CHAPTER 282: CHAPTER 282 HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED EXACTLY_1

I think I understand...

Through this sparring match, Su Xuan suddenly had a revelation. The iron staff seemed to possess a strange, repulsive magnetic force capable of deflecting an opponent’s weapon. The greater the force behind the opponent’s strike, the stronger the staff’s repulsive force became, until it shattered the weapon entirely.

He also had a theory, though he couldn’t be certain. He suspected the iron staff might also possess a magical ability to weaken an opponent’s weapon, rendering it fragile. This was a theory he would need to verify later.

"I... I’ve lost!"

After being revived by his companions, Du Zilong slowly regained consciousness. He looked at Su Xuan, his defeat total and heartfelt. He didn’t think Su Xuan’s iron staff was particularly formidable. Instead, he believed Su Xuan’s control over the forces of Tai Chi had reached a terrifying level, allowing him to destroy his Tai Chi sword and knock him on the head in the blink of an eye.

"M-Master Su," the lovely junior sister, Ji Xiaoxuan, said, looking at Su Xuan with admiration. "You’ve won. Please state your terms."

This was their agreement before the spar: the victor would have the right to speak.

Du Zilong’s cousin, Du Yuanzheng, opened his mouth to say something, but Ji Xiaoxuan spoke first, forcing him to hold his tongue. Judging by his expression, he seemed to have strong objections to the duel’s outcome.

"I have no conditions," Su Xuan shrugged nonchalantly. "Just stop troubling our Old Liu in the future, and mind your own business. That’s all."

"Fine!" Ji Xiaoxuan breathed a sigh of relief. This was the outcome she had hoped for and the best possible result.

Next, the group helped Du Zilong to his feet to leave. They needed to get him to a doctor; the blow from the staff was no light tap, and the bleeding wouldn’t stop.

"You can’t leave yet!"

Suddenly, a small voice blocked the path of the group from Du’s Tai Chi. "You kicked down Brother Su’s door and knocked out Grandpa Liu’s tooth. You have to pay compensation!"

Shi Yazi stood there with a kitchen cleaver, preventing the group from leaving. He shot a quick wink at Su Xuan. Su Xuan was too embarrassed to bring it up, but a child certainly could!

Su Xuan gave Shi Yazi a discreet thumbs-up. *What a clever boy!*

"You little brat, you’ve got a death wish!"

Du Yuanzheng, who had been seething this whole time, finally erupted. He lunged forward to grab Shi Yazi by the neck, but he never expected the child to be so formidable.

The moment his hand shot out, Shi Yazi moved. He ducked under Du Yuanzheng’s arm and slipped right behind him. Du Yuanzheng immediately twisted his waist, reaching back to grab the boy, only to freeze in shock.

He missed Shi Yazi and grabbed something else instead. The little girl, who had been clutching her slender waist, had approached at some point, holding up a green snake. That was what he had grabbed.

PFFT!

The snake opened its mouth and sank its fangs into his hand, leaving two small puncture wounds.

He hastily flung the snake aside and tried to suck the venom from the wounds, when his heart suddenly leaped into his throat.

Shi Yazi had placed the cleaver against his neck.

The two young siblings had coordinated flawlessly, leaving everyone from Du’s Tai Chi utterly shocked.

"Master Su, please, about this..." Cold sweat beaded on Du Yuanzheng’s forehead as he looked to Su Xuan for help.

"Why would you attack a child?" Su Xuan said, deliberately putting on a stern face. "This is out of my hands."

"Pay up!"

"Give us the money!"

The siblings shouted in unison.

"Oh dear, Yuanzheng, you were indeed in the wrong this time," Du Zilong said, clutching his head as he tried to smooth things over. "Hurry and apologize to the two children... Hmm?!"

As he spoke, Du Zilong suddenly noticed Du Yuanzheng’s mouth was turning black. White froth was dribbling from the corners, and his legs were trembling uncontrollably—obvious signs of poisoning. That snake was venomous!

The next second, Du Yuanzheng’s eyes rolled back, and he collapsed to the ground.

But Shi Yazi’s cleaver remained at his throat, a clear sign that they weren’t finished until they were paid.

"Master Su, how much compensation do we owe you?" Du Zilong asked, turning to Su Xuan with a mournful expression.

He understood now; there was no way they were walking out of Su Xuan’s home tonight without paying up. Fearing Su Xuan might demand millions, he added pitifully, "We can’t afford too much. We’re not very wealthy..."

"Du Zilong, just give them one or two hundred thousand. That should be enough to satisfy the children. Then you all should hurry to the hospital," Butler Liu said, stepping in to mediate.

He was feeling immensely satisfied at that moment. He had initially thought they would be at a disadvantage tonight, but to his surprise, they had been gaining the upper hand the entire time.

"Okay, okay!" Du Zilong turned to the siblings. "We’re from the deep mountains, and money is hard to come by. How about one hundred thousand?"

"One hundred and fifty thousand!" Shi Yazi said expressionlessly. "And that’s because we see you’re from the mountains, too."

"Alright, alright!"

Seeing Du Yuanzheng’s condition worsening, Du Zilong hurriedly took out his phone and transferred the money to Su Xuan. Not daring to linger a moment longer, he led his group out of Su Xuan’s mansion.

"We never should have come!"

As they left, Du Zilong glanced back at the gate to Su Xuan’s home, his eyes filled with apprehension. This visit had brought him nothing but trouble. Not only did Su Xuan knock him on the head, but his cousin was also poisoned by two children. He had a bellyful of grievances with no one to tell.

They quickly found a nearby hospital and went to see a doctor.

But they failed to notice two figures quietly trailing them from behind...

"Master, thank you so much!"

After the people from Du’s Tai Chi had gone, Butler Liu suddenly gripped Su Xuan’s hand, his face filled with gratitude. After tonight’s events, he fully realized that Su Xuan truly considered him family and had defended him with genuine sincerity.

"Old Liu, stop with the formalities," Su Xuan said with a grin. "How many of those pheasants did you bring back from your hometown?"

"Two!" Butler Liu replied.

"Can you stew the other one tomorrow? That was delicious; it really hit the spot!"

"Of course, of course!" Butler Liu nodded eagerly, his heart brimming with warmth.

"Here, take this money." Su Xuan casually transferred the one hundred and fifty thousand from Du Zilong to Butler Liu. "Go get your tooth fixed tomorrow, and take the kids out for some nice food."

"Grandpa Liu, I want strawberries!"

"I want barbecue!"

The two siblings chimed in, crowding around him.

"Alright, alright! You can have whatever you want to eat!"

The courtyard was instantly filled with joyful laughter.

Later that night, after the children were asleep, Su Xuan called Butler Liu into his room. He had something to ask him.

"Old Liu, tell me, how old are you really?" Su Xuan asked, his tone serious. "Tell me the truth."

He still couldn’t let go of it. A few days ago, in the courtyard, he had seen a shadowy figure that looked exactly like Butler Liu...