Tipping Him Off

The patriarch's words plunged everyone in the Zhang Clan into silence.

The Nanyang Zhou Clan.

It weighed on them like a mountain, pressing down until they could barely breathe.

The patriarch of the Zhang Clan surveyed the room.

Seeing everyone bow their heads without a word, he finally broke the silence.

"Who is willing to go and bring Zhang Teng back?"

At that moment, a vicious glint flashed in the eyes of a man with a brutish face.

"My son, Zhang Tao, can bring him back."

At the mention of Zhang Tao,

a complicated look flashed through many people's eyes.

Zhang Tao had always been the Zhang Clan's prodigy. His cultivation had already reached the peak of the Dantian Sea Realm, and he was not far from condensing martial intent.

Originally, all the Zhang Clan's resources had been poured into him.

But ever since Zhang Teng had burst onto the scene, his share of resources had dwindled again and again.

Thus, when Zhang Teng's supposed wrongdoing had come to light,

Zhang Tao had been the one to act.

Had Zhang Teng's grandfather not pleaded desperately, Zhang Tao might well have killed Zhang Teng outright.

And so,

the moment the patriarch spoke, Zhang Tao's father volunteered him.

A trace of anguish flashed through Zhang Teng's grandfather's eyes...

He knew, of course, that if Zhang Tao went... he would never give Zhang Teng a chance to escape.

He might even beat Zhang Teng to death on the spot if he resisted arrest.

After all... as long as Zhang Teng lived, he remained a potential threat to Zhang Tao.

"Very well!" Patriarch Zhang nodded.

"Have Zhang Tao set out immediately."

Within the Martial Arts Grounds, the atmosphere had subtly grown tense.

Every apprentice was working hard, trying to perfect their Tai Chi and find the threshold to immortal cultivation.

Watching these hardworking apprentices, Lin Bei felt a little ashamed.

He understood.

Zhang Teng had managed to get started purely because his comprehension was outrageously high...

Even if these people truly brought their Tai Chi to absolute perfection, they probably still would not touch the threshold of the Breath-Absorbing Art.

If the chance arises, perhaps I can have Zhang Teng devise a simplified version.

Lin Bei pondered this to himself. After all, these people had been his earliest followers... he did not want their training at the Martial Arts Grounds to truly be a waste of time.

"Master, please have some tea."

Tieniu came over with a guileless look and offered him tea.

"Mm." Lin Bei took a leisurely sip.

He had spent the past few days cultivating in seclusion.

Only after completing a greater celestial circuit of body tempering did Lin Bei come out for some fresh air and tea.

Ever since the Breath-Absorbing Art underwent its second limit-breaking, his cultivation speed had soared.

In just over a day, Lin Bei had completed his third round of body tempering.

With the successful tempering of his body, the framework for devising Dao-method wielding grew increasingly clear in Lin Bei's mind.

Just then,

Lin Bei suddenly raised an eyebrow.

He noticed a figure lurking furtively at the edge of the Martial Arts Grounds.

"Who's there? Come out!"

At Lin Bei's angry shout, a young girl crept out.

The girl looked quite young, with large, bright eyes. After Lin Bei's harsh rebuke, she emerged with fear written all over her face.

Tieniu hauled the girl over to Lin Bei.

Lin Bei studied her closely and found that she was about thirteen or fourteen. Like Zhang Teng when he first arrived, she wore a standard lineage robe.

"Who are you?"

Lin Bei's tone softened considerably.

"I... my name is Zhang Xiaoxiao. I'm Zhang Teng's younger sister."

Hearing that, Tieniu immediately smiled. "So you're Senior Brother Zhang's sister! Here at the Martial Arts Grounds, we're all one family. Come sit over here."

Lin Bei, however, remained expressionless throughout.

He knew about Zhang Teng's situation and had asked him about it.

Zhang Teng seemed to have little affection for the people of his lineage.

"What brings you here?"

Lin Bei took a sip of tea and asked calmly.

"I... I came to tell my brother to run. The Zhou Clan found out he was hiding here, and the Nanyang Commandery Prince pressured our lineage into arresting him."

Zhang Xiaoxiao's voice grew quieter and quieter.

"So... the lineage has sent someone to arrest him."

At those words,

Tieniu immediately flew into a rage.

"Your Zhang Clan really is something! It's bad enough that you can't protect your own clansman, but now you're actually going to arrest him?"

Zhang Xiaoxiao lowered her head.

"The lineage has no choice either. The Nanyang Zhou Clan is too powerful."

Just then,

Zhang Teng emerged from his seclusion chamber.

"Brother!" Zhang Xiaoxiao looked at Zhang Teng, feeling ashamed.

When Zhang Teng had been ruined, she had not dared to stand up for him... now she felt too ashamed to face him.

Zhang Teng saw through her thoughts at a glance and spoke gently.

"Xiaoxiao, I'm very glad you came to tip me off. But this time, I won't run!"

Hearing that, Zhang Xiaoxiao said anxiously, "Brother, if you don't run, won't they catch you? If you fall into the Nanyang Commandery Prince's hands, won't that mean..."

Zhang Teng interrupted her, asking only in a calm voice,

"Who's coming?"

Zhang Xiaoxiao answered,

"Zhang Tao."

"Him?" Zhang Teng sneered. "I'm not surprised in the slightest that he's coming!"

"Senior Brother Zhang, who's Zhang Tao?"

Tieniu hurriedly asked.

A flash of anger passed through Zhang Teng's eyes.

"Who's Zhang Tao? The man who crippled my dantian-and the one who framed me!"

Zhang Teng spoke furiously.

"But no one believed my explanation... or perhaps even if the Zhang Clan believed me, they chose to protect Zhang Tao instead of me!"

At that, Zhang Teng looked somewhat forlorn.

"Their only reason was that they feared fresh branches would sprout from the problem-that the Zhou Clan would condemn him along with me and ruin him."

Lin Bei could feel Zhang Teng's anger, helplessness, and despair toward the Zhang Clan.

"Zhang Xiaoxiao, go back. Grandfather sent you here, didn't he?"

Zhang Xiaoxiao nodded.

Zhang Teng looked at Zhang Xiaoxiao impassively.

"Tell Grandfather there's no need for this. Back then, I risked my life to obtain an Intent Gathering Pill for him. I've done everything kindness and duty could demand."

"I also understand his desire to put the bigger picture first."

"But the ties between us are severed!"

Zhang Xiaoxiao shuddered.

"Grandfather, he..."

"I know." Zhang Teng cut Zhang Xiaoxiao off.

"I know all of it. He had his reasons. I know... it's just that, compared to everything else, I wasn't that important. He weighed the gains and losses, that's all. I understand."

At that moment, Zhang Xiaoxiao could no longer utter a single word.

She knew perfectly well that Zhang Teng was the discarded pawn.

"When will Zhang Tao arrive?"

Zhang Teng asked again.

"In two hours at most, or as little as an hour," Zhang Xiaoxiao said.

"Is that so?"

Zhang Teng sneered.

"Xiaoxiao, go. If Zhang Tao sees you, he'll accuse you of tipping me off and make things difficult for both you and Grandfather."

"I..."

Zhang Xiaoxiao hesitated, wanting to speak, but finally lowered her head and left dejectedly.

Only after Zhang Xiaoxiao had gone did Zhang Teng turn to Lin Bei, his head bowed in shame.

"I'm sorry... Master. I've disappointed you."

Lin Bei said nothing. He simply watched Zhang Teng quietly, speaking only after a long while.

"Teng'er... why would you say that?"