Chapter 175: Chapter 175: A Hypocrite Who Can Bend and Stretch, the Memory Stone’s Great Contribution

Some people in the Jianghu noticed that Jing’an Guards had been trickling into Yazhou City since morning. By evening, the guards were a common sight on the city’s streets.

Wu Tian, who had quietly left the valley and entered the city alone, also noticed this. His heart sank. ’Such a large number of Jing’an Guards must be in Yazhou because of Pei Shaoqing.’

Pei Shaoqing’s reaction to the Medicine King Valley disciples injuring Jing’an Guards in Tongzhou was far more intense than he had anticipated. Though they hadn’t met, he had already labeled Pei Shaoqing as domineering and aggressive in his mind.

Wu Tian also felt that the people of Medicine King Valley had grown arrogant and looked down on everyone, and injuring the Jing’an Guards in Tongzhou was an unwise move. But given Medicine King Valley’s current standing in the Jianghu, what was injuring a few guards?

’Even if Pei Shaoqing is furious, his reaction is too extreme. If he had just sent a letter demanding accountability, Medicine King Valley would have gladly shown him respect by sending lavish gifts as an apology. He shouldn’t have just escalated the conflict by tearing off all pretenses without any communication. It’s so undignified and irrational.’

Both Medicine King Valley and Pingyang Manor were powers with considerable prestige. ’How could they let an all-out conflict erupt over something as trivial as a few subordinates getting beaten up?’

He didn’t know about the friendship between Pei Shaoqing and Ouyang Rong, nor did he know that Pei Shaoqing planned to support Ouyang Rong in taking control of Medicine King Valley. So, in his mind, the only conflict between them was the incident where Medicine King Valley’s disciples injured people.

Wu Tian had already decided that Pei Shaoqing was a difficult person to deal with, and at the same time, he prepared himself to pay a hefty price.

Upon arriving at the inn, he found out which room Pei Shaoqing was in and went straight there, raising a hand to knock on the door.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

Liu Yuheng asked warily, "Who is it?"

"A disciple of Medicine King Valley requests an audience with Lord Pingyang," Wu Tian said politely, keeping his voice low.

Liu Yuheng turned to look at Pei Shaoqing.

Pei Shaoqing gave a slight nod.

Liu Yuheng stepped forward and opened the door. "Please, come in."

"Thank you." Wu Tian thanked Liu Yuheng with graceful courtesy, then walked up to Pei Shaoqing, clasped his fists, and said, "Wu Tian of Medicine King Valley greets Lord Pingyang."

Pei Shaoqing raised an eyebrow in surprise. He hadn’t expected this refined and gentle man in his thirties to be the new, soon-to-be-inaugurated Sect Leader of Medicine King Valley.

He had figured someone from Medicine King Valley would come after news of Zhang Qing’s situation reached them, but he hadn’t expected Wu Tian to come in person. He clicked his tongue and said, "Sect Leader Wu, for you to come personally is quite a surprise."

"The Sect Leader of Medicine King Valley is my master," Wu Tian corrected gently, adding humbly, "Lord Pingyang may call me Pharmacist Wu or Physician Wu."

"Very well, Pharmacist Wu, please have a seat." Pei Shaoqing had to admit that the man’s appearance and attitude were very likable. He really did seem like the responsible, dependable, good-natured person Ouyang Rong had described.

"Thank you, Lord Pingyang." After thanking him, Wu Tian walked over, sat down, and got straight to the point. "Some days ago, disciples from my Medicine King Valley were on business in Tongzhou and accidentally injured your subordinates, Lord Pingyang. I had intended to visit you personally to apologize, but I heard you had not yet returned from the Capital City. That, coupled with my own imminent succession ceremony, caused the delay.

It was only today that I learned Your Lordship had personally graced Yazhou with your presence, so I came at the first opportunity. I have brought a humble gift to express my apologies and would also like to invite you, Lord Pingyang, to honor my succession ceremony with your presence the day after tomorrow."

"Your people from Medicine King Valley openly violated the law by carrying out a kidnapping in the city, and on top of that, they injured the Jing’an Guards who went to enforce the law. This is a serious crime!" Pei Shaoqing said with a cold expression.

"Yes, yes, of course." Wu Tian readily admitted fault, his attitude agreeable. "But what’s done is done. All we at Medicine King Valley can do now is try our best to make amends for our mistake."

Pei Shaoqing’s tone was harsh. "The assailants must be handed over to be dealt with according to the law. Also, are you aware that Ouyang Rong is a friend of mine? I don’t care what grievances he has with Medicine King Valley, hand him over to me."

He was well aware that Ouyang Rong was very likely dead, his fate grim. Demanding his handover now was a deliberate move to ensure the matter wouldn’t be resolved so easily.

’Otherwise, would all those Jing’an Guards have been mobilized for nothing?’

Wu Tian’s expression changed slightly. He truly hadn’t expected Ouyang Rong to have a connection with Pei Shaoqing. But that being the case, it was all the more impossible to let Ouyang Rong and Pei Shaoqing meet.

He put on a shocked expression and said, "I truly had no idea that Junior Brother Ouyang had a connection with you, Lord Pingyang."

"It’s not too late to know now," Pei Shaoqing said.

"It is too late. Far too late," Wu Tian said, his face a picture of helplessness and bitterness. "The day after Junior Brother Ouyang was brought back to Medicine King Valley, he... couldn’t overcome his despair and hanged himself."

"What!" Pei Shaoqing was furious. He slammed his hand on the table and shot to his feet, demanding, "Why did you kidnap him?"

Although he had been mentally prepared for this, hearing confirmation of Ouyang Rong’s death still filled him with uncontrollable rage.

"Junior Brother Ouyang committed the heinous crime of killing his master. It was I who pleaded for his life back then, sparing him from death. But when he was expelled from the valley, he took the Great Elder’s Secret Manual.

Master ordered him brought back to Medicine King Valley to retrieve that Secret Manual. We never expected that he would rather die than hand it over." Wu Tian shook his head, seemingly sighing in sorrow.

He then looked up and said, "So, the assailants can be handed over to you, Lord Pingyang. But Junior Brother Ouyang is already laid to rest. There is truly nothing to be done."

Pei Shaoqing was silent, his expression shifting unpredictably.

"My Medicine King Valley was in the wrong first. In addition to letting you, Lord Pingyang, deal with the assailants as you see fit, we are also willing to offer two hundred thousand taels of silver as a token of our apology." Wu Tian stood, clasped his fists, and bowed deeply, speaking with the utmost respect.

As the dignified, soon-to-be Sect Leader of Medicine King Valley, he was now apologizing, handing over his people, and offering compensation. One could say he had humbled himself to the dust, all to ensure his succession ceremony went smoothly.

Pei Shaoqing didn’t answer. Instead, he asked a different question. "Do you know about Zhang Qing’s situation?"

He had initially thought the man came to see him about Zhang Qing, but it now seemed that wasn’t the case.

"I do. Emotionally, I am unwilling to believe that Junior Brother Zhang would resort to murder simply because he felt offended." Wu Tian sighed, his expression grave. "But rationally, I believe Lord Pingyang is a fair man who would not arrest the wrong person. Therefore, as long as the evidence is complete, I am willing to accept any outcome."

Pei Shaoqing was taken aback, then couldn’t help but laugh.

Wu Tian’s gentle image, combined with his sincere apology just now, had almost convinced him that the man truly was the good-natured person Ouyang Rong had described.

’He’s clearly a cold-blooded, ruthless schemer!’

’Whether it was humbling himself to apologize in person or abandoning Zhang Qing and the Nine Orifice Exquisite Fruit, it was all just to ensure I don’t disrupt his succession ceremony the day after tomorrow.’

’Because as long as the succession ceremony goes smoothly, he will officially become the new Sect Leader of Medicine King Valley.’

Pei Shaoqing despised this kind of hypocrite.

Because he was one himself, he knew exactly how annoying, detestable, and difficult such people were to deal with.

Pei Shaoqing stood up and began pacing around the room. He appeared to be walking and pondering Wu Tian’s words, but he was actually secretly taking a Memory Stone out of his Storage Ring.

’This thing is finally coming in handy.’

He had completed the blood-bonding ritual with the Memory Stone long ago, so he could now use it at will. He said lightly, "To be honest, I’m surprised. I thought you came to see me to save Zhang Qing, Pharmacist Wu."

"I do want to save Junior Brother Zhang, of course. But since he offended you, Lord Pingyang, he brought his doom upon himself. Between you, Lord Pingyang, and Junior Brother Zhang, there was never a choice to be made," Wu Tian said with a frank expression, feeling it was necessary to drop his pretense to show sincerity.

Pei Shaoqing said with a half-smile, "Ouyang Rong said you were a good-natured person. It seems everyone was fooled by your hypocritical exterior. It makes sense. How could a ’good-natured person’ possibly become Sect Leader at such a young age?"

"In your presence, Lord Pingyang, I wouldn’t dare play tricks. I wish to be completely frank. As long as we can turn hostility into friendship, what is the sacrifice of one Junior Brother Zhang? Besides, you could say he’s making a sacrifice for Medicine King Valley," Wu Tian said, standing up with a faint smile.

"Interesting, how interesting!" Pei Shaoqing let out a few hearty laughs, a playful look on his face. "You’re certainly forthright, but aren’t you afraid you’ll be ruined if these words get out?"

"It is only you and I here, Lord Pingyang. Who would spread this? Besides, even if it did get out, with the good reputation I’ve painstakingly built over the years, who would believe it?" Wu Tian retorted, confident and unafraid.

Pei Shaoqing slowly exhaled. "Impressive tactics, Pharmacist Wu. To be able to yield and stand firm as needed—truly a great man."

"You flatter me, Lord Pingyang. I am simply sincere in my desire to befriend you," Wu Tian said earnestly.

If he could use this opportunity to build a relationship with Pei Shaoqing, it would be well worth it in his eyes. ’What’s the big deal about closing the door and humbling myself with an apology?’

The smile on Pei Shaoqing’s face gradually faded, his expression turning grim. He said in a cold voice, "But I have no interest in befriending a scoundrel like you! For Medicine King Valley to fall into the hands of scum like you, the heavens must be blind!"

"After framing my Junior Brother Zhang for the Nine Orifice Exquisite Fruit, what right do you have to call me a scoundrel, Lord Pingyang?" Wu Tian’s face instantly turned cold.

He realized that Pei Shaoqing was unwilling to resolve the conflict with Medicine King Valley amicably. There was no room for de-escalation, so he decisively dropped all pretenses.

He was capable of sacrificing his dignity and groveling to achieve his goals, but when he found that groveling was useless, he could just as easily become unhesitatingly resolute and forceful.

"Silence!" Pei Shaoqing snapped, his voice ringing with conviction. "You judge others by your own corrupt standards! Do not measure the heart of a gentleman with the mind of a scoundrel! I arrested Zhang Qing because the witnesses and evidence were irrefutable, and he himself has confessed to the murder.

If you think that makes me the same kind of person as you, then I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed. I came to Yazhou this time to let Medicine King Valley know that the Emperor’s Personal Guard cannot be insulted. Those who do will pay the price!

Your people from Medicine King Valley abducted my friend in Tongzhou in broad daylight and injured the Jing’an Guards who went to enforce the law. Do you have any regard for the law? For His Majesty?"

Wu Tian’s eyes narrowed, his face as dark as water. "So, Lord Pingyang, you’re dead set on causing trouble on the day of my succession ceremony?"

"Cause trouble? I’m going to demand accountability!" Pei Shaoqing scoffed, his voice sharp and decisive.

"Then I suggest you watch yourself, Lord Pingyang!" Wu Tian’s face was ashen with rage. He let out a cold snort, flicked his sleeves, and stormed out.

Pei Shaoqing signaled for Liu Yuheng to close the door, then looked down at the smooth Memory Stone in his hand and smiled.

’Succession ceremony? You still want to be the Sect Leader of Medicine King Valley?’

’I’ll ruin your reputation completely!’

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