I Can See Your Combat Power

Having introduced all the Elders, Tang Cunfu turned to the woman and said, “This young talent needs no introduction. Piaopiao, you must have heard his name. After all, the entire Xiling has been singing his praises for the last two years, even if you didn’t want to, it was unavoidable.”

“Ah, I do know him.” If Yun Piaopiao was somewhat reserved while greeting the elders, her eyes twinkled with girlish enthusiasm upon laying eyes on Tang Luo. She exclaimed softly, “Ah, this must be the unparalleled genius, Xiling’s foremost Mortal Transcendor, the Peerless Master Tang Luo.”

Piaopiao’s surprised tone and awed expression made Tang Luo appear as the most attention-worthy at the table. Tang Luo could only awkwardly touch his nose and modestly respond, “Your compliments are too generous, Miss Yun.”

His embarrassment was sincere. On one hand, he was somewhat ashamed to receive such extravagant praise from a powerful figure of the Fierce Realm. On the other hand, he also felt guilty for not being able to share his situation with Tang Cunfu.

But Tang Cunfu misunderstood Tang Luo’s modesty for shyness, and added, “That’s correct! Piaopiao, didn’t you mention that your apprentice greatly admires Minister Luo? Here he is, in the flesh.”

With a coquettish glance, Yun Piaopiao gave a slight bow. “After our young lord enforced the Five-Acre Land Decree, my apprentice couldn’t stop singing his praises. She insisted if she ever got the chance, she would perform a solo piece for our young master. Given the opportunity, would the young lord have a moment for her? We hope to not cause any inconvenience.”

Upon hearing this, the elders at the table could not help but smile knowingly, as if to say ‘Ah, to be young again.’

What did a solo performance mean? Clearly, this was an invitation for Tang Luo to become the honored guest of the Zhao household. What differentiated a courtesan from a prostitute?

Although both aimed to please with their charms, the former demanded coin for her body, whereas a courtesan’s talents in music and dance enriched her encounters with scholars, soldiers, and statesmen. More often than not, a courtesan would only trade in arts, not in her own flesh, and held an unwavering strong spirit.

Many men who tried to take a courtesan by force had only a lifeless body to show for their efforts, while some noble-minded courtesans preserved their chastity until death.

Rumors were that Miss Zhao had rejected every bachelor in Xiling, even spurning the propositions of Mi Hou, astonishingly setting her sights on Tang Luo.

Tang Cunfu let a knowing smile creep onto his face, a look that only other men could understand, and answered for Tang Luo, “Of course, there’s always time. Minister Luo, being a young hero has always been devoted to martial arts. Recently, he just returned from Red Cloud Mountain and certainly needs some time to relax. I’m sure Yan’er would be delighted to keep him company.”

This bizarre matchmaking gave Tang Luo a headache. He was just about to refuse but heard the Sect Head Tang Zu say, “The profoundness of Miss Zhao’s artistic talent and the profoundness of Minister Luo’s martial prowess would certainly be a fine and harmonious match. Marvelous indeed.”

Faced with this unexpected pairing, Tang Luo swallowed his refusal. Clearly, the Sect Head wanted him to play along. Rather than guessing their intentions, it was better to let them make their move in plain sight.

He couldn’t help but wonder whether Yun Piaopiao was a sincere woman or a clever schemer for daring to start her plan at the Star-taking Feast.

Just when Tang Luo was feeling unsure about how to respond, his mentor, Tang Hongtao, chimed in, “Indeed, my grand-disciple. Heroes have always attracted beautiful women, and this Miss Zhao, she embodies the will of her master, not only excelling in musical arts, but also pioneering a form of dance combat—a top-tier evasive technique. Even if you’re not interested in musical arts, exchanging ideas about combat techniques should be beneficial.”

Something strange was occurring. A few at the table felt an odd thrum in the air, a hint that things were not as they seemed. Tang Hongjun, the Second Elder, could only awkwardly apologize to Yun Piaopiao, “Please forgive my brother’s behaviour. Ever since he was a child, he’s been enamored with martial arts, even neglecting matters of men and women. In his eyes, even the renowned Miss Zhao is simply a martial artist who has devised a new martial technique. He can’t even distinguish between dance steps and martial techniques, and he is an Elder of the Secret Arts Pavilion!”

As everyone present held similar statuses, they couldn’t help but laugh out loud when hearing a brother lecturing another. Tang Qi and Tang Luo seemed to have turned a deaf ear, exuding a calm demeanor.

After admonishing his brother, Second Elder Tang Hongjun turned toward Tang Luo, “It is said that Minister Luo has not yet married. Normally, I wouldn’t poke my nose into such matters. However, the lady Sect Head has gone to visit her home far in Yuanzhou. The journey is tens of thousands of miles; a two-way trip would take several years. The Sect Head is a martial arts fanatic and might forget that Minister Luo’s cultivation is impressive, and he is already at the best age for marriage. It’s time to put marriage on the agenda.”

For a martial artist, the best time to get married is right after the Mortal Transcendence but before entering the Fierce Realm. That was the reason why Tang Luo’s mother had persistently tried to introduce him to ladies in recent years.

But Tang Luo’s single-minded focus on cultivation had always foiled her plans. Just a few moments ago, he had to deal with his mother, and now the clan elders had started to worry about his marriage. It was rather overwhelming.

Seeing Tang Luo’s awkward expression, the Second Elder realized he had crossed a line and hurriedly laughed it off, “I’ve digressed. After the Star-taking feast, Minister Luo, don’t leave in a hurry. Listen to Miss Zhao’s solo and watch her elegant palm dance. How wonderful that will be.”

Given the highest-ranking Sect Head, Second Elder, and Elder of the Secret Arts Pavilion were all encouraging him, Tang Luo could only grudgingly nod and say, “Then, I guess we will have to trouble Miss Yun to arrange that.”

It seemed like these people were not at all concerned that this Miss Zhao might kill him. Did they have this much confidence in him?

Watching Tang Cunfu and Yun Piaopiao move to the next table, Tang Luo sat back down but immediately heard the Sect Head’s whispering about the Cloud Tune Residence.

Since Yun Piaopiao retired, the once thriving Cloud Tune Residence that was considered at par with Miaoyin Square in dance and music was slowly fading. The musicians from the Cloud Tune Residence could not earn a living due to the decreasing performance opportunities, and the once-booming place was reduced to a brothel. It had relied on selling these musicians to nobles for a while, before breaking even.

This situation only changed about ten years ago when Yun Piaopiao’s disciple, Zhao Lingyan, graduated. After that, the Cloud Tune Residence slowly started getting back on its feet and gradually became stable. However, it is still far from its glory days.

While Miss Zhao had only learned 60 to 70 percent of Yasien’s music skills, she completely inherited her master’s more altruistic traits. Even when the Cloud Tune Residence barely started making a profit, she focused on looking after orphans and abandoned babies and distributed food during winter, which resulted in the residence still living from hand to mouth.

If it wasn’t for the past musicians, who occasionally took highly paid gigs or donated gold and silver, the Cloud Tune Residence would be worse off than before.

When the flood came, Cloud Tune Residence and the Hallow family, who lived in northern Xiling, sought asylum in Tang Clan. However, the household of women quickly became a vulnerable group after the disaster. When they reached North Mountain, they were considered fresh meat by the neighbors. It was then that Tang Cunfu, who had taken over the Tang Foundry, directly moved Cloud Tune Residence next to Sangxian Mansion on Mount Chasing Cloud.

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