20: Chapter 20 Xiao Wu, are you lying to me? (Part 1)

Jiantian Division Prison.

Tang Liu sat cross-legged on a pile of hay, his expression gloomy.

Ever since he was arrested that day, he had been suppressing a fire within him.

Even now, he couldn't understand how simply teaching a lesson to a foul-mouthed playboy had turned into the serious crime of crippling someone's Dantian.

At the time, he had clearly controlled his strength; at most, it should have broken a few bones and kept the guy in bed for ten days to half a month.

"Is someone secretly targeting me?"

A sharp glint flashed in Tang Liu's eyes.

Just then, a dark shadow appeared silently outside the cell.

"Who?" Tang Liu looked up alertly.

"If nothing goes wrong, you'll be able to leave tomorrow."

The man in black spoke in a low voice.

Tang Liu was stunned at first, then overjoyed.

Although he didn't know who was behind this man in black, the person could come and go as they pleased in the heavily fortified Jiantian Division prison.

And he had crippled the son of a first-rank official; yet after only a few days, they could already fish him out?

It seemed the power of the person behind this man in black was simply unimaginable!

"It seems my previous choice was correct."

Tang Liu thought to himself.

"Thank you!" Tang Liu cupped his hands, his tone still carrying the arrogance of a Genius: "Since you've saved me, I, Tang Liu, will definitely not go back on my word. To show my worth, I will 'accidentally' kill Chen Shanzhi during the Four Seas Academy's Martial Arts Demonstration."

The man in black sneered, his tone carrying a hint of mockery:

"Don't get ahead of yourself. Although my master is trying to pull some strings, the price to fish out a hot potato like you isn't small.

With your current value, you're not worth the master offending the Minister of Rites for."

Tang Liu frowned: "What do you mean by that?"

"It means that your ability to leave has nothing to do with your own value; it's purely good luck."

The man in black said slowly:

"Firstly, that Minister of Rites went mad yesterday and killed his wife in the street. Now he's in prison himself.

And those nobles are all busy fighting over the lucrative vacancy of the Minister of Rites. Who has time to worry about a small fry like you?"

"What? The Minister of Rites killed his wife?"

Tang Liu's eyes widened in disbelief.

This plot twist was too fast.

"Secondly..."

The man in black paused, his tone becoming playful, even carrying a faint ripple of True Essence, as if intentionally manipulating Tang Liu's emotions:

"The whole capital has been talking about it lately.

That beautiful younger sister of yours really went all out to save you."

"During the day, she's all lovey-dovey with the Heir of the Marquis of Zhenguo, strolling through gardens and boating on the lake, enjoying herself immensely.

And at night, she stays directly in the Zhenguo Marquis Mansion, only coming out when the sun is high the next day."

"Tsk tsk, a man and a woman alone in a room.

Presumably, that juicy peach of a sister has already been plucked by the Heir of the Marquis of Zhenguo."

"So the one who really put in the effort to get you out isn't my master.

But rather the Heir of the Marquis of Zhenguo, who was served quite well by your sister."

Boom!

These words were like a bolt from the blue, leaving Tang Liu completely stunned.

"What did you say?!"

Tang Liu rushed to the cell door, his hands tightly gripping the iron bars until his knuckles turned white, his eyes as red as blood:

"Xiaowu spends every night at the Zhenguo Marquis Mansion?"

"Impossible, absolutely impossible! Xiaowu isn't that kind of person!"

He roared, trying to deny the cruel reality.

But the mocking gaze of the man in black was like a sharp knife, stabbing deep into his heart.

"Believe it or not."

The man in black shrugged:

"Anyway, I've delivered the news. If nothing goes wrong, you'll be out tomorrow."

"Don't forget the agreement with my master. If you can successfully complete it, you can officially join us.

By then, you won't even have to care about the Heir of the Marquis of Zhenguo."

After saying that, the man in black flashed and vanished into the darkness like a ghost.

Leaving Tang Liu alone, gasping in the cell like a wounded beast.

"Chen! Shan! Zhi!"

Tang Liu gritted his teeth, each word squeezed out from between them.

He could already guess the gist of it. To save him, his sister had gone to beg Chen Shanzhi.

Given Chen Shanzhi's lecherous character, he must have used it to blackmail her, and then...

Thinking of this, an image involuntarily appeared in his mind:

To save him, Xiaowu was forced to kneel tearfully before that playboy heir and let him...

"Aaaaaah!"

Tang Liu let out a piercing roar of rage and smashed his fist against the wall.

A ripple of light flowed across the wall, returning all the force and leaving Tang Liu's right hand dripping with blood.

But he didn't notice at all, his eyes filled only with killing intent:

"Chen Shanzhi, I will definitely kill you!"

...

The next morning.

Zhenguo Marquis Mansion.

"Hurry, hurry! If we're any later, Big Brother Liu will get anxious!"

Early in the morning, Tang Xiaowu dragged Chen Shanzhi out of bed, urging him to set off immediately.

Chen Shanzhi yawned, helplessly letting her have her way.

"I say, Xiaowu, it's so early that the gates of the Jiantian Division aren't even open yet. Why go so early? To whistle in the wind?"

"I don't care! I want to go early!"

Tang Xiaowu muttered while helping him straighten his collar.

That virtuous little wife-like appearance made Chen Shanzhi's heart flutter.

The results of their Cultivation over the past few nights were quite significant, causing their relationship to advance by leaps and bounds.

Especially that intimate feeling of their auras blending together; it made Tang Xiaowu less guarded and distant when facing Chen Shanzhi, replaced by a natural closeness.

The two got into the carriage and slowly drove toward the Jiantian Division.

However, inside the carriage, the atmosphere was somewhat subtle.

Tang Xiaowu sat by the window, looking at the receding scenery outside somewhat distractedly.

"Um..."

She suddenly turned her head, looked at Chen Shanzhi, and said softly:

"Thank you for helping me get Big Brother Liu out."

Her voice was very light, carrying a hint of distance and politeness.

Chen Shanzhi's brows twitched slightly.

He knew what this girl was thinking.

Now that Tang Liu was coming out, the excuse of "having to be close to save someone" was gone.

She was drawing a line, wanting to retreat back to her original position.

The fact that she could still express her gratitude, rather than thinking he had taken advantage of her and treating him coldly, proved that his previous actions had been effective.

At least for now, her perception of him had been subtly changed.

Using such a distant tone to apologize was nothing more than a fear that he would continue to pester her.

Yet she was also afraid that her tone would be too harsh and hurt him. That's why she spoke those distant words of thanks.

"Truly a good girl."

Chen Shanzhi sighed inwardly.

To have such a kind and considerate sister.

Did Tang Liu save the galaxy in his past life?

But...

Since I've already loosened the foundation of this wall, how could I let you fill it back in?

He wasn't one of those refined gentlemen who would back off just because someone suggested keeping a proper distance.

On the contrary, Tang Xiaowu felt guilty toward him right now, which was the perfect opportunity to go a step further.

Chen Shanzhi didn't reply, but stared straight into Tang Xiaowu's beautiful, dodging eyes.

Then, he stood up and slowly moved toward her.