Finding Tang San to Vent Their Anger
He paused, then said in a deep voice, "Go back and gather the master craftsmen to make a prototype! Also, have the clan members practice the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer immediately! Whoever masters it first will be the next Grandmaster blacksmith!"
"Yes!" Tai Long quickly agreed and followed his father into the valley.
The sound of hammering metal in Iron Hammer Valley soon resumed.
The next day, as the morning light just began to shine over the green-tiled rooftops of Heaven Dou City, Splendid Pavilion at the street corner opened its doors.
This is the largest clothing store in Heaven Dou City, a two-story carved wooden building. Silks and satins hang on sandalwood racks, offering everything from martial arts attire to embroidered skirts and robes, both simple and elegant.
The shop assistant had just finished wiping the counter when Lin Chen walked in with Xiao Wu. He quickly greeted them with a smile—there weren't many people in Heaven Dou City who didn't recognize these two young people.
"Oh, Young Master Lin, Miss Xiao Wu, please come in! This newly arrived plain silk from the Star Luo Empire is perfect for a young lady."
Xiao Wu's eyes lit up as she looked along the clothes rack, her fingertips brushing against the soft silk, like a playful little rabbit.
"Wow, they're all so beautiful, Brother Lin Chen."
"I'll buy them all if I like them." Lin Chen followed behind, looking at the dresses intently, occasionally picking one up to compare them.
"This pale yellow one is quite nice; it complements my skin tone."
"Take the moon-white one too; it'll be convenient to wear as an outer layer while cultivating."
"This pink dress suits you very well."
Lin Chen was very meticulous in her selection, inquiring about everything from the embroidery on the neckline and the length of the skirt to the width of the waistband.
Xiao Wu changed into one outfit after another, twirling around and asking him if they looked good. He smiled and nodded each time, and as long as Xiao Wu was satisfied, he had the shop assistant wrap them up.
Before long, the waiter was carrying five or six bulging bags of clothes, piled high in the air.
Xiao Wu skipped ahead, clutching a purse embroidered with a rabbit, her smile impossible to hide. For her, shopping for clothes with Brother Lin Chen was even more exciting than leveling up in cultivation.
As soon as the two stepped out of the Splendid Pavilion, they saw two burly figures walking towards them from across the street.
Tai Nuo wore a black short-sleeved shirt, revealing his bulging forearm muscles; his brows were furrowed, and his face was gloomy.
Tai Long followed Tai Nuo with his head hanging low, looking aggrieved, as Tai Nuo was scolding him in a low voice, and he didn't even dare to lift his head.
"Uncle Tai Nuo, Tai Long."
Lin Chen raised his hand in a gesture and led Xiao Wu over.
Upon seeing Lin Chen, Tai Nuo's expression softened slightly, and he quickly cupped his hands in greeting. "Young Master Lin, Miss Xiao Wu. What a coincidence!"
"I came out to buy some clothes." Lin Chen said, taking out a roll of paper from his Chaos Space and handing it over. The pages were filled with neat small characters. "This is the incantation and key points of the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer that I compiled last night. The techniques for generating power from the starting position to the eighty-one strikes are all clearly marked. Uncle, take this and let the clan's master practice according to it. You can't go wrong."
"Oh dear, what should we do!" Tai Nuo quickly took it with both hands, carefully rolled it up, and tucked it into his robes as if it were a family heirloom. "Young Master Lin, you have done our Strength Clan a great favor! I will remember this kindness!"
"It was nothing." Lin Chen smiled, noticing his still somber expression, and casually asked, "Uncle, where are you going? You don't look well."
It would have been better if he hadn't mentioned it, because once it was brought up, Tai Nuo's face darkened again, and he snorted heavily through his nostrils.
Tai Long, standing nearby, pursed his lips, hesitated for a long time, but finally blurted out, "Where else can we go? My dad's taking me to the academy to settle scores with that Tang San... He says he'll give me some revenge and see just how evil that Blue Silver Grass really is."
"Puff--"
Xiao Wu had just taken a bite of the candied hawthorn she bought from a street vendor when she almost spat it out. She quickly turned her head away, her shoulders shaking as she tried to suppress her laughter until the tips of her ears turned red.
Lin Chen felt a mix of amusement and exasperation; the Strength Clan really was fiercely protective of their own.
His mind raced as he quickly calculated that, following the original trajectory, Tai Nuo would come looking for trouble, beat up the younger generation, and then the older ones would come out. Tai Nuo was no match for Tang San, and in the end, the Tai Tan Clan Chief personally intervened, forcing Tang San to reveal the Clear Sky Hammer. The Tai Tan Clan immediately acknowledged Clear Sky Sect.
But times have changed. Tang San hasn't been to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well yet. Without the medicinal power of the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and the Infernal Delicate Apricot, his Soul Power is at most level 30. In terms of pure Soul Power, he is definitely no match for Tai Nuo.
However, Tang Sect Hidden Weapons are inherently unorthodox and difficult to defend against. If they were to actually pull out a poisoned Hidden Weapon, or if Tang San really obtained the Eight Spider Lances, Tai Nuo were to be careless, they might just capsize in a ditch.
Not to mention that Shrek is full of hidden talents these days. Flender a level 78 Agility Attack System Soul Saint, Zhao Wuji a level 76 Power Attack System Soul Saint, and there's also Liu Erlong, whose bloodlust hasn't faded. There are three Soul Saint level figures there.
Tai Nuo, this level 58 Power Attack System Soul King, really causes trouble, he'll be lucky to escape with his life; he might even get a beating on the spot. Where would that leave the Strength Clan's reputation then?
"Uncle Tai Nuo, take my advice, this matter needs to be considered carefully."
Lin Chen spoke, his tone calm yet resolute.
"Hmm?" Tai Nuo paused for a moment, then raised an eyebrow. "What? Does Young Master Lin think I can't handle a level 30-something kid?"
"It's not that Uncle can't beat them." Lin Chen shook his head, slowly counting on his fingers to analyze, "First, although Blue Tyrant Academy has been renamed Shrek Academy and looks unremarkable, it has quite a few tough guys inside. The current dean, Flender, is a level 78 Agility Attack System Soul Saint, and there's also a vice dean, Liu Erlong, a level 78 Power Attack System Soul Saint with even more ruthless methods, and Zhao Wuji, a level 76 Power Attack System Soul Saint. Uncle, if you go alone and things really get out of hand, with those Soul Saint showing up, you won't come out on top. If they accuse you of 'causing trouble,' that won't be good."
Tai Nuo's expression changed slightly. He had only heard that Blue Tyrant Academy had changed its name, but he had no idea that its foundation had become so solid.
"Secondly, Tang San is no simple character," Lin Chen continued. "He may look like an ordinary Control System Soul Master, but he has many unorthodox methods and carries poisoned Hidden Weapon on his person, as fine as hair, making them impossible to defend against. If a fight really breaks out, even with your high cultivation level, if you're not careful and get grazed or touched by Hidden Weapon, you'll suffer a great loss."
"Thirdly, even if you, Uncle, easily beat Tang San up, so what? You are a level 58 Soul King, and you defeated a thirteen-year-old Soul Elder. If word gets out, people will only say that the Strength Clan bullies the weak and takes advantage of the younger generation. It's an unfair victory, and you'll lose face instead."
The three sentences build upon each other, each hitting the nail on the head.
Tai Nuo's expression changed several times, his fist clenching and unclenching.
He was already angry and wanted to vent his anger on his son. But after Lin Chen's analysis, he realized that this whole thing was full of pitfalls. Winning wouldn't be honorable, losing would be even more humiliating, and he might even get a beating.
"So... we're just going to let it go like this?" He was a little unwilling, glaring at Tai Long fiercely. "This kid just got beaten up for nothing?"
Tai Long shrank back, looking aggrieved, but he knew Lin Chen was right. It wouldn't look good if word got out that his father was really going to beat up a child younger than himself.