P.S. This chapter was posted as a bonus in thanks for the 10,000 Qidian coins tipped by the reader Ye Yishi Xiangsi.
After leaving Tang Xian's residence, everyone went their separate ways.
Fang Duan, however, walked over to Su Xin and Tie Wuqing and said, "Brother Su, Brother Tie, the Luoyang Tournament begins in just a few days. Why don't we go have a drink first?"
He was more than twice as old as Su Xin and Tie Wuqing, so it was quite something that he could bring himself to call them "Brother Su" and "Brother Tie."
However, Su Xin and Tie Wuqing also wanted to see what he was up to, so they readily agreed.
After they arrived at a restaurant, Fang Duan said, "You two should already know the purpose of the Luoyang Tournament. This time, it's being held so the Imperial Court can recruit talent.
"But while the Imperial Court is recruiting, it's anyone's guess whose hands that talent will ultimately fall into.
"Previously, it was always people from the military competing with our Six Fan Sect. To be honest, we couldn't beat them. After all, they risk their lives on the job, and their work is far more dangerous than ours.
"But this time, the ones competing against us are the two princes, Ji Yancheng and Ji Yanyu. They're only trying to poach our people to expand their own influence, so we're entitled to compete with them.
"Eunuch Tang holds a lofty position and won't interfere in something like this. So when the Luoyang Tournament begins, why don't we set aside our differences and join forces to compete with those two princes for talent? What do you think?"
Tie Wuqing asked with a half-smile, "So you never considered us one of your own before, Brother Fang?"