Chapter 77: Fifth Master's Decision

"You've won."
At Gathering Virtue Manor, Blade Tyrant sat down opposite Fifth Master.
"How does it feel?"
Fifth Master smiled, not looking up, merely picking up a white stone as he contemplated his next move on the board.
"It’s hard to gauge, but he’s definitely formidable," Blade Tyrant replied, recalling the deadly aura Mo Han had exuded earlier.
"How does he compare to you?" Fifth Master placed his piece and looked up at Blade Tyrant. Mo Han’s strength did not surprise him in the least.
Anyone capable of taking down both the Sakura Society and the Azure Dragon Society at his pharmaceutical factory could hardly be considered weak.
"I don’t know. In any case, I’m not confident I could kill him," Blade Tyrant admitted after a pause.
"Even you aren’t certain you could kill him?" Fifth Master looked at Blade Tyrant in disbelief.
Blade Tyrant nodded. "That’s right. The killing intent he radiates isn’t something an ordinary master can muster. I can sense it—anyone able to emit such a murderous aura must already have blood on his hands."
Fifth Master said nothing, but his face betrayed a subtle change.
He understood Blade Tyrant’s meaning.
Blade Tyrant was actually showing fear.
It was the first time he’d seen the top master of Qian City display hesitation.
"Do you think he can be used by me?" Fifth Master asked.
Blade Tyrant shook his head. "Highly unlikely. In fact, he doesn’t regard us at all. He even warned us not to make trouble."
Fifth Master chuckled. "Interesting, interesting. Knowing who I am, yet still daring to warn me—truly, the fearless courage of youth. The young are not to be underestimated."
"Fifth Master, Cheng Shu, head of the Cheng family, wishes to see you."
At that moment, Lü Fu entered.
"Cheng Shu?" Fifth Master raised his brows. The one bringing the money had finally arrived. "Show him in."
He was already aware that Cheng Quan had been crippled by Mo Han, and had guessed Cheng Shu’s purpose in coming.
Soon after Lü Fu left, he returned with Cheng Shu.
Cheng Shu appeared to be in his forties, about 1.7 meters tall, dressed in casual clothes, his face sharp and sinister.
"Master Cheng, you do not come to my door without reason," Fifth Master greeted with a smile.
"You jest, Fifth Master."
Cheng Shu gave a faint smile and a nod. "I’ll get straight to the point. I’m here today to ask for your help in dealing with someone. I can offer you twenty million as payment."
"Mo Han?" Fifth Master raised his head.
Cheng Shu paused, then smiled thinly. "It seems your information is quite well-informed.
That man snapped my son’s arm, and today he kidnapped him—demanding ransom from our family. I want you to cripple both his arms and legs!"
Though the Cheng family could not compare to the Chen, Zhang, and Zuo families, they were still the most prominent after the three great clans.
Naturally, they would not allow themselves to be bullied without responding.

Even if it was not cost-effective to spend twenty million to have Mo Han’s limbs broken,
compared to the Cheng family’s dignity, twenty million meant little.
"Master Cheng, you lack sincerity," Fifth Master said with a laugh. "Before you came to me, you must have learned that both the Sakura Society and the Azure Dragon Society fell into Mo Han’s hands, yes?
For an opponent of Mo Han’s caliber, do you think twenty million is enough of an appearance fee?"
Cheng Shu looked at Fifth Master and replied coolly, "Let’s not beat around the bush, Fifth Master. Both the Sakura Society and the Azure Dragon Society work for you. They were defeated by Mo Han—you can’t possibly just sit by. I could easily wait a few days for you to take action against Mo Han on your own.
The reason I’m willing to offer twenty million is simply to urge you to act sooner.
If you still feel that my sincerity is lacking, then there’s nothing more to discuss."
With that, Cheng Shu turned to leave.
Cunning old fox!
Fifth Master cursed inwardly and called out, "Twenty million it is. I’ll act within three days."
"Good," Cheng Shu nodded and stopped.
After a brief further discussion, Cheng Shu took his leave.
"Fifth Master, are you really going to take on Mo Han? His power truly is immense," Blade Tyrant said.
"Yes. No matter how strong he is, we must act," Fifth Master replied, nodding. "I suspect he’s from the North."
"Mo family? The Mo family in the North?" Blade Tyrant’s heart skipped a beat, and he looked incredulously at Fifth Master.
The two of them had ruled Qian City with an iron fist, and outsiders believed they lived lives of glory.
But only the two of them knew the truth—they were mere henchmen for someone else.
Their boss was none other than the great Northern family, the Mo family.
As the Mo family’s demands on them grew harsher, both had begun contemplating betrayal.
After all, in this distant land, as long as they were discreet, the Mo family probably wouldn’t pay them much attention.
They also knew the North was anything but peaceful at the moment.
If this Mo Han really was from the Mo family, it was clear he’d been sent to deal with them.
The thought left Blade Tyrant’s face looking grim.
He might be a powerhouse in Qian City, but in front of the Mo family’s true elites, he was nothing.
"Yes, I believe only someone from the Northern Mo family would target us so directly," Fifth Master nodded.
First the Sakura Society, then the Azure Dragon Society—
Both worked for him.
Clearly, Mo Han’s aim was him.
Once Blade Tyrant admitted that Mo Han’s strength was at least on par with his own, Fifth Master had already guessed it.

Mo Han was surely from the Northern Mo family.
Otherwise, the timing could not be so coincidental.
"Summon all elite members of our allied forces to Gathering Virtue Manor. Tomorrow at noon, we’ll smash the pharmaceutical factory," Fifth Master ordered Lü Fu.
…
Fifth Master’s plans were unknown to Mo Han.
Even if he had known, he would not have cared.
That Blade Tyrant was strong, but in his eyes, that was all.
At this moment, he was taking Li An’an to the Qian City Grand Hotel for the city’s major investment promotion event.
In the entire Western Development Project, Yuzhou was the center, and neighboring Qian City was also a key focus.
So, after Li Shujie’s appointment, he had made development his top priority.
This investment conference was his initiative.
"You’re driving that shabby Volkswagen and still coming to the investment conference?"
Just as he parked, Mo Han saw three young men step out of a Porsche 718. They all looked surprised at Mo Han and Li An’an.
"Is there a problem?" Mo Han sized up the four of them, his eyes narrowing.
Today, they had come in the Volkswagen because Li Xiande had taken the A8 to meet a client.
Among the four, he spotted an old acquaintance—Li Bing.
It was Li Bing who had spoken.
The other two unfamiliar youths brazenly sized up Li An’an.
"Do you even know who this event is for?" Li Bing said mockingly to Mo Han.
"Isn’t it for those investing in development? I’m looking to invest too—can’t I attend?" Li An’an feigned surprise.
The three exchanged contemptuous looks. Li Bing sneered, "You think you can invest? You think just because you shamelessly took over the pharmaceutical factory, you’ve become someone important?"
He paused, then added with scorn, "Trash will always be trash. Even with the factory, your family is still just a bunch of paupers."
"Get lost," Mo Han said coldly, fixing Li Bing with an icy glare.
He had originally planned to deal with Li Bing last time, but upon hearing that Xu Biao’s men had already broken his legs, he’d let him go.
He hadn’t expected Li Bing to walk right up to him today and seek death again.
Perhaps it was time to cripple him for good.