The affiliated Martial Artists had clearly not listened to her.
Not only had they refused to disperse early, but they were still pressing forward even after an hour had passed, all to buy the family more time.
Tang Tang gazed at the night sky, reddened by the glow of flames. Her eyes welled up as she whispered, "Father, you were right."
She had originally planned to dismiss all these affiliated Martial Artists, but her father had insisted on keeping them.
His reason was that these Martial Artists had been with the Tang Family for years and were like old comrades. He just couldn’t bring himself to send them away.
In terms of Martial Arts Cultivation and managing the family, her father might not have been exceptionally gifted, nor did he always prioritize the family’s interests above all else.
But now, at the Tang Family’s moment of crisis, it was precisely these men her father had saved who were buying them precious time.
’People gather for profit and scatter when it runs out.’
Tang Shaoqi forced a smile. "Let’s go. We can’t let Old Wang and the others die in vain."
"Yes."
Tang Tang nodded. The group of more than a dozen people pressed on. But as they crested a mountain ridge, the middle-aged man leading the way suddenly barked, "Stop!"
The man’s gaze shot to the left, his expression grave.
"Brother, what is it?" Tang Shaoqi asked, looking at his older brother.
The Tang Family had become the top family in Guangping County Town not because of his own management skills, but because his older brother was there to hold things down.
Even among Fourth-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artists, there were vast differences in strength, and his brother was among the absolute elite.
It was no exaggeration to say that his brother could easily take on two ordinary Fourth-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artists at once.
"Someone’s caught up. You take everyone and go on ahead. I’ll hold the pursuers off."
Tang Shaoxin’s words made the color drain from Tang Tang’s face. For her uncle, with all his power, to merely say he would "hold them off" meant their pursuer was extraordinarily powerful. ’At the very least, they must be another top-tier expert among Fourth-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artists, just like Uncle.’
"Be careful, Brother."
Tang Shaoqi nodded, knowing this was no time for hesitation. "Everyone, follow me."
The night wind howled, and dry branches CRACKLED underfoot. The breaths of the Tang Family members grew increasingly ragged.
"Just a little longer, Brother," Tang Tang said, stepping forward to support her older brother as she saw him panting for breath.
Her brother had been frail since birth. Despite trying countless remedies, his condition never improved. Even with the family pouring resources into his training without a second thought for the cost, he had only reached the level of Single-Time Skin Smoothing.
After running through the mountain forest for so long, he was already at his limit.
"I can keep going, Little Sister. I’m fine."
Tang Yang wiped the sweat from his forehead. He was starting to regret his decision. ’I should have listened to my little sister and left with the first group of clansmen.’
’But with my uncle, father, and little sister all still at home, how could I leave by myself? Wouldn’t that have made me a deserter?’
His regret now wasn’t for his own safety, but for the fact that he was slowing everyone down.
Tang Tang offered a few words of comfort to her brother, but when she looked away, a shadow of worry crossed her eyes. ’Uncle still hasn’t caught up. The battle must not be going well.’
’Neither the Four Seas Gang nor the Inspection Bureau has this kind of power. So which faction from the Prefecture City is targeting our Tang Family?’
"Tsk, tsk. You Tang Family members really led us on quite a chase."
Laughter echoed from the woods to their right, a sinister, grating sound like nails on slate that set everyone’s teeth on edge.
Before the voice had even faded, several figures stepped out from the trees on both sides, blocking their path.
The man in the lead was middle-aged and gaunt, with a sallow complexion. His triangular eyes were half-closed, making him look like a lurking viper.
He made no effort to conceal his aura. A dense wave of Qi Blood spread through the night wind, so thick it felt tangible, making the Tang Family members’ breath catch in their throats.
Tang Tang’s heart sank. Their leader was a Fourth-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artist.
Not only was their leader a Fourth-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artist, but the other eleven had steady auras and nimble steps. They were either Third-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artists or elites among the Second-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artists.
"Gentlemen, my Tang Family has already abandoned our apothecaries. Is there a need to be so ruthless?"
Tang Shaoqi watched them and began to speak slowly. "For this clan relocation, we didn’t sell off our apothecaries ahead of time. Including our other properties, the deeds we left behind are worth tens of thousands of silver coins."
The Tang Family didn’t sell these shops and residences in secret. It was a message to all the powers coveting Guangping County Town: the Tang Family admitted defeat and was withdrawing. The properties were theirs for the taking.
"The Tang Family has been number one in this county town for over twenty years," Yan Li sneered. "To think you can just walk away is nothing but a fantasy."
Yan Li chuckled. "We’ll take the Tang Family’s properties, but we also want the silver coins you’ve accumulated over the years."
The Tang Family was no ordinary Martial Artist Clan with a Fourth-Time Skin Smoothing master. After so many years in Guangping County Town, their accumulated wealth was far beyond what a typical clan of their level possessed. There was no way they’d be allowed to escape with it.
They had entered the town long ago to keep an eye on the Tang Family, just waiting for confirmation from the Li Family to make their move.
"Father, take my brother and go."
At some point, Tang Tang’s right hand had closed around the hilt of a Longsword. Her eyes fixed on her father and brother. "I’ll lead the men and hold them here."
Although she had yet to reach the Fourth-Time of Skin Smoothing, she was at the peak of the Third-Time of Skin Smoothing. Furthermore, with her uncle’s guidance, she had already developed Sword Momentum in her Jinghong Sword Technique. ’I can’t defeat this man,’ she thought, ’but I can at least stall him long enough for Father and Brother to escape.’
"Tang’er?" Tang Shaoqi shook his head. "Tang’er, what kind of father would let his own daughter stand on the front lines?"

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