Chapter 123 Using the True Mantra

Chapter 123: Activating the True Mantra

Upon receiving the instruction, Zhu Bin immediately promised to handle everything flawlessly.

Meanwhile, the bickering Jiang and Xie families finally noticed Hua Diao and Xie Tingsheng's return. Seeing the well-rested couple walking hand-in-hand, their eyes instantly gleamed with avarice.

These two looked as if the apocalypse had never happened—they must be hoarding plenty of good things at home.

So, they simultaneously ceased their squabble. The middle-aged, unkempt Xie Tingrong, with his scraggly beard, instantly plastered on a warm smile, revealing several yellowed teeth as he greeted, "Little brother, you're finally back! We didn't expect you to move here. Mom, Dad, and I searched everywhere for you. We couldn't reach you all these days during the apocalypse—we were worried sick! Come on, open your door and let us in. Mom and Dad walked so far, fearing monsters the whole way. They're exhausted and starving. Whip us up something tasty. It's late now, and it's not safe to go back. We'll just stay the night here."

Holy cow. This statement was truly shameless—not only demanding free food and drink but outright planning to squat there indefinitely.

Just like the insatiably greedy, thick-skinned scoundrels described in novels.

Behind him, the gaunt, somewhat mean-spirited elderly couple nodded in full agreement with their eldest son.

Before Xie Tingsheng and Hua Diao, the actual hosts, could say a word, Jiang's uncle exploded. Damn it, this family was even more shameless than him! They had only come to demand some benefits to take back, but this family wanted to simply stay and never leave? Unacceptable!

"No, you can't stay! This is my niece's home. What right do you have to crowd in here?"

Then he turned to Hua Diao, his voice aggressive, "Niece, I heard you sold my two supermarkets. That wasn't right—those were mine! Hand over the money you made from selling them."

Hua Diao raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "Uncle, you're the one being unreasonable. What do you mean 'your' supermarkets? One was clearly registered under my name, and the other was opened with my money. The authorities recognized both as mine to handle as I pleased. Claiming they were yours is simply illogical."

Her demeanor made it clear she had no intention of returning anything—not a single benefit.

The Jiang family immediately erupted in anger. Jiang's uncle, their spokesperson, glared furiously, about to retort, when suddenly a water-blue staff appeared in Hua Diao's hand. She then activated it, casting a True Mantra on both Jiang's uncle and Xie Tingrong.

Two dazzling white lights struck them. Everyone present saw it clearly, and the two families instinctively recoiled, fearing they might be caught in the crossfire.

Their subconscious reaction was remarkably genuine.

Hua Diao scoffed lightly. Truly, "every man for himself" in times of trouble—what a family.

Xie Tingsheng hadn't expected his wife to act so decisively, but he noticed that the two struck by the white light didn't seem to suffer any physical harm—they just looked dazed, their eyes vacant.

"What is this?" he asked, a little surprised.

"True Mantra. Those under its effect will answer any question truthfully."

Hua Diao deliberately spoke loudly enough for the curious onlookers peeking from the stairwell to hear clearly.

Originally, she had planned to simply have Zhu Bin escort them away and be done with it. But Xie Tingrong's audacity was beyond measure. If they drove them off now, they would surely return. Moreover, with their elderly and children, they could easily garner sympathy. It was better to expose their true colors now, so that even if they came to block the door again, she and Xie Tingsheng could justifiably use force to remove them.

Besides, she hadn't had a chance to use this True Mantra yet and didn't know how effective it was. Now was the perfect opportunity to test it.

Then she turned to Xie Tingrong and asked, "Why did your whole family come here, all together?"

Xie Tingrong, expressionless and with vacant eyes, replied, "To seize Xie Tingsheng's assets. That person said he's living very well, eating and drinking without a care. As his relatives, why should we not enjoy any benefits? As long as I bring Mom and Dad to live here, everything he has will become ours. Xie Tingsheng was always obedient and hardworking as a child, eager for Mom and Dad's attention. Now that I've brought them, he'll surely be grateful. If I play the victim a little, and Mom and Dad coax him, he'll definitely let us stay. Then we'll live the good life, and he'll work like a dog outside to support our family. And he has a beautiful wife—heh, I've had my eye on..."

Xie Tingsheng's face darkened. He pulled out a whip and lashed out, sending Xie Tingrong sprawling against the wall. Blood spurted from his mouth, and he crumpled to the ground like a dead dog.

"Ah—"

The Xie family, who had been about to intervene, froze. Xie Tingrong's haughty wife now cowered, clutching their two children in the corner, too terrified to approach. She stared at Xie Tingsheng with fear.

The elderly couple, however, truly loved their son. This time, they finally mustered the courage to rush over, heartbroken, and help Xie Tingrong up, glaring at Xie Tingsheng with angry condemnation. "How could you hit your elder brother? He's your elder brother!"

Xie Tingsheng's gaze was icy, as if looking at a corpse. "Oh, are you reminding me he's still alive and can scheme against me? Then I don't mind finishing him off. That way, I won't have an elder brother."

The old couple choked, instantly speechless.

Zhu Bin chuckled nearby. Glancing at the nosy onlookers peeking from the stairwell, he loudly declared, "Our Brother Sheng is incredibly powerful. That whip can shatter even monsters. The fact that he's still alive proves Brother Sheng showed immense mercy. So, Uncle and Aunt, you should be grateful."

The onlookers immediately nodded in understanding. So that was the case! Their eyes filled with newfound awe for Xie Tingsheng. If his whip could crush monsters, how strong must he be? And his brother only coughed up a mouthful of blood—clearly, he had been spared.

Hua Diao held back Xie Tingsheng's twitching hand, whispering, "Don't actually whip him to death. Otherwise, his parents, wife, and kids will have an excuse to cling to you."

As for him striking Xie Tingrong with a whip, Hua Diao saw no issue; in fact, she thought he deserved it. In the novel, the professor Xie Tingsheng had indeed fallen victim to this vile family, forced to support them while they bled him dry. If not for their insatiable greed, Xie Tingsheng would not have ended up without even a single life-saving item, meeting a tragic end in the monster horde.