As Ye Tiancheng was hesitating, not long had passed before the young man sitting in the hall spoke again.
"Guests have such great presence, won't you truly come in and sit for a while? Must I personally invite you two in before you are willing to come in, sit down, and have a chat with me?"
This was clearly no longer a bluff. The young man's tone was obviously very certain. Someone was hiding outside, and he even knew the exact number.
Only then did Ye Tiancheng reluctantly admit that trespassing into the Great Fangzhu's mansion was indeed not a good decision. He remembered that if this young man was the legendary Great Fangzhu, the master of this space, then his control over this space should be akin to the control the Nuwa Stone had over illusions.
If that were the case, what use would it be for Ye Tiancheng and the little fox to hide?
No wonder there were no guards in the Great Fangzhu's mansion. The Great Fangzhu was the ruler of this space. With such abilities, why would he need guards?
The little fox tilted her head and looked at Ye Tiancheng, gently squeezing his hand. Ye Tiancheng snapped back to attention, his expression still grim. However, he didn't say anything else. At this point, he and the little fox had no way back. Since they likely couldn't escape anyway, they might as well go in and sit.
Thus, Ye Tiancheng took the little fox's hand, and the two of them entered the hall together.
The young man wearing the fox mask did not look up, sitting at the head of the table. He casually put down the teacup in his hand and gestured to the seat below and to his left. "Guests, please sit."
This attitude was already very polite. After all, uninvited guests are unwelcome guests. No being would genuinely welcome unexpected guests like Ye Tiancheng and the little fox.
Since they were already inside, Ye Tiancheng did not hesitate. He pulled the little fox along and they sat down in the seat to the lower left. Even at this moment, Ye Tiancheng did not let go of the little fox's hand.
Although it was said, "Since you are here, make yourself at home," Ye Tiancheng did not dare to relax his vigilance. Even though at this moment, the young man wearing the fox mask had not yet shown any malice.
But bad people don't write "I am a bad person" on their faces. Moreover, if Ye Tiancheng put himself in their shoes, if he had two such unwelcome guests at his home, it would be difficult not to act first, beat them up, and then capture them.
Furthermore, the one at the head of the table was very likely the Great Fangzhu mentioned by many evil spirits. His strength should not be underestimated. And although his appearance was that of a young man, who knew how many years he had lived?
Oh, no, to be more precise, no one could know how many years he had existed.
Living in such a place, with this strange market having been open for so many years, it would be obvious even with one's toes that the age of the young man in front of him had absolutely no relation to his appearance.
The young man's outward attitude appeared very gentle and kind, but no one knew what he was truly thinking. Ye Tiancheng could only see him smiling gently and ask himself and the little fox, "Would the two guests like a cup of tea? The tea in my mansion is quite good."
Ye Tiancheng glanced at the little fox. Receiving Ye Tiancheng's gaze, the little fox looked at the young man, then replied, "If it's the kind of tea you're holding, then a cup would be nice."
The young man smiled, waved his hand, and two cups of steaming tea appeared beside Ye Tiancheng and the little fox. The cups, made of white jade, contained emerald green tea leaves, with the tea leaves unfurling in the water. The tea emitted a curling fragrance.
The little fox picked up the teacup and took a sip, giving him face. Ye Tiancheng understood that the tea was fine and could be drunk.
Ye Tiancheng's tea was on the same table as the little fox's, so the little fox could see his tea, and naturally, she could see Ye Tiancheng's as well. Only after confirming that both their teas were fine did the little fox dare to directly pick up her teacup and drink.
"The Great Fangzhu's tea is indeed excellent. Thank you for your hospitality. My elder brother and I are fortunate to enjoy such good tea."
Ye Tiancheng also took a sip of the tea. It was indeed good tea. Even someone who knew nothing about tea would know that this tea must be very valuable and of extremely high quality.
The young man listened to the little fox's address to him and did not deny it. In this attitude, it was equivalent to tacit acknowledgment, admitting that he was the master of this strange market, the Great Fangzhu spoken of by the many evil spirits.
After the little fox drank the tea and spoke, the Great Fangzhu glanced at Ye Tiancheng and said, "Thank you to the two guests for gracing me with your presence and enjoying my tea."
After speaking, the Great Fangzhu looked at the little fox again and asked, "Are you two brothers?"
This time, it was Ye Tiancheng who answered, "Regarding this matter, it should not be a secret in the strange market. As the master of this place, does the Great Fangzhu not know anything at all?"
Ye Tiancheng's question caused the Great Fangzhu to pause slightly. After a long silence, he spoke again, "Oh, I see. I'm usually too lazy to pay attention to these things, so it's possible that my information is delayed."
"Then, may I ask the two guests, what is your purpose in coming to my mansion today? What brings you here?"
At this, Ye Tiancheng and the little fox instantly fell silent. They couldn't possibly tell the Great Fangzhu directly that they were here for the Fuxi Qin fragment.
Let alone whether the Great Fangzhu knew about the existence of the Fuxi Qin fragment. If he didn't know, it would be even more important not to let him know. If he did know, wouldn't directly stating it be asking for trouble? Because if the Great Fangzhu truly knew about this matter, then the Fuxi Qin fragment must be in his possession.
Ye Tiancheng's previous sensation was that the Fuxi Qin fragment was in this direction, in this place, but the Great Fangzhu also appeared here.
If this was the case, without confirmation, who knew whether Ye Tiancheng's sensation of a new Fuxi Qin fragment at this location was because the Fuxi Qin fragment was in this hall, or because the Fuxi Qin fragment was on this Great Fangzhu?
Ye Tiancheng and the little fox remained silent, but the Great Fangzhu did not intend to remain silent indefinitely.
Seeing that Ye Tiancheng and the little fox did not answer, he spoke himself, "Hmm? Is my question difficult for the two guests to answer? Or did I guess wrong, and the two guests are not here for the Fuxi Qin fragment?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the gazes of Ye Tiancheng and the little fox were all focused on him.
"Or, are the two guests here for my tea? I don't believe my tea has such great prestige."
Although the Great Fangzhu's face was hidden by the fox mask, and no one could see his expression, Ye Tiancheng and the little fox inexplicably felt that this "person" seemed wronged and spoke in a pitiful tone.
However, Ye Tiancheng and the little fox's hair stood on end, and they immediately entered a state of combat readiness.
But the Great Fangzhu said, "Oh dear, there's no need to react so strongly. Shouldn't adults be honest? And why be so defensive of me? If I minded you coming for the Fuxi Qin fragment, how could you have come and gone freely in my mansion as if entering and exiting an empty realm, and still be sitting here leisurely, drinking the tea I offered?"
Ye Tiancheng looked cautiously at the Great Fangzhu, contemplating how to answer. However, before he could speak, he heard the little fox next to him couldn't help but retort, "Before my elder brother and I arrived, were there actually people in this house?"
As soon as the words fell, the entire hall suddenly became silent, and the atmosphere became somewhat awkward.
After a long while, Ye Tiancheng actually heard the Great Fangzhu clear his throat twice and say, "My wording was careless. You are right."
Ye Tiancheng was somewhat speechless, shook his head slightly, and then squeezed the little fox's hand. Although the Great Fangzhu had no intention of making a move now, what if? Ye Tiancheng still hoped that the little fox could provoke the Great Fangzhu less, lest she be the first to be beaten, and he couldn't protect her in time.
Then, Ye Tiancheng spoke to the Great Fangzhu, "We are indeed here for the Fuxi Qin fragment. But what if? Does the Great Fangzhu intend to hand it over?"
Upon hearing Ye Tiancheng's question, the Great Fangzhu paused, then retorted, "If you don't ask me, how do you know it's not possible?"
This statement sounded a bit like toying with them. Whether he realized it or not, the Great Fangzhu quickly added, "Oh, to be precise, it's possible to give it to you, and it's also not possible to give it to you."
Because the little fox was by his side, as long as there was no fighting, it was a good thing. Ye Tiancheng didn't mind sitting here and arguing with this Great Fangzhu.
"What kind of explanation is that? So, are you willing to give it or not?"
The Great Fangzhu, with the appearance of a young man, seemed to behave and have the temperament of one. He muttered childishly, "Are you asking me, or am I asking you?"
His voice was very low, and the little fox couldn't hear it, but Ye Tiancheng, being a cultivator, could hear it clearly.
To be honest, the Great Fangzhu's attitude was already making Ye Tiancheng feel strange. From the beginning until now, he couldn't figure out what this Great Fangzhu was thinking or what his intentions were.
Afterward, Ye Tiancheng heard the Great Fangzhu say, "Saying it's possible to give it to you is naturally because something like the Fuxi Qin fragment has no great value to me."
"Saying it's not possible is because, even if I'm willing to give it to you for free, you still have conditions to take it away. Otherwise, even if I'm willing, you won't be able to get the Fuxi Qin fragment at all."
Ye Tiancheng couldn't tell whether the Great Fangzhu was telling the truth. Who knew how credible this Great Fangzhu was?
Therefore, Ye Tiancheng did not answer immediately. The Great Fangzhu, not receiving a response for a long time, became impatient. This impatience was fully reflected in his tone.
"I've already said so much, don't you have anything to say? You want this thing, not me. If you have nothing to say, and don't plan to take it, then get out! Don't stay here and offend my eyes!"
He had already become so obviously irritable. Fearing a confrontation, Ye Tiancheng said, "One must always think things through carefully. The Great Fangzhu speaks so frankly, it's hard not to feel that this is a trap. We should consider it carefully."
The Great Fangzhu then sneered, crossed his arms, and sat at the head of the table. No matter how long the young man's legs were, they couldn't reach the bottom of the high stool at the head of the table. His legs dangled in the air, swinging leisurely.
"Even if it's a trap, so what? Shouldn't you be like 'knowing the tiger is in the mountains, yet heading towards the mountains'? Even if you know it's a trap, will you not take the Fuxi Qin fragment?"