Chapter 24: Chapter 23: Arrogant before, respectful after
Translator: 549690339
In the hall, individuals from three sides each took their seats.
As the master of this place and the organizer, Shen Xiang sat in the main seat, while Pei Xuanjing and the master from the Liu family sat to his left and right, respectively.
“Mr. Liu, this is Brother Pei.”
“Brother Pei, this is Mr. Liu Chengshi.”
Shen Xiang introduced each of them to the other.
Both gave a slight nod, not demonstrating much enthusiasm.
Shen Xiang did not mind, and after the introduction, he closed his mouth, leaving the situation to the two of them.
Liu Chengshi looked at the indifferent Pei Xuanjing. His eyes revealed annoyance, “Pei Xuanjing, don’t you think you owe my Liu family an explanation for what happened before?”
Pei Xuanjing remained calm, “An explanation? For what? Wasn’t it the Liu family who proposed this meeting? I thought the Liu family wanted to give me an explanation.”
“Humph, you injure people for no reason, and now you want to deny it?” Liu Chengshi reprimanded.
“Haha,” Pei Xuanjing chuckled, “Injure people for no reason? Wasn’t it because Liu Rui Long attempted to hurt people and met my self-defense?”
Liu Chengshi looked annoyed. He stared hard at Pei Xuanjing, as if he was going to eat him alive.
Pei Xuanjing’s expression didn’t change, but his eyes gradually filled with killing intent.
Seeing that the two were hostile towards each other after just a few words, Shen Xiang had no choice but to step in.
“Both of you, since we are here today for the sake of reconciliation, why provoke each other again?”
Pei Xuanjing glanced at Shen Xiang, “It wasn’t me who started it. This Mr. Liu is quite domineering, trying to present black as white.”
Liu Chengshi did not back down at all, “Could I even compare to you? Just a few heated words and you disabled a man. I could never learn such tactics.”
Pei Xuanjing sneered quietly. He didn’t say anything but just looked at the other person mockingly.
Being looked at this way by Pei Xuanjing, Liu Chengshi burned with anger inside, but kept a poker face, not losing any momentum.
The scene fell silent for a moment. The entire hall was quiet, as if one could hear a pin drop.
Half a moment later, Liu Chengshi suddenly burst into laughter, “Young Master Pei indeed is talented and young. Compared to Young Master Pei, those bastards in my family are simply worlds apart.”
This abrupt change in attitude not only surprised Pei Xuanjing momentarily but also Shen Xiang who was very familiar with Liu Chengshi’s style, they couldn’t gauge his intentions.
While both were still slightly surprised, Liu Chengshi turned to Shen Xiang saying, “Today, I’m troubling Third Manager to be a witness. I’ll apologize to Young Master Pei for my nephew. Besides, my Liu family will reward a thousand taels of silver and a century-old ginseng as a gift. I hope Young Master Pei won’t despise it.”
Liu Chengshi was so deferential and respectful after being so arrogant, Pei Xuanjing was puzzled, but he didn’t show much, he just gave a cold nod, not too enthusiastically.
Liu Chengshi didn’t care. He raised his hand to the two of them and said, “Let’s end today’s matter here. The gifts will be delivered tomorrow. It’s already late, I’ll be on my way!”
Having said that, he left immediately without giving them time to react.
Pei Xuanjing watched his retreating figure, frowning slightly and calculating rapidly in his heart.
He had heard about the character and style of this Mr. Liu Chenishi from the mouth of Shen Xiang.
That is, the latter was not a pleasant person to be with. As a confidante and a high-ranking leader of the Liu family, he was aggressive and never liked to be submissive.
So Liu Chenishi’s sudden change of attitude, combined with the information gleaned from several simulation experiences, it seemed likely that they had made a decision and planned to send someone to take action. Therefore, they didn’t want to waste their breath here with Pei Xuanjing, this interpretation seemed plausible.
Thinking this, Pei Xuanjing looked up to meet Shen Xiang’s eyes. The two looked at each other, knowing that they had both figured out Liu Chengshi’s plan.
…
Liu Chengshi left Shen’s Business Association’s estate, followed by the people from the Liu family.
“How did it go, Mr. Liu?” an old man with white hair asked quietly.
He was a manager of the Liu family, and also Liu Chengshi’s confidante.
Liu Chengshi didn’t say anything, he just got into his carriage. But just as he entered the carriage, he suddenly paused and told his functionary, “Notify them, It’s already dark, it’s time to act.”
Hearing this, the manager immediately understood what he meant, “Your servant is understood.”
Liu Chengshi nodded, “I will ask the coachman to drive slowly. We’ll wait for you at the city gate. Tell them to be quick.”
“Yes,” replied the manager.
The manager mounted a horse and went in the opposite direction to the city. Liu Chengshi’s carriage, along with a dozen or so others, slowly moved towards Anping City.
Inside the carriage, Liu Chengshi’s face revealed undisguised killing intent, “Good advice doesn’t deter a determined fool. If you seek your own death, don’t blame me for being heartless.”
Originally, he hadn’t come with the purpose of forcing Pei Xuanjing into a dead-end.
After all, a twenty-year-old Sixth Grade Martial Artist is a talent, not just in Anping Prefecture, but all over the Northwest Dao. Even though Pei Xuanjing injured Liu Rui Long, the Liu family had grown to its current extent by being able to tolerate others. As long as Pei Xuanjing was willing to surrender to the Liu family, they would not mind welcoming a talent.
Regrettably, from the very beginning, Pei Xuanjing demonstrated an attitude of total non-compliance. Moreover, his youthful arrogance annoyed Liu Chenishi greatly.
As one of the de facto rulers of the Liu family, second only to the head of the family and the elders in terms of power, even when dealing with the Prefecture Lord, the latter would give him some face and would not be so confrontational.
So Pei Xuanjing truly angered him, which led him to having a great change of attitude, and putting on a friendly face.
Because from that moment in his heart, Pei Xuanjing was already a dead man. Giving a dead man some face made him feel rather magnanimous.
The thing he had asked the manager to do, was to arrange for the assassination of Pei Xuanjing.
A Sixth Grade Martial Artist in his early twenties, no matter how talented, is not a prodigy once dead.
He goes all out even when hunting a rabbit. In order to nip this prodigy in the bud, he had the manager send one Fifth Rank master and two Sixth Rank masters. This roster is absolutely foolproof.
Suddenly, however, Liu Chengshi’s face turned grave because he noticed the moving carriage had suddenly stopped. The guards who were supposed to surround the carriage seemed to have disappeared. In the quiet night, he could only hear the panting of the horses, which made his heart sink.
Who wants to kill me?