Chapter 132: Proud Sun Qiang

"What's wrong?"

Seeing his face change color, Ling Tianyu quickly walked over and also lowered his head to look at the broken part of the stone lion.

At the fracture of the previously green jade, a blood-red vein ran across it, reflecting the surrounding light, appearing unusually ferocious and terrifying.

Because it was a horizontal vein and the Tinan green jade was opaque, unless the lion was smashed, the vein could not be seen from any angle.

"Is it really Tinan blood jade?"

His face darkened; this time, even without Master Cheng Yuan's explanation, he knew the thing was definitely not green jade!

He struck down with his palm.

Crack!

The remaining body of the stone lion shattered into countless pieces scattered on the ground. He casually picked up a piece and indeed saw the blood-red vein on it.

"It is Tinan blood jade. This old man was mistaken!"

Seeing the blood-red veins densely packed inside, Master Cheng Yuan seemed to have aged ten years in an instant.

He was very confident in his own judgment, and precisely because of this, he held a special position in the trading firm, even calling the man before him brother.

He never expected that the largest and most precious item in the entire market would be misjudged by him.

"These veins are densely embedded in the green jade, with no trace on the outside. I'm afraid even the craftsman who carved it didn't know. Misjudging it is nothing!" Ling Tianyu did not blame him, but looked over: "I only want to know now: can Tinan blood jade really devour a person's essence and blood?"

"Blood jade—I've only read about it in books, never actually seen it. Legend says so," Master Cheng Yuan nodded.

"It's true..."

Ling Tianyu's face turned pale again. He looked up at the enforcement team leader not far away: "Who is that master of Sun Qiang's? Do you know?"

"I don't know!" The enforcement team leader shook his head, then suddenly remembered something and said, "Oh, right... Yesterday Sun Qiang very ostentatiously sold his shop, saying he was going to serve a... passing master. We all thought he was bragging and laughed at him for a long time. How could a master let someone like him serve him..."

"Master?"

Ling Tianyu stepped back several times, feeling his knees go weak and almost fall. His heart was filled with regret, and he only wanted to bang his head against the wall.

The other party was a master?

No wonder he could remain so composed when meeting him, could see at a glance the Tinan blood jade that even Master Cheng Yuan couldn't identify, and accurately describe his wife's symptoms...

But he himself had not believed the other party and had hesitated inwardly.

With that hesitation, he missed the opportunity to befriend a master and even save his wife.

"Sir..."

Seeing his master's expression, the enforcement team leader also seemed to realize something, his face changing: "That... master just now—could he be the one he mentioned?"

"It must be!"

Regaining his composure, Ling Tianyu quickly ordered: "Go find out where they are staying now, and prepare the carriage immediately. I'm going to see him."

Having missed one chance, how could he miss a second?

"Yes!"

The people on the side, upon hearing that the man just now was a master, all turned pale with fright and hurriedly followed his orders.

A master—there wasn't even one in the entire Tianxuan Kingdom. Even President Huang of the Teacher's Guild was only a senior apprentice.

Now one had passed through, and they had failed to recognize his worth, nearly capturing and beating him...

Just thinking about it made cold sweat run down their backs; they could faint at any moment.

Sun Qiang had loudly announced his residence when he left yesterday, so it wasn't hard to find out; news came quickly.

"Let's go!"

Knowing the other party's residence, Ling Tianyu didn't hesitate and walked out directly.

...

"Master, where are we going now?"

Walking out of Tianyu Trading Firm covered in cold sweat, seeing no one stop them, Sun Qiang finally breathed a sigh of relief and couldn't help asking.

"Back!"

Zhang Xuan waved his hand.

"Going back just like that?" Sun Qiang's head was full of question marks.

When this master came out earlier, he said he was looking for Lord Ling. He thought they would discuss something, but instead he went to the other's market, smashed the most precious stone lion, said a few words, and left...

It left him somewhat bewildered, unable to understand what was going on.

"Mm."

Zhang Xuan didn't explain.

Their residence was not far from the trading firm, and they returned before long.

"It's late today. I'm going to rest. No matter who comes, keep them outside the door and don't let them in!" Zhang Xuan instructed as he returned to his room.

"Yes!" Sun Qiang nodded, but inwardly he didn't take it seriously.

No one had come all day; now it was dark, who would still come?

Sun Qiang withdrew from the room and was about to find a place to tend to the injuries from the beating earlier when he saw the guard at the door hurrying over.

"Brother Qiang, someone is outside requesting an audience!"

The guard said.

"Requesting an audience? Who?"

Not expecting anyone to actually come, Sun Qiang was startled.

"It's... Lord Ling!" The guard said.

"Ling Tianyu? Lord Ling?" Sun Qiang shuddered and nearly fell over.

Just now the master said someone would come looking for him, and he didn't believe it. Now it turned out to be true, and it was Lord Ling Tianyu, whom they had just seen.

Could it be that he couldn't wait and came today to demand compensation?

"Go welcome him quickly. I'll go find the master..."

As he spoke, he suddenly remembered Zhang Xuan's instructions just now and froze: "Wait!"

The master had just said that no matter who came, they were to be kept outside and not allowed in.

Clearly, he already knew Lord Ling would come, and the meaning was also clear... he wouldn't see him.

Not see Lord Ling?

Under normal circumstances, even with ten times the courage, Sun Qiang wouldn't dare.

In the past, he would have been the one crying and begging for an audience, only to be ignored. Now the other party was coming to him...

Should he let him in or not?

Damn it, death or glory—I'll follow the master's orders.

Gritting his teeth, he made up his mind and gave an order.

"I'll go out with you!"

Since he'd already been beaten and offended them, no matter what the other party's purpose, he could only follow the master's words and see it through to the end.

Soon they arrived at the door.

Sure enough, they saw the imposing Lord Ling standing outside, with Master Cheng Yuan closely behind.

Seeing him come out, both of them immediately beamed with smiles: "Brother Sun, may we trouble you to announce us? Ling Tianyu requests an audience!"

"Brother... Sun?"

Bracing himself to come out, Sun Qiang had expected Ling Tianyu to continue pursuing the matter of smashing the lion and demand money. He never dreamed the other party would have this attitude, and he couldn't help being stunned.

He was just a small merchant, setting up a stall in the market, always having to watch others' faces. Any enforcement team member could make him pay money... When had he ever been called 'Brother Sun' by Ling Tianyu!

In the past, someone like him, even if he knelt before the other party, wouldn't get a second glance!

In an instant, his heart felt as if it had been ignited. Sun Qiang's face flushed red, and he felt as if he were floating on air.

Holding his head high!

Yes, this was holding his head high!