Chapter 434: Dog thief, you're courting death!

After thinking for a long time, Lü Tu was deciding what gift to give Wang Ping'an when a thought struck him; he had just taken the gift out of his storage ring, about to hand it to Liu Dongzhu, when Dai Zhishang interrupted and spoke first.

"Lü Qianhu, if you're preparing a life-saving treasure for this child, I advise you not to give it to him!"

"What do you mean by that?"

Lü Tu frowned and said, "This child is so young; besides preparing a life‑saving treasure for him, what other treasure could you give him? Are you suggesting I prepare something like your cultivation method for him?"

"Lü Qianhu, have you noticed this child's neck?"

Dai Zhishang reminded him.

"Neck?"

Lü Tu glanced unintentionally; seeing Liu Dongzhu holding Wang Ping'an, he noticed the child's neck covered with one thing after another, a flash of inspiration crossed his mind, and he exclaimed in surprise.

"Young Master Dai, do you mean that everything hanging on this child's neck are life‑saving treasures?"

Just now.

When Liu Dongzhu handed it to him, as he carefully examined Wang Ping'an, he had already noticed the pouches hanging all over Wang Ping'an's neck, but at that time he was all noticed by Wang Ping'an.

He realized that Wang Ping'an might possibly be an acquired sword body, and perhaps also an elementary spirit body, with spiritual qi swirling around him and slowly seeping into Wang Ping'an's body.

That is why he clearly knew Wang Ping'an was Wang Ruhai's son; if he took Wang Ping'an as a disciple, he would not only offend Wang Ruhai, but also offend the Prime Minister's mansion behind Wang Ruhai.

This was still one of the reasons he wanted to take Wang Ping'an as a disciple!

It wasn't that he was reckless and disregarded the Prime Minister's mansion; it was that Wang Ping'an's value was worth offending the Prime Minister's mansion.

At that time, he was wholly preoccupied with the thought of taking Wang Ping'an as a disciple and offending the Prime Minister's mansion, leaving no spare attention to notice the pouches covering Wang Ping'an's neck.

Now, reminded again by Dai Zhishang, Lü Tu examined carefully and discovered that the pouches covering Wang Ping'an's neck were each filled with a life‑saving treasure.

No wonder Dai Zhishang objected to his giving Wang Ping'an a life‑saving treasure as a gift!

Dai Zhishang nodded and said, "Lü Qianhu, to be frank, the pouches hanging on this child's neck are each a life‑saving treasure, so you don't lack this one; if you want to give this child a gift, I advise you to simply change it to something else!"

"Life‑saving treasure?"

Upon hearing Dai Zhishang's words, Lü Tu had not yet reacted, but both Wei Yuan and Tang Anzhi immediately raised their heads to notice the pouches on Wang Ping'an's neck, a flash of greed crossing their eyes.

Unfortunately.

Wei Yuan, being a son of a Confucian family, studied Confucian writings; he had only heard of cultivation methods and treasures, and did not really understand them.

Moreover, the life‑saving treasures on Wang Ping'an's neck are wrapped in pouches; he has no way, nor the ability, to see through the pouches to the treasures inside.

On the other hand, Tang Anzhi furtively employed his Dharma Eye to spy.

When Tang Anzhi saw the jade talismans inside the pouches hanging on Wang Ping'an's neck, he didn't pay much attention, until he saw a straw man; the greed in his eyes could hardly be concealed.

He never expected that the life‑saving treasure he had painstakingly obtained—a substitute straw man—would be casually hung around the neck of this newborn child; if Wang Ruhai had not yet severed ties, he could barely understand it…

No.

If the relationship had not yet been severed, Wang Ruhai would have no way to ingratiate himself with the Prime Minister's mansion; given the preciousness of the substitute straw man, even if Wang Ruhai were the newly crowned third‑place laureate, he might not necessarily obtain one.

Not to mention giving it to this newborn child of his.

"Young Master Dai, Young Master Dai, I'm not saying this to you, but as a scholar you should know that carrying a jade brings guilt; don't you understand that?"

Tang Anzhi secretly snorted, not bothering to wonder where the substitute straw man on Wang Ping'an's neck came from; myriad thoughts rose in his mind, and a flash of killing intent crossed his eyes.

Murder and robbery!

He had never done it before, but if necessary, he could.

Moreover.

Killing Wang Ping'an would cause no trouble!

Wang Ruhai had already divorced Liu Dongzhu; even if this child were his biological son, Wang Ruhai would not acknowledge him.

Even if he wanted to acknowledge him—the Prime Minister's daughter would not allow it; he would behead Wang Ping'an, take the corpse, and seek out the Prime Minister's daughter.

He might even be able to use the Prime Minister's daughter to ingratiate himself with the Prime Minister's mansion!

Go to the Prime Minister's mansion to cultivate!

Moreover, he could obtain another substitute straw man life‑saving treasure—truly a case of killing two birds with one stone!

"Imperial Attendant Tang, you're staring so intently at the pouches on this child's neck; surely you're not harboring improper thoughts about the child's treasures, intending to commit murder and robbery, are you?"

In this novel you have arrived.

A cold laugh suddenly rang out, not only startling Tang Anzhi from his myriad thoughts but also drawing the gazes of everyone in the hall, who all turned to look at Tang Anzhi with varied expressions.

Tang Anzhi's face changed drastically; he angrily looked at Yu Die and said in a hostile tone:

"Officer Yu, what are you saying? What do you mean by my having improper thoughts, preparing to commit murder and robbery? I, after all, am the former Immortal Official of Qingyang County, and previously counted as a court official—how could I possibly break the law knowing it?"

He silently cursed Yu Die for not being a thing, for exposing his petty thoughts, and also silently blamed himself for being careless.

Just moments ago he had barely escaped with his life, yet now he dared to be careless, resulting in Yu Die seeing through his petty thoughts.

He dare not admit that he intended to commit murder and robbery.

Ordinarily, let alone killing a child, even wiping out a household would cause no ripple after a little preparation, but the Wang family is different.

The difference is not that their family produced a qilin child, but that he could never imagine the Wang family owing Dai Zhishang a life‑saving debt, and that this newborn child of the Wang family would actually catch Lü Tu's eye.

He used to be the Immortal Official of Qingyang County, had frequent dealings with the Demon‑Suppressing Office, and compared to Wei Yuan, he clearly understood Lü Tu's battle record.

With his meager abilities, if he didn't resort to lowly tactics and clashed head‑on with Lü Tu, a single strike from Lü Tu would likely cost him his life.

If he truly dared to harm the Wang family's child, neither Dai Zhishang nor Lü Tu would let him off.

Lü Tu unconsciously glanced at Tang Anzhi and then at Yu Die.

Although Yu Die had some disagreements with Lü Tu, Wang Ping'an is innocent; even though she has no kinship with him, she cannot stand by, knowing Wang Ping'an might well suffer disaster at Tang Anzhi's hands, and so she reminded him without doing anything else:

"Lü Qianhu, if you want to know whether what I'm saying is true or false, you'd better first check what life‑saving treasures are in this child's pouches; I believe you'll then understand whether our Imperial Attendant Tang harbors improper thoughts!"

(End of chapter)