Arc 4The Workshop Conspiracy

Tang Wen advanced his cultivation, expanded his island and military enterprises, and became embroiled in the Six Fan Gate’s dispute over the Thousand-Leaf Workshop and Kang Qingfeng. After Mo Heizi questioned him over Kang Qingfeng’s death, Tang Wen revealed that he had secretly recorded Mo Heizi’s words and actions.

  • Tang Wen treated Fan Dongfeng’s leg, cultivated alongside Ku Mutong, and advanced to the fifth-rank early stage before buying pills and negotiating to acquire the burned Cloud Garment Workshop.
  • Tang Wen returned to Su Mei Island, planned the Sumei Bridge and wind turbines, gave Gu Hanyan the Heavenly River Divine Wood Art and Spirit Stones, and was appointed First-Rank Earl and Deputy Tuanlian Commissioner.
  • Tang Wen purchased White Tiger Island, gained popularity and land through the Great Landlord System, and rose to the mid-fifth-rank realm before joining the War Dragon Sect as an elder and adviser.
  • Tang Wen trained senior instructors, taught Luo Yu the Heavenly River Divine Wood Art, collected modern weapons and equipment, and installed three wind turbines on Su Mei Island.
  • Tang Wen went to Yanling to secure Qiao Xiao’s release, but refused the Six Fan Sub-Helm’s offer to requisition the Thousand-Leaf Workshop and left when Kang Qingfeng threatened Qiao Xiao.
  • Tang Wen arranged for Gu Hanyan and Luo Yiwu to plant forged evidence in Kang Qingfeng’s secret chamber, where Kang Qingfeng was exposed, fought back, and was killed by Gu Hanyan.
  • The investigation cleared Qiao Xiao and confirmed the Thousand-Leaf Workshop belonged to Tang Wen, while Fang Qiang blamed Tang Wen and Chen Chang Kong for Kang Qingfeng’s death and sought help from Feng Jianwu and Feng Jiuxue.
  • Mo Heizi questioned Tang Wen about Kang Qingfeng’s death, then acted friendly while secretly discussing seizing and torturing him and Chen Chang Kong, so Tang Wen showed Luo Yiwu the Hummingbird Drone’s recording.
Chapters 76–100 Vol. 1 Read

Ch. 76Master, My Daughter Would Like to Invite You

Tang Wen opened his clinic in Qingxiang Pavilion, diagnosed Tang Xiu with malaria, and began earning Spirit Stones from patients. At dinner with Swordless Li's family, he sold Li Qin a mirror for one Spirit Stone and offered a larger one to Swordless Li's wife.

  • Tang Wen boasted about his medicinal wine, then opened his clinic and treated Tang Xiu, diagnosing malaria from a mosquito bite in Yin Corpse Valley.
  • Tang Xiu paid Tang Wen five Spirit Stones, and Tang Wen treated more patients, earning Spirit Stones and gold while running low on medicine.
  • Steward Zhu Yun invited Tang Wen to dinner with Swordless Li's family, where Tang Hanyun revealed that Li Qin wanted Tang Wen's mirror.
  • Tang Wen sold Li Qin the mirror for one Spirit Stone, and she hurried to fetch it and play with it at the table.
  • Tang Wen offered Swordless Li a larger mirror for his wife, and Swordless Li asked him to name a price.

Ch. 77Mystic Treasure Pavilion

Tang Wen sold mirrors and champagne to Black Tortoise City’s wealthy households, then used his earnings to visit the Mystic Treasure Pavilion and learn about its weapons. After asking to see a Superior Grade treasured sword, he went upstairs with manager Qi Ran.

  • Tang Wen sold mirrors and champagne to guests at Swordless Li’s home, earning fifty-eight Spirit Stones and three thousand taels of gold.
  • Steward Zhu brought Tang Wen more wealthy customers, helping him earn over a hundred additional Spirit Stones.
  • Tang Wen and Steward Zhu went to the Mystic Treasure Pavilion, where Tang Wen compared weapon prices and considered the market for firearms.
  • A shop assistant explained the grades of treasured swords, and Steward Zhu reprimanded him for mocking Tang Wen.
  • Manager Qi Ran introduced himself and escorted Tang Wen to the third floor to view a Superior Grade treasured sword.

Ch. 78Overdoing the Act

Tang Wen tried to buy the White Wing Sword at the Mystic Treasure Pavilion, but its price and the cost of a Void Bag exceeded his Spirit Stones. He offered a mobile phone as a trade and demonstrated its camera, leaving Fan Ni unconvinced that it was worth the requested price.

  • Qi Ran demonstrated the White Wing Sword by cutting an iron rod into pieces, and Tang Wen said he would buy it.
  • Fan Dongfeng quoted three hundred low-grade Spirit Stones for the sword, so Tang Wen offered two treasures in exchange for it and a mid-grade Void Bag.
  • Fan Ni challenged Tang Wen to prove his trade goods were valuable, and Tang Wen raised his demands to include a high-grade Void Bag and five high-grade Spirit Stones.
  • Tang Wen switched on his mobile phone and used its camera to capture images of the sitting room, Fan Ni, Fan Dongfeng, and Steward Zhu.
  • Fan Ni was amazed by the phone but said it was not worth over a thousand low-grade Spirit Stones.

Ch. 79The Young Master

Tang Wen demonstrated the phones to Fan Ni and negotiated a costly sale, then discovered that Fan Dongfeng’s injured leg contained embedded barbs and offered to treat it. After Fan Dongfeng challenged him to prove his skill, Tang Wen began examining the wound.

  • Tang Wen showed Fan Ni and the others that two phones could communicate over a distance of up to twenty li, and Fan Ni agreed to buy them with accessories and energy supplies.
  • Tang Wen offered a small mirror and champagne, while Fan Dongfeng criticized his prices and told him to stay away from the Fan Family.
  • As Tang Wen left, he warned that Fan Dongfeng’s leg could worsen until he lost it or died, prompting Fan Ni to ask him to examine his uncle.
  • Fan Dongfeng doubted Tang Wen could help but offered him spirit stones if he cured the injury.
  • Tang Wen had Steward Zhu fetch his medical kit and Treasure Lamp, inspected the festering wound, and said several slender hooks needed to be removed.

Ch. 80Heavenly Treasure Pagoda

Tang Wen anesthetized Fan Dongfeng and surgically removed the hooked weapon from his leg, earning the Fan Family’s gratitude. He then visited the Heavenly Treasure Pagoda to cultivate, where he began drawing in spiritual energy with the Heavenly River Divine Wood Art.

  • Tang Wen anesthetized Fan Dongfeng, removed the hooked weapon from his leg, and sutured the wound while Fan Ni watched.
  • Fan Dongfeng apologized and paid Tang Wen five Middle-Grade Spirit Stones and thirty Low-Grade Spirit Stones for his treatment.
  • Steward Zhu told Tang Wen about the Heavenly Treasure Pagoda, and Tang Wen decided to cultivate there.
  • Tang Wen packed his belongings at the Wujian Li Residence and traveled with Steward Zhu to the pagoda outside Black Tortoise City.
  • Tang Wen paid one Middle-Grade Spirit Stone to enter the second floor, where powerful martial artists cultivated among Spirit Stones embedded in the walls.
  • Tang Wen began practicing the Heavenly River Divine Wood Art, drawing spiritual energy toward himself.

Ch. 81A Cold Sneer

Tang Wen used food and a spirit stone to secure a place near Ku Mutong, a First-Rank Expert, and accelerated his cultivation. After advancing to sixth-rank great perfection, he paid to train beside Ku Mutong for another month, during which a seed began to sprout in his dantian.

  • Tang Wen traded a Middle-Grade Spirit Stone for a seat beside a Fourth-Rank Martial Artist, then absorbed the spiritual energy drawn over by the nearby First-Rank Expert.
  • Tang Wen shared caviar and canned braised meat with the First-Rank Expert, who offered to divert spiritual energy toward him while they cultivated.
  • Tang Wen advanced two stages to sixth-rank great perfection and decided to leave, but the First-Rank Expert urged him to pay for another month of cultivation together.
  • Tang Wen paid six Middle-Grade Spirit Stones, learned the expert's name was Ku Mutong, and shared canned food and champagne with him.
  • After a month of cultivating beside Ku Mutong, Tang Wen felt a seed sprout inside his dantian.

Ch. 82Give Me a Few Cans

Tang Wen broke through to the fifth-rank early stage with Ku Mutong’s help, then sold food and goods to cultivators in the Heavenly Treasure Pagoda. After leaving, he explored pill prices with Wu Zi and was led to the Medicine Pavilion to buy in bulk.

  • Ku Mutong used his qi and a red pill to help Tang Wen break through to the fifth-rank early stage, saying the effort repaid him for Tang Wen’s food and wine.
  • Tang Wen gave Ku Mutong more cans and Champagne, then sold food, noodles, mirrors, lipstick, and perfume to the pagoda’s cultivators for spirit stones.
  • Tang Wen left the pagoda after more than a month of cultivation and asked Wu Zi to accompany him shopping.
  • Tang Wen found that pills were much cheaper than in the Chu Kingdom and said he wanted to buy several thousand.
  • Wu Zi led Tang Wen to the Medicine Pavilion, explaining that it offered lower wholesale prices on pills and other goods.

Ch. 83Opening Up the Black Tortoise City Market

Tang Wen bought spirit pills and negotiated to purchase the burned-out Cloud Garment Workshop from Yang Shixian, with the price tied to treating Luo Quezi’s injured leg. The chapter ended as Tang Wen and Yang Shixian arrived at Luo Quezi’s home and Yang asked whether his leg or the debt mattered more.

  • Tang Wen spent his earnings on spirit pills, and Zhuge Dong gave him a Zhuge Family Command Token.
  • Wu Zi led Tang Wen to the burned Cloud Garment Workshop, and Tang negotiated a price of 6,400 low grade Spirit Stones with Yang Shixian.
  • Yang Shixian offered to negotiate the workshop price if Tang Wen cured Luo Quezi’s leg and helped reduce the compensation Yang owed him.
  • Tang Wen proposed treating Luo Quezi in exchange for Yang Shixian halving the compensation and paying Tang 2,000 Spirit Stones.
  • Yang Shixian brought Tang Wen to Luo Quezi’s home, where Luo demanded repayment and Yang asked whether his leg or the debt mattered more.

Ch. 84Wind Turbine

Tang Wen treated Luo Quezi’s legs in exchange for reducing his debt to Yang Shixian, then organized work on the Cloud Garment Workshop and Su Mei Island’s development. He ordered preparations for wind turbines and planned a vast new bridge, while the island’s approaching low tide set a deadline for construction.

  • Tang Wen used Block Needle treatment to ease Luo Quezi’s leg pain, and Luo Quezi agreed to halve the compensation Yang Shixian owed him.
  • Tang Wen paid Wu Zi to oversee the Cloud Garment Workshop and gave him Spirit Stones to hire workers to clean it out.
  • Tang Wen returned to Su Mei Island, learned that reopening the Great Landlord Space would require 700 popularity points and ten thousand mu of land, and inspected progress on his cave abode.
  • Tang Wen gave Zhan Dongwen wind-turbine blueprints and ordered preparations for three turbines, including sturdy concrete foundations and electrical cables.
  • Luo Yiwu warned Tang Wen that an unusually low tide would expose the route to the mainland in about a month, and Tang Wen described plans for a broad, illuminated bridge.

Ch. 85Plans for the Sumei Bridge

Tang Wen planned the Sumei Bridge construction and ordered the island’s trees protected, then showed Gu Hanyan how a Spirit Stone could accelerate her cultivation. After she accepted his gift, Tang Wen learned that she practiced the half-step Heaven-Rank Evergreen Art.

  • Tang Wen ordered Yiwu to procure timber and construction materials for the Sumei Bridge and forbade unauthorized logging on the island.
  • Tang Wen told Zhan Dongwen that the island needed planned landscaping and tree planting, then slept until the next morning.
  • Tang Wen demonstrated that a colored stone was a Spirit Stone, and Gu Hanyan felt its spiritual energy improve her cultivation.
  • Gu Hanyan lost Tang Wen’s bet, but objected when he licked her cheek; she took the Spirit Stone before Tang Wen revealed its value and gave it to her.
  • Tang Wen asked about Gu Hanyan’s cultivation method, and she said she practiced the half-step Heaven-Rank Evergreen Art.

Ch. 86Make Her His Woman

Tang Wen tested Gu Hanyan by offering her a heaven-rank cultivation method in exchange for sharing his bed, but ultimately gave her the method and Spirit Stones without demanding her affection. Meanwhile, he planned the construction of three wind turbines on Su Mei Island, and Gu Hanyan left him bewildered by his unexpected generosity.

  • Gu Hanyan told Tang Wen she needed a heaven-rank cultivation method to reach the second-grade realm and avenge the Gu Family, so he offered one in exchange for sharing his bed.
  • Tang Wen arranged for Zhan Dongwen to map suitable locations and prepare foundations for three wind turbines on Su Mei Island.
  • Gu Hanyan came to Tang Wen's room dressed for their bargain but refused to remove her disguise, saying she would only reveal her face to someone she loved.
  • Tang Wen argued that helping ordinary people could make someone more heroic than a martial champion, but Gu Hanyan still said his martial arts were too weak to win her heart.
  • Tang Wen gave Gu Hanyan the Heavenly River Divine Wood Art and ten middle-grade Spirit Stones, then told her to leave and seek her own hero.
  • Gu Hanyan was stunned and tearfully asked whether Tang Wen truly no longer wanted her.

Ch. 87I Am Liu Xiahui

Tang Wen taught his trusted subordinates the Wind-Thunder Art and continued developing his estate. Qin Botong arrived with Tang Wen’s new First-Rank Earl title and 738 prisoners for the Tang family to accept as slaves, leaving Tang Wen with more manpower for his defenses.

  • Tang Wen sent Gu Hanyan away with a cultivation method and Spirit Stones, then gathered his men to drink.
  • Tang Wen taught Li Liao, Dongfang Ming, and the other Sixth-Rank experts the middle-grade heaven-rank Wind-Thunder Art and showed them how to absorb Spirit Stones.
  • Tang Wen inspected the completed wind turbine foundation, then received Jiangzhou Prefect Qin Botong and Tie Wenjing.
  • Tie Wenjing told Tang Wen that the imperial court had promoted him to First-Rank Earl, and Qin Botong delivered the title on behalf of the Clan Council.
  • Qin Botong brought 738 pirates and minor offenders to become Tang family slaves, and Tang Wen agreed to accept them and pay Jiangzhou Prefecture thirty taels per person.

Ch. 88Donate for a Deputy Tuanlian Commissioner Post

Tang Wen negotiated the terms of becoming Jiangzhou Prefecture's Deputy Tuanlian Commissioner, insisting on limits to his military obligations and written guarantees. Qin Botong offered him White Tiger Island and a provincial residence in exchange for eight hundred thousand taels, leaving Tang Wen to decide whether to accept the costly deal.

  • Tang Wen objected that his title only allowed him to raise about four hundred personal guards, so Tie Wenjing and Qin Botong presented an approved Deputy Tuanlian Commissioner post that would let him recruit more soldiers and acquire weapons.
  • Tang Wen demanded written assurance that Jiangzhou Prefecture would not transfer his privately funded troops, and Qin Botong agreed while requiring him to defend waters within about sixty li of Su Mei Island.
  • Tang Wen balked at the expense of defending so wide an area, and Qin Botong said the court would let him recruit two thousand local soldiers and grant him White Tiger Island as a fief for six hundred thousand taels.
  • Luo Yiwu warned that White Tiger Island was overgrown with man-eating plants and uninhabitable, and Tang Wen refused to accept it as a valuable gift.
  • Qin Botong offered the Mei Residence on East Street along with White Tiger Island, asking eight hundred thousand taels in total.

Ch. 89Popularity Manifestation

Tang Wen sold White Tiger Island to Qin Botong, advanced to the mid-fifth-rank realm, and unlocked the Popularity Eye’s manifestation function. After crossing back to Yunhai City to arrange purchases, he met Qiao Jingtian and learned that modern society also had powerful martial artists.

  • Tang Wen finalized the White Tiger Island deal with Qin Botong, who paid him in military merit and wrote an inscription for the island.
  • Tang Wen proposed selling an earth-tier cultivation method, selecting talented youths for a heaven-rank method, and drawing Zhang Hongjiang in with news of the deal.
  • The Great Landlord System credited Tang Wen with popularity and land, advancing him to the mid-fifth-rank realm and unlocking popularity manifestation.
  • Tang Wen saw Li Liao’s popularity appear as a miniature figure bowing toward him, then returned to Yunhai City and arranged purchases through Zhao Jiang.
  • Xiao Jinguo brought Tang Wen to meet Qiao Jingtian, whose strength test revealed that he was a fifth-rank expert.
  • Qiao Jingtian said Tang Wen was already slightly stronger than him despite being only sixteen or seventeen.

Ch. 90War Dragon Sect Elder

Tang Wen revealed his fifth-rank strength and gave the War Dragon Sect a heaven-rank cultivation method, Spirit Stones, and Void Bags in exchange for bulletproof helmets. The higher-ups approved the deal, promoted him to War Dragon Sect Elder and adviser, and arranged for him to train senior instructors, while Qiao Jingtian reported the Void Bags for state allocation.

  • Tang Wen demonstrated that he could draw a glass from over forty feet away, and Qiu Long, Xiao Jinguo, and Qiao Jingtian realized he had reached the fifth rank.
  • Tang Wen explained his recent rapid progress and gave the three men a heaven-rank cultivation method and Spirit Stones, then offered three Void Bags and three hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones for a thousand bulletproof helmets.
  • Qiao Jingtian obtained approval for Tang Wen's helmet request on the condition that he train senior instructors, and Tang Wen agreed to stay for two months.
  • Qiao Jingtian announced that Tang Wen had been promoted to War Dragon Sect Elder and adviser, then told him classes would begin in a few days.
  • Qiao Jingtian said the higher-ups required the Void Bags to be turned over for state allocation, prompting Qiu Long and Xiao Jinguo to complain and then pay Tang Wen a million each to reserve future bags at a discount.
  • After Tang Wen left, Xiao Jinguo worried that others would not accept his sudden promotion, but Qiao Jingtian said that was a good thing.

Ch. 91Provocation

Qiao Jingtian and Qiu Long hoped Tang Wen could improve the Southern Hall training ground’s standing and discipline its instructors. After Tang Wen tested the training equipment, he faced open mockery from senior instructors, but easily defeated Li Shi and outmaneuvered Zhang Tong.

  • Qiao Jingtian and Qiu Long discussed using Tang Wen to challenge the Southern Hall’s instructors and strengthen the training ground.
  • Tang Wen inspected the training equipment, survived its B-grade course, and learned that someone had completed it at A-grade intensity.
  • Tang Wen arrived to teach the senior-instructor class, where the trainees mocked him and Li Shi demanded a fight.
  • Tang Wen redirected Li Shi’s attack and sent him tumbling aside with a move he called leading away a goat in passing.
  • Zhang Tong challenged Tang Wen with a feint and an Iron Head Skill charge, but Tang Wen dodged and spun him away.

Ch. 92I'll Beat You Until You're Convinced

Tang Wen won over the Southern Training Ground instructors by defeating Yang Kai and agreed to teach them the Wind-Thunder Art and Cloud Ladder Skill. He later accepted Luo Yu as his secretary, and after a month offered to teach her cultivation as well.

  • Tang Wen used the Cloud Ladder Skill to evade Yang Kai’s attacks, then struck him from five zhang away and won his respect.
  • Tang Wen promised to teach Yang Kai the Cloud Ladder Skill and introduced the instructors to the heaven-rank Wind-Thunder Art.
  • Luo Yu arrived at Tang Wen’s rooms as his assigned secretary, and he reluctantly agreed to let her stay.
  • Luo Yu organized Tang Wen’s lesson plans and, after a month, pointed out flaws in his cultivation practice.
  • Tang Wen offered to teach Luo Yu, and she eagerly accepted.

Ch. 93The innocent Secretary Luo

Tang Wen taught Luo Yu the Heavenly River Divine Wood Art and prepared weapons and equipment for his journeys to Black Tortoise City. After returning to Su Mei Island, he installed a massive wind turbine and faced a new crossing requirement of 800 strands of popularity and 150 qing of land.

  • Tang Wen taught Luo Yu the Heavenly River Divine Wood Art, gave her spirit stones and pills, and told her to wait for his return.
  • Zhao Jiang reported that he had arranged modern weapons and protective gear for Tang Wen to collect in Afghanistan.
  • Song Qingyang said his factory could not reproduce Tang Wen's superior-grade Flying Wing Sword but might reproduce another sword, and Tang Wen ordered a thousand prop firearms.
  • Tang Wen collected the equipment in Afghanistan, returned, and then crossed back to Su Mei Island.
  • Tang Wen learned that his next crossing required 800 strands of popularity and 150 qing of land, then used his mental control to lower a wind turbine into its foundation while Zhan Dongwen directed the servants.

Ch. 94Unsolicited attentiveness

Tang Wen completed the installation of three wind turbines, earning his servants’ awe, then sparred with Gu Hanyan over his Mountain-Moving Art and her newly advanced cultivation. He traveled to Yanling to arrange Qiao Xiao’s release and confronted Zhang Hongjiang over the governor’s limited support.

  • Tang Wen and his workers installed three wind turbines, and the servants cheered when the electric lamps lit up.
  • Gu Hanyan asked Tang Wen to teach her the Mountain-Moving Art, revealed she had reached fifth rank mid-stage, and watched him lift a five-thousand-jin rock.
  • Yang Yun sent word that Kang Qingfeng would release Qiao Xiao if Tang Wen came to the Yanling Six Fan Sub-Helm for the handover.
  • Tang Wen took Gu Hanyan, Luo Yiwu, and others to Yanling and met Zhang Hongjiang and Yang Yun at the commandery governor’s office.
  • Zhang Hongjiang complained about Tang Wen’s larger donations to Jiangzhou, and Tang Wen said Qin Botong’s intervention was what secured Qiao Xiao’s release.

Ch. 95I Refuse

Tang Wen confronted Kang Qingfeng at the Six Fan Sub-Helm over Qiao Xiao’s release and the Provincial Hall’s order to requisition the Thousand-Leaf Workshop. Tang refused the low compensation, and he left without securing Qiao Xiao’s release as Kang threatened to send him to the execution ground.

  • Zhang Hongjiang challenged Tang Wen to get Qiao Xiao released, and the two went with him to the Six Fan Sub-Helm.
  • Kang Qingfeng and Chen Chang Kong presented a Provincial Hall order to requisition the Thousand-Leaf Workshop for the sub-helm’s expanded operations.
  • Tang Wen rejected the offer of four thousand military merit points and demanded compensation reflecting the property’s value and his investments.
  • Gu Hanyan struck Kang Qingfeng with her qi after he ordered his men to seize her, and Tang Wen invoked his rank and noble title to make Kang hesitate.
  • Kang Qingfeng refused to release Qiao Xiao and threatened to have him executed, so Tang Wen led his party away.

Ch. 96Let Him Die

Tang Wen arranged to frame Kang Qingfeng for rebellion by planting forged letters in his secret chamber. After Yang Yun surrounded Kang Qingfeng’s residence, Kang refused to allow a search, and Chen Chang Kong argued that searching would clear his name.

  • Tang Wen learned from Gu Hanyan about the hidden chamber beneath Kang Qingfeng’s residence and planned to plant forged letters connecting him to Chu Hong.
  • Tang Wen showed Gu Hanyan and Luo Yiwu the convincingly copied poems and arranged for Yang Yun to lure Kang Qingfeng away from his residence.
  • Gu Hanyan and Luo Yiwu secretly used a small robot to enter Kang Qingfeng’s chamber while Tang Wen attended the handover as an alibi.
  • Yang Yun surrounded Kang Qingfeng’s home and accused him of plotting rebellion, while Tang Wen called for a search of the secret chamber.
  • Kang Qingfeng refused the search and threatened Yang Yun, but Chen Chang Kong said the search could clear Kang Qingfeng’s name.

Ch. 97You suspect me

Tang Wen helped expose Kang Qingfeng as a supposed rebel and watched him die during the arrest, leaving Chen Chang Kong to face an investigation by the Provincial Hall. Chen Chang Kong later visited Tang Wen and hinted that complications remained over his possible promotion.

  • Tang Wen led Chen Chang Kong and Yang Yun into Kang Qingfeng’s secret chamber, where he knocked over a Martial God Statue and revealed a letter linking Kang Qingfeng to Chu Hong.
  • Chen Chang Kong ordered Kang Qingfeng seized, and Kang Qingfeng fought back before drawing a hidden firearm; Gu Hanyan struck him with three darts and killed him.
  • Chen Chang Kong thanked Tang Wen and Yang Yun for their help, while Tang Wen and Yang Yun discussed suspicions that Tang Wen had planted the evidence and the protection his actions might offer his workshop.
  • Tang Wen suggested Chen Chang Kong would soon become helm master and used Kang Qingfeng’s death to signal that he would resist pressure to donate more money.
  • Three days later, Chen Chang Kong told Tang Wen that the Provincial Hall would investigate Kang Qingfeng’s case and asked him to testify; when Tang Wen congratulated him on his expected promotion, Chen Chang Kong sighed and said there were complications.

Ch. 98The Fang Family

Tang Wen gave Chen Chang Kong a valuable sword, pills, and a hundred thousand taels to help him secure the Yanling rudder chief position, while Chen cleared Qiao Xiao and punished Fang Qiang over the Thousand-Leaf Workshop. Enraged, Fang Qiang plotted to spread rumors against Tang Wen and Chen Chang Kong and sent Fang Jindong to seek help from the Feng Family.

  • Chen Chang Kong gave Tang Wen the results of the investigation, cleared Qiao Xiao, and confirmed the Thousand-Leaf Workshop was Tang Wen’s property.
  • Tang Wen gifted Chen Chang Kong a Treasure Sword and high-grade Spirit Pills, then promised a hundred thousand taels toward establishing the branch rudder.
  • Chen Chang Kong revealed that he had requisitioned three hundred mu of the Fang Family’s land and offered Tang Wen Merit Points for his donations and Kang Qingfeng’s capture.
  • Fang Qiang blamed Tang Wen for the land seizure and ordered rumors spread that Tang Wen and Chen Chang Kong had caused Kang Qingfeng’s death.
  • Fang Qiang sent Fang Jindong to Sea Saint City to seek help from Feng Jianwu and his granddaughter Feng Jiuxue.

Ch. 99Someone from the Provincial Hall

Tang Wen planned to rebuild the Thousand-Leaf Workshop, then confronted Mo Heizi, the Provincial Hall deputy, over Kang Qingfeng’s death. Mo Heizi accused Tang Wen of framing Kang Qingfeng and ordered his guards to torture him.

  • Tang Wen instructed Bu Feng to recruit workers and prepare the Thousand-Leaf Workshop site for construction.
  • Chen Chang Kong summoned Tang Wen and introduced Mo Heizi, deputy hall master of the Provincial Hall.
  • Tang Wen insisted that Mo Heizi had to respect his noble status, and Mo Heizi reluctantly saluted him.
  • Mo Heizi questioned Tang Wen about Kang Qingfeng’s death, while Tang Wen argued that his subordinate had acted to save Chen Chang Kong and Yang Yun.
  • Mo Heizi accused Tang Wen of framing Kang Qingfeng, threatened him with torture, and ordered his guards to bring out the shackles.

Ch. 100A Contest

Tang Wen faced Mo Heizi’s accusations at the Six Fan Gate offices, then impressed him with a fine sword and invited him to the Thousand-Leaf Workshop. Mo Heizi privately remained convinced Tang Wen was involved in Kang Qingfeng’s death and planned a secret abduction, while Tang Wen reviewed drone recordings that captured the scheme.

  • Tang Wen summoned his guards as Mo Heizi confronted him over Gu Hanyan killing a Six Fan Gate branch leader and questioned him about framing Kang Qingfeng.
  • Mo Heizi declared Tang Wen cleared, then learned Chen Chang Kong’s sword from Tang Wen could cut through the desk with ease and pressed Tang for a gift sword.
  • Mo Heizi accepted Tang Wen’s invitation to drink at the Thousand-Leaf Workshop, then privately called Tang Wen a suspect and discussed secretly seizing and torturing him and Chen Chang Kong.
  • Tang Wen told Luo Yiwu that Mo Heizi’s friendly act concealed sinister intentions and that he had tested Tang with threats and flattery.
  • Tang Wen opened the computer and played the Hummingbird Drone’s secretly recorded footage and audio.
Arc 4 of 21