Honey, you didn’t really drugged me, did you?

Within White Tiger Hall,

Peng Fu looked at Peng Shizhong and said, "Old Master, today's events were too rash, treating the Old Master in such a way, I fear he harbors resentment in his heart."

"Cough cough cough... He, he harbors resentment? Why shouldn't I divide Second Brother's foundation among them, doesn't he know that? How did Second Brother die, and does he dare say it has nothing to do with him? Cough cough..."

"I won't give him a single part, I just want to tell him that I know everything he has done. If I wanted to investigate, he couldn't run away, cough cough cough..."

"Now he even covets Second Brother's foundation? No, not the slightest bit!"

Upon hearing this, Peng Fu said, "Old Master, about Second Master's matter, the participation of the Old Master is mere speculation."

Peng Shizhong continued to cough, "Cough cough... Speculation, cough cough... I know him too well, since he was a child, he liked to scheme. I thought he would change as he grew, but he even schemes against his own brothers. I want to teach him a lesson, cough cough..."

"Yes, yes, Old Master, drink some ginseng soup, you can't afford to get angry with your health."

Peng Shizhong said, "I don't wish to be angry either, but when have they ever given me peace of mind?"

Saying so, Peng Shizhong chuckled bitterly, immediately followed by taking a sip of ginseng soup. Then, turning his head to Peng Fu, he said, "Sometimes I really want to stop caring about everything, to rest well. The affairs of Jianghu, let the younger generation handle them."

Peng Fu replied, "It's not a bad idea."

Peng Shizhong asked, "But who can take on such a great responsibility? Do you think Fifth Brother is up to it?"

Peng Fu responded, "Fifth Master has the means and the ability, but his foundation is still not solid enough; he needs more polishing over time."

"But it's also a good opportunity to see Fifth Master's capabilities. Let's leave it to him for these days, and you, Old Master, should rest well. Oh, and in seven days, Miss Huadie will be performing a hall show at Spring Breeze Theater; perhaps it could lighten your spirits."

"Huadie? Yes, that would be good. It's been a long while since I've seen her."

As Peng Shizhong spoke, a smile appeared on his face.

Peng Shizhong didn't like listening to operas, but he did enjoy watching Huadie perform, and he never hesitated to offer a fortune whenever she took the stage.

The reason was simple, Huadie bore a striking resemblance to someone from his past.

His Junior Sister.

Because of that incident, he had reported Nan Batian, leading to Nan Batian's punishment by the Old Guild Leader with three cuts and six holes for violating gang rules.

It was too much for the junior sister at the time because the incident had arisen due to her.

Nan Batian had caused such a major disaster for her. Thus, the junior sister took her own life, committing suicide in the bloom of her youth.

And because of the junior sister's suicide, when the master executed the three cuts and six holes on Nan Batian, he did it with personal feelings, which allowed Nan Batian to survive.

Because of this, his relationship with Nan Batian had completely broken down, and they were enemies ever since.

The three of them used to be as close as siblings.

And he had been secretly in love with his Junior Sister.

Because of that incident, Peng Shizhong lived with guilt all his life and never married or had children. It was a form of self-punishment.

Then, just six months ago, he accidentally went to the Spring Breeze Theater for a social visit and saw Huadie being scolded by the main actors backstage.

He took another look and to his shock, he thought he saw his Junior Sister. When the Master had scolded her in the past, she looked just like that.

And this Huadie truly resembled his Junior Sister to an uncanny degree.

Since then, Peng Shizhong, who had no interest in operas, began to follow them and lavishly supported this Miss Huadie.

From an unknown bit player, Peng Shizhong single-handedly promoted her to the top-ranking female role in Spring Breeze Theater.

A true star.

"Hm, you make the arrangements, prepare some gold beans for me to take when I see her."

Peng Fu said, "Yes."

In this era, the way audiences supported actors was straightforward, other than bringing a crowd, it was to tip profusely. But in this age, tipping wasn't about sending rockets but rather throwing silver or gold onto the stage.

And Peng Shizhong would always scatter those gold beans generously in support of Miss Huadie.

...

Slap!

In the secret chamber of Feng Xuan Mansion, Feng Xuan smashed a stele with his palm, seething, "Old thief, you have pushed me too far!"

Standing behind him, Fa Cai said, "My Lord, please calm your anger."

Feng Xuan retorted, "How can I calm down when my twenty years of loyalty are trumped by just a few months of Chen Jiusi's? What is the meaning of this, what? What am I to him!"

"When Second Brother was around, he favored him. Now that Chen Jiusi is here, he favors him instead. He has never seen me as his adoptive son!"

"Master, speak carefully,"

Fa Cai cautioned.

"Speak carefully? Am I not speaking the truth?"

Feng Xuan raged on, followed by another forceful smash that broke another stele.

If Chen Jie was here, he'd be astonished to find that Feng Xuan was using the renowned Stone Breaking Hand technique.

It should be known, Peng Shizhong never passed on the Stone Breaking Hand to him.

"Heh heh... Turns out what he said was right, all this talk about deep father-son bonds, it's all lies. He would rather pass the Stone Breaking Hand to Chen Jiusi than to me. He never saw me as his son; I was just a tool!"

"I am his tool!"

Feng Xuan roared in a fit of madness, after letting out his rage.

Then, Feng Xuan lay on his back facing the sky, with madness on his face he laughed, "Not giving it to me, huh, hehe... if he won't give it, I'll just take it. If he won't teach me the Stone Breaking Hand, others will. If White Tiger Hall won't give it to me, others will help me take it. Peng Shizhong, from today on, we are done! Until death do us part... until death do us part!"

"Master, Master,"

Fa Cai was terrified, hearing these words.

Feng Xuan continued, "Tonight, go to Luogu Lane for me. There's a shoemaker there, tell him: 'Sui Yang usurped the throne; thus, he rose to the Nine-Five position. I wish to follow his example.'"