Wu Feng's Tactics

At these words.

Everyone was taken aback.

They couldn't believe that Meng Cao trusted He An so much.

But anyone with a discerning eye could see that Meng Cao didn't trust He An at all. He was clearly stoking the flames, forcing He An to go up onstage.

If He An didn't go up, and this matter spread,

all that awaited him was a ruined reputation.

But if he went up onstage,

with Meng Cao's influence, he could easily send out a powerful Martial Artist

to kill He An onstage!

Two choices.

Either way, He An was in an extremely disadvantageous position.

Though everyone tried to hold back during the First Incense contest to avoid casualties,

fights between Martial Artists were prone to accidents. If someone really died, there was nothing to be done but blame their own inadequate skills and inability to match their opponent.

As a result, someone died almost every year in the past, and everyone had grown used to it.

Sun Wangxian, who knew the tricks behind all this, could only fret helplessly as he watched the scene unfold.

Never mind anything else—the Inner Growth Pill was far too important to He An. It wouldn't be right for him to sit this out.

But if he took part?

Someone really could die!!

He had anticipated that things might turn out this way, but he hadn't expected them to become so intense.

That was why he'd been so torn earlier, unsure whether he should tell He An about the Inner Growth Pill.

Knowing He An as he did,

once He An learned about the Inner Growth Pill, he would most likely take part.

"Kid He, why don't we just back down? Compared to your Eldest Brother's arm, your life is what matters most."

"Besides, the Inner Growth Pill isn't guaranteed to make your Eldest Brother grow a new arm."

He urged him in a low voice.

He An turned around and gave a faint smile. "Brother Sun, don't worry. I know what I'm doing. Still, thanks for telling me about this."

At that moment.

Everyone looked at He An with mocking amusement.

Meng Cao's lips curled into a cold smile as he thought, Kid, today I'll show you the price of offending me in front of everyone.

Even if I kill you in public, no one will say a thing.

Master Li looked as though he'd finally gotten his revenge. He jeered, "Kid, have you made up your mind? You'd better listen to me and stay out of this First Incense contest."

"After all, you can't afford to lose face."

He An smiled. "Clerk Meng, Master Li, rest assured. Even if I die onstage, I won't do anything to damage the Town Martial Division's reputation."

"Good!"

Meng Cao clapped his hands and looked around. "Everyone, did you see that? This is what our Town Martial Division's people are like. This is the attitude of the Town Martial Division."

"Our heads may be severed and our blood may flow, but our dignity must never be cast aside."

"This young man is He An. He's only a constable for now, but I have great faith in him. I believe he'll impress me."

"When the contest begins, I hope you'll all keep a close eye on him."

"With a boast like that, I'm sure he'll live up to everyone's expectations."

Applause erupted throughout the crowd.

Master Li sneered. "Kid, you've got guts. Don't worry—once we're onstage, I'll make sure my disciple takes good care of you."

"Xiao Yuan, let's go!"

He swept his hand through the air, and the young man beside him immediately followed.

Meng Cao gave He An a half-smile. "Kid, I'll see you onstage. I hope your skills can match your boast."

When he left, someone followed at his side as well.

"It's over. It's all over!" Sun Wangxian slapped his forehead, his face utterly despondent.

He An didn't seem bothered. He joked with a smile, "Brother Sun, what's with that look? You have so little faith in me that you think I'm sure to die up there?"

"Isn't that what you should expect?"

Sun Wangxian rolled his eyes at him. "How can you still laugh at a time like this?"

"How long have you been learning martial arts, compared to them? You're all young, sure, but the gap between you is enormous—far greater than you can imagine."

"If nothing unexpected happens, today might really be your death anniversary."

"Don't be so gloomy!" He An remained unperturbed.

"Gloomy? I'm already being optimistic!" Sun Wangxian snapped. "If I'd known things would come to this, I wouldn't have told you about it earlier."

"It's all because of the Wu Family Head. He was the one who asked me to tell you the reward was an Inner Growth Pill."

He An froze.

When Sun Wangxian realized his mistake, he clamped his mouth shut.

He An narrowed his eyes and asked, "Brother Sun, what did you just say? The Wu Family Head told you to tell me that the reward was an Inner Growth Pill?"

"N-no, I misspoke."

Sun Wangxian waved his hands repeatedly. He still tried to bluff his way out, but under He An's questioning, he finally revealed the truth.

"At first, I didn't know what the reward was either."

"But just now, the Wu Family Head came to me, told me the reward was an Inner Growth Pill, and asked me to pass the news on to you."

"I don't know why he did it, but I do know the Inner Growth Pill means a great deal to you."

"After thinking it over, I decided to tell you."

He felt guilty. "If you hadn't known about it, maybe things wouldn't have gotten this bad, and you wouldn't have been put in such an impossible position."

"You can't take part, but you can't sit it out either!"

He kept talking to himself, but He An seemed not to hear a word. A storm surged through his mind.

As things stood,

the Wu Family Head had only one purpose.

To test his strength.

The Inner Growth Pill was nothing but bait, meant to lure him into taking part in the First Incense contest. Yet he had no choice but to participate.

His opponent had already figured him out.

For his Eldest Brother, he would take part, even if it meant revealing his strength.

He An grew wary.

"When did I let something slip? What made him suspect me and lay out this whole scheme to lure me into the game?"

"Did he go to all this trouble just to test me and bring me over to his side?"

He An's unease deepened. If Wu Feng, the Wu Family Patriarch, could figure this much out, could other people have noticed something was off, too?

If so, had he already been watched for a long time?

He An shook his head and forced down his shock. That shouldn't be possible. If anyone else had noticed something strange, I'd have been dead hundreds of times over by now.

I just don't know how the Wu Family Head guessed I was hiding my strength.

After a long while,

He An still had no clue.

"Forget it. Whatever the reason, he doesn't mean to kill me. If he wanted me dead, he wouldn't have wasted an Eighth Rank Medicinal Pill."

After thinking it through, He An let out a long breath.

He raised his head and looked into the distance. The place was bustling with people, and the County Governor, the Captain, and the various family patriarchs were slowly making their entrance.

"The Wu Family Patriarch?"

"What exactly are you trying to do? Is it really just to test me?"