Chapter 13

Tang Family Fortress is located in the northern suburbs of Wulong Town, surrounded by open spaces, so the mornings always seem to come particularly early.

Xiaotang, who had been busy all night, was supposed to find Tang Zheng as soon as she got up to tell him about the things she forgot to mention yesterday.

However, just as she stepped out of the door, a servant from the front hall came over and asked her to hurry to the reception room.

As soon as she entered the reception room, Xiaotang's little face lit up even more: "Brother, Sister..."

"Xiaotang!"

"We're back, Xiaotang."

Actually, in a place like Wulong Town, where life is uncertain, Xiaotang doesn't ask for much.

As long as she can see her family and friends return safely each time, it is already a great happiness.

"How many shops on West Street did Yilan Manor sell this time?" Xiaotang asked, pulling a clan sister to sit down.

"They said they want to sell half, but the price hasn't been agreed upon," the clan sister shook her head. "I feel that Yilan Manor's focus is not on selling the shops. Even if we don't take them over, they can use them to pay off the Zhaixing Sect and the Qintian Sect."

"Then what are they focusing on now?" Xiaotang was puzzled.

"Finding someone!"

"Ah? Who? They haven't found the person who burned Yilan Manor's flower fields yet?"

"Isn't that so?" Another clan brother, who was standing nearby, sneered. "Yilan Manor even took out that set of star identification disks, but they still didn't catch the person. Instead, they offended many tough characters hiding in Wulong Town."

"So, they haven't found a single clue, but they've already apologized to many people." The clan sister spread her hands.

"Ha ha ha ha." Xiaotang laughed in a very unladylike manner, but in this matter, there was no need for her to laugh like a lady!

Yilan Manor has been arrogant and domineering for so many years!

In a place like Wulong Town, where no one is in charge, even a force like Tang Family Fortress has to be careful.

Because, who knows who might be in this small town?

A cabbage seller who has been selling for ten years on the roadside might be a notorious criminal from a noble family ten years ago!

But Yilan Manor didn't even keep this in mind. Who else would suffer if not them?

Of course, after Yilan Manor's flower fields were destroyed, they haven't caught the person for so many days. Their anxiety and frustration must have been increasing day by day. In such a state of mind, they are more likely to make mistakes.

"Xiaotang, have you been in charge of the teacher welcoming banquet these few days?" A clan sister asked again, "How is our new teacher? Is he white? Is he young? Is he fun?"

"Hey, sister, we are inviting a teacher, not... hehe... well, not white, not young, but... he is quite fun."

The youngest of the group was fifteen, and the oldest was not yet eighteen. Outside, they were the masters of the Tang family, but back in Tang Family Fortress, they were still just a group of little girls.

After a few casual words, Tang Zheng had a "reclusive, strange, and interesting" initial impression in the girls' minds.

"Speaking of which, Xiaotang." A clan brother frowned, "Wulong Town is now in a time of turmoil. Have you considered the possibility that he might not be a real teacher, but a spy in disguise?"

"Hmm..." Xiaotang knew this was a question she couldn't avoid.

"Teacher Tian Meng is the only son of an old friend of Uncle, and one of the few inheritors of the Frostless Blade lineage," the clan sister who had just been discussing whether Tang Zheng was white and young suddenly had a sharp look in her eyes. "If this person really killed Teacher Tian Meng to infiltrate Tang Family Fortress, I will slice him into pieces and swallow him alive!"

The atmosphere suddenly became a bit awkward.

After all, even Xiaotang's father hadn't seen Tian Meng for five years, and he couldn't guarantee that there was nothing wrong with Tang Zheng's background.

"But, this is a bit difficult to handle," the clan brother said again. "If he is a spy, it's actually easier to deal with. We can just kill him. But if he is not a spy..."

"Then it would be too much for us to suspect a teacher who is willing to come to Wulong Town to teach!" The other siblings also nodded.

The group of young people were a bit at a loss.

On one hand, they had been cautious for so many years in Wulong Town. Without this caution, they would have died in the various strange predicaments of Wulong Town long ago.

On the other hand, they respected scholars. In a place like Wulong Town, it was not easy to invite a teacher. If they offended him and made the hard-earned teacher leave in anger, that was not what they wanted to see.

"I think we absolutely cannot ask directly. Asking directly would be too hurtful," a clan sister thought for a moment and said, "We must be polite and strategic... to test him."

"Agreed!" Xiaotang agreed with this plan.

"During tonight's teacher welcoming banquet... hmm, let me think, is Zixie back yet?" A clan brother asked.

"I'm here." A slightly low voice came from the corner.

"Good, Zixie is here, that's great," the clan brother slapped his thigh. "You are the only one who has studied at the Tianqin Family. During tonight's banquet, think of a way to test our teacher, whether through poetry, lyrics, or even couplets, to see if he has any real talent!"

"Exactly what I was thinking!" Tang Zixie, who had been leaning in the corner, opened his half-closed eyes and straightened his slouching body.

...

Tang Zheng didn't know that his students were chattering and plotting against him.

He spent the whole day in his room, reading the second volume of "Guiding Star Formula" — "Star Pulse Flow" — a series of illustrations.

This book detailed the positions of the star pulses, their natural strength, and thickness.

Tang Zheng roughly understood the principle of star power flow. In the world of martial artists, the Life Palace is equivalent to the heart, star power is equivalent to blood, and star pulses can be compared to blood vessels, which are the important channels for transporting star power.

"So, the star pulses must be continuously strengthened, otherwise, when the Life Palace becomes stronger and the star power increases, if the star pulses cannot withstand it... it would be like blood leaking out of the blood vessels, a tragic event..."

"And Star Burst is the forced explosion of all the power in the Life Palace. This power is absolutely beyond the capacity of the star pulses, so it is certain death."

He had only skimmed through it roughly last night, but today he read the entire "Star Pulse Flow" carefully.

Breakfast and lunch were both brought by a servant. After he finished reading "Star Pulse Flow" and was digesting and organizing the information, two maids came to invite him to the banquet.

Banquets are very rare in Tang Family Fortress, or in Wulong Town in general.

For a force in this chaotic place to take the time, effort, and money to organize a banquet, it must be a very significant event!

The people of Tang Family Fortress couldn't remember...

The last time they organized a banquet was probably fifteen years ago when Xiaotang was born?

"Teacher Tang, this way, please." Xiaotang, standing at the entrance of the temporarily set up hall, jumped out with her ponytail bouncing.

"Ah, okay..." Tang Zheng followed her inside.

Since it was a teacher welcoming banquet, Tang Zheng was naturally the main character.

So, people kept coming to greet him and introduce themselves along the way.

However, the children of Tang Family Fortress were not from noble families, and their attempts to make a good impression on the teacher were as awkward as a group of bandits trying to sing a Jiangnan folk song with their long knives.

"Although their performance is a bit clumsy, it's fine. I'm about to start teaching you..." Tang Zheng thought to himself, his mood lifting along with Xiaotang's bouncing ponytail.

"Big brother!" At the very end, Little Lingdang ran over.

Tang Zheng scooped her up and kissed her face without hesitation.

Seeing this intimate gesture, the eyes of the Tang Family children widened, and they subconsciously looked at Meng Fenghua with a mix of surprise and fear.

To their surprise, Meng Fenghua only smiled at Tang Zheng, "I didn't expect you to be a scholar."

"Of course, I'll tell Little Lingdang the story of Snow White tomorrow..."

"Thank you." Meng Fenghua nodded with a smile and led Little Lingdang to her seat.

Even Xiaotang was stunned.

Little Lingdang had always been Meng Fenghua's sore spot. Since Meng Fenghua became the drill instructor at Tang Family Fortress, anyone who got too close to Little Lingdang would face a strong "response" from Meng Fenghua.

But Tang Zheng was so intimate with Little Lingdang, and not a single hair was harmed?

It was simply unbelievable!

"Since everyone is here, let's start!" Tang Boyuan, Xiaotang's father, who was sitting at the head of the table, raised his wine glass.

In this chaotic place, banquets are not so formal. As long as everyone is present, there are no other formalities, and they can start eating and drinking directly.

Wulong Town couldn't find reliable dancers, so they invited a theater troupe, who started performing in the middle of the hall.

As the theater troupe performed, the young members of the Tang Family kept giving Tang Zixie meaningful glances — get ready, it's your turn to perform!

The performance ended quickly.

"Teacher Tang," Tang Zixie, swaying slightly, raised his wine glass, "Your student, Tang Zixie, had the opportunity to read some poetry and literature in his youth. I admire those who can read and write the most. Today, meeting you, I feel a deep connection. I will drink to you first... I'll finish my glass first!"

"..." Tang Zheng looked at his own glass.

Although it was rice wine, probably around 12 degrees, he, a game enthusiast, wasn't much of a drinker.

However, it would be impolite to refuse a student's toast, right?

Tang Zheng tilted his head back and drank it in one go!

"Good!" The young members clapped.

"Come!" Tang Zheng refilled his glass, preparing to accept the next student's toast. Although he wasn't good at drinking, he had made up his mind to drink every toast today, no matter what!

But the next student didn't appear...

After putting down his glass, Tang Zixie bowed to everyone, "Today is a grand banquet. I originally wanted to perform a sword dance, but then I thought, since we are welcoming a teacher for Tang Family Fortress, it's not appropriate to use weapons... So, I will boldly offer a toast, to welcome Teacher Tang..."

Tang Zheng's smile deepened, and his eyes narrowed involuntarily.

At this moment, he understood what these little rascals were up to!

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Thank you to Shengmu Maria for the 1888 coins, to Youshixiaoshu for the 1176 coins, to Yunzhang for the 788 coins, to Jia Xiaqi, Yin Yu, and Yiru Nianqian for the 588 coins, to Hengluoxuanmo for the 400 coins, to Xueyexingchen for the 300 coins, to Xukongyujian and Zhu Jujie for the 200 coins, and to Mo Ran Aoxue, Shuihezhizhi, Yue Yiyu, Shouhuzhe Pingyande Yisheng, Tao Dayu, Tang Xiaotang, and Xuegao Wudi for the 100 coins.

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