"Is it really that extraordinary?" Xia Xiayin was somewhat skeptical. "Could it be psychological? Because he's a famous knight-errant, you have this sense of looking up to a lofty mountain, scaring yourself?"
"Absolutely not," Tang Buyi said. "I've met many prominent figures with my father before, some with even greater reputations than Master Shen, but I've never had this feeling. It's real. When my father had me pay my respects to Master Shen, he looked at me once, and I immediately felt as if needles were pricking my back."
"Then I'll have to take a good look later. Is he really that extraordinary?" Xia Xiayin said.
"You'll know when you see him."
The sword forge wasn't far from the Tang family estate.
The carriage arrived after half an incense stick's time. It was in a small compound, and as soon as they reached the gate, they felt the intense heat. Inside a large building stood an enormous sword forge, blazing with fierce flames, with dozens of smiths busily working.
At present, many people had gathered outside the forge.
All the Tang family masters who could return were here, over a hundred people on high alert, guarding the small compound tightly.
Many high-ranking Tang family members sat in a great hall. At the head were two young people, a man and a woman, both dressed in white with exceptional bearing. Tang Tianhao and Tang Tianyuan were accompanying them.
Tang Buyi led Xia Ci and Xia Xiayin into the hall, sitting in a corner at the back.
Tang Buyi said softly, "Brother Xia, Sister Xiayin, please don't take offense. It's not that my family doesn't respect you. Today is mainly about presenting the divine sword to Master Shen. Later, some elders of my Tang family will arrive. It's not appropriate for us young people to sit at the front. Those old fellows, as you know, are tiresome with their endless chatter. It's perfect for us here—we can join in the excitement without our ears growing calluses."
Xia Ci smiled in understanding.
He didn't see anything wrong with their seating arrangement.
Today the Tang family had mobilized everyone to welcome the representatives from the Canglan Sword Sect, and the sect's status in the martial world spoke for itself. Placing an unknown figure like himself at the front would have been meaningless.
"Sister Xiayin," Tang Buyi whispered, "the person in white next to my father is Master Shen Bai. The woman beside him is Master Shen's junior sister, though he didn't introduce her, so I don't know her name."
Xia Xiayin looked and said, "He doesn't seem that special. He's not even as handsome as my brother!"
Tang Buyi said, "We're too far away for you to get that feeling. If you were closer, you'd sense Master Shen's... I don't know how to describe it!"
Xia Ci was also curious after Tang Buyi's description, but with his blindness, he could not see, which was somewhat regrettable.
Time passed quickly.
The hall grew increasingly lively as Tang family elders arrived one after another. However, this had little to do with Xia Ci and Xia Xiayin, as today's banquet centered on Shen Bai—the siblings were merely there to join the celebration and enjoy the food.
However, as the Tang family's eldest young master, Tang Buyi naturally couldn't hide in the corner forever. Initially, he sat with Xia Ci and Xia Xiayin, chatting and boasting, but as the elders arrived, he was called over and sat there with his head lowered, not daring to speak.
But the Tang family elders wouldn't let him slip away either. After all, this was a rare opportunity to make an impression before Shen Bai.
"Dong!"
At one moment, a loud gong suddenly sounded outside.
The hall immediately fell silent.
Then Tang Tianhao invited Shen Bai outside, followed closely by everyone else.
Now, the roaring fire in the sword forge had stopped.
An elderly smith with white hair, unable to conceal his excitement, shouted loudly, "The auspicious time has arrived! Present the divine weapon!"
From within the forge, a huge iron case slid out. Everyone focused intently, watching silently.
Suddenly,
At that moment,
A blood-covered Tang family guard rushed in from outside the compound and fell to the ground, shouting, "Master... Master... Terrible news... A group of bandits has broken into the estate and threatens the Mistress..."
Tang Tianhao's face changed dramatically. He quickly rushed over to help the guard up and asked, "Who is it?"
"Flying Dragon!"
The courtyard erupted in commotion.
Before people could understand the situation, a wave of battle cries suddenly sounded outside the courtyard. A large group charged in—some through the gate, some flying over the walls, some landing directly on the rooftops. The Tang family guards outside were thrown into complete disarray.
"I hear the Tang family has forged a divine weapon. I, Guo Quan, am quite interested. Master Tang, would you gift this divine weapon to me?"
"The divine weapon is there—grab it! Whoever gets it keeps it!"
"..."
The people who suddenly charged in numbered no less than a hundred, each possessing extraordinary skills. They immediately engaged with the Tang family members present. Killing cries filled the compound, blades and swords flashed like lightning, resembling fierce dragons and wild serpents intertwining and biting, with fresh blood flowing like crimson streams.
Amid the chaos,
Tang Tianyuan, shedding his usual listless demeanor, wielded a long sword against the enemy. After quickly killing several people, he ran to the distraught Tang Tianhao and said, "Elder Brother, go save Sister-in-law! Master Shen and I will handle this. These heretics won't take the Wugou Sword!"
"Second Brother, I leave this to you!"
In the confusion, Tang Tianhao couldn't think of much else. Though the divine weapon was important, his wife was dearer to his heart. He immediately turned and ran.
On another side,
Xia Ci quickly struck down two masked men with two sword slashes, protecting Xia Xiayin and Tang Buyi as they headed outside. He said softly, "Let's go to the Tang residence to capture Flying Dragon and save Lady Tang!"
"Thank you, Brother Xia!"
Tang Buyi no longer cared about the divine weapon and followed Xia Ci out the door.
The situation was urgent.
Xia Ci didn't bother with a carriage but rode on the same horse as Tang Buyi, while Xia Xiayin rode a separate horse as they headed toward the Tang family compound.
As soon as they arrived at the Tang family compound,
They saw Tang Tianhao leaping across rooftops while several people were carrying off Lady Tang, moving swiftly toward the exit.
"Brother, it's Flying Dragon!"
Xia Xiayin immediately spotted a bald man among those fighting Tang Tianhao—the target of their journey to Zhushan County, the wanted criminal with the shaved head. Those people fought while retreating, quickly escaping from the Tang residence.
"After them!"
Xia Ci and the others quickly gave chase. Though Xia Ci could locate positions by sound thanks to his profound internal energy, his lightness skill was merely average. Combined with his blindness, he couldn't move much faster than Xia Xiayin and Tang Buyi, barely managing to follow from a distance.
Fortunately, Tang Tianhao occasionally sent signals, preventing them from losing track.
The group ran for a long time, all the way to the outskirts of the city.
Flying Dragon's group suddenly stopped at a civilian house.
Seeing Tang Tianhao pursuing them, as Tang Tianhao descended from the sky, Flying Dragon suddenly chuckled and said, "Master Tang, do you feel your blood and energy surging?"