Chapter 40: Little Xuanzi, Put on a Show

Sun Bin felt as though his soul had been drained away. He knew he had no choice. What did the status of a top-tier Jiangcheng family matter? Before absolute power, the label of "top-tier" was nothing but a joke.

"Master Tang, the Sun family is willing to serve you." Sun Bin used this title because he had heard Liu Zhenhua praise Tang Xuan’s formidable nature many times.

Sun Bin’s capitulation was not what Li Meng had hoped for, but it was beyond his control. He realized that the dream of using Tang Xuan’s hand to wipe out the Sun family would never come to pass.

Tang Xuan addressed Wei Gong, who was still kneeling on the ground: "I have a cultivation manual here. As long as you follow the techniques within it, you will be able to break through to the Zhenlei Realm within two years."

Wei Gong looked up sharply. He knew that certain powerhouses had only managed to reach the Tianqian Realm thanks to such manuals. However, such items were worldly treasures, and he had never dared to hope for one. Moreover, he knew that Tang Xuan’s manual could not be fake. Having witnessed Tang Xuan’s Tianqian Golden Body, he naturally assumed Tang Xuan was a master of the Tianqian Realm.

"I—may I really have it?"

Tang Xuan tossed the manual directly at Wei Gong’s feet. Wei Gong scrambled to pick it up as if it were the most precious treasure on earth. The other Zhenlei Realm masters watched with undisguised envy.

"You all may share it with Wei Gong. However..." Before Tang Xuan could finish, the group knelt in unison.

"Master Tang, I will fulfill any request you have."
"Master Tang, from this day on, I am yours."
"Master Tang, I will do whatever you command."

Tang Xuan smiled faintly and beckoned to Zhang Qi. She approached him, looking bewildered. "This is my sister. From now on, you will serve her. Her commands are my commands."

Zhang Qi’s mind went blank; she was stunned. These Zhenlei Realm powerhouses had suddenly become her subordinates. From this moment on, what were the Li family or the Sun family? They were nothing. Henceforth, in all of Jiangcheng, she, Zhang Qi, would be the only one who mattered.

Liu Zhenhua exclaimed excitedly, "Master Tang is incredible! Sister Zhang is incredible!"

Leaving the Li family villa, Zhang Qi still felt as if she were in a dream. Just over a month ago, she had been tearing her hair out over Liu Zhenhua. Since meeting Tang Xuan, her life had progressed as if she were riding a rocket. In just over a month, her status had risen above even the Li and Sun families. Although her name was not as widely known as theirs, both families would now have to bow their heads in her presence.

"Little brother, should I offer myself to you?"
"Sister, that is a very dangerous thought."

Zhang Qi rolled her eyes. "I was just teasing you, don't take it seriously. Are you planning to leave Jiangcheng?"

Tang Xuan was surprised. He hadn't mentioned this to her; how did she know? "Sister, how did you guess?"

"Why else would you have those Zhenlei Realm experts answer to me?"

Tang Xuan nodded. "I do have to leave Jiangcheng for a while, and there is something I need your help with."

"Say it. As long as you aren't eyeing my body, I'll agree to anything."

"I have a few friends in Jiangcheng. After I leave, they will need your protection. Don't let anyone bully them."

Zhang Qi patted her chest in assurance. "Don't you worry. If anyone wants to bully them, they'll have to step over my dead body first." Tang Xuan was reassured by this.

"Why are you leaving Jiangcheng?"

Tang Xuan’s primary motive concerned his own physical well-being. Little Xuanzi’s intelligence was only a small part of the issue. To ensure that Little Xuanzi’s body met the requirements of a Saintly Physique, his own Yellow Dragon Qi might not be enough. He required external aids—rare and precious medicinal herbs. Since the most valuable items were held by influential collectors, he had to venture beyond Jiangcheng.

"To make myself stronger."

Zhang Qi asked curiously, "Aren't you already strong enough?"

Tang Xuan curled his lip. "I suppose you could say I’m invincible in this world."

Zhang Qi’s eyes widened. "You’re bragging again. Are you telling me you’re a demigod of the Tianqian Realm?"

A parched Liu Zhenhua couldn't help but chime in, "Master Tang is incredible!"

Tang Xuan kicked him in the backside. "Incredible my foot! I’m sick of hearing that—don't say it again."

Liu Zhenhua gave a sheepish smile. "Master Tang, I’m not very cultured. I don't have any other words."

Zhang Qi said, "Fine, I won't ask what you're going to do. Don't worry about things at home; I’ll look after your family."

Tang Xuan cautioned her, "Sister, you only need to protect the three people living at the Luhu Tianjing residence. Don't worry about the others." He didn't want Zhang Qi to inadvertently become a shield for the rest of the Tang family.

"Understood."

***

After parting ways with them, Tang Xuan returned to Luhu Tianjing. You Zhen’s eyes were red and swollen; she had clearly been crying. Tang Qinghua sighed repeatedly, and even Zhao Ran was affected by the atmosphere, looking deeply troubled.

After Tang Xuan told them his plan to take Little Xuanzi away from Jiangcheng, Tang Qinghua reacted fiercely. "How can you do this? How can you take my son away!"

You Zhen clutched Little Xuanzi tightly to her chest. "He’s still so young, why are you taking him?"

Tang Xuan said, "I know you are reluctant, but for his future, I must take him away. I won't lie to you—as he grows, he will indeed remain mentally impaired. Therefore, I must find a master to awaken his intelligence. Such a master must be a powerhouse of the Tianqian Realm. If we stay in Jiangcheng, we will never encounter such a person." To get them to agree, Tang Xuan had to fabricate a lie.

You Zhen’s tears fell like broken pearls. Tang Xuan continued, "Are you willing to watch him grow up as an invalid and be the target of mockery?"

Tang Qinghua fell silent. As a son of the Tang family, he had lived a life of immense pain, cast aside and humiliated. He knew all too well how unbearable that felt. If his son remained an invalid, he would suffer even more.

"Is this the only way?"

"The only way," Tang Xuan affirmed.

You Zhen took a deep breath. "Take him, then. Just make sure to take good care of him."

To avoid the pain of a prolonged farewell, Tang Xuan left Jiangcheng quietly that very night.

Three days later, at the Junyang City airport, a young man with an infant sitting on his shoulders drew the attention of passersby. It was strange; although the infant looked only a few months old, he sat steadily on the young man’s shoulders without the man needing to hold him.

A beautiful woman walked up to the young man and scolded, "Is this any way to carry a child? He’s so young, do you have any idea how dangerous that is?"

The young man smiled and said, "Little Xuanzi, show this big sister what you can do."

Little Xuanzi leaped from his shoulders and began hopping and jumping on the ground, leaving the crowd of onlookers stunned.