Chapter 73: The Final Decision

  Tang Ming keenly captured the heat wave that had just swept across his body, which was... emitted from the secret room? With a hint of doubt, he turned and walked towards Tang Yan's closed-door place. But not far away, a majestic and grand aura, like a surging tide, rolled out and enveloped the Tang family.

  "Who is this thief, daring to be so insolent in the Tang family!!" In an instant, Tang Jun and Tang Ba among others were on high alert, shooting up into the sky like sharp arrows. The rest of the Tang family's guardians appeared one after another, staring at the sky with a mixture of shock and anger.

  In the dead of night, who dares to be so presumptuous? Is this a provocation against the Tang family?!

  "Tang Yansong, it's been a long time, do you still remember me?" A bright and clear laughter echoed from afar amidst the grand atmosphere.

  "What are you doing here, Chang Tianzhu? Why aren't you staying in the Ling Wang Fu and instead came to my Tang Fu?" Tang Yanshan's voice came from the secret room and clearly reached the ears of Tang Mingjing and others.

  Chang Tian Zhu? Is it him?! The chief abbot of the Ling Wang Fu! This is a Wu Zun-level super strong expert! Tang Jun and others' faces turned extremely ugly, staring at the old man who stepped out of thin air, wanting to stop him but feeling deeply powerless.

  Tang Ming Jing raised his hand to signal everyone to calm down, what was meant to come still came, and the Ling Wang Fu indeed came for the Tang family!

  A thick white fog enveloped the air, and an eagle-eyed old man descended, walking into Tang Yansong's secret chamber under the vigilant eyes of Tang Mingjing and others. "Tang brother, I have a small matter to discuss with you."

  "Speak." Tang Yan's expression was cold and indifferent, without even a glance at Chang Tianzhu who had just walked in.

  "On the orders of Master Wang, take away the county master and settle some personal grudges along the way." Chang Tianzhu sat down by himself, smiling but not quite smiling as he looked at Tang Yansong, seemingly unprovoked by his arrogance.

  "I've never seen any duchess, you can leave."

  "Tang Yansong, since I've come today, it's certain that the county master is in your Tang Manor. If not, I'll search personally?"

  Tang Yan's face was expressionless: "Whatever."

  "It's still this stinky and hard temper, not seeing a coffin without shedding tears. Due east, 300 meters, there is a fake mountain, 18 meters down, there is a cage, in the cage there is a broken wooden bed, and the county master is right there! Hmph, you are really rude enough to arrange the county master in such an environment."

  Tang Yanshan raised an eyebrow: "There's a county princess in our family prison? Really?! I'm really sorry, I don't know how she got in there."

  "Stop being stubborn, this is the fact, no matter how you defend it, it's meaningless. Let's talk about something serious, do you know that privately imprisoning the imperial princess will result in confiscation of property and extermination of the family?"

  Tang Yanshan gave him a cold look and retorted bluntly, "Kidnapping the young masters of aristocratic families and academy students will make Zhou Lingwang the target of public criticism."

  Chang Tian Zhu sneered coldly: "Plunder? Evidence! Your crime will be added another count, framing the Imperial Prince!"

  "Is that so? You dare to confront me?"

  "Spare yourself, you have no evidence, and it's still you who will suffer! Tang Yanshan, don't think that just because you're a Martial Honored one, nobody dares to touch you. As long as I give the order now, the royal guards outside will rush in and rescue the princess. This crime will be pinned on your Tang family, and you will definitely face the empire's investigation. At that time, no one can save you!"

  However... the king is benevolent and appreciates your contributions to the empire over the years, so he came up with a win-win solution. I'll take the princess away, you keep the secret forever, and by the way... for my own benefit!

  "Who?"

  "Your grandson Tang Yan! This kid always likes to spout nonsense, the king is worried that it will bring a bad influence, affecting the image of the royal family and the empire. Who knows, it might even bring disaster to your Tang family. Let me take care of it, I'll solve the problem for you!"

  Tang Yanshan's face suddenly turned cold: "Don't even think about it!"

  "Don't look at me with that gaze, you'd better seriously consider it. The things you've framed us for have no evidence, but the fact that you're detaining the princess is solid proof! We even have reason to suspect... the hijacking of the Mystic Forest was done by your Tang family! Otherwise, why would they kidnap the princess? Hmm? Hehe!" Chang Tian Zhu's smile grew increasingly sinister.

  "Awesome! Zhou Ling Wang has raised a good dog!"

  Chang Tian's eyes were cold as he stared at Tang Yan Shan: "If we want to get rid of the Tang family, we have enough reason! Tang Yan knows too much and must be eliminated! You, Tang Yan Shan, are a martial arts master, but you can't protect him for his entire life, let alone the entire Tang family! The severity of this matter, you should understand better than me!"

  "Get out of here!"

  Chang Tianzhu stood up, his long body towering over the others, and said coldly: "For the sake of a young master, you're willing to sacrifice the entire Tang family. Do you think that's fair to the other members of your clan? Think carefully! The day after tomorrow, in the afternoon, Tang Yan will return to the city, and we'll make our move there. If you try to stop us, it means you haven't accepted our terms, and we'll attack the Tang Manor together, erasing your family from the Empire's records! But if you choose to do nothing, that means you've accepted our terms, and the Ling Wang Manor will be friends with the Tang Manor forever."

  Half an hour later, in the secret room of the Tang Mansion!

  "If I had known this earlier, I would have killed Zhou Lingluo directly at the beginning!" Tang Mingjing clenched his fists in anger. At that time, he was somewhat concerned about Zhou Lingluo's identity, so he didn't make a decisive move to kill her, and instead fantasized about using her as leverage against Tang Qiong one day.

  Never thought that things would develop to the present situation, nor did I expect the Ling Wang Fu's counterattack to be so sharp! The means of reversing right and wrong are played out so smoothly!

  Tang Mingzhong furrowed his brow: "How did they find Zhou Lingluo? Was it the fog just now? Is this some kind of martial skill or a magical artifact?"

  Tang Ming's expression was serious: "It might be some kind of sensory martial skill."

  Tang Qian sat in the corner, his expression somewhat dazed. Could it be that their household was actually holding County Princess Zhou Lingluo captive?! At the time of the looting incident, there were still such secrets?! Unbeknownst to him, the Tang family had been standing on the edge of a cliff! If not for his uncle's repeated discussions, he would have hardly dared to believe it.

  "What's your opinion on Chang Tian Zhu's proposal?" Tang Yan Shan looked at the three people in front of him, who were considered the most direct core members of the family and had the right to participate in deciding the fate of the family.

  Three people fell silent one after another, using Tang Yan's life to comfort the family's safety, it seemed perfect, but... The Tang family had always been united and couldn't do such a cruel thing.

  Tang Qian was slightly moved, but he didn't dare show any expression in front of them.

  Tang Yanshan said, "Yan'er will enter the city the day after tomorrow. We need to make a clear decision as soon as possible. Say your suggestions, what do you think, how do you say it, don't have any scruples."

  "I suggest secretly sending someone to inform Second Brother, to immediately turn back and leave the Northern Wilderness forever." Tang Qian was the first to speak up, this suggestion could not only gain Grandfather's favor but also make Tang Yan leave the family forever, killing two birds with one stone.

  Tang Mingzhong shook his head: "Since Changtianzhu knew that Yan'er would enter the city the day after tomorrow, he should have already locked down their trail. No matter how we contact them, they can't escape the pursuit of the Wangfu soldiers."

  Tang Ming Jing clenched his fists and slammed them onto the wooden chair: "They just want to make a move in Giant Elephant City, so we can watch as Yan Er dies, watching them bully our Tang family. If such things really happen, what face will our Tang family have left to stand in the North Barbarian Domain? I, Tang Ming Jing, can't even protect my own child, what face do I have to live in this Giant Elephant City?"

  Tang Yan's face was expressionless, but his heart was filled with bitterness.

  Choice? How to choose! Tang Yan's true identity, he himself is the clearest, his biological father's kindness to the Tang family, this kindness is irreplaceable by anyone, he had promised him a comfortable life, how can he let him go to the road of no return? If the news spreads to that place, what kind of disaster will the Tang family face again?

  But if they insist on persisting, the Tang family will inevitably be buried together! Chang Tianzhu has recently been in frequent contact with the Yang and Li families and the Giant Elephant Academy, presumably to persuade them to form a temporary alliance. Once the Tang family resists, not only will the people from the Wang Mansion come to kill, but also the Yang and Li families will not let go of the opportunity. He himself can ignore the Yang and Li families, but he cannot help but consider that old man in the Giant Elephant Academy.

  A sentence from Chang Tian Zhu is equivalent to pushing oneself to the edge of a cliff, with two options placed in front of oneself.

  Either use Tang Yan's life in exchange for the fate of the entire Tang family, or use the entire Tang family to bury Tang Yan!

  Tang Ming's face looked unpleasant, and he also had an unspoken secret. If Tang Yan was really his son, he might have stood up to show his attitude now, sacrificing his own child to preserve the family's fate. But... Tang Yan's true identity... only he knew best! In the whole family, only he and his father knew about Tang Yan's identity.

  It's precisely because of this reason that he can't make a decision, as it involves too much!

  Tang Mingzhong's subconscious choice was to give up Tang Yan, after all, the overall situation was more important, but his older brother had not expressed his stance, his father had not expressed his stance, and it also involved the family's face, so as an uncle, he couldn't say much.

  The room fell into a long silence.

  After a long silence, Tang Mingzhong seemed to have made up his mind: "Actually..."

  Tang Yanshan and Tang Mingjing both looked at him.

  Tang Mingzhong opened his mouth, just about to speak, but instead let out a bitter laugh and swallowed it back.

  Tang Yanshan's face was unpleasant: "If you have something to say, just say it! Don't be so hesitant!"

  "Hmm... I... Father, if we really give up on Yan'er, how can the Tang family stand firm in the North Wasteland?"

  "What you said is your opinion." Tang Yan's voice was devoid of any emotion.

  Tang Ming Zhong looked at Tang Ming Jing with a bitter expression: "I... I was just making a suggestion... Big brother, don't blame me..."

  "Speak." Tang Ming's weak hand waved.

  "Tang Ming Zhong took a deep breath: 'I suggest we expel Yan Er from our household and sever ties with her before making a move against the Ling Wang Fu, this way we can slightly reduce the negative impact on our Tang family. At the same time, let's propose a condition to the Ling Wang Fu: they can kill Yan Er, but only using Wu Zong's warriors, absolutely not allowing Wu Wang to interfere, this way, more or less, we can leave a thread of life for Yan Er.'"

  Tang Ming scolded in annoyance: "Isn't what you just said the same as not saying anything? Yan'er is only at the Wu Ling boundary, and any Wu Zong can easily wipe him out. There's no need for the Wu Wang to take action."

  Tang Mingzhong smiled wryly: "What else can we do? Ask them to only mobilize third-tier Wu Ling? They must have known about Yan's defeat of Dong Leiming, and they definitely won't just send some Wu Ling to deal with Yan. Besides, Tang Yan has Ailin'da by his side, she's a genuine second-tier Wu Zong. Since we're setting conditions, we should set some reasonable ones that they think are insignificant but can give Yan a way out."

  Tang Ming Jing's annoyance turned into entanglement, and then transformed into pain and bitterness, unable to utter a word for half the day.

  Tang Qian said in a low voice, "If he can escape this time, can he still escape for the rest of his life? This world is so chaotic, and now that he has offended the Ling Wang Fu, he actually... won't live much longer."

  Tang Ming sighed heavily: "If I had known things would develop to this point today, I shouldn't have let Yan'er follow the Academy to participate in that baptism!"

  Tang Yan's eyes suddenly flashed with a sharp light, and after hesitating for a long time, he said: "For the sake of the entire family, we can only give up on Huo Er. Ming Jing, go talk to Chang Tian Zhu, we are willing to expel Huo Er from our household and accept their ambush in Giant Elephant City, but the precondition is that they cannot use any Wu Wang-level warriors. Also... no matter what unexpected events occur as a result, after this matter is over, the Ling Wang Fu cannot take any hostile actions against the Tang family again."

  Tang Ming's eyebrows furrowed deeply: "Father, have you really thought this through?"

  "That's it, I won't bury the entire Tang family for his sake. Yan'er has grown up, if he doesn't die in this disaster, let him go out and make a name for himself."

  Tang Ming Jing and Tang Ming Zhong looked at each other, shook their heads weakly and sighed. Until this moment, they hesitated, as if something was stuck in their hearts, feeling uncomfortable.

  At dawn, Tang Mingjing went to the Giant Elephant Academy in the dark and personally handed over Zhou Lingluo to them. He also clearly stated that he was willing to expel Tang Yan from home.

  Chang Tian accepted the conditions with a refreshing smile and explicitly expressed his willingness to be friends with the Tang family for generations.

  In fact, Zhou Ling Wang wanted to eradicate the Tang family, but the Tang family had a huge influence in the Northern Wilderness Domain, and the old master of the house, Tang Yan Shan, was also a strong martial artist at the Wu Zun level, with great influence in the empire. If things were done too thoroughly, it would inevitably lead to a fierce counterattack from the Tang family, and the Northern Wilderness Domain would become the focus of the empire's attention, and he himself would be questioned by the imperial court.

  To keep the secret, he had to compromise and make peace with the Tang family, shutting their mouths, and get rid of the only evidence - Tang Yan! Du Yang! Elinda!