Top-tier Unruly Master-Chapter 1721 - 1758: Settling Accounts
At this moment, Tian Zhen’s mind was in chaos, and he really couldn’t believe that Long Ren would say such things now. He knew that Long Ren had deep feelings for that girlfriend, which is why he painstakingly planned all this. But why would the other party reveal everything to him at this time, knowing that the Liuli Grass was still in his possession? Or does the other party not need it?
Tian Zhen believed that Long Ren would definitely need the Liuli Grass, so now there was only one possibility left, that the other party was trying to intimidate him.
"Lake Master, you should know that the Liuli Grass was already sent away by my disappointing disciple. If you do not hurry, I fear it will be gone forever."
Tian Zhen spoke to Long Ren with a somewhat tentative tone.
For a while, everyone was tense, unable to see clearly the current situation. They also couldn’t understand why the Lake Master would choose to reveal everything at this time, especially when he hadn’t obtained the Liuli Grass yet. They wondered what kind of plan the Lake Master had in mind?
Leng Jian was feeling a bit nervous at this moment as well. He was too insignificant to partake in the confrontation between his master, Tian Zhen, and the Lake Master, but he knew his master would not lose, nor would their sect, because he believed the Lake Master would do anything for that girlfriend.
Not to mention a single Spirit Vein, even if it was two Spirit Veins or any other demands, the Lake Master would definitely compromise without hesitation for that girlfriend. Yet Leng Jian felt there was something puzzling about the current situation, as if the rhythm was somewhat off...
Leng Jian couldn’t quite tell what was off, but he felt a bit uneasy, knowing that threatening the Lake Master was no joking matter. If they truly failed, their sect’s situation, including that of his master, in the Thirty-Six Caves would be dreadful. In short, success would be paradise, but failure would be hell.
"I’m not talking about the Liuli Grass right now, but about you threatening me."
Long Ren sat in a broad, vintage chair, leaning forward, and looked at Tian Zhen with interest, saying.
Tian Zhen was rendered speechless upon hearing Long Ren’s words, completely taken aback. The response was entirely unexpected and did not follow Tian Zhen’s train of thought. Seeing Long Ren sitting above with a composed expression and a playful look, Tian Zhen felt a strong sense of foreboding.
After a moment of speechlessness, Tian Zhen stammered in response:
"This... this is just a transaction between us. How could it be a threat to you...?"
"A transaction?" Long Ren said mockingly. Then he continued:
"The Liuli Grass that your disciple obtained from the Xuantian Secret Realm should have been turned in as per regulations. Still, as a reward for those disciples who returned alive, I allowed them to keep it without turning in the items from the Xuantian Secret Realm. But I need that Liuli Grass, which you all know. And yet, you proposed using it to exchange for a Spirit Vein. Don’t you think that’s biting the hand that feeds you? Even as a transaction, don’t you think it’s quite unfair?"
"This..." For a moment, Tian Zhen didn’t know what to say. He knew very well that his actions were indeed a threat to Long Ren, and he couldn’t justify or argue his way out. He was at a loss for words. Tian Zhen had thought earlier that Long Ren was just trying to scare him.
But after this questioning by Long Ren, Tian Zhen figured that the other party didn’t seem to be trying to scare him. Yet, he was equally puzzled about why Long Ren would do this, especially when he could have exerted authority long ago, without waiting until now.
Tian Zhen knew the other party didn’t dare to impose authority earlier because he was too concerned about that girlfriend, afraid that in agitation, Tian Zhen and his disciple might destroy the Liuli Grass. But why was the other party no longer afraid? Or was there another purpose for Long Ren doing this now?
Not only Tian Zhen and Leng Jian, but everyone present was also at a loss while watching the scene between Lake Master Long Ren and Tian Zhen. At this point, they completely overlooked the girl beside Long Ren and Ding Fan, who was calmly observing everything.
Everyone really couldn’t understand why Long Ren would do this. Could it be that he didn’t want to save his girlfriend?
At this moment, the elder Luv Shi was also somewhat astonished, as the original discussion on how to punish him seemed unrelated to him now. Luv Shi felt a slight joy, yet also a bit uneasy, with mostly perplexity remaining.
Guo Linn, seeing Long Ren’s actions, thought quickly. He knew from his master about the deep affection the Lake Master had for that girlfriend, and he would absolutely not miss the opportunity to save her just to deal with Tian Zhen and his disciple. However, based on Lake Master’s actions, Guo Linn knew there was only one explanation.
That was, Lake Master Long Ren no longer had any worries. Thinking of this, Guo Linn immediately shifted his gaze to the girl beside Long Ren and indeed noticed frequent affectionate glances exchanged between Long Ren and the girl. Guo Linn then looked at Ding Fan beside them again.
At this moment, Ding Fan was calm, sitting there without any sign of surprise or doubt about Lake Master Long Ren’s behavior. Guo Linn’s lip curved into a slight smile, as he had already guessed part of the reason...
Guo Linn knew that Lake Master’s big brother, Ding Fan, was definitely not a simple person. Although he didn’t fully trust Ding Fan’s ability to cure the Lake Master’s girlfriend, he believed Ding Fan at least had some assurance. But he still wasn’t sure what exactly was going on; these were merely Guo Linn’s speculations.
"Now, let me introduce her—this is Shan Shan, the love of my life."
At this moment, Long Ren, embracing Shan Shan’s waist, introduced her to everyone with eyes full of love. Then he continued to speak:
"In addition, I am deeply grateful to my brother Ding Fan for successfully healing Shan Shan’s illness. Although it wasn’t exactly an illness, I am sincerely thankful to my brother Ding Fan. To be honest, even though I am the Lake Master of the Thirty-Six Caves, I’ve always regarded everyone as my brothers. But what disheartens me is that evidently, some did not consider me a brother. In my time of greatest need, they took advantage instead, which is truly despicable!"
As Long Ren finished speaking, the crowd below was suddenly taken aback. They hadn’t expected that the girl next to Long Ren was his girlfriend who had remained unconscious for years. But in their eyes, the girl appeared perfectly healthy and indistinguishable from a normal girl! They could hardly believe that this girl was someone who had been in a coma for nearly ten years!
The crowd was genuinely surprised that Ding Fan had actually cured Long Ren’s girlfriend. It was simply too incredible!
Everyone knew that Long Ren had spared no effort over the past decade for his girlfriend, seeking out renowned doctors everywhere, even bringing in no fewer than three Grade Nine Alchemists. Yet none had been able to help with the girl’s condition. They understood the numerous failures Long Ren had gone through and could only imagine the torment in his heart...
But at this moment, they never expected that an illness which stumped practically all the physicians in the Cultivation World was cured by such a young cultivator like Ding Fan. It was simply unbelievable! Although they knew Ding Fan was an incredibly talented Grade Nine Alchemist,
and even though his success rate in refining Supreme Quality Medicine Pills was unparalleled, he was still young, lacking significant experience in healing and saving lives. The crowd could hardly believe Ding Fan had indeed cured Shan Shan’s illness. Yet now, to Long Ren, it was most crucial that Shan Shan was not only successfully awakened by Ding Fan but looked no different from a normal person. This was simply astounding!
Involuntarily, the crowd’s hearts were stirred with waves of excitement. They realized why Long Ren had been displaying such a happy smile—it was undoubtedly because of Shan Shan. The crowd couldn’t help but feel happy for Long Ren, and they collectively bowed, exclaiming in unison:
"Congratulations, Lake Master, congratulations, Madam."
"Congratulations, Lake Master, congratulations, Madam."
"..."
Seeing this scene, Shan Shan was somewhat astonished. She had never witnessed such a spectacle, but being called "Madam" did not make her feel repulsed. After all, long ago, before she fell into a coma, she and Long Ren had already established a romantic relationship and had been childhood sweethearts with deep affection. She just wasn’t used to such grand displays after being unconscious for so long, which inevitably made her a bit surprised.
At this moment, Long Ren seemed to sense Shan Shan’s slight apprehension, and he tightly embraced her, his face radiating with sheer happiness as he looked at her, hoping to soothe away her fears. He then politely addressed the crowd:
"Thank you all, there’s no need for formalities; we’re all family."
"Impossible! Impossible..."
Just as Long Ren finished his words, Tian Zhen below couldn’t help but exclaim excitedly, believing it absolutely impossible for Ding Fan to cure Long Ren’s girlfriend’s illness. Knowing that over the past week, Ding Fan had been indulged in pleasures, how could he have had time to research a cure for the Lake Master’s girlfriend’s illness?
This was absolutely impossible!
"She must be fake—that Ding Fan has been indulged in lust all this time; how could he possibly heal the Lake Master’s girlfriend? Absolutely impossible!"
"Why should I be lost to pleasures? It’s laughable," Ding Fan interjected upon hearing Tian Zhen’s words, knowing it was time to settle accounts with him.
"Why? It was me who arranged for Jiao Jiao to be near you; how could I not know!"
At this point, Tian Zhen, flustered and exasperated, blurted out, but he immediately regretted it, realizing he had betrayed himself. Yet right now, he could not care about anything else; he simply could not believe Long Ren’s words. He absolutely did not believe that the girl by Long Ren’s side was the Lake Master’s girlfriend.
Knowing that so many exceptional physicians had been unable to cure the Lake Master’s girlfriend, how could Ding Fan be able to! Moreover, Tian Zhen was fully aware of what Ding Fan had been up to during this time, so how could Ding Fan cure the Lake Master’s girlfriend’s illness? Furthermore, the girl beside Long Ren looked perfectly normal, so how could she be the Lake Master’s girlfriend who had been in a coma for nearly ten years?
Tian Zhen couldn’t possibly accept this outcome.
At this moment, Ding Fan looked at him, a slight smile of ridicule appearing on his lips, and calmly said:
"So you’re saying that Jiao Jiao by my side was your arrangement. I am Long Ren’s brother, yet you placed someone by my side to harm me—you truly have some nerve!"
"You!"
Tian Zhen, hearing Ding Fan’s remark, was momentarily speechless.
Meanwhile, Long Ren, witnessing this scene between his brother and Tian Zhen, was equally surprised, as his brother had never mentioned this to him before. It prompted him to look toward Ding Fan and with concern asked, "Brother, what on earth is going on?"
