Chapter 16: The Tang Family's Major Event

"Tang Buyi, your mother is so beautiful!"

As Tang Buyi escorted Gu Mo and Gu Chudong to their assigned courtyard for accommodation, walking through the estate, Gu Chudong's mind kept replaying the image of Mrs. Tang. Her gentle demeanor, intellectual elegance, and refined aura made her deeply envious as a woman herself.

Hearing Gu Chudong's compliment, Tang Buyi proudly boasted, "Of course she is! I'm not exaggerating, but my mother was a renowned beauty in the martial arts world when she was young. My maternal grandfather's doorstep was practically worn out by countless suitors, and untold numbers of young talents admired her."

"So, how did your father manage to marry her?" Gu Chudong asked curiously.

"That's a fun story," Tang Buyi replied. "My father was also a well-known young talent in the martial arts world back then, but among my mother's many suitors, he wasn't the most outstanding. The only reason he managed to marry her was all thanks to a scheme concocted by my second uncle.

At the time, everyone was trying to win my mother's favor, doing everything they could to impress her. But my second uncle took a different approach. He came up with a roundabout plan, involving my grandfather.

My grandfather deliberately befriended my maternal grandfather. Then, he found an opportunity to invite him for drinks and got him completely drunk. While my maternal grandfather was in a drunken stupor, my grandfather subtly tricked him into agreeing to an arranged marriage between our two families.

By the time my maternal grandfather sobered up, my grandfather was already parading the marriage contract around. Being a man of the martial arts world, my maternal grandfather valued his reputation above all else. Although he knew he had been tricked, he had no choice but to begrudgingly accept the arrangement. There was no way to go back on his word. That's how my father smoothly married my mother. Even now, after all these years, my mother still occasionally teases my father about it, calling him unscrupulous. But my father always protests that he's innocent, because that cunning trick really wasn't his idea; it was my second uncle's."

Gu Chudong said speechlessly, "But that scheme really was awful!"

Tang Buyi burst out laughing. "If I ever find someone I like and can't marry her, I'll ask my father to use that trick too!"

***

Tang Buyi had prepared a private courtyard for Gu Mo and Gu Chudong, complete with several servants ready to attend to their needs.

After Tang Buyi left, Gu Chudong expressed some concern. "Brother, it's great that Master Tang is helping us find Feilong, but there's a problem."

"What problem?"

Gu Mo sat in a chair, slowly feeling for the teapot to pour himself some tea, then poured it back into the pot, only to pour it into the cup again. He wasn't bored; he was training his sensory perception. Although his profound internal energy allowed him to perform tasks like a sighted person, he was still blind and hadn't fully adapted to many subconscious actions. The martial arts world was dangerous, especially when fighting masters, where victory or defeat could be decided in an instant. He had to completely adjust to his blindness; otherwise, he would have many vulnerabilities, particularly in spatial memory, which required constant training.

Gu Chudong sat next to Gu Mo and directly took the tea he had just poured. She knew Gu Mo was training his adaptability, so she sometimes cooperated by creating little challenges for him.

"Brother, we came to Zhushan County to hunt Feilong, intending to use Proprietor Yan's intelligence. But if the Tang family now openly investigates Feilong's whereabouts, the news will surely spread. Then, other Windchase Towers will also learn that Feilong is here, and many bounty hunters will rush over. Won't we lose our advantage?"

Gu Mo continued to pour the tea unhurriedly, a faint smile playing on his lips. "First, we absolutely need the Tang family's help in finding him. Otherwise, how would the two of us, unfamiliar with Zhushan County, even begin to search? Zhushan County is vast; just the county town alone is too large for us to cover on our own. Unless Feilong reveals himself, we'd either have to go back or keep waiting. And if we wait a few more days, other Windchase Towers will also get wind of Feilong being in Zhushan County; Proprietor Yan's intelligence lead won't last long.

Second, for bounty hunters, intelligence is always just an aid. Priority intelligence might provide some advantage, but true advantage always depends on the bounty hunter's own capabilities. If many bounty hunters arrive and someone else snatches the target, it merely proves we were inferior. There's nothing to regret."

Gu Chudong pondered for a moment, then nodded. "That's true. I wonder if the Tang family can find Feilong?"

"In Zhushan County, if even the Tang family can't find him, then we truly can just go home. If the Tang family can't find him, it's even less likely anyone else will."

***

Meanwhile, elsewhere.

Tang Tianhao had already summoned many senior Tang family members, specifically those who dealt with all sorts of people, and instructed them to investigate Feilong's whereabouts.

After Tang Tianhao finished giving his orders, Tang Buyi entered from outside and asked, "Father, didn't you say yesterday that you needed to rest and be cautious of Brother Gu? Why did you agree so readily when he came to you for help today?"

When facing Tang Buyi, Tang Tianhao's demeanor was entirely different from his jovial manner with Gu Mo. He looked like a changed man, his face stern and serious. He explained, "First, it's always wise to be cautious of others. Gu Mo's appearance was somewhat coincidental, and it's natural for me to be wary. However, that doesn't negate the fact that he saved your life, which means he has shown kindness to our Tang family. When he needs help, it's our duty to assist him.

Second, Gu Mo is hunting Feilong, a master of the evil path. This matter also aligns with our Tang family's interests. The Impeccable Sword is about to be forged, and coincidentally, many evil cultivators have recently appeared in Zhushan County. I strongly suspect they are targeting the Impeccable Sword. Feilong is a top-tier master among the evil sects, and if he's lurking in the shadows with designs on our Tang family, it would be extremely dangerous. If Gu Mo's information is accurate and Feilong truly is in Zhushan County, then our Tang family absolutely needs to know his whereabouts."

Tang Buyi realized, "Father, I understand."

After a moment of thought, Tang Buyi asked again, "Father, the Impeccable Sword is being forged for Grandmaster Ye of the Azure Wave Sword Sect. Do those evil cultivators truly dare to target the Impeccable Sword?"

"Which of those evil cultivators isn't audacious?" Tang Tianhao retorted. "Furthermore, what do people in the martial arts world seek but fame and fortune? Where does fame come from? None other than powerful martial arts. Doesn't possessing a divine weapon, a treasured sword capable of slicing through hair and iron as if it were mud, equate to enhancing one's martial prowess?

The Impeccable Sword is crafted from extraterrestrial meteorite iron along with various rare heavenly materials and earthly treasures. Our Tang family has been forging weapons for three generations, and only now do we have the chance to create such a divine weapon. It can truly elevate our Tang family's reputation in the martial arts world, taking us to the next level and establishing us as true masters of weapon forging. I must be vigilant against any sign of trouble, let alone a master of the evil path like Feilong!"