Chapter 1066: Chapter 1037: Authentication of Truth and Falsehood
"Mr. Hong!" Fourth Master called out, and a middle-aged man nearing fifty stepped out from behind the door, looking quite fit, although the specks of white in his black hair made him seem exceptionally weathered.
"Fourth Master!"
"Another Rose Staff has surfaced here. Could you please check whether it is yours!"
This middle-aged man was none other than Hong Lian, who had disappeared from Liger City. In the dim light, he glanced at the Wang Brothers. "Sure."
Shao Weihua immediately turned around and winked at Wang Zhanting. However, Wang Zhantian suddenly had a change of heart, catching Shao Weihua by surprise. "If I hand over our Wang Family heirloom, this Hong Lian is a master craftsman. What if he pulls some trickery and swaps the real for a fake? Wouldn’t I be at a loss, ending up as a fool who helps others profit?"
Wang Zhantian’s voice wasn’t loud, but in the silence of the space, his piercing words were heard clearly by all five of them. Hah hah hah! Worried that Fourth Master might get angry and kill this troublemaker, unexpectedly Fourth Master was the first to laugh, followed by Shao Weihua with a couple of laughs, oddly amused. "Fool? Aren’t you already a fool?"
"You..." Wang Zhantian, impulsive, wanted to curse but was held back by Wang Zhanting. "Mr. Shao, though our Wang Family isn’t influential now, at least we have this item which can win the support of many gangs, aiding you and helping our Wang Family’s dominance here. Now you want us to hand over our family heirloom to a stranger. Isn’t that forcing us?"
"Zhanting! How can you say Fourth Master is a stranger? Don’t you remember during Huaxia times, where did those smuggled goods come from, who fattened Yao Zheng? Wasn’t it all thanks to Fourth Master’s cleverness and skills, developing those drugs that sold well in the market?" Shao Weihua immediately started smoothing things over, fearing that those behind the door might change moods and turn against him.
"I’ve heard of Fourth Master’s name, but..."
"Mr. Shao, no need to persuade the Wang Family. The Rose Staff with me is the genuine one. Let those two fools take the fake and deceive others. When the real one emerges and becomes a target, they’ll naturally obey. If not, just toss one out to earn favor with the Hua Family. Maybe they’ll join you against the Xiao Family, seize the Dharma Seal, and lead the underworld!"
"Bullshit! Whose is the fake?" As Wang Zhanting momentarily lost focus, Wang Zhantian had already charged out. In Yanjing, he was someone of high stature, though here he wasn’t as prominent as in Yanjing, he still played a significant role in social scenes, holding money and attracting followers everywhere. But now, in front of a young woman, especially a beautiful one, being belittled like this was unbearable, his mind was like it was caught in a door and rashly wanted to slap the woman.
Seeing this, Hong Lian had already taken a step forward to block Fourth Master, although the gesture was somewhat redundant, Fourth Master seemed to appreciate it.
"Ungrateful scoundrel!" With axes swinging, ready to ruthlessly chop down the rushing threat. If hit, arms would surely be severed?
"Stop!" Wang Zhanting shouted loudly, already striding up the stairs, tossing the box in his hand toward Hong Lian. "I give you the staff, let my brother go!"
Hong Lian saw the rectangular box flying toward him, withdrew the two large axes in his hand, and a streak of white shot from behind him, a yard-long white silk catching the airborne box, safely landing it in Fourth Master’s hands.
Wang Zhantian managed to escape with half a life, but no one would sympathize with his recent ordeal. Some people just love courting death, rushing headlong toward Ghost Gate. Shao Weihua silently watched Wang Zhantian’s pale face, a flash of killing intent already in his eyes.
"Mr. Hong should recognize this box, it’s the same one my father handed to you to craft the Rose Staff, complementing the staff."
At this point, the shape of the rectangular box could be seen, akin to a blooming flower, albeit two sizes larger than the staff.
Hong Lian glanced at the box and nodded. "Mr. Wang remembers the events of the past!"
"My father’s whim, naturally remembered! But now I have a question, the staff in your hand..."
"Mr. Hong, Fourth Master has already grown angry, you can proceed!" Fourth Master reminded from behind, her words prompted Shao Weihua to immediately cover Wang Zhanting’s mouth, simultaneously chopping down hard on Wang Zhantian’s neck.
"You..." Wang Zhanting was startled by Shao Weihua’s actions, then saw him constantly winking, so he held back.
Hong Lian opened the box, inside lay a vivid palm-sized staff, even in the darkness without light, its glittering rays could faintly be seen through refraction, its exquisite angles and water diamond facets naturally setting off its glowing principle.
The weight in the palm is much heavier compared to the other cane by one or two ounces. Hong Lian carefully observed the bud at the center of the rose; if it were genuine, then beneath one of the leaf petals within the bud, there would be a mechanism that serves as the key to unlocking the structure inside the Rose Staff. The cane in his hand had such a trigger mechanism, but when activated, only three layers of petals unfolded, not completely opening; the wings beneath were completely immobile. For this reason, he couldn’t claim that the one he took from Elder Wang years ago was the real deal.
Click! Hong Lian located the petal and moved it slightly with his thumb towards the side before pressing it down, waiting quietly!
Everyone held their breath, but only Hong Lian and Fourth Master knew the truth; the other two were tense simply because of their anxiety.
A minute passed, and no change occurred with the petals. Just as Hong Lian intended to shake his head at Fourth Master, click! Click-click-click! The sound of gears turning like ancient wheels began, and as the sound paused, the petals on the staff started to change, rising from the innermost petals upward, followed by the next layer of petals ascending in turn.
Fourth Master’s expression showed slight changes, but when the petals reached the third layer, they suddenly stopped, with the same result as the other staff.
"Mr. Hong, how did you design the mechanism inside the staff when you forged it years ago?" Fourth Master asked a crucial question. If it can be cast exactly alike, it should be possible to unlock the mechanism. Meanwhile, Wang Zhanting was utterly amazed by the sight before him; he never knew his treasure had such an aspect, always assuming it was mere decoration.
"Elder Wang gave me a diagram of the internal structure, so I know the wings on the base are the final hurdle, but it’s just the outcome based on the blueprint..." Hong Lian couldn’t explain the reasons behind it clearly.
Just at this moment, the staff belonging to Wang Zhanting began to move again, and Hong Lian frowned. That night, he clearly swapped it, taking the genuine one in his hands and leaving. He was confident that no one could tell them apart, especially as his own blood was on the real arm. Why did his only reach the third layer while this one continued further? Could it be that someone else was present that night?
Click! Click-click-click!
The last layer of petals seemed to peel off and rise, expanding a small cane into a three-dimensional, true rose flower. However, this was not the end. Another series of humming sounds ensued, and the six-winged wings, firmly set on the handle, unfolded towards the rose. Just as joy began to widen on Hong Lian’s face, a strong smell wafted from the staff.
"Quick, throw it away!" Fourth Master shouted, a length of white silk brushed past Hong Lian’s cheek, shot out, swept the Rose Staff from his grip, and flung it out the window. With a loud boom, the window shook, and the staff shattered to pieces the moment it flew out.
"What’s going on?" Wang Zhanting stared at the treasure he had guarded like precious all along, now turned to dust, almost hysterical. "Mr. Hong, how do you explain this?"
"Isn’t it obvious? The staff in your hand is a fake!" Hong Lian felt a bit fearful; if it weren’t for Fourth Master, escaping alive would have been hard for several of them, especially the two before him, and possibly including himself.
"How could it be fake? It was you, just you and my father inside back then. You swapped it and then killed my father, didn’t you!"
"I killed Elder Wang; your family’s Rose Staff was also swapped by me, but just now, the staff wasn’t the one I made back then!" Hong Lian’s blunt confession almost made Wang Zhanting lose his footing. At first, Hong Lian nearly overlooked a tiny detail, a habit he had while forging. He was focused on the mechanism earlier, without closely inspecting. As the staff was thrown out, he spotted the bottom, lacking a mark he would have left, thus proving this staff capable of passing as genuine wasn’t his creation.
"Are you still trying to lie? That day, it was just you and my father. The one in your hand isn’t from my family, so whose is it? You claim mine is fake, then where is the real one?"
Creak! The door that had been closed opened! A tall figure emerged, exuding an overpowering and unseeable sense of pressure, pale skin, tightly pursed lips, and an exquisite mask always hidden under a large cloak.
"Master!"
A box was tossed out, landing before Wang Zhanting, and as it hit the ground, it sprang open, revealing another Rose Staff inside.
"This is the one I took from your home that day; it can only open up to the third layer," Hong Lian explained.
"Where is the real staff?" Wang Zhanting, numb, held the Rose Staff, unable to accept the situation, hardly caring who stood before him; he just wanted to clear up the simple question, where is the real one, or does it exist?
"Mr. Shao, you should head back this time. Do you know what to do?"
"I understand." Shao Weihua nodded, signaling Wang Zhanting to wear the staff with Wang Zhantian hurriedly, not wanting to linger in this eerie place for another moment. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly votes—your support is my greatest motivation.)
