Returning to Linjiang City

Xia Xiayin was still confused, but she smiled and asked, "In short, strength and weakness are determined by a fight, right?"

"That's right," Xia Ci smiled.

Xia Xiayin chuckled and said, "But, brother, I still think you're definitely better than Shen Bai. Although Shen Bai has grandmaster-level martial arts, it's true that he couldn't defeat Tang Tianyuan, right? Even though he certainly had trump cards, when Tang Tianyuan switched swords, he almost didn't have a chance to use his trump cards and was nearly killed. But you killed Tang Tianyuan, doesn't that prove you're better than Shen Bai?"

"But he still had trump cards he didn't use!"

"Don't you have some too?" Xia Xiayin countered.

"Who said I have trump cards?" Xia Ci said.

"Hehe," Xia Xiayin smiled slyly, "Brother, from what I know about you, if you didn't have absolute confidence that day, you would have made me leave immediately. But that day, you didn't ask me to leave, which means you had absolute confidence—either you were absolutely sure you could defeat Tang Tianyuan, or you were absolutely confident that even if you couldn't win, you could take me away."

Xia Ci smiled slightly. His sister indeed understood his character thoroughly.

That day,

With Tang Tianyuan's Blood Cauldron True Scripture plus the divine weapon Wugou Sword, it could be said that both attack and defense were pushed to the extreme. Before actually clashing head-on, Xia Ci wasn't sure if he could definitely defeat Tang Tianyuan.

But he was confident he could escape,

Because by then he had already received the mastered Cloud Stepping Skill, a top-tier lightness skill created by Zhang Sanfeng—the legendary skill where stepping on your right foot with your left foot could let you ascend to the heavens. With the mastered Cloud Stepping Skill, Xia Ci naturally had absolute confidence that even if he couldn't win, he could take his sister Xia Xiayin away.

Moreover, all the martial arts rewards he received from the system were mastered, directly reaching the realm of transformation at the moment of initiation, and would allow him to enter a special state of enlightenment to comprehend martial intent on his own.

So he was very confident in his Cloud Stepping Skill.

The fully mastered Cloud Stepping Skill was already very powerful, and he had also comprehended the technique of using momentum to counter momentum, making his lightness skill reach an extremely powerful level.

Xia Ci said, "Xiayin, after we return to Linjiang City, I'll teach you two ultimate skills: a lightness skill called Cloud Stepping Skill, and a hidden weapon technique called Divine Finger Flick Technique."

"Brother, did you meet an old man with a white beard who passed on skills to you?"

"Yes, I really did."

"So do you know many martial arts?"

"Yes."

"Have you mastered each martial art?"

"Naturally."

"Then aren't you very powerful?"

"Somewhat."

"Do you have a way to make me become a master quickly?"

"I do."

"Really?"

"Really."

...

Zhushan County, at the city gate.

Tang Tianhao and Tang Buyi were sitting in a carriage returning to their manor. Tang Tianhao's face was still ashen, his energy very weak, and when he coughed, it was accompanied by poisoned blood.

"Father," Tang Buyi said with concern, "Although Hero Shen has high status, you're now severely poisoned and shouldn't move around too much. You should be resting at home. Hero Shen has already taken the Wugou Sword, and our family has gained the reputation we could hope for, but that's all we can get. Do you really think that just because of a sword, our family can establish a connection with Grandmaster Ye? Hero Shen may not even consider our Tang family important, so why bother like this?"

Tang Tianhao coughed lightly, waved his hand, and said, "Do you think I dragged my seriously injured body to see off guests for Shen Bai's sake?"

"Could it be for Brother Xia?"

"It is for Xia Ci," Tang Tianhao said. "The principle you understand, I understand even better. For Shen Bai, we should maintain sufficient respect, but not be overly enthusiastic. He's a grandmaster's disciple and won't think more highly of our Tang family just because we're enthusiastic, and certainly won't establish connections with us just because of a sword. Maintaining respect without offending him is enough.

But Xia Ci is different. This young man's future is limitless. Who is Shen Bai? A grandmaster's disciple, of noble status, a famous hero in the martial world, with powerful martial arts and a very proud character. Didn't you see earlier when your second uncle revealed his demonic skills, Shen Bai didn't take it seriously at all and went against him alone? This shows his proud character. Yet even someone as proud as Shen Bai regards Xia Ci differently, taking the initiative to give Xia Ci a grandmaster token."

Tang Buyi asked puzzledly, "Wasn't that to thank him for saving his life?"

"Use your brain and think. That's a grandmaster token, which in certain situations can represent Grandmaster Ye," Tang Tianhao said. "With Shen Bai's status, he has many ways to thank Xia Ci. For example, if an ordinary person accidentally saved you, wouldn't you think of giving them money or a house as a gift? Under what circumstances would you use gratitude as a reason to establish a relationship with someone?"

Tang Buyi suddenly realized, "When the other person's status is not lower than mine, or even higher. So, in Shen Bai's view, although he is a grandmaster's disciple, Xia Ci qualifies to stand as his equal or even higher?"

Tang Tianhao nodded and said, "If even Shen Bai values Xia Ci's potential so highly, shouldn't our Tang family take this opportunity to establish a good relationship? When Xia Ci rises and becomes famous in the martial world, what basis would our Tang family have to connect with him then? It's like Shen Bai—everyone knows his future will be extraordinary, but how could ordinary people establish relationships with him?"

Tang Buyi nodded and said, "But, Father, is it right for us to approach with such utilitarian motives?"

"In making friends, it's not fear of having utilitarian motives that's the problem, it's fear of not being sincere enough," Tang Tianhao said. "As long as you treat him with a true heart, and then make good use of your advantages, you can steadily board Xia Ci's ship that's about to set sail."

Tang Buyi frowned and said, "I understand sincerity, but what advantages do I have?"

Tang Tianhao said, "You have two advantages. First, you're not particularly clever, and others can see through your little schemes at a glance. You don't even need to pretend to be sincere; just acting normally is sincere enough. Second, you have a wealthy father, and that's your advantage. After some time, when my injuries have healed and the family no longer needs you, go to Linjiang City and spend money!"

"Oh, I understand," Tang Buyi nodded, then suddenly asked, "Father, there's something I've wanted to ask you for several days... Was it really you who intervened and snatched Mother from Second Uncle's hands?"

"No," Tang Tianhao sighed and said, "Actually, this matter was decided by your maternal grandfather. The reason was that I was the legitimate son, the future head of the family, and your mother marrying me would maximize the benefits of the alliance."

"Then why did you apologize to Second Uncle without explaining?"

Tang Tianhao said, "There was no way to explain. Because at that time, I knew your second uncle liked your mother, and I also knew the marriage alliance had chosen me. I could have refused but didn't. I enjoyed the benefits of being the legitimate son, so naturally, I had to bear the treatment of a legitimate son and take on the corresponding responsibilities, such as marriage.

My marriage was destined to be an alliance for the family. I thought at the time, since I had to marry a woman I had no feelings for anyway, rather than some unknown woman in the future, I might as well marry your mother. Although I didn't know her personality or anything, at least she was beautiful. I truly didn't know your second uncle's feelings for your mother would be so deep!"

Tang Buyi thought for a moment and said, "Actually, it's not necessarily that Second Uncle truly had such deep feelings for Mother, but rather because it happened to be another instance of the legitimate-illegitimate status gap, which gave him an obsession. Sigh..."