Free Web NovelChapter 156: Chapter 155: Martial Sacrificial Officer, Sitting the Stele, Going Too Far
"Just as Young Master Shen said, before we can be friends, we must first be clear with one another.
To discuss a partnership, I first need to see if there’s any ’profit’ in working with Young Master Shen..."
Fu Juemin smiled, then waved his hand dismissively. "Let’s not discuss the partnership for now. Young Master Shen didn’t ask me out today just to chat about this, did he?"
Shen Yijun was silent for a moment. The smile returned to his face, but much of its earlier warmth was gone, replaced by a more business-like air.
"Young Master Fu is right. I am indeed here today at someone’s request."
Shen Yijun moved to the sofa opposite Fu Juemin and sat down, then began to slowly clip a cigar from the coffee table.
"Zhao Tianpeng, the son of the Shenghai Martial Dao Association’s President Zhao Jigang, carelessly offended Young Master Fu a few days ago and was taught a harsh lesson by you."
"Now, he wishes to use me as an intermediary to sue for peace. I wonder what Young Master Fu thinks?"
"Simple enough."
Fu Juemin rested one hand casually on the back of the sofa, took a light sip from the wine glass in his other, and nodded. "Since Young Master Shen has spoken, I must grant you this favor."
"How about this..."
Fu Juemin thought for a moment, then said casually, "Have Zhao Jigang prepare five hundred thousand silver coins, then bring Zhao Tianpeng to Ink Garden to personally apologize to me. Then... we can consider this matter settled."
SNIP—
The cigar cutter in Shen Yijun’s hand made a sharp sound, and his entire body paused almost imperceptibly.
A playful smile touched Fu Juemin’s lips as he watched him quietly.
After a few breaths, Shen Yijun’s movements returned to normal as he unhurriedly lit the trimmed cigar.
"I knew that Zhao Tianpeng was a fool. He could have offended anyone, but he just had to offend you, Young Master Fu."
Shen Yijun didn’t mention the conditions, and it was unclear whether his tone was one of lament or mockery. "Not only is he a fool, but he’s a fool who doesn’t even know it."
"He should piss in a puddle and take a good look at himself. Shamelessly pestering that returning widow from the Su Erjia Luo Clan..."
Fu Juemin’s brow furrowed slightly when he heard this.
’The Su Family’s returning widow... who could that be but Su Hui?’
He actually hadn’t known that Zhao Tianpeng had designs on Su Hui.
"Oh? Is that so?"
Fu Juemin’s tone was flat, betraying no emotion.
"Not many people know about it, it’s true."
Shen Yijun exhaled a puff of blue cigar smoke and smiled. "Just as not many people know about the relationship between you, Young Master Fu, and the Su Family."
"How about this..."
Shen Yijun weighed his options, then said, "I’ll have Zhao Tianpeng guarantee that he will never harass that young lady from the Su Family again."
"Let’s both take a step back. Young Master Fu, forget the five hundred thousand silver coins. How about one hundred thousand?"
"Impossible."
Fu Juemin shook his head. His tone was still flat, but it carried an unnegotiable finality. "If it weren’t for giving Young Master Shen face, I would have originally asked for seven hundred thousand silver coins..."
"Oh, so my, Shen Yijun’s, face is that valuable? In your eyes, Young Master Fu, it’s worth..."
Shen Yijun replied jokingly, but before he could finish, a loud BANG echoed through the room.
The small door to the inner room, which Fu Juemin had noted earlier, was thrown open. A middle-aged man in his forties, dressed in a silk long-robe, stormed out with an ashen face.
"Seven hundred thousand silver coins?! How dare you even ask for that!"
The man pointed at Fu Juemin and cursed through gritted teeth, "You, Fu! Don’t you go too far!"
Fu Juemin didn’t look at the man but slowly turned his gaze to Shen Yijun.
The joking expression on Shen Yijun’s face had frozen. A flash of cold, startled anger crossed his eyes before he avoided Fu Juemin’s gaze and said in a slightly awkward, low voice, "This... is Steward Zhao from the Zhao Family."
Fu Juemin nodded, then slowly pushed himself up from the sofa and set down his wine glass.
"You think seven hundred thousand is a lot?
That I’m the one... who’s gone too far?"
The middle-aged man retorted furiously, "What else could it be? We invited Young Master Shen to mediate and proactively sought peace with you. That’s already giving you immense face, and you..."
BANG!—
The middle-aged man hadn’t finished speaking when a terrifyingly loud noise erupted. His pupils constricted as he saw Fu Juemin suddenly kick the edge of the heavy marble coffee table in front of the sofa.
The entire table flipped through the air, hurtling straight toward him!
The middle-aged steward retreated in horror, but he only managed two steps before it slammed heavily into his chest!
BOOM!
He was sent flying backward, his spine smashing hard against the floor. The tiles beneath and around him instantly cracked!
A sweet taste rose in his throat, and he violently spat out a mouthful of blood.
The next instant, a polished leather shoe stomped down hard on the overturned surface of the table. The sudden secondary pressure made his chest feel as if it were about to split open, his eyes nearly bulging from their sockets.
"Did you think I, Fu Juemin, came here to negotiate business with you?"
Fu Juemin stood with one foot on the long-robed man, looking down coldly into eyes filled with terror and agony. He spoke, word by word, "Didn’t I come here precisely... to go too far?"
With that, he slowly increased the pressure under his foot.
CRACKLE CRACKLE—
A web of cracks spread crazily across the hard marble tabletop, centered on the sole of his shoe.
Just as it looked like the middle-aged man was about to be crushed to death by Fu Juemin, Shen Yijun hastily strode over.
"Seven hundred thousand silver coins!"
Shen Yijun spoke extremely quickly. "I’ll agree on the Zhao Family’s behalf..."
Fu Juemin’s foot paused slightly. He then heard Shen Yijun continue, "As for the matter of coming to your door to apologize... I actually have a better proposal."
As he spoke, he leaned in and whispered a few words in Fu Juemin’s ear.
"Presiding Patron?"
Fu Juemin’s eyes narrowed slightly.
"Correct."
Shen Yijun nodded and said seriously, "In previous years, the Presiding Patron for the Martial Arts Association has always been an invitation-only role for prestigious and highly respected figures from all walks of life.
"Young Master Fu is young and promising, renowned, and has always had a fondness for the martial arts. You couldn’t be more suitable.
"Although you are a bit young, doesn’t that just show the sincerity of the Zhao Family?...
"Think about it, Young Master Fu. Let’s not even discuss whether Zhao Jigang can actually swallow his pride enough to bring his son to your door to apologize. Even if he did, how many people would witness it?
"But if you were to become this year’s ’Martial Sacrificial Officer’ for the Shenghai Martial Arts Association, all the major newspapers would be fighting to report it... By then, all of Shenghai will know that you, Young Master Ling, have firmly suppressed the Zhao Clan!
"Wouldn’t that be a hundred times more face than a private apology?!"
Fu Juemin listened to Shen Yijun’s words, his eyes flickering.
A moment later, as if convinced, he finally, slowly, withdrew his foot.
"The question is, will the Zhao Family agree?"
Fu Juemin put on an appearance of being quite tempted.
Shen Yijun smiled faintly and thumped his chest in assurance. "Don’t worry. If the Zhao Family refuses to agree, it won’t be too late for Young Master Fu to make them come to your door and apologize then...
"In any case, I won’t let you suffer a loss, Young Master Fu."
"That makes sense."
A satisfied look appeared on Fu Juemin’s face. He glanced at the half-dead, long-robed man beneath him and said casually, "We can schedule another time to discuss the partnership, Young Master Shen.
"I’m a bit tired today. I’ll be leaving first."
"Take care, Young Master Fu."
Shen Yijun made no move to detain him, smiling as he personally escorted him to the door of the private room.
The moment the door closed, before he could even turn around, Shen Yijun’s handsome face instantly turned dark and ugly.
"I told you not to come out, I told you! But you just had to run out and ruin everything...
"What’s the big difference between five hundred thousand and seven hundred thousand?!
"Who said you had to give him all the money at once? You could have just sent over a few tens of thousands of silver coins to placate him, then waited for the Martial Arts Association matter to be settled, couldn’t you?.."
Shen Yijun pointed at the middle-aged man who was still vomiting blood on the floor and unleashed a torrent of abuse. "A family of fools! A whole nest of fools!
"Once you’re a few streets away from the Martial Arts Hall, who the hell still recognizes you as a steward of the Zhao Family?
"You worthless piece of shit, you really think you’re somebody?"
"Taking on your business has been nothing but bad luck!"
After speaking, he couldn’t be bothered to spare the man on the floor another glance and walked past him with a flick of his sleeve, his expression icy.
* * *
At the same time, Fu Juemin, who was now walking down the second-floor corridor, deactivated his [Yao Ling] Talent. A faint, playful look appeared on his face.
’Shenghai Martial Arts Association, Martial Sacrificial Officer, Presiding Patron...’
’Truthfully, even without deliberately eavesdropping, he knew there had to be something fishy about Shen Yijun’s proposal.’
’But...’
’Just as Aunt Ding had said, once you’re at the card table, you have to play by the rules until you’re confident you can flip the whole table over.’
’Zhao Tianpeng, Zhao Jigang, Luo Chengying, Chen Qingyuan... and now, perhaps Shen Yijun should be added to the list.’
’If he didn’t let them play their hands first, how could he seize the opportunity... to crush them, one by one?!’
As Fu Juemin was thinking, someone suddenly came rushing toward him.
When the person got closer, he saw it was the Xianlido manager who had led him upstairs earlier.
"Young Master Fu, you’re finished talking with Young Master Shen so soon?"
The manager was stunned for a moment upon seeing Fu Juemin, then a wry smile spread across his face as he explained in a low voice, "...A squad of Patrol Police suddenly showed up downstairs, insisting that some disorderly members of the Revolutionary Faction had infiltrated the establishment. They’re searching the place now. It’s utterly absurd.
"Please bear with us, Young Master Fu. Don’t let this bunch ruin your mood.
"I’ll go report to Young Master Shen right away!"
He apologized profusely as he spoke.
Fu Juemin waved him on, but a flicker of curiosity sparked in his mind.
’Members of the Revolutionary Faction have infiltrated the Xianlido?’
He was just about to activate [Yao Ling] to hear what was happening downstairs when he suddenly heard a faint, hurried noise from a corridor up ahead.
Fu Juemin tilted his head and listened intently for a moment. A strange expression gradually appeared on his face.
He thought for a moment, then slowly walked toward the source of the sound.
