Grasping, Pre-Showdown

Su Chen's performance today was completely different from his demeanor a few days ago.

Back then, Su Chen...

His expression was stunned, and more than that, he was filled with fear.

But now, the other party seemed to possess a certain aura.

Su Chen had killed someone last night.

Before the murder, Su Chen felt stifled.

It was more a sense of dread towards this world.

But after killing.

Su Chen's thoughts became clear, and he felt a newfound confidence.

This unconsciously gave him a powerful presence.

Ling Tianhe's heart sank, but he didn't show it.

"Do you gentlemen have any other matters?"

Su Chen sat upright on a long bench in the main hall, looking at the group.

He exuded the presence of the master himself.

Hearing Su Chen's words, the seventeen managers below...

Immediately exchanged glances. They were all seasoned figures in the jianghu.

They could already sense that Su Chen was no ordinary person.

So they didn't intend to press the issue further.

"No other matters? Then you may all return and manage your respective affairs."

"Although my Golden Wind Fine Rain Tower is in turmoil, the businesses you manage cannot be affected."

"Manager Yan, since Manager Song has met with misfortune, you will temporarily manage his previous responsibilities!"

As Su Chen spoke, his gaze fell upon a man in a blue robe with a somewhat gaunt appearance, seated at the very back.

This man was Yan Musheng, the least influential among the eighteen managers of the Golden Wind Fine Rain Tower, managing the fewest businesses.

Upon hearing Su Chen's words, Manager Yan immediately bowed and said, "Thank you,楼主!"

"You may all leave now. I need to discuss other matters with Deputy楼主 Ling!"

Su Chen waved his hand.

He hadn't given Ling Tianhe any opportunity to speak throughout the entire exchange.

At this moment, Ling Tianhe's expression was one of bewilderment.

He had intended to voice his opinion when Su Chen assigned Yan Musheng to manage Manager Song's affairs.

But before he could speak, Su Chen had already waved everyone away.

He subtly signaled Jiang Chendong with his eyes.

"Host, Manager Yan's area is far from Manager Song's jurisdiction. My area is closer to Manager Song's, so may I temporarily take over Manager Song's affairs?" Jiang Chendong said.

"Uncle Jiang, I haven't thanked you yet! You redeemed Qin Lan for me. Also, during these next few days, please help me find a suitable residence and arrange for Qin Lan to move in!"

Su Chen arranged everything directly.

After speaking, he stood up.

"Uncle Ling, we'll talk later!"

With that, he turned and strode towards the back of the hall.

Ling Tianhe's eyes darkened, but he followed Su Chen into the rear chambers.

The others exchanged bewildered glances.

Finally, they all withdrew from the hall.

The situation had become somewhat unfathomable, and they decided it was best to protect themselves.

They certainly didn't want to end up like Song Yuan, murdered.

Ling Tianhe followed Su Chen into the back hall.

However, Su Chen didn't stop and instead headed towards the secret chamber where he had previously been in seclusion.

On the way to the hall.

Su Chen had changed his thinking. He now possessed the strength, so why should he placate Ling Tianhe?

He would directly take Ling Tianhe down.

If the other party refused to comply.

He would simply kill him.

What a simple matter.

Of course, if he could avoid killing him, he wouldn't. He still planned to have Ling Tianhe handle some business.

After all, Ling Tianhe had been the Deputy Tower Lord of the Golden Wind Fine Rain Tower for so many years.

He was more familiar with Qingcheng City than Su Chen was.

He could also help Su Chen quickly take charge of the Golden Wind Fine Rain Tower.

Once the Golden Wind Fine Rain Tower was under his control, his intelligence-gathering capabilities would inevitably increase.

At that time, he should be able to find out some information about Su Mengbai's murder.

Ling Tianhe, who was following behind Su Chen, saw Su Chen pass by the back hall. He didn't stop, and his brow furrowed slightly.

"I'd like to see what tricks you're up to!"

Ling Tianhe snorted coldly in his heart and continued to follow Su Chen.

Not long after.

Su Chen led Ling Tianhe to the secret chamber where he had been cultivating in seclusion.

"This is the楼主's cultivation secret chamber. What does he want to bring me here for?"

Looking at the secret chamber in front of him.

Ling Tianhe felt a hint of doubt in his heart.

The door to the secret chamber was opened.

"Uncle Ling, come in for a moment. I have something important to discuss with you!"

Su Chen said to Ling Tianhe.

Hearing Su Chen's words, Ling Tianhe's heart stirred. He had thought Su Chen might discuss the matter of the Fifth-grade Lotus Platform with him.

The two entered the secret chamber.

Then, the door to the secret chamber was closed.

Not far away, Steward Fu saw this scene and frowned slightly.

He turned and quickly left, heading towards Shangguan Ziyun's small building.

Not long after.

He arrived downstairs at Shangguan Ziyun's building.

"Miss Xiao Lan, I need to see Madam."

Steward Fu said.

"Follow me!"

Xiao Lan led Steward Fu up to the second floor. Shangguan Ziyun was standing by the window, looking outside.

"Madam, the young master just took Ling Tianhe into the secret chamber!"

"Also, in the hall today, Su Chen underwent a significant change."

Steward Fu recounted what had just happened.

"Su Chen actually has Ling Tianhe under his control!"

Shangguan Ziyun's face was filled with surprise upon hearing this news.

She had investigated Su Chen last night, and his strength was too low. She had stood outside for so long without detecting anything.

She had been thinking about how to protect Su Chen.

But today, Su Chen surprised her by actually having Ling Tianhe under his control.

"Do you know what they are discussing inside the secret chamber?"

Shangguan Ziyun asked.

Judging by Su Chen's performance, perhaps Su Chen truly knew the whereabouts of the Fifth-grade Lotus Platform.

"There's only one entrance to that secret chamber, and it's impossible to enter from the outside!"

Steward Fu replied.

"Is that so? You stay outside and keep watch. Once they come out, observe the situation and report back to me!"

Shangguan Ziyun said sternly.

"Yes!"

Steward Fu immediately bowed and left the pavilion.

"Miss, it's quite unbelievable that Su Chen could control Ling Tianhe!"

"Could he have received some support!"

"But he never left our sight, so he had no opportunity to contact anyone!"

The maid Xiao Lan asked, puzzled.

"Yuchun Courtyard, didn't he spend a long time there? That place offers many opportunities to interact with people?"

"He went to Yuchun Courtyard on the very first day he became the Golden Wind Fine Rain Tower's master. Thinking back, it seems a bit unusual."

"Perhaps he really went to interact with someone!"

"Didn't Ling Tianhe redeem Qin Lan, the top courtesan of Yuchun Courtyard? Go and approach Qin Lan, see if you can find out anything from her?"

Shangguan Ziyun said.

At this moment.

Inside the secret chamber.

"I wonder why the poster asked me to come, what is it you wish to discuss?" Ling Tianhe asked.

"Uncle Ling, there's no one else here, so calling me that sounds a bit distant."

"The main reason I asked Uncle Ling to come is to ask if your father knows about the Fifth-grade Lotus Platform circulating in the black market."

"Have you heard anything from my father on your end!"

Su Chen said, looking at Ling Tianhe.

He had spent a whole day digging through his memories but couldn't find any information about the Fifth-grade Lotus Platform.

So, he wanted to ask Ling Tianhe.

As the Golden Wind Fine Rain Tower's Deputy Tower Lord, Ling Tianhe had always assisted his father. Logically, he should know something.

Upon hearing Su Chen's words, Ling Tianhe's eyes widened in surprise.

He had wanted to inquire about this matter from Su Chen himself.

He hadn't expected Su Chen to ask him first.

Is this a test, or does he truly not know?