Chapter 46: Giant Elephant City

  Ten days later, Tang Yan and his group passed through the vast dense forest, crossed the rugged mountain road, and finally saw the Giant Elephant City.

  The magnificent and majestic Elephant Castle, filled with the vicissitudes of time, and a strong sense of grandeur. The city walls are high and thick, about 20 to 30 meters high, on top of which can accommodate dozens of galloping horses, the tall gate tower is even more magnificent and imposing, ancient and yet majestic. The moat is wide enough to be tens of meters, deep enough to have ten or so meters, inside are lotus flowers blooming, fish swimming, but upon closer inspection, you can see ferocious crocodiles lurking beneath, occasionally surfacing, their scarlet eyes watching the passing travelers.

  "It's finally here."

  Looking at the giant city in front of her, Elynda let out a long sigh, thinking about the experiences she had over the past three or four months, it was as if she had just woken up from a dream, with both thrilling and memorable moments.

  "... Giant Elephant City..." Tang Yan gazed at this ancient, gigantic beast-like massive structure, lost in thought for a long time. Having grown accustomed to the dense mountains and forests, suddenly seeing such an enormous and majestic city left her heart filled with shock. This was a breathtaking scene that she could not have seen or imagined before, and a surge of grandeur burst forth from her heart.

  "What's wrong, after leaving for four months, you don't even recognize your own home?" Tang Ying smiled and waved her small hand in front of Tang Yan.

  "With some emotions, I... came back alive." Tang Yan smiled and walked across the suspension bridge, through the moat, and into the city gate. To avoid causing a stir, Tang Jun and others had brought Lie Huo Shi and Zhou Linglu back to their family as early as last night.

  "Hey? Isn't that Second Young Master Tang?"

  "Has Young Master Tang returned? Haha, let's go drink at Drunken Town Tavern another day."

  "Some pretty girls have just arrived, waiting for Second Master to drink the first soup."

  Several young officers on the city wall burst out laughing, and soon a strange, eerie laughter echoed across the wide city wall.

  Tang Yan remembered these guys, they were all regulars at the brothel, and could be considered as close friends with Tang Er Gongzi, often drinking together.

  "Hmm!! Tang Ying let out a heavy hum, before seeing Tang Yan's nonsense was always very calm and ignored, but today why did it feel sour in her heart, even Ailin furrowed her eyebrows slightly, apparently not quite used to it."

  Tang Yan didn't care at all, and with a flourish of his hand towards the city gate, he shouted: "Tonight, Drunken Village Inn, I'm buying!!"

  "Great!! Haha haha!! Second Master, if we don't meet again, it's not a separation!!" Several young officers burst out laughing loudly, earning strange white eyes from the merchants and travelers around the city, while some girls who came to Giant Elephant City for the first time turned pale, thinking they had come to the wrong place.

  "Tan Yan!!" Tang Ying and Ailinda glared at him.

  "Just kidding, I'm Tang Yan, a straightforward and upright person, how could I go to that kind of place. What was said earlier was just a joke between men, don't take it seriously." Tang Yan said with righteousness.

  "A man?" Erynda looked up and down at Tang Yan, although after three or four months of training, his skin had become much coarser, but that youthful appearance still couldn't be shed. A fifteen-year-old kid, no matter how mature he was, just wasn't convincing.

  "What's with that look, Instructor Eriol? Don't you believe me? Want to find a place to have a little spar?"

  Erlinda forced herself to remain silent.

  "Count me in tonight." Du Yang quietly poked Tang Yan and gave a sly smile.

  "Aren't you going back to school?"

  "Nonsense, what am I going back for? To wait for them to cause trouble?" Du Yang seemed lazy, but was more cunning than anyone. Whether he liked it or not, at least for a long time, he had to follow this Tang Second Master. Otherwise, with his commoner identity, he would easily be persecuted by the subordinates of Zhou Ling Wang.

  "Ailinda mentor, why don't you stay at our place for the time being? I've just reached Wu Ling and there are still many aspects that I need to ask for your guidance." Tang Ying invited Ailinda with a gentle tone.

  "Good." Eriol didn't refuse this kind invitation. She couldn't go back to the academy before figuring out the current situation.

  "Aylin teacher, pay attention to closing doors and windows at night, beware of wolves and thieves." Tang Yan blinked his eyes and burst out laughing.

  "Is that... Old Heaven's Family... That evil stick is back?" The vendors and residents by the road quickly recognized Tang Second Master, all smiles slowly froze, turning into bitterness and tension.

  "Isn't he dead?"

  "Does this lively and energetic appearance look like a dead person?"

  "Alas, what was that saying? Good people don't live long, calamities last for a thousand years. I think this kid has the fortune of living to be a hundred."

  "Uh...the girls of Giant Elephant Castle are in trouble again."

  ……………

  The Grand Courtyard of the Tang Family, the Martial Arts Arena, where many young members of the Tang family are diligently practicing their morning exercises.

  "Master! Master!" A servant rushed over hastily and shouted: "The second young master has entered the city!"

  "Huh?" The handsome young man who was in the midst of a fierce battle with the guard suddenly stopped, and at that moment, the guard's wooden sword swooped down, chopping him into several segments with a loud "thwack".

  "Master, spare your life!!" The guard hastily knelt on the ground, his face deathly pale.

  The heroic young man patted the wood shavings off his body and said coldly without even looking: "Drag him away!!"

  The servants waiting around the martial arts arena rushed over, grabbed the guards on the ground and walked towards the not-so-distant woodshed, which was also their execution chamber. The men and women in the martial arts arena were unmoved.

  The servant took a few steps forward and said: "Young Master Er just entered the city, and it seems that the master of the house and Second Master have gone to welcome him. Do you think... should we also go over?"

  "Didn't he die in the Mystic Forest? How did he come back?" The robust and handsome young man was Tang Yan's half-brother, Tang Qian, the eldest son of the Tang family and its nominal heir. Only seventeen years old, having completed his baptism two years ago, he had already reached the third stage of martial arts, making him a prominent figure among the younger generation in Giant Elephant City. Although young, he was decisive and cunning in handling matters, yet not lacking in tact, earning the respect of all the elder members of the family.

  The servant stammered: "This... is unclear... and Miss Jing has also returned."

  The collateral males and females in the family all gathered around, feeling somewhat inexplicable about Tang Yan and Tang Ying's sudden return.

  "It's been almost three months since they went missing, how are they alive again?"

  "This kid is really something."

  "I heard from people in the academy that Tang Yan seems to have completed his baptism."

  "Are you kidding me? I asked a student and he said it was just for fun."

  "Huh? Really? I figured as much, a useless piece of trash that can't even condense spiritual energy, how could you possibly participate in the baptism?"

  "How did I hear that it caused a sensation at the time?"

  "What caused a sensation was Tang Ying, with an activation rate of as high as 80%!!"

  "Eighty! This little girl is not simple, usually low-key, but suddenly surprises everyone."

  "I remember when Eldest Young Master had his coming-of-age ceremony, he was only this old too. Looks like the Tang family is going to give birth to another freak."

  "Let's go and take a look quickly."

  Outside the Tang Mansion, the head of the Tang family, Tang Mingjing, Second Master Tang Mingzhong (Tang Mingjing's younger brother), and other senior members of the family were all gathered here, waiting for the arrival of Tang Yan and Tang Ying.

  The guards outside wondered secretly, who were they waiting for? It seemed that everyone who should have come had already arrived!

  "Big brother, Tang Yan really..." Tang Ming Zhong lowered his voice and whispered to Tang Ming Jing.

  "The specific situation is still unclear, the old man requested a news blackout and temporarily announced that everything was just a rumor."

  "Oh? Isn't that true!" Tang Mingzhong heard the implicit meaning.

  Tang Ming Jing let out a soft breath and chuckled quietly: "When this kid comes back, I'll have to interrogate him thoroughly."

  "I'd rather hope he can change his ways, otherwise... the girls in this Giant Elephant City will be in trouble." Tang Mingzhong said with a soft smile, it's clear that both of them still care about Tang Yan's situation.

  "Father! Second Uncle!" Tang Qian rushed to the gate and was also startled by this sudden scene.

  Tang Ming said: "Qian Er, have you heard about Xiao Ying's matter? An 80% spiritual vein activation rate, you must work hard!"

  Tang Mingzhong smiled and said, "If there's a chance, you should help Ying'er more often. This little girl is too proud and doesn't know how to ask for help from others. As her older brother, you should take the initiative."

  "Second Uncle, rest assured, I will take good care of Ying."

  "What? They're here!!" Someone in the crowd suddenly exclaimed, and from the corner of the distant main road, a few men and women were walking towards this direction, chatting and laughing.

  "It's them!! They're back!!" A hint of haze flashed across Tang Mingzhong's eyes, he only had one daughter, Tang Ying, if something were to happen to her, he really didn't know how he would spend the rest of his life.

  "Father!" Tang Ying saw his father from afar and rushed over like a bird returning to its nest. Before Tang Ming Zhong could say anything, he was hugged tightly and refused to let go.

  Tang Mingzhong had a smile all over his face, gently patting Tang Ying's shoulder to comfort her. The little girl rarely had such intimate actions, it was clear that she had suffered a lot during this period of time.

  "Father, Second Uncle." Tang Yan walked over, neither quickly nor slowly, taking the opportunity to size up the familiar yet strange faces in front of him.

  Tang Qian walked out of the crowd and patted Tang Yan's shoulder heavily, embracing him tightly, excitedly saying: "You're back!!"

  "Big brother, I'm going to die!" Tang Yan responded enthusiastically with a hug, but in his heart, he coldly hummed.

  In Tang Er Gongzi's memory, his elder brother was not a simple person. Although he was not very old, he had a deep understanding of the world and would often do whatever it took to achieve his goals. On the surface, he pretended to be close with Tang Er Gongzi, but in reality, he frequently bullied him.

  Tang Qian took the opportunity to make a subtle probe, but Tang Yan was well-prepared and pushed him away without leaving any trace. He smiled and said, "I'm going to Drunken Town Tower tonight to invite guests, Big Brother will come and show your face?"

  Tang Qian looked at Tang Yan deeply: "No need, there's still some homework to do tonight, we have to prepare for the assault on Wu Zong."

  "Little rabbit!! Learn from your big brother!!" Tang Ming Jing ruthlessly knocked on Tang Yan's head, this little rascal, guarding so many people and actually openly inviting them to go to a 'brothel'!!