Chapter 132: Eighth in the World

"You crippled him?" Gou Yuniang’s eyes widened. She wasn't a fool; she understood exactly what Tang Long meant by "crippled."

Tang Long grinned at her without offering an explanation. There was nothing to explain, and it wasn't his fault—the other party had threatened him first. He had simply acted preemptively; it would be foolish to sit around waiting for them to come back and seek revenge tomorrow.

"Do you know martial arts?" Gou Yuniang asked curiously. She had witnessed Tang Long’s actions with her own eyes, and the trouble had started before the Niu family members had even made it very far.

Tang Long changed the subject with a laugh: "If the Niu family comes to ask, just say you don't know anything. Let them investigate the cause themselves!"

Gou Yuniang hesitated, her expression full of worry. "Will there be any trouble? What if the Niu family calls the police?"

"Call the police? Let them," Tang Long said with a devil-may-care smile. "Who saw me lay a hand on him?" Besides, the kid would at most lose his ability to live independently; he wasn't going to die.

Gou Yuniang blinked at him, her look clearly suggesting, *I saw it!*

After watching the Niu family leave, Gou Yuniang asked softly, "Why are you still forbidding me from carving that piece of violet jade for the Niu family three years from now?"

Tang Long smiled. "In this world, nothing good comes from being overly eager. Right now, they are the ones begging us, not the other way around."

Gou Yuniang hesitated, head bowed, and muttered, "But what if I need that violet jade when I reach a breakthrough in my carving skills three years from now?"

Tang Long froze for a moment, then looked at her with a wry smile. After a long pause, he said, "Why didn't you say so earlier?"

"You never asked me to!" A faint smile played on Gou Yuniang’s lips; she seemed quite happy.

Tang Long tapped her on the head and laughed, "Still daring to talk back? Fine, we’ll deal with things three years from now when the time comes. Even without the Niu family’s violet jade, we can always find other materials."

"You don't want me to agree to the Niu family's request—is there another reason behind it?" Gou Yuniang asked, ducking her head slightly.

Tang Long chuckled. "You aren't too slow, are you? Why have the Niu family kept coming back, insisting that you be the one to carve that violet jade? Is there really no carving master in the country better than you?" He paused, and without letting her answer, continued, "Put it another way: the Niu family built their fortune on jade and still runs a jade business. Do you mean to tell me they don't have their own masters?"

Gou Yuniang pondered for a moment. "They do. The elder of the Niu family, Master Niu Yixin, is a titan in the carving world. His level of mastery is rarely matched."

Tang Long smiled. "And how far behind him are you?"

Gou Yuniang paused, frowning slightly. "I’m about one realm behind Master Niu."

Tang Long’s expression turned serious. "That explains why the Niu family has been so insistent on having you carve that piece. Is it true that masters at Niu Yixin's level are extremely rare in the country?"

"There are no more than three in the country, and no more than seven worldwide," Gou Yuniang nodded.

Tang Long noted, "So, if you reach the next realm, you would be ranked among the top eight in the world. Is that right?"

Gou Yuniang blushed and whispered, "I suppose... something like that. But it might take me three years." She paused, then added, "Besides, who knows if those old masters will even be alive in three years?"

Tang Long burst into laughter, pulled Gou Yuniang into his arms, and kissed her forehead. "That’s exactly the point! Those masters are all nearing the end of their road, while you are in your prime. Never mind three years—even ten years from now, how old would you be?"

Gou Yuniang’s face turned bright red. She didn't dare protest; she pushed him away, though she didn't seem too concerned about being seen. Her heart felt as sweet as if it were filled with honey.

"You mean the Niu family wants to ruin my foundation so I can't reach that height?" Gou Yuniang realized, looking shocked. "But what good would that do them?"

Tang Long shrugged. "I don't know what it gains them, but you’ve seen how arrogant and domineering they are. We don't intend to harm others, but we can't let ourselves be harmed either. It pays to be cautious!"

"Mmhmm!" Gou Yuniang nodded obediently. "I’ll listen to you. From now on, I’ll do whatever you say, and if you tell me not to do something, I won't."

"Good girl." Tang Long’s mischievous side took over, and he couldn't resist caressing her cheek. Her flushed face and jade-like skin were indeed quite tempting.

"Are you... leaving tonight?" Gou Yuniang asked, looking down with a hint of shyness.

"Yes."

Tang Long gave a dry laugh. He had to go back tonight, or he wouldn't be able to get past Zhang Xiu'e. Some things couldn't be pushed too far, time and again.

"Oh," Gou Yuniang said, sounding a bit disappointed. But she quickly recovered; her little man coming to see her today was already beyond her expectations. She had thought it would take a long time for him to return, if he came at all.

"Right, is that batch of goods for the Niu family almost finished?" Tang Long asked.

Gou Yuniang nodded. "Don't worry, we can finish it. There won't be any issues. For the Niu family, those are just small pieces; they won't come to collect them personally. They’ll send someone from their company in charge of these affairs."

Tang Long nodded and smiled. "Once this batch is done, don't take any more orders for a while. I’ll find you a major order soon!"

"A major order? What kind?" Gou Yuniang asked curiously. She didn't mind taking a break, but the workshop had to have work; they supported many carvers, and if there was no work, everyone would go hungry.

Tang Long smiled. "You'll know in a few days!"

He changed the subject. "By the way, didn't you have your eye on a little apprentice? I have some time today—let's go talk to them. If it works out, we can invite the parents to lunch and settle the matter!"

Gou Yuniang’s eyes lit up. She told Tang Long to wait while she went to change her clothes. To her, this was a major event; as a master, she couldn't meet her apprentice looking anything less than professional.