Everyone present looked at Yang Wudi with confusion written all over their faces.
Yang Wudi spoke. "Everyone, don't get anxious just yet. Take a look at this latest piece of news."
Yang Wushuang was the first to pick up the slip of paper. After a glance, his eyes widened slightly. Its contents had clearly caught him somewhat off guard.
After the slip had been passed around, the others had all seen its contents: Qian Xunji, the Pope of Spirit Hall, had gone out with Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo.
Yang Wudi glanced at everyone. "This is the latest news I received, provided by a spy inside Spirit Hall. Qian Xunji, the Pope of Spirit Hall, has already left Spirit City with Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo. What exactly is their purpose? No one knows yet."
"You should all know that our conflicts with Spirit Hall have grown increasingly fierce over the past few years. Fighting could break out at any moment. Podi felt uneasy this time, and I actually feel something is a little off as well. I feel a little uneasy."
"Whether it's fighting or dying in battle, I, Yang Wudi, have no fear. Neither does our entire Breaking Clan. But Podi is only a child, after all. He doesn't understand anything. So I decided to simply let him visit Heaven Dou City for fun."
At that moment, Yang Wushuang spoke. "Big Brother, you mean-"
"I don't mean anything by it. We of the older generation can die, but our clan's youngsters are still too young. We must leave our clan a little hope."
"Big Brother, what arrangements do you have in mind?"
"Wushuang, you will lead the group yourself this time. Take Zhentian and Jinfeng, along with every child in the clan under twelve, to Heaven Dou City for a visit. Remember, if this storm doesn't die down, don't come back for the time being."
"But, Big Brother, if something really does happen, you'll be the only one left at home."
"Wushuang, don't worry. I'm not old yet. I can still hold things together here in the clan. Your side is what matters most. You are the hope of our Breaking Clan."
Everyone around them fell silent at those words.
In the end, Yang Wushuang nodded firmly. "Big Brother, rest assured. I will take good care of these children."
After slipping out of the house, Yang Podi had not even had time to look for a carriage heading toward Heaven Dou City before his mother, Niu Jinfeng, caught him by the neck and held him up.
Seeing his tall, imposing mother, Yang Podi immediately began acting like a child. "Mom, why are you here? You're not here to take me home, are you?"
Niu Jinfeng seemed a little displeased. "You little rascal. Didn't I say I'd take you to Heaven Dou City in a few days? How dare you sneak out on your own?"
"I was afraid you wouldn't take me!"
"Forget it. I won't hit you this time. Come home for now. We'll all go together tomorrow."
"Together? Mom, what does that mean? Is someone else coming with us?"
Niu Jinfeng gave Yang Podi a meaningful look. "Your grandfather just said that since this is a pleasure trip, we shouldn't play favorites too much. So your Second Grandfather will take all the children in our clan along. That will put our minds a little more at ease, too."
Yang Podi was very surprised to hear this. "Grandfather said to take all of us children on the trip? What does he mean by that?"
"What could he mean? Why is a child like you thinking so much?"
And so, Yang Podi was taken back to the Breaking Clan by his mother, Niu Jinfeng.
After returning home, Yang Podi carefully considered his grandfather's decision that day. Could Grandfather also feel that something was off, or have sensed danger, so he was sending all the clan's children to Heaven Dou City for refuge first? Or had Grandfather received some news?
Early the next morning, Yang Podi was woken up. He went out into the courtyard, where, to his surprise, every child under twelve had gathered. There were forty or fifty children in total.
Second Grandfather, Yang Wushuang, would lead the group. Aside from him, there were ten other adults, including Yang Podi's father, Yang Zhentian, and his mother, Niu Jinfeng. There were also several people holding children, and the others were clearly mothers of some of the children.
When the children heard they were going to Heaven Dou City for fun, they were all delighted. Even a few of the younger children kept making little noises, clearly quite excited as well. After all, going on a trip was something to be happy about, especially when the destination was Heaven Dou City, one of the most prosperous cities on the continent.
Under everyone's arrangements, all the children boarded the carriages waiting at the entrance. Nine carriages were parked there in total. Each carriage was assigned one or two adults, along with several children. Yang Podi, his father, his mother, and a few other children boarded the last carriage. Clearly, the intention was for his father to bring up the rear and look after the entire convoy.
Deputy Clan Leader Yang Wushuang rode in the carriage at the very front. At his command, all the carriages set off toward Heaven Dou City.
After the carriages set off, Yang Podi watched the Breaking Clan's grounds gradually recede into the distance and thought to himself, I hope the Breaking Clan can escape this crisis. Without us children burdening them, the clan should suffer far fewer deaths. I hope that if war really does break out, Grandfather can lead the clansmen to Heaven Dou City. After all, Heaven Dou City is one of the relatively safe places.
Meanwhile, Yang Wudi and all the elders watched the convoy depart from inside a room, their gazes grave yet carrying traces of comfort. Everyone seemed to breathe a sigh of relief as well. After all, those leaving were their own children, nephews, and younger generations.
Once the convoy had completely vanished, Yang Wudi turned to the elders. "Elders, from now on, we must pay close attention to gathering intelligence and keeping our clan members under strict security. Although we don't know what will happen, it will certainly be something major. It may even concern the survival of our Breaking Clan."
As the Breaking Clan's leader and an outer sect elder of the Clear Sky Sect, Yang Wudi had extensive experience handling affairs, and he certainly lacked neither means nor resolve. At his command, the entire clan went on high alert.
Meanwhile, Yang Wudi took the slip of paper to a meeting place. Before long, Tai Tan, leader of the Strength Clan, Niu Gao, leader of the Defense Clan, and Bai He, leader of the Speed Clan, all arrived.
Of course, none of the three seemed surprised after reading Yang Wudi's slip of paper.
Niu Gao spoke directly. "Old Goat, what's going on with you? Why do you seem so suspicious of everything? And why did you arrange for all your clan's children to visit Heaven Dou City?"
Yang Wudi shook his head. "It's nothing, really. I've just been feeling a little unsettled lately, and my eldest grandson kept making a fuss about wanting to visit Heaven Dou City. So I simply arranged for all the clan's children to go together."
"Oh, Old Goat, it was my little grandson who wanted to go on a trip? If I'd known, I would have gone along with him."
At that moment, Bai He spoke as well. "You Old Rhino, with so much going on in the sect right now, where would you find the time to go off having fun?"
As the maternal uncle of the brothers Tang Hao and Tang Xiao, Bai He could be called the Clear Sky Sect's foremost relative by marriage, and he was basking in boundless glory at the time.
Tai Tan, however, spoke up. "Things really have been a little busy lately. If I had the time, I'd truly like to go traveling for a while too."
Clearly, the leaders of the other three clans had also received similar news, but none of them took it to heart. Yang Wudi could only shake his head to himself. Hopefully, I'm just worrying too much.