Su Chen's performance today was completely different from how he had acted a few days ago.
Back then, Su Chen's expression had been bewildered, and more than anything, he had seemed terrified.
But now, there seemed to be a new force about him.
Su Chen had killed someone last night.
Before killing, Su Chen had felt somewhat stifled.
More than that, he had been afraid of this world.
But after killing someone,
his thoughts had flowed freely, and he had gained confidence in himself.
An imposing air had unconsciously risen from him.
Ling Tianhe's heart sank, but he didn't let it show.
"Is there anything else?"
Su Chen sat upright on a long bench in the hall and looked at them.
He carried himself exactly like a tower master.
At Su Chen's words, the seventeen stewards below
exchanged glances. They were all seasoned veterans of the martial world.
They had already sensed that Su Chen was no ordinary man.
So they didn't intend to say anything more.
"If there's nothing else, you may return. Take care of the affairs under your charge."
"Although the Golden Wind Fine Rain Tower is in turmoil right now, the businesses under your charge must not be affected."
"Steward Yan, since something has happened to Steward Song, you'll temporarily take over the affairs he previously managed!"
As Su Chen spoke, he looked toward a gaunt man in a green robe standing at the back.
The man was Yan Musheng, the one among the Golden Wind Fine Rain Tower's eighteen stewards who managed the fewest businesses.
Hearing Su Chen's words, Steward Yan immediately bowed and said, "Thank you, Tower Master!"
"You may all leave. Deputy Tower Master Ling and I have other matters to discuss!"
Su Chen waved them away.
From beginning to end, he hadn't given Ling Tianhe a chance to speak.
Ling Tianhe looked stunned.
When Su Chen had just ordered Yan Musheng to take over Steward Song's affairs, Ling Tianhe had objected.
But before he could say anything, Su Chen had waved everyone away.
He gave Jiang Chendong a meaningful look.
"Tower Master, Steward Yan is a long way from the area Steward Song managed. My territory borders Steward Song's, so let me take over his affairs for the time being!"
Jiang Chendong said.
"Uncle Jiang, I haven't even thanked you yet. You helped me redeem Qin Lan. As it happens, I need you to find me a residence over the next few days and arrange for Qin Lan to move in."
Su Chen made the arrangements directly.
Then he stood up.
"Uncle Ling, let's talk in the back."
With that, he turned and strode toward the rear of the hall.
Ling Tianhe's expression darkened, but he followed Su Chen inside.
The others looked at one another.
In the end, they all left the hall.
Things had become too hard to read. Better to focus on protecting themselves for now.
They didn't want to end up like Song Yuan and get killed.
Ling Tianhe followed Su Chen into the rear hall.
But Su Chen didn't stop there. He headed toward the secret chamber where he had previously gone into seclusion.
On the way to the hall,
Su Chen had changed his mind. Now that he had strength, why should he accommodate Ling Tianhe?
He would simply bring Ling Tianhe to heel.
If Ling Tianhe refused,
he would just beat him to death.
It was as simple as that.
Of course, if he could avoid killing Ling Tianhe, he would. He still wanted him to get things done.
After all, Ling Tianhe had been the Golden Wind Fine Rain Tower's deputy tower master for many years.
He knew Qingcheng City better than Su Chen did.
He could also help Su Chen take control of the Golden Wind Fine Rain Tower more quickly.
Once Su Chen had the tower under his control, his intelligence network would inevitably grow stronger.
By then, he should be able to uncover something about Su Mengbai's murder.
When Ling Tianhe saw Su Chen pass through the rear hall without stopping, he furrowed his brows slightly.
I'd like to see what tricks you're up to!
Ling Tianhe sneered inwardly and continued following Su Chen.
A short while later,
Su Chen led Ling Tianhe to the secret chamber where he had previously cultivated in seclusion.
"This is the secret chamber where the Tower Master cultivates. Why has he brought me here?"
Looking at the chamber before him,
Ling Tianhe couldn't help feeling puzzled.
The secret chamber's door opened.
"Uncle Ling, come in for a moment. I have something important to discuss with you!"
Su Chen said to Ling Tianhe.
At Su Chen's words, Ling Tianhe's heart stirred. He thought Su Chen might want to discuss the news about the Fifth-grade Lotus Platform.
The two entered the secret chamber.
Then the door closed behind them.
Not far away, Steward Fu saw this and furrowed his brows slightly.
He turned and hurried away, heading for Shangguan Ziyun's little tower.
A short while later,
he arrived at the foot of Shangguan Ziyun's tower.
"Miss Xiao Lan, I need to see Madam."
Steward Fu spoke up.
"Come with 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, Su Chen has changed a great deal today. I saw it in the hall."
Steward Fu recounted what had just happened.
"Su Chen actually managed to bring Ling Tianhe to heel!"
Shangguan Ziyun was astonished by the news.
She had secretly observed Su Chen last night. His strength had been far too low. Even after standing outside for so long, she hadn't been noticed.
She had still been thinking about how to protect him.
Yet today, Su Chen had surprised her by managing to bring Ling Tianhe to heel.
"Can you find out what they're discussing in the secret chamber?"
Shangguan Ziyun asked.
Judging from Su Chen's behavior, perhaps he really did know where the Fifth-grade Lotus Platform was.
"There's only one entrance to that secret chamber. There's no way in."
Steward Fu replied.
"I see. Keep watch outside. As soon as they come out, observe what happens and report back to me!"
Shangguan Ziyun said in a low voice.
"Yes!"
Steward Fu immediately bowed and left the tower.
"Miss, it's hard to believe Su Chen can keep Ling Tianhe in check!"
"Could it be that someone is backing him?"
"But he's never been out of our sight. He hasn't had a chance to meet anyone!"
Xiao Lan asked, puzzled.
"Yuchun Courtyard. Didn't he spend a long time there? That place offers plenty of chances to meet people."
"He went to Yuchun Courtyard on the very first day he became the Golden Wind Fine Rain Tower's master. Thinking about it now, that was rather strange."
"Perhaps he really did go there to meet someone!"
"Ling Tianhe redeemed Qin Lan, Yuchun Courtyard's top courtesan, didn't he? Go make contact with her and see if you can learn anything from her."
Shangguan Ziyun said.
Meanwhile,
inside the secret chamber,
"May I ask what the Tower Master wanted to discuss with me?" Ling Tianhe asked.
"Uncle Ling, there's no one else here. Calling me 'Tower Master' makes us sound distant."
"I asked you here mainly because I wanted to ask about something. Word is spreading through the black market that my father knew where the Fifth-grade Lotus Platform was."
"Did my father ever mention anything about it to you?"
Su Chen looked at Ling Tianhe.
He had spent the whole day digging through his memories, but he still hadn't found anything about the Fifth-grade Lotus Platform.
So he wanted to ask Ling Tianhe.
As the Golden Wind Fine Rain Tower's deputy tower master, Ling Tianhe had always assisted his father. He should have known something.
At Su Chen's words, Ling Tianhe's eyes flickered.
He had wanted to get information about this from Su Chen himself.
He hadn't expected Su Chen to ask him first.
Was this a test, or did he really know nothing?
Before you continue