CHAPTER 963: CHAPTER 963: CLASH OF MASTERS

At this moment, Xiao Hongdao’s eyes were deep, yet the slight curve at his lips carried a tinge of delight, "It’s been years since I’ve seen such a clever child like you."

He glanced at the teapot, slightly raised his head, "Aren’t you afraid I’ve poisoned the tea?"

Li Qiao clicked her tongue, seemingly savoring the tea aroma, "You wouldn’t."

Xiao Hongdao raised an eyebrow, signaling her to continue.

Seeing this, Li Qiao glanced around, her gaze slowly sweeping through the surroundings, "There are four people behind the Buddha hall, no less than ten hiding in the bushes. There might be more elsewhere. You’ve set a trap all around, poisoning would be redundant."

"Li Qiao..." Xiao Hongdao shook his head ruefully, "If you weren’t Jing Yilan’s daughter, we wouldn’t have become enemies."

Li Qiao looked at the shattered teacup on the table, lifted her eyelids to meet his gaze, "No matter who I am, the outcome would be the same."

"Really?" At this moment, Xiao Hongdao leaned on the table and stood up, sighed deeply, "You’ve got great strategy, and your mind is sharp too, I hear you’re also Jiang Hande’s prized pupil."

A subtle gleam passed through Li Qiao’s eyes, disappearing in an instant.

She stood up, speaking unhurriedly, "I should be... quite a few people’s prized pupil."

"Young people shouldn’t be too conceited." Xiao Hongdao turned sideways, his smile slightly restrained, "You’ve secretly arranged protection for the South Sea Li Family, the Duan Family, and Renhe Laboratory, yet you forgot to protect your own teacher? Uncle Zhong the Ninth, Jiang Hande, and... the Border Slum Kiln, did you forget or are they just not important?"

Xiao Hongdao stared steadily at Li Qiao, "You claim to follow your father’s teachings, yet seem to forget to respect your teacher."

Li Qiao responded with silence, her dark deer-like eyes remained tranquil and unwavering.

Xiao Hongdao stood with hands behind his back, his gaze swept over the silent Li Qiao, "Child, anything you’d like to say to me?"

Li Qiao parted her lips, a trace of amusement appeared between her brows and eyes.

She didn’t reply but slowly turned away.

Xiao Hongdao squinted, at the same time, an unexpected figure appeared in his view.

"Old Xiao, taking away my child, did you ask me first?"

A deep voice, mingled with a smile, gradually entered his ears. At the end of the garden path, Shang Zonghai, dressed in a brown Tang suit, approached with hands behind his back.

When it comes to faith, Shang Zonghai, fondling Buddha Beads, seemed more convincing.

Two old acquaintances, both over fifty, reunited in a foreign land, an unexplainable tension in the atmosphere was palpable.

Xiao Hongdao stood still as a mountain, Shang Zonghai walked slowly.

At the instant their gazes met, even the air seemed to freeze.

Shang Zonghai walked to Li Qiao’s side, soothingly tapped her shoulder, "Girl, Shaoyan is behind, go find him."

Li Qiao glanced at Xiao Hongdao and then slightly curved her lips, "It’s alright, I’ll stay with you."

A hint of appreciation appeared in Shang Zonghai’s eyes, he leaned forward and whispered: "Aren’t you afraid?"

"You’re here, aren’t you?!" Li Qiao’s self-assured attitude made Shang Zonghai chuckle lightly, "Alright, then stay."

Li Qiao followed Shang Zonghai back to the round table. Even without careful observation, she could sense Xiao Hongdao’s shift in demeanor.

Shang Zonghai lowered his gaze to the teacup shattered in half, then casually picked up the teapot to sniff it.

Xiao Hongdao slowly closed his eyes, shoulders moved slightly, "Old Fox, no need for theatrics in front of me."

Shang Zonghai casually tossed the teapot onto the table, gazing at him with deep eyes, "You have restrained yourself quite a bit."

Xiao Hongdao turned his eyes, a thin cold smile formed at his lips, "Naturally, it doesn’t compare to you, even after all these years, you remain as hypocritical as ever."

Shang Zonghai removed Buddha Beads from his wrist and rubbed them in his palm, raised an eyebrow with calm indifference, "Old Xiao, there’s no point in idle talk between us. Let’s be candid, shall we?"

"What’s the point in being forthright?" Xiao Hongdao turned to face him, their heights roughly the same, the clash of aura silent yet intense, "You might as well let the young girl explain what she intends to do."

Master tacticians might not need real swords and spears.

Often, victory or defeat can be determined through conversation.

Li Qiao had known Shang Zonghai for a long time, rarely seeing his sharp-edged side.

It’s likely that the grudge runs deep, even feigning civility seems bothersome.

Shang Zonghai looked at Li Qiao with gentle eyes, his aura shifting in just a moment.

He smiled slightly, with indulgence in his tone, "My child does anything with her own reasons."

"But..." Shang Zonghai turned his head slowly, his tone suddenly changed, "You cannot harm her."

Xiao Hongdao walked back to the table and sat down, brushing off two broken teacups with his hand, his eyes filled with gloom, "I’ve acted against those you protect before, threats are meaningless."

As soon as the words fell, Yin Zhihong came out from behind the Buddha hall, carrying a tray with a new teapot and three teacups on it.

At this moment, Li Qiao calmly looked at Yin Zhihong, who noticed her gaze, momentarily dazed before quickly averting his eyes.

Xiao Hongdao picked up the teapot and shook it, "Things handled by the Supreme Poison Doctor should probably be replaced with new ones, wouldn’t you say, Junior Brother?"

Shang Zonghai curled his lips, casual steps forward to sit down, leaned back in the chair and mocked softly, "Even if it’s not something I handled, poisoning your legs wouldn’t be difficult."

In an instant, the cup in Xiao Hongdao’s hand cracked again.

This time, it was not intimidation but anger.

Indeed, Xiao Hongdao’s leg impairment was intricately linked to Shang Zonghai.

Shang Zonghai watched as cracks spread through the purple clay cup in his hand, laughed calmly, "What’s the matter? Did it remind you of painful memories?"