CHAPTER 278: CHAPTER 278: THE HEAD OF THE FIRST SCHOLAR’S MANSION_1

"Looking for you?"

"Or did they follow you back from your hometown?"

Hearing Housekeeper Liu’s words, Su Xuan was slightly taken aback. From the way they’re banging on the door, they’re definitely not friends dropping by for a visit. They’re here to cause trouble! And Housekeeper Liu is such an amiable person; he doesn’t seem like the type to stir up conflict, does he? However, if those people outside really are looking for him, that would explain the injuries on his face and his missing front teeth! They must have been the ones who beat him!

"All the better if they’re looking for you!" Su Xuan immediately strode toward the courtyard gate, adding, "Old Liu, our home isn’t a place where any Tom, Dick, or Harry can come and run wild. Since they dared to show up, I’ll make them regret it!"

"Master..."

Watching Su Xuan’s retreating figure, Old Housekeeper Liu’s eyes welled with tears. He was just the old housekeeper of this mansion. He would have been thankful enough that Su Xuan hadn’t dismissed him for his age. Yet, his master was treating him like family and protecting him. He was incredibly fond of a master like this—incredibly fond!

CREAK!

The main gate was opened by Su Xuan.

"Liu Rufeng, you old coot!"

"Did you think we couldn’t find you just by hiding here?"

"Prepare to have your corpse collected today!"

The moment the gate opened, five or six people charged aggressively past Su Xuan, bursting into the courtyard and surrounding Old Housekeeper Liu.

"You lot!" Su Xuan slammed the gate shut with the back of his hand and said to the group, "You’ve gone too far!"

These people completely ignored him, the owner of this mansion, and were loudly proclaiming that his man should prepare for his own burial. If that wasn’t going too far, what was?

"Who are you?"

"This has nothing to do with you today!"

"Get lost!"

Only then did the group turn to glance at Su Xuan, their expressions still full of arrogance.

"Nothing to do with me?" Su Xuan smiled as he walked into the circle of people and stood beside Old Housekeeper Liu. "Every blade of grass and every tree in this place is mine. So tell me, does this have anything to do with me or not?"

"Huh?"

"This mansion is yours?"

"You’re so young. How could you afford such a big place?"

The five or six people were astonished, completely unconvinced that the mansion belonged to Su Xuan.

"This young man is so handsome."

"He’s more handsome than all our martial brothers combined!"

Among the group were two rather attractive girls who couldn’t help but sigh in admiration upon seeing Su Xuan’s face. Their clothes were a bit rustic, and they were even wearing old-fashioned cloth shoes. As for designer bags and the like, they had none.

"Master, please don’t be angry," Old Housekeeper Liu said immediately, seeing the displeasure on Su Xuan’s face. "I’ll persuade these old friends to step outside with me so we can talk."

"Who’s an old friend of yours?"

"We’re sworn enemies, don’t you get it?"

The group immediately retorted, the hostility in their eyes growing thicker. At the same time, they realized Su Xuan must truly be the mansion’s owner; after all, Housekeeper Liu himself had called him Master. Because of this, their speech became more restrained, and they stopped making brutal threats about collecting corpses. They weren’t fools; they knew that someone who could own such a luxurious mansion was not to be trifled with.

"Sect Leader Du, maybe we should take our discussion with Liu Rufeng outside," one of the young women, who appeared to be in her early twenties, said in a low voice to the middle-aged man leading the group.

"No need to talk outside." Su Xuan, having already shut the main gate, raised a hand and said, "First, tell me why you barged into my home and accosted a member of my household."

"I am Du Zilong, the Sect Leader of Du’s Tai Chi." The middle-aged man leading the group, carrying the air of a veteran from the martial world, gave Su Xuan a cupped-fist salute. "May I ask for your name?"

Su Xuan frowned. Why do I keep running into people from the martial world? Nonetheless, he returned the salute. "Su Xuan, master of the No. 88 Scholar Mansion on Houhai Street."

"Er..."

Upon hearing Su Xuan’s self-introduction, Du Zilong and the others couldn’t help but twitch their lips. They had lived for half a lifetime but had never heard anyone introduce themselves like that before.

"M-Master Su, it’s a pleasure!" Du Zilong said, feeling rather awkward.

"Sect Leader Du, a pleasure indeed," Su Xuan replied, also feeling a bit embarrassed. What era is this? Who still uses such archaic formalities?

"We came this time..." Du Zilong began to explain the purpose of their visit but suddenly, his eyes went wide.

A giant panda was walking with lazy strides over to Su Xuan’s side. It glared at them with a sharp gaze, looking as if it would attack decisively at Su Xuan’s command.

Furthermore, three other people emerged from one of the rooms in the mansion: a young woman and two children. The young woman was exceptionally beautiful, with a dignified and elegant temperament. The two children also had delicate features, but their gazes were piercing. The boy was even holding a gleaming kitchen knife, looking ready to chop someone at any moment. The little girl’s behavior was also odd; she kept touching her own slender waist, as if there was something wrong with her belt.

"COUGH, COUGH!" The Sect Leader of Du’s Tai Chi, Du Zilong, averted his gaze and spoke directly to Su Xuan. "Liu Rufeng is a murderer! He beat our old Sect Leader—my father—to death!"

"What?" Su Xuan’s eyes widened at the accusation. Old Liu is so gentle he wouldn’t even step on the grass in the courtyard, and you’re telling me he killed someone? Is this a joke?

Su Xuan looked at Housekeeper Liu and asked, "Is what he’s saying true?"

"No, no," Old Housekeeper Liu hurriedly shook his head and explained, "When I went home to pay respects to my ancestors, I met up with a few old friends from the martial world. We sat together and had some drinks. One of them, Du Danian, the former Sect Leader of Du’s Tai Chi, drank a bit too much. In front of everyone, he claimed his family’s Du’s Tai Chi was the most authentic school of Tai Chi, while my Ruyi Tai Chi was second-rate. I was a little upset, so we had a brief spar. I won, and then we all went our separate ways."

"So that’s it!" Su Xuan spread his hands. "No one was killed, then!"

"Exactly!" Old Housekeeper Liu nodded and added, "I stopped as soon as the point was made; I didn’t use any real force. He was perfectly fine when he left."

"Nonsense!" Du Zilong shouted at Old Housekeeper Liu, his face a mask of grief and fury. "My father was bedridden the moment he got home and died the very next day! How could that be unless you injured him? His last words were for me, his son, to avenge him and restore the name of Du’s Tai Chi!"

"Oh, I get it now."

Su Xuan finally understood. Du Danian obviously hadn’t been killed by Old Housekeeper Liu’s hand. He likely couldn’t accept his defeat and, compounded by the excessive alcohol, had essentially died of indignation. In short, Du Danian had tried to show off while drunk, got put in his place by Housekeeper Liu, and ended up angering himself to death.

Su Xuan turned his gaze to Du Zilong. "And for this, you want Old Liu’s life?"

"Not unless he offers compensation!" Du Zilong glared at Housekeeper Liu. "He must compensate our Du’s Tai Chi with five million!"

"Alright." Su Xuan immediately took out his phone. "Give me the account number."

Any problem that can be solved with money is a small one.

Du Zilong was dumbfounded. This was far too straightforward! People haggle when they buy groceries at the market, but this guy didn’t even counter the offer?