Tang Yan was taken aback by his grandfather's baffling question. Pulling a long face, he said, "What do you mean, what happened? I've done everything you told me these past two days. I haven't been disrespectful to Miss Zi Yun."
"Not that. It's the City Lord's Wife's birthday today, and someone came specially this morning to deliver an invitation," Old Master Tang said.
"Isn't that perfectly normal? All the major lineages in Cloud City should have received one, right?" Tang Yan said casually.
"Bullshit! I'm asking why the City Lord specifically named you in the invitation and insisted that you attend!" Old Master Tang took out the invitation and handed it to Tang Yan.
Tang Yan took a look. Sure enough, a line of small, flowing script at the bottom read: Young Master Tang Yan, please be sure to honor us with your presence.
After a moment's thought, Tang Yan guessed what had happened. The Scarless Pill he had given the City Lord's Wife that day must have worked.
But Tang Yan had no intention of making a fuss about it. He smiled and said, "How would I know what the City Lord's Residence has in mind? Besides, if they wanted to target me, would they need to go through all this rigmarole? It must be something good!"
Old Master Tang thought that made sense. He nodded with a smile. "True enough. Get ready in a bit. We'll find out when we go over at noon."
After returning to his room, Tang Yan weighed things up for a long while, then went back to his Pill Room and got to work.
At noon, Tang Yan tucked a few things inside his clothes, changed into his Gold-Trimmed White Robe, and took a folding fan in hand. He rode with Old Master Tang in a carriage to the City Lord's Residence.
At news of the City Lord's Wife's birthday, lineages great and small throughout Cloud City sprang into action. A long line of carriages stood outside the City Lord's Residence, creating a bustling, lively spectacle.
After getting out of the carriage, Tang Yan opened his folding fan and followed Old Master Tang toward the Hall. His swaggering, unrestrained gait, however, once again revealed his old nature as a wastrel.
Inside the main Hall, the guests had divided themselves into two groups without prompting. Generally, the younger generation sat together, while the older generation occupied another area.
Although not all the guests had arrived, the Tang Family was one of the four great lineages, after all. Their entrance immediately drew everyone's attention.
Old Master Tang enjoyed considerable prestige in the city, so naturally no one dared make a spectacle of him. Instead, their gazes drifted toward Tang Yan, curious whether this infamous wastrel of a young master would embarrass himself again.
Each table had eight seats. In the half of the Hall reserved for the younger generation, the closer a table was to the front, the higher the status of its occupants' lineages. Generally, though, only the first two tables held people of particularly distinguished standing; from the third row onward, seating order mattered little.
Now everyone watched Tang Yan with keen interest. By custom, the first table was reserved for the four great lineages, with two seats allotted to each.
This year, however, all eight seats were already occupied.
The Liu Family, Wu Family, and Qin Family each occupied two seats. The remaining two had been taken by two young men from Cloud City's Qian Family.
The Qian Family ranked among the best of Cloud City's second-tier lineages. Thanks to their business acumen, they had prospered considerably in recent years. Everyone also knew they were extremely close to the Liu Family. Rather than saying the Liu Family occupied two seats this time, it was more accurate to say they occupied four.
Under everyone's gaze, Tang Yan brought Xiao Cui to the foremost table. As though he had only just noticed that it was full, he exclaimed in surprise, "Huh? All the seats are taken? Judging by your clothes, aren't you two servants of the City Lord's Residence? What are you doing at the guests' table?"
The two men Tang Yan pointed at were precisely the Qian Family's rising talents.
Everyone's eyes fell on the two young men. Their festive red robes did indeed bear some resemblance to the uniforms worn by the servants of the City Lord's Residence that day.
"Pfft..." Those less skilled at concealing their feelings could no longer hold back their laughter. As they laughed, the entire Hall gradually erupted in mirth.
The two young men's faces darkened. Are you fucking blind? These clothes cost a fortune! This is premium silk! How do we look like servants of the City Lord's Residence?
"Open your damned dog eyes and look! I'm from the Qian Family," one of them snapped.
"What Qian Family? Why are you sitting in my seat? Do you want to make an enemy of the Tang Family? Get lost!" Tang Yan roared. Raising his hand, he delivered several resounding slaps across their faces!
Caught completely off guard, both men were struck, red marks instantly appearing on their faces.
Thud! Thud! Before either could react, Tang Yan raised his foot and kicked them flying.
The great Hall fell utterly silent. No one had expected Tang Yan to act so decisively and directly. Before all of Cloud City's lineages, great and small, he had slapped not merely the brothers Qian Rulong and Qian Shenghu, but the face of the entire Qian Family.
Old Master Tang's heart jolted too. His grandson really could stir up trouble wherever he went.
The Tang Family already faces enemies on every side. Haven't those slaps just deepened the feud between our two families?
Qian Shenghu was only twenty, yet his strength had already reached the fifth rank of the Yellow Tier, making him one of the outstanding talents of Cloud City's younger generation. Usually basking in glory, when had he ever been slapped in public? And this time, the one who had struck him was the notorious Young Master Tang.
"I'll kill you!" Qian Shenghu bellowed. Drawing on the true qi within him, he roared again, turned his palm into a blade, and chopped at Tang Yan.
"Courting death!" Old Master Tang, who had been watching them all along, gave a cold snort and hurled his teacup at Qian Shenghu.
Bang!
Qian Shenghu let out a muffled grunt as the teacup instantly knocked him back.
"Tang Ling, have you no shame? At your age, you actually attack a member of the younger generation!" Qian Shenghu's father was indignant too. He stood up, pointed at Tang Ling, and cursed him.
"Hmph. I'm old anyway. Whether I keep this old face of mine hardly matters anymore. But if anyone dares touch a single hair on my grandson's head, I'll make him pay!" Tang Ling's murderous words sent a shudder through everyone in the great Hall.
The old man truly threw all caution aside when it came to his grandson. At that moment, Tang Ling was a rabid dog protecting his pup, ready to bite anyone who approached.
"Tang Ling, Cloud City doesn't belong to your Tang Family. Every day you remain here, you must abide by its rules. The older generation is forbidden from interfering in the younger generation's grudges. You've truly crossed the line," Liu Wuhui, the Liu Family's old master, said mockingly.
"Brother Liu is absolutely right. Old Tang, how could you lower yourself to attack a junior?" Wu Wei, the Wu Family's old master, chimed in.
"Brother Tang, you really have gone too far. Such conduct is beneath the standing of our four great lineages. If you persist in your misguided ways, we would be ashamed to associate with you," Old Master Qin, Qin Feiyue, added pointedly.
The hearts of everyone from the various lineages in the great Hall rose into their throats. This grand gathering had barely begun, and the four great lineages were already at each other's throats.
But this time it was three against one. The Tang Family already ranked last among Cloud City's four great lineages, and now it was at a complete disadvantage.
"Everyone knows Tang Yan's cultivation is weak. How could he withstand a full-force strike from that Qian boy? Tang Ling was merely anxious to protect his grandson. Besides, that teacup carried a deftly controlled force and did not truly injure anyone. Let the matter end here." An aged voice rang out.
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