Chapter 948: Today is Different than in the Past (Part )

Times have changed and things and people are no longer the same.

It must be said that since Teng Sanshi reunited with Xiao Zhirou and her daughter, and learned that Yun Zhuiyue was his long-lost adopted son, he has become more confident in the martial arts world. Even when facing the "criticism" of Jin Jianwu, he can deal with it calmly and with ease.

If it were in the past, Teng Sanshi would never dare to compete with Jinjianwu openly.

In fact, it was not that Teng Sanshi was arrogant and deliberately opposed Jin Jianwu. It was because Liu Xunyi's biological father was Luo Tianjin, and Luo Tianjin and Jin Fuyu had been mortal enemies for many years. In the past, Liu Xunyi had repeatedly had conflicts with people from Jin Jianwu. Teng Sanshi took care of his grandson and had to draw a clear line with Jin Jianwu as soon as possible to avoid Liu Xunyi and him having a rift in the future.

Furthermore, although Luo Tianjin was sanctimonious and his crimes were unforgivable, he always felt guilty towards Teng Sanshi. For more than 20 years, the Renxian Palace was booming in the martial arts world, and the Northern Xian King was famous and powerful, but he never made any trouble for the Xiangxi Teng Clan.

What's more, even when Teng Sanshi mocked him in public, Luo Tianjin just kept his head down and kept silent, never saying a word.

In addition, Luo Tianjin rectified the name of Longxiang Mountain and Jueqing Valley, indirectly bringing them together as father and daughter, and father and son. He promoted Teng Sanshi to the deputy leader of the Central Plains martial arts world, and his status in the martial arts world surpassed the leaders of various factions, and he was on par with Qingfeng, the "master of martial arts".

All of the above are Luo Tianjin’s way of making up to the Teng people in western Hunan.

Today, Teng Sanshi's family is reunited, and Luo Tianjin has reaped the fruits of his own actions. Therefore, deep in Teng Sanshi's heart, his resentment towards Luo Tianjin has gradually faded.

Especially after he learned that his grandson and granddaughter were actually Luo Tianjin's biological flesh and blood, Teng Sanshi not only no longer hated Luo Tianjin, but instead felt an indescribable pity and regret for his tragic experience.

He was not sad about Luo Tianjin's life or death, but felt sorry for his grandson who lost his father's love.

If Luo Tianjin were alive, he might not be able to bring happiness to Xiao Zhirou and her son, but... at least he would not let his son fall into the embarrassing situation of being hated by everyone.

"Ms. Teng's words... Song is a little confused." After hesitating again and again, Song Yu, who was in a state of confusion, tried to argue, "Jinjianwu and the Xiangxi Teng tribe have always been friends who support each other. How can you say 'follow your lead'? Miss Teng's words... make the two of us feel extremely terrified and we cannot bear it."

"Young Master Song is known as the 'divine fortune teller' and is a very smart man." Teng Cang said with a half-smile, "Since he is a smart man, why does he have to pretend to be stupid? The head of my family has said something that hurts a lot, and everyone should say what they think, and no one should hide anything."

"This……"

"Well then!" Before Song Yu could hesitate, Leng Yiyi, who had been unable to bear it any longer, suddenly spoke up, "Since Chief Teng is straightforward, then we will no longer be reserved. Excuse me for being blunt, but most of the people that Chief Teng invited to the banquet were those who appeared in the Xianwang Mansion last year. In other words, these people have personally experienced the great changes in the Xianwang Mansion and witnessed the bad luck of the Northern Xianwang..."

"So what?" Teng Cang frowned, his tone becoming increasingly hostile. "At that time, no one from the Teng clan went to the Xianwang Mansion, and the death of Alliance Leader Luo had nothing to do with us."

"At first glance, it is true. But what's interesting is that not long ago, Chief Teng suddenly announced that he and Xiao Zhirou from Jueqing Valley were long-lost father and daughter, and rumors in the martial arts world... Xiao Zhirou and Luo Tianjin seemed..."

"What do you want to say?" Teng Cang's eyes flashed with coldness, and he said angrily, "Could it be that you suspect that the death of Alliance Leader Luo is related to the Xiangxi Teng Clan?"

"Elder Teng, don't be angry. We are just a little curious." Seeing that Leng Yiyi and Teng Cang were getting more and more tense, Song Yu hurriedly spoke up to smooth things over. "As everyone knows, Patriarch Teng has always disliked Luo Tianjin's character. He has denounced Luo Tianjin as a despicable hypocrite in front of my master more than once. But now... why are you so interested in his death?"

"After going around in circles, I finally spoke my mind. I guess this is the real purpose of your coming here, right?" Teng Sanshi snorted and laughed, and asked instead, "Who told you that I'm interested in Luo Tianjin's death?"

"If it wasn't because of Luo Tianjin, why did Patriarch Teng have so many secret meetings with Kunlun, Kongtong, and Tang Sect?" Song Yu rolled his eyes and said cunningly, "Patriarch Teng, please don't tell me... that everything is just a coincidence."

"A smart person is a smart person. He is indeed as good as a god in predicting things." Before Song Yu could ask more questions, Teng Sanshi answered absentmindedly, "Yes, it is a coincidence. Just like this day last year was the anniversary of Luo Tianjin's death, which was also a coincidence."

"This……"

Song Yu was speechless at Teng Sanshi's straightforward answer. He wanted to find out something strange in Teng Sanshi's explanation, but he didn't expect Teng Sanshi to be too lazy to cover it up and just fooled him with a lie that even a three-year-old child wouldn't believe.

"We treated each other with sincerity, but Chief Teng was just being evasive. It seems... the Xiangxi Teng tribe no longer intends to recognize Jin Jianwu as their friend?" Leng Yiyi did not have Song Yu's broad mind. She was furious at Teng Sanshi's contempt and asked in a deep voice, "Could it be that Chief Teng found his daughter and got close to his 'new friend' Jueqing Valley, so he forgot about his 'old friend'?"

"The Xiangxi Teng Clan is the Xiangxi Teng Clan. They never need to associate with anyone." Teng Cang refuted, "Zhirou is the master of Jueqing Valley, and she is also the eldest daughter of the Xiangxi Teng Clan. How can outsiders compare to the kinship and blood relationship between them?"

"Elder Teng means that... Jin Jianwu is an outsider?"

"Could it be that you are the 'wife'?" Teng Qin'er retorted sarcastically.

"you……"

"All right!"

Seeing the verbal battle getting more and more intense, Teng Sanshi could not help but frown and said to Teng Cang and Teng Qiner in a serious tone, "When someone asks a question, you respond with a reply. Is this the proper etiquette for entertaining guests?"

"Clan leader..."

"shut up!"

Teng Sanshi did not give Teng Cang and Teng Qin'er a chance to explain. Instead, he cast a secretive look at the resentful Song Yu and Leng Yiyi, and apologized with a fake smile: "I am sorry for not being able to discipline you."

"I dare not!" Song Yu seemed unwilling to give up, so he bit the bullet and showed weakness to Teng Sanshi, "My master has always admired the character of the Teng clan leader and often warned us to follow the example of our predecessors. To be honest, among the four major martial arts families, Jinjianwu attaches the most importance to the Xiangxi Teng clan. My master's sincere words are, 'Although our two families had some unpleasantness due to some misunderstandings at the martial arts conference, such a trivial matter will never affect our friendship of more than ten years. No matter what troubles the Teng clan encounters, no matter what the Teng clan leader has done... or what he wants to do, "Thank you for your kindness, Master Jinwu. I understand your intention and am grateful. However, everything is normal in the Teng Clan in Xiangxi, and there is no trouble." Teng Sanshi thought seriously, "I am getting older and older. I don't want fame and fortune in the few days left. I just want to enjoy the happiness of family life and live a few days of leisure without fighting with the world. In my spare time, I play chess, practice calligraphy, and go fishing... That's enough. I hope that Master Jinwu can help me."

"This……"

Looking at Teng Sanshi, who had lost his original form and hidden his ambition, and had returned to his original nature, Song Yu and Leng Yiyi could not help but look at each other, both of them feeling dissatisfied and hesitant, in a dilemma.

"The elder of the Teng clan is still strong and a giant in the martial arts world. How can he retreat so easily?" Seeing that Teng San was not interested, Song Yu was depressed but helpless. He sighed, "Well! No matter what the senior plans, my master will definitely support him."

"So good..."

Before he finished speaking, Teng Sanshi suddenly raised his hand and waved his arm, and another big fish broke out of the water, immediately attracting cheers from the Teng clan disciples.

"If you keep fishing like this, tonight's meal will have to be a 'hundred fish banquet'."

"The mandarin fish is delicious and tasty, and the hundred fish banquet is very nutritious."

"Ha ha……"

As Teng Cang and Teng Qin'er sang in unison, Teng Sanshi put up the bait again and immersed himself in a new round of fishing with great interest, as if he had completely forgotten the existence of Song Yu and Leng Yiyi.

At this moment, Song Yu and the other person stood there like two pieces of wood, standing there in a daze beside Baicui Lake. For a moment, it was not right to speak or not to speak. It was not right to leave or not to leave. They stared at each other, the scene was very awkward.

To put it nicely, Teng Sanshi did not regard them as outsiders. To put it bluntly, Teng Sanshi did not take them seriously at all.

Teng Sanshi and his friends were chatting and laughing, but they ignored Song Yu and Leng Yiyi. Just leaving them alone like this... It was so awkward.

"Chief Teng..."

Song Yu stopped Leng Yiyi who was about to speak but hesitated, and then bowed to Teng Sanshi and said goodbye: "Since Chief Teng rarely has half a day to spare, then... we will not disturb him any more."

"Tonight's 'Hundred Fish Banquet'..."

"Forgive us for being busy and not being able to enjoy it." Song Yu said with a wry smile, "If there is a chance... we would like to invite Chief Teng and everyone to taste the delicious food of Jingjiang."

"Alright!" Teng Sanshi nodded without any hesitation, "Since you have committed a crime, I will not force you to stay. Teng Cang, please see you off for me."

"As you command!" Teng Cang gladly accepted the order, "You two, please follow me."

"Chief Teng, I'm leaving now!"

"Have a safe trip, both of you. Sorry I can't see you off."

There was no point in talking to each other, so after a brief exchange of pleasantries, the upset Song Yu dragged the indignant Leng Yiyi and hurried away, following Teng Cang's footsteps.

However, when they were about to walk out of Baicui Lake, they saw two Teng clan disciples leading a black-faced man in his fifties with a strong build coming towards them.

The black-faced man had a solemn expression and a restrained gaze. In his hands he tightly held a finely carved sandalwood box that looked to be of great value.

The two sides met head-on. The two disciples and the black-faced man quickly stepped aside and bowed respectfully to Teng Cang.

Teng Cang walked without stopping, leading Song Yu and Leng Yiyi past them. As the two sides were strangers and each had their own concerns, although they met, no one paid attention.

"The gifts are ready. Please pass them on to Master Jinwu."

"We would like to thank you in advance on behalf of the owner."

"You two came so suddenly and left so hastily that you didn't even have time to drink a cup of tea. I really... failed to entertain you well. Forgive me! Forgive me!" Teng Cang pretended to be guilty. "The road to Jingjiang is rugged and the water is turbulent. Please take care of yourselves."

"Take care, Elder Teng!"

Now that things have come to this, what’s the point of being hypocritical?
At this moment, Song Yu and Leng Yiyi were both very upset, and neither wanted to say anything more. After saying goodbye perfunctorily, he led a dozen Jinjianwu disciples to fly away on horseback, and disappeared from Teng Cang's sight in the blink of an eye.

"Humph!"

After Song Yu and his party walked away, the smile on Teng Cang's face slowly faded, and his gentle eyes gradually turned into contempt. He snorted coldly and walked away.

……

(End of this chapter)