Tang Sect's Head Chopping Hall.
Tang Lingkui looked at Tang Cheng before him, fiddling with the Vermilion Arrow in his hand. "Su Muyu appeared and let Tang Lian go?"
Tang Cheng nodded. "Yes. I mentioned the alliance to him, but he didn’t seem to care about it."
Tang Lingkui’s right hand moved slightly, snapping the Vermilion Arrow in two. "Are they abandoning these negotiations?"
"Unlikely." Tang Lingluo pushed the door open and entered. "At the Golden Tower, the Su Family’s Head will personally attend. This time, it’s their turn to invite us to a feast."
"When?" Tang Lingkui asked.
Tang Lingluo raised an eyebrow. "The day of the Second Master’s funeral."
"Quite the choice of timing." Tang Lingkui narrowed his eyes. "So, who will represent us at this feast?"
"Since they’re sending their Head, naturally, it should be me." A young man appeared at the door—the same man who had served wine that day, and the second most renowned among the Five Heroes of the Tang Clan, Tang Lingzun.
Tang Lingkui and Tang Lingluo immediately rose and bowed.
Tang Lingzun leisurely walked over to them, reclined on a lounge chair, and plucked a grape from the table, popping it into his mouth.
"But that day is... special," Tang Lingluo said hesitantly.
"I’ll just bring a few inner disciples with me and claim I’m unwell, unfit to attend the funeral rites." Tang Lingzun chuckled. "After all, it’s a banquet where I can meet the Su Family’s Head. How could I miss it?"
Tang Lingluo said solemnly, "That day’s affairs—"
"Will it drag on until night? I’ll naturally attend the evening Bean Feast." Tang Lingzun smiled. "This is, after all, the most interesting event our Tang Sect has seen in nearly a century."
"Good." Tang Lingkui nodded. "Whether the negotiations succeed or not, once that day passes, even if Dark River turns the world upside down, they’ll pose no further threat to us."
Tang Lingluo lowered his head. "Then, we shall attend the feast."
"Attend the feast," Tang Lingzun said with a laugh.
Heaven Revelation City.
Before the Monarch Righteous Pavilion.
An old man stepped slowly into the courtyard, accompanied by a youth. The two glanced at the pavilion.
In front of the Monarch Righteous Pavilion stood a burly man clad in golden armor.
The Flying Tiger General, Dian Ye.
The old man took out a smoking pipe from his sleeve, and the youth beside him promptly struck a match. With a flick of his wrist, the old man lit the tobacco and took a deep drag before saying in a low voice, "So, this must be General Dian."
"Never thought I’d have the honor of meeting you here, Old Master," Dian Ye said with a smile.
"Indeed. A man who shouldn’t be in Heaven Revelation City suddenly appears—anyone would find it strange." The old man smirked faintly.
"Hahaha!" Dian Ye laughed heartily before stepping aside, clearing the path to the pavilion. "Old Master Tang, please enter. The Grand Prince has been waiting for you for some time."
"Good." The old man strode forward and entered the Monarch Righteous Pavilion.
Inside, the pavilion was brightly lit, as if illuminated by hundreds of candles. This place was originally the Heavenly Enlightenment Library, and though the library had since been moved to the Directorate of Astronomy, many precious texts remained here. Normally, such a place would strictly forbid open flames—but Xiao Yong was that kind of man. He always wanted his surroundings to be filled with light, ensuring he could be seen clearly and directly.After all, as the eldest prince, he was never the first to be noticed in the court.
"Old Master Tang." Xiao Yong set down an ancient book in his hand and slightly raised his brow.
Old Master Tang sat directly across from Xiao Yong. Though the other was the eldest prince and he merely a commoner, he didn’t seem to feel the need to show excessive respect, speaking rather casually: "Greetings, Your Highness, the Eldest Prince."
"Hahaha, I’ve long heard Old Master Tang is a fascinating man. Seeing you today, you truly live up to the reputation." Xiao Yong toyed with a luminous pearl in his hand.
"Your Highness specifically invited me from the Tang Sect here—surely not just for the sake of amusement." Old Master Tang spoke leisurely.
"I wish to form an alliance with the Tang Sect." Xiao Yong smiled.
Old Master Tang nodded. "Many wish to ally with the Tang Sect. But we already have a Black Tortoise Envoy—he is a friend of the Langya King, and the Langya King never involves himself in factional struggles."
"The Langya King—that was the previous generation’s affair." Xiao Yong chuckled. "Back then, both the Tang Sect and Thunderbolt Fort made the right choice. You bet on the Langya King and my father, and in the end, they emerged victorious. But now is a new era. It’s time for you to make a new choice."
"A new choice." Old Master Tang glanced at the young man beside him.
Xiao Yong nodded. "How to completely surpass Thunderbolt Fort—or rather, make Thunderbolt Fort vanish from this world."
"Using the destruction of Thunderbolt Fort to bind the Tang Sect is indeed a fine choice." Old Master Tang smiled. "But why should I choose Your Highness?"
Xiao Yong frowned slightly. "What do you mean?"
"We are allied with Snow Moon City. Allying with Your Highness would surely conflict with Snow Moon City’s plans. You know, offending Baili Dongjun is no easy matter." Old Master Tang set down his smoking pipe.
Xiao Yong laughed. "It all comes down to terms."
Old Master Tang stood. "You misunderstand me, Your Highness. What this old man means is—no."
"Why not?" Xiao Yong glared at Old Master Tang.
Old Master Tang turned and began walking away. "Meeting Your Highness today has left me disappointed."
"Disappointed?" Xiao Yong clenched his fists.
"Many years ago, when the Langya King came to the Tang Sect to take Tang Lingyue, I was delighted. Though I didn’t like Xiao Ruofeng—he was outstanding, but always yielding, never taking what he should, even the throne!" Old Master Tang lifted his head, as if lost in memory. "But when Lingyue followed him, I truly believed they would make their mark on the world—and they did. Yet in Your Highness, I see no such possibility."
"Hahaha, very well!" Xiao Yong laughed instead of growing angry. "It matters not if Old Master Tang doesn’t choose me, for I haven’t chosen you either! You’re too old. When a man grows too old, his vision blurs, and blurred vision leads to poor decisions!"
Old Master Tang halted. "What do you mean?"
"The Tang Sect is about to undergo a great upheaval." Xiao Yong raised his hand. "And Old Master Tang, you will die here." He swung his hand down, and the doors of the Monarch Righteous Pavilion slammed shut. The hundreds of candles inside were extinguished in an instant.
"Old Master!" the young man shouted, drawing the short sword at his waist."It's no matter," Old Master Tang chuckled. "To extinguish all the candles before me—is it foolishness, or sheer foolishness!"
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