Hearing Wen Yan's words, long-forgotten memories surged vividly in Hu Yuan's mind, and the things that person said to him back then seemed to echo in his ears once more.

He felt the character on his forehead being taken away—it was even more hopeless than being crushed by a Martial Artist just a moment ago.

He'd rather die, rather die at Wen Yan's hands, rather accept any other outcome than have this title stripped from him; even less did he want to die at the hands of a Martial Artist he despised the most.

In a flash, Hu Yuan let out a low growl, and his body began to shrink.

The massive tiger kept shrinking, as if his whole body—everything about him—was being twisted and drawn out along with the character Wen Yan was stripping away.

If he couldn't stop it, he would rather have everything taken away with that character.

Soon, there was a one-foot-tall Tiger Stone Carving in Wen Yan's palm.

The sculpture looked just like a curled-up tiger, with its paws crossed over its face and forehead.

Wen Yan stared at the sculpture in his hand, somewhat surprised; he could easily sense the information it contained within.

"Mountain Lord Tiger Bone, cures all wind illnesses, produced every month."

Beside him, Tuoba stared at Wen Yan, looking stunned.

"That's some powerful sealing technique."

"Wait, but…"

"Wouldn't it be easier just to beat this guy to death? Why bother with all this trouble?"

"He can't be killed. Even if he dies, he'll just revive."

"So what's the situation now?"

"He chose to give up his chance at resurrection just to keep that title—he'd rather die than have it completely stripped away."

"So, did you take it or not?"

"I did strip him of his title." Wen Yan hesitated for a moment, then added, "Normally I couldn't take away any more, but since he cooperated, I took everything from him—his title and everything else are all sealed in this statue."

Wen Yan truly hadn't expected this outcome. There was one more thing he didn't say: now, the only thing left connected to the words Mountain Lord should be just the Mountain Lord Tiger Bone this statue produces every month.

And that's just an herb, nothing more.

He really hadn't expected that Hu Yuan, who always seemed indifferent to everything, would be so fixated on a title that no longer mattered—enough to give up his own revival.

He didn't know what Hu Yuan had experienced in the past, but he supposed that perhaps, at the last moment, Hu Yuan came to understand something he never could before.

At least now Wen Yan was sure—Hu Yuan was dead, and his chance at resurrection was gone; he'd given it up himself.

Now this statue was merely the remnant of Hu Yuan, once the Mountain Lord, and nothing more.

Wen Yan put the sculpture away. Time to produce some tiger bone and let the Scorching Sun Department's experts see how to use this remedy—how effective it was, what its properties were.

Just a moment ago, Tuoba had been acting like he was invincible. After a brief hesitation, he followed behind Wen Yan and asked in a low voice,

"Hey, what's the name of this sealing technique of yours?"

"It's not a sealing technique."

"Can you seal me up for a few months?"

"I told you, it's not a sealing technique!!"

"Seriously, just three months—two months, even one month would be fine!"

"Ugh…" Wen Yan let out a long sigh: "Why don't you just say what you really want to do?"

"I want to hide from my wife—and my son. I haven't had a full night's sleep in months."

"Why not hire a nanny or a housekeeper? You're not short on money, are you?"

"I can't. My wife doesn't trust anyone else. The second I finish helping my son go to the bathroom, my wife drags me off to do something else. I haven't had a full night's sleep, not to mention even a single complete martial training session. I just want to hide away. At least if I'm gone, my wife might finally hire someone."

Wen Yan opened his eyes wide, looking at the now burly, sculpture-like Tuoba, and thought of the old days when he was as skinny as that kidney-deficient Zhang Xuewen, and suddenly he sort of understood.

"You… So earlier, when you were acting all high and mighty, making Hu Yuan recover for hours, don't tell me that was just so you didn't have to go home tonight!"

"No way! Absolutely not! Don't talk nonsense!"

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