Chapter 133: Proud Sun Qiang

"What's wrong?"

Seeing his face change, Ling Tianyu quickly walked over and looked down at the broken part of the stone lion.

Where the previously green jade was broken, a blood-red pattern lay across it, reflecting the surrounding light and appearing unusually sinister and terrifying. Because it was a horizontal pattern, and Tinan green jade is opaque, this pattern would not have been visible from any angle unless the lion was smashed.

"Is it really Tinan Blood Jade?"

His face darkened. This time, even without Master Cheng Yuan's explanation, he knew this item was definitely not green jade!

He slapped his palm down. *Crack!* The rest of the stone lion's body shattered into countless pieces scattered on the ground. He casually picked up a piece and, as expected, saw the blood-red pattern on it.

"It is Tinan Blood Jade. I was mistaken!"

Seeing the blood-red patterns pervasive throughout, Master Cheng Yuan looked as if he had aged ten years in an instant. He was very confident in his discernment, which was why he held a special status in the trading house and even considered the person before him a close friend. He never expected to be mistaken about the largest and most valuable item in the entire market.

"These patterns are deeply embedded within the green jade with no external traces. It's likely that even the original sculptor didn't know, so it's understandable to be mistaken!" Ling Tianyu didn't blame him, but looked over and asked, "Now I just want to know, can Tinan Blood Jade truly absorb human vital essence?"

"Blood Jade, I've only read about it in books and never actually seen it. The legend says it can," Master Cheng Yuan nodded.

"It's true..."

Ling Tianyu's face turned pale again. He looked up at the leader of the enforcement team nearby. "Who is Sun Qiang's 'grandpa'? 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 publicly sold his shop, claiming he was going to serve a... famous master passing through here. We all thought he was bragging and laughed at him for a long time. How could a famous master let someone like him serve them..."

"Famous master?"

Ling Tianyu stumbled back several steps, feeling his knees buckle and almost falling. His heart was filled with such regret he wanted to hit a wall. *The other party was a famous master?* No wonder he was so calm when he saw me, able to identify the Tinan Blood Jade that even Master Cheng Yuan couldn't, and accurately describe my wife's symptoms... But I, I actually didn't believe him, hesitating inwardly. Just by hesitating like that, I missed the chance to befriend a famous master, and even to save my wife.

"My lord..."

Seeing his lord's expression, the enforcement team leader also seemed to realize something, his face changing. "That 'grandpa' from earlier... he couldn't be the famous master Sun Qiang spoke of, could he?"

"He must be!" Regaining his composure, Ling Tianyu quickly ordered, "Go quickly and find out where they're staying now. Prepare the carriage immediately. I'm going to find him." Having missed one opportunity, how could he miss a second?

"Yes!" Everyone on the side, hearing that the person from earlier was a famous master, turned pale with fright and quickly acted according to his instructions. A famous master—there wasn't even one in the entire Tianxuan Kingdom. Even President Huang of the Teachers' Guild was only a high-level apprentice. And now, one had actually passed by, and they, with their untrained eyes, almost apprehended him and beat him up... Just thinking about it made cold sweat break out on their backs, feeling like they could faint at any moment.

When Sun Qiang left yesterday, he had loudly announced his residence, so finding out wasn't difficult. News came quickly.

"Let's go!" Knowing the other party's residence, Ling Tianyu no longer hesitated and immediately walked out.

***

"My lord, where are we going now?"

Sun Qiang walked out of Tianyu Trading House, covered in cold sweat. Seeing no one stop him, he finally let out a sigh of relief and couldn't help but ask.

"Back!" Zhang Xuan waved his hand.

"Back already?" Sun Qiang had question marks all over his head. When his lord came out just now, he said he was going to see Lord Ling. Sun Qiang thought they'd discuss something, but instead, he went to their market, smashed their most precious stone lion, said a few words, and then left... It left him utterly bewildered, unable to understand what was going on.

"Mhm!" Zhang Xuan didn't explain.

Their residence wasn't far from the trading house, and they returned shortly. "It's late today. I want to rest. Whoever comes, keep them outside the door. No one is allowed in!" Zhang Xuan instructed upon returning to his room.

"Yes!" Sun Qiang nodded, but inwardly he was unconvinced. They had waited all day today and no one came. Now that it was dark, who would come?

Stepping out of the room, Sun Qiang was about to find a place to treat the injuries he sustained from being beaten, when he saw the guards at the gate rushing over.

"Brother Qiang, someone is asking to see you outside!" the guard said.

"Asking to see me? Who is it?" Sun Qiang was startled, not expecting anyone to actually come.

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

"Ling Tianyu? Lord Ling?" Sun Qiang trembled, almost stumbling. Just now, his lord said someone would come, and he didn't believe it. He never expected it to be true, and what's more... it was Lord Ling Tianyu, whom they had just met. *Could it be that he couldn't wait and came today to demand compensation?*

"Go quickly and welcome them, I'll go find my lord..." He said, then suddenly remembered Zhang Xuan's instructions from earlier, his body stiffening. "Wait!" His lord had just said, whoever it was, they must be kept outside the door and not allowed in. It was obvious he already knew Lord Ling would come, and his meaning was also clear... *he wouldn't see him!*

*Not see Lord Ling?* Normally, even if Sun Qiang had ten times the courage, he wouldn't dare. In the past, he would practically beg to see Lord Ling, who wouldn't bother with him. Now, Lord Ling was actively coming here... *Should I let him in or not?*

*To hell with it, I'll just follow my lord's orders.* Gritting his teeth, he made up his mind and gave an instruction. "I'll go out with you!" He'd already been beaten and offended people anyway. Regardless of their intentions, he could only obey his lord and see this through to the end.

They soon arrived at the door. Sure enough, the imposing Lord Ling stood outside the door, with Master Cheng Yuan closely following him. Seeing him come out, both of them simultaneously put on smiling faces. "Brother Sun, please be troubled to announce that Ling Tianyu requests an audience!"

"Brother... Sun?" He had steeled himself to come out, expecting Ling Tianyu to pursue the matter of the broken lion and demand compensation. He never dreamed the other party would have such an attitude. Sun Qiang couldn't help but feel bewildered. He was just a small merchant, needing to curry favor just to set up a stall in the market, and any member of the enforcement team could make him pay... When could someone like him ever be called "Brother Sun" by Ling Tianyu! In the past, a person like him wouldn't even warrant a second glance from the other party, even if he knelt before them!

In an instant, his heart felt like it had been set ablaze. Sun Qiang's face flushed, and he felt utterly ecstatic. What a moment of vindication! Yes, this is vindication!