(The weather's too hot, so I'm posting a few extra chapters to wrap up this plot sooner, before everyone says the foreshadowing is too tangled...)
But why would those young people believe that anymore? It was time they saw for themselves!
Everyone shook hands and exchanged pleasantries, then invited Tang Changsheng to take a place of honor inside the martial arts hall. They had even prepared food and wine, intent on drinking with him until they dropped...
Tang Changsheng naturally did not refuse. Making a connection with Hanliu Hall this time had him excited, too.
With Hanliu Hall's considerable power in North America behind him, he would have a better chance of finding what he sought. He would not have to put all his eggs in Minister Da Xiang's basket, and that would make things much easier!
As they talked, they discovered plenty of connections between them, and both sides were keen to build a friendship.
Before long, even Pang Tong, the hall master with the injured arm, arrived with his Black disciple, Black Whirlwind.
Black Whirlwind was delighted to see Tang Changsheng and kept calling him "hero." With such a character around, the atmosphere grew livelier still.
Tang Changsheng turned down no one and drank several more cups, drawing cheers as people came forward to toast him.
They all felt that Master Tang of the General's Temple was generous and highly capable, yet without a trace of arrogance. A rare man indeed!
Just then, Ling Xiaoyu called. "Master, Arabella and I have come back to Pale Blue Castle..."
Tang Changsheng sobered at once. "Why did you go back to Pale Blue Castle now?"
Pale Blue Castle should have been extremely dangerous right now. With the Vicious Ghost Alina there, even Tang Changsheng was not certain he could handle her.