"What if he comes? What if he doesn’t? Let’s not even talk about whether he’ll show up. Even if he does, so what? With so many elders present, it’s not his place to speak."
Hearing Tang Lian call him ’Brother Tang Yi’ over and over, an inexplicable fire of rage ignited in Tang Fangzhou’s heart. He wished he could tear Tang Yi to shreds eight hundred times over.
"Miss Lian’Er, forgive me for being blunt, but regardless of Tang Yi’s usual behavior or his talent, he is just an insignificant junior of our Tang Family. For so many of us to wait for a mere junior... it would be a disgrace if word got out," the Seventh Elder said, his eyes narrowed.
"That’s right. Miss Lian’Er, don’t wait any longer."
"If all the Elders weren’t already here, I would’ve thought we were waiting for some big shot. Is Tang Yi even worth waiting for?"
"Does Tang Yi really have any standing in the Tang Family?"
Seeing the Seventh Elder speak up, everyone else began to voice their opinions. With the exception of Tang Haotian, who had remained silent, and Tang Lian, who supported waiting for Tang Yi, every other Tang Family disciple present was against waiting any longer.
Meanwhile, the few people from the Shangguan Family, who were seated to one side, didn’t say anything upon seeing this situation. After all, they were outsiders. Aside from a faint hint of awkwardness on their faces, they remained composed, watching the Tang Family’s little drama with an air of superiority.
"I don’t care. We have to wait for him," Tang Lian said, becoming petulant.
Everyone was dumbfounded. The usually quiet and pure Miss Lian’Er, who was like a clear stream, was actually being this obstinate for Tang Yi’s sake. It was enough to blind everyone’s dog eyes. Even Tang Haotian was slightly surprised.
’What on earth did Tang Yi do to make this girl care about him so much?’
’Tang Lian likes Tang Yi?’
’That’s completely impossible!’
’Their statuses were like heaven and earth!’
Forget Tang Yi; even the most outstanding disciple of the Tang Family would have no chance of being with Tang Lian. Their statuses were a complete mismatch.
In the Tang Family, Tang Lian was...
She was the most special existence, someone completely beyond the reach of any Tang Family disciple.
Seeing Tang Lian act so obstinately for Tang Yi, the most furious person of all was the Seventh Elder’s grandson, Tang Fangzhou.
"Lian’Er, that guy Tang Yi isn’t coming. There’s no need to wait anymore," Tang Fangzhou said, his face dark.
"How do you know he’s not coming?" Tang Lian retorted.
"How do I know?"
A cold sneer appeared on Tang Fangzhou’s lips. He thought, ’Of course I know. I’ve already sent people to kill Tang Yi. If nothing went wrong, he should be a corpse by now. And since he’s a corpse, how could he possibly come here? What a joke!’
"That’s right, how do you know Brother Tang Yi isn’t coming? Did you do something to him?!"
Tang Lian felt there was a hidden meaning in Tang Fangzhou’s words and immediately questioned him. The memory of Tang Jiuzhe’s aggressive and menacing expression from last night, when he wanted to harm Tang Yi, filled her with a deep worry for him.
’It couldn’t be...’
’No!’
’Brother Tang Yi is blessed by fortune. Besides, his strength is so great now. How could he possibly be harmed by some villain?’
’No!’
"How could I do anything to Tang Yi? I’m just familiar with his personality. Knowing he’s worthless, why would he come out and embarrass himself like this?" Tang Fangzhou said, pretending to know Tang Yi well.
"Is that so? Old Seventh really does know me so well!"
Just then, a voice dripping with sarcasm came from outside the door.
Everyone looked toward the door and saw a young man in ragged clothes, covered from head to toe in dirt, striding in with his head held high.
"Brother Tang Yi!" Tang Lian cried out joyfully upon seeing him.
"Tang Yi?" Tang Fangzhou frowned, lowering his head as if lost in thought.
When Tang Haotian saw Tang Yi return, he broke into a knowing smile. Although Tang Yi was currently filthy, he was glowing with vitality and had an extraordinary air about him. The more he looked, the more he liked what he saw, and the more satisfied he felt.
Upon seeing Tang Yi, the several Elders all frowned, their expressions turning ugly. A few of them even showed hints of anger.
What kind of place was the Tang Family’s main hall? It was an important place for receiving distinguished guests, the very face of the Tang Family. For Tang Yi to arrive in the hall in such ragged clothes was simply outrageous. It was a blatant slap to the Tang Family’s face, bringing them shame!
On the other side, the members of the Shangguan Family also had quite the priceless expressions on their faces when they saw Tang Yi’s filthy appearance.
The white-robed elder’s face was filled with displeasure, the handsome youth’s was full of contempt, and the delicate woman’s was filled with disgust and loathing. In her eyes, Tang Yi was like a filthy fly.
’Truly a Big Waste!’
This was the thought in all three of their minds.
"Tang Yi, do you have any idea where you are!" the Seventh Elder, Tang Feiyin, demanded.
Tang Yi smiled faintly and said, "As a disciple of the Tang Family, how could I not know? This is the Tang Family’s main hall."
"Since you know this is the main hall, then you should know it’s a place for receiving honored guests! Look at you! What is this disgraceful behavior!" Tang Feiyin roared, his face livid with rage, as if Tang Yi had committed some heinous crime.
Tang Yi looked down at his current state. His pants had three large tears in them, ripped during his fight with the Level 2 Demon Beast, the Earth Demon Tiger.
One of the sleeves of his shirt was gone, exposing a dirt-caked, dark arm to the air. That had been torn off by the Sword Arm of a Golden-winged Mantis, a Level 3 Demon Beast.
After a full night of battle, Tang Yi’s gains had been substantial; he had already reached the level of a Five-Star Battle Master. But by the same token, the bitter night-long struggle had left him looking utterly wretched. If everyone didn’t know he was Tang Yi, the son of the Tang Family Patriarch, they would have mistaken him for some beggar who had wandered in off the street.
However, Tang Yi glanced at Tang Haotian, who was seated in the main seat, and saw not a hint of blame on his face. He immediately relaxed and paid the others no more mind.
"Father, do our clan rules state that one cannot enter the main hall in ragged clothes?" Tang Yi asked Tang Haotian with a faint smile, his tone light.
Tang Haotian shook his head. "No, there’s no such rule."
"Then may I ask the Seventh Elder, is my appearance bothering you in some way?" Tang Yi turned his head to look at the Seventh Elder and continued to ask, his tone mild.
"You!" The Seventh Elder pointed at Tang Yi, so angry he was speechless. "As a disciple of the Tang Family, how can you be so oblivious to the gravity of the situation!"
"Gravity? Can you eat it?" Tang Yi asked with a smile.
"Enough," Tang Haotian cut in. "Isn’t this embarrassing enough? Look how you’re all behaving in front of our guests. Tang Yi, find a seat and sit down."
"Yes, Father." Tang Yi nodded. He knew Tang Haotian was helping him out of a tight spot, so he didn’t press the issue.
With the Clan Leader having spoken, the Seventh Elder and the others could say no more. They could only turn their faces away in anger, refusing to look at Tang Yi.
Tang Yi didn’t care. He simply went to find a seat for himself.

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