# 439
Chapter 439 – A Good Deal
Baili Pangpang’s figure flickered across the Taiji diagram like a ghost. Beneath the Zhu Bajie mask his eyes were calm.
“Li Fire.”
He murmured, and at the south-east corner of the huge diagram the trigram “Li” slowly materialized.
Whoosh—!
Fierce flames erupted in front of him. With a flick of his fingers the fire split into a hundred blazing meteors that shot straight toward Baili Jing, who stood at the edge of the diagram.
Baili Jing gripped a long spear, its tip shining gold. Without hesitation he charged into the rain of fire, thrusting repeatedly. Golden pillars of light obliterated every flame mid-air.
“Zhen Thunder.”
Baili Pangpang spoke again; the trigram “Zhen” appeared in the south-west.
Crack—!!
Lightning surged above the clouds. A thick, savage bolt tore through the sky, shot through the hole in the roof, and slammed toward Baili Jing on the Taiji diagram.
The instant it struck, the wooden scabbard on Baili Jing’s back emitted a black gleam and swallowed the lightning whole.
Baili Jing sneered, pulled the scabbard free, aimed its mouth at Baili Pangpang and swept it lightly.
The same fierce lightning burst out again, now a shining thunder-sword that pierced toward Baili Pangpang’s chest.
Baili Pangpang narrowed his eyes. The wooden ruler in his right hand flashed out, meeting the thunder-sword. Crackling arcs danced through the air then vanished beneath the ruler’s edge.
“[Yuan-Swallowing Scabbard]…” he said quietly. “I’d heard of it, but this is my first look. So any energy attack is useless.”
He waved his hand. Four of the five forbidden artifacts floating behind him were tossed aside; the precious bottle in his left hand was set on the ground. All that remained were a tattered cloak, the wooden ruler, and the slowly rotating halos behind him.
The cloak shimmered and he became a shadow streaking through the air, arriving in front of Baili Jing in an eyeblink.
Baili Jing snorted and raised his spear—
“Heaven-Earth Reversal.”
Baili Pangpang pointed; the Qian and Kun trigrams swapped places.
Universal Disarmament!
The golden spear and wooden scabbard both shuddered, on the verge of flying away. On the high platform Baili Xin frowned, forcing them down with his mental power—but that instant of delay cost Baili Jing his best chance to strike.
Panicked at Baili Pangpang’s sudden closeness, Baili Jing tried to swing the long spear, forgetting its length was a fatal disadvantage at such range.
High above, Baili Xin’s brows locked together. He shook his head in disappointment.
“Fool.”
The wooden ruler flashed, striking the spear shaft and knocking it wide.
Baili Jing, now wide open, groped for the scabbard—too slow.
Baili Pangpang spun, driving an elbow into his jaw. Beneath the jade-green armor the blow carried the force of a speeding car.
Bang—!!
Baili Jing flew more than ten meters, slammed into a pillar. Organs felt shattered; he crawled, mouth dripping blood and broken teeth, face twisted beyond recognition.
Wracked with agony he tried to rise, limbs like jelly, writhing like a worm.
Baili Pangpang flickered forward and kicked him in the chest, sending him skidding back. The spear flew from his grip; his body crashed beneath the platform, chest caved in.
“Ugh… cough…” He curled up, whimpering.
Baili Xin watched his son, weapon lost, disappointment thick in his eyes, face darkening.
“Father, Father…” Baili Jing clawed at the platform, blood-soaked. “He—he cheated, it’s not fair… Give me another artifact, a stronger one! Lend me [Requiem]! I’ll kill him, I swear! One more chance—”
Baili Xin stared down at the pleading figure, cold and silent, then lifted his gaze to Baili Pangpang approaching slowly.
“I misjudged,” he said flatly. “You’re worth more than he ever was.”
Baili Pangpang stopped below the platform, tilted his mask, and gave a contemptuous snort.
Baili Xin went on as if he hadn’t heard. “Your Forbidden Ruins has no precedent. From what you’ve shown, it ranks in the top forty of ultra-high-risk types—perhaps even King-level. Without the Baili name, your potential alone would land you in a special squad, a Night Watch priority.”
“So?” Baili Pangpang asked.
“You’ve proven you deserve the investment more than this waste.” Baili Xin’s voice was steady. “Let’s make a deal.”
“Father, Father!” The crippled Baili Jing cried out in sudden terror. “You can’t deal with this trash—I’m your real son—”
“Silence!” Baili Xin kicked him aside.
“A deal?” Baili Pangpang asked calmly. “I’m listening.”
“Come back.” Light gleamed in Baili Xin’s eyes. “Return to the Baili family, resume your place as my son. The name Baili Tuming is yours; the Baili Group is yours; every artifact can be yours. I turned your records into his—I can reverse them. From today you are my true heir. Everything here is erased. You rejoin the fifth reserve team as young master; the birthday banquet restarts, and before everyone I proclaim you successor. To sweeten it: five hundred million to your squad, plus one treasure from my collection. I know you hate business—no matter, I’ll handle it. You simply serve in Night Watch, rise high, and one day favor the family. A very… good deal, don’t you think?”