Hades, the Urban Legend

Chapter 574: Chapter 575: Listening to the Master

Yan Buwen's words were serious but abrupt. Seeing Yang Chen remain silent, Yan continued, "Mr. Yang surely thinks my words are unsubstantiated, and one might wonder how I know that Old Tang was poisoned. But I can only say that I know because I know. And I am well aware that if a poison requires Princess Jian herself to detoxify, I would be the prime suspect."

"You're quite self-absorbed. Are you saying no one else could compel me to come and detoxify?" Jian said with a half-smile.

"Isn't it true?" Yan Buwen grinned evilly. "At least you would certainly suspect me. But to save you some trouble and avoid complications for myself, I came to inform you. While I am not a gentleman, I admit to what I do."

After these words, Yan Buwen didn't care whether Yang Chen and Jian believed him. He returned to cutting his raw steak, looking unfazed and confident.

Yang Chen stared at the unkempt man for a while, then silently signaled Jian with his eyes and headed downstairs. Jian, eager to leave, wrinkled her nose in distaste as she passed Yan's table—the smell of the rum was strong enough to make anyone nauseous, yet this man seemed to enjoy it as if it were nothing.

After settling the bill, Yang Chen took Jian back to the car and started driving. After a short while, he asked, "Are you hungry? You barely ate. Should we stop and get you some snacks?"

"I'm not hungry," Jian said, looking out the window. After a moment, she added, "Yang Chen, do you believe him?"

"Believe what?"

"Believe that he wasn't the one who poisoned Tang Zhechen. He is indeed the prime suspect, right? I may not know much about the family dynamics in Yanxia, but whoever invented that new toxin must have significant expertise in chemistry and biology. He is highly suspicious."

Yang Chen smiled, "I didn't say I believe him. He is indeed highly suspicious, and he may have done other things too."

Jian turned her head curiously, "Then why didn't you question him just now? I thought you believed him."

Yang Chen, one hand on the steering wheel and the other scratching his ear, said, "What should I ask him? Even if I did, would he tell the truth? Besides, I have no evidence, and he hasn't directly provoked me. Whether he is the culprit or not, we will find out in due time."

Jian rolled her eyes cutely, clearly frustrated with Yang Chen's nonchalant attitude.

Half an hour later, they returned to the sanatorium. As they got out of the car, they saw two familiar figures approaching from the other side of the parking lot.

Yang Chen looked closely and recognized the woman in a gray studio coat with a graceful figure and a neat appearance—it was Tang Wan, whom they hadn't seen in the morning. Beside her, with a somewhat frivolous smile, was her cousin Tang Huang, who had been contending with her for the family leadership.

These two were supposed to be at odds within the family, each holding significant power. But now, they looked like a harmonious pair of siblings walking towards the sanatorium.

Seeing Yang Chen and Jian, Tang Wan smiled softly, her beauty radiant and her demeanor refreshed, perhaps due to her grandfather's recovery.

"Out for a meal?" Tang Wan glanced between Yang Chen and Jian, her eyes holding a hint of something else.

"Yang Chen wanted to thank me," Jian replied first.

Tang Wan raised an eyebrow curiously, "Oh? What did he buy for Miss Jian?"

Jian pouted playfully and said, "He said that once Sister Tang gives him a thank-you gift, he'll pass it on to me."

This made Tang Huang laugh heartily, "Mr. Yang, you are truly generous. I, Tang, am humbled, haha..."

Yang Chen glanced sideways at Jian. It seemed that over the past few days, Jian and Tang Wan had gotten quite close, calling each other "sister." However, there was no need to spill his momentary slip-up right away.

Not wanting to bicker with Jian, Yang Chen instead asked, "Are you here to see Old Tang?"

Tang Wan smiled and nodded, "We just finished a board meeting. I ran into Tang Huang, who was also coming to visit Grandpa, so we came together."

"Mr. Yang, I underestimated you. It seems your abilities are indeed formidable, being able to cure my grandfather. I, Tang Huang, owe you a favor," Tang Huang extended his hand for a handshake.

Yang Chen, not minding Tang Huang's previous sarcasm, smiled and shook his hand, "It was my friend Jian who cured Old Tang."

"But without you, we wouldn't have been able to invite Miss Jian," Tang Huang said straightforwardly.

Yang Chen didn't say much more, but his opinion of Tang Huang changed slightly. Despite his frivolous demeanor, Tang Huang seemed genuinely grateful, showing a deep affection for Old Tang. Yang Chen could sense that Tang Huang's gratitude was sincere.

As they chatted, they walked back to Old Tang's courtyard. Just as they reached the gate, they were met by Ban Ruo, who, with a blank expression, whispered, "Old Tang is taking a nap."

With this, everyone decided not to disturb him.

Tang Huang said, "Since Grandpa is asleep, I'll leave for now and come back to visit him this evening. But, Big Sis, when do you plan to take Grandpa back to Yanjing? The family cannot be without a head for even a day. If this continues, the Yanjing base will be in chaos."

Tang Wan replied calmly, "Once Miss Jian determines the transmission method of this toxin, we can safely take Grandpa back to Yanjing. However, you know Yanjing better than I do. If Grandpa gets targeted by any schemers again, I won't let you off the hook." Her tone turned icy towards the end.

"Come on, Big Sis, I've already told you I haven't been in Yanjing for long. You insist on pushing the responsibility on me. Fine, if something happens to Grandpa again, I'll step down and let you be the head!" Tang Huang exclaimed, feigning exasperation.

"This isn't about being the head. It's about Grandpa's safety," Tang Wan said with dissatisfaction.

"Say what you will. I'll be back in Yanjing in a couple of days, waiting for your good news," Tang Huang sighed and left with his entourage.

After Tang Huang left, Jian stretched lazily and glanced between Yang Chen and Tang Wan, "I'll head back to the lab to continue my research. I'll try to confirm the toxin's transmission method as soon as possible. You two haven't seen each other in days, so I'll leave you to catch up."

Tang Wan blushed slightly at Jian's teasing. Despite having a daughter, she had never been in a proper romantic relationship, unlike Yang Chen, who seemed unaffected, his thick skin well-practiced.

After Jian left, Ban Ruo approached Yang Chen, bowing slightly and asking quietly, "Master, with Old Tang's condition improving, should I stay in Zhonghai or follow him to Yanjing?"

Hearing Ban Ruo suddenly call Yang Chen "Master" surprised Tang Wan. She wondered why this woman still regarded herself as a servant. Could this ripe, cherry-like Japanese woman be Yang Chen's "personal toy"?

Tang Wan frowned at the thought, feeling that this man was incredibly despicable for having so many women.

Unaware of Tang Wan's thoughts, Yang Chen asked, "Did Jian give you any instructions?"

Ban Ruo shook her head, "Miss Jian said to follow your orders this time."

Yang Chen understood in his heart that Jian handled things with a great sense of proportion. Although she would mobilize the forces at Yang Chen's disposal, she didn't want to overstep her boundaries. Panruo and Yaqi would ultimately be under Yang Chen's command, and she couldn't keep treating them as her own resources.

After some thought, Yang Chen said, "After this mission is over, you should return to Sakura. I will assign Haiying to protect Old Tang. There are many matters in Yaqi that require your attention; you can't stay in Yanxia indefinitely."

Upon hearing this, a hint of disappointment flashed in Panruo's eyes. In her view, becoming Yang Chen's woman would be the real assurance of her status, but Yang Chen had never harbored such thoughts towards her, leaving her quite helpless.

In fact, if she were to stand naked before Yang Chen, he might not be able to resist doing something with her. But the problem was that Yang Chen was already entangled in emotional issues, so he had no reason to get involved with a Sakura woman.

Tang Wan listened to their conversation, feeling a bit puzzled. The Tang family was primarily engaged in business, so terms like "Yaqi" and "Haiying" were unfamiliar to her. She only knew that this woman, who seemed to be Jian's assistant, must have an extraordinary background as well.

However, the fact that Yang Chen was discussing such topics in front of her clearly indicated that he didn't see her as an outsider, which made Tang Wan feel sweet and quite touched.

"Do you have time this afternoon?" Tang Wan asked softly after Panruo left.

Yang Chen had originally planned to visit the training base to see Cai Yan, but seeing Tang Wan looking at him with such tenderness made his heart race. He might have no thoughts about Panruo, but that didn't mean he had no feelings for Tang Wan.

While it was true that his cultivation had improved and, according to Jian, his brain issues were certainly cured, the problem was that his lack of resistance to women seemed unchanged.

Perhaps even Yang Chen himself was unclear whether his restless heart was naturally so tumultuous or influenced by divine light.

In any case, Yang Chen nodded directly and asked with a mischievous smile, "I have time. So, are you planning to give me a 'thank you gift'?"