Chapter 46: Invitation or Abduction

**

"Um, Little Ailian, it's like this. Our boss wants to invite you to the city for a visit. Since we don't know you, and your father is not willing to introduce you to us, we had to come here in person."

"You set a trap for my father just to meet me? Are you trying to get to know my master?" Tang Ailian rolled her eyes.

"Erm..." Eagle Nose glanced at the white-bearded old man again, but the old man didn't give him any signal. He hesitated, seemingly unsure of how to respond.

However, seeing Eagle Eyes seek approval from the white-bearded old man twice, Tang Ailian realized that this white-bearded old man was the mastermind behind this scheme. Perhaps even her father didn't know.

Based on her father's behavior at the market last year, he held this white-bearded old man in high regard. It was unexpected that someone her father respected would plot against him.

"Just state your purpose; I don't like beating around the bush," Tang Ailian addressed the white-bearded old man directly.

Tang Shuisheng looked surprised at the white-bearded old man, whose face displayed a bitter smile. He knew that this little girl had seen through him.

Indeed, she was the disciple of a hidden expert. While Tang Ailian appeared to be a five-year-old, she was only two and a half years old.

The white-bearded old man spoke frankly, "Young friend, here's the situation. I have an old friend, a good and upright person. He only had a son when he reached middle age, and that son is now nineteen. However, his son suddenly fell ill this year. Despite seeing many doctors and spending a lot of money, his condition only worsened. He's on the brink of death."

"My old friend is desperate and would do anything to save his son. Although I have some knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine, I couldn't help. Recently, I met Zhang Jixiong, the man you saved, and realized that his life should have ended earlier, but he was saved by a benefactor – you. So..."

Tang Ailian completed his sentence in her mind: "So, you're here to manipulate my father."

Tang Ailian wasn't pleased. She looked at the white-bearded man and said, "If you want me to save someone, you could have just asked me directly. Why did you set up my father like this?"

The white-bearded old man, however, denied this accusation. "Young friend, I didn't set up your father. He offended a shady figure from Xitan himself, who wanted to disable his hands. They lured him into this situation. Your father is not very clever and easily fell into their trap."

"In the past, I had only a few interactions with your father due to some common interests. But recently, I've come to appreciate his character, and I thought we could become friends. I originally tried to introduce you to my master when I met him. However, these two debt collectors were sent by that Xitan person, and I saw they wanted to harm your father. So, I admit, I used your father to block them and bring him here. If it weren't for me, your father's hands would have been crippled already."

Tang Ailian looked at the white-bearded man thoughtfully. "So, you did save my father?"

"It was a favor I did for you, young friend. But your father was not our target. He fell into the trap himself, and I only intervened to help him," the white-bearded man explained.

Tang Ailian then asked, "Do you still want my father to help introduce you to my master?"

The real reason for their visit was to kidnap her, wasn't it? If she couldn't save the person they wanted, they would keep her here and wait for her "master" to arrive.

The white-bearded man lowered his eyes, concealing his emotions. "Young friend, you are indeed extraordinary."

He admitted it.

Was this an invitation or an abduction?

Tang Ailian was a little annoyed. "If I'm going to help, I'll need a high consultation fee."

The white-bearded man smiled. "Money won't be an issue once you save my old friend's son."

Tang Ailian then turned her gaze to Song Da, who was her father's creditor.

Song Da quickly assured her, "Lao Bai has the final say in our organization."

"Alright, give me my father's IOU," Tang Ailian demanded. She needed to clear her father's gambling debt first.

The white-bearded man didn't hesitate and ordered his companion to hand over Tang Shuisheng's IOU.

Tang Ailian approached her father with the IOU in hand. "Dad, I'm going with Lao Bai. I'll take care of today's matter for you. But you must promise me not to gamble anymore. There's no one in this world who becomes rich through gambling; they only end up in debt."

Although Tang Shuisheng was aware of Tang Ailian's previous feats, such as saving Zhang Jixiong and the entire village, he had never heard of her ability to heal.

Tang Ailian raised an eyebrow. "Do you have any other solutions, Dad?"

Though Tang Shuisheng had a history of gambling, he was willing to consider her words. He couldn't let his two-and-a-half-year-old niece risk her life. "Ailian, if I gamble again, I won't be a man. But, Ailian, are you sure you want to go with them? Can you really heal people?"

Tang Ailian glanced at her father. "Dad, do you have any other options?"

Tang Shuisheng gritted his teeth and finally straightened his posture. "Let them disable my hands. I can't let you take risks."

Tang Ailian breathed a sigh of relief. "Don't worry, Dad. I have life-saving elixirs given to me by my master. As long as the person has some life left, I can save them. Besides, I have my master with me, so no one would dare harm me. Even if my master isn't here, I have a backup plan. Don't worry, and go explain to Mom and Grandma when you get back home."

This was primarily intended for the ears of the white-bearded man and his group. It was the truth; she had psychic powers and was at Postnatal Stage Four, making her resilient. Furthermore, she had her medicine well, making her difficult to harm.

Tang Shuisheng, upon hearing his niece's words, felt a sense of relief. His daughter's master was truly extraordinary. 

Turning around to face the white-bearded man, Tang Ailian said, "Let's go!"

Observing his niece walk out of his house, with the escort of the white-bearded man and his companions, Tang Shuisheng clenched his fists. His knuckles turned white, but his feet remained planted in place.

The young man with a gentle demeanor drove the car, while Eagle Eyes sat in the passenger seat. Tang Ailian and the white-bearded man occupied the back seat. The car left the village, heading towards the market. After reaching the market, the car stopped briefly, and then it continued its journey,

 moving westward instead of towards the city to the south.

Tang Ailian remained silent throughout the journey.

The white-bearded man, observing her composure, was impressed. After all, she was just a child; how could she hide her emotions so well? Was she genuinely fearless, or did she have a hidden strength?

After a while, the car pulled off the road and into a mountainous area. An hour later, they reached their destination.

Tang Ailian couldn't see anything, as her eyes were covered. She tried to use her psychic powers to see through the blindfold, but it was futile.

The car veered onto a mountain road and continued for another hour until they arrived at their final destination.

Upon seeing her surroundings, Tang Ailian's face finally revealed some astonishment. Unbeknownst to her, this was a new factory location, possibly a mine, just a two-hour drive from her hometown.

Seeing the surroundings, she couldn't help but feel her heart racing. This place was a great spot for cultivation.

To her surprise, just two hours away from home, there was a hidden paradise. It had been transformed into a secret base by the authorities.

In an instant, Tang Ailian decided that she would come here to cultivate in the future.

(End of this chapter)