The words were out.
Ding Changshui's expression visibly stiffened.
But as the head of the Ding family and a Grandmaster realm expert, his reaction speed was naturally not slow.
He smiled heartily, the tension on his face disappearing, and said with a smile, "Young man, why don't I understand what you're saying?"
"You mean to say that I poisoned this tea?"
"We're drinking the same pot of tea. If I had poisoned it, wouldn't I also be poisoned?"
As he spoke, he patted his chest, indicating that he felt nothing.
In response, Chu Fan said nothing. He simply picked up his teacup and took small sips of the tea.
Seeing this, Ding Changshui chuckled and raised his teacup to taste it as well.
Beside them, Fu Piaoyao hesitated to speak.
Although she hadn't met Ding Changshui before, she had interacted with Ding Wuchang.
Like father, like son.
Fu Piaoyao knew Ding Wuchang's character very well, and by extension, Ding Changshui was not much better.
His son was killed, yet the father could still calmly converse with his son's killer. Fu Piaoyao thought only Ding Changshui could achieve this.
The more he acted like this, the more Fu Piaoyao suspected he was plotting something.
Therefore, she didn't dare to touch the teacup Ding Changshui placed in front of her, feeling that the tea was indeed poisoned.
However, Fu Piaoyao was unsure if Chu Fan had truly discovered the poison in the tea or if he was deliberately saying so to test Ding Changshui.
Given Ding Changshui's character, even if the tea was poisoned, he would never admit it.
As for claiming to have drunk tea from the same pot without any discomfort, such words were enough to fool ghosts.
If he had administered the poison, he would naturally have a way to ensure he wasn't poisoned himself.
To stall for time, Ding Changshui brought up various topics.
This included inquiries about Chu Fan's origins, but Chu Fan chose to ignore them. Ding Changshui didn't get angry and immediately changed the subject with a smile.
Time passed slowly like this.
After both pots of tea were finished.
Chu Fan suddenly stood up and asked Ding Changshui, "Patriarch Ding, I've drunk the tea with you and chatted with you. Haven't your helpers arrived yet?"
Ding Changshui was taken aback, and forced a smile as he asked, "Young man, am I not trustworthy enough for you?"
Chu Fan snorted coldly and shook his head, saying, "Why don't you take a look at yourself in a puddle of water? What right do you have to earn my trust?"
"You don't seriously think that by sitting here delaying time with you, I would trust you with a few words?"
"If that were the case, then you think too highly of yourself!"
With his words, the meaning was clear.
Ding Changshui also knew that the young man before him actually knew everything already.
Sitting down was just to play along with him.
The pretense was over.
The atmosphere in the room suddenly became awkward and tense.
Ding Changshui stood up and stared at Chu Fan, saying, "Young man, you're not old, but your courage is truly immense."
"Knowing what I'm plotting, yet daring to step into the trap, I admire you, Ding!"
Ding Changshui wasn't exaggerating; he truly admired Chu Fan, because he knew that if it were him, he wouldn't dare to be as overconfident as Chu Fan.
However, he was very glad that Chu Fan was so bold.
Otherwise, the plan would have been difficult to implement.
Whoosh...
A sharp whistling sound suddenly came from outside.
The signal sounded, and the helpers had arrived.
Ding Changshui's confidence instantly surged. He smiled maliciously and murmured triumphantly, "Young man, I admit you are not simple!"
"But I wonder if you've heard the saying, 'Old ginger is spicier.'"
"Since you dared to walk through the Ding family's gate today, don't even think about leaving alive."
Seeing that it was indeed a scheme, Fu Piaoyao became very nervous and worried.
Chu Fan smiled slightly and said, "If you want to keep me here, it depends on whether your Ding family has the ability!"
Whoosh whoosh...
Several sounds came from outside the door, and four figures in long robes, three men and one woman, leaped into the courtyard.
"The Four Vajras of the Longevity Sect!"
Fu Piaoyao exclaimed involuntarily upon seeing the four.
The Longevity Sect was slightly stronger than the Dao Sect, mainly because the Longevity Sect had five Grandmaster realm experts.
The Four Vajras were the pillars of the Longevity Sect's strength.
The four had been in contact for years, developing a close tacit understanding, and had also jointly created a combined attack technique.
It was rumored that when the four moved together, even if they were all only first-rank Grandmasters, they could contend with a third-rank Grandmaster on equal footing.
With his helpers arrived, Ding Changshui moved his feet and went to the doorway to stand with the Four Vajras.
Chu Fan turned and faced the five directly.
Ding Changshui chuckled, took out a porcelain bottle from his clothes, then poured a pill into his mouth and swallowed it.
"Young man, you weren't wrong earlier. The tea was indeed poisoned!"
"Now, as soon as you circulate your energy, your meridians will experience a stinging pain, and your strength will not flow smoothly!"
"Try it and see if it's true!"
Fu Piaoyao couldn't help but scold, "Ding Changshui, you are despicable and shameless!"
"Your entire family is too shameless!"
"Hmph!"
Ding Changshui's eyes widened, then narrowed as he looked at Fu Piaoyao and said, "You little bitch, I haven't settled the score with you for blinding my son's eye years ago, and now you've indirectly caused my son's death."
"Later, I will deal with you properly!"
"Let you know what the consequences of provoking my Ding family are!"
"Is it him?"
The Great Vajra suddenly spoke, clearly too lazy to listen to Ding Changshui's nonsense.
"It is him!"
Ding Changshui nodded and cautioned, "Brother Lu, don't be fooled by his youth; his strength is extraordinary. He easily repelled three Grandmasters who attacked simultaneously earlier!"
"Although I've added poison to the tea, affecting his energy flow, it's still best to be cautious!"
With his helpers having arrived, Ding Changshui's inner tension was not as strong as before.
However, seeing Chu Fan's composed demeanor from beginning to end gave him an inexplicable sense of unease.
The Great Vajra nodded and stepped forward, staring at Chu Fan.
Behind him, the Fourth Vajra, who had been watching Chu Fan, the only woman among the four, suddenly remembered why she felt a sense of familiarity the moment she saw Chu Fan, as if she had seen him somewhere before. She hurried to the Great Vajra's side.
"Brother, he seems to be the person we were researching a few days ago."
The fact that the Dao Sect was dismantled by a young man named Wuming had caused quite a stir.
As fellow forces on the mountain, the Longevity Sect had paid special attention to this matter, aiming to prevent similar situations from occurring within the Longevity Sect.
There were no clear photographs of Chu Fan's current disguised appearance; only a sketch drawn by a survivor of the Dao Sect based on descriptions.
As soon as she arrived here, the woman felt a sense of familiarity from Chu Fan's face.
Combined with Chu Fan's age, she was very certain that the young man who dismantled the Dao Sect was the person before her.
The reminder caused Ding Changshui and the others to tense up, their expressions showing vigilance.
"Are you Wuming?"
The Great Vajra narrowed his eyes, staring at Chu Fan, trying to confirm his identity.