Almost Exploding with Rage

Wan Hong was left somewhat speechless by Ren Jie's words, so naked and blunt they were. He also knew that Ren Jie had claimed in the Imperial Palace that he could detoxify Fang Qi. At the time, he had wondered whether Ren Jie was spouting nonsense, whether Ren Tianxing had truly left him something behind, or whether Ren Jie himself had administered the poison.

But after analyzing the matter, Wan Hong had always felt that Ren Jie was more likely making trouble and taking the chance to humiliate Fang Tianen.

After all, whether it was making Gao Peng kneel and cry that day, or furiously berating Gao Zhanyuan, the head of the Gao Family, in the Five Clans Great Hall, Ren Jie had seemed downright deranged. And all of it should have begun after Gao Fei beat him. Sixth Master had also had him investigate that matter. Since Ren Jie had not suffered any real harm, they had not pursued Fang Qi or Gao Fei further, merely kept a closer eye on their families.

Now that someone from the Fang Family had truly come, it seemed this poisoned needle was anything but ordinary. The more that was the case, the more Wan Hong felt he could rule out the possibility that Ren Jie had poisoned her. Where could Ren Jie possibly have obtained a deadly poison that had left the entire Fang Family helpless?

It looked like the Fang Family was also grasping at straws in their desperation. They were probably hoping that Ren Jie truly possessed some Antidote Treasure left behind by his father.

Since Ren Jie had already said so much, Wan Hong could only make an inviting gesture before leading the way.

Tong Qiang and Tie Ta wanted to follow, but Ren Jie waved them back. Though he no longer had much of an impression of this Sixth Uncle, Ren Tianzong, Wan Hong's attitude all along showed that, at the very least, Ren Tianzong was not like the others in the Council of Elders. Ren Jie truly wanted to meet him.

A Primeval Forest? Damn, the Lineage had actually created a Primeval Forest within its grounds? With Wan Hong leading the way, Ren Jie soon reached the outskirts of Sixth Master Ren Tianzong's residence. The moment he entered this Primeval Forest, he was dumbfounded.

This was fucking outrageous. It was far more than simply planting some trees and leaving out the buildings. Even the air here differed from outside—the humidity, density, and vegetation were all unique to a Primeval Forest, and a tropical one at that.

The trees here were certainly not young. They had been transported here directly through immense supernatural means. Furthermore, Ren Jie could see that the entire forest contained a formation.

Yet he could only make out some changes around the outer perimeter. He could not see the specifics at all. Clearly, it was beyond his current realm.

Awesome. Interesting.

The more Ren Jie looked, the more interesting he found it. First there had been that mysterious old man with the smiling face, and now this Primeval Forest had appeared. Never mind what this world was like—the Ren Family alone was filled with mysteries.

"Please come this way, Family Head. Sixth Master is occupied at this hour. You may sit here and wait for a while." Wan Hong had never expected Ren Jie to follow him over directly, much less at this particular time, so he was in quite a difficult position. He knew perfectly well that even if the sky collapsed, Sixth Master could not be disturbed at this time. He could only have Ren Jie wait in a nearby pavilion outside, while he planned to prepare some of the tea Sixth Master drank for Ren Jie in another room.

"It's fine. Go handle your business. We're all family, so why be so polite?" Ren Jie waved his hand with the bearing of a Family Head, telling Wan Hong to get to work. Seeing that something had actually been planted in the clearing, he casually walked over.

Wan Hong had originally wanted to stop Ren Jie, but after thinking it over, apart from Sixth Master's room, Sixth Master did not mind people going elsewhere. After some consideration, he did not interfere.

At this moment, Fang Yan was quietly waiting in a side hall of the Ren Family. After several days of effort, the effects of the Middle-Grade Life-Preserving Pill previously given to Fang Qi were about to wear off, yet they still had not found any solution. Fang Tianen had already flown into a rage at home an unknown number of times these past few days.

A few unlucky people had been caught in the crossfire. Even the least punished had received twenty lashes, while those more seriously affected had nearly been beaten to death. This could not go on. Left with no other choice, Fang Tianen had finally decided to treat a dead horse as though it were alive. He sent Fang Yan to the Ren Family to find Ren Jie. If Ren Jie truly possessed an Antidote Treasure left by Ren Tianxing, the Fang Family was willing to pay a huge price for it.

Fang Yan had already been sitting here for some time. Although a Deputy Chief Steward from the Fang Family's inner branch was courteously keeping him company, Ren Jie himself had yet to appear.

"Hmph!" When the third cup of tea had gone completely cold, Fang Yan finally could not hold back a furious snort. "Your Ren Family's great Family Head is certainly busy with countless affairs. Even when I meet Your Majesty in the Imperial Palace, it is not this difficult. Go tell Ren Jie that I represent the Fang Family Head. The Seventh Princess and Your Majesty have come to discuss matters with him."

Fang Yan was already deeply displeased. Not only had they placed him in this side hall, they had sent merely a Deputy Chief Steward to keep him company. Who did they take him for? Though he had not yet married the Seventh Princess, he was still practically the Imperial Son-in-Law. Not to mention, he was the youngest commander among the Imperial Guards. The Seventh Princess and Your Majesty both knew of this matter, so in his displeasure, Fang Yan directly invoked their names.

"There's no need to tell him. I just came from my boss's place. My boss is extremely busy right now, unlike an idle person like you. My boss has to manage a Lineage as large as the Ren Family. He asked me to tell you that if you're asking for help, you ought to act like someone asking for help. We told you long ago, but you people simply didn't take it seriously."

Just then, the fat Gao Ren walked in from outside. He had just returned to Ren Jie's place to deliver newly refined medicine, and Tong Qiang had told him that Ren Jie had gone to Sixth Master Ren Tianzong's residence and that someone from the Fang Family had finally arrived. After asking about Ren Jie's attitude, he could not resist rushing over first.

An idle person? He, the dignified commander of the Imperial Guards, had personally come to invite a puppet Family Head, a first-year student of Jade Emperor Academy who was about to reach Level Six, and Ren Jie had the nerve to call him idle?! Busy, my ass. Who in Jade Capital City did not know that Ren Jie, this Family Head, only knew how to eat, drink, and have fun, while caring about nothing else?

Bang... Fang Yan slapped the table beside him. The teacup leaped high into the air as he said furiously, "What are you supposed to be? What right do you have to speak to me here? Tell Ren Jie to come over immediately."

Gao Ren had originally come to tease Fang Yan and assess the attitude of Fang Yan's group. After all, he had poisoned Fang Qi together with Ren Jie before. Just as Ren Jie had said, the season of harvest had finally arrived. He had not expected this reaction.

The moment Gao Ren heard that, he became angry too. No wonder his boss had said they could not indulge these people. He had been fucking right.

"Yes, I have no background. I'm nothing. Before I met my boss, I drifted through the streets, unable to afford three meals a day, living a miserable existence. I'm just a little hoodlum, a little thug, a little lackey, nothing at all..." Gao Ren had originally planned to take a look and leave, then wait until his boss returned before going to the Fang Family together. But Fang Yan was still acting like this, putting on airs even while coming to beg for help. Back at the Imperial Palace, Gao Ren had seen him muttering behind the Second Prince and known he was no good. Now he had come here to act tough. Gao Ren plopped down beside Fang Yan and began talking to himself.

Hm? Fang Yan frowned slightly. What was this round, fair, chubby Dead Fatty trying to do? He was insulting him—had this fellow not understood? He was actually sitting there talking about how humble and lowly he was. Was he sick? Not only Fang Yan, but even the Deputy Chief Steward standing to the side and the servants nearby were utterly bewildered.

They thought, Was this fatty who followed the Family Head sick in the head? He had run in front of an outsider to talk about himself, belittling himself, practically wishing he could trample himself flat. It was the first time they had seen such a person.

Just as Fang Yan was puzzled, Gao Ren suddenly looked at him and said excitedly, "Soldiers face soldiers, generals face generals. A Little Shrimp like you came, so my boss sent me. Honestly, after following my boss for so long, I've finally found someone of the same rank for me to receive. I'm so happy. Come, don't stand on ceremony. I'm here specifically to receive you today. Hey, you there, hurry and bring out some food. This is my first time receiving a guest of the same rank. We can't neglect proper etiquette."

The Deputy Chief Steward and the servants standing nearby suddenly understood. Damn, that was fucking vicious. After twisting around eighteen bends, he was insulting the man after all.

Only then did they catch on. Two young maidservants with poor self-control could not help laughing aloud. Though their voices were soft, after Gao Ren finished speaking, the entire side hall had been so quiet that a needle dropping could have been heard. To Fang Yan's ears, that laughter became especially piercing.

Bang... Fang Yan slammed the table and rose directly to his feet, glaring furiously. "Dead Fatty, you dare humiliate me? I think Ren Jie has nothing at all and is merely bluffing. And you, Dead Fatty, remember this."

He had had enough. Fang Yan was already preparing to leave.

"Go ahead... Hoo..." Gao Ren picked up a piece of the pastries a servant had just brought, broke off a small chunk, and tossed it into his mouth. Then he lifted his teacup and gently blew on it, saying in an unhurried, wicked tone, "My boss is the Family Head, managing countless affairs every day. Do you think you can see him whenever you want? You're the one acting tough and refusing to wait. If Fang Qi dies later and we happen to have the antidote, tsk tsk... ah, what will Fang Tianen, the Seventh Princess, and Your Majesty think? How will they view you?"

"But that's fine too. If Fang Qi dies, perhaps you can become the Family Head. By then, it will be much easier for you to see my boss. At least you'll be on the same level." After saying that, the fat man picked up another pastry and continued eating and drinking.

Urgh! Fang Yan, who had already taken a furious step toward the exit, abruptly stopped. His expression was as ugly as it could possibly be, while in his heart, he hated this Dead Fatty to the bone.

Once those words had been spoken, how could he possibly leave? Even if he were beaten to death, he could not leave now.

If he truly left, Fang Qi died, and Ren Jie later produced an Antidote Treasure, the consequences would be unimaginable...

Originally, he had appeared furious while secretly rejoicing inside. But now, he could only awkwardly snort and sit down again.

"Back already? I was just about to tell you, if you leave, you can have your Family Head come instead. The Fang Family has so many people, yet they sent you. If Fang Qi dies, who will bear the responsibility? Isn't this clearly testing you?" Gao Ren looked at Fang Yan and asked with great seriousness, "By the way, is it because you're about to marry the Seventh Princess and have the Emperor's support, giving you a chance to contend for the position of Family Head, that Fang Tianen suspects you poisoned Fang Qi? Is that why he deliberately sent you to test you?"

Fang Yan was infuriated and enraged by the question, but after calming down, he suddenly felt a wave of lingering fear. What if this fatty had hit the mark...

Pah, pah, pah... This Dead Fatty was deliberately trying to anger him. He absolutely could not fall for it...

Fang Yan sat there with an ugly expression. He had now seen that aside from Ren Jie, the mad, fierce, utterly incorrigible Hedonistic Young Master of a Family Head, the Ren Family also had this bastardly, fair, chubby Dead Fatty at his side. He was simply too detestable.

If this were not the Ren Family, Fang Yan truly wanted to rush over and rip this fellow's mouth apart. Gao Ren provoked him into rage several times, but Gao Ren paid him no heed, merely eating, drinking, and talking.