Chapter 329: A Complete Mess
Tian Fu had just gotten up. After getting ready, he planned to go take a look at the dungeons.
When Shen Zi and Mo Feng escaped from the Divine Mountain, they had stolen an important item from him. But no matter how he had tortured them yesterday, they refused to say a word.
"Young Master, Lady Xuan is here."
Hearing the servant’s report, Tian Fu finished getting ready more quickly and went to the main hall to see Meng Fanxuan.
"Aunt, what brings you here?"
Meng Fanxuan smiled kindly. "I came to bring you breakfast. I heard from the servants that you haven’t been eating well lately."
"That just won’t do. I was worried about you, so for the next few days, I’ll bring your meals and eat with you."
"And if you’re out on business, I’ll bring some people to tidy up your courtyard. Since you dislike having servants around, the weeds are starting to get out of control."
Though Meng Fanxuan’s words were a gentle scolding, her concern was unconcealed.
Tian Fu was deeply touched, but he didn’t agree.
’Her having to work so hard is one thing, but there are also things hidden in my courtyard that can’t see the light of day. What if she stumbles upon them...?’
"That’s too much trouble for you, Aunt. I..."
"I won’t take no for an answer," Meng Fanxuan said, leaving no room for refusal. "It’s settled. Besides, I have nothing to do most days. Think of it as a way to pass the time."
Tian Fu sighed in resignation. Not wanting to reject Meng Fanxuan’s doting affection, he had no choice but to agree.
’Oh well,’ he thought. ’Those things are all in the secret room in my study. As long as I don’t let anyone in there, it should be fine.’
Meng Fanxuan had her servants set out the dishes she’d brought. Just as she was about to place some food onto Tian Fu’s plate, a dragon’s roar that shook the heavens thundered through the sky above the Tian Family estate.
"Tian Fu, come out and die!"
Meng Fanxuan’s hand trembled, and the piece of food she was holding with her chopsticks dropped. She looked outside in terror. "Tian Fu, was that someone shouting your name? Did you make an enemy somewhere?"
Seeing her trembling with fear, Tian Fu quickly reassured her, "Don’t be afraid, Aunt. I’ll go take a look."
"Guards! Protect Lady Xuan."
After he left, Meng Fanxuan wanted to follow. She was curious to see if the person outside was one of Tian Fu’s enemies.
’A moment ago, she hadn’t been afraid. She had been thrilled.’
’The more recklessly Tian Fu acted, the more enemies he made—and the more it would benefit her!’
The moment Tian Fu stepped outside, he saw the colossal Golden Dragon in the sky. "Ao Wu? It’s you!"
"Hmph!"
Ao Wu snorted coldly. "Indeed it is I, the Divine Dragon. Tian Fu, where have you locked up my daughter? Release her at once, or I will flatten your entire Tian Family!"
In the dungeons, Yu An, who was busy gathering the prisoners, heard Ao Wu’s words. The corner of her mouth twitched. ’Ao Wu is certainly good at puffing up his own importance,’ she thought.
Tian Fu frowned. He knew Ao Wu had a daughter. Just as he was about to say that he hadn’t captured his child, Master Tian and several elders emerged.
"And who might you be?" Master Tian’s voice boomed. "Why have you come to our Tian Family, spouting such venom?"
Ao Wu gave a huge roll of his eyes. "Are you deaf, old man? I just told you. Tian Fu captured my daughter."
"I am the Divine Dragon who serves the Heaven and Earth Stone, and my daughter is a young Divine Dragon herself. Tian Fu, I advise you to hand her over immediately."
"She’s young and timid and scares easily. If anything happens to her while in Tian Fu’s custody, I will annihilate your entire Tian family!"
Ao Wu hissed, "Man or woman, old or young, chicken or duck, cow or sheep—even the newborn pups in the rat holes will die to accompany my daughter!"
He actually had two more lines memorized—something about scrambling eggs inside their shells and slicing earthworms lengthwise.
But in his excitement, he’d forgotten them.
Yu An listened, speechless.
’Those weren’t the lines I taught him,’ she thought. ’What book did he get those from?!’
Master Tian glanced at the livid Tian Fu, then said to Ao Wu, "Your Excellency, you are going too far. One person is responsible for their own actions. Why involve our entire Tian family?"
"Of course, as the Family Head of the Tian family, and as Tian Fu’s elder, I am willing to accept the punishment in his place."
On the surface, Master Tian’s words seemed to be defending Tian Fu, but in reality, every sentence implied that Tian Fu really had captured the man’s daughter, causing her parent to storm their gates.
If the Divine Dragon was truly angered, it would all be Tian Fu’s fault.
Ao Wu understood the subtext and let out another furious roar, demanding Tian Fu release his daughter.
If even he could hear the subtext, Tian Fu certainly could too.
He shot a look at Master Tian, but the Family Head’s expression was impassive. "Fu’er, hurry up. Hand over the Divine Dragon’s daughter, make your apologies, and try to earn Lord Divine Dragon’s forgiveness."
Ever since Tian Fu’s return, Master Tian had been simmering with frustration. Now that he finally had a chance to see Tian Fu in a bind, he was more than happy to add fuel to the fire.
’As the saying goes, the enemy of my enemy is my friend,’ Ao Wu thought. He didn’t know if Master Tian was an enemy or an ally, but right now, he was definitely on his side!
Ao Wu snorted. "So there is someone reasonable in the Tian Family after all. Hand over my daughter now, and I can let this matter go."
"If not, I will destroy your Tian Family and ask the Heaven and Earth Stone to send down Heavenly Punishment... When that happens, no one will be left alive!"
It was early morning, and the members of the Tian family had already risen for the day. Within moments, a large crowd had gathered.
To the people of the Upper Realm, the Heaven and Earth Stone held the same divine status as the Beast God held for the Beastmen. They all knew the Heaven and Earth Stone was guarded by a Dragon and a Phoenix.
Therefore, no one doubted Ao Wu’s identity in the slightest.
Seeing that Tian Fu remained motionless, someone in the crowd shouted in dissatisfaction:
"Tian Fu, did you really capture Lord Divine Dragon’s daughter? If you did, then release her at once! If Lord Divine Dragon becomes enraged, our entire clan will suffer because of you!"
"That’s right! What were you thinking, kidnapping someone’s child? Seriously, ever since Tian Fu returned, our family has known no peace."
"And he wants to compete for the position of Young Master? Hah! All he does is cause trouble for the family..."
Thanks to Master Tian’s covert manipulations, as well as some of Tian Fu’s own actions since his return, the clan was already rife with complaints against him.
They already couldn’t stand the sight of him. Now that they faced the possibility of being attacked by the Divine Dragon and punished by the Heaven and Earth Stone all because of him, their discontent boiled over.
Believing there was safety in numbers, more and more voices rose from the crowd.
Master Tian shot a meaningful glance at several people in the crowd. The next second, an egg came flying, aimed straight for Tian Fu’s head.
But just before it could hit, a figure moved in front of Tian Fu, taking the blow.
"Ah!"
Meng Fanxuan clutched her forehead and collapsed, her once-clean clothes now dripping with raw egg. It was a pathetic sight.
Master Tian froze for a moment before he recognized the woman.
She was his second brother’s second wife, the younger sister of his first wife: Meng Fanxuan.
Meng Fanxuan rarely left her courtyard, so many people had little impression of her, least of all a busy man like Master Tian.
"Aunt!"
The color drained from Tian Fu’s face. He rushed to help Meng Fanxuan up. "Aunt, are you all right?"
Before Meng Fanxuan could answer, he shot his head up and glared furiously at the crowd. "You dare lay a hand on my aunt? You’re courting death!"
With a wave of his hand, the clansmen at the front of the crowd cried out and collapsed. The rest shrieked in terror and tried to flee.
"Murder! Tian Fu is a murderer!"
The scene below instantly erupted into chaos. High in the air, Ao Wu was a little dumbfounded.
’Wha—what’s going on?’
’I haven’t even done anything yet. How have they already started fighting amongst themselves?’