Saving Someone? No Hurry, No Hurry

"Chang Le Gambling House was a fine place. Damn it, I'd lost at least several million taels of gold there. Converted into Jade Coins, that was several hundred thousand Jade Coins. If you counted the things I'd pawned, it was probably over a million Jade Coins." Ren Jie abruptly changed the subject, shifting from praising Fang Tianen to Chang Le Gambling House, one of Jade Capital City's three great casinos.

Fang Yan was slightly taken aback. What exactly was Ren Jie trying to do? Fang Tianen reacted rather quickly. His eyes rolled as he looked at Ren Jie. "Does Family Head Fang mean for me to help Ren Family Head redeem those pawned items?"

"A gambling loss was a gambling loss. As the Ren Family Head, head of one of the Five Great Families, how could I do such a thing?" Ren Jie immediately waved his hand with great resolve. Then he smiled at Fang Tianen. "But Family Head Fang also knows that I like gambling and having fun. Those bastards at Chang Le Gambling House had been throwing their weight around like dogs relying on their masters. Later, I found out that your Fang Family had been backing them."

Fang Tianen was so furious that his nose nearly twisted crooked. What kind of words were those? Wasn't this simply cursing the Fang Family? "Oh, so some blind slave there offended Ren Family Head. Rest assured, Ren Family Head. I'll have someone teach them a lesson shortly." Fang Tianen did not know much about this matter. He only knew that Chang Le Gambling House did seem to offer tribute every year. The Five Great Families had enormous holdings and divided the greatest profits among themselves in certain monopolized industries, while naturally reaching into every other profitable business as well.

It was like how the great families often gave funds to their junior members and let them develop freely. Seeing who developed best was also a form of assessment.

For some larger businesses, such as casinos, the Five Great Families had no interest in running them personally. But every power operating in those fields had to attach itself to someone from the Five Great Families to survive. Otherwise, someone else would inevitably swallow them whole.

"No need, no need!" Ren Jie waved his hand. "Why trouble Family Head Fang personally?"

Fang Tianen was even more confused. What was Ren Jie trying to say? "Didn't I just say it? I like having fun. I figured that rather than always letting other people win, I might as well open a casino myself and play around." Ren Jie was having a grand time, speaking neither hurriedly nor slowly.

Realization dawned upon Fang Tianen and Fang Yan alike. Chang Le Gambling House was known as one of Jade Capital City's three great casinos. Although the Fang Family did not directly operate it, judging by the more than two hundred thousand Jade Coins it seemed to send the Fang Family each year, Chang Le Gambling House had to earn at least a million Jade Coins annually. Moreover, after operating for so many years, it had twelve branches throughout Jade Capital City. Altogether, it was worth at least three or four million Jade Coins.

And even if someone truly offered three or four million Jade Coins, they might not be willing to sell. Who would sell a golden hen that laid golden eggs? This fellow was dreaming far too beautifully.

Fang Yan kept snorting coldly in his heart. What sweet dream was Ren Jie having?

"Ren Family Head may have misunderstood. Chang Le Gambling House does indeed pay our Fang Family some money each year, but that is merely to seek protection. Chang Le Gambling House does not belong to our Fang Family, and I know even less about it." Fang Tianen immediately declined tactfully. This fellow was opening his mouth like a lion; he wanted far too much.

"So it isn't a Fang Family business? You should've said so earlier. If you had, I'd have torn down Chang Le Gambling House long ago. Come on, Fatty. Let's go settle accounts with Chang Lao Si at Chang Le Gambling House right now. Damn it, if I don't tear down his Chang Le Gambling House today, then my name isn't Ren Jie." Damn it, so he was playing dumb with this Family Head? Whether it belonged to him had nothing to do with this Family Head. This Family Head was extorting him, naming a price.

Ren Jie did not believe Fang Tianen failed to understand. Since he wanted to play dumb, fine—Ren Jie would carry the act through. He waved to Fatty and headed out without the slightest hesitation.

Fang Tianen's expression changed at once. How could he not understand Ren Jie's meaning? But this fellow dared to ask for too much, directly demanding Chang Le Gambling House, that golden hen that laid golden eggs. The Fang Family had previously only collected less than thirty percent in tribute and had never intended to take it over entirely. After all, in some trades, even if you ran them yourself, you might not do as well as those people did.

These great families all had their primary sources of income. In other areas, they only needed to gain as much benefit as possible.

But the moment he said that, Ren Jie had already left without hesitation. What was he supposed to do? Let Ren Jie leave just like that, when matters had already reached this point?

Chang Le Gambling House was valuable, but how could it compare to his own daughter? He thought of the schemes Fang Qi had devised recently, schemes that had helped increase the Lineage's income.

More than that, if his daughter truly got together with that monstrous existence, Lan Tian, then the Fang Family would have someone surpassing even Ren Tianxing of old working loyally for them. No matter how one looked at it, his daughter was worth far more than Chang Le Gambling House.

"Wait..." Seeing Ren Jie reach the doorway, Fang Tianen's expression changed several times before he suddenly raised a hand. "Since Ren Family Head wants Chang Le Gambling House, fine. So long as Ren Family Head can save my daughter, I, Fang Tianen, will buy Chang Le Gambling House and give it to Ren Family Head."

Chang Le Gambling House did not belong to his Lineage anyway. Though it might be extremely valuable, if the Fang Family wanted to buy it, how could they possibly spend that much?

Besides, if necessary, he could use certain methods later. In any case, the thing would ultimately fall into Ren Jie's hands, and Ren Jie, the Ren Family Head, could bear the infamy. Chang Lao Si, the boss of Chang Le Gambling House, might be a well-known figure in Jade Capital City, but compared to the great families, he was nothing at all.

As these thoughts flashed through his mind and he weighed the matter again, Fang Tianen called out in agreement before Ren Jie could leave the room.

"See? I told you Family Head Fang was generous. He'd spare no expense to save his daughter." Ren Jie stopped and walked back, speaking to Fatty as he did.

"Yes, yes. It's so moving. I'm so moved I'm about to cry." Fatty echoed him, though his eyes were dry as dust, without the slightest sign of tears.

"Ren Family Head, can you now take out the Antidote Treasure your father left behind and detoxify my daughter?" Fang Tianen looked at the returning Ren Jie. He thought that he had rarely dealt with Hedonistic Young Masters like this before. No wonder Fang Qi hated this fellow so much whenever she mentioned him. This fellow was truly not ordinarily detestable—truly not ordinarily hateful.

"No hurry, no hurry..." Ren Jie walked over to examine Fang Qi again, then paced around the room twice before saying, "I now have roughly a sixty percent chance of success..."

Sixty percent. Though there was still some concern, since forty percent danger remained, this was already the best news they had received so far.

But before Fang Tianen could celebrate, Ren Jie suddenly looked at Fang Yan. "Oh, right, Commander Fang. I remember that you also had a shop on Medicine Street, not far from Chang Le Gambling House. When that shop of yours opened, we happened to pass by, and you even used Imperial Guards to maintain order. You kept me outside. That was prime land. Though the storefront wasn't large, it seemed to be your own private property, right? Commander Fang truly is impressive—becoming a commander at such a young age, soon to become an Imperial Son-in-Law, and even owning such a large shop himself."

"Yes, the Imperial Guards helped maintain order. They would not even let our Family Head pass through. You certainly cut an imposing figure then." Fatty Gao Ren remembered it vividly and chimed in from the side.

Originally, he had thought Ren Jie would directly state how much he wanted. He had not expected Ren Jie to proceed so unhurriedly, which left him somewhat puzzled. Yet he vaguely felt that Ren Jie's actions seemed to have some special purpose...

Though he had not fully figured it out yet, he still cooperated from the side.

Damn it. The moment Fang Yan heard this, he cursed inwardly. Even a fool knew what Ren Jie meant by suddenly bringing this up, especially after Chang Le Gambling House had just been mentioned.

"So long as Family Head Fang can save Fang Qi, I'll give that pharmacy to Ren Family Head." Fang Yan's heart was bleeding. That was his own business. But at this moment, he knew he could not hesitate in the slightest. Though that pharmacy was worth more than one hundred and fifty thousand Jade Coins, he could not show even a trace of hesitation.

"Thank you... thank you. I'm truly grateful." Ren Jie said appreciatively, "Fang Qi is truly fortunate to have such a fine brother. There were several times before when you sent Imperial Guards to back others up and drove us away. At the time, I even cursed you for abusing your authority, called you a bastard and a turtle egg. Now it seems there was a misunderstanding."

Fang Tianen gave Fang Yan a grateful nod, then looked toward Ren Jie. "Ren Family Head, is that enough now?"

"Enough, of course it's enough." As Ren Jie spoke, he took a jade bottle from his chest. He walked to Fang Qi's side and flicked it lightly. Some powder from within flew into Fang Qi's nostrils.

"Mmm..." It was fast—almost the instant the medicinal powder entered Fang Qi's nostrils, her body stirred slightly and she made a faint sound. Fang Qi, who had lain there for days without the slightest movement, had actually reacted.

"Qi'er!" Fang Tianen was instantly overjoyed. He had not expected it to be so simple.

"Family Head, this cannot possibly be some Antidote Treasure. Other than the antidote itself, what could work so quickly? This bastard is the one who poisoned Fang Qi." Killing intent flashed in Fang Yan's eyes. Mana gathered around him, ready to erupt at any moment, while he spoke to Fang Tianen through divine sense.

"Later, seize his jade bottle and have it examined. Detain him as well. I want to see how the Ren Family explains this matter." As the Family Head, Fang Tianen displayed his forceful side at this moment and replied through divine sense.

Fang Yan was overjoyed upon hearing that. Ren Jie, Ren Jie—did he think that putting on the skin of the Ren Family Head meant he could run wild without restraint and fear nothing?

Did he think no one truly dared touch him? This time, he had delivered himself to their door and even wanted to extort so many benefits. Keep dreaming. Soon, they would make him lose both the chicken and the eggs. Even if they could not kill him this time, he probably would not remain Family Head for much longer.

Once trash like him was no longer the Ren Family Head, there would be a hundred, a thousand ways to toy him to death.

But Fang Qi had only made a faint sound. Her breathing changed somewhat, then she immediately fell back into her previous comatose state without waking up.

"This... Ren Family Head, what is going on?" Fang Tianen looked anxiously toward Ren Jie.

"Oh!" Ren Jie slapped his forehead. "Look at this head of mine. This is only an ordinary Detoxification Prescription. It needs to be used together with the unique Spirit Liquid found in the ruins my father, Ren Tianxing, left behind for it to work."

Then hurry up and use it! What the fuck were you waiting for? Fang Yan cursed inwardly, but he truly did not dare interrupt now.

"Then please ask Ren Family Head to act quickly." Having seen Fang Qi's reaction just now, Fang Tianen also saw hope and urged him anxiously.

"No hurry, no hurry." Ren Jie walked into the small side hall and sat down. "Family Head Fang should immediately have someone examine this medicinal powder and see whether it is the genuine antidote. Otherwise, after I save Fang Qi, you might accuse me of poisoning her, and how would this Family Head explain himself then? Although I believe Family Head Fang is not such a shameless, despicable, vile petty man, it is better to be a villain first and a gentleman afterward. Have someone examine it, Family Head Fang. While you are at it, I'll wait here for the contracts for Chang Le Gambling House and the pharmacy."

Until the goods were in his hands, Ren Jie would not help detoxify her. He was not worried in the slightest now.

Fang Tianen truly had the impulse to act at once, seize everything from Ren Jie, and snatch it away. The hatred in his heart was overwhelming.

It was impossible for him not to suspect that Ren Jie had tampered with this matter. He even suspected that someone in the Ren Family might be advising Ren Jie from behind. Otherwise, how could this Ren Jie possibly be like this?

"Fine. Fang Yan, go handle it immediately. Men, examine it." At this point, Fang Tianen only wanted to wake Fang Qi as soon as possible.

"Yes!" Though Fang Tianen had said through divine sense that he would compensate him later and count any losses as the Lineage's expense, that was a business Fang Yan himself had built up. It was not merely a matter of money; it was also a matter of his pride. But under the circumstances, there was no other choice. Chang Le Gambling House was troublesome as well, but fortunately the Family Head had already given instructions: pressure them forcefully. In the end, the infamy would remain with Ren Jie and the Ren Family.