Master, Spare My Life: A Disciple's Sweet Rebellion | Chapter 184 | The Secret of the Token | Novela.app

Inside a room within Casting Sword Villa, the Villa Master, Shen Wanxiong, lay weak upon his bed. He looked a far cry from the formidable, majestic figure others had known him to be. "Father." Shen Wanxiong coughed violently, straining to open his eyes. When he saw who had entered, he grew even more agitated. "You beast!" Even shouting took a visible toll on him. "You... you rebellious son! How have I ever wronged you..." "That is a question," the Eleventh Young Master replied, finally dropping the playful, cynical facade he wore before others. His voice was ice-cold, devoid of any emotion. "You can ask my mother when you see her in the afterlife." *Cough...* "You! Where are the others? What have you done to them?" Once a titan of his generation, he never could have imagined that his supposedly weak and sickly son would seize control of the entire villa in such a short time. He didn't even know what poison had been used on him; he was now a prisoner in his own home. Even now, he found it hard to believe. "The ones you care about are those harlots and their useless children, I assume?" Shen Ruoxuan let out a cold sneer. "Well, that depends entirely on your attitude." "It has been a long time, Master Shen," a voice called out. Shen Wanxiong looked up to see the others in the room: Bai Zhier, Lin Jianghong, Nan Muxue, and Chu Ruo. "Fine... good. Colluding with outsiders to betray your own! I suppose you'll just hand the villa over to them as well... *cough*..." Seeing his state, Lin Jianghong spoke up. "We only came today to ask you something..." "Get out! All of you, get out!" Shen Wanxiong was manic, consumed by a futile rage. He was powerless to do anything, and even his insults were breathless and weak, yet it was the only outlet he had left. Nan Muxue cut straight to the point. "What is the secret behind the Martial Arts Alliance Leader's Token?" "Haha... Hahaha!" The man broke into a crazed laugh. "Wonderful." He looked at his son. "I underestimated you, seeing as you managed to take the villa. But to join forces with outsiders to pry into the token's secret? Hahaha... Don't you know there are no permanent friends in the martial world?" His words were meant to sow discord, but Shen Ruoxuan remained unmoved. "Your way of thinking is obsolete. There is nothing wrong with a temporary alliance where everyone gets what they need. For all these years, you, Liu Songhe, and Nan Menghua have been fighting each other, each harboring your own schemes. And what is the result?" "So now you're the one lecturing me? Fine, fine! I, Shen Wanxiong, want to see just how far a disobedient fool like you can go. With the villa in your hands, it's doomed to ruin sooner or later!" "That is none of your concern. Now, either you reveal the secret of the token, or..." "What secret? I know nothing!" Lin Jianghong found the scene rather pitiful and tried to persuade him kindly. "Master Shen, we—" "Get out! Who do you think you are? A wet-behind-the-ears brat who actually thinks she’s the Alliance Leader? Bah!" "You!" Shen Ruoxuan simply stared at his father. "The entire villa is in my hands. Weren't you worried about those women and their children just a moment ago?" "You..." Shen Wanxiong’s expression shifted. "They are your kin!" "I have no kin! Just because my mother was a mere maid, because of one night of your drunken stupor, her entire life was ruined. They beat her, cursed her, bullied her, and called me a little bastard. They even tried to poison us both." He gave a self-deprecating laugh. "I really should thank them for teaching me how to survive in this villa." Nan Muxue spoke again, her voice devoid of emotion. "Master Shen, you should speak. There is no point in stalling. I still have a few Hundred Flowers Gu on hand..." "You wouldn't dare! If a hair on my family's head is harmed—" Shen Ruoxuan’s smile began to turn ghoulish. "Who should I start with? My eldest brother? I recall he was always your favorite. Or perhaps..." Shen Wanxiong clenched his fists in fury, but he knew he no longer had the leverage to negotiate. "I will speak. But you, you rebellious wretch, must promise not to touch them!" "Fine. I promise." "The Martial Arts Alliance Leader's Token..." Shen Wanxiong lay back, a look of despair in his eyes. He likely never expected to be cornered like this. "It hides a secret. A treasure." "A treasure?" everyone exclaimed in unison. Chu Ruo muttered to herself, "Why is it always like a novel or a TV show? Why is it always a treasure?" Ignoring the others, Nan Muxue pulled Chu Ruo down to sit beside her and even served her some tea. Shen Ruoxuan urged, "Continue." "It is a massive treasure. The wealth within is enough to rival a kingdom." Because he was weak, his speech was fragmented, often requiring him to pause for breath. Bai Zhier handed him a pill to soothe his qi. "The four great villas forged that token together many years ago. It can't just be about money, otherwise, it wouldn't be worth all this bloodshed." After swallowing the pill, Shen Wanxiong’s breathing eased, and his coughing subsided. He glanced at Bai Zhier. "It is said that the treasure also contains peerless martial arts manuals. Whoever obtains them will be invincible under heaven." Chu Ruo curled her lip. "Well, obviously. If it's real, that much money plus god-tier skills would definitely make someone number one." Nan Muxue asked, "What is the origin of this treasure?" "It was a long time ago, I know not which dynasty. When the empire was on the brink of collapse, the Emperor took his confidants and a group of righteous men to bury the treasure in a secret location. Inside are the rare treasures collected over countless years, as well as the ultimate techniques of great masters. That Emperor was kind-hearted but misplaced his trust in traitors, leading to the fall of his nation. The righteous men who supported him were, of course, slaughtered. The most powerful among them was the legendary Master Mo Luo. He placed his life's work alongside the treasure, hoping that one day the Emperor or his descendants could use these resources to restore the kingdom. The treasure was buried, and the founders of the four great villas were originally the Emperor's four loyal guards. But after so many years, as the secret passed from generation to generation, who knows how much of it is true? The token is the key to opening the treasure. As for where it is or if there is a map, I truly do not know. However," he looked at the group with a mocking glint, "if you want to defeat Nan Menghua, perhaps you should consider the martial arts hidden within." Bai Zhier remained skeptical. "Something so ethereal and uncertain, yet it's enough to make so many people fight to the death." "You don't understand. No one can resist the allure of such wealth, let alone the peerless martial arts..." "So," Chu Ruo considered his words, "if we find it, we'll have a chance to win?" Nan Muxue spoke to her gently. "Even if it is real, we have no clues. Where would we even begin to look? We would likely run into my mother long before we found it." Chu Ruo sighed. Nan Muxue stroked her hair with doting affection. "Don't worry. I am here." *Ahem...* Lin Jianghong looked at the two of them. "You two... there are other people here, you know." Hearing this, Nan Muxue simply pulled Chu Ruo up to leave. "In that case, we shall head back first." "Just like that...?" Bai Zhier smiled, but her smile was tinged with loneliness and envy. Later that day, the Master of the Heavenly Demon Palace, Tu Ao'zhi, finally arrived.