Chapter 23: The Liu Family's Secret Plot

Tang Yan had a good impression of Uncle Mo's eldest grandson, and smiled. "Brother Mo, you were looking for me?"

"I used to be blind and disrespectful toward you, Young Master. Now I realize just how wrong I was. Over this past month of working together, the Young Master has surpassed the finest disciples of every other family in every regard. Given time, the top young talent in Yun City may well be our Tang Clan's own." Mo Yanjun spoke with sincere admiration.

"Brother Mo, just say what's on your mind — we're family here, no need for formalities." Tang Yan waved his hand.

Mo Yanjun gave a wry smile. "You, kid… I've been thinking of resigning from my position as squad captain and focusing on my own cultivation. Everyone's been advancing quickly, and they're all self-disciplined — they don't really need me leading them anymore. Besides, everyone respects you. I'll report honestly to the Master, and from now on the guards can be under your direct command."

Tang Yan fell into thought after hearing this. He understood Mo Yanjun's mindset well — watching the guards advance so rapidly had put enormous pressure on him. He feared that if things continued this way, his own strength would eventually be surpassed, and he would no longer be worthy of the captain's position.

"Brother Mo, even though your surname is Mo, you are inseparable from our Tang Clan, and my grandfather feels the same way. The burden of protecting the Tang Clan still needs to rest on your shoulders." Tang Yan said earnestly. "Even though I've been at the Training Grounds for over a month, I've rarely interfered with your training of the guards — precisely so as not to undermine your authority.

If the Tang Clan ever faces a powerful enemy from outside, you'll be able to command the Tang Clan guards more smoothly and protect our home."

"Wouldn't it be better if you commanded them directly?" Mo Yanjun asked, puzzled.

"That's not my ambition. I will inevitably leave Yun City one day. The heavy responsibility of protecting the Tang Clan must still fall to you, Brother Mo." Tang Yan paused, then produced several small bottles. "These are Spirit Initiation Pills — among pills that increase True Qi, they are the finest below the second grade. Tonight, give one to each person. By tomorrow, quite a few of them should enter the Yellow Realm."

Mo Yanjun accepted the pills in a daze, and stammered, "Better than Qi Gathering Pills?"

"Naturally better than Qi Gathering Pills. Keep three for yourself and take one tonight — you'll feel the difference. Your aptitude is also exceptional, Brother Mo. If you push yourself hard enough, reaching the Heavenly Realm is not without hope!"

"Understood." Mo Yanjun looked at Tang Yan seriously. "Don't worry."

Their eyes met for a moment. Tang Yan smiled, clapped Mo Yanjun on the shoulder, and turned to leave.

Watching Tang Yan's retreating figure, Mo Yanjun stood there in a daze. Who exactly was the senior here? Why did that fellow feel more like an elder?

Entrusting the pills to him to distribute to the guards — Mo Yanjun was deeply moved. He understood that this was Tang Yan's way of letting him win the hearts of the men.

He himself wasn't particularly concerned with power, though. His mind kept replaying Tang Yan's words — as long as you push yourself hard enough, the Heavenly Realm is within reach.

In the past, Mo Yanjun would never have believed it. But Chang Tie's breakthrough had given him tremendous confidence.

As the Tang Clan's guard captain, he knew every man under his command well. He had assumed that even if Chang Tie entered the Yellow Realm, it would take at least a few more years. Yet after Tang Yan arrived, in just one month, Chang Tie had broken through.

Tang Yan's method of training soldiers had undoubtedly opened a clear path of cultivation for everyone.

* * *

The Liu Family's great hall.

The senior members of the Liu Family had gathered together, and the atmosphere inside the hall was heavy and oppressive.

The Liu Family patriarch, Liu Wuhui, sat at the center and said, "Liu Quan, tell us everything that happened today, from beginning to end."

"Your grandson saw Little Yuan being humiliated by Tang Yan, which damaged our Liu Family's reputation, so I wanted to reclaim our honor. Tang Yan's cultivation core had been shattered by First Young Master Liu Zhi — yet when I crossed blades with him, that brat actually had the strength of the eighth grade of the Primary Realm!" Liu Quan said with a pained expression.

"Hmph. I have taught you all since childhood — even a lion uses its full strength against a rabbit. Underestimating your enemy is the greatest cause of defeat. Everyone remember that!" Liu Wuhui slammed the table and roared, and everyone in the hall instantly fell silent.

"No one could have anticipated that the brat was hiding so much. Even without his cultivation core being shattered, the outside world had always heard that he only had the strength of the second grade of the Primary Realm. Besides, when Zhi shattered that Tang brat's cultivation core, it was confirmed by several renowned physicians of Yun City. How could he have restored his cultivation core and gained the strength of the eighth grade of the Primary Realm?" Liu He said, frowning.

Liu He was the second most powerful figure in the Liu Family, the eldest son of the Liu patriarch, and the heir apparent to the next Liu Family headship.

With his words, the tense atmosphere in the hall eased somewhat.

"My guess is that the brat has been cultivating all along, and then learned some secret technique that kept his cultivation core in a damaged state, deceiving everyone." The second-in-command, Liu Jing, said. His own son Liu Quan was extraordinarily talented and would have become a formidable expert in time — yet that scoundrel Tang Yan had gravely injured his cultivation core. Just thinking about it filled him with boundless hatred.

"I must say, Tang Yan's sudden display of power is not good news for our Liu Family. Give him a few more years, and if that brat grows into his strength, he will become yet another great threat to us." Liu Wuhui took a sip of tea and said coldly, "Moreover, our Liu Family has had its face slapped twice by that brat. Getting rid of him would be for the best."

"Twenty days from now is the Mid-Autumn Festival. The young disciples of Yun City's great families will gather at Bright Moon Lake for the Mid-Autumn Grand Assembly.

If Tang Yan participates in the Mid-Autumn martial competition, fists and feet have no eyes — finishing off that brat in the chaos would be most satisfying, wouldn't it?" The second-in-command Liu Jing said coldly.

"Second Brother's plan is excellent. Tang Yan may still be a warrior, but his wings are not yet fully grown. Previously, Zhi humiliated Tang Yan in front of the City Lord's daughter, and that brat must be nursing a grudge. When the time comes, we'll stir up the crowd and goad Tang Yan into challenging Zhi — then Zhi can take care of that brat once and for all." Liu He said.

A scheme targeting Tang Yan quietly took shape within the Liu Family.

As for the Liu Family's so-called brilliant plot, its intended target, Tang Yan, was completely unaware.

* * *

The previous night's pill refining had cost a considerable sum, and he was nearly out of silver notes.

At this moment, with three Spirit Initiation Pills in hand, he disguised his appearance and made his way toward the Tianbao Auction House.

After today, the Tang Clan would likely gain dozens more Yellow Realm warriors, and that would mean no small monthly expense going forward. He also needed to accumulate a certain amount of wealth for the Tang Clan to ensure its future development.

"Young sir, how may I assist you?" When Tang Yan walked into the Tianbao Auction House, an elderly man greeted him with a smile.

"I'd like to auction some pills."

"Oh? What kind of pills does the young sir wish to auction, and what grade are they? Ordinary pills will not be accepted for auction." The old man explained. "Ordinary pills refer to common pills below the second grade — those can easily be purchased at Miaodan Pavilion."

The old man had spent years in Yun City and prided himself on recognizing the young members of every great family — even that Tang Family scoundrel, he could identify on sight.

But no matter how hard he racked his brain over every family's members, he couldn't figure out who this person in front of him was. That meant he must be from a minor family. And what kind of quality pills could a young man from a minor family possibly produce?

What this old fellow never could have imagined was that the young man before him was none other than the very Tang Family scoundrel he had just been mentally mocking.