The Madman looked at Fugui, "Cut the crap, give me the Tianse Lixiang, and I'll leave."
Banlu sneered, "Do you think my Linglong Pavilion is just any place? You want it and we'll give it to you? Aren't you being too arrogant?"
The Madman unleashed his aura again! The storage cabinets trembled, and the four women stumbled backward, nearly losing their balance.
The Madman snorted, "A few cultivators in the early Great Zhou Heaven, daring to show off in front of me."
Just as the Madman was about to erupt in fury, a melodious voice echoed from the top of the pavilion, "Senior, please show mercy! Fugui and Banlu, why haven't you retreated?"
Fugui and Banlu immediately lowered their heads and retreated to the side, making way for the female pavilion master's arrival.
With a flash, a figure appeared. She was graceful and beautiful as a painting, adorned with a jade hairpin, wearing a red qipao with a phoenix tail, and exquisite jewelry that enhanced her radiant presence.
The four women bowed respectfully, "Pavilion Master!"
The female pavilion master glanced at the Madman and offered a customary greeting, "Greetings, Madman Senior. My name is Tie Li Lan Shan, the Pavilion Master of Linglong Pavilion. I hope you will forgive any impoliteness from my juniors."
The Madman withdrew his fist, which was about to strike, "Oh? You recognize me?"
Tie Li Lan Shan smiled warmly, "The Madman is renowned throughout the Northern Desert for his 'Bai Quan Shi' style. Who doesn't know you? This is not a place for guests, please come inside."
The Madman nodded, "Hmm, at least you've brought out someone decent." He then swaggered upstairs, pulling Ming Zhi Tian and the other three with him.
Banlu, stepping forward first, asked, "Pavilion Master, he..."
Tie Li Lan Shan waved her hand, "It's fine. Linglong Pavilion is well-connected; we've hosted all sorts of people. There's nothing to fear. You all go about your business."
The four women complied, "Yes!..."
Upon reaching the upper floor and entering the living room, Tie Li Lan Shan ordered a maid to prepare tea and then served it to the Madman and his companions.
The Madman said, "Don't bother with them. These are just medicinal puppets, unworthy of tea."
"You!..." Hai Mian Yi, having forgotten his pain, quickly covered his mouth.
Ming Zhi Tian cursed inwardly, "This old geezer is so stingy! He won't even give us a drop of water. I curse you to wail and whine #%&$¥&... a whole lot."
Tie Li Lan Shan thought to herself, "It's just as the rumors say. The Madman, Xie Yang, is an evil man who uses living people as medicinal puppets."
Seeing Tie Li Lan Shan wave her hand, the maid bowed and withdrew.
The Madman got straight to the point, "Let's not beat around the bush. I want a Tianse Lixiang. Hand it over."
Tie Li Lan Shan did not get angry; instead, she smiled, "Just a Tianse Lixiang, a trivial matter."
The Madman appeared surprised. Tie Li Lan Shan continued, "I do have a Tianse Lixiang. It's an herb cultivated by my late friend, the Sword Master Wuxin, and he gifted it to me in recent years. However..."
The Madman frowned, "However, what?"
Tie Li Lan Shan took a sip of tea and looked up, "Every item, regardless of its value, has its worth. My Tianse Lixiang is no exception, so you will need to exchange something of equivalent value."
The Madman laughed heartily, "You've said a lot, but it's all for naught! There's nothing I, the Madman, have ever wanted that I haven't gotten!"
Tie Li Lan Shan responded with an "Oh?", then slammed the table, "You scoundrel! My Linglong Pavilion has been in business for over a hundred years, passed down through thirteen generations, with a profound foundation. How dare you threaten me?"
The Madman met her gaze with fierce eyes, "So what if I do?"
Tie Li Lan Shan did not back down, meeting his gaze, "I fear you won't be able to leave this place!"
A chilling aura permeated the entire living room. Hearing the table slam, over a dozen guards arrived. The captain of the guards asked, "Pavilion Master, are you alright?"
Tie Li Lan Shan waved her hand, "I'm fine. You may withdraw."
"Yes!..."
Unexpectedly, the Madman did not grab Tie Li Lan Shan by the throat and threaten her into handing over the Tianse Lixiang. Instead, he became compliant:
"What do you want?"
Tie Li Lan Shan smiled slightly, "To a child, the Tianse Lixiang might not be as important as a candied hawthorn. But to you, Senior, its value is perhaps less than an ancient king's throne."