"If he were that easy to deal with, would the Huang Family need to hold this meeting?"
"Enough! No more arguing. The general plan has been decided." A pale hand emerged from beneath Huang the Ninth's black robes.
Huang San gave him a long, hard look. "Lao Jiu, do you really think your plan will work?"
"I'm eighty percent certain! The remaining twenty percent hinges on whether we can get Tang Wen to participate in this trial."
A silence fell.
"Lao Jiu, does this mean the clan has to bleed even more?"
"Not blood. Bait!" Having lost his heartbeat, Huang the Ninth's voice was always steady and calm.
"Bait? The more we offer, the more wary Tang Wen will become, I fear!"
Huang the Ninth glanced at the speaker. "First, we up the ante. Then, we invite all the other clans to contribute to a generous prize pool."
He had been planning this for some time. "As for assuaging Tang Wen's cautious nature, I've already thought of that.
