Chapter 351: Deceit and Subterfuge, Riding the Tiger’s Momentum

Chapter 351 -192: Deceit and Subterfuge, Riding the Tiger’s Momentum

But then he thought it wouldn’t be right to say nothing at all. Xiao Yunkai’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He clutched the Jade Pendant in his palm and said with the utmost sincerity, “Brother Wan, I understand. Rest assured, my life is yours from this day forward. I’ll do whatever you ask, no questions asked.”

Wan Ze glanced at him but said nothing.

He turned and left.

Zhai Jia followed behind him.

“CLICK!”

The door closed.

Xiao Yunkai collapsed onto the bed. ‘Damn it, whoever wants to come to this Holy City can have at it! I’m fucking done with this place!’

…

The door closed, leaving only Wan Ze and Zhai Jia in the office.

Zhai Jia’s office wasn’t large, but it was practically furnished.

A wide desk sat in the room, holding file binders and a thermos with a black lid. Behind it was a black swivel chair with a uniform jacket draped over its back.

Against the wall was a metal filing cabinet covered in labels.

Wan Ze strolled unabashedly behind the desk and plopped into Zhai Jia’s chair. He leaned back with a lazy posture, and the chair let out a soft creak.

Zhai Jia saw this and shook his head helplessly, though without a hint of anger. He walked over to a nearby cabinet, poured a cup of hot water from a flask, and set it down beside Wan Ze.

“How did the interrogation go?” Wan Ze asked with a smile.

“The kid’s a bit crafty…” Zhai Jia leaned against the edge of the desk, hands in his pockets, and chuckled. “He’s probably afraid we’d kill him, so he’s holding back. I’ve interrogated scores of people, and his type is the most troublesome. He’ll agree to anything, but you never know what’s true and what’s a lie.”

Wan Ze picked up the cup and took a sip. The water was the perfect temperature.

“Let’s just wear him down. Xiao Yunkai isn’t stupid; he knows cooperating with us is his only way out alive. The longer this drags on, the more his mental defenses will crumble.”

Zhai Jia nodded and changed the subject. “Ah Ze, has Master contacted you?”

“Not yet.” Wan Ze looked at him.

Zhai Jia looked puzzled, his brow furrowed. “That’s strange. I sent Master a message about it this morning, and he just replied, ‘Got it’… I thought he’d be making arrangements for what comes next.”

Just as he said that, the communicator in Wan Ze’s hand began to vibrate.

The screen lit up.

Wan Ze glanced at it, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly. He held up the communicator and wiggled it at Zhai Jia. “Here he is.”

Zhai Jia immediately fell silent, even softening his breathing. He leaned forward slightly, straining to listen.

Wan Ze answered the call and pressed the receiver to his ear.

“Master.”

Situ Bai’s voice came from the other end of the communicator. “Xiaozhe, how are your injuries?”

“Just a minor injury. Nothing serious,” Wan Ze replied in a relaxed tone.

“Are you with Xiaojia?”

“Yes, I’m with Brother Jia right now,” Wan Ze said, looking up at Zhai Jia.

There was a two-second silence on the other end before Situ Bai laid out his instructions. “…Just follow my plan for what comes next,” he said slowly. “The dojo will make a move. For now, just focus on healing. I’ll notify you when it’s time for you to appear. What is destined to be yours cannot be taken. As for whether you want to fully step into the limelight… that is your own decision.”

The smile on Wan Ze’s face faded, and he grew serious. “I will follow your arrangements, Master.”

Hearing this, Situ Bai let out a soft laugh. “You sly fox. Then heal up. When the time comes, you’ll step on the Divine Martial Society to rise to the top.”

The call ended. Wan Ze took the communicator away from his ear. The call duration on the screen showed forty-seven seconds.

Less than a minute, but everything that needed to be said was said.

Zhai Jia immediately leaned in, blinking as he asked, “What did Master mean?”

Wan Ze relayed Situ Bai’s message. “Keep Xiao Yunkai and Zhou Hai in custody and deal with them as they deserve… The dojo will take the initiative and go on the offensive. Master told me to focus on healing and wait for his signal to make my move.”

Zhai Jia nodded thoughtfully after listening. He rubbed his chin, his eyes narrowing. “I get the feeling Master and the others are up to something. You know how he is. The calmer things are on the surface, the more chaos is brewing underneath. He’s not telling us because he’s afraid we’ll get too antsy and won’t be able to keep our cool.”

As he spoke, his gaze unintentionally swept over Wan Ze’s hand, and he suddenly froze.

“Holy crap!”

Zhai Jia shot up from the edge of the desk, his eyes fixed on Wan Ze’s wrist. “I just bandaged that yesterday, didn’t I? You’ve already taken it off?”

Wan Ze glanced at the back of his hand and chuckled. “It split open while I was training. It’s fine, just a flesh wound.”

“Training?” Zhai Jia stared at him for two seconds, then slapped his forehead, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. “You’re unbelievable! You went training before your wound even healed? Do you have a death wish? Do you know how thin the skin on the back of your hand is? Do you know how fragile the tendons are there? If it gets infected, you could lose the use of your entire hand!”

Wan Ze just smiled. “Brother Jia, it’s not that serious.”

Zhai Jia took a deep breath, clearly realizing it was pointless to try and reason with Wan Ze.

He turned, walked to the filing cabinet, and pulled open the bottom drawer. He rummaged inside, pulled out a first-aid kit, and placed it on the desk. He opened the lid to reveal gauze, iodine, cotton swabs, and tape—everything he needed.

“Hand,” Zhai Jia commanded.

Wan Ze obediently extended his hand.

Zhai Jia dipped a cotton swab in iodine and gently disinfected the wound. When the iodine touched the broken skin, the stinging sensation made the corner of Wan Ze’s mouth twitch slightly, but he didn’t make a sound.

Zhai Jia shook his head as he disinfected the wound, muttering, “Look at this, just look at it. The cut split open again, and it’s bigger than yesterday. I’m telling you, if you split the bandage open again, I’m not wrapping it for you. You’ll be on your own.”

“I know,” Wan Ze said.

“You don’t know shit,” Zhai Jia grumbled, though his touch grew even gentler.