Chapter Forty-Eight: You Are Gravely Ill!

“Master Tu?”
At those words, the crowd collectively held their breath.

“If I’m not mistaken, isn’t Master Tu the owner of the Gentle Breeze Pavilion?”

“No wonder this fat man dares to act so arrogantly—he’s got Master Tu backing him up. That explains his confidence.”

“Who is Master Tu? He’s the owner of all the properties on Antique Street, worth billions, with deep ties in politics, the military, and business.”

“That’s not all, even the underground world shows him respect. He’s the uncrowned king of this district—who would dare cross him?”

“That young man is in serious trouble now...”

The onlookers whispered among themselves, each word dripping with anxiety. At the mention of Master Tu, none could hide their shock or their growing concern for Ye Wushang.

An Lan’s breathing grew rapid; she too had heard of Master Tu. Though she’d never dealt with him directly, she knew he was not someone to be trifled with. Now that her opponent had Master Tu’s support, the An family’s name might just barely hold him off, but if things turned ugly, who knew who would emerge victorious?

“Wushang...”

An Lan hurried over, intending to consult with him. But just as she drew near, Ye Wushang suddenly slapped the fat man hard across the face.

“I don’t care if he’s Master Tu or Master Dog. Anyone who challenges me will find themselves humbled, no matter their title.”

“I told you, if you apologized, I’d spare your life; but you insisted on defying me.”

“Very well. I’ll grant your wish—let’s see if your Master Tu can protect you in the afterlife.”

With that, he raised his arm, ready to strike again.

The crowd was dumbfounded; even after the fat man invoked Master Tu’s name, Ye Wushang dared to go further. Now, it seemed, he intended to kill.

The fat man trembled with fear, unable to move as his escape was blocked. Just as despair set in, a deep, stern voice suddenly rang out.

“Smashing up my shop, beating my people, and now you want to kill? You truly have no regard for me, do you?”

Ye Wushang froze, his arm suspended mid-air. He turned to look.

From behind the curtain, a middle-aged man strode forward, dressed in a Tai Chi outfit, round-bodied and portly. His features were genial, his smile so broad his small eyes nearly disappeared, giving him a harmless appearance. Yet his gaze was sharp as a hawk’s, chilling to the bone. In his hand, he rolled two marbles, their clicking sound unnerving all who heard it.

“Master Tu, save me!”

At the sight of the newcomer, hope flared in the fat man’s eyes. Like a drowning man clutching at a straw, he screamed, “This bastard’s gone mad—he tried to kill me!”

“He’s shown you no respect, and he even threatened to deal with you after killing me!”

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd.

Finally, Master Tu had arrived. Now Ye Wushang was finished. The young man had some skill, and seeing the fat man get his comeuppance had been satisfying, but no one who’d ever challenged Master Tu had escaped unscathed.

Soon, Master Tu reached them.

Two bald men followed at his heels. They weren’t muscle-bound brutes, but rather short, sly-looking types with tigerish grins. Yet a palpable aura of menace clung to them—they were clearly trained fighters, perhaps even experts in internal energy, standing there with an unquestionable air of authority.

“Let him go. If you have an issue, discuss it with me.”

Master Tu’s tone was calm, yet brooked no dissent. The two bald men instinctively stepped forward, flanking Ye Wushang and blocking his escape.

Ye Wushang did not release his grip. He studied Master Tu closely. Outwardly, the man radiated vigor, but his breath was uneven, and his pulse hammered in his neck. At close range, his exhalations were foul and restless—a sign that something was seriously wrong.

His instincts told him: Master Tu was ill, gravely so.

“I’ll let him go, but he must apologize to me.”

“And I mean kneel down and bow his head in apology.”

With that, Ye Wushang yanked the fat man upright and forced him to his knees, pressing a knee hard against his neck, his expression cold and detached.

“Ow, ow, let me go, you bastard—”

“Young man—”

The fat man tried to retort, but Master Tu’s eyes flashed dangerously as he glared at Ye Wushang and barked, “I’ve come in person, yet you still dare act up?”

“Do you really think that knowing a little martial arts gives you license to do as you please?”

“This is my final warning—let him go, or I won’t be so polite!”

A metallic clink and a sharp hiss rang out as the two bald men drew a knife and an iron chain from their waists. Stretching them taut, the weapons gleamed menacingly.

“I’d like to see who dares lay a hand on him!”

Just then, realizing the situation was dire, An Lan cried out and rushed forward to shield Ye Wushang. Master Tu might be powerful, but the An family wasn’t easily cowed either. Beyond the fact that Ye Wushang had saved her and her grandfather, her feelings for him alone would not allow anyone to harm him.

“So this pretty boy is the one you’re keeping?” Master Tu sneered.

He’d watched everything unfold outside through the surveillance cameras. He had to admit, the kid had sharp eyes—he’d spotted the precious Golden Furnace, a treasure worth hundreds of millions on the market, and worth at least double that in the right hands.

There was no way he’d let them walk out with it.

“Watch your mouth. Wushang and I are friends—don’t sully it with your filthy assumptions.”

An Lan pressed close to Ye Wushang, her voice ringing clear.

“We paid for our purchase, but this fat man tried to forcefully take the Golden Furnace from us after seeing it. How is that fair?”

“If he’s your man, and you’re the owner of the Gentle Breeze Pavilion, you owe us an explanation!”

Master Tu’s lips curled into a cold smile. “An explanation? I have never needed to explain myself to anyone.”

“I only care if my interests are harmed. He trashed my shop and assaulted my people—he must pay.”

“If you want to leave alive, hand over the Golden Furnace now, apologize to me and my men, and the matter ends here.”

The crowd was horrified. The shamelessness of such a demand was staggering. Though they all sympathized with Ye Wushang, Master Tu was a giant—he could do as he pleased. If he wanted to rob them or even kill them on the spot, no one would dare intervene.

An Lan’s anger flared, and she was about to retort when Ye Wushang suddenly released the fat man and shoved him aside.

The onlookers assumed he had given in; even Master Tu’s stern expression eased, and he sneered, “A wise man knows when to yield. Since you admit your mistake, hand over the Golden Furnace.”

“And you owe me an apology!”

The fat man bellowed, “You bastard, you dared hit me and threaten my life?”

“Look around you—do you even know whose turf this is?”

“You’d best mind your attitude. If your apology isn’t sincere, I won’t spare you!”

Ye Wushang’s expression remained indifferent.

“I paid for the Golden Furnace. Why should I give it to you?”

“What did you say?” Master Tu’s brow darkened, his tone icy. “If you’re not handing over the Golden Furnace, why release the fat man?”

“I let him go because I changed my mind.”

“He’s your man, so his offense is now yours to bear.”

“I don’t care if you’re Master Tu or Master Dog—in a short while, you’ll be a corpse.”

“Even if you get your hands on the Golden Furnace, do you really think you’ll live to enjoy it?”

A collective gasp shook the crowd.

No one could believe what they were hearing. With Master Tu himself intervening and offering a way out, everyone expected Ye Wushang to back down. Instead, he cursed him to his face.

True, Master Tu and the fat man had gone too far, but with such an overwhelming force arrayed against him, most would have chosen submission to survive.

“Wushang, did you notice something—” An Lan was shocked, about to ask, when Master Tu’s face twisted in anger and he barked, “You little punk, what nonsense are you spouting?”

“From what I see, your bones are brittle, your blood is weak—you’re already gravely ill.”

“In fact, it’s cancer. It’s almost completely spread, and your condition is terminal.”

“If my diagnosis is correct, you have no more than a month to live.”

“So why should I bother with a dying man?”

At this, Master Tu flew into a rage. “Bullshit! I’m perfectly healthy—when have I ever been sick?”

“I get regular checkups every quarter—my numbers are always perfect. No doctor has ever said I’m ill.”

“I know you’re trying to stall, but it’s no use. On my turf, you do as I say.”

Master Tu took a deep breath and waved his hand. The two bald men seized Ye Wushang, but this time he did not resist. He simply sneered, “Medical checkups only show surface numbers. True illness requires careful examination to detect...”

“I’ve had enough of your nonsense!”

“If you won’t hand it over, then search him!”

“Take the Golden Furnace, and then—”

“Stop!”

In the midst of their standoff, Secretary Sun Huiru arrived in haste, accompanied by the district manager!

...