Ji Jian Yong died just like that. Ji Jian Gang, having retaken command of the Western Army, reclaimed what he had lost.
Ji Jian Gang was happy, and the Su family was even happier.
This effectively dismantled Fan Wen Tao's ambition to eliminate the Su family. Of the five Great Emperors, East, West, South, North, and Center, four had already been defeated.
Only one remained, the most powerful: the Central Emperor, Jiang Shen.
As long as Jiang Shen could be dealt with, Fan Wen Tao would be no threat.
Unlike the others, Jiang Shen was absolutely incapable of betraying Fan Wen Tao; he would even sacrifice his life for him.
A crucial factor in why the other four Great Emperors feared and obeyed Fan Wen Tao was the existence of Jiang Shen!
Jiang Shen was an orphan, bullied relentlessly from a young age.
Until the age of twelve, when he met Fan Wen Tao. It was Fan Wen Tao who adopted him, nurtured him, guided his growth step by step, and finally helped him become the most powerful Central Emperor.
Jiang Shen's strength alone was equivalent to that of three Great Emperors!
The Fan family's power stemmed primarily from the presence of the Central Emperor Jiang Shen behind them. As long as Jiang Shen remained, the Fan family would not fall.
How then to deal with such a powerful and eternally loyal Jiang Shen?
A new dilemma arose.
However, before that, Ji Jian Gang addressed the Su family members, saying, "Thank you for your assistance, which allowed me to regain my position as the Western Emperor. As a token of my gratitude, I am willing to make a trip for the Su family and speak with Fan Wen Tao to resolve the animosity between the Su and Fan families."
With Ji Jian Gang personally intervening, things would surely improve.
Thus, everyone bid Ji Jian Gang farewell.
...
The Fan family residence, the garden.
A small square table, two rattan chairs. Fan Wen Tao and Ji Jian Gang sat facing each other, one on each side.
The butler approached and poured them two cups of tea.
Fan Wen Tao looked at Ji Jian Gang, smiled, and shook his head. "Xiao Gang, you truly have a tough life. To have survived what happened three years ago is remarkable. For three years, you’ve been on the run, evading Ji Jian Yong's pursuit time and again. To finally return to Wudu, publicly shoot Ji Jian Yong, and reclaim what you lost... Xiao Gang, I underestimated you. Your capabilities far surpass Ji Jian Yong's."
Ji Jian Gang chuckled. "Thank you for the compliment. Fan Wen Tao, you were involved in the events of three years ago, weren't you?"
He addressed Fan Wen Tao by his name, without the honorific "Old Fan," indicating his deep anger and lingering resentment.
Fan Wen Tao did not hide anything. He stated directly, "Yes, the events of three years ago were indeed related to me. Not only related, but personally orchestrated by me. It was clear to everyone that you intended to break free from my control and establish yourself as king. I could not afford to lose the Western Army. If you had become king, other Great Emperors would have followed suit, and what authority would I, Fan Wen Tao, have left?"
Ji Jian Gang smiled. "Authority? Fan Wen Tao, you're old. You should retire. Why are you still acting like a peacock? Enough. I'm not here to settle old scores with you. I'm here to propose a deal."
A deal?
Was there any deal to be made between the two of them?
Fan Wen Tao chuckled. "We are sworn enemies, irreconcilably so. What kind of deal could there possibly be? Go on, tell me. I'm quite curious."
Ji Jian Gang stated directly, "This is not a business deal, but a deal of grievances. You spare the Su family, and I spare you. From this point forward, the animosity between you, me, and the Su family will be wiped clean. How about it?"
In essence, he was proposing to use the Su family's grievances to cancel out Ji Jian Gang's own.
If it could be achieved, it would be beneficial for all three parties, and also for Wudu. It was a win-win scenario.
The problem was, Fan Wen Tao would never agree!
After hearing the proposal, he burst into laughter. "Xiao Gang, Xiao Gang, you truly have a bold imagination. I spare the Su family, you spare me... hmm, it sounds quite fair. But the question is, do I need you to spare me?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a middle-aged man emerged from the shadows. He was Fan Wen Tao's adopted son, the Central Emperor—Jiang Shen!
Jiang Shen stood behind Fan Wen Tao, looking at Ji Jian Gang with cold eyes.
Fan Wen Tao sneered, "Xiao Gang, have you been in the rainforest for three years and lost your mind? Have you forgotten what I, Fan Wen Tao, rely on to control you Four Great Emperors? My adopted son, Jiang Shen, his military strength alone rivals that of three Great Emperors combined! With such power, you still speak of sparing me? That's hilarious. Moreover, in the past three years, your Western Army has been devastated by Ji Jian Yong. Among the five Great Emperors, you are the weakest!"
Of the Five Great Emperors, Ji Jian Gang was the weakest, and Jiang Shen was the strongest.
The weakest attempting to intimidate the strongest.
It was a joke!
Ji Jian Gang's expression turned grim. It seemed he would have difficulty succeeding in this matter for the Su family.
Fan Wen Tao stated directly, "Xiao Gang, my attention is currently focused on the Su family, so I cannot deal with you at the moment. You may leave now; I won't stop you. But remember this: once the Su family is eradicated, you, Ji Jian Gang, will be the first one I eliminate!"
Ruthless. Utterly ruthless.
Fan Wen Tao truly lived up to his reputation as a formidable figure. To openly threaten the Western Emperor, Ji Jian Gang felt immense pressure.
Taking a deep breath.
Ji Jian Gang stood up and said, "Then we shall see!"
With that, he turned and left.
No one stopped him.
After Ji Jian Gang departed, Jiang Shen couldn't help but ask, "Godfather, why did you let that bastard go? Wouldn't it have been easier to eliminate him right here?"
Fan Wen Tao waved his hand. "No. If we had killed Ji Jian Gang here, the Western Army would undoubtedly launch a suicidal attack on the Fan family."
Jiang Shen snorted. "What are you afraid of? I can handle the Western Army!"
Fan Wen Tao continued, "If it were merely the Western Army, you could handle it with ease. The problem is, the remaining three Great Emperors, though ostensibly having left Wudu, have been secretly monitoring the Su and Fan families. If you were to engage in battle with the Western Army, their stance is uncertain. What if they, along with the Su and Wu families, unite against us? Then my Fan family would be surrounded and annihilated."
He paused.
He continued, "The priority now is to destroy the Su family quickly! Firstly, eliminating an enemy will free up my hands for the future conflict with Ji Jian Gang; secondly, the feud between myself and the Su family has dragged on for too long, and the Fan family's authority is waning. You must quickly deal with the Su family and restore the Fan family's dignity."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Shen nodded. "Alright, I will take action tonight and eliminate the Su family! Actually, Godfather, if you had entrusted the task of eliminating the Su family to me from the beginning, we wouldn't have ended up in this predicament."
Alas...
Fan Wen Tao sighed. "It was my oversight. I never imagined that a mere Su family could cause such a stir."