Song of Adolescence

Chapter 96 Lianyue of Tang Clan

Central Shu, Tang Clan.

Lianyue Pavilion.

A man with a grave and stern face was standing by the window, wearing a magnificent wing-patterned robe. He was looking up at the full moon in the sky. A pigeon flew up from below and landed on his hand. He removed a bamboo tube from the pigeon\'s foot, opened the paper inside, and frowned slightly. At that moment, footsteps came up from behind him.

There were two sets of footsteps, one calm and strong, the other light and weak.

The man didn\'t turn his head, but he exerted a small force with his hands and twisted that piece of paper into powder.

"Lianyue-shifu," a voice called out behind him.

"Tang Lian, you’re back. Who is the person next to you?" The man still did not turn around.

"Ye Ruoyi pays her respects to Elder Tang Lianyue," a gentle voice sounded.

The man was taken aback for a moment and finally turned around. A trace of surprise flashed across his calm face and he hesitated a moment before asking, "Daughter of General Ye Xiaoying?"

Ye Ruoyi nodded. "Exactly."

Tang Lian was a little surprised when he saw Tang Lianyue\'s reaction, and he couldn\'t help but wonder, "Lianyue-shifu, weren’t you the one who sent a letter saying that Ruoyi\'s illness has a cure, and asked me to bring her here?"

Tang Lianyue didn\'t answer. He just walked over, reached out and placed his fingers on Ye Ruoyi\'s pulse. He frowned slightly, and after a long while, he shook his head. "Sikong Changfeng is the progeny of the Medicine King. If he couldn’t cure her, what can I do? I did not send you any letter."

Tang Lian was shocked. "How is that possible? Who would impersonate shifu’s handwriting to send me the letter?"

"It was me," Ye Ruoyi said suddenly.

Tang Lianyue nodded. "I guessed it."

"Why?" Tang Lian didn’t understand.

"Plucking water or plucking the moon, half lost in wind and rivers, and half lost in clouds. It\'s been a long time, Heavenly Revelations Xuanwu Guardian," Ye Ruoyi said slowly.

Tang Lianyue smiled. "You know more than I thought. Let me guess, why do you want to see me? Is it because that person has appeared?"

"Back then, during the case of Langya Prince’s rebellion, Langya Prince was willing to sacrifice himself but at the same time, he entrusted his most beloved sixth prince, Xiao Chuhe, to his four closest friends, who were then, the Four Guardians of Heavenly Revelations. The identity of Qinglong was well known to all, Zhuque was an old acquaintance of my father’s, Baihu’s whereabouts are unknown, and Xuanwu has been notoriously difficult to find. But, I know that you’ve always been hiding in the Tang Clan stronghold. This time I’ve entered the martial world with the purpose of finding the Four Guardians of Heavenly Revelations to lead Xiao Chuhe and return to Heavenly Revelations City." Ye Ruoyi changed from her usual gentle appearance, and when she said these words, a sharp light flashed in her eyes.

Tang Lian was also shocked when he heard this. "Four Guardians of Heavenly Revelations? So, shifu, the person you’ve had me wait for in Snow Moon City is…"

Tang Lianyue looked at Ye Ruoyi. "But why are you doing this? Did General Ye Xiaoying decide to back the sixth prince?"

"I met him when I was young, and I felt that such a person should take up that position. I don\'t care how my father chooses, but I choose him," Ye Ruoyi answered firmly.

"You are like your mother. You were born with a defective heart meridian. I actually saw you when you were just born. At the time, I said you wouldn’t live past three years old. And even if you survive, you were going to be a cripple confined to your bed. But now you’re standing in front of me, with an imposing manner, no less than your father who is a great general." Tang Lianyue nodded. "It\'s just a pity that you’re too late."

"Too late?" Ye Ruoyi was taken aback.

"Look below." Tang Lianyue turned around and looked downstairs, only to see dozens of Tang Clan disciples surrounding him and the entire Lianyue Pavilion.

"What\'s going on?" Tang Lian was shocked.

"Besides having powerful experts within Snow Moon City, they are also allied with three great families. They are clearly the Tang Clan in Central Shu, the Lei Clan of Jiangnan Thunderbolt Hall, and the long-established Wen Clan. Among them, Li Hanyi is the daughter of Lei Mengsha, and the relationship with the Lei family runs deep. Baili Dongjun’s mother was an elder of Wen Clan’s previous generation. The alliance between Snow Moon City and these two great families was established since the beginning of the city. Only Tang Clan have always been at odds with Lei Clan Fort, and the alliance with Snow Moon City was only set up due to circumstances of the time and also because of my friendship with the three citymasters. Now the situation has changed, and the old men of Tang Clan have some new ideas." Tang Lianyue looked at the people below, his expression unchanged.

"New ideas?" Ye Ruoyi frowned slightly.

"First Citymaster Baili Dongjun disappeared from Snow Moon City three months ago. Second Citymaster Li Hanyi suddenly left Cangshan, and was intercepted by two Hidden River Heads of Houses in Nan\'an City. After breaking through the siege, his whereabouts are unknown. The Spear Immortal alone can no longer control the Tang Clan’s old men. Moreover, I just received news that someone had visited them secretly, and the bargaining chip offered by that person may be much higher than that offered by Snow Moon City." Tang Lianyue took a light and sudden leap and landed on the railing. "This is truly a bad time to be here. Those old men have no intention of letting me leave Tang Clan."

Tang Lian, who had a calm personality, was also at a loss at this time. Suddenly, his master’s sect and family were on opposite sides. He looked at Tang Lianyue. "Lianyue-shifu…"

Tang Lianyue turned his head and looked at Tang Lian. "Tang Lian, what martial arts did Baili Dongjun teach you?"

"Baili-shifu taught me a set of core internal energy called Encompass Heaven, and a set of fist techniques called Harness the Sea. He said that the core technique strengthens the body and the fist techniques protect the body. Normally, in battle, I’ve mainly used the ultimate skills of the Tang Clan Outer School," Tang Lian replied.

Tang Lianyue nodded. "Baili Dongjun probably saw that your personality is very straightforward, so he taught you these two sets of martial arts. The essence of these two sets of martial arts lies in the word \'unfettered\', but at present, you have not grasped its meaning. So, as you are now, you don’t want to make the choice between your sect and your family, right?"

Tang Lian hesitated for a long while, then he shook his head. "Shifu, please guide me."

"Back then, there were so many disciples in Tang Clan, but I chose you because of your honesty. But your honesty will also harm you. As long as we’re alive, we must always make choices." Tang Lianyue drew out a token from his sleeves, and threw it into Tang Lian\'s hand. "This is the Xuanwu Order, Miss Ye. Back then, we promised Langya Prince that our progeny would always stand guard beside the sixth prince, and now I give the Xuanwu Order to my most deserved disciple. The task of guarding the sixth prince and returning to Heavenly Revelations is now his."

Tang Lian hurriedly knelt down. "Shifu, I…"

"Don\'t worry, I gave you the Xuanwu Order, but whether you accept it or not is your decision. After all, Tang Clan is your family, and your parents died young. Before you were handed over to me, those old men raised you too. But whether you accept this token or not, there is one thing you must do today." Tang Lianyue suddenly turned around, and three people were already standing on the opposite rooftop.

Tang Huang, Tang Xuan, and Tang Qisha of Tang Clan.

"Take Miss Ye Ruoyi away from here." Tang Lianyue shook his robe, and the black wings on it suddenly took flight.

*