Demon Mask Exposed

Crooked Nose?

Ling Ming was about to offer some details when Tian Cai snorted, "Are you saying everyone in Savant City is mocking my Grandfather? And, how is it that you know already, when Junior only found out a few hours before?"

Ling Ming stiffened.

Perhaps he over spoke?

Ling Ming replied, "Chief Li came back from the tavern earlier and it's the number one topic throughout Savant City. Young Zhao ...."

"Which tavern was it? Gray and Small Shadow, come out!" commanded Tian Cai.

Gray and black shadows quickly fleeted to Tian Cai's side and formed into the silhouettes of the two siblings.

"Chief Li frequents Swallow Tail Inn not too far from the Temple."

"Small Shadow, ask Gu Jin to prepare for a trip to the Temple. On the way, will stop at this Swallow Tail Inn."

Manager Wu came running in. Returning the card, he said, "Young Master Zhao, we have servants waiting to follow you with your order."

Tian Cai nodded and said, "Patriarch Ling, thank you for fulfilling the order so quickly. Unfortunately, this Young Master has business and cannot stay."

Turning about he said, "Elder Sister and Brother, Little Brother wants to know who's spreading rumors about his Grandfather!"

Gray and Small Shadow acknowledged Tian Cai's words. More importantly, they saw him stretch his elbows and crack his neck.

Gray Shadow said, "Little Brother, we'll make sure that everyone is armed well."

"Mhm, let's ripout some loose tongues," snorted Tian Cai.

Quickly, the trio left.

Upon hearing Tian Cai's words, Ling Ming'S eyes popped open. Whispering to Manager Wu, he said, "Tell Chief Li to avoid the taverns for a month. In fact, inform all our clan members."

As Tian Cai returned to his courtyard, the Ling Clan servants delivered his cases of Aged Fire Wine. Carefully, he spent the next hour reviewing the info on performing rituals. In the seventh scroll, he found what he really needed. Indeed, The Sun Divnity had a specific ritual for accepting wine.

Tian Cai scratched his head. Who ever heard of a ritual made specifically for offering wine? Moreover, one just for the Sun Divinity?

Standing up, Tian Cai handed a list to Small Shadow. "Send servants to the market to get all the items. Ask them to wait at the Temple, we'll be stopping at Swallow Tail Inn first."

"Mhm," replied Small Shadow. Accepting the list, he quickly ran out and immediately shouted orders.

"Sister Gray, we should go a little prepared and bring Sister Bai and Uncle."

Gray Shadow said, "Sister Bai left awhile ago. Earlier, she informed me she may be out for a day or two. Young Master is currently still on his knees in Old Matriarch's courtyard."

Tian Cai sighed, "What about the rest of the Shadows?"

"Little Brother, they went out with Matriarch."

"Even Lord Uncle?"

"Yes."

"So there's no one?"

"If you think Senior Gu Jin will not be enough, how about Fish 2? Isn't he a Martial King?"

Tian Cai slapped his thigh, "Sister, you're the best!!"

Gray Shadow nodded contently. Didn't everyone know how competent she was?

Gray Shadow replied, "Sister will go bring him over."

Small Shadow returned and immediately Tian Cai eyes brightened. "Brother, how's my look?"

Sheepishly, Small Shadow shrugged his shoulders. "Brother doesn't dare offer words. You may not know, but Big Sis chooses my clothes."

Tian Cai sighed disappointingly. Even Sister-in-law was gone, so who could he ask? Best to go just how he was.

Gray Shadow returned with Yueng He-ping. Quickly, he came over and cupped his hands. "Young Zhao, you asked this King over?"

Tian Kai nodded and said, "This Young Master would like to ask a small favor."

"If this King can do anything, feel free to ask," replied Yueng He-ping.

"Several of our elders are out and this Young Master has some business out side. Is it possible, to escort us on a small excursion? Before answering, we plan on stopping at Swallow Tail Inn."

Yueng He-ping eyes popped wide. The 5 year old Small Disaster King wants to go drinking? Wouldn't this be a city-wide calamity?

"Young Zhao...this? You want to go drinking?"

Understanding Yueng He-ping's conjecture, Gray Shadow snorted, "Youngest Master wants to investigate people mocking Old Master."

"Old Disaster King? Someone dares mock him? Humph! Young Zhao, this King will be happy to assist," said, Yueng He-ping.

Tian Cai slapped his thigh, "Good Good Good. Everyone, let's rollout."

Rollout?

Yueng He-ping trembled. Doesn't Fierce Leader say the same thing? Imagining Ling Fan brandishing her butterfly swords, the man sighed. Wasn't Fierce Leader mighty?

After a few breaths, Tian Cai's entourage met Gu Jin.

Everyone threw strange looks as Gu Jin. The man was wearing a new armor set.

With twitching eyebrows, Tian Cai asked, "Senior Gu, is that the new armor that's all the new rage?"

Yueng He-ping eyes constricted. Never would he be caught dead in such an armor.

Gu Jin stood proudly and replied, "Young Master, thanks to you this Gu was able to invest in this Legacy Protector Armor. All the elites are rushing to buy this high quality armor."

Legacy Protector Armor? Was he even a man, wearing such a thick chastity belt? Who was the fool that designed that?

Small Shadow turned to Gray Shadow. "Sister, a few years ago. Isn't that one of those chastity belts, Father wanted to purchase for you?"

Tian Cai rolled his eyes.

There goes his mouth again.

Gray's Shadow smacked Small Shadow on the back of head. "Can you just think before talking?"

Chastity belt? Gu Jin's eyes popped wide, "Does-Does it really look like one of those?"

To the man's horror, everyone nodded their heads in agreement.

"Senior Gu, how about you change into something else. Also, how do you know that armor really works? Has it ever been tested against our Matriarch's attack?" asked Tian Cai.

Gu Jin's face blackened.

As the man ran off to change, Tian Cai said, "We should investigate who's selling this ridiculous armor?"

In Zhao Jia's courtyard, Zhao Qiang and Long Mei Xing were kneeling before her. Zhao Jia's years tingled.

In fact, the Legacy Protector Armor was one of her secret ventures. That time she spent drinking with Old City Lord was very lucrative. He commented several times, how Zhao Wen's reputation caused every male in Savant City nightmares. Why not earn money on the side on her granddaughter's notoriety? Not only was she able to get him to buy her several cases of wine, she also got a great money making idea.

"Grandmother, please, Miss Long has clarified that there has been no relations between us?"

Zhao Jia grumbled, "Miss Long, even though you say this, how can you forgive the man who killed your husband?"

Long Mei Xing respectfully said, "Honorable Senior, a while ago Matriarch Zhao informed me that this Long should visit the Savant City Academy Library and read up on her deceased husband. Upon doing so, with great shame, this Long discovered the truth. To think that man hid his inhuman actions so well...to think he murdered so many?"

"Grandmother, it was after finding out did she ask directly why I killed Martial King Wei Shan. Therefore, I explained he was a subordinate of the Di Clan and committed those actions with their support. My involvement began when that man killed my friend's family."

"Senior, for the first time in her life, this one viewed Brother Zhao Qiang as an honorable and righteous man."

Pthooey!

Zhao Jia spat on the ground to her side. The spittle flared on contact.

Zhao Qiang chuckled, "Grandmother, you still have that habit?"

"Humph! How does it compare to Wen'er when she picks her nose?"

Long Mei Xing's ears twitched.

Zhao Wen picks her nose?

Zhao Jia said, "Miss Long, then recently you have come to harbor feelings for my grandson?"

Shyly, Long Mei Xing looked away, her face blushing. She nodded and said, "Brother Zhao has a manly heroic charm."

Zhao Jia's eyebrows curled. Manly heroic charm? Several memories of Zhao Qiang screaming for mercy inundated her mind.

Zhao Qiang was sporting a proud smile and was nodding with great pride.

"Fiancé, this King will protect you with his life."

Zhao Jia snorted, "This old lady still finds it hard to believe you can change your feelings. Let's wait a bit. You will immediately move into this seat's courtyard so that she can slowly get acquainted with you."

Zhao Qiang smiled brightly. Didn't this mean his Grandmother was halfway to agreeing?

"Grandson, now Grandmother needs you to be filial." Brandishing the Heavenly Punishing Stick, she asked, "Where is your Father?"

About an hour later, the doors to the Swallow Tail Inn were kicked open. Gu Jin and Yueng He-ping swarmed in with a contingent of Zhao Clan guards.

Tian Cai strode in with Gray and Small Shadows.

The patrons hissed.

Small Disaster King!!

"Move and you die," roared Gu Jin, his Martial King aura erupting out.

"Our Youngest Master want's to know, who's spreading lies about his Grandfather Zhao Chen," yelled Gray Shadow.

"Old Disaster King?"

"Which imbecile is talking about Old Disaster King...stand out!?"

"Eh, no one's been talking about him."

Tian Cai snorted, "Isn't he the number one topic right now?"

"Number One? The hottest topic is about Senior Demon Mask making babies with Crooked Nose Hu Jiao."

"Wait, are you saying Demon Mask is really Old Disaster King, Zhao Chen?"

Everyone exclaimed loudly in realization.

"So that's how it is!"

"No wonder so many guards were killed by him."

"Ah, weren't the guards still looking for him?"

"Zhao Chen and Hu Jiao!?"

Tian Cai's face blackened. It dawned on him, they had been gossiping about Demon Mask and Hu Jiao and not directly about his Grandfather.

Gray and Small Shadows faces were dejected as well. Snorting, Tian Cai said, "Kill them all!!"

Everyone's faces froze, the abrupt silence freezing the room cold.