Under One Person: The Seeker of the Dao in the Lü Family

Chapter 274 Tang Miaoxing: Call Me Tang Clan Chief

Inside the main hall of the Lü family, a gathering belonging to a bygone era was underway. The elderly men with graying temples looked at each other, their eyes, which should have been filled with the vicissitudes of life, reflected a different kind of spirit.

"Haha, it's only been a short time, but you've aged so much."

"Get lost! I'm way more handsome than you. Look at you, your beard's almost gone!"

"Hahaha......"

Inside the hall, the elderly gathered in small groups, laughing and chatting with friends from bygone days, their words and actions brimming with a unique vitality.

The barrier of time seemed to be crossed at this moment. Among the figures of these elderly people, there seemed to be reflections of our own distant past, pushing the atmosphere of the room back to the distant past as well.

"Where's that bastard Lao Qin? He left the day before yesterday? Sigh, that old tortoise is always quick when he shouldn't be, but he leaves pretty fast when he shouldn't be."

"Forget it, let's go down and have a drink with him later, and let him scout the way for us first."

"That's a good idea. We'll keep going with him then."

Hearty laughter echoed in the hall. As the elderly laughed, their white hair and beards fluttered and danced, whiter than frost and snow, yet as fiery as a raging fire.

"Oh, everyone's here. It seems the Tang Clan isn't too late."

Amidst laughter and cheers, Tang Miaoxing led the Tang Clan members, all beaming with smiles, across the threshold and casually clasped their hands in a fist salute to the guests from all directions.

Although everyone was surprised that the usually secluded Tang Clan had come to the banquet, they did not hesitate and returned the greeting to Tang Miaoxing.

Seeing this, Tang Miaoxing's smile grew even wider. He pointed to Xu Xin beside him and showed him to the guests from all directions.

"Oh right, look at my memory, I haven't introduced my junior brother, Tang Xin, to everyone yet."

"Tang Xin, you've been in seclusion for a long time. It's time for you to come out and meet these old friends."

The crowd was somewhat bewildered by Tang Miaoxing's grand gesture. They all scrutinized Xu Xin's face, but no one could recognize him immediately.

As time passed, Xu Xin had been imprisoned in the Tang Tomb for decades, and his appearance and figure had changed drastically. Not to mention his full head of white hair and aged face, few people could recognize him anymore.

Moreover, the passage of time has not only blurred Xu Xin's memory, but also everyone's impression of the Thirty-Six Thieves.

The crowd frowned, unable to recognize the man they had once sworn to kill, and both sides stood frozen in place for a moment.

"Ha, how ridiculous."

Xu Xin seemed to have anticipated this scene. He sighed and stood there, letting the guests look him over, waiting for the moment when others would remember him.

"Tang Xin, Xin, Xu Xin, you are Xu Xin from the Thirty-Six Thieves back then!"

In a short while, someone recalled the list of the thirty-six thieves and finally remembered the bandit in front of them whom they had once shouted to kill.

"But didn't the Tang Sect claim back then that he had been expelled from their ranks?"

Before the words were finished, the atmosphere in the hall suddenly became heavy. Many elders from various sects turned their gazes away and took a few steps back.

"Hmph, of course it's the Tang Clan protecting their own members!"

The elderly man surnamed Fang from the Seeking Truth Society slammed his teacup on the table. His tone was unhurried but contained a hint of indignation. "During the Jia Shen Rebellion, everyone had already made arrangements."

"Disciples under each of your sects who are involved with the Thirty-Six Thieves must either clean up their own messes or give a public explanation."

"This was the generally accepted ruling back then; no one was allowed to let those rebels live. But now it seems that some people have not kept their word."

He looked at Tang Miaoxing meaningfully, then glanced at Huang Ning'er secretly. Then, with an expression of indignation and sorrow, he said with emotion, "Xu Xin of the Tang Clan is still alive, but my fellow disciples Bian Tong and Hao Wencai of the Natural Clan have been punished according to the rules of the sect."

Huang Ning stood up, walked up to Tang Miaoxing, his tall figure blocking the other's path, and said in a deep voice, "Liu Deshui of my Yanwu Hall died in a chase back then, and that was no pity."

"But what are your intentions in bringing Xu Xin, this living dead, out here so openly, Tang Clan?"

They were worried that the Seeking Truth Society lacked prestige and that no one would respect them if they became "bosses." Now, they wanted to seize the opportunity presented by the Tang Clan and put on a good show.

In this scene, they need to portray the righteous indignation and courage to stand up for what's right, because only such a "big shot" will have followers.

Unfortunately, they forgot that the Tang Clan were professional assassins, and they also forgot that this was the Lü family's home turf.

Just as the two remaining members of the Seeking Truth Society were about to go on stage to coordinate their moves, all four of them froze, standing or sitting, not daring to move at all.

An invisible and intangible atmosphere of death lingered around them. The spiritual senses cultivated by the four members of the Seeking Truth Society were frantically warning them, as if a life-or-death crisis was surrounding them, and they dared not speak again.

Tang Clan's Pill Devouring Technique, activated!

"What a disappointment, I heard four dogs barking as soon as I walked in."

Tang Miaoxing waved his hand, looking at Huang Ning who was blocking his way with indifference in his eyes, "What did you say just now? It sounded pretty nice. Say it again so I can hear it."

"I...I...I..."

"Speak up! You were so loud just now, how come you're barely audible now? Speak louder!"

Tang Miaoxing took two steps forward, looked closely at Huang Ning's terrified expression and his trembling teeth, and sneered, "This is really interesting. Someone actually dares to run wild in front of my Tang Clan."

"They're getting worse with age. It seems the Tang Clan has killed fewer people these past few years, making others think we, the deadly devils, have become benevolent bodhisattvas."

He strode past Huang Ning, who stood trembling like a leaf, and walked towards the elderly man surnamed Fang who had spoken first. "Who do we have here? Isn't this Fang Hong, who's not even ranked in the Natural Sect?"

"Back then, Bian Tong and Hao Wencai died, and it wasn't your turn to become the leader of the Natural School. But later you became successful, selling off your ancestors' legacy and leading the Natural School to merge into the Seeking Truth Society."

"Wait a minute, I remember you had a senior brother back then, right? He died in a fight with Huang Ning, I think."

Tang Miaoxing circled around Fang Hong, smiling as she looked at the sweating Fang Hong. Her words, though not particularly harsh, were all the more chilling.

"And what about you three from the Yellow Gate Sect and the One Qi Stream Sect? How come now, the only ones left who can speak up are you two young people?"

"Enough...enough, Tang Miaoxing!"

Fang Hong roared at Tang Miaoxing, half in fear and half in anger, "This is not your Tang Clan. We are guests of the Lü family. Quickly put away the Dan Shi!"

"When you're out and about, please call me Chief Tang."

Tang Miaoxing stood up listlessly, took out her invitation from her pocket, and said with a smile, "My Tang Clan are also guests of the Lü family. Patriarch Lü, you wouldn't be unwelcome, would you?"

"Don't mention it, guests are always welcome, but I always felt there were a few flies buzzing around, which was quite annoying."

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Chapter Two is complete!