Lin Yan’s expression tensed at Tang Tang’s words. He didn’t ask why the Tang Family was doing this. Since Miss Tang had brought it up herself, she would surely explain her reasons.
Tang Tang set down her teacup, her expression more serious than ever. She looked directly at Lin Yan and said, emphasizing each word:
"To outsiders, it seems the Tang Family was forced to sell some of our shops and farmlands by the Four Seas Gang and the Inspection Bureau. It looks like we had no other choice. In reality, this was our plan all along. As early as two months ago, my family was already preparing to relocate the entire clan."
Lin Yan shuddered slightly and looked at Tang Tang, his eyes filled with disbelief.
’Relocate the entire clan?’
’The Tang Family is the number one family in Guangping County. Their medicinal herb business is spread throughout the entire county, bringing in tens of thousands in revenue each year. Are they just going to abandon all these assets?’
"Miss Tang, you’re not joking, are you?"
Lin Yan set down his teacup, his voice unconsciously rising a few notches.
He stared into Tang Tang’s eyes, trying to find any trace of jest or probing.
However, there was none.
Tang Tang’s gaze was clear and resolute, and there wasn’t the slightest hint of a smile on her bright, beautiful face.
"Does Young Master Lin think I would joke about something like this?"
Tang Tang stood up and walked to the edge of the pavilion. She lifted a corner of the brocade curtain and gazed out at the bleak winter courtyard, her voice softening.
"The Tang Family has been rooted in Guangping for a hundred years. Unless absolutely necessary, why would we be willing to give it all up? But some things can’t be held onto just because you’re unwilling to let go."
"Miss Tang, is there something fishy about the conflict between the Four Seas Gang and the Inspection Bureau?"
Lin Yan pressed on. He was now more and more certain that the Tang Family must know the secret behind the struggle between the Four Seas Gang and the Inspection Bureau—or to be more precise, the secret behind the conflict between the Li Family and the three Prefecture City families, including the Song Family.
Tang Tang didn’t answer Lin Yan’s question, instead asking one of her own. "Does Young Master Lin know how the Profound Celestial Sect governs Deng State Prefecture?"
Faced with her counter-question, Lin Yan replied in a low voice, "My master told me about it."
"Good. Since Young Master Lin is aware, I won’t explain the details," Tang Tang said slowly.
"The backer of Guangping County’s Inspection Bureau is the Li Family of Deng State Prefecture. The Li Family’s strongest Martial Artist, Li Mushen, is a top-tier powerhouse in the Blood Exchange Realm. As long as Li Mushen is around, no one would dare to make a move on Guangping County."
"But did something happen to Li Mushen?" Lin Yan’s eyes narrowed as he guessed.
"It’s hard to say."
Tang Tang shook her head. "Li Mushen hasn’t been seen in public for five years. The Li Family’s official explanation is that he went abroad to seek a breakthrough in his Martial Arts. However, a year ago, someone discovered his weapon, the Blood Dragon Halberd, in the Cang Mang Mountain Range. This led to suspicions that he might have already died there. The story about him going abroad is likely just a lie the Li Family concocted to hide the news of his death."
"The rule in the Martial Arts Community is simple: the stronger the Martial Artist, the larger the territory their family controls, and vice versa. If Li Mushen is alive, the Li Family controls the Inspection Bureau of Sanshan County, and no one would dare challenge them. But if he is dead, the other powers in the Prefecture City won’t just sit by and watch the Li Family continue to control it. The Li Family is hiding the news because they don’t want other families coveting their territory."
Lin Yan came to a realization. Combining this with the information Qian Shuhang had revealed, he felt he could vaguely guess most of the truth.
"Li Mushen was known for his ruthlessness. Until his body is found, even if the other powers in the Prefecture City covet the Li Family’s territory, they won’t act rashly. The Four Seas Gang is just a pawn, sent to test the Li Family and see how they react."
"If Li Mushen were really alive, the Li Family would never allow the Four Seas Gang to be so brazen. If he’s dead, the Li Family can’t hold onto Guangping County Town. But the interesting thing is, the Li Family hasn’t sent anyone to deal with the Four Seas Gang, yet they haven’t given up on Guangping County either. They’re just letting the Inspection Bureau and the Four Seas Gang fight it out. The powers behind the Four Seas Gang still can’t be sure whether Li Mushen is dead or alive."
"And who’s to say this isn’t a ploy by the Li Family? They could have intentionally spread the news of his death to lure certain powers in the Prefecture City into making a move, giving Li Mushen and the Li Family an excuse to counterattack and seize the territory of whoever acted against them."
Seeing Lin Yan frown, Tang Tang knew he didn’t understand the situation in Deng State Prefecture very well. She added, "Young Master Lin, the Prefecture City is really just a larger version of Guangping County Town. As the number one family in Guangping County Town, my Tang Family can’t just attack other families and seize their territory without a good reason. The same rules apply in the Prefecture City. What’s more, the Li Family isn’t even one of the absolute top families there."
"So, Miss Tang, you’re saying that the powers behind the Four Seas Gang haven’t truly entered the fray because they can’t confirm if Li Mushen is dead or alive."
"Exactly." Tang Tang nodded gently. "The outcome of the struggle between the Four Seas Gang and the Inspection Bureau has never been something the Martial Artists of Guangping County Town can decide. All these local Martial Artists who have chosen sides think their participation can sway the final battle, but they don’t even qualify as pawns. This is also why my Tang Family has chosen to remain neutral."
Lin Yan fell silent. Miss Tang’s words were brutal.
When the Four Seas Gang and the Inspection Bureau went to war this time, almost every Martial Artist in Guangping County Town got involved. Yet the truth was that these people didn’t even count as pawns.
Lin Yan had been feeling a bit of secret delight over his breakthrough to the Third-Time of Skin Smoothing, with his actual combat strength nearing the Fourth-Time. But at this moment, that delight vanished into thin air, replaced only by a chilling cold.
’My own strength is still not enough.’
’This time, I remained neutral because my master and the Tang Family chose to do so. But what about next time? If I encounter a different situation, I’m afraid I’ll be no different from the Martial Artists in Guangping County Town who are currently picking sides.’

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