Chapter 47

"Big Brother Tang Yan, I'm going back first. I'll find you to play another day." Tang Ying smiled at Tang Yan.

Little Tang Ying actually smiled? And at Tang Yan? It seemed rather sweet? The expressions of the young men and women of the family instantly became strange, and even Tang Mingzhong and Tang Mingjing's faces changed slightly, especially Tang Mingzhong, who felt a bit nervous. He had only one precious daughter and didn't want her to be harmed by the rascal Tang Yan.

"Cough, cough, everyone disperse, go home, go home!!" Tang Mingzhong's face turned stern, and he pulled Tang Ying into the Tang residence quickly.

"Ah De, arrange a room for my friend, not too far from mine." Tang Yan followed Tang Mingjing into the gate and shouted to the steward.

"Eh?" The family steward Ah De was taken aback. Because of his close relationship with the eldest son, he had almost never spoken to the second son. The second son also knew his place and never initiated any interaction, let alone arrangements. What was going on today? Calling him by his name?

"Du Yang, follow Ah De. If you need anything, just ask him, don't be shy. I guess you won't be shy anyway." Tang Yan walked through the gate and reminded Ah De again indirectly.

Ah De glanced at the eldest son and respectfully said, "Second Young Master, rest assured, I will arrange it properly."

Tang Qian looked at Tang Yan's back, a hint of something indescribable flashed in his eyes, and he instructed the person beside him, "Keep a close eye on him. Report any news immediately."

Tang Yan followed Tang Mingjing into the inner courtyard, looking around at the buildings and garden layout with great interest. It had a delicate and elegant style similar to a Jiangnan garden, yet it also had a hint of ancient simplicity and ruggedness. The two contrasting elements combined in a way that didn't seem out of place but rather unique.

Soon, the two arrived at the deepest part of the back courtyard, a rarely visited forbidden area. They followed a winding path through the rock formations and came to a quiet stone door.

"Head of the family, Second Young Master, the master is waiting inside." Tang Jun personally opened the stone door for them, closed it slowly after they entered, and stood guard.

"Father (Grandfather)." Tang Mingjing and Tang Yan bowed to the old man meditating in front of them.

"Come over, let me take a look." Tang Yanshan's stern face showed a hint of satisfaction.

Tang Yan didn't hesitate and sat down in front of him. For this grandfather who had doted on him since childhood, Tang Yan naturally had no resistance. Besides, although Tang Yanshan was often in seclusion, he was all-knowing in the Tang family, so there was no need to hide anything.

Tang Mingjing stood to the side, watching Tang Yanshan's examination with a mix of anticipation and tension.

Tang Yanshan examined for a long time, meticulously, and finally took two drops of blood from Tang Yan's fingertip, carefully sensing it.

"Father, is it that spirit vein?" Tang Mingjing became even more nervous.

Tang Yanshan took a deep breath, his aged eyes flashing with sharpness, "It should be right! Demon Spirit Vein!"

Tang Mingjing's spirits soared, "Then we should contact... now."

Tang Yanshan discreetly gestured to stop him and asked Tang Yan, "When your bloodline was activated, did anything special happen?"

Tang Yan looked at Tang Mingjing, then at Tang Yanshan, sensing something unusual, "I just received some inheritance, an introduction to the Demon Spirit Vein. Father, Grandfather, I have a question, is the Demon Spirit Vein related to yours?"

Tang Mingjing said, "No, it's a completely different spirit vein."

Tang Yan asked very directly, "Am I your biological son, or did you adopt me?"

Tang Mingjing glared at him, "Nonsense!!"

"Your own child has a completely different bloodline from you. Don't you find that strange? Don't you think there's a problem? For example... something and something... a hat... didn't you investigate?"

"Uh... cough, cough..." Tang Mingjing's eyes twitched, quickly changing the subject, "Tell me in detail about your recent experiences, don't hide anything, or I'll lock you up!!"

"There must be a problem, you're really generous." Tang Yan muttered, then slowly recounted the story he had prepared, not hiding the main content but skillfully avoiding the matters of the Immortal Heaven Technique and the Dusty Edges Pavilion. It wasn't that he didn't trust them, but to keep his secrets.

After listening to his account, Tang Yanshan and Tang Mingjing both agreed that the series of strange events originated from the 'mysterious green flower' in the deep pool, yet they found it hard to believe such a coincidence.

Tang Yanshan, not giving up, examined Tang Yan's body again. This time, he finally detected something unusual in the sea of qi.

"Grandfather, don't worry, I'm fine." Tang Yan, sensing something, quickly interrupted Tang Yanshan, hugging him affectionately and grinning, "This is called surviving a great calamity and reaping good fortune. Your grandson has a face full of good luck, there won't be any problems."

Tang Mingjing's face turned green with anger, "Yan'er, mind your manners!!"

Tang Yanshan was also at a loss with Tang Yan, his usual authority and sternness failing in front of this young man, "This matter is a bit strange, be as careful as possible. If you feel anything wrong, come to me immediately, don't hide it."

"Of course, we're family, I won't be shy."

Tang Mingjing and Tang Yanshan shook their heads helplessly, "Alright, you can go back now."

"Um... hehe... dear grandfather, I..." Tang Yan rubbed his hands, leaning against Tang Yanshan, embarrassedly saying, "I heard our family has three top-tier spirit-level martial techniques? Like Eagle Wing Spread, Magma Technique, and Burst Technique. I've already reached the spirit stage, and I'm your dearest grandson, so... is it... hehe... right...?"

"Fine, fine, fine, here!!" Tang Yanshan quickly pushed Tang Yan away, taking out three ancient wooden plaques from his chest, "Tang Qiong should have given you the Flame Technique. The other three are all here. They also contain some of my insights. Practice well, don't waste them. And after memorizing them, destroy them immediately, and don't let your elder brother know."

Tang Yan checked briefly, feeling a surge of excitement, and hugged Tang Yanshan tightly, kissing his head, "Grandfather, I love you. Your old age is in my hands, I'll take good care of you, just wait and enjoy your retirement."

Tang Yanshan's expression froze, subconsciously touching the spot on his head that was kissed, his face turning strangely awkward. Tang Mingjing was speechless, taking a while to recover.

"By the way, old man, does our family have any spirit-level martial techniques? About petrification or controlling rocks, anything spirit-level will do, I'm not picky."

"Nonsense!! Too much nonsense!!" Tang Mingjing's face turned green and white, glaring, "Do you think spirit-level martial techniques are cabbages? Our family has less than ten spirit-level martial techniques in total!!"

"Eh? I remember you said there were only six. So, you do have more in stock!!"

"I..." Tang Mingjing was speechless for a moment, suddenly realizing this young man had become smarter and more reckless.

Tang Yanshan said, "Let Tang Jun take you to the treasure vault. Choose any martial technique you want."

"Great, great, great, I knew you were the best, grandfather. You two keep chatting, I'll go first!!"

Tang Mingjing called out, "Wait, about the matter of Zhou Lingwang, forget it for now, act as if nothing happened. This matter is sensitive, leave it to us to handle."

"Understood!!"

"Stay low-key for the time being, as low-key as possible!"

"Relax!"

"Don't leave the Tang residence unless it's absolutely necessary."

"Got it."

After Tang Yan left, the secret room fell into a brief silence. The two men's faces turned serious. Tang Mingjing said, "Since Yan'er has activated his spirit vein, he no longer belongs to the Tang family. Should we send him back? After all, that place is the most suitable for his growth."

"Really suitable? I doubt it! Do you know what kind of place it is? What the outside world considers a genius is nothing there. Yan'er is already fifteen and has just completed his baptism. If he goes there, he'll only be a laughingstock, enduring ridicule." Tang Yanshan sighed deeply, his expression complex. After a long silence, he said, "Mingjing, although Yan'er is not your biological son, we raised him from a young age and treated him like our own. Can you bear to see him struggle and suffer in such an environment? Besides, his identity is already sensitive, and we don't know the current situation there. If we send him back forcefully, what if his life is in danger?"

"This..."

"I've thought about it for a long time. It's better to keep him in the Tang family. At least we can provide him with a relatively safe environment."

"Although that's true, what if his father finds out? How will we explain it?"

"His father? Is he still alive?"

Tang Mingjing fell silent, shaking his head bitterly, "Forget it, let's do it this way for now."

"Don't tell him about this, to avoid putting pressure on him. Sometimes, knowing isn't necessarily a good thing."

"I know what to do."

"Also, handle the matter of Zhou Lingwang carefully. Don't take any active measures unless absolutely necessary, and don't let the outside world know that Zhou Linglu is in our hands."

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