141: Chapter 137 Gusu Tang Family 141: Chapter 137 Gusu Tang Family “My Tang family may be in Gusu, but Gusu doesn’t bear the Tang surname, unlike the Cui family in Qinghe,” Tang Buqi leaned against a maid in the carriage, sipping wine leisurely as he introduced Gusu to Zhao Changhe, “Our Tang family isn’t a top-tier aristocratic family like the Cui family; we can’t compare.

I suggest you keep an eye on Cui Yuanyang, ah, and forget about the others.”

Zhao Changhe, propped against the wall of the carriage, felt speechless.

One leaned on a maid, and the other on the wall, each already in a bad mood, and this conversation only made his head hurt more.

“If you’re introducing Gusu, then why bring up the Cui family?”

“It makes an intuitive comparison for you, doesn’t it?” Tang Buqi replied rather comfortably.

“I don’t need your comparisons to know.

Everyone has heard of Qinghe Cui, but who has heard of Tang from Gusu?

You actually seem quite proud of being a mere chicken,” retorted Zhao Changhe.

“…At least the Tang family is a renowned family in the dynasty!

We have achievements from serving the dragon!

How could people possibly not have heard of us?

Who are you calling a chicken, the thieves from Beimang?”

“If it weren’t for Tang Wanju, who ranked in the top three on the Earth List and holds a first-grade rank in the dynasty while still so young, supporting this family… If you were all like you…

Tsk, the Tang family courtyard might one day see swallows flying but they’ll probably end up in the thief’s lair,” Zhao Changhe sneered.

Tang Buqi glared furiously, “Every family focuses on scholarly pursuits, not just on martial arts to govern the country!”

“Is that so?

Why then, was your aunt so hurried to break through her limits that she injured her lung meridian?

Actually, I’d suggest your family think about it, instead of damnably relying on someone else’s desperation and leisurely leaning on a maid eating grapes—you’re practically drinking her blood.”

Tang Buqi was stunned momentarily, his anger fading as he gazed emptily at his wine, lost for words.

Zhao Changhe glanced at him for a while before deciding not to speak further, turning the conversation back to the main point, “So, there are quite a number of large and small families in Gusu, right?

The Tang family, using the status of the head of the Demon Suppression Department, must be quite influential locally.”

“…Indeed.”

“By the way, is there a Murong family in Gusu?

I think they are more famous than the Tang family.”

“I’ve never heard of them; where did you hear such messy stuff?”

“That place suspected of harboring evil Qi, do you have a clue about it?

Could it be Huqiu Sword Pool?”

Tang Buqi looked surprised, “Hey, where did you get your knowledge of Gusu?

Haven’t you been up north all your life?”

“Mmm-hmm, did I perhaps guess right?”

“Guess my hammer!

Huqiu Sword Pool is right behind my house!”

Zhao Changhe: “Shit.”

“But speaking of which, long ago, oh, let’s say the last epoch, there indeed were rumors about an evil Qi problem in Huqiu Sword Pool, possibly hiding an Evil Sword.

But my family has already marked that area off.

Generations have thoroughly scoured the place, and there’s nothing there, so whatever is being mentioned this time should be unrelated.”

Zhao Changhe stroked his chin in thought, mulling over the possibility—it might still be relevant, looking at it from the experience at Ancient Sword Lake; there might even be an instance dungeon, only closed off due to the strong presences from his family roaming the area.

“Do you have any rumors of hauntings in your family?

Instances of anyone being attacked by evil Qi, or might even your aunt’s illness be connected to it?”

“I know what you’re thinking… but, unfortunately, no.

My aunt’s illness started last year in the Capital, not at home.”

“…” Zhao Changhe still thought that the possibility existed.

Based on present experiences, the rumors related to the “last epoch” were beyond the comprehension of the current era’s low-level martial artists.

It’s quite normal they couldn’t grasp it.

Of course, this was just one possibility, not stating it as fact.

The true situation would still require a trip to Gusu for exploration.

“What about other rumors?

On what basis did Fa Yuan conclude that it’s more likely in Gusu?”

“How would I know what Fa Yuan based his conclusion on?

He didn’t finish his reply in that letter.”

As they were discussing, the maid, who had been feeding Tang Buqi wine and grapes, hesitantly spoke up, “Before we left, there were rumors that at the southern city market someone suddenly went mad and started slashing at people, killed on the spot by a passing young master from the Lu Family.

It was believed to be a freak incident, but later, the same Lu family young master suddenly went mad too.

People said it was a demonic intrusion.

After that, we had to leave, so I’m not sure what happened later.”

Tang Buqi was taken aback, “Lu Shaohong, that young master from the Lu family?

I even had dealings with him, how did I not hear about this?”

The maid carefully glanced at him, “At that time, young master, you were hopelessly drunk for five days in Flower Seeking Alley.

The young mistress was at home crying… When you returned, the old master scolded you, and you were promptly sent out for this expedition.”

Tang Buqi’s face had swelled up like a pig’s liver.

Zhao Changhe turned his head to look out the car window.

There was no more talk along the way, conversation had been killed.

Originally, it was simply a case of frenzied hacking and demonic possession, both common occurrences that meant nothing.

But since the two incidents were related and coincided with the Maitreya Sect’s search for the place of Evil Qi, it was worth investigating.

Yangzhou to Gusu was not far, and the group sped up, arriving quickly.

It felt that the closer they got to Gusu, the lighter the eerie atmosphere of the Maitreya Sect became.

There were no scenes of people worshiping Buddha or Maitreya, nor did one hear about the “Upper Buddha” or “Bodhisattva” everywhere.

There were temples, but they were very deserted.

It seemed that even though the Maitreya Sect had spread throughout Jiangnan, in Gusu, Tang Wanju’s stronghold, they dared not show themselves easily, and even if they did, it was done secretly and stealthily, a much better situation than in Yangzhou.

But Zhao Changhe still intuitively felt that the Maitreya Sect would not wait until everything was fully prepared.

The Yangzhou incident must have been a huge blow to the Maitreya Sect.

Following the leads from the names and information uncovered, the sect’s years of development around Yangzhou might soon come to an end.

It was highly likely that the Sect Hierarch Maitreya would not let this situation continue but might act prematurely.

At the time of the Yangzhou crisis, Maitreya was searching for treasures of Evil Qi in Jinling and did not know about these developments, but now it was certain he knew and had likely returned to the Main Temple to prepare operations.

The trigger for action could be the information linked after Chi Li returned.

Once the barbarians moved south, the Jiangnan Maitreya Sect would surely act.

This was the obvious inference.

During this process, the Maitreya Sect would undoubtedly not ignore Gusu, this enclave surrounded by Jiangnan but not yet invaded by the sect, and would take action.

If no precautions were taken, the calamity of the Tang family might suddenly arrive.

This moment in Gusu could very well be the last calm.

Tang Wanju receiving the report from Yangzhou might or might not think of these things, but it seemed like Tang Buqi hadn’t thought of it, and neither had the people of the Tang family.

Upon arriving at the Tang family’s residence, there was no sign of the tense atmosphere that often precedes a storm.

Servants bustled about, and stepping inside, one could hear the distant sounds of music from the attic, with a large group of people surrounding Tang Buqi, warmly greeting him:

“Have you returned, young master?”

“You must have had a hard time traveling…

Oh, you’ve gotten tanner.”

“I heard the young master bravely slayed barbarians and brilliantly solved the attempted assassination of the Magistrate, thwarting the Maitreya Sect’s conspiracy in Yangzhou!”

“The young master really brings honor to us all!”

If Zhao Changhe were not by his side, Tang Buqi would likely have puffed out his chest and bathed in the adulation.

But feeling Zhao Changhe’s sidelong, seemingly mocking gaze, Tang Buqi just wanted to cover his face: “That’s enough, it’s just a trivial matter; there’s nothing to boast about.

Ready a guest courtyard for my guests.”

The servants looked at Zhao Changhe, knowing full well he was Hidden Dragon 38 and more powerful than anyone present, yet there was a slight, barely perceptible disdain in their eyes.

The young master really, mingling with all sorts of people.

They had previously suspected an old beggar to be a peerless martial artist, honored him at home, only to confirm he was indeed just an old beggar, which greatly upset the old master.

Now he brought home a martial rogue…

Of course, such attitudes dared not be shown in front of Tang Buqi, for the young master could be violent when provoked.

A steward then nodded and bowed, “Master Zhao, please follow me.

The serene guest courtyard will surely satisfy you.”

Zhao Changhe took in everyone’s expressions with a slight smile.

Aristocratic Family…

the home protected by Tang Wanju.

He couldn’t care less, merely stating, “Any accommodation will do, just take good care of my horse, that’s important.

Then have someone take me to the back mountain; I’d like to see the Huqiu Sword Pool first.”