Chapter 97: Something Fishy
"Steward Shen, there's no need to act hostile. Just say what you mean."
Shen Wang said impatiently.
Yun Conghui smiled awkwardly, "We've come to take the sinner Paper Kite back to the family."
Shen Wang thought he misheard, digging at his ear, "Steward Yun doesn't seem like someone who jokes. When did my woman become a sinner? You better explain clearly."
The young man's gaze turned cold, "You, a cripple with a damaged Dantian, who gives you the courage to speak to us this way?"
He had investigated Shen Wang before coming, and apart from being somewhat skilled in Talisman Making, with a damaged Dantian, Shen Wang posed no real threat.
A cold gleam flashed in Shen Wang's eyes. A long saber appeared, seized by him in one swift motion, slashing forward as he stepped forward.
Since these three came with ill intent, there was no need for politeness; speaking with action was much simpler.
Clang!
Under his powerful arm, the saber trembled lightly, bursting forth with brilliant sparks, transforming into a sharp Sword Qi like a fierce tiger descending a mountain, rushing at the young man with the speed of a hurricane.
At the moment Shen Wang attacked, Yun Conghui's expression changed.
An expert's strike reveals depth; even Yun Conghui felt threatened by Shen Wang's attack.
The young man felt as if a vicious tiger had targeted him, an overwhelming Evil Qi rushed towards him, his muscles tensed, a fear sprouted within, delaying his response by a beat.
This was because the Black Death Saber Technique carried mental oppression; those without sufficient strength would be affected even before being struck. This young man, despite being at the Eighth-Layer Qi Cultivation, was completely inferior to Shen Wang.
The saber light appeared before him in a blink; the young man retreated frantically but couldn't avoid the evolving saber edge.
Bang!
A hammer-shaped Magical Treasure deflected Shen Wang's saber edge, Yun Conghui intervened at a critical moment. The treasure emitted thunderous light and was a silver hammer.
Crack.
The Sword Qi struck the ground, carving a mark a yard long, while residual waves sliced off a piece of the young man's garment, proving quite fierce.
"How dare you attack!"
The young man, enraged, formed a seal. Amidst crackling sounds, white lightning danced.
He was about to cast Thunder Attribute Magic for a counterattack.
"Kaihe, stop."
Yun Conghui ordered sternly, grabbing his silver hammer Magical Treasure, simultaneously restraining the middle-aged man who wanted to counter, "Younger Brother Shen, this is his first time out, young and impulsive, don't be angry."
"You're coming to capture my wife, what's there to be polite about?"
Firelight flickered in Shen Wang's eyes, black aura enveloped him, Dragon-Suppressing Force began to operate. With his Spiritual Power and cultivated Dragon-Suppressing Force combined, he could attack from afar with Magic or engage in close combat with the saber, particularly strong in close quarters.
Yun Conghui's face twitched at the sight; what was this—a Talisman Master using a saber was one thing, but actually cultivating the Dragon-Suppressing Force, a Body Forging Technique.
Could it be this young man turned to cultivating Dragon-Suppressing Force because of his damaged Dantian?
He didn't ask further, hurriedly explaining, "It's like this: Paper Kite is merely guilty of losing cargo and deliberately hiding without returning due to those family issues. Once she goes back to explain, the family won't blame her too much."
"Ridiculous! She's just a mere Postnatal Realm young shopkeeper. Why must she be accountable for lost cargo?"
Shen Wang mocked as he brandished his saber, "The Yun Family has such grand style, making a young woman take the fall."
"It's not that severe; we all know she has no faults. But due to being the Shopkeeper and happening to be caught up on the road, she has to return to explain the situation."
Yun Conghui said helplessly.
Shen Wang frowned, "What's there to explain? You know the truth, I don't believe others don't know it?"
He leveled the saber, "Paper Kite is my woman, already married into my Shen Family, pregnant now—she can't go back with you."
Yun Conghui frowned upon hearing that; indeed, this situation was somewhat challenging.
"Amusing, when have you properly married?"
The young man interjected, "Nominally, she's not yet yours. Even if she is, she belongs to our Yun Family!"
Shen Wang regarded the three deeply, not believing that cargo loss was reason enough for them to make such a grand show. There must be some hidden agenda.
At the very least, these three knew of Paper Kite's rescue—it wasn't simple. If they weren't in league with the Black Water Stronghold folks, how were they so certain Paper Kite was rescued by him?
Yet, he couldn't think of the reason—could it be the cargo contained something precious, still with Paper Kite?
This seemed unlikely, as all valuable items on Paper Kite had been taken away, except—
His thoughts shifted, his expression turned cold, "The three of you should go back. You didn't come to rescue her, so don't expect me to hand her over."
"Younger Brother Shen, please don't make things difficult for us."
Yun Conghui said sternly, "She just needs to visit the family, handle a few matters, and it won't be severe punishment."
"I don't believe you."
Shen Wang showed a mocking expression, "If you didn't have internal issues, how could the cargo be robbed? People were killed, yet you didn't pursue revenge—do you take me for a fool?"
"Young man, you'd better say less. Hand her over; don't provoke our Yun Family over a mere wife or concubine."
The silent middle-aged man spoke sinisterly, "You're exiled here, all alone. The Shen Family's name holds little weight."
Shen Wang chuckled lightly at this, "You've done your homework well before coming. The more you act like this, the more suspicious it seems. I can't imagine any ordinary Yun Family woman is worth all this trouble."
He was almost certain these people wanted Paper Kite and not for some other reason.