Chapter 72: Shrouded in White Fog

  Elephant Castle, Tongfu!

  Tang Qian knocked on Tang Mingjing's door and bowed respectfully: "Father."

  Tang Ming put down the scroll in his hand and revealed a rather relieved smile: "Qian'er, how do you have time to come see me today?"

  "I just came back from the martial arts arena and saw that the light in the study was still on, so I came over to take a look. Has Father been worried about something lately?"

  "It's all because of that little rascal Yun'er, who quietly ran out and was gone for half a year without any news, causing me to be scolded by your grandfather until I'm covered in bruises."

  "Has there been any news about my second brother?"

  "It's done, at dusk, the falcon sent out found their tracks on the outskirts of the Mystic Forest, and it's estimated that they will be back in a few days." Tang Ming Jing was now completely helpless against Tang Yan, and he even missed the old days when they would cause trouble everywhere, although it was just small things that could be easily settled. Now, instead of flirting with girls, he had become interested in demonic beasts.

  Tang Qian smiled and said, "It's good that he's back, this time we must keep a close eye on him."

  "I've already made arrangements, this time when he comes back, let him go to the academy and let those instructors wear down his temper."

  "The academy does have a few iron-blooded mentors who would like someone like Second Brother. By the way, I saw Tang Ba and the others return a few days ago, is there still something troublesome to deal with?" The Tang family had an unwritten rule, where the five great butchers each took care of their own affairs, Tang Jun assisted the old master, Tang Qiong was in charge of internal affairs within Giant Elephant City, while Tang Ba, Tang Qing and Tang Hao were responsible for other regional family industries, as well as eliminating certain specific threats. Unless there was an extremely special situation, the five great butchers would not all gather at the family estate.

  Tang Qian suddenly discovered this strange phenomenon a few days ago, not only did Tang Ba return, but also Tang Qing and Tang Hao came back, except for the "deceased" Tang Qiong, the four major slaughterers gathered in the family.

  Something must have happened! This was his main purpose in coming over today, trying to get involved in family affairs.

  Tang Ming's expression was somewhat solemn: "Your grandfather recently sensed a special energy fluctuation, similar to that of a superior strongman, somewhere in our Giant Elephant City."

  "Wu Zun?!" Tang Qian was shocked.

  "That's right, he is a strong master of the Zun level, and his breath is not weaker than your grandfather's. We are worried that something unexpected will happen, so we called Tang Ba, Tang Qing and Tang Hao back."

  "Has our family recently provoked other powers?"

  "It's still unclear for the time being, so it's better to be cautious. Recently, there have been some disturbances in Giant Elephant City. If you don't have anything urgent to do, please stay at home and avoid going out unnecessarily."

  "Alright, I will, Father. You should get some rest and not overexert yourself." Tang Qian bid farewell and stood up to leave.

  Tang Ming respectfully leaned back in his chair, with a slow-growing worry creeping onto his face. Recently, there had been frequent appearances of unfamiliar strong practitioners in Giant Elephant City, whose behavior was suspicious and who had successively made contact with the Yang and Li families before checking into the Giant Elephant Academy, but never showed any intention of visiting the Tang family.

  After a thorough investigation, the identities of these mysterious people have been preliminarily confirmed to be from the Ling Wang Fu of King Zhou of Shang!

  A supreme strongman, five king-level strongmen, and more than a dozen powerful martial monks! Their sudden arrival made Tang Ming feel a sense of crisis. Who were they here for?

  For Zhou Linglu! And for the almost forgotten looting incident!

  Is it really just like this?

  Tang Ming Jing thought for a long time, being vigilant while also somewhat perplexed. Half a year had passed since the incident, so why did Zhou Ling Wang only now remember his daughter? And prepare to eliminate the hidden danger of the robbery? Was there another hidden situation involved?

  If not, why would King Ling suddenly send such a strong lineup and frequently contact other families? Is it just to discuss cooperation or simply to target the Tang family? There is no reason! Although the Tang family's style of doing things is a bit arrogant, they have never touched the interests of the Ling Wang Fu, and it is impossible to target the Tang family for no reason.

  The most important thing is, how did he determine that Zhou Lingluo was at the Tang's house?! Wasn't it obvious that they would search openly?! As long as Tang Yanshan doesn't die, no one in the Zhou Empire dares to be reckless at the Tang's house!

  Tang Ming Jing fell silent for a moment, unable to find any leads, his intuition telling him that this matter was not simple.

  Fortunately, Tang Ba and others have all returned, no matter what Zhou Ling Wang wants to do, he must think thrice before acting!

  What needs to be done now is to hide Zhou Lingluo well and must not reveal any flaws.

  With a heart full of worries, Tang Mingjing left the study and strolled forward along the gravel path.

  The night is dark and gloomy, with a thick white fog that envelops the sky and earth, seeping into all things.

  It's been a long time since I had a quiet walk. This favorite lilac garden may have been here for a long time without coming to appreciate it.

  Ever since the psychedelic forest raid incident, things have been happening one after another without a single moment of peace.

  Actually, there's another thing that's been bothering me lately, and it's about Tang Qian.

  About half a month ago, Tang Ming unexpectedly received Intelligence Shadow's secret report, suspecting that the mastermind behind the mercenary who ambushed Yan Er was actually Tang Qian!

  Tang Ming Jing immediately tore up the intelligence report and even scolded the shadow of the intelligence for its reckless speculation, without any real evidence, how could it be randomly framed, and it was his own beloved son!

  But half a month has passed since then, and that report form still lingers in his mind, unable to disperse for a long time.

  Did Tang Qian harm Tang Yan? Tang Ming Jing was very unwilling to believe it and couldn't accept that fratricide had occurred in his own family. However, after careful consideration, he felt more and more that this possibility really existed. Tang Qian was talented, experienced, decisive, and ruthless, which was the evaluation of everyone. Normally, this evaluation is a compliment, but when it comes to certain sensitive matters, it has special significance.

  During the two months Tang Yan was back home, he showed off too much and gained his old father's favor, his sharpness steadily surpassing that of the former 'prodigy' Tang Qian! In this situation, what would Tang Qian think? And what would he do?

  Tang Ming Jing did not dare to think deeply about it!

  Yan'er will be back soon, this time secretly going to the Mystic Forest for training, lasting half a year, I don't know what kind of growth there will be, if he breaks through the second-tier barrier and enters the third-tier Wu Ling, won't he be able to rival Qian'er?!

  How should the relationship between these two children be handled?

  Tang Ming Jing felt more and more annoyed, the more he thought about it, the more his heart was troubled. He took a deep breath, put aside these distracting thoughts, and prepared to go back to his room to sleep. The boat would naturally reach the bridgehead on its own; instead, he would wait for Yu Er to come back and then call the two children over to have a serious talk with them.

  Family harmony is still precious!

  But just a few steps away, I unexpectedly found out that today's fog... has thickened?!

  Just as I left the study, the fog was thin and shallow, with a poetic atmosphere under the bright moonlight. It wasn't long after that, the fog became so dense that you couldn't see your fingers when you stretched out your hand, a vast expanse of white, nothing could be seen.

  Tang's secret chamber prison.

  Zhou Linglu was curled up in a corner of the simple wooden bed, her body wrapped in chains, her skirt and shirt tattered, staring blankly with no expression. In just a few short months, this once stunning imperial princess had become haggard and disheveled, her hair disheveled, her face pale, and her body emaciated to the point of being almost unrecognizable.

  In the strictly hierarchical Great Zhou Empire, privately imprisoning an imperial princess is a heinous crime punishable by confiscation of property and extermination of the entire clan!

  The way the Tang family is doing things clearly has a taste of contempt for the empire, but Tang Yanxun has been reckless all his life and has never cared about anything. What's more, this is the Tang family's secret room, and no one knows about this matter, so it's not unreasonable to imprison him!

  At first, Zhou Lingluo cried, made a fuss and struggled desperately, but the response she got was always silence, not even getting the expected retrial.

  She had fantasized that her father would soon come to rescue her, but was repeatedly disappointed.

  One month... two months... three months...

  Time passed day by day, quietly, quietly, still quietly. Zhou Lingluo curled up alone on this wooden bed, without anyone coming over, as if the whole world had forgotten about her.

  She hates! Hates the Tang family! Hates Tang Yan even more!

  But this life of more than half a year without sunshine has ravaged her body and mind, and worn away all her edges. She used to always yearn for the thrill of executing tasks, but now she just wants to go home, back to the Wang Fu, back to her own cozy room, and take a comfortable hot bath.

  In a daze, threads of coolness seeped into the body, and the spiritual energy inside seemed to be pulled by an invisible force, rapidly circulating.

  Zhou Lingluo slowly opened her eyes, staring blankly at the increasingly thick white fog inside the cell. Was she dreaming? She slowly raised her hand, wanting to touch the hazy white fog, but...

  White mist lightly danced up, swirling around her fingertips.

  Freeze into ice crystal, cool and real.

  Really?! Zhou Lingluo's delicate body trembled slightly, and she completely woke up, her dizzy eyes fixed on the thick fog.

  Water Curtain Sky Flower! This is Water Curtain Sky Flower!

  At the same time, in the forbidden land of the family, Tang Yan's eyes suddenly opened, and a hot breath burst out of his body, fierce, frantic, instantly filling the stone room, dispersing all the white mist.

  A surge of energy swept through the entire Tang Manor like a spatial ripple, dispersing the thick white mist.

  Suddenly a thick white fog appeared, and just as suddenly it dispersed. This unusual situation made the people who noticed this scene at Tang's house full of doubts.