Chapter 269 - 167: The Six-Fingered Creator on the Brink

Chapter 269: Chapter 167: The Six-Fingered Creator on the Brink

Cao Zixu’s Talents were all geared toward being a Creator, so he wasn’t adept at playing the host.

Some of the people present were slightly displeased that Cao Xing’an hadn’t made an appearance, but none of them showed it.

A small portion of the guests had been personally invited by Cao Xing’an.

Most, however, were hoping to use the banquet to build a relationship with Cao Xing’an, or to use it as a springboard to meet suitable contacts and negotiate partnerships.

This kind of banquet was, in essence, a grand stage for pursuing fame and fortune.

But with the host, Cao Xing’an, nowhere to be seen, his invited guests felt they were being snubbed.

It also robbed those who had gone to great lengths to secure an invitation of their chance to approach and curry favor with him.

Even though Cao Xing’an was absent, the banquet’s atmosphere was still lively and enthusiastic.

The vast majority of people present were discussing the Crimson Monochromatic Dragon Carp that had taken first place at the Dragon Soaring Association’s event.

That Crimson Monochromatic Dragon Carp had truly stolen the show at the Dragon Soaring Association’s competition.

Many of those present had already discovered that the Crimson Monochromatic Dragon Carp was raised by a Celestial Destiny Seeker from Starlight City.

Meanwhile, Cao Xing’an and Ju Jiasu were sitting in a private study.

Cao Xing’an squeezed the Jade Balls in his hand, rotating them with such force that they emitted a shrill, grating sound.

As Ju Jiasu reported the situation to Cao Xing’an, she deliberately fanned the flames of his anger.

As one of the people in the world who knew him best, Ju Jiasu was well aware of Cao Xing’an’s triggers.

"Uncle, for them to disrespect you so openly... if word of this gets out, it will damage your reputation."

"The Dragon Carp’s origin isn’t hard to trace. By now, I’m afraid quite a few people already know it was raised by that up-and-coming Celestial Destiny Seeker who’s always with Wen Tao."

"It wasn’t just Wen Tao who disrespected you; that young Celestial Destiny Seeker from Starlight City rejected the offer outright."

"He even said some things that made it clear he has no respect for you. Guo Xing was right there when it happened."

Ju Jiasu’s teeth clenched tightly at the mention of Guo Xing’s name.

She had already decided that she would make trouble for Guo Xing once the Dragon Soaring Association’s event was over.

Cao Xing’an’s grim expression didn’t waver in the slightest as he listened to Ju Jiasu.

"Shushu, didn’t we already know last night that these people from Starlight City have no respect for me?"

Not long after Cao Xing’an finished speaking, a knock came at the door.

A gaunt old man pushed the door open and entered.

Cao Xing’an was not a Celestial Destiny Seeker, so technically he didn’t have a Deputy.

However, to the outside world, this old man was effectively his Deputy, and within the household, he was his butler.

Even Ju Jiasu didn’t dare to be too disrespectful toward the old man.

Looking at the old man standing before him, Cao Xing’an spoke first.

"Uncle Liu, what have you found?"

The old man, addressed as Uncle Liu, smoothed his graying beard and spoke in a coarse, raspy voice.

"Master, you had me start watching the movements of those two Celestial Destiny Seekers from Starlight City last night."

"After they left that place last night, they returned again this morning and this evening."

"They even had dinner there tonight and stayed for a good three or four hours."

Upon hearing this, Cao Xing’an slammed the two Jade Balls he normally cherished onto the floor.

The sight of Cao Xing’an in such a rage startled Ju Jiasu, who shot up from her chair. She had rarely seen him this furious.

Just as she was about to speak, Ju Jiasu saw Uncle Liu, who was already bent over picking up the fragments of the Jade Balls, shake his head at her and gesture toward the door.

Ju Jiasu took a deep breath, turned, and left the study.

The moment the study door closed behind her, a wide, triumphant smile spread across Ju Jiasu’s face.

’I said all that, and still, Cao Xing’an hadn’t made a decision.’

’As expected, the thing he cares about most is still anything related to Tao En.’

’His own niece gets bullied, and he does nothing to help.’

’But as soon as someone gets close to his enemy, he completely loses it!’

Ju Jiasu scoffed inwardly. For some reason, she found herself morbidly ’shipping’ her uncle and Tao En.

’Now that things have reached this point, I don’t need to say another word.’

Ju Jiasu was already fantasizing about Wen Tao showing up with gifts, begging her to act as a go-between.

In high spirits, Ju Jiasu decided to go join the banquet for a bit.

Back in the study, Cao Xing’an sat in silence for a long time. Then, suddenly, he violently swept the teacup from the table, sending it crashing to the floor where it shattered.

His chest heaved like a bellows as he gasped for air. After another long moment, he finally spoke in a low, restrained voice.

"Uncle Liu, after the banquet ends, I want you to personally select a Hidden Guard to eliminate Tao En."

"I want to see news of his death by tomorrow morning. Remember, it must be done without a trace. It would be best to make it look like a suicide."

The old man, who had just finished cleaning up the shattered Jade Balls and was now gathering the teacup fragments, looked up and said hurriedly.

"Master, you’ve finally decided to eliminate him!"

"The Hidden Guards you’ve trained over the years have mainly been of the Bizarre type. I will assign one who has stepped into the Immortal rank."

"Even if it’s discovered to be a homicide and someone investigates, they will only conclude that it was an attack by a Bizarre entity."

"By tomorrow morning, news of Tao En’s death will have spread throughout all of Longya City."

After clearing away the last porcelain shard, the old man’s expression shifted to a smile.

"Master, in truth, once Tao En is dead, everyone will assume you were involved."

"But what does it matter what they think? Forget Lord Red Dragon; even those few influential figures who were on good terms with Tao En won’t dare to implicate you over a dead man."

The old man’s words did much to quell the anger on Cao Xing’an’s face.

Once Tao En was dead, Cao Xing’an decided, he would have to teach those Celestial Destiny Seekers from Starlight City a lesson.

It wasn’t just to vent his own anger; it was also to serve as a warning to everyone else.

’Let everyone know not to get too close to my enemies!’

In a shop on the border of Longya City’s Upper and Lower City Districts, Tao En was washing Tao Niannian’s school uniform, completely unaware that his association with Zhong Yi’s group had stirred a murderous intent in Cao Xing’an.

In the past, every day for Tao En and Tao Niannian had been like walking a tightrope.

Tao En knew full well that Cao Xing’an could have had him eliminated at any moment.

It was precisely this precarious situation that made Tao En all the more grateful to Zhong Yi, who had saved him.

But now that he could summon his Guardian Beast again, Tao En no longer felt the slightest bit of fear.

"Niannian, the legs and collar of this uniform are torn. Maybe we should just get rid of it."

"You’ve always wanted to leave Longya City, haven’t you? In a few days, Grandpa will take you away from here. We’ll go somewhere new."

"Once we’ve left, you can go to school in a new place, so you won’t need this uniform anymore."

A delighted and surprised expression immediately appeared on Tao Niannian’s face when she heard Tao En say he was taking her away from Longya City.

But she soon lowered her head, fiddling with the hem of her shirt as she asked softly.

"Grandpa, can we really leave?"

"You used to say we could only stay in Longya City."

"When we go somewhere else, will people stop bullying you and me?"

Tao En looked at Tao Niannian, his eyes filled with both guilt and affection.

"From now on, as long as I’m here, no one will ever be able to bully you again."

Tao Niannian pouted at his words. ’Why is Grandpa suddenly making such big promises?’ she thought.

Tao Niannian had never seen Tao En before his soul was injured, so she had no idea what he had been like back when he was at the pinnacle of his power.

Although Tao Niannian thought her grandfather was boasting, she didn’t say anything.

’After all,’ she thought, ’I’m always trying to take care of and protect Grandpa, but I’m never able to.’

Tao Niannian’s fingers didn’t loosen their grip on the hem of her shirt.

After repeatedly confirming with Tao En that they could really leave Longya City, Tao Niannian’s smile suddenly faltered.

"Grandpa, if we leave Longya City and leave the shop... does that mean we’ll never see Brother Zhong Yi and Uncle Wen Tao again?"

"I don’t want to leave them!"