Chapter 149 - What To Do if You’re the Villain and the Heroine Likes You

The Spring Jade Pavilion was indeed quite an imposing place. Situated next to a bustling main street, the signboards and door pillars used for decoration were all quite grand. Since He Yunxiao took the lead, this group of people would naturally be treated as honored guests. Without a word, the waiter at the restaurant arranged a private room for the gentlemen and thoughtfully asked if they needed music to entertain them. In the kind and gentle gaze of Fan Ziruo, He Yunxiao firmly refused the unreasonable behavior pushed by the waiter. Everyone was from respectable families, so who would go listen to some catchy tunes? With an unmarried lady like Fan Ziruo present, it was not appropriate for everyone to sit at the same table, so they decided to order individual meals. The restaurant removed the large table and set up small ones. Naturally, He Yunxiao sat at the head, followed by Fan Ziruo on his left, then Chu Fan, and further back were Tie Weiqi and Pang Ce. Based on Chu Fan's character, he should have politely declined the seat at the front. However, he had important matters to attend to - observing the relationship between Fan Ziruo and He Yunxiao - so he did not refuse and took the seat on the right. As Chu Fan watched Fan Ziruo and He Yunxiao chatting and laughing, he felt increasingly uncomfortable. One was the young master of the Marquis House, and the other was a great lady from a distinguished family, and it did seem more compatible than he and Xiaoxiao staying together. However, Chu Fan also knew that marital fate didn't solely rely on being "compatible." If the two truly loved each other and their feelings were strong, their souls' deep connection was more important than appearances for the longevity of their relationship. However, all of this wasn't the most important. The most crucial thing was Xiaoxiao's attitude. If Xiaoxiao truly liked He Yunxiao... Chu Fan thought that if Xiaoxiao genuinely liked him, then no matter what, he had to help his little sister. Fate wasn't just about luck; it also required taking initiative. ... The food at the Spring Jade Pavilion was indeed delicious, but only He Yunxiao was able to eat at the table. As Fan Ziruo waited for the dishes to be served, she took a few bites and noticed that Pang Ce and Tie Weiqi had no appetite. She then said, "Pang Ce, your brother was ambushed near the Drunken Immortal Inn." Pang Ce had no appetite due to the internal and external troubles in the Short Knife Gang. When he heard Fan Ziruo mention the matter, he promptly responded, "That's correct." Fan Ziruo continued, "Pang Master, your brother should be a well-known expert in Yinkang City, right?" Pang Ce replied, "My brother has reached the ninth level of cultivation. Among the martial world in Yinkang, he can definitely rank in the top ten." When He Yunxiao heard this, he felt that something was amiss, but after thinking about it, he understood. When imperial power was strong, the influence of the martial world weakened; when imperial power was weak, the influence of the martial world grew. Most of the top experts in Yinkang were working for the court. The military, the palace, and half of the Six Gates were occupied. The remaining powerful martial artists were from the martial world. Pang Ce's brother, even though only at the ninth level and not at the peak, was able to rank in the top ten in the martial world. From this, it was clear to what extent the influence of the martial world in Yinkang had been suppressed by the imperial power. He Yunxiao felt that with his own uncovered ninth-level strength, he could probably also rank in the top ten among the martial world in Yinkang. Fan Ziruo then asked, "Both at the ninth level, how do Pang Master and Iron Master compare?" Pang Ce replied, "Iron Master has been practicing martial arts for a long time and has already reached the ninth level peak, my brother is not a match for him." "He didn't even have a chance to fight back?" "He did. At least enough to injure Iron Master." After hearing Pang Ce's words, Fan Ziruo looked at Tie Weiqi and asked, "Iron Master, is what Pang Ce said true?" Tie Weiqi replied, "Yes. If both are at the ninth level, it is difficult for one to come out unscathed if the other fights with full strength. When my father returned from the Drunken Immortal Inn, he had no injuries to his body, so it is impossible that he would be the one to act." Pang Ce angrily said, "It's a sneak attack! Of course, there were no injuries!" Seeing this, He Yunxiao quickly shouted, "Stop arguing and listen to what Miss Ziruo has to say." Fan Ziruo looked at He Yunxiao, knowing that he had almost let something slip, and smiled, and then said seriously, "In fact, there is a question that everyone has been avoiding." "As Iron Master said, 'there were no injuries,' but what evidence can be provided? Even with evidence from witnesses, there is still the possibility of forgery and lies, isn't there?" Pang Ce fell silent. Tie Weiqi said that he could provide evidence of Iron Master's return to the gang, but it was all just the testimony of the Iron Eagle Gang's disciples, and he didn't believe it at all. Fan Ziruo said, "Pang Master is heavily injured and unconscious; it is impossible to determine the truth or falsehood of the evidence, so this matter cannot be judged from the evidence, only from the perspective of motive. Pang Ce, think about it, if your brother is seriously injured, and the Short Knife Gang collapses, who benefits the most?" Just as Pang Ce was about to say it was the Iron Eagle Gang, he thought about it and realized it wasn't. After his people fought with the Iron Eagle Gang, both sides suffered serious injuries, and it was the Snake Tiger Gang, who had been watching the show all along, that benefited the most. Although Fan Ziruo's words made a lot of sense, Pang Ce still couldn't figure out one thing. "But how do you explain the dark palm print on my brother's body? This is obviously a sign of being hit by Iron Master's technique." Fan Ziruo said, "Can't anyone else use this move?" Pang Ce said, "In the martial world of Yinkang, only Iron Master can." Tie Weiqi chuckled and said, "Pang Brother, you are also a martial artist. You naturally know how martial arts moves can increase their lethality. If the move hasn't changed, to increase its lethality, you need to add internal force, and there's a limit to that. If you don't add internal force, you have to use more advanced internal skills and moves." "My father is at the ninth peak, but your brother is also a ninth-level martial artist. If my father wanted to seriously injure your brother, causing him to fall into a coma, using the power of 'Iron Falling Eagle,' he would need your brother's cooperation to accumulate enough power to strike him. Is that possible?" After calming down, Pang Ce felt that Tie Weiqi's words made sense. With only a palm injury all over his body, even if he fought against Iron Master, who was much stronger than him, he shouldn't have been defeated with a single palm strike. Fan Ziruo continued, "Beyond Yinkang, are there people who can strike Pang Master down and seriously injure him with one palm strike?" Tie Weiqi said, "Yes, and there are many. Senior martial artists in the Grandmaster realm, most of whom specialize in palm techniques, can replicate the effect of 'Iron Falling, Even Eagle.' If it were a senior from the Taixu Sect, they could do exactly as my father did." Faced with this tangle of clues before her, Fan Ziruo calmly said, "If that's the case, the scope is too broad. Pang Ce, has the Short Knife Gang ever offended anyone?" Pang Ce said, "There have been some minor conflicts, but such a deadly grudge shouldn't exist." If there were no grudges, why did someone target the Short Knife Gang's leader? Did Pang Ce miss something, or did someone want to take advantage of the leader's serious injuries? After thinking, Fan Ziruo said, "Pang Ce, if I didn't advise you today, how would this end?" Pang Ce looked at Tie Weiqi and said, "It would probably end up in a fight with the Iron Eagle Gang." Fan Ziruo nodded and said, "Then let's fight. Grant that person's wish, then see how things develop." As if afraid that the two wouldn't understand, she added, "Make sure to choose trustworthy confidants and stage a great play to 'fight' well." Tl: Soothsayer.io