next ti." Lin Tang nodded to them and headed for the parking lot.
Hua Fengchen had wanted to order his bodyguard to cripple Lin Tang on the spot. However, hearing that the ceremony inside was officially starting, he forgot all about Lin Tang and rushed in with Hua Tianxiong and the others.
Chen Yuyan wanted to run after Lin Tang and offer a few more words of comfort.
"Business first!" Chen Shanchun said, pulling her along as they hurried inside.
The other distinguished guests who had been deliberately loitering outside also began to move. No one spared a second glance for Lin Tang, the "loser."
After getting in the car, Lin Tang told Lee Encai to drive away.
She looked at him cautiously. "Brother Lin, are you really just leaving Shen Youling? What if they betroth her to soone else in a minute…?"
"Who said I'm leaving her?" Lin Tang glared.
"Then why did you leave?"
"I just thought of a plan and need to make so preparations. Now, stop wasting ti. Drive to the nearest pharmacy. I need to buy a few things."
"Oh…" Lee Encai was quite curious about what he intended to buy. An even more terrifying poison? A regular pharmacy wouldn't sell anything like that.
Soon, Lin Tang had bought a large variety of dicinal herbs. He then went to a departnt store and bought a few other items. Finally, they arrived at a deserted area.
"What are you doing?" Lee Encai asked, watching him place a brand-new crucible on the ground and add the things he had purchased one by one.
Lin Tang didn't answer, continuing his work.
BOOM!
He released his True Qi, creating intense friction and causing the temperature inside the crucible to rise steadily. After a dizzying series of actions, a gel-like substance gradually ford inside the crucible, becoming more and more transparent.
"Oh my god!" Lee Encai gasped, covering her mouth.
She watched as Lin Tang's True Qi lifted the gel. It hovered in the air and began to mold itself, like clay, into a head with facial features. It was a perfect replica of Lin Tang.
"Let borrow so of your hair."
With a flick of his hand, several centiters of Lee Encai's hair were severed. He swiftly inserted the strands into the "head" and trimd them into a perfect copy of his own hairstyle.
"Here, try it on."
Once the creation had beco dry, soft, and extrely thin, Lin Tang draped it over Lee Encai's head. After a few minor adjustnts, Lee Encai had transford into Lin Tang. The resemblance was uncanny, down to the last detail of skin tone, blood vessels, and pores. Except… she was a bit shorter and leaner. And, well, her prominent chest was a major giveaway.
"You want to impersonate you to create an alibi, while you disguise yourself as soone else to go cause trouble?" Lee Encai finally understood. She shook her head. "It won't work. I can't produce a man's voice. And my figure…"
Lin Tang pointed to the remaining materials in the crucible. "If I can change your face, I can certainly broaden your shoulders and flatten your chest. Now, get in the car and take off your clothes…"
"Ah! No!"
After the car shook for a while, everything fell silent. The door opened, and the person who stepped out had completely transford into Lin Tang. There was no difference in either her appearance or her physique. She wore Lin Tang's shirt and pants, along with a pair of elevator shoes, and stared at her reflection in the mirror.
"This is incredible!" she exclaid in Lin Tang's masculine voice.
Indeed. After Lin Tang had pricked a few acupoints on her neck with needles, her vocal tone had changed as well.
Lin Tang, now wearing a different set of clothes and the face of Long Tianji, got out of the car. He looked at his own "masterpiece" with satisfaction and snapped his fingers.
"Ti to go back and raise hell for three hundred rounds!"
"Brother Lin… I an, Uncle Long, can you really defeat President Xiao? Don't be reckless and take unnecessary risks…"
"Shen Youling never trusts . You don't trust either?"
"Okay, okay, I trust you! Please don't be angry with !"
They got back into the car and drove to the vicinity of the stadium. After parking, Lin Tang circled the area alone, avoiding all the security caras. He snuck into the stadium from another direction.
Just as he entered, he saw that Shen Youling's adoption ceremony had reached its final step.
"Godfather, please accept this tea." Her etiquette was flawless.
After Xiao Xuanye drank the tea, the master of ceremonies announced the rite's completion.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Brilliant fireworks shot into the sky, filling the air with joy.
"Congratulations to President Xiao on his new beloved daughter!"
The entire crowd rose to their feet and applauded warmly. A high-pitched voice began to announce the most prominent gifts:
"From the dical Immortal Sect, Hong Yuanfei presents a pair of five-hundred-year-old Purple Cloud Ginseng!"
"From the Xuanhu dical Pavilion, Chen Shanchun presents a three-hundred-year-old King of Fuling!"
"From the capital, Hua Tianxiong presents a pair of top-grade Imperial Green bracelets!"
"From Lu City, Zhou Huolin presents a pigeon's-egg diamond necklace!"
"From Yun City, Zuo Chaoqun presents one Water Spirit Crystal!"
"From Rong City, Du Xinglong presents…"
"..."
The thousands of people present were all wealthy elites, and the gifts were innurable. Announcing every single one would take far too long. Of course, they wouldn't waste ti like that. Only those with exceptionally high status and particularly precious gifts earned the privilege of being announced. For anyone of a lower standing with a lesser gift to be nad aloud would only invite ridicule and backfire.
Once the gift presentation segnt concluded, Hua Fengchen was about to swagger forward and promote his family's beauty needles.
Before he could speak, a voice bood throughout the stadium, needing no microphone:
"I, Long Tianji, have co empty-handed! Instead, I offer a gift of three fists."
"Xiao Xuanye, Xiao Bubai! Do you dare to receive my three punches?"
The challenge echoed, reverberating through the hall. "Do you dare to receive them? Do you dare? Do you dare?..."
The crowd was utterly stunned.
"Long Tianji?"
"Who's that?"
"How dare he co here and cause a scene!"
"The nerve of this guy!"
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