CHAPTER 1344: CHAPTER 1343: LIN XUE’S VISIT

"It’s fine, it’s fine, the situation in Imperial City is a mess; meeting there isn’t as good as meeting like this."

Tang Ming smiled indifferently.

"Are you still angry?"

Lin Xue nervously stared at Tang Ming.

"Angry about what?"

Tang Ming looked puzzled.

"I mean when your cultivation was destroyed, the Lin Family annulled our marriage. You must have felt resentful, right?"

Lin Xue looked at Tang Ming with a complex expression.

"No! Absolutely not."

Tang Ming quickly shook his head, "You know how our marriage came about; it was all because the Lin Family forced you. Now that it’s annulled, it’s a relief for both of us."

"You think it’s a relief?"

Lin Xue frowned slightly.

"Isn’t it a relief for you?"

Tang Ming looked at Lin Xue with confusion.

"Ah! Yes, it’s a relief."

Lin Xue smiled, but felt a pang of bitterness inside.

Although the marriage was forced upon her by the Lin Family, after the annulment, Lin Xue always felt she owed Tang Ming, and was embarrassed to face him.

Until Tang Ming disappeared, only then did she realize she owed him an explanation, desperately searching for his whereabouts. In the end...

Now that Tang Ming is back, he seems so indifferent about the marriage. Lin Xue finds it funny; something she valued may mean nothing to Tang Ming.

"What’s wrong?"

Seeing Lin Xue lost in thought, Tang Ming waved his hand blankly.

"Oh, nothing!"

Lin Xue snapped back, smiled, and said, "It’s good that you’re back; that’s all that matters. I’m just here to check on you."

"I’m doing alright!"

Tang Ming shrugged, then curiously looked at Lin Xue, "You’ve stayed in Songlan City all this time; I wonder how Songlan City’s situation is now?"

"Thanks to you, Songlan City is in chaos now."

Lin Xue gave Tang Ming a peculiar look.

"How could that be?"

Tang Ming’s lips twitched a bit, unsure how it had anything to do with him.

"You made a strong return, crippling the Ma Family father and son, and drove those fence-sitters out of Songlan City. Did you do that?"

Lin Xue asked seriously.

"I did. Did they stir up trouble in the city because they didn’t want to leave?"

Tang Ming squinted his eyes, his face turned cold.

"If they hadn’t left, chaos wouldn’t have happened."

Lin Xue sighed and looked at Tang Ming helplessly, "Seeing the Ma Family father and son crippled, Ma Tong Senior was enraged, tried to struggle, but got taught a lesson by your Poison Sect expert, forcing the Ma Family to leave Songlan, and those frightened family powers also began selling off their properties, withdrawing from the Songlan circle."

"Wouldn’t that be good? How did chaos ensue?"

Tang Ming became even more puzzled.

"The problem is that Songlan City suddenly emptied out; the original major martial arts and business families simultaneously withdrew, leaving only the Zhou Family and Chen Family handling Songlan City’s affairs, which is unmanageable."

Lin Xue sighed, squinting her eyes, "Various forces are selling off properties, leading to many outside forces descending on Songlan City, and internally new small forces emerged, competing for interests. Do you think it’s chaotic or not."

"So that’s how it is."

Upon hearing this, Tang Ming understood that his strong return, though ruthless, had left aftermath issues unaddressed.

Since Zhou Dafu took control of the Zhou Family anew, just managing the Zhou Family’s mess was enough to keep him busy, with no energy to handle other family forces’ vacated interests.

Chen Cang and Xin Badao were immediately dispatched to Imperial City by him to deal with the Ming Group, leaving Songlan City internally weak; in such times, outside forces invading and new forces emerging were to be expected.

"Don’t worry, now that I’m back, and I called Chen Cang and others back too, it won’t be long before Songlan City stabilizes."

Tang Ming solemnly nodded.

"Heh, your version of stability must mean you single-handedly dominate, with absolute power, right?"

Lin Xue sneered coldly, then sighed, "Forget it, I’m about to be reassigned back to Imperial City; too lazy to deal with these matters."

"You’re leaving?"

Tang Ming became startled and suspicious.

"I was meant to train at the grassroots in Songlan City; I’d eventually have to go back to the Imperial City circle. After experiencing so many upheavals, the Lin Family disagrees with letting me drift outside anymore, naturally requiring me to return."

Lin Xue smiled, actually wanting to leave Songlan City.

From the beginning, the Lin Family didn’t want her out, but no one could sway her intentions; now wanting to return to Imperial City was personal too, not wanting to be entangled with Tang Ming in Songlan City anymore.

Tang Ming’s status is no longer that of a student; facing such a tenth major family’s spokesperson, Lin Xue knows if she doesn’t strive, she might lose the chance to interact with Tang Ming in the future.

"Alright! With the Lin Family’s protection, your career path is surely bright and smooth; no need to unnecessarily stay in Songlan City fighting alone, I support your decision."

Tang Ming thought for a moment and sincerely wished her well.

"Thank you."

Lin Xue smiled, "By the way, I wanted to tell you, Li Wenxuan has also left Songlan City."

"Mr. Li?"

Tang Ming paused a bit, squinting.

"Li Wenmao was terrified out of his wits; after returning from Imperial City, he immediately took the Li Family back overseas, but Li Wenxuan didn’t leave with them."

Lin Xue explained truthfully.

"If she didn’t return overseas, then why leave?"

Tang Ming became puzzled.

Lin Xue opened her mouth, hesitated, then shook her head, "She’s preparing for further postgraduate study."

Actually, Li Wenxuan experienced similar entanglements with Tang Ming as Lin Xue did, but some of the family’s actions made it impossible for them to face Tang Ming, resorting to avoidance.

"Mr. Li is quite old; still going for postgraduate studies?"

Tang Ming’s lips twitched a bit.

"Is that how you talk to people?"

Lin Xue glared at Tang Ming, "Li Wenxuan is the same age as me."

"Oh my, you two seem quite familiar, huh?"

Tang Ming’s expression turned strange.

"None of your business."

Lin Xue snorted coldly; she and Li Wenxuan became friends due to similar experiences, and Li Wenxuan’s postgraduate target was in Imperial City, allowing them long-term interactions.

"Alright, alright, then I wish you both career success, academic achievement, find your own Prince Charming soon, get married, have kids, grow old together in peace."

Tang Ming began to seriously ramble nonsense.

"You can’t expect ivory from a dog’s mouth. Also, I must tell you, Yang Wei has left Songlan and returned overseas for treatment, but I heard before leaving, he vowed revenge on you."

Lin Xue glared at Tang Ming, seriously reminding him.