The manual was crucial and undoubtedly well-hidden, but it would eventually be found, posing a constant threat to the Mei family.
Chu Dingjiang had anticipated the Mei family’s request, but Mei Zhengjing’s repeated use of “elder” reminded him of something An Jiu had once said. She had remarked that despite being about the same age as Hua Rongjian, he looked like Hua Rongjian’s uncle.
Sensing that this serious and aloof man seemed to be in a decent mood, Mei Zhengjing added, “If the elder has any tasks, as long as the Mei family can accomplish them, we won’t hesitate.”
“Do you know that the Mei family has a grudge against me?” Chu Dingjiang said quietly.
Mei Zhengjing’s heart sank. He hadn’t witnessed the incident at Baohua Gate, but Elder Zhi had likely sided with the crown prince. Beyond that, he couldn’t think of anyone else capable of offending the man before him. “Is the elder referring to Elder Zhi? He’s now a fool, living a fate worse than death.”
The once brilliant mind had suffered massive mental trauma, leaving him with less intelligence than a three-year-old child. Living was indeed more miserable than dying.
“Does he still enjoy archery?” Chu Dingjiang asked casually.
Some people are indeed exceptionally intelligent and talented. With a bit of cunning, they could manipulate others at will. But in Chu Dingjiang’s view, Elder Zhi wasn’t a strategist because he was too obsessed with archery. That kind of fanaticism could make him disregard everything else.
A qualified strategist shouldn’t be too obsessive or fanatical.
For Elder Zhi, the hardest thing to let go of wasn’t his intelligence, but archery.
As long as he could still touch a bow and arrow, he wasn’t entirely useless.
Mei Zhengjing understood Chu Dingjiang’s meaning but hesitated to respond. He wanted to keep Elder Zhi alive. Setting aside familial ties, Elder Zhi’s mental powers might have been destroyed, but his pure internal energy remained, which could still be very useful to the Mei family.
“Unless this person is destroyed, my hatred cannot be quelled,” Chu Dingjiang stood up. “If you haven’t made up your mind, don’t waste your breath.”
Mei Zhengjing steeled his heart. “This junior will hand him over to the elder.”
If Elder Zhi could be exchanged for the entire Mei family’s freedom, it would be worth it. Schemers are almost heartless. Elder Zhi had contributed to the Mei family but wasn’t close to its members. Although reluctant, as the family head, Mei Zhengjing had to weigh the pros and cons and make this heartless decision.
Backlit, Chu Dingjiang’s face appeared blurred and mysterious. His slightly curved lips seemed cold and cruel. “Even if your Mei family doesn’t agree, killing him would be effortless for me. Why would I need your consent?”
The three Mei family members’ expressions changed slightly.
Mei Tingzhu asked, “Do you mean you want us to kill him ourselves?”
Elder Zhi had devoted his life to the Mei family, apart from his obsession with archery. To end up being killed by Mei family members… All three felt Chu Dingjiang was extremely cruel.
However, Chu Dingjiang was far more ruthless than they imagined.
“Kill him?” Chu Dingjiang shook his head and tossed a small bottle to Mei Zhengjing. “Not only do I not intend to kill him, I plan to help him regain his memory. The price is his pair of hands.”
The medicine in the small bottle had been acquired at great expense, specifically for treating mental power trauma aftereffects. But An Jiu had lost her mental power entirely, let alone aftereffects, so this medicine naturally did not affect her. Chu Dingjiang was unwilling to recklessly give An Jiu medicine, only using various items beneficial to mental power recovery to nurture her. He had received news from Sui Yunzhu that Mo Sigui was on his way back. Only after a proper diagnosis could they administer targeted treatment.
“I’ve taken the ‘Konghe Secret Manual’ in the past few days. You have one month to exchange Elder Zhi’s hands for it,” Chu Dingjiang said.
Mei Zhengjing pressed his lips together in silence, almost crushing the porcelain bottle in his hand.
Mei Tingzhu asked, “If we don’t make the exchange, what do you intend to do with the manual?”
“I don’t want to threaten too overtly, but since you ask, I’ll tell you: good things never lack buyers,” Chu Dingjiang’s voice lingered, but his person had already vanished.
The room’s occupants were left feeling as if they had plunged into an icy abyss.