Chapter 13: Tang Tianhao

The Tang family estate, a vast and opulent manor, stands prominently in the center of Zhushan County. It boasts numerous servants, and at night, its lights blaze as brightly as day.

Inside the estate, pavilions and towers are meticulously arranged. All beams are crafted from rare golden nanmu wood, and the glazed tiles shimmer dazzlingly with vibrant colors under the lights. Winding paths are paved with smooth pebbles, flanked by exotic flowers and plants, introduced from distant lands, each one highly valuable, vying for attention.

As Gu Chudong followed Tang Buyi into the manor, even after a decade of traveling the jianghu and gaining extensive experience, he couldn't help but exclaim, "Tang Buyi, your family is incredibly wealthy!"

"It's nothing special," Tang Buyi replied. "Don't let the luxury of our manor mislead you; my father built it by biting the bullet, and we're still deeply in debt."

"Oh, why is that?" Gu Chudong asked, puzzled.

Tang Buyi shook his head. "Our Tang family is in business, and this manor serves as our public face, specifically designed to showcase our power. Think about it: if you were the head of a sect and needed to order a large batch of weapons, with an upfront deposit of several thousand taels, wouldn't you seek a trustworthy merchant? If you came to our Tang family and found us impoverished and dilapidated, wouldn't you worry we'd abscond with your money? But conversely, if you arrived with several thousand taels and saw this immensely valuable estate, would you still fear us running away with your money? You'd surely think this manor alone is worth tens of thousands of taels; why would we flee for merely a few thousand?"

Gu Chudong had an epiphany. "So that's it! I never realized there were so many intricacies to doing business!"

Tang Buyi chuckled. "There are countless more. The reason my martial arts are so mediocre is precisely because my father constantly pressured me to learn the business. If I had been able to dedicate myself fully to martial arts, my skills would undoubtedly be incredibly profound!"

Gu Chudong said with a serious expression, "So, that means you're really good at business, right? Has a lot of your Tang family's business already been put into your hands? Could you tell me how you conduct business? I'd like to save some money and start my own business someday. Could you teach me?"

"Uh..."

Tang Buyi's face flushed with embarrassment. He knew nothing about business and had only said that to save face. Since he couldn't possibly elaborate on business strategies, he quickly changed the subject. "Oh, let's not discuss that for now. Chief Qu, Brother Gu, Sister Chudong, and all the brothers from the escort agency, I've already had a banquet prepared for you. Please go eat and rest for a bit. I need to go pay my respects to my father, and I'll come find you shortly!"

Qu Heng said, "Young Master Tang, please go ahead with your business; there's no need to attend to us."

Gu Mo cupped his hands and said, "Brother Tang, please feel free."

Gu Chudong said, "Then remember to teach me about business later!"

Tang Buyi was speechless.

***

While Gu Mo and his group were dining,

Tang Buyi arrived outside a study. After lingering at the door for a while, straightening his clothes, and taking a deep breath, he pushed the door open, bowed, and announced, "Father, I've returned."

Tang Tianhao, the head of the Tang family, was a man nearing fifty. He stood tall and straight like a pine, exuding an unyielding, authoritative presence cultivated from years in a high position. He was seated, examining ledgers, when he subtly raised his head, glanced at Tang Buyi, and asked in a low voice, "Are you injured?"

"Yes."

In front of Tang Tianhao, Tang Buyi was remarkably docile, no longer the talkative person he was outside; he spoke sparingly.

"How did you get injured?" Tang Tianhao inquired.

Tang Buyi then recounted his encounter with Iron Arhat and Master Kuhsin outside Zhushan County.

As he listened, Tang Tianhao's expression grew solemn. He set down his ledger and asked, "Are you certain it was Iron Arhat and Master Kuhsin?"

"I'm not certain," Tang Buyi replied. "I haven't met them, but Chief Qu Heng should not have been mistaken. Moreover, those two are highly skilled martial artists; there would be no need for them to impersonate two demonic figures."

"What was the name of that blind young man who saved you?"

"Gu Mo."

Tang Tianhao slightly furrowed his brow. "He's young, blind, possesses unfathomable martial arts skills, yet remains unknown. It's quite a coincidence that you met him, and even more coincidental that two evil masters happened to appear, only for him to precisely save your life."

Tang Buyi raised an eyebrow, clearly displeased. "Father, you're not suggesting Brother Gu deliberately approached me, are you? That's impossible. Brother Gu isn't that kind of person. If you don't believe me, you can go meet him."

Tang Tianhao waved his hand. "No need. Since he was expelled by the Changfeng Escort Agency, I'll simply send someone to investigate. I understand you feel he saved your life, but I harbor suspicions, and it's not a matter of gratitude. Ordinarily, I wouldn't overthink things, but this is a critical period, and I must exercise extreme caution."

"What's going on?" Tang Buyi asked.

Tang Tianhao stated gravely, "Let's set Gu Mo aside for now; after all, he is your savior, and I have no desire to suspect him without concrete evidence. Do you truly believe it was mere coincidence that Iron Arhat and Master Kuhsin happened to encounter you? Are you, Tang Buyi, some renowned figure in the jianghu? Why would two evil masters, who have been famous for years, recognize you at first glance?"

Tang Buyi froze for a moment, then quickly asked, "Father, are you implying... it wasn't a coincidence?"

Tang Tianhao said, "Recently, Zhushan County has been unsettled, with many powerful figures from the evil sects appearing. It's still unclear what their intentions are, but I have a strong premonition that they are here for no good. The fact that Iron Arhat and Master Kuhsin attacked you further solidifies my suspicion: someone is targeting our Tang family. As you know, the divine weapon 'Immaculate Sword' that we promised to forge for Master Ye of the Canglan Sword Sect is nearing completion. I worry these people are after the Immaculate Sword."

"Father, is this a serious problem?" Tang Buyi asked nervously.

Tang Tianhao waved his hand. "You don't need to concern yourself with these matters. For now, don't leave the city; just stay put."

"I understand," Tang Buyi nodded.

"Oh, and regarding Gu Mo," Tang Tianhao added, "you can try to befriend him for now. Once I've investigated and confirmed his background is clean, then his future is boundless. To possess such remarkable martial arts skills at such a young age, and having saved your life, he would indeed be worth cultivating a deep friendship with. But even before his identity is fully clarified, you must not treat him lightly. We wouldn't want people to think our Tang family is ungrateful."

"I understand."

"Mm."

Tang Tianhao gestured. "Let me see your injuries."

Tang Buyi obediently walked over.

Tang Tianhao took Tang Buyi's wrist and examined it. Once he confirmed there were no serious injuries, the worry in his eyes vanished, replaced by a look of exasperated disappointment. "I tell you to practice martial arts, but all you do is slack off every day! Our Tang family's Heavenly Star Swordplay and Heavenly Star Art are supreme martial arts. If you had achieved even a modicum of success with any of them, you wouldn't be this humiliated, unable to even withstand a single move!"

Tang Buyi grumbled, "You've earned so much money already, why should I bother training martial arts so diligently? You refuse to teach me business, and with all these family assets, what good is martial arts? Learning business is what truly matters, isn't it?"

"You know nothing!" Tang Tianhao cursed. "The very foundation of standing in the jianghu is martial arts. If your martial arts skills aren't sufficient, no matter how vast your business or how much money you accumulate, it will never truly be yours. The prerequisite for generating wealth peacefully is possessing the stature to command respect and harmonious interactions. How do you think the Tang family became what it is today? It was first my martial arts, and only then did the business prosper!"