Third Young Master Tong

That night, in the Tong family study.

The lamps blazed brightly.

A six-foot sheet of raw Chengxin Hall paper lay spread across the desk.

The large brush, soaked in thick ink, danced across the paper, and eight bold, imposing characters sprang to life.

"Fierce Tiger Descending the Mountain, All Beasts Trembling in Fear."

"Beautiful calligraphy."

A young man ground the ink beside him. His appearance bore a seventy-to-eighty-percent resemblance to Tong Baixiong.

However, his brows carried a quiet composure, and he spoke in an unhurried manner, like a pale-faced scholar. He was completely different from Tong Baixiong, whose martial temperament seemed ready to ignite at the slightest spark.

"Father's brushwork is even better than it was back then."

Tong Baixiong glanced at him. "Sanlang, you should practice calligraphy when you have the time. Your constitution is weak, so you can't practice martial arts, but that's no matter. You're still young. Read a few books properly, pass the imperial examinations, and become an official in the court. You can still live a life of wealth and glory."

Tong Yukang smiled faintly but said nothing.

Tong Baixiong said evenly, "There's nothing father and son can't discuss. If you have any thoughts, don't always keep them hidden in your heart. If you can't tell your father, who else can you tell?"

Tong Yukang said, "To answer Father, I have no intention of pursuing an official career through the imperial examinations for the time being."

Tong Baixiong furrowed his brows. "Why?"

Tong Yukang sighed softly. "The court is in chaos at present, with factions standing everywhere, while the generals in various regions obey orders but not proclamations. His Majesty has the will to reform, but lacks reformist ministers like Shang Jun and Wang Jinggong to assist him."

"His Majesty relies on the Eunuch Directorate to implement several new policies. But that's like a crooked-mouth monk chanting scripture. By the time good policies reach the local level, they become something else entirely. They don't benefit the nation's affairs and only earn him more condemnation."

Tong Baixiong set down his brush, and his heart was suddenly filled with comfort. Of his three sons, only Sanlang had exceptionally weak bones and no talent for martial arts. Yet he could express such insightful opinions, proving that he had truly absorbed what he had read. As for not wanting to take the imperial examinations for the time being, that was no issue. He was only twenty-three, and he still had a long road ahead.

Tong Baixiong smiled. "It's fine if you don't enter officialdom. Just don't spend your time with those good-for-nothings from now on."

Tong Yukang suddenly said, "I have a good friend who was originally a promising scholar from an upright family. This year, he also joined the Northern Commandery Investigation Department. He says that although the Eunuch Directorate has some scoundrels, compared with civil officials who speak of Confucius and Mencius and constantly invoke the ancient sages while turning a blind eye to the suffering of the people, they still work diligently for the state."

Tong Baixiong came to his senses. He slammed the brush down and shouted furiously, "Are you discussing the state of the court, or making insinuations about something?"

Tong Yukang cupped his hands. "I wouldn't dare, Father. I didn't originally intend to say anything, but since you said that 'there's nothing father and son can't discuss,' I spoke my mind."

Tong Baixiong was enraged. "Is Yang Lianting Shang Jun? Is he Wang Jinggong? Is he the reformist minister you mentioned?"

Tong Yukang remained calm. "Has Father ever wondered why, despite Yang Lianting's terrible reputation and being one of the villains you speak of, so many young heroes in the Cult are still willing to serve under him?"

"Why? You tell me why?"

"Because Manager Yang can promote talent without regard for convention. He—"

Before he could finish, Tong Baixiong interrupted him with a cold laugh. "So that's what you think? Is that why you follow Yang Lianting? I actually thought you had read your books well. How childish. Simply unbearably childish!"

"Father..."

"Get out! Get out of here!"

Tong Baixiong slumped into his chair. His own son was actually serving the villain he despised most. It was the greatest irony imaginable.

"That monster Yang Lianting first bewitched Brother Dongfang, and now he's bewitched Sanlang. You and I will never stand together!"

He grabbed the inkstone. Internal Energy surged through his palm, and the inkstone instantly crumbled into powder, scattering across the white paper. The fine calligraphy was ruined just like that.

A black-robed man entered from the outer room.

"Hall Master."

Tong Baixiong said coldly, "Have someone secretly keep an eye on Sanlang. Report immediately if he makes any move."

The black-robed man was somewhat surprised. "Third Young Master?"

Tong Baixiong gave a bitter smile. "Yang Lianting has bewitched his mind. He's already sunk too deeply."

"Understood."

Tong Baixiong asked again, "By the way, what about the person in the Secret Prison?"

The black-robed man replied, "Everything is fine. I've assigned more than thirty capable men to guard him day and night. Another two hundred elite brothers are stationed nearby as well. Unless Yang Lianting sends all the Purple Cloud Guards from Chengde Hall—"

Tong Baixiong nodded. "Good. Everything is ready. Now we just have to see what happens tomorrow."

Recalling what had happened that day, Tong Baixiong felt anger, fear, and a chill run through him.

He had originally thought that Sanlang was merely spending a little too much time with Yang Lianting. He had even considered having Sanlang gather information for him. Only tonight had he learned that Sanlang had truly believed Yang Lianting's crooked doctrines.

"I'm still not at ease. Iron Lion, go guard the Secret Prison yourself."

"Then what about your side, Hall Master?" The black-robed man was one of Tong Baixiong's hidden trump cards. Unless something particularly urgent occurred, he would not leave so easily.

Tong Baixiong smiled. "Although I'm not as brave as I was in my prime, I still possess the strength of the Pseudo-Xiantian Realm. Ordinary vermin can't do anything to me. Besides, they wouldn't dare attack me in Pingding City."

Back when he had fought the Seven Tigers of Ludong in a bloody battle, his Dantian had been damaged, and his strength had gradually declined over the years.

The rear courtyard.

Tong Yukang gazed at the stars overhead.

"Be careful."

"Third Young Master."

"Old Cai, where are you moving this peony?"

"For the old master's sixtieth birthday, Luoyang Baihua Zhai sent six trays of peonies in bud. They even sent a florist over to use some greenhouse and furnace method to make them bloom. Strange, isn't it? Five trays have already blossomed, but this one refuses to open. The birthday celebration is almost here, and Madam thinks it's inauspicious. She told me to throw this one out and replace it with a good one."

"Give it to me. I'll take it to my room."

"But Madam..."

Tong Yukang smiled. "I mean, send it to my Qingfeng Villa in the western part of the city. Even if it is inauspicious, it won't matter."

"Then shall I have someone deliver it to you?"

"No need. I'm heading back now."

Tong Yukang carried the peony through the streets, while the fragrance of cosmetics drifted through the air and red sleeves beckoned from the taverns.

Pingding City had more brothels and drinking establishments than anything else.

Most of those who came and went through the city were jianghu figures who never left home without their swords and never stopped calling for wine. Fights were more common than sleeping or drinking.

There was almost no government presence here.

The Imperial Guards' Pingding City Thousand-Household Office kept its gates shut all three hundred and sixty-five days of the year.

Order was maintained by disciples of the Sun Moon Divine Cult's Enforcement Hall. Normally, as long as no one was killed, the Enforcement Hall would not appear. Even when someone died, it merely became a contest of power and interests between the two sides.

Justice did not exist here at all.

Tong Yukang disliked this. In such an environment, someone like him, who was full of learning but could not even truss a chicken, felt utterly unsafe. He liked order, laws, and discipline. He liked seeing people compete under clearly defined rules.

He stopped in front of a wall. One of the bricks had been pulled out from within.

"Ping An Inn, Room Jia-3. Kill Zhang Yu tonight!"

"Understood!"

Tong Yukang did not pause. After saying only that one sentence, he continued on. In the darkness, no one noticed as the brick was put back in place.