On one side was his daughter's wishes; on the other, the safety of the entire sect.
Tang Cang really... found it hard to make a choice!
As Tang Cang fell silent, the air in the great hall seemed to freeze.
The sixteen elders' gazes fell on him in unison as they waited quietly for him to decide.
At last.
Tang Cang spoke hoarsely. "That's enough for today. Meeting adjourned."
"Elders, please return for now. This matter... let me think it over."
The elders exchanged glances, but said nothing more. They rose and cupped their hands in farewell.
Tang Yuehua was relieved that her father hadn't pressured her on the spot, but before leaving, she still made a point of emphasizing, "Father, I'm not going, no matter what. Don't go making plans!"
With that,
she turned and ran out without looking back.
Watching Tang Yuehua's departing figure, Tang Cang stood dazed and speechless. He rose and went into his study.
"Go fetch the First Elder."
"Yes, Sect Master!"
Soon, Tang Wei entered the study. "Sect Master."
Tang Cang let out a long breath, then rubbed his brow. "First Elder, what do you think... we should do about this?"
Tang Wei didn't answer right away. He was silent for a moment before speaking slowly. "Sect Master, forgive my bluntness."
"Given the situation, we have no better option than a marriage alliance."
Tang Cang's hand stopped. He said nothing.
"Sect Master."
Tang Wei continued, "I just received the latest news from the Seven Kill Sect."
"They've announced an open matchmaking event. Clearly, they want to use the commotion they caused in Star Luo City to build momentum and announce their return to the Soul Master World."
"Of course, sects aren't all about fighting and killing. There are human relationships and social obligations, too."
"Though the Seven Kill Sect has Chen Jianjun at its helm, it still needs to recruit a large number of Soul Masters from the lower and middle ranks."
"So, if we take the initiative to show goodwill now and marry Yuehua into their sect, we'll not only give the Seven Kill Sect an enormous show of respect, but also have a chance to repair relations between our sides."
"Compared to waiting for Chen Jianjun to actually bring people to the Clear Sky Sect and demand an explanation, this is unquestionably the best course."
Tang Cang didn't speak, but his fingers began tapping the armrest noticeably faster.
"But..."
He paused, his voice dry. "Yuehua, she..."
"Within the Clear Sky Sect, she has no choice."
Tang Wei cut him off, speaking in a low voice. "As a member of the Clear Sky Sect, she must make sacrifices."
"Otherwise, if Chen Jianjun comes to our door, it won't be as simple as a few people dying."
"It will inevitably make our Clear Sky Sect the chicken killed to scare the monkeys!"
"The Star Luo Imperial Family is still far too weak. Dai Renfeng was a Titled Douluo three or four hundred years ago. Nowadays, hardly anyone even knows his name."
"But our Clear Sky Sect is recognized by the other sects as the undisputed leader."
"So..."
Tang Wei didn't continue. He merely cupped his hands slightly.
Tang Cang had clearly understood what he meant.
That was precisely why
he remained silent.
Tang Wei wasn't in a hurry. He simply waited.
At last.
After two and a half minutes of silence, Tang Cang raised his head and sighed. "You're right."
"As a disciple of the Clear Sky Sect, she must make sacrifices for the sect."
Tang Cang paused, then asked, "When is the Seven Kill Sect's matchmaking event?"
"I heard it's in seven days."
"Then, in seven days."
Tang Cang stood and turned his back to Tang Wei, his voice carrying a hint of resolve. "Take Yuehua there."
"You don't need to tell her directly. Just say you're representing the Clear Sky Sect at the Seven Kill Sect's banquet."
"Wait for the right moment, then send her in..."
Act first and explain later!
The phrase flashed through Tang Wei's mind, but he didn't refuse. He cupped his hands slightly. "Yes, Sect Master."
Tang Cang nodded, then suddenly seemed to remember something. "By the way, how are Xiao'er and Hao'er doing?"
"The young master can now control his bloodlust at will."
"Furthermore, our examination found that all the side effects he suffered after returning from Slaughter City have completely disappeared."
"That's why I took it upon myself to let him leave the mountain and continue his training."
After a pause, Tang Wei said, "As for the eldest young master... after emerging from seclusion this time, he's reached level seventy-nine. It probably won't be long before he reaches the threshold of level eighty."
After Tang Cang had gone from being the heir to becoming Sect Master, Tang Xiao and Tang Hao's positions had risen along with his.
However,
Tang Cang hadn't yet appointed a new heir, so he referred to Tang Xiao and Tang Hao as the eldest and younger young masters.
"When the time comes, he'll surely send someone to deliver a letter to the sect and ask the elders to help him hunt a Soul Ring."
Tang Cang nodded slightly, and the furrow between his brows finally eased.
He turned to look at the distant mountain ranges outside the window. His voice carried a complicated sigh. "That's for the best... It's actually a good thing that they're away from the sect right now."
"The future of the Clear Sky Sect still rests on those two."
"As their father... all I can do is pave the way for them."
Tang Wei knew his own limits.
Though he was now a level ninety-five Titled Douluo,
he
knew all too well that breaking through to level ninety-six was all but impossible for him.
The future of the Clear Sky Sect would ultimately rest on Tang Xiao and Tang Hao.
But...
Tang Cang still didn't know which of them should inherit the position of Sect Master.
"Father, you're back?"
At the entrance to Douluo Hall, also known as the Angel Temple, in Spirit City,
Qian Xunji paced back and forth, waiting anxiously.
At last, after waiting there for a whole day and night, he sensed a familiar presence. He looked up in delight and saw Qian Daoliu standing there completely unharmed. His eyes widened. "Father, that Chen Jianjun..."
"What are you doing waiting here?"
Qian Daoliu didn't answer. Instead, he frowned at Qian Xunji, looking displeased. "You're the Pope of Spirit Hall now. Spirit Hall has so many matters to attend to. Why are you wasting your time waiting here?"
"Uh..."
Qian Xunji was at a loss for words. He stammered for a long moment, wanting to say something but not knowing what.
In the end, he managed to force out, "Well... Father, I was just worried about you..."
Qian Daoliu: "?"
Worried about him?
What a joke.
Could his foolish son have gotten his head caught in a door?
Qian Daoliu turned and looked Qian Xunji up and down with the same gaze one might give an idiot. He rolled his eyes, completely exasperated.
Did he, Qian Daoliu, need Qian Xunji to worry about him?
He wasn't bragging: there wasn't a single person on this continent who could keep him here against his will!
What a joke.
"You're not taking care of your daughter, and you're neglecting the Pope's duties."
"Tell me, what exactly are you trying to do?"
Qian Xunji: "..."