On Tang Yi’s end, a notification chimed, informing him that he had received four Experience Value rewards.
But as for Tang the Eighth...
When Tang the Eighth saw his four subordinates eliminated in the blink of an eye by some unknown technique—one that Tang Yi seemed to have used casually—his scalp went numb.
’This kind of power... How could I, Tang the Eighth, possibly resist something like this?’
’After all, every single one of the subordinates he’d brought were Seven-Star Battle Disciples!’
’To be able to casually insta-kill four Seven-Star Battle Disciples... just what level of power was that?’
’Could it be... that Tang Yi has already reached the rank of a Battle Master?’
’A terrible miscalculation!’
Tang the Eighth glanced at Tang Yi out of the corner of his eye. Tang Yi was looking right back at him, a wide smile on his face. Tang the Eighth’s heart seized, and his legs went so weak he almost collapsed to his knees.
"Y-Young Master Tang Yi, I... I may have been mistaken. A man of your character... h-how could you possibly have killed Tang Jiuzhe?"
Tang the Eighth’s lips trembled, and his words became unsteady.
Just moments before, he had been speaking with righteous conviction, so logically that he could have argued black was white.
Tang Yi sneered and said deliberately, "But I really *did* kill Tang Jiuzhe. So, what are we going to do about it?"
"If Young Master Tang Yi killed Tang Jiuzhe, then he only got what he deserved! He deserved to die, he deserved it!" Tang the Eighth immediately answered, his voice full of meek agreement.
’Well, now. No mention of me harming a fellow clan member this time.’
The look of righteous indignation on Tang the Eighth’s face made it seem as if Tang Jiuzhe had owed him millions.
’Mm, what a good dog.’
"Oh? So you’re saying I’m innocent then?" Tang Yi found this amusing and pressed on.
"Yes, yes, you’re innocent! I was blind and failed to recognize your greatness. I arrested the wrong man, and I deeply apologize, Young Master Tang Yi. I’ll scram right now, I’ll go settle accounts with Tang Jiuzhe. Hmph! To think he’d dare frame you, Young Master Tang Yi!"
As he spoke, Tang the Eighth hastily turned to leave. He kept bowing to Tang Yi as he backed away, hoping to be spared.
’Settle accounts with Tang Jiuzhe?’
Tang Yi paused.
’Tang Jiuzhe is already in the underworld. You’re going to go down there to find him?’
Hearing Tang the Eighth’s flustered excuse, Tang Yi found it utterly ridiculous.
’Weren’t you the one speaking so reasonably just a moment ago, with all your supposed evidence?’
’And now you’re talking about settling accounts with a dead man?’
’Isn’t that just asking for death?’
With another casual wave of his hand, he flung out five more Wind Blades. Without a backward glance, Tang Yi turned and left, heading deeper into the Wind Moon Forest to grind monsters and level up.
’As for Tang Fangzhou, the mastermind behind this whole thing, I’ll settle that score another day. But first, I’ll take care of slaughtering your little dog for you!’
"AH—"
Not long after Tang Yi turned away, a horrific scream echoed out before falling silent, leaving only the thick stench of blood hanging in the air.
In this world, the man known as Tang the Eighth was no more.
「The Tang Family Main Hall.」
The Tang Family Patriarch, Tang Haotian, and the Chief Elders were seated at the head of the hall. Below them to their left sat the most outstanding members of the younger generation. However, there was one other person seated among the Elders and the Clan Leader: Tang Lian.
Strangely, none of the Tang Family Elders or the prodigies of the younger generation said a word, seemingly accepting this arrangement.
On Tang Haotian’s other side were the guests the Tang Family was meant to welcome so warmly today: visitors from the Shangguan Family of the Northern Domain.
One of them was an elder with salt-and-pepper hair, well past his sixties. His White Robe was immaculate, and he looked vigorous and full of smiles, though a sharp glint flashed in his small eyes from time to time.
Beside the elder sat a young man and woman, both in the bloom of youth. The young man was handsome and carried himself with a refined air, wearing a White Robe identical to the elder’s and possessing an ethereal disposition.
The woman was beautiful.
With Tang Lian remaining silent and concealing her own brilliance, this young man and woman were without a doubt the center of attention in the hall, shining radiantly.
The eyes of the Tang Family’s younger generation were all fixed upon the pair.
Tang Fangzhou, grandson of the Seventh Elder, was especially captivated, staring at the young woman as if in a daze.
"Ahem..." Seeing the complete lack of composure among his family’s younger generation, the Tang Family’s Seventh Elder coughed twice, his expression souring.
"Clan Leader Tang, is everyone here now? I was wondering if we might begin..." The handsome young man disliked being the center of attention. ’It’s one thing for them to stare at me,’ he thought, ’but for these pigs to be drooling over the woman by my side... That’s absolutely intolerable.’
"Well..." Tang Haotian hesitated, his gaze drifting toward the hall’s entrance.
’That Tang Yi,’ he thought. ’I distinctly reminded him last night that we were receiving guests today and that he should prepare himself. And yet, he’s still not back.’
"Clan Leader, everyone has arrived. Who else could we be waiting for?" the Seventh Elder asked, noticing Tang Haotian’s hesitation.
Before Tang Haotian could reply, Tang Lian, who had been silent until now, spoke softly, "Brother Tang Yi isn’t here yet."
"Tang Yi? Why are we waiting for him? He’s never attended any Tang Family gatherings, large or small. With his level of Cultivation, he isn’t even qualified to be here. Why should we wait?" Tang Fangzhou voiced his displeasure, but in front of Tang Haotian, he didn’t dare to be too brazen.
Calling Tang Yi trash was something that could be done in private—it was a tacit understanding among many—but it couldn’t be done openly. After all, Tang Yi was still the only son of the Tang Family Patriarch. No matter how much of a good-for-nothing he was, his official status remained.
"My Brother Tang Yi is Uncle Tang’s son, so why wouldn’t he be qualified? Just because he didn’t attend Clan gatherings in the past doesn’t mean he won’t in the future. Besides, I’m certain Brother Tang Yi will come today, so we should wait for him."
Tang Lian could be dismissive and cold to others, but for Tang Yi, she would reveal a deep-seated stubbornness—the same stubbornness that made her stand before him last night, ready to risk her life to block a blade meant for him.

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