The little courtyard the Droopy-eared Race had arranged for them was quiet and comfortable. The meals were also quite sumptuous; even someone as particular as Master Qian couldn't find fault with the hospitality.
"Master Qian, what's Steward Old Zhu up to? He doesn't seem like the sort to be so accommodating. Aren't you worried he might have poisoned the food?" Jiang Yue asked jokingly.
Jiang Yue's reminder immediately ruined Master Qian's appetite.
"You've got an even worse case of paranoia than I do."
"It's not paranoia. I just don't trust Old Zhu. He's obviously sidelined the manor lord, Cen Qiqi. Aside from his title as steward, he's already taken control of the entire castle. Do you think he'll let us show up and disrupt things?"
How could Master Qian not know? His earlier hypnotic brainwashing of Cen Qi had been meant to stir him up and get him to take charge, which was the only way to make the cooperation happen.
If Steward Old Zhu had the final say, there was little chance the deal would go through.
Jiang Qiao also warned him, "Master Qian, I think we'd better stay on guard tonight. Steward Old Zhu might really lash out when pushed into a corner. He's a ruthless man. He wouldn't hesitate to deal with us—or even the manor lord, Cen Qi—if we threatened him."
Master Qian said with conviction, "I'm not surprised you think that. But Old Zhu knows exactly how powerful the Treasure Tree Clan is. If he tries to play dirty with us, he'll be signing his own death warrant. He couldn't bear the consequences of offending the Treasure Tree Clan."
Honestly, Zhang Teng couldn't understand Master Qian's baffling confidence.
The shadow appeared without a sound, like a ghost. It always hid in the darkest corner, where