Chapter 89 - 88: The Li Family’s Sure-kill Technique: Fate Cultivator

Chapter 89: Chapter 88: The Li Family’s Sure-kill Technique: Fate Cultivator

Faced with such a blunt threat, the muscles on Smiling Tiger’s perpetually smiling face twitched almost imperceptibly.

He lowered his eyelids, hiding the cold gleam that flashed in his eyes.

When he looked up again, that smooth, obsequious smile was back in place.

"Yes, yes, I understand." He gave a little bow, his tone full of submission. "I’ll make the call right away, right away."

He led the Supervisor to a quiet, secluded small room.

Inside the room was only a square table with peeling paint. On the table sat an old, black, hand-cranked telephone.

The telephone’s brass rotary dial was somewhat worn, gleaming faintly under the dim light.

The Supervisor, arms crossed, leaned against the doorframe.

His piercing gaze was locked firmly on Smiling Tiger.

Smiling Tiger wiped his cold, sweaty palms on his pant legs, took a deep breath, and picked up the heavy receiver.

His other hand skillfully turned the crank. Then he pressed the receiver to his ear, waiting for the sound of the county operator.

The air was thick with a mixed smell of stale tobacco and dust, and the only sound was the monotonous busy signal from the receiver.

Each beep hammered at his nerves.

The call connected, but it wasn’t Lu Jing’an who answered.

Instead, it was a crisp female voice—Orchid, a maid at the Lu Mansion.

Smiling Tiger licked his somewhat dry lips, lowered his voice, and said in a deliberately altered tone, "I’m looking for the Jade Emperor."

There was a clear pause on the other end of the line, followed by Orchid’s confused voice, "Who are you looking for?"

"Go ask your young master. He’ll know who I am." Smiling Tiger’s tone carried the kind of feigned mystery typical of someone from the Jianghu.

"My young master went to the Water Patrol Bureau. You should call the Water Patrol Bureau," Orchid said before hanging up.

All that was left was a busy signal.

Smiling Tiger put down the receiver and was just about to dial the next number.

A bony, well-defined hand slammed down hard on the telephone, stopping his movement.

The Supervisor leaned closer, his shadow falling over Smiling Tiger, his voice filled with icy suspicion. "Why did you say you were looking for the Jade Emperor? Are you trying to pass a secret code?"

An even broader, more obsequious smile instantly spread across Smiling Tiger’s face, and he bowed even lower.

"Sir, you may not be aware.

In our line of work, navigating the Jianghu, there are many taboos.

Even if we know someone’s real identity, we can’t openly use their name. We have to use nicknames or aliases. It’s an old rule.

Even if my own father stepped into the ring, I couldn’t call him ’Dad.’ I’d have to follow the rules of the trade.

If you don’t believe me, sir, feel free to ask around.

If there’s even a shred of falsehood in what I say, you can have my head."

As he spoke, he even pointed to his own neck.

The Supervisor stared at him for a few seconds, then sneered, his scorn undisguised. "You people in this low-life profession actually bother with rules?"

"You’re absolutely right, sir."

Smiling Tiger nodded his head furiously, his smile a mix of self-deprecation and fawning.

"These rules are all we have left to keep up appearances. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have been able to stay in this business for so long."

"Alright, enough nonsense. Make the call," the Supervisor said, waving his hand impatiently, seemingly having lost interest in the discussion.

"Yes, right away, right away," Smiling Tiger quickly agreed, cranking the phone again and dialing the number for the Water Patrol Bureau.

This time, it was Lu Jing’an himself who answered.

"Jade Emperor."

He immediately switched to a respectful yet enthusiastic tone.

"I’ve got a tough customer over here. He’s already won over a dozen matches in a row and is on a real hot streak.

The key is, he has a real prize on him: a long staff made of Crimson Gold Copper.

It looks to weigh dozens of pounds. The real deal.

I sent someone to sound him out. He says it’s an heirloom and won’t sell it for a thousand pieces of gold.

But he also said that if someone can beat him fair and square in the ring, at the same level, he’s willing to hand it over.

Jade Emperor, are you... interested in taking a look?"

On the other end of the line, Lu Jing’an listened in silence, not interrupting.

Only after Smiling Tiger had finished did he ask calmly, "What’s his level?"

"His level? He looks to be in the Copper Skin Realm. The key is that the staff is incredible—it’s heavy and made of a rare material."

Smiling Tiger answered hastily, his tone calibrated perfectly.

He highlighted its value without sounding overly eager.

There was another moment of silence from Lu Jing’an’s end, as if he were weighing his options. Then he said, "Alright. I’ll find some time to head over."

Joy surged in Smiling Tiger’s heart, but he kept his voice even steadier. "Then I will await your esteemed arrival in Jinshan Village."

"Since you know who I am."

Lu Jing’an’s voice suddenly turned cold.

"From now on, cut out all this unnecessary theatrics. Just get to the point."

A bead of sweat appeared on Smiling Tiger’s temple, but his tone became even more earnest.

"Sir, please bear with me.

It’s the rules. I rely on these rules and on being perceptive to make a living.

If I didn’t have this bit of tact, how could the Li Family, the Liu Family, or even your Lu Family, let me get away with operating here?"

Lu Jing’an interrupted him impatiently.

"Enough. Cut the crap.

Get me a clear picture of this man’s background, his origins, and his actual strength.

You know full well what’s going on between our Lu Family and the Li and Liu Families.

I need to be sure this isn’t a setup."

"Sir, you can rest completely assured."

Smiling Tiger patted his chest to guarantee it, even though the other man couldn’t see.

"I’ve checked this person’s background. On the surface, he’s a fugitive, an Overseas Dragon. His level is Copper Skin, no doubt about it. I’ll bet my head on it!"

"Is your head as valuable as mine?" Lu Jing’an sneered.

"Of course your head is the precious one, sir!"

Smiling Tiger immediately replied, his tone incomparably sincere.