In the main hall of the Zhuge Clan, the atmosphere was suffocatingly oppressive.
Wang Kun sat brazenly in the seat of honor for guests, holding a cup of top-grade "Cloud Mist Spirit Tea" served by a Zhuge Clan maid. However, he merely swirled the cup lightly, letting the misty steam rise, showing no intention of tasting it. His gaze, meanwhile, sized up the hall's furnishings with impunity, a faint, almost imperceptible sneer hanging on the corner of his mouth.
Fifth Elder Zhuge Ming sat beside him, a slightly stiff smile on his face, constantly trying to find some irrelevant topics to ease the awkward atmosphere. However, Wang Kun always managed to block all his efforts with just a few words, his arrogant posture on full display.
On both sides of the hall, several deacons of the Zhuge Clan stood with their hands down, their faces ashen, their fists clenching and unclenching inside their sleeves. If not for the prior orders from the Clan Head and the Fifth Elder, they probably would have thrown this arrogant fatty out long ago.
"Hehe, your esteemed clan's hall is quite magnificent," Wang Kun finally spoke. He casually placed the teacup on the table, making a light "clang" that broke the silence. "It's just that... it seems a lot more deserted than the last time I was here."
The sarcasm in his words could not have been more obvious.
The corner of Zhuge Ming's eye twitched imperceptibly, but the smile on his face remained. "Deacon Wang jests. The family has had some recent troubles, so it's inevitable that the atmosphere is a bit somber."
"Oh? Is that so?" Wang Kun raised his voice in feigned surprise. "I thought it was because the Zhuge Clan is now short on talent, and can't even find a junior to hold the fort. I remember back when Nephew Xuan was around, your clan's gates were as crowded as a marketplace. How lively it was. Alas, what a pity, what a pity..."
He shook his head, a look of regret on his face, but the schadenfreude in his eyes could not be concealed.
"You!" a young deacon finally couldn't hold back and shouted in anger.
"Silence!" Zhuge Ming turned his head sharply and reprimanded sternly, "Deacon Wang is a guest. How dare you be insolent here! Stand down!"
The young deacon's face was full of unwillingness, but he dared not disobey the elder's order. He could only glare fiercely at Wang Kun and retreat to the side in humiliation.
Seeing this, the smile on Wang Kun's face grew even brighter. This was the effect he wanted. He wanted to revel in the pleasure of trampling on a once-unreachable opponent.
Just then, a servant hurried in from outside, quickly came to Zhuge Ming's side, and whispered a few words in his ear.
Zhuge Ming's expression changed slightly, and a trace of surprise and confusion flashed in his eyes, but he quickly returned to normal. He cupped his hands at Wang Kun and said, "Deacon Wang, my sincerest apologies. The Li Clan Head has come to visit in person. I must go and greet him. Please wait here for a moment."
"Li Jianye?" Wang Kun's brows furrowed.
That old fox, why did he have to come at this specific time? What was his intention? Was he trying to get a piece of the pie, or... to laugh at his Wang Clan?
Before he could think further, Zhuge Ming had already stood up and walked quickly towards the door.
Wang Kun sat alone in the hall, the triumphant look on his face gradually fading, replaced by a touch of gloom. The sudden intervention of the Li family made him feel a little uneasy. Although he was ordered to humiliate the Zhuge Clan, he also knew that the alliance between the Wang and Li families was the fundamental reason for their easy success this time. This alliance must not have any cracks.
Before long, Zhuge Ming returned, accompanying a tall man with a dignified bearing. This person was none other than the Li Clan Head, Li Jianye.
"Aiya, Deacon Wang, it's been a long time. You're looking as fine as ever!" Before Li Jianye even arrived, his hearty laughter preceded him. As soon as he entered, he walked straight towards Wang Kun and enthusiastically extended his hands.
Although Wang Kun had his doubts, he still had to put on a good show. He quickly stood up, a smile plastered on his face, and went to greet him, "Clan Head Li, your presence graces us. I have been remiss in not welcoming you from afar. My apologies."
The two men shook hands, exchanging a round of false pleasantries.
"I heard that Deacon Wang is here today on behalf of the Wang family to offer apologies to the Zhuge Clan," Li Jianye's gaze turned to Zhuge Ming at the side, his face showing a look of grief. "Alas, for Nephew Xuan to suffer such a misfortune, I, as his uncle, am also deeply saddened. So, I have specially prepared some meager gifts to come and visit. This 1000-year-old 'Blood Jade Ginseng' might be of some help in repairing meridians. I hope Fifth Elder will be sure to pass it to Nephew Xuan for me."
As he spoke, a servant behind him presented an exquisite jade box. The box opened, and a rich life force wafted out. A ginseng, entirely blood-red and shaped like a human, lay quietly inside.
Seeing this, the expressions of the Zhuge Clan deacons present softened considerably. Regardless of whether the Li family was sincere or not, at least on this occasion, they had given the Zhuge Clan enough face. Compared to Wang Kun's arrogant and domineering attitude, it was like heaven and earth.
Wang Kun's face, on the other hand, had completely darkened.
Li Jianye had played this move beautifully!
He had just come on behalf of the Wang family to "humiliate" the Zhuge Clan, and Li Jianye followed right after with a heavy gift to "offer condolences." In comparison, the Wang family's actions seemed exceptionally petty and mean-spirited, while the Li family became a model of benevolence, righteousness, and remembrance of old ties.
More importantly, Li Jianye's action was undoubtedly sending a signal to the Zhuge Clan, and even to all of Qingyang City: his Li family's style was different from the Wang family's. Their alliance was not a monolithic block.
This was openly undermining his Wang Clan!
"Clan Head Li is truly thoughtful," Zhuge Ming quickly accepted the jade box, his face full of gratitude. "On behalf of Xuan'er, and the entire Zhuge Clan, I thank Clan Head Li for your great kindness!"
"Fifth Elder overstates it," Li Jianye waved his hand and said righteously, "The three great clans are connected. We should naturally watch over and help each other. It was a moment of carelessness for Nephew Wang Teng that led to this big mistake. It is right for the Wang family to show some remorse. But my Li family cannot just stand by and watch either. I hope Nephew Xuan can recover soon. We are all still waiting for him to regain his former glory!"
These words were flawlessly delivered. He pointed out the Wang family's fault, expressed his own hopes for Zhuge Xuan, and won over the hearts of the Zhuge Clan people in the process.
Wang Kun stood at the side, so angry he could have exploded, but he couldn't act on it. He couldn't possibly, in front of the Zhuge Clan, accuse Li Jianye of being too kind to them, could he?
He could only watch as Li Jianye and Zhuge Ming chatted happily, watch as the Zhuge Clan deacons cast grateful gazes at Li Jianye, while their gazes towards him grew colder and more disgusted.
He felt like a buffoon, being played for a fool.
...
The back courtyard, a quiet room.
Zhuge Xuan sat cross-legged with his eyes closed. He was not cultivating, but carefully sorting through the two completely different life memories in his mind.
The knowledge system from the 21st century and the miraculous cultivation methods of this world were constantly colliding and merging in his mind, producing wonderful chemical reactions.
He discovered that although the poison of the "Soul-Severing Grass" had severely damaged his meridians, it was not without its benefits. While destroying, the poison also seemed to have broken some of the original shackles of this body. He could feel that his soul, or rather his spiritual power, was sharper and more condensed than ever before.
This brought his perception of spiritual energy to an unprecedentedly subtle level. He could even "see" the colorful spiritual light motes in the air, floating around like dust.
Just then, there was a light knock on the door.
"Young Master," Uncle Quan's voice sounded from outside. "The Li Clan Head is here."
Zhuge Xuan slowly opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing past their depths.
He was not surprised, as if all of this was already within his expectations.
"I know," he replied faintly.
He stood up, walked to the window, and pushed it open. A gust of fresh air rushed in, carrying the fragrance of flowers and plants from the garden. His gaze passed over the layers of courtyard walls, as if he could see the good show being staged in the front hall.
Li Jianye, that old fox, really couldn't hold back.
This move of his, which seemed like a gesture of goodwill, was in fact a probe.
A probe to see where the Zhuge Clan's bottom line was now.
A probe to see if the foundation of the Wang-Li alliance was still solid.
More importantly, it was a probe to see whether he, Zhuge Xuan, the former genius, had now become a sick lion that could only be slaughtered at will, or a fierce tiger that knew how to hide its claws and wait for the right moment.
That 1000-year-old "Blood Jade Ginseng" was the sounding stone Li Jianye had thrown over.
If the Zhuge Clan, or rather he, Zhuge Xuan, showed excessive gratitude and dependence on this gift, it would prove that the Zhuge Clan had reached a dead end and could only survive on handouts from the outside. Then the Li family could proceed to join the Wang family in a deeper level of encroachment on the Zhuge Clan with peace of mind.
But if...
A meaningful smile appeared on the corner of Zhuge Xuan's mouth.
He turned around and said to the door, "Uncle Quan."
"This subordinate is here."
"Go and fetch the painting 'Lone Angler on a Cold River' that I painted myself from my study."
Uncle Quan was taken aback, a little confused.
"Then," Zhuge Xuan's voice became clear and powerful, "give this painting, along with the 'Blood Jade Ginseng' from the Li family, to the Fifth Elder."
"And relay a message to him for me."
Zhuge Xuan walked to the unfinished game of Go, looked at the white stone that was deep in enemy territory and seemed isolated and helpless, and said softly:
"Just say, 'A lone boat, a straw-cloaked old man, fishing alone in the cold river snow.' This sentiment of providing timely help, Xuan, appreciates it. But though a 1000-year-old ginseng is good, it is ultimately an external object. A true man stands between heaven and earth and should rely on the 3-foot blade in his hand to sweep away all injustices in the world. A mere injury of severed meridians, why is it even worth mentioning? When my injuries are healed, I will personally visit and... ask for a game of Go with Uncle Li."