Zhu Yingning was lucky, encountering only chanisms she had seen before. All of them were dismantled. There were no explosions. She survived.
She made another call, summoning the won's brigade from the Qingye Society to rapidly clean up the battlefield. Then she reminded Lin Tang that Tang Dingwu was still alive. The Tang Sect had strongholds throughout the country, so of which housed disciples who, while not possessing exceptional martial prowess, were nonetheless wealthy and influential. If Lin Tang wanted to eradicate them completely, he needed to start planning.
Lin Tang cast her a glance. This woman really exemplifies the term "turncoat" to its fullest.
With the antidote sample and his superb dical skills, he quickly concocted a large quantity of the cure and successfully detoxified everyone. As a result, not a single person died from the poison after dawn. The infighting from the previous night, however, had left nurous people injured and a small number dead. When Lin Tang saw soone critically injured and on the verge of death, he would casually save them. As for those with more moderate injuries, he didn't bother. Once detoxified, everyone fell into a deep sleep.
Lin Tang specifically checked on Shen Qiushi and saw that he was no longer in grave danger. He also found that the migrant workers Zhang Xinyu and Liu Changping were fine. He then located Wu Xinyu and Huang Jifen, having Zhu Yingning's subordinates carry them into a car and take them back to Villa No. 1.
Zhu Yingning's eyes darted about, always fixated on the divine sword.
Lin Tang teased her, "What, you want it too?"
"Oh no, haha, I'm just curious..." Zhu Yingning hastily waved her hands, responding with a nervous chuckle.
"Then take a good look," Lin Tang said, tossing the sword to her.
She fumbled to catch it and scrutinized it closely. Then, she tried sliding her palm along the blade, but nothing happened. She increased the pressure, yet still couldn't even break the skin.
This sword... is ridiculously dull! It probably couldn't even kill a chicken. No wonder Tang Dingbo couldn't cut a single hair off Lin Tang's head with it. He was tricked so badly!
"So, the question is, why is the sword so sharp when Lin Tang uses it?" Zhu Yingning was utterly perplexed.
The reason was simple. Lin Tang's True Qi could rge with the sword, activating the Gengsha within to harm his enemies. It was the Gengsha that was doing the work. Tang Dingbo's martial energy, however, had no effect on the Gengsha, leaving him completely powerless. This sword was only a weapon in the hands of a Cultivator. In anyone else's, it was just a stick.
When Shen Qiushi and the others awoke, they had already been taken back to their respective hos by Zhu Yingning's subordinates. Their first reaction was to wonder—was everything that happened just a dream? But that was impossible. People had actually died!
The survivors were confused. "Who was it that saved us?"
"I vaguely heard soone say it was a celestial being, while others said it was a demon..."
"We were all poisoned and hallucinating. Nothing we saw was real."
Soone made a call, asking one of the people who had remained conscious at the ti.
"It was Lin Tang who saved us? And he killed all those people? No way, is he really that powerful?"
Those like Lu Liangfei, who understood what a mid-stage Grandmaster was capable of, were the most skeptical. Lin Tang might have been able to rely on the divine sword to catch Yan Renjie off guard, but there was no way he could have gained any advantage against Tang Dingbo. Unless... Tang Dingbo wasn't a mid-stage Grandmaster at all. Or perhaps he wasn't even the real Tang Dingbo, but an imposter.
As for those who knew little about the Grandmaster realm, so believed the story. They thought Lin Tang was a decent person and that saving them was sothing he ought to have done. Another portion remained skeptical, while the rest disbelieved it entirely. Shen Qiushi, for example, firmly believed it was Lin Tang. Shen Jiayue and Dong Mingfeng, however, didn't believe it for a second, remaining convinced that Lin Tang was dead.
Regardless of whether they believed him or not, Lin Tang didn't care.
He returned to the villa and carefully hid all the treasures he had taken from the Tang Sect's old lair, including the Spiritual Material Copper Essence and the Centennial Elixirs.
Then he found Zhu Yingning. "You..."
He had just opened his mouth when Zhu Yingning dropped to the ground, expertly presenting her rear while covering her head and shutting her eyes tightly.
"Master, if you want to strike , please do. As long as it pleases you," she said, her face beet-red and her jaw clenched in a portrait of stoic humiliation. She had no choice. Her life was the most important thing; everything else was negotiable. Besides, it wasn't her first spanking. She would just have to get used to it.
Lin Tang was speechless. Heavens, he had no intention of hitting her right now. Why did she hold such a deep prejudice against him? He was baffled and wanted to explain. But on second thought, as a master, wouldn't explaining himself to a subordinate undermine his dignity? If she started thinking he was kind and beca arrogant and defiant...
"Hmph. Very good. You know your place," Lin Tang said, decisively taking advantage of the situation. SLAP! SLAP! He landed several sharp blows, spanking her rear as if it were her face. He continued until she was trembling, barely managing to stifle her cries.
This deadbeat... can't he be a little gentler? Does he think he's beating a drum? Zhu Yingning cursed inwardly.
She heard Lin Tang shouting as he hit her, "Are you going to confess?! Will you confess or not?! Will you?!"
"...What do you want to confess? At least tell first!" Zhu Yingning cried out, feeling increasingly mortified.
"Hmph, you can't even fathom your master's thoughts. What use are you?" Lin Tang snarled, his expression fierce.
Zhu Yingning was utterly exasperated.
Just then, Huang Jifen and Wu Xinyu woke up at the sa ti and were greeted by this scene.
"Celestial Brother..." Wu Xinyu's eyes went wide.
Huang Jifen quickly covered the little girl's face. "Don't look! You'll get a stye!"
Seeing them, Lin Tang imdiately stopped and straightened the creases on his collar with a very serious expression. "I was conducting an interrogation, questioning her about important secrets," he stated solemnly.
"I understand, I understand," Huang Jifen said, nodding repeatedly with the air of soone worldly and experienced. She was just thrilled to see Lin Tang alive. What did these minor details matter to a nanny like her? She naturally didn't mind.
"Celestial Brother, I knew you wouldn't die! I knew you'd co save us!" Wu Xinyu exclaid, her face full of adoration as she chose to ignore the scene that had just deeply shaken her young mind.
"Hehe—" For a rare mont, Lin Tang's face reddened. He patted her small head, at a loss for words.
It's all Zhu Yingning's fault! Dropping to the ground so quickly! She forced my hand, and I completely forgot there was a child present.
Zhu Yingning remained silent.
「Two days later.」
In a scenic mountain range thousands of miles from Jiangbei, Zhu Yingning limped along, leading the way. Lin Tang followed behind, stroking his chin.
"Did you pad your pants with cotton? Your rear seems a lot bigger than before."
What is he talking about? It's obviously because he beat until I'm swollen... Zhu Yingning quietly rolled her eyes and changed the subject. "My mother-in-law's grave is just ahead, but I can't guarantee that her burial goods include the item you're looking for..."
"No problem. If we don't find it, I'll just give you another beating," Lin Tang said nonchalantly.
They had traveled here specifically to find the Thousand-Year Huangsun Resin. He had already searched the Tang Sect's other strongholds but hadn't found it. Frightened by his beatings, Zhu Yingning had racked her brain, recalling every scrap of information her deceased husband had ever revealed, and finally rembered this clue.
A mont later, they crested a hill. A rather large cetery ca into view. A tall tombstone stood prominently, engraved with the words "Tomb of my Beloved Wife." A photo was attached, showing a classical beauty in a cheongsam. The forecourt in front of the tomb was paved with marble slabs, resembling a small plaza. A large cauldron stood in the center, filled with smoldering incense sticks.
Seeing this, Lin Tang couldn't help but smile. Tang Dingbo had built such a beautiful tomb for his wife, yet he himself had died without a proper burial.
Zhu Yingning, however, sighed, remarking that Tang Dingbo had been a truly devoted man. He had lost his wife early in life and had never remarried.
Lin Tang scoffed, in no mood to admire his enemy. He strode forward, rolled up his sleeves, and prepared to start digging.
"Who are you people? How dare you trespass in this cetery and disturb the dead?" a cold voice rang out.
An elderly man in his eighties appeared, holding a bundle of long, unlit incense sticks. It seed the ones smoldering in the cauldron were also his. His expression was cold and clearly displeased. When he saw Zhu Yingning, however, his face softened slightly.
"You must be Feng'er's daughter-in-law. I've seen your photograph. It's comndable that you've co to pay respects to your mother-in-law. Unlike your father-in-law, who has probably forgotten the wife of his youth long ago. Hmph!"
Hearing this, Zhu Yingning was stunned. "You... could you be Grandfather?"
She only knew that her mother-in-law ca from an ancient and mysterious hidden family. She had eloped with Tang Dingbo, severing all ties. Tang Dingbo had truly married above his station. Any hidden family that could stand for centuries was bound to be terrifying. Zhu Yingning never expected to run into her long-lost "grandfather" here. If he found out that Lin Tang had just killed his son-in-law and was now about to desecrate his daughter's grave, wouldn't he tear them both to shreds?!
Cursing her luck silently, she quickly tried to give Lin Tang a warning look, signaling that this old man was absolutely not soone to be trifled with. Their best bet was to put on an act and see if they could pull the wool over his eyes...
But Lin Tang completely ignored her frantic winks and glances. He smiled cheerfully at the old man, Mu Jiuzhou, and said, "Old sir, you misunderstand. Tang Dingbo didn't forget your daughter; he's already gone down to keep her company. Oh, of course, if your daughter has already reincarnated, then he's just dood to be a lonely ghost! Quite pitiful when you think about it."
Zhu Yingning's mind went blank.
Are you out of your damned mind...?
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