Chapter 80: Purgatory

After the people from North China had left, only Lu Ci and Wang Ai remained in the spacious guest room.

At this moment, Lu Ci could no longer suppress the fury boiling within him; it erupted in full force. He spun around abruptly, his palm sweeping with a gust of wind as he slammed it down hard on the carved wooden table behind him.

A crisp crack rang out—the table was shattered into pieces by the sheer force of his palm.

First, he had been cowed by Ye Yan, then covertly threatened by Xu Si. When had he, Lu Ci, one of the Ten Elders and infamous as the Mad Dog, ever been so easily bullied?

Was he now someone anyone could trample on?

After smashing the table, Lu Ci’s gloomy expression eased a little, but Wang Ai, seizing the moment, began to stoke the flames.

“Old Lu, you saw it yourself. That whelp Ye Yan is outrageously arrogant. He dares treat the two of us this way today—what about tomorrow, or the day after?”

“If this continues, with that brat’s ruthless nature, it’s only a matter of time before the Wang and Lu families end up destroyed by his hand.”

Seeing how enraged Lu Ci was, Wang Ai poured oil on the fire, exaggerating Ye Yan’s actions to an extreme, hoping to provoke even deeper anger and draw Lu Ci to his side.

“Old Wang, if you have something to say, say it plainly. All this beating around the bush is pointless and fake.”

They had known each other for years. Lu Ci was well aware of Wang Ai’s habit of buttering people up for his own ends. He could clearly see that Wang Ai’s current maneuver was meant to draw the Lu family into alliance with the Wang family, so that together, they might stand against Ye Yan.

For a single family, Ye Yan might prove too much to handle. But he was curious to see what kind of devious scheme the old fox Wang Ai was brewing.

Wang Ai was not the least bit embarrassed to have his intentions exposed. They were both old foxes—who among them could claim to be less cunning?

Besides, he was long past the age of being thin-skinned, so he didn’t care in the slightest.

Seeing Lu Ci had taken the bait, Wang Ai grinned slyly, a trace of cunning in his smile.

“Ye Yan is strong, yes, but only within this country. What if we bring someone in from abroad?”

“As long as we’re willing to pay the price, we’re sure to find someone capable of dealing with Ye Yan. Old Lu, when that day comes, will our two families still have to live under these shadows?”

Ye Yan’s existence had long been a thorn in Wang Ai’s heart. As long as he wasn’t dealt with, Wang Ai could never sleep soundly.

Ye Yan had to die.

But Lu Ci frowned. Though he hated to admit it, Ye Yan’s strength had already surpassed his by several levels.

Within the domestic world of the gifted, aside from the Old Celestial Master and that Tiger, Lu Ci could think of no one who could rival Ye Yan’s level—not even Mu You’s Little Inn.

What unsettled Lu Ci most was Ye Yan’s youth. Unlike their own generation, already on the path to decline, Ye Yan had vast room for growth. Left unchecked, who could say if Ye Yan wouldn’t become the next Old Celestial Master—perhaps even one unbound by worldly constraints? The thought was terrifying.

Wang Ai’s persuasion had clearly tempted Lu Ci. But instead of answering immediately, he probed, “So, where do you plan to find such experts? Behemoth? Emerald Council? Or… the Second Heaven Dojo?”

“Besides, most of the top-ranked individuals on the list are so tightly watched that it’s unrealistic to bypass the Company and smuggle them into the country unnoticed.”

The organizations Lu Ci mentioned were all top-tier foreign powers. Some of their experts ranked among the very best in the world of the gifted.

Behemoth’s Apostle of Lust was third on the list. The Emerald Council’s Eye of the Stars, seventh. The Second Heaven Dojo’s Young Swordmaster, Miyamoto Gozo—successor to Miyamoto Musashi—ninth.

Each was a peerless force, capable of defeating, even killing Ye Yan.

If they could bring such people in, perhaps Ye Yan could be eliminated.

But the problem was, these world-class experts were notoriously difficult to reach. Such figures were under constant scrutiny; wherever they went, they caused a stir. Smuggling them into the country in secret was all but impossible.

“It’s true, sneaking in famous experts past the Company isn’t easy. But have you forgotten that there are powerful ones out there who draw far less attention?”

“You mean… Inferno?”

Wang Ai hadn’t laid it out explicitly, but the sly smile on his wrinkled face made Lu Ci instantly understand his meaning.

“That’s right,” Wang Ai replied, his smile full of implication.

Lu Ci was genuinely startled. “Are you insane? You actually want to bring those maniacs from Inferno into the country? Have you forgotten the tragedy that happened twenty years ago—?”

“Haha, of course I haven’t forgotten that disaster. But… do I have any other choice?”

“I, Wang Ai, or rather, my entire family has been driven to the brink by that damned whelp. As long as he lives, the Wangs will know no peace!”

“If we’re doomed either way, why shouldn’t I take the gamble?”

Wang Ai’s expression grew twisted, a mad glint in his eyes. “Besides, what’s so bad about Inferno?”

“Madness—this is madness. You’re truly insane.”

Lu Ci’s nickname as the Mad Dog was known far and wide.

Yet now, in front of Wang Ai, he felt like the only sane man, while the other was the real mad dog—a beast cornered and desperate.

Lu Ci hastened to dissuade him, unwilling to see Wang Ai commit such a reckless act for the sake of personal vendetta.

“Old Wang, you must calm down. The moment you entangle with Inferno, there’s no way back.”

“Do I have a way back now? Judging by the way that little bastard pressed us today, it’s clear he wants my family dead. Do you really think the Company could stop him if he decides to act in the shadows?”

“Old Lu, I consider you a friend. That’s why I’m telling you all this today. So give me a straight answer—are you in or not?”

There was a vicious glint in Wang Ai’s eyes. Lu Ci sighed, gazing at him long and hard, before finally giving a helpless answer: “You can count me in.”