Chapter 72

### The City of Giant Elephants, the Tang Family Manor!

Tang Qian knocked on the door of Tang Mingjing's room and respectfully bowed, "Father."

Tang Mingjing put down the documents in his hands and smiled with evident satisfaction, "Qian, what brings you to me today?"

"I just came back from the training ground and saw the light still on in the study, so I came to check. Has Father been troubled by something recently?"

"It's all because of that little rascal, Yan. He ran off without a word and has been gone for half a year without any news, causing me to be scolded by your grandfather."

"Still no news from Second Brother?"

"Yes, but in the evening, the dispatched hunting eagles found their trail at the edge of the Illusion Forest. They should be back in a few days." Tang Mingjing was at a loss with Tang Yan. He now somewhat missed the old days, even though Yan caused trouble and indulged in pleasure, it was always minor and easily resolved. Now, he had stopped flirting with girls and developed an interest in beast monsters.

Tang Qian smiled, "It's good that he's coming back. This time, we need to keep a close eye on him."

"I've already made arrangements. This time, he'll go to the academy, where the mentors can temper his character."

"The academy has a few iron-blooded mentors who will like Second Brother. By the way, I saw Tang Ba and the others return a few days ago. Is there something else to handle?"

The Tang family had an unwritten rule: the five executioners each had their own responsibilities. Tang Jun assisted the old master, Tang Qiong handled internal affairs in the City of Giant Elephants, and Tang Ba, Tang Qing, and Tang Hao managed the family's assets in other regions and dealt with specific threats. The five executioners would only gather at the family manor under extremely special circumstances.

Tang Qian had noticed this strange phenomenon a few days ago. Not only had Tang Ba returned, but Tang Qing and Tang Hao had also come back. Except for the 'deceased' Tang Qiong, the four executioners had gathered at the family manor.

Something must have happened! This was the main reason he had come today, to try to get involved in the family's internal affairs.

Tang Mingjing's expression turned serious, "Your grandfather sensed a special energy fluctuation a while ago, similar to that of a Venerable-level expert, somewhere in our City of Giant Elephants."

"Venerable?!" Tang Qian was startled.

"Yes, a Venerable-level expert, whose aura is not weaker than your grandfather's. We are worried about any unexpected incidents, so we called back Tang Ba, Tang Qing, and Tang Hao."

"Has the family recently provoked any other forces?"

"Not yet, but better safe than sorry. Be cautious. The City of Giant Elephants has been somewhat restless recently. If you have nothing to do, stay at home for a few days and don't wander around."

"Alright, I will. Father, get some rest and don't overwork yourself." Tang Qian got up to take his leave.

Tang Mingjing leaned back in his chair, a trace of worry creeping into his brows. In recent times, the City of Giant Elephants had frequently seen unfamiliar experts with suspicious behavior, who had interacted with the Yang and Li families and stayed at the Giant Elephant Academy but had not visited the Tang family.

After thorough investigation, the identities of these mysterious people had been preliminarily confirmed—they were from the Spirit King Zhou's Spirit King Manor!

One Venerable-level expert, five King-level experts, and over a dozen powerful Martial Ancestors! Their sudden arrival made Tang Mingjing feel a sense of crisis. For whom had they come?

For Zhou Linglu! And for the almost forgotten raid incident!

But... was that all?

Tang Mingjing thought for a long time, feeling both wary and puzzled. It had been half a year since the incident. Why had the Spirit King Zhou only now remembered his daughter? Why had he only now decided to eliminate the隐患 of the raid incident? Could there be more to it?

If not, why had the Spirit King Zhou suddenly sent such a powerful contingent and been in frequent contact with other noble families? Was it just to discuss cooperation? Or to target the Tang family? There was no reason! The Tang family, though arrogant, had never touched the interests of the Spirit King Manor. There was no reason to target the Tang family.

The most important point was, how did he know that Zhou Linglu was in the Tang family?! Could they openly search? As long as Tang Yanshan was alive, no one in the Great Zhou Empire would dare to act recklessly against the Tang family!

Tang Mingjing remained silent for a long time, unable to find a solution. His intuition told him that this matter was not simple.

Fortunately, Tang Ba and the others had returned. Whatever the Spirit King Zhou intended to do, he would have to think twice!

What needed to be done now was to hide Zhou Linglu and not reveal any clues.

With a heavy heart, Tang Mingjing left the study and strolled along the gravel path.

The night was bleak, and the white mist enveloped the sky and earth, permeating everything.

It had been a long time since he had taken a quiet walk. The thorny garden, his favorite, had not been visited for a long time.

Since the raid incident in the Illusion Forest, one thing after another had happened, leaving no moment of peace.

There was another worry recently, about Tang Qian.

About half a month ago, Tang Mingjing unexpectedly received a secret report from the intelligence shadow, suspecting that the mastermind behind the mercenary attack on Yan was Tang Qian!

Tang Mingjing tore up the report at the time, even scolding the intelligence shadow for baseless speculation. Without solid evidence, how could he accuse his favorite son?

But after half a month, that report still lingered in his mind, unable to be dispelled.

Tang Qian harming Tang Yan? Tang Mingjing was unwilling to believe it and could not accept fratricide in his family. But after careful consideration, he increasingly felt that this possibility really existed. Tang Qian was talented, experienced, and decisive, with a touch of ruthlessness—this was the consensus of everyone. Normally, this was a positive evaluation, but in certain sensitive matters, it had a special meaning.

During the two months Tang Yan was home, he had been outstanding and deeply loved by the old father, overshadowing the former 'prodigy' Tang Qian! In such a situation, what would Tang Qian think? What would he do?

Tang Mingjing dared not think too deeply!

Yan would be back soon. This private trip to the Illusion Forest for half a year, what kind of growth would he have achieved? If he broke through the second-stage barrier and entered the third-stage Martial Spirit, wouldn't he be able to match Qian?!

How should the relationship between these two children be handled?

The more Tang Mingjing thought, the more troubled he became. He took a deep breath, dispelling these杂念, and prepared to go to bed. When the boat reaches the bridge, it will naturally straighten. He would wait for Yan to return and then have a serious talk with the two children.

Harmony is the most important in the family!

But before he had taken a few steps, he noticed that the fog today... had become heavier?!

When he left the study, the fog was thin and light, creating a poetic and picturesque atmosphere under the moonlight. In just a short while, the fog had become so dense that it was almost impossible to see anything, a white expanse of nothingness.

In the Tang family's secret prison.

Zhou Linglu was curled up in a corner of a simple wooden bed, bound in chains, her dress tattered, and her face expressionless. In just a few months, the once magnificent imperial princess had become haggard, her hair disheveled, her face pale, and her body emaciated.

In the strictly hierarchical Great Zhou Empire, privately imprisoning an imperial princess was a grave crime punishable by the extermination of the entire family!

The Tang family's actions clearly showed a disregard for the empire, but Tang Yanshan, who had been arrogant all his life, had never cared about anything. Besides, this was the Tang family's secret prison, and no one knew about it. Imprisoning her was justified!

At first, Zhou Linglu had cried, screamed, and struggled wildly, but the response was always silence, not even an interrogation.

She had fantasized that her father would come to save her soon, but she was repeatedly disappointed.

One month... two months... three months...

Day by day, the silence continued. Zhou Linglu was alone on the wooden bed, forgotten by the world.

She hated! She hated the Tang family! She hated Tang Yan even more!

But this half-year of dark and lightless life had destroyed her body and mind, and worn down all her sharp edges. She used to long for missions, enjoying the excitement and thrill, but now all she wanted was to go home, back to the mansion, back to her cozy room, and take a warm bath.

In a daze, a cool sensation permeated her body, and her spiritual energy began to flow rapidly as if being drawn.

Zhou Linglu opened her eyes groggily, staring blankly at the thickening white fog in the cell. Was it a dream? She slowly raised her hand to touch the misty fog, and...

The white fog danced lightly, swirling around her fingertips.

It condensed into ice crystals, cool and real.

Was it real?! Zhou Linglu's body trembled slightly, fully awake, her gaze fixed on the thick fog.

Water Curtain Heavenly Flower! This is Water Curtain Heavenly Flower!

At the same time, in the family's forbidden area, Tang Yanshan's weathered eyes suddenly opened, and a scorching aura burst forth, fierce and wild, instantly filling the stone room and dispersing all the white fog.

The aura surged, like a spatial ripple sweeping across the entire Tang family manor, completely dispelling the thick white fog.

The sudden appearance and disappearance of the thick white fog left the Tang family members who noticed it puzzled.