After the introductions, Old Man Tang suddenly pointed to the middle-aged man and said, “This is my useless third son, Tang Wannian. You can call him Xiao Nian. This small estate is also his property. If you ever need to entertain friends in the future, just let him know.”
“Dad, is this the so-called Master Jiang you were talking about? He’s just a kid! I don’t see anything special about him!” Tang Wannian sneered, puffing on a cigarette and shaking his head dismissively.
Dressed head to toe in designer brands, Tang Wannian looked the part of a wealthy man. However, his puffy eyes and unsteady gait betrayed a body worn down by indulgence in wine, women, and excess. He gave off the air of someone trying too hard to appear sophisticated.
Jiang Tian inwardly shook his head.
No wonder Xiao Wei and Tang Linglong had been hesitant to talk about him. Tang Wannian was nothing like his father. Even though Old Man Tang had been bedridden for years due to the ghostly energy affecting him, he still carried an air of dignity and authority, befitting someone with decades of military experience.
“Shameless!” Old Man Tang’s face turned red with anger as he slammed the table. “Master Jiang is my honored guest! How dare you disrespect him like this!”
He quickly stood up and bowed to Jiang Tian, clasping his hands in apology. “Master Jiang, please forgive my son’s rudeness. It’s my fault for not teaching him better.”
“It’s fine,” Jiang Tian said with a casual wave.
However, Tang Wannian’s untimely voice chimed in again. “Dad, what’s so great about him? Your illness isn’t even cured! You’re still coughing and feeling chills. All this talk about controlling ghosts and spirits—it’s just a scam! He’s a fraud!”
“You disgrace! Get out! Get out of here!” Old Man Tang roared, pointing toward the door.
This youngest son of his had always been reckless, making enemies left and right. Old Man Tang had hoped to introduce Jiang Tian to him, thinking that Tang Wannian could gain a powerful ally who might even save his life one day. But Tang Wannian was proving to be utterly hopeless.
Despite Old Man Tang’s repeated warnings to treat Jiang Tian with respect, Tang Wannian continued to offend him.
“Fine, fine, you guys chat. I’ll go check on the kitchen and make sure the food’s ready,” Tang Wannian said with a huff, standing up and giving Jiang Tian a cold look.
“Third Master, wait!”
To everyone’s surprise, Jiang Tian spoke up. “Third Master is right. I haven’t completely cured Old Man Tang.”
“See? I told you he’s a fraud!” Tang Wannian sat back down with a smug grin, crossing his legs and smirking.
Old Man Tang looked confused. “Master Jiang, I clearly feel much better. Why do you say that?”
Jiang Tian took a sip of tea, calm and composed. “The ghost that was possessing you has been dealt with, but there’s still a powerful ghost king in this estate. Its yin energy is strong, and its cultivation is advanced. The ghost that possessed you was just one of its minions. Because of your weakened state, it was able to take advantage of you.”
“I did remove that ghost, but without eliminating the ghost king, it’s like trying to stop a boiling pot by skimming the surface—it’s not a permanent solution. Old Man Tang, have you been experiencing alternating chills and fever lately?”
“Nonsense!” Tang Wannian interrupted before Old Man Tang could respond. “Ghosts and spirits? That’s just superstition for fools! You’re just trying to scam more money from our family! Should I call the police and have you arrested for fraud?”
“Jiang Tian, I know your background. You’re a useless, spoiled brat, a lunatic, a madman!”
“Old Man Tang, we have a connection, and Linglong has helped me before. I’m willing to help you eliminate the ghost king and break this curse,” Jiang Tian said, ignoring Tang Wannian. “However, this situation is ultimately Tang Wannian’s fault. He’s done something wrong, and I want him to donate 50 million as charity. Otherwise, I won’t help.”
“What exactly has he done wrong?” Old Man Tang asked, his expression serious.
Jiang Tian hesitated, but before he could speak, Tang Wannian jumped to his feet, waving his arms angrily. “Dad, don’t listen to him! He’s just spouting nonsense, trying to scam us! Jiang Tian, get out of here!”
“Wannian, are you trying to kill me? How dare you speak like this!”
“Uncle, Master Jiang is our honored guest. How can you be so disrespectful?”
Old Man Tang was fuming, while Tang Linglong tried to calm him down. Xiao Wei, standing nearby, could only shake his head in disappointment.
“Dad, what’s so great about this kid? He’s just a young punk pretending to be some kind of mystic!” Tang Wannian scoffed, full of disdain. “Your illness isn’t even cured, and he’s already demanding a million a year from me after beating up Li Pengtao. Li Pengtao is practically a vegetable now! Paying him until retirement will cost at least 20 million! And now he wants me to donate money? He’s just trying to rob us!”
Tang Wannian pointed at the door, commanding, “Jiang Tian, I’ve made myself clear. Get out!”
Hearing this, a cold glint flashed in Jiang Tian’s eyes. He stood up and said, “I’ve asked the Tang family for help before, which cost you 10 million. But what I’m offering in return is worth far more than 10 million or even 100 million.”
“What could you possibly offer that’s worth 10 million?” Tang Wannian sneered, laughing mockingly.
Jiang Tian ignored him, standing with his hands behind his back. “I had a good connection with Old Man Tang and wanted to grant your family a great opportunity, to help you overcome this crisis and elevate your family’s status. But since you don’t appreciate it, forget it.”
“Master Jiang, please don’t be angry! It’s my fault for not teaching him better! Please don’t leave!” Old Man Tang pleaded, trembling as he grabbed Jiang Tian’s sleeve.
“Old Man Tang, this is a body-refining manual. Consider it my repayment for the Tang family’s help,” Jiang Tian said, placing a handwritten book on the tea table. “But from now on, I owe the Tang family nothing. Tang Wannian, if you dare insult me again, don’t blame me for being rude.”
“Tch…” Tang Wannian wanted to retort, but Old Man Tang struck him several times with his cane, forcing him to shut up.
“Within a month, this estate will be filled with ghostly energy, and bloodshed will follow. If you don’t want trouble, close it down as soon as possible,” Jiang Tian said coldly. With that, he turned and walked out of the estate.
With Tang Linglong’s support, Old Man Tang hurried after him, but Jiang Tian had already disappeared.
Back in the hall, Old Man Tang trembled with anger, pointing at Tang Wannian. “You disgrace! You’re blind and can’t recognize a true master! You’re going to ruin the Tang family!”
The relationship between Jiang Tian and Tang Wannian was now irreparably damaged. Old Man Tang’s efforts to bring them together had failed miserably.
“Dad, you’re just getting old and senile. He’s just a young kid—what could he possibly know? You’ve been scammed!” Tang Wannian picked up the manual Jiang Tian had left, ready to tear it to shreds. “What kind of garbage is this?”
“What do you think you’re doing?” Old Man Tang snatched it back and opened it. On the first page were the words: “Hao Ran Body Refining Technique.”
As Old Man Tang read through it, his body trembled, and his face filled with awe. “This technique is far more profound than anything our Tang family has! It’s even stronger than most ancient martial arts techniques!”
The techniques Tang Linglong practiced were still within the realm of traditional martial arts. Old Man Tang was a master of southern martial arts, having combined elements of Wing Chun, Hung Gar, and Choy Li Fut into his own style.
But the technique Jiang Tian had provided was derived from the “Iron Fist Sect” of the cultivation world, and it had been further refined. While the Iron Fist Sect might not be top-tier in the cultivation world, their body-refining techniques were unique and far superior to ordinary martial arts.
“Grandpa, is it really that amazing?” Tang Linglong asked excitedly, while Tang Wannian just rolled his eyes.
“This technique can help you reach the Iron Body level and even generate internal energy, allowing you to overpower masters at the Transformation Realm!” Old Man Tang said solemnly.
“Then I’ll start practicing right away!” Tang Linglong said, her face glowing with excitement.
Old Man Tang sighed, filled with regret and frustration. “What a pity! Your uncle is so blind and foolish, repeatedly insulting Master Jiang and driving him away. If we had someone like him as our family’s grand advisor, the Tang family could have stood strong for a hundred years!”
—
On Monday, as soon as Zhao Xueqing arrived at work, she was summoned by the company’s chairman, Wei Fang.
Wei Fang, though past her prime, still carried a certain charm in her eyes, hinting at her former beauty. She was well-maintained, dressed fashionably in a black Prada suit and high heels, her hair elegantly tied up, exuding the aura of a capable businesswoman.
Wei Fang had once been a hostess at Linzhou TV Station before diving into business a decade ago. In just ten years, she had turned the Zhao family’s small pharmacy into a multi-million-dollar pharmaceutical company.
“Auntie…” Zhao Xueqing said timidly.
Although she was close with Zhao Qianru, she had always been somewhat intimidated by her stepmother’s strong personality.
“I heard Jiang Tian beat up Li Pengtao? He went too far!” Wei Fang said, frowning.
“Auntie, it wasn’t Jiang Tian’s fault…” Zhao Xueqing hesitated. “Li Pengtao tried to harass me, and Jiang Tian happened to see it and stepped in.”
“Even if Li Pengtao was out of line, there are laws! Your father and I would have handled it!” Wei Fang took a sip of her coffee, her expression filled with disdain. “But for him to resort to violence? What kind of person does that? Is that normal behavior?”
“Is Mr. Li planning to press charges against Jiang Tian?” Zhao Xueqing asked, her heart racing with worry.
“No, he’s not. Mr. Li is quite magnanimous. However, he’s resigned and no longer works for our company,” Wei Fang said casually, though she was also puzzled.
She couldn’t understand why Li Pengtao and his wife had let Jiang Tian off so easily. Was it just to avoid the scandal?
“Oh…” Zhao Xueqing let out a long sigh of relief, her heart finally settling.
“But Xueqing, do you really plan to stay with Jiang Tian? He’s lazy, spoiled, and worst of all, he’s abusive. He’s a textbook scoundrel!” Wei Fang said, her tone softening like a caring mother. “You’re the flower of Linzhou, talented and beautiful. So many outstanding young men admire you and pursue you. Why cling to a dead-end tree?”
“Auntie! I can’t abandon him!” Zhao Xueqing cried out, cutting Wei Fang off. Her face flushed red as she lowered her head. “Auntie, I know you’re saying this for my own good. But no matter how big a mistake someone makes, if they’re willing to start over, shouldn’t we give them a chance? Jiang Tian… he seems to be improving lately.”
