Capítulo 839: Chapter 527: What Kind of Big Pie Is This?
“What do I mean by that?” Tang Fei smiled cheerfully, savoring his cup of Italian black coffee, and said, “You are from the Shen Family’s direct lineage; you wouldn’t choose to collaborate with me just because of a few casual words, would you?”
“Hmm???”
Shen Qingping’s eyes revealed more confusion.
Isn’t this supposed to be my line?
Isn’t he here to seek collaboration with me?
If he isn’t here to collaborate… what is he doing all the way out in this godforsaken place?
“I just thought, you traveled so far to join the military in the Underworld… and aren’t fully aware of some things happening in Phoenix City, so I just casually mentioned it to you.”
“You probably don’t know yet, right? Shen Leyou is dead, and now Shen Que has taken over his responsibilities and become your family’s new Shadow Emperor. He holds a lot of power… Are you familiar with Shen Que?”
“Not familiar,” Shen Qingping replied sullenly.
He knew Shen Que’s name, but wasn’t close to him.
Shen Que is a distant member of the Shen Family who worked with Shen Leyou back in the day.
Shen Leyou was very influential and did some shadowy deeds, so they rarely had a chance to interact.
Even if they did encounter each other…
Shen Qingping never cast his gaze upon a servant.
Yes, in Shen Qingping’s view, Shen Que was a mere servant to the Shen Family, a ‘hanger-on’ by Shen Leyou’s side…
Many members of the Shen Family thought like this.
Now, the underling has climbed above the master?
Indeed, Tang Fei’s following words were somewhat heart-stabbing.
“If you could stay in Phoenix City, that position would be most suitable for you… what a pity.”
“However, you should still try to establish good relations with Shen Que. You can’t possibly stay here forever… If you were to die serving the country, that’s another story.”
“…”
“You have to return eventually, and by then, Shen Que might have become the Empire’s Chief of Military Intelligence or Director of the Security Bureau… To arrange a position for you, it’s just a matter of his word, isn’t it?”
“…”
“Shen Lewen is dead, Shen Lewu now commands an army alone… He achieved great merit despite some criticism during the assault on Fengming Palace, so the Shen Family will naturally treat him kindly.”
“Shen Xinglan was already the master of your Shen Family at that time, a monarch, right? I heard your relationship with Shen Xinglan is not so special, and when you were sent to Ghost Mountain, he didn’t speak up for you…”
Shen Qingping’s expression turned grim as he shouted, “Are you trying to sow discord?”
“Am I?” Tang Fei turned to Lu Siyu and asked, “Am I sowing discord?”
“…”
Lu Siyu, sipping coffee, watched the view through the window.
The vision was filled with reddish-brown desert, with only a few fire cacti providing notable scenery.
After all, not every tree can spit flames.
“I’m just truthfully stating their reality,” Tang Fei said emphatically, “The young people of your Shen Family… every one of them has a promising future.”
“…”
Yes, everyone has a promising future.
Except for himself.
This was the reason Tang Fei shouted out ‘After being a ghost for so many years, don’t you want to return and be a person?’ which led him to invite them back to the base.
He wanted to go back.
He couldn’t continue to stay in this ghostly place; no matter how many wildmen he killed… who cares?
Shen Qingping stared sharply at Tang Fei and said, “Aren’t you afraid I’ll arrest you? You should know your importance to the master… If I take you back, I would earn great merit, and at that time, wouldn’t I get whatever I want?”
Tang Fei waved his hand, nonchalantly saying, “Firstly, you can’t catch me. Since I dared to come, I have a way to leave.”
Shen Qingping was somewhat displeased and countered, “What if you’re just a small Grandmaster? The base has thousands of soldiers; can they really not catch you alone?”
“Fengming Palace has strict guards; I can’t just come and go as I please, can I?”
“With a calculated plan and unguarded minds… naturally, people will be caught off-guard.”
“Your master Shen Wuxiang led the army to ambush, yet I still appeared before you, didn’t I?”
“That’s because Great Grandmaster Xuanyuan Mingjing gave assistance.”
Clearly, Shen Qingping was aware of what had happened before.
“Here we are, sitting so close…”
Shen Qingping’s body tensed and he instinctively felt for the dagger at his waist.
If Tang Fei suddenly attacked, he really wouldn’t be able to respond effectively.
The distance was too close.
He was fully aware of Tang Fei’s incredible movement technique…
After all, he was defeated by Tang Fei’s Forest Battle Technique, which led him to be banished to Ghost Mountain.
“Don’t be nervous,” Tang Fei cheerfully waved his hand, reassuringly saying, “I’m here to make friends, not fight with you.”
“Friends?” Shen Qingping sneered emphatically.
How could he possibly become friends with Tang Fei?
The enmity between the Shen Family and the remnants of the Tang Family is irreconcilable.
“Have you thought about it?” Tang Fei looked at Shen Qingping and said, “Even if you return now, there won’t be much of a position for you…”
“The Empire is not unified yet, Qin Lu is divided in rule, and your Tang Family is still lurking… capturing territories, how can there not be room for a General?”
“But, what if you have the opportunity to become the head of the Shen Family?”
“???”
Is this some kind of big gesture?
——
The night was deep.
Tang Fei and Lu Siyu were kept by Shen Qingping and stayed in the ‘Mushroom House’ inside the base.
This was a barracks built with special materials, and every soldier had a room.
Warm in winter and cool in summer, indestructible, able to withstand a certain degree of artillery.
Of course, those Barbarians didn’t have much artillery…
Even if they picked up some on the battlefield, it would become a pile of scrap after exhausting the bullets and energy blocks.
Thus, they mainly relied on cold weapons.
If they had such strong bodies along with weaponry that could rival the Imperial Army…
It’s unimaginable, truly unimaginable.
No need to fight, just surrender outright.
After bathing, Tang Fei and Lu Siyu sat on a boulder by the mountainside, appreciating the night view.
The crescent moon looked like a hook, with red soil and endless mountains filling the landscape.
The cactus that spewed black flames during the day was now emitting red flames at night, appearing quite eerie.
The world is vast and full of wonders.
“Do you think he’ll agree?” Lu Siyu asked.
“No,” Tang Fei replied.
As the night wind blew, an elusive fragrance drifted into the nostrils.
It was the blend of lemon shampoo and youthful body scent, refreshing one’s spirit.
Tang Fei looked over in surprise; even after all this time together, he had neglected to acknowledge that Lu Siyu was indeed a young girl.
The previous disguise had long been removed, she now embodied her true self.
Her features were delicate, her figure graceful.
The black-rimmed glasses couldn’t hide the eyes full of vitality beneath them.
With her freshly washed hair, her black tresses freely danced in the wind.
He couldn’t deny that Lu Siyu was quite attractive.
And the old man…
Thinking of the old man’s lewd grin and those big yellow teeth…
Hmm, father and daughter don’t resemble each other at all.
“Won’t he?” Lu Siyu adjusted her glasses and asked, “If not, why did you come to find him?”
“Didn’t the old man say? If there’s a chance, you must sow the seed of doubt in the enemy’s heart.”
Tang Fei turned away, choosing not to meet Lu Siyu’s gaze, and said, “After being expelled from his family, spending years in such a place, wouldn’t there be hatred in his heart?”
“Those distant relatives already have promising futures while he, as a direct member of the Shen Family, is stuck here killing shadows… how could he not envy those contemporary youngsters? Falling behind once leads to continuous falling behind.”
“Moreover… everyone knows that position is reserved for Shen Xinglan… As Shen Xinglan’s cousin, doesn’t he have any thoughts?”
“Even if he didn’t before… spending many years on this Ghost Mountain probably planted some greed and desire. Having one’s fate controlled by others is ultimately less satisfying than holding it in one’s own hands.”