In the council hall.
Vice Leader Lin burst into laughter: "Washing your face? Then wash it well, I guarantee it! This will be the last time you wash your face in your life."
The others also looked somewhat surprised.
Vice Leader Zhao glanced at Tang Wen's calm expression and signaled to the outside.
In a few breaths, two slaves carried in a long table.
Another person brought a copper basin.
The basin contained clear water, and on the table lay a white bar of soap.
Tang Wen rolled up his sleeves, scooped up a handful of water, and looked at his sallow complexion with a slight smile.
It's time to give you all a little shock in terms of appearance.
Splash, splash, splash.
Tang Wen shook his water-soaked hands, wiped his face with his sleeve, and looked up, scanning the room.
With a cup in hand, he gazed at the sky, as radiant as a jade tree standing in the wind!
The seasoned and well-traveled senior men of the Blackwater Gang were momentarily stunned.
Vice Leader Lin, who had prepared his accusations, even forgot his lines.
What?
I've been professionally nitpicking for thirty years!
What was I supposed to say?
Elder Li: If I had such looks, the number of my wives and concubines would at least double!
No, triple.
Vice Leader Zhao: If I had such looks, Ah Liu wouldn't have left me back then.
Another vice leader: With such rosy lips and white teeth! Even I feel a bit moved.
Too bad this kid is Old Zhao's man, not only a mid-level Beast Tamer but also a genius in cultivation?
What a pity, what a pity!
Forget it. I'll go to the White Horse Pavilion in the inner city tonight.
A certain elder felt his money pouch: Does this kid pay when he visits the brothel?
Vice Leader Lin opened his mouth several times before finally speaking: "Such looks, hidden away, must have ulterior motives! Gang Lord, why not let me interrogate him with severe punishment!"
His eyes were filled with malice.
Tang Wen glanced at him: I have two explanations for why I disguised my appearance.
One is the story of being taken away by a strong and powerful woman—Zhou Bing—to be her mountain stronghold wife.
But he decided to go with the second one:
"I once passed through a small town, where the wife, daughter, and daughter-in-law of the vice mayor, among other close female relatives, saw me and all wanted to share my bed, refusing to leave no matter what. Later, they became jealous over me, leading to a fatal incident. I nearly lost my life! It was only with the help of one of the vice mayor's granddaughters that I managed to escape. Since then, I haven't dared to show my true face easily."
He kept mentioning the vice mayor.
Although everyone knew he was spinning a tale, they still looked at Vice Leader Lin.
Their eyes were suggestive, full of meaning.
They were almost directly teasing: Old Lin, no wonder you're so hard on this junior.
So that's why!
Vice Leader Lin was furious: "You little beast! Talking nonsense!"
Seeing him stand up, as if about to take action.
Tang Wen quickly moved two steps toward Vice Leader Zhao, shouting: "Vice Leader Lin, please investigate carefully, I really, really haven't been to your house! Please, please don't overthink it!"
Pfft.
Several vice leaders and elders burst into laughter.
"Shut up, you little beast!"
A gust of wind hit his face.
Tang Wen ducked behind Vice Leader Zhao, shouting for help.
Slap!
A crisp sound.
"Old Zhao, don't stop me! I must beat him to death!"
"Enough!"
The Gang Lord spoke.
And the Gang Lord, true to his title, immediately grasped the key point.
He stared at Tang Wen's strikingly handsome face and asked:
"How old are you?"
Huh?
All the senior members were momentarily stunned.
It was only then that they realized Tang Wen's face was not only handsome but also very young!
Earlier, his striking appearance had been so overwhelming that they had overlooked this detail.
No, wait!
Upon closer inspection, their expressions immediately turned subtle.
Not just young!
This kid was excessively young.
Tang Wen observed everyone, taking it all in.
He deliberately sighed before replying:
"I believe the Gang Lord now understands why I couldn't reveal my true appearance.
To be honest, I come from a poor background and am not entirely sure of my exact age.
All I know is that I should be under twenty."
He spoke candidly.
Although it differed from the actual situation.
Every word was true.
The vice leaders and elders collectively held their breath.
The hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
What did this mean?
A Martial Master at nineteen or twenty?
The Gang Lord's eyes flickered several times: "Quickly summon Elder Physician Zhang."
Tang Wen's heart skipped a beat.
During the earlier competition with the Black Mountain Battalion, he had learned that some people could determine a person's age by their appearance.
Of course, experienced individuals could also determine age by feeling the bones.
The guard left.
Soon, an elderly man in a long robe entered the hall.
Seeing Tang Wen, the old man's eyes showed a hint of surprise.
Vice Leader Zhao pointed at Tang Wen: "Old Zhang, check his age."
Elder Zhang narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Tang Wen for several seconds.
It made Tang Wen uneasy.
Tang Wen's spiritual sense was sharp.
As soon as the old man entered, he faintly detected a Transcendent aura.
No need to ask, this man was not only a physician but also a Transcendent expert.
"Young master, allow me to take your pulse and feel your bones."
Tang Wen had no choice but to extend his hand.
"No need to be nervous, I am very accurate in determining age."
Tang Wen thought: It would be better if you weren't.
If you really figure out my true age.
How will we handle the situation then?
Maybe after this is over, I should find an opportunity to leave Mountain Chasing City.
Just tell Bai Youruo that the mission failed and my identity was exposed.
As he pondered, Elder Zhang, feeling his shoulder, spoke:
"You have trained your body well, your muscles and bones are perfectly developed. I cannot give an exact age."
Tang Wen secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
So, body training had this effect, no wonder the person from the Black Mountain Battalion had misjudged.
Mistaking my fifteen for eighteen.
Regardless, as long as my real age isn't revealed, it's fine.
Elder Zhang smiled: "But, I can confirm that you are definitely not older than seventeen!"
His tone was resolute in the latter half of the sentence.
The council hall instantly fell silent.
Only the vice leaders and Elder Zhang's slightly erratic breathing could be heard.
A Martial Master at nineteen or twenty.
Was a rare genius.
Some martial arts descendants, like Vice Leader Zhao's most accomplished grandson, were roughly at this level.
It could be said that as long as they grew up, they would become the backbone of the gang.
But, a Martial Master under seventeen.
That was a monster!
Meditation Martial Art could only be practiced after the age of ten.
Even children from martial arts families couldn't start earlier.
Plus, becoming a Martial Practitioner through body training took time.
Even martial arts descendants had to follow the steps to build a solid foundation.
Although they had no shortage of resources, the foundational stage wasn't about speed.
There were examples of those who accumulated strength and achieved success later.
Previously, the instructor Vice Leader Zhao had arranged for Tang Wen had evaluated him as a once-in-thirty-years martial arts genius.
Not comparable to the inner city young masters, but within the gang, he was a small genius.
Now, a Martial Master under the age of seventeen.
What does that mean?
In Mountain Chasing City, counting everyone, even including those since the city's founding.
Tang Wen could be called a freak.
Our Blackwater Gang has a worthy successor!
Tang Wen: ...
"Didn't you say you weren't sure? I think I should be at least eighteen, maybe even twenty."
Old Zhang chuckled: "No. Definitely not eighteen, under seventeen, and that's a conservative estimate."
Tang Wen quickly interrupted him: "With all due respect, have you ever been wrong?"
Old Zhang flicked his sleeve: "In thirty years, I've never made a mistake. If you don't believe me, we can check your teeth again."
He stared at Tang Wen's mouth.
Tang Wen didn't dare let him check his teeth.
If he really found out he was only fifteen, would he ever have freedom again?
He waved his hands repeatedly: "Let's just say I'm seventeen."
Footsteps sounded.
The Gang Lord descended from his seat.
His eyes gleamed with an inexplicable light.
"What a pleasant surprise! I never expected, truly never expected."
"Indeed, Gang Lord, yesterday we returned victorious, and today we discovered a young genius. Truly a double blessing!"
Elder Li stood up and said.
Deputy Gang Lord Lin wasn't pleased: "Old Li, it's too early to say that. Whether he's a genius or not can't just be determined by age. A solid foundation is what makes a genius. This kid comes from a vagrant background; I definitely wouldn't call him a genius."
He spoke with such certainty, as if he had personally seen Tang Wen wandering the streets.
...
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