Chapter 553 - 244: Suhe Zhen
Chapter 553: Chapter 244: Suhe Zhen
"Money has long been meaningless to him."
"I find it hard to believe he would go to such great lengths, coming all the way to the East Sea, for a pittance of silver."
Suhe Zhen looked at his son and nodded slightly.
"You’re right."
"So, I believe there are two possible reasons for his presence in the East Sea."
"First... he came to the East Sea for other important matters."
"Do you remember the Seven-String Ancient Chapter that caused such a stir half a year ago?"
"It was brought from the Eastern Domain to the East Sea, causing quite a disturbance here as well."
"Father, you think Fang Shuwen came for the Seven-String Ancient Chapter?"
As Suhe Chen said this, a hint of joy appeared on his face for some unknown reason.
"Don’t get your hopes up too soon."
Suhe Zhen sighed.
"That possibility is unlikely... because as far as I know, Fang Shuwen was the first to obtain the Seven-String Ancient Chapter back in the Eastern Domain."
"But he only used it as bait to lure out the Dragon Emperor Hall. After he succeeded, he cast it aside like a worn-out shoe."
"Why go to all the trouble of coming to find it now after abandoning it back then?"
"You have a point, Father... Speaking of which, is there still no news about the Dragon Emperor Hall?"
"That faction is hidden extremely well. Even I haven’t been able to uncover anything. Otherwise, if I could get my hands on that Seven-String Ancient Chapter..."
At this, Suhe Zhen shook his head and sighed again.
"...Then, what was the second possibility you mentioned, Father?"
"The Profound Celestial Iron Mirror might be real!"
Suhe Zhen said in a low voice.
"Just as you said, there’s no reason for an expert of his caliber to get involved in such a chaotic mess for a mere pittance of silver."
"Unless there’s a profit to be made..."
"And a profit he would value is no ordinary thing."
"Looking across the entire East Sea, what could possibly be more precious than the Profound Celestial Iron Mirror?"
Suhe Chen’s expression immediately turned grim.
He clenched his fists lightly and said in a hushed voice:
"Dad, is the Profound Celestial Iron Mirror really that important?"
"It is!!"
Suhe Zhen’s tone was firm and decisive.
"But... but our Tingtiao Pavilion has stood in the East Sea for many years, and the reputation of the Eight Forbidden Lands is widespread."
"Even without the Profound Celestial Iron Mirror, at worst... we just don’t unify the East Sea. Why, why must we make an enemy... of someone like him?"
This was why Suhe Chen looked so grim. He was scared witless and truly didn’t want to be Fang Shuwen’s enemy.
"We... don’t have a choice."
Suhe Zhen sighed softly.
"’That day’ may be imminent, and the East Sea will not be spared."
"The Profound Celestial Iron Mirror might be our only path to survival, and our only opportunity."
"If we succeed, we will all ascend to the heavens."
"If we fail, death is only a matter of time..."
"’That day’?"
Suhe Chen was taken aback.
"Which day? What do you mean?"
"It is a... calamity that will sweep across all living things!"
Suhe Zhen gently patted Suhe Chen’s shoulder.
"Don’t ask any more. Even I don’t know the details."
"..."
Suhe Chen was speechless for a long moment. ’What’s the difference between saying that and saying nothing at all?’
Then, Suhe Zhen said:
"However, since Luo Shuqing hasn’t returned to Qingxiao Pavilion, Fang Shuwen definitely doesn’t know the exact location of the Profound Celestial Iron Mirror yet."
"This matter can still be planned out slowly... Perhaps..."
He trailed off, stopping abruptly.
Suhe Chen, on the other hand, seemed to have thought of something, and all the color drained from his face.
...
...
Suhe Lan led Fang Shuwen and his group to their lodgings, a small courtyard.
A jujube tree was planted in the courtyard.
The weather was hot, and the heat was especially fierce out on the sea. Beneath the tree’s shade, a stone table and stools offered a comfortable place to cool down in one’s leisure time.
After Zhou Zhengze, Zuo Xuan, and Zuo Hong went to inspect the rooms, the three of them sat down on the stone stools.
Suhe Lan gestured for someone to bring a tea set. Her movements were as fluid as flowing water as she boiled the water and steeped the tea, and soon the fragrance of tea filled the air.
"Hero Fang, what do you think of this courtyard?"
Suhe Lan asked with a light smile.
Fang Shuwen nodded.
"The scenery is beautiful and the layout is elegant. It’s a fine place."
"I’m glad you’re satisfied, Hero Fang."
Suhe Lan seemed quite pleased to hear him say that, but she didn’t stay long. Instead, she rose to take her leave.
"This evening, my father will surely host a banquet in your honor. For now, the two of you should rest well."
"I’m going to prepare the boat you’ll need for your departure tomorrow..."
"Then we thank you, Second Miss."
Fang Shuwen stood up to see her off.
Suhe Lan smiled.
"You certainly should thank me properly. How about this... the next time you visit, stay here a few more days."
"I’ll think about how you should thank me then."
"..."
Fang Shuwen didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but with things said so plainly, he could only nod.
When he turned back, he felt that Luo Shuqing was looking at him strangely...
Fang Shuwen paid her no mind and sat down in the room to meditate and circulate his energy as usual.
Luo Shuqing, meanwhile, sat on the edge of the bed with her arms crossed, radiating the unique aura of someone sulking.
Sometimes, when Fang Shuwen’s gaze fell on her, he found the sight rather amusing.
But the girl caught him trying to hide a smile and shot him a glare.
Fang Shuwen was even more exasperated. ’This is completely backward.’
That evening, Suhe Zhen indeed held a grand banquet. Wine cups were raised and exchanged, and the atmosphere was quite lively.
But just as the mood was at its best, Suhe Zhen suddenly raised his wine cup and said, quite abruptly:
"Hero Fang, I see you are a man of great talent and distinguished appearance, and your Martial Arts need no further mention."
"This old man once had two daughters, but now only my Lan’er remains."
"I have always cherished her and kept her by my side, reluctant to let her leave."
"Therefore, although she is a few years your senior, she is still unmarried. I wonder if you, Hero Fang, would be willing to form a marriage alliance with my Tingtiao Pavilion?"
The words came out of nowhere.
The hand Fang Shuwen was using to raise his cup paused slightly, and he subconsciously glanced at Suhe Lan.
Suhe Lan, for her part, shot to her feet.
"Dad! You must be drunk. You should sober up first."
After speaking, she glanced at Fang Shuwen and gave a slight bow.
"Young Master Fang, please excuse me."
With that, she left the banquet.
Suhe Zhen smiled, unconcerned.
"She’s a young woman, after all. She must be shy."
"Hero Fang, what do you think..."
Just as he was speaking, a loud shout was suddenly heard:
"Assassin!!!"
As the shout rang out, Zhou Zhengze, who was in the middle of picking up some food with his chopsticks, froze, appearing utterly lost as to whether he should continue or put them down.
Zuo Xuan and Zuo Hong instinctively moved to shield Luo Shuqing.
Luo Shuqing’s body tensed, and she reached out to grab Fang Shuwen’s sleeve.
Fang Shuwen looked up at the father-and-son pair, Suhe Zhen and Suhe Chen.
This was Tingtiao Pavilion, not Fang Shuwen’s One Square House. If there was an assassin, it wasn’t his problem to manage.
Suhe Zhen and Suhe Chen exchanged a glance, both showing astonishment in their eyes.
But the next moment, the color drained from Suhe Zhen’s face.
"No, Lan’er!"
...
...