Chapter 234 - 220: Shui Yun: I’ve Agreed to the Reward

Chapter 234: Chapter 220: Shui Yun: I’ve Agreed to the Reward

Seeing Vice Gang Leader Lin’s humorless smile, Tang Wen felt a pang of regret for going too easy on him.

He hadn’t even used the Throwing Observation Method with that axe strike.

’Otherwise, your son would be dead for sure.’

’Even if you’d rushed over, you wouldn’t have been able to save him.’

"Too little." Tang Wen leaned back in his chair, affecting an air of complete indifference to their offer.

"Then... how about the five of us each add another ten days’ share?"

’Hmm, so that’s another fifty days.’

’Plus Vice Gang Leader Lin’s share... is that three months?’

He shook his head slowly. "You gentlemen have shown *some* sincerity."

’That’s right. Just a tiny bit.’

’So hurry up and raise the stakes!’

No one there was a fool. They all understood what he meant, yet they seemed to be jumping into the trap willingly.

’This kid really doesn’t know his own limits!’

"I hear the Seventh Young Master’s consumption of Extraordinary Blood Marrow is quite high. How about this: if you take first place, I’ll give you my month’s share."

"Oh?" Tang Wen raised an eyebrow, feigning interest.

"Mine too."

"Count me in."

"..."

The members who weren’t part of the Shui Yun faction all chimed in.

Their eyes were filled with provocation, as if they were all eager for Tang Wen to enter the fray.

But this only made Tang Wen seem to hesitate.

"So many people want me to fight... there’s not some kind of catch, is there? I need to think about this," Tang Wen said, his eyes full of feigned doubt.

A flicker of light crossed Vice Gang Leader Lin’s eyes as he inwardly cursed the others for being too eager.

Still, the arrow was already nocked and had to be fired.

He immediately added a taunt to raise the stakes. "Seventh Young Master, don’t force yourself! But if you do fight, you can’t pull that stunt of fighting inside a dark mist again! Speaking of which, your darkness seems a little... off."

Not even the Spiritual Power of these Sixth-Grade Masters could penetrate Tang Wen’s dark mist.

It was utterly bizarre.

Tang Wen feigned a questioning look. "Oh? Did you also awaken your ability at seventeen?"

"Erk!"

Vice Gang Leader Lin was at a loss for words, his brow twitching uncontrollably.

Everyone around him was left speechless.

’This kid... I really want to punch him!’

’Damn it! Why are my fists clenched?’

After taking a moment to compose himself, Vice Gang Leader Lin saw that Tang Wen wasn’t going to be easily fooled and decided to lay his cards on the table. "Name your price."

"A portion of Sixth Grade Exotic Beast Blood Marrow."

"Heh!" Vice Gang Leader Lin sneered. "What an outrageous demand!"

"Yes or no?" Tang Wen grabbed Shui Yun’s hand, signaling for her to remain calm.

Vice Gang Leader Lin and the others conferred privately for a moment, then he said, "It’s not impossible. However, you can’t use that black mist to obscure the fight and make a confusing mess of it."

Tang Wen smiled inwardly but frowned on the outside, speaking as if he were dissatisfied. "In that case, why don’t you give me three portions of Sixth Grade Exotic Beast Blood Marrow and just have all three of them fight me at once."

Vice Gang Leader Lin took it as a bluff born of anger and laughed. "One against three? We’d give you five portions for that."

"Heh, in that case, how about a portion of Fifth Grade Exotic Beast Blood Marrow?"

"You’ve got some nerve!"

"If you can’t get it, just say so! I won’t laugh at you," Tang Wen said, relaxing.

"And if we *can* get it? You’ll really fight one-on-three?"

For Vice Gang Leader Lin and his group, it was a can’t-lose proposition.

After all, the cultivation resources they promised would only be handed over if Tang Wen actually won.

And could Tang Wen win?

Heh.

Not a chance in hell.

That being the case, their promises were completely empty.

Vice Gang Leader Lin and the others exchanged disdainful smirks.

’Since Tang Wen wants to fight one-on-three, then let’s oblige him!’

’But still, they’re all Martial Artists. A one-on-three fight is humiliating, no matter how you look at it.’

’If the gang’s three young talents get worked up and accidentally cripple him... that would be perfectly understandable, wouldn’t it?’

The more Vice Gang Leader Lin thought about it, the more he felt it was a can’t-lose situation.

As for what would happen if, by some miracle, Tang Wen actually won and they couldn’t produce the Fifth Grade Exotic Beast Blood Marrow?

No one even considered the possibility.

They went back and forth a few more times.

Vice Gang Leader Lin boomed, "Fine! Since Young Master Tang Wen insists, we’ll do it your way. One against three. If you win, the Fifth Grade Exotic Beast Blood Marrow is yours for the taking."

Tang Wen laughed heartily. "First, let me see this Fifth Grade Blood Marrow of yours. Show it to me, and I’ll fight immediately."

His eyes were filled with mockery.

It wasn’t that he looked down on them, but he doubted that even the full might of the Black Water Gang had the power to take down a Fifth Grade Exotic Beast.

’The little bastard is harder to fool than I thought!’

Vice Gang Leader Lin cursed inwardly, then goaded him, "It seems all this one-on-three talk was just bluster!"

Shui Yun couldn’t hold back any longer. "Would Vice Gang Leader Lin dare to fight one-on-three? We could add another match to let the gang’s brothers broaden their horizons. I have more than three people on my side who would love to witness your profound skills firsthand!"

Vice Gang Leader Lin snorted. ’One-on-three? Do you think everyone is as stupid as Tang Wen?’

He was just about to offer a retort.

Just then, the Eldest Young Master suddenly chimed in, "I happen to know that the gang does have a stock of Fifth Grade Blood Marrow—one with the Ice Attribute, and one with the Fire Attribute."

Fifth Grade Blood Marrow carries a very strong attribute imprint.

The upper echelons of the Black Water Gang were mostly powerhouses with the Dark Ability.

Therefore, Fifth Grade Blood Marrow of other attributes was nearly impossible for them to use.

Tang Wen’s interest was piqued. He hadn’t held out much hope.

Vice Gang Leader Lin and his cronies were merely Sixth-Grade Powerhouses.

There was no way they could have produced Fifth Grade Blood Marrow on their own.

The power of a Fifth Grade Exotic Beast was far beyond what one could imagine.

To put it in perspective, if ten Sixth-Grade Masters were to besiege a Fifth Grade Exotic Beast, their odds of winning would be about three-to-seven.

In favor of the beast, that is. After three minutes, the Fifth Grade Exotic Beast would be seventy percent full.

’I can’t believe the gang actually has some, and one is even Fire Attribute.’

Tang Wen wanted the Fifth Grade Blood Marrow, but not for his own use.

He wouldn’t dare consume it. With Seventh Grade Extraordinary Blood Marrow, its medicinal effects are strongest within three days of being extracted from an Exotic Beast.

But with Sixth Grade Exotic Beast Blood Marrow, its toxicity is strongest within those first three days.

For example, if an Extraordinary Powerhouse from the Water Division were to consume the fresh Blood Marrow of a Sixth Grade Exotic Beast with a Dark Ability...