Chapter 36: Chapter Thirty-Two: Second Homecoming
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Tang Family Dining Hall
“Mom, you know what, there’s a mountain of gold bars in the room.” The little boy stuck the chopsticks into his bowl, waving his arms as he told Xu Shuhui about something.
You can’t possibly be older than four with such a level of expression. Tang Luo staring at the nonsense-spouting little boy, moved the rice to his mouth speechlessly.
“Really, bro is amazing, eat some meat.”
Xu Shuhui on the other hand was thrilled, acting as if she was hearing this news for the first time, appearing rather astonished.
She even cheerfully picked up some food with her chopsticks and placed it in Tang Luo’s bowl as an encouragement.
Thank you, mother.” Tang Luo thanked her awkwardly.
Perhaps outsiders would truly believe that the Tang family had a relative named Gao Jin. However, as the matriarch of the third house of the Tang Clan, who had a powerful intelligence network, it wasn’t hard to guess that the youth who left for the martial hall thirty times a month was her son.
They probably knew that Tang Luo was Gao Jin long ago, but they acted like it was news to them at this point, probably only deceiving the young boy Tang Xing.
The dining hall was a place for familial bonding. However, the communication was mainly managed by Xu Shuhui, while Tang Sen, the family head, kept his head down and ate, only occasionally humming in agreement.
For some reason, his appetite was huge, even for a martial artist, it was rather big.
Tang Luo could eat four or five jins of meat in one meal, which already made him feel like a big eater.
But compared to his father, it was like comparing the light of a firefly to the moon. There were only five members in the household, one of whom was the five-year-old Little Nuannuan, but the meal prepared could easily fill an entire table.
Each dish was placed in a large dish or large plate, but each meal, Tang Sen was able to eat it all clean.
Although Tang Sen ate quickly, his meal times were especially long. Typically, the two sons would be done eating, and their mother Xu Shuhui was still holding Little Nuannuan and accompanying her.
But now that Little Nuannuan was five and very active, she didn’t have the patience to wait in her mother’s arms for her father to finish his meal. Thus, in the end, it was always Tang Sen and Xu Shuhui left in the Tang family dining
“I’m done eating-” Tang Xing was the first to put down his bowl and chopsticks today, ready to go back to his room to practice.
Following closely behind was the chubby Little Nuannuan.
“Mom, I want to go to the garden to see the beasts-” Little Nuannuan wanted Xu Shuhui to take her to see the spiritual beasts in the garden after she finished eating.
“Be good Little Nuannuan, let your brother take you first. Mommy will come in a bit.”
But Xu Shuhui had the habit of eating with Tang Sen for more than ten years, so she had Tang Xing take Little Nuannuan to the garden before his practice.
And the little boy meekly took his sister from the dining hall.
Even though there were servants standing by, Xu Shuhui still wanted her children to bond more.
Tang Luo was still slowly eating his meal because today he had something to talk to Tang Sen about.
Before he could open his mouth, the attentive Xu Shuhui noticed his unusually slow eating speed, she sat next to him and asked, “What’s wrong with Luo Er today?”
“Mother, nothing. I just have something to talk to father about.” Tang Luo put down his bowl and chopsticks and explained to Xu Shuhui.
Upon hearing this, Xu Shuhui promptly told the servants, “You may leave now.” After a chorus of replies, the servants all exited the dining hall, leaving only the three of them.
Tang Luo took a deep breath and said to Tang Sen, “Father, I want to quit the martial hall.”
Although he felt a bit embarrassed, he had made up his mind.
He thought his father who was the First Head of the Martial Hall would reprimand him, but Tang Sen merely said calmly, “You may.”
Because he felt that Tang Luo was doing the right thing. The most important thing for a martial artist is to improve himself. Since the martial hall had nothing left to teach, why stay there?
Tang Luo had understood the Heavenly Pathway Technique since he was five. Under his teaching, his understanding of the Tongtian Domination Scroll wouldn’t lose to anyone. The secrets of the martial hall were merely to form squads and complete the Combined Attack Technique, which Tang Luo could already do by himself.
Tang Sen was not surprised by Tang Luo’s request, as the path to genius is always different from a mortal’s.
The calm support from his father warmed Tang Luo’s heart, but what he had to say today was about more than just leaving the Martial Hall.
“Father, I also want to issue a hiring mission, requiring a Mortal Realm Level clan warrior, a Sitting Hall Realm martial artist, and a steward. A long-term contract, limited to five years. The Mortal Realm Warrior will receive fifty thousand gold per year, the Sitting Hall Realm one hundred and fifty thousand gold per year, and the steward thirty thousand gold per year.”
Before he could finish speaking, Xu Shuhui became anxious. He wanted both a martial artist and a Sitting Hall Realm warrior, as well as a steward.
Considering her son’s precociousness, she suddenly panicked and sternly said,
“You’re only thirteen, how can you be building a mansion!”
His mother’s sudden scolding startled Tang Luo. Turning his head, he saw Xu Shuhui s stern face and the gentleness in her eyes.
It was a mother’s strong reluctance and worry about her child. To Xu Shuhui her three children were her heart and soul. She would not allow her children to leave her so early.
Of course, Tang Luo understood her feelings, but he had clearly been misunderstood. So, he comforted, “Mother, I’m not establishing a mansion, just securing a property. I need guards as well as oversight.”
If his request in Tang Mansion did not receive Xu Shuhui’s support, it would all be in vain, so Tang Luo chose a time when both parents were present to discuss the matter.
When Xu Shuhui, whose heart had been tied in knots, heard that Tang Luo only wanted to secure a property, she immediately regained her calm.
Relieved, she responded immediately, “So that’s the case, I misunderstood. No need to look outside; we can just reassign martial artists from within the mansion to ensure familiarity.”
“No need, mother, it’s better to issue a task within the clan.” Tang Luo insisted.
Generally, only martial artists who had reached the peak of the Mortal Realm and had been preparing to break through for many years could assume the position in the Sitting Hall.
It wasn’t that Tang Luo was unwilling to use the martial artists in the mansion, but rather that the mansion didn’t have many at the peak of the Mortal Realm. Those that were had already made themselves indispensable in the more important industries. If he were to reassign any to himself, it would leave these industries vulnerable.
If he didn’t have the money to hire, he could only reluctantly accept the reassignments. Since he had sufficient funds, he could hire from within the clan instead. This was a matter of principle.
“When do you need them?” Tang Sen asked in his usual calm manner, his voice low.
“Two months from now.” After estimating the time, Tang Luo replied.
West City, Fengqing Alley in Xiling City.
If you were to divide Xiling City into rich and poor areas, then the Tang clan’s area in the north and the Mi clan’s area to the south would be richest. They were the city’s earliest settlements and after many years of development and renovation, the land was worth its weight in gold. Wealthy, well-respected families lived here.
The rest of the city was a mismatch of the rich and poor, such as the West City. It was, without doubt, a gathering place for small clans and the poor. Among all these places, Fengqing Alley was the most famous.
In this chaotic, sprawling alley spanning dozens of miles, you’d find all types of scoundrels, including bandits, beggars, thugs, prostitutes, and some exceptionally skilled artisans.
Here, you’d see the poorest acts of kindness and the most malicious of hearts. This alley so innocently named Fengqing was home to most of Xiling City’s pitiful and despicable individuals.
When Fang Han was young, he was abducted by thugs from Fengqing Alley along with several other four and five-year-old boys.
The thugs taught them to steal. Some refused to learn and were brutally beaten on the spot.
Whether to learn or get beaten, even four or five-year-old children could make a clear choice.
Street urchins turned into petty thieves and began to steal on the busy streets. Most of the children were too afraid to target those who dressed well, as they seemed more ruthless. So, they always picked those who dressed ordinarily. Some got caught and were killed on the spot. Others were caught, injured, and handicapped, leaving them with no choice but to beg.
Being a thief wasn’t easy. Sometimes they would stake out a street all day without seeing a suitable target, leaving the children to starve.
Even when they managed to steal something, most of their haul would be taken away, leaving them without enough for a full meal.
It was in this environment that Fang Han grew up.
From a young age, he had never experienced any kindness in the world. He didn t even believe that goodness existed.
The only thing he believed in was himself!
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