The Tang family residence, located in the center of Zhushan County, was a massive estate. It was extremely luxurious, with numerous servants, and brilliantly lit even at night, as bright as daylight.
Inside the grounds, pavilions and buildings were arranged in perfect harmony, all constructed with precious golden nanmu wood for beams. The glazed tiles sparkled dazzlingly in the lamplight, displaying vibrant colors. Winding paths were paved with smooth pebbles, lined on both sides with exotic flowers and unusual plants competing in beauty. All were imported from distant lands, with each plant being extremely valuable.
Following Tang Buyi into the estate, even Xia Xiayin, who had traveled the martial world for ten years and seen many sights, couldn't help but exclaim, "Tang Buyi, your family is so wealthy!"
"It's average," Tang Buyi said. "Even though our estate looks luxurious, my father actually forced himself to build it this way, and we're still deeply in debt."
"Ah, why is that?" Xia Xiayin asked curiously.
Tang Buyi shook his head and said, "Our Tang family is in business, and this estate is our facade, specifically designed to demonstrate our power. Think about it—if you were a sect leader needing to order a large batch of weapons, with a deposit of several thousand taels, wouldn't you want to find a trustworthy merchant?
If you came to our Tang family and we looked poor with everything falling apart, wouldn't you worry we might take your money and run? But conversely, if you came here with several thousand taels and saw this invaluable estate, would you still worry about us taking your money and disappearing? You'd certainly think this estate alone is worth tens of thousands of taels, so why would we flee for just a few thousand?"
Xia Xiayin suddenly understood and said, "So that's how it is! I never realized there were so many tricks to doing business!"
Tang Buyi smiled and said, "There are many tricks indeed. It's because my father has been forcing me to learn business that my martial arts skills are just average. If I could focus completely on martial arts training, my skills would definitely be extraordinary!"
Xia Xiayin asked seriously, "So that means you're very good at business, right? Has your Tang family already entrusted a lot of business to you? Could you tell me how you conduct business? I also want to save some money and start a business in the future. Could you teach me?"
"Uh..."
Tang Buyi looked embarrassed. He didn't actually know how to do business; he had just said that to save face. Since he couldn't actually explain business strategies, he changed the subject, "Sigh, let's not talk about this now. Escort Leader Qu, Brother Xia, Sister Xiayin, and all the escort agency brothers, I've already had people prepare a banquet for you. You should go eat and rest first. I'll go pay my respects to my father and come find you later!"
Qu Heng said, "Young Master Tang, please go ahead with your business. You don't need to attend to us."
Xia Ci cupped his hands and said, "Brother Tang, please go ahead."
Xia Xiayin said, "Remember to teach me about business later!"
Tang Buyi: "..."
...
While Xia Ci and his group went to eat, Tang Buyi arrived outside a study. He lingered at the doorway for quite a while before straightening his clothes, taking a deep breath, pushing the door open, and bowing as he called out, "Father, I'm back."
The Tang family head, Tang Tianhao, was a middle-aged man approaching fifty. His posture was as straight as a pine tree, exuding a naturally imposing aura from years of holding high positions. He was sitting in a chair looking through account books and slightly raised his head to glance at Tang Buyi, saying in a deep voice, "You're injured?"
"Yes."
In front of Tang Tianhao, Tang Buyi was particularly obedient, not talkative like he was outside, becoming instead extremely economical with his words.
"How were you injured?" Tang Tianhao asked.
Tang Buyi then recounted the entire encounter with Iron Arhat Xuanqi and Abbess Kuye outside Zhushan County.
As he listened, Tang Tianhao's expression grew solemn. He put down the account book and asked, "Are you certain it was Iron Arhat Xuanqi and Abbess Kuye?"
"Not certain," Tang Buyi answered. "I've never seen them before, but Escort Leader Qu Heng shouldn't be mistaken. Besides, those two had powerful martial arts skills, so there would be no need for them to impersonate two heretical masters."
"What was the name of that blind young man who saved you?"
"Xia Ci."
Tang Tianhao frowned slightly and said, "So young, yet blind in both eyes, with unfathomably deep martial arts skills, yet completely unknown. And he just happened to meet you, and even more coincidentally, two heretical masters appeared, and he just happened to save your life."
Tang Buyi raised his eyebrows, displeased, and said, "Father, you're not suggesting that Brother Xia deliberately approached me, are you? That can't be. Brother Xia doesn't seem like that kind of person. If you don't believe me, you can meet him yourself."
Tang Tianhao waved his hand and said, "No need. Since he was expelled from the Changfeng Escort Agency, I'll send someone to inquire about him and we'll know. I understand you feel that he saved your life, and I seem ungrateful by suspecting him. In normal times, I wouldn't think so much about it, but this is a special period, and I must be cautious."
Tang Buyi asked, "What has happened?"
Tang Tianhao said solemnly, "Let's set aside Xia Ci for now, as he is your savior, and without evidence, I don't want to suspect him.
Do you think Iron Arhat Xuanqi and Abbess Kuye just happened to run into you by coincidence? Are you, Tang Buyi, some famous figure in the martial world? Why would two notorious heretical masters who have been famous for many years recognize you at first sight?"
Tang Buyi was stunned and quickly asked, "Father, are you saying... it wasn't a coincidence?"
Tang Tianhao said, "Zhushan County has been unstable recently, with the appearance of many heretical masters. What these people intend to do is still unclear, but I have a vague feeling that they mean no good. Iron Arhat Xuanqi and Abbess Kuye attacking you further confirms my suspicions. Someone is targeting our Tang family. As you know, the divine weapon Wugou Sword that we promised to forge for Sect Master Ye of the Canglan Sword Sect is nearly complete. I worry these people are after the Wugou Sword."
Tang Buyi asked anxiously, "Father, is this a serious problem?"
Tang Tianhao waved his hand and said, "Don't worry about these things. You should stop wandering outside for a while and stay obediently in the city."
"I understand," Tang Buyi nodded.
"By the way, regarding Xia Ci, you can try to build a friendship with him for now," Tang Tianhao said. "After I investigate, if this person truly has no ulterior motives, his future potential is limitless. Being so young yet having such impressive martial arts skills, and having saved your life, he would be worth befriending deeply. But for now, even before we clarify his identity, you must not neglect him. Don't let people think our Tang family doesn't know gratitude."
"I understand."
"Good."
Tang Tianhao beckoned and said, "Let me see your injuries."
Tang Buyi obediently walked over.
Tang Tianhao grabbed Tang Buyi's wrist and examined him. After confirming there was nothing serious, the concern in his eyes immediately disappeared, replaced by exasperation. He said, "I tell you to practice martial arts, but you only know how to slack off and cheat. Our Tang family's Celestial Star Sword Technique and Celestial Star Skill are both exceptional martial arts in the world. If you had properly mastered either of them, you wouldn't have been so embarrassingly defeated—you couldn't even withstand a single move!"
Tang Buyi muttered, "You already earn so much money, why should I work hard practicing martial arts? You won't teach me business, either. With so many assets, what's the use of learning martial arts? Learning business is the real deal, isn't it?"
"You know nothing," Tang Tianhao scolded. "In this martial world, the foundation for standing on your own is martial arts. If your martial arts aren't good enough, no matter how big your business is or how much money you have, none of it will truly be yours. The prerequisite for 'harmony brings wealth' is that you have the qualification for others to be harmonious with you. How did today's Tang family come about? It was my martial arts first, and then the business!"