"What, what did you say?"
"A high-level tier-3 sword technique?"
Fang Tianhao was stunned, looking at Elder Yan with a bewildered face.
Weren't we talking about the painting?
How did it get connected to a sword technique?
To know...
In Nanhuang City, the highest grade of martial arts was high-level tier-3, possessed only by the city lord's manor and the big four families. Such a level of martial arts could easily cost tens of millions of silvers, and for any family, it was considered a treasured heirloom.
Elder Yan scoffed and raised the scroll in his hand, saying, "The sword technique I'm talking about is inside this painting. It was Xiao who discovered the secret within this painting, yet he chose to give such a precious treasure to you as a birthday gift. And you? You treated it like trash? A frog in a well, lacking vision!"
Hum!
Fang Tianhao was shaken to the core, his face turning pale in an instant.
This scroll contains a high-level tier-3 sword technique?
This should have belonged to him!
And he had rejected it?
Treated it like trash and threw it back?
"This, this..."
Fang Tianhao shook his head violently, still refusing to believe it was true. "Impossible, how could a painting hide a sword technique? You must be making up lies to elevate Xiao Yi, right?"
Elder Yan shook his head and chuckled, "Fang Tianhao, who do you think you are? That I, Yan Mingli, would need to concoct lies to deceive you?"
"So, it's true then? This painting really contains a high-level tier-3 sword technique? Doesn't that mean, this painting is worth millions of silvers?"
Fang Tianhao finally accepted reality.
The painting that he had previously seen as trash, something Xiao Yi used to humiliate him, at that moment seemed to emit an endless divine light, a rare treasure of unmatched value.
"I've always been unable to break through to the Golden Core Realm because the Fang Family's treasure is a bladed technique. If I could practice this swordsmanship, I would have hope of stepping into the Golden Elixir Realm!"
Fang Tianhao thought to himself, "But after all, as head of the family, I've already returned this painting, so I cannot simply ask for it outright. However, I believe that if I hint just a little, Xiao Yi will surely give it back to me..."
With this thought in mind,
Fang Tianhao cleared his throat, putting on a calm demeanor, and smiled at Xiao Yi, "Xiao Yi, I am truly pleased that you would offer me such a treasure..."
Xiao Yi looked at him coldly, how could he not understand Fang Tianhao's intentions, and indifferently said, "What does your happiness have to do with me?"
Uh...
Fang Tianhao's expression stiffened.
Damn it!
I've hinted so blatantly, can't you understand?
Fang Tianhao was inwardly irate, but seeing that Xiao Yi showed no signs of offering the painting again, he had no choice but to steel himself and say, "Xiao Yi, since the 'Subduing Tiger Sword Scroll' was prepared by you as a birthday gift for me, I can't refuse your kindness..."
Xiao Yi said, "This painting was originally meant for Qingzhu, but now it seems unnecessary."
Fang Tianhao's face darkened, and he extended his palm commandingly, "Xiao Yi, I order you to give the painting to me!"
In his mind, having lowered his face, Xiao Yi surely wouldn't dare to refuse again.
Sure enough.
Xiao Yi took the 'Subduing Tiger Sword Scroll' from Elder Yan's hands and turned to Fang Tianhao. Fang Tianhao's heart surged with pleasure, proudly thinking: I refuse to believe I can't handle a mere son-in-law, in the end, won't you obediently hand over the painting?
However...
Xiao Yi merely brushed past him, his voice faint as it reached Fang Tianhao's ears, "This sword technique, you are unworthy of it."
"What do you mean by that?"
Fang Tianhao's face stiffened as if relishing a delicious meal only to have inadvertently swallowed two flies—utterly discomforted.
Xiao Yi walked straight up to Zhao Yu, "Do you want to learn the sword technique above?"
Zhao Yu looked utterly baffled, "Huh?"
Xiao Yi frowned, "You don't want to learn?"
"I..."
Zhao Yu nodded vigorously and decisively said, "Want, of course I want!"
Xiao Yi waved his hand nonchalantly and threw the scroll, "This painting is yours now."
Zhao Yu, as if struck by lightning, ecstatically received the scroll, holding it close to his chest like a precious treasure. He stepped back three paces and, with hands clasped before him, bowed deeply to Xiao Yi, "Zhao Yu thanks Young Master Xiao for the gift of the painting. Should you have any orders in the future, the Zhao Family shall spare no effort!"
"It's what you deserve!" Xiao Yi said, waving his hand dismissively.
Earlier, when Zhang Yong had asserted that the Subduing Tiger Sword Scroll was a fake, only Zhao Yu spoke up to remind him to examine it carefully. Although it was a small favor, Xiao Yi remembered it. As for the Subduing Tiger Sword Scroll itself, had it not been for preparing a birthday gift for Qingzhu, it would have been just a blank sheet to him.
Having said that, he looked at Elder Yan with a smile, "Elder Yan, I've yet to find a place for dinner, would you be interested in joining me for a few hearty drinks?"
"When Young Master Xiao asks, how could I refuse!"
Elder Yan laughed heartily, "I know of a tavern with excellent dishes and drinks!"
Xiao Yi walked up to Fang Qingzhu, took her small hand, and said with a smile, "Qingzhu, Elder Yan is treating us, shall I take you for a big meal?"
Fang Qingzhu was startled.
Her dark eyes locked onto Xiao Yi's and, after a brief moment, she nodded gently, "Mhm!"
The trio set off.
Along the way,
No one dared to stop them.
Zhao Yu turned to Fang Tianhao and cupped his hands in greeting, "Mr. Fang, I suddenly remembered there is something urgent at home, I shall take my leave first!"
No sooner had he finished speaking, without waiting for Fang Tianhao to respond, Zhao Yu took the Subduing Tiger Sword Scroll and departed.
As the birthday banquet had not yet concluded, Zhao Yu's early departure was tantamount to publicly slapping the face of the Fang Family, especially since he left with what should have been their Subduing Tiger Sword Scroll. This left the Fang Family and their associates looking extremely displeased.
Chen Yong and Zhang Yong exchanged glances, quickly discerning each other's thoughts and stepped forward together.
Fang Tianhao's forehead throbbed with visible veins as he clenched his fists tightly on the armrests, grinding his teeth, "I suppose you two also have something urgent at home?"
Zhang Yong gave an awkward smile, "There's a soup brewing at home, I need to see to the fire. My apologies!"
"Mr. Fang..."
Chen Yong, being more forthright, struggled to think of an excuse and simply said, "I have a stomachache, I'm leaving first!"
"You... you..."
Fang Tianhao's rage surged to his heart, making his head spin.
The crowd looked at Fang Tianhao and his family with eyes filled with schadenfreude and pity.
The Fang Family's loss today was indeed severe!
The Fang Family members were enveloped in an air of gloom.
"The Fang Family is truly pitiable. A high-grade, third-tier sword scroll, just like that, benefiting the Zhao Family!"
"What's there to pity? Think about how they have treated Xiao Yi and Fang Qingzhu before! This is what you call reaping what you sow. Look at Zhao Yu, simply for one sentence, he got such an opportunity!"
"When I get back, I definitely need to thoroughly educate the youngsters in our clan not to follow the Fang Family's example!"
Hearing the murmurs and secretive whispers, Fang Tianhao's face turned paler still. Looking at Zhao Yu in the banquet area, his body trembling and his heart bleeding, he suddenly spat out a mouthful of fresh blood and lay stiff on the ground.
That vivid red blood, the Fang Family members in disarray, and the strikingly large birthday character in the background formed a stark contrast...