I Can See Your Combat Power

No one understood better than Tang Feng just how difficult it was to build an intelligence organization. It was not just a matter of money or martial might, but the scarcity of intelligence agents themselves.

Even when cultivating from youth, out of a hundred children, only five or six could become a part of Wind Media. Twenty years seemed brief for an intelligence organization, but Yun Yinfu had grown from nothing, infiltrated dozens of noble families, and placed numerous intelligence personnel in positions of power. It was astounding.

If they were not in opposition, Tang Feng would genuinely want to learn from Yun Piaopiao on how to improve the strength of the Tang Family’s Wind Media Department.

While Tang Feng explained, Tang Luo continuously perused the archives. However, the more he read, the deeper his frown grew.

Because the pages contained unknown records, detailing scenes of key individuals from the Tang Family being assassinated. In the past ten to twenty years, nearly every case was linked to an assassin from the Mi Clan, causing the Tang Family’s Martial Ancestors to always carry antidotes, Xuanji Jade, and Soul Jade for protection.

By just looking at Yun Piaopiao’s life, Tang Luo really could not comprehend what grudges the Tang Family had against her. What had driven her to abandon her music and vow to take revenge on the Tang Family, even offering herself as another’s concubine?

The uncertainties that filled his head did not lessen after reading the archives, but grew more severe, prompting Tang Luo to ask: “If Yun Piaopiao was at the Fierce Realm ten years ago, her current position is not unusual. But I really can’t understand why she targeted us. According to the reports, even if the Yun Clan were destroyed, with her shrewdness, it wouldn’t be difficult to find power elsewhere. What was she trying to accomplish in Xiling?”

It was clear that Yun Piaopiao’s turning point was the extermination of the Yun Clan twenty years ago. From a well-known musician, she turned into an assassin, but the reason why she targeted the Tang Family was a complete mystery.

Not just for Tang Luo, but even Tang Feng found himself at a loss. He said, “I’m also baffled. If we’re talking about old ties, the Yun family and the Tang family do have some, primarily due to ‘The Tune of Tranquility.’ Twenty years ago, the Tang and Mi families would often invite her to perform at our base since having a tranquil mind is crucial for martial artists. Hence, we always treated her with utmost respect without any offense. However, after the Yun family was wiped out, Yun Piaopiao drastically changed, declining all invitations from Xiling and isolating herself. Who would have thought that she would turn out like this twenty years later.”

In this world, there was no love without reason, and there was no hatred without reason. Tang Feng was also puzzled by this. He had specifically compiled all the cases involving Yun Piaopiao marrying into Xiling and beginning to interact with the various clans over the past twenty years, but could not find even a trace of the Tang Family neglecting her. Even her husband’s death in battle had nothing to do with the Tang Family. Thus, he could only feel that Yun Piaopiao’s hatred was simply inexplicable.

Seeing that they couldn’t understand the situation, they decided to set it aside. Tang Luo closed the archive, summarizing: “Yun Piaopiao should be in her fifties this year. She is at the Martial Ancestor realm and harbors deep hatred for the Tang Family. She has a total of three hundred songstresses, dance girls, and maidservants under her command, all of whom possess cultivation above the Mortal Realm. Alongside some surviving members of the Huang family in the Fierce Realm, they’ve become quite a powerful force. The special Wind Media agents she nurtured have already infiltrated dozens of families large and small in Xiling. In my opinion, the gains from eradicating her completely before the war far outweigh the benefits from using her to convey false information.”

The reason the clan leader and the director brought so many case archives to the house was not just to share information but also to gauge Tang Luo’s judgment on this matter. This was a common tactic used by large families. Otherwise, they wouldn’t bring numerous case files back and forth without it being tedious.

Wind Media related issues were handled by the Wind Media Department. Since it involved Tang Cunfu, as well as the all-important clan leader, both men obviously had a contingency plan in mind. They simply wanted to hear Tang Luo’s opinion.

Since it wouldn’t affect the outcome anyway, Tang Luo decided to speak his mind. After all, the clan leader’s proposition to wait and see only made sense when the identity of Yun Piaopiao was not yet known. Now that they knew, the only course would be to completely remove her.

Both men nodded their heads in agreement. Director Tang Feng even expressed his agreement, saying: “I agree with Minister Luo’s view. After all, the special Wind Media agents Yun Yinfu trained are experts in assassination and destruction. Although the powerful warriors of the Martial Hall and the branch family leaders are not afraid, there are still numerous shopkeepers, craftsmen, and stewards in North Mountain. Important figures like these simply lack the ability to counter assassinations, and our Tang Family’s powerful warriors can’t be with them day and night. If Yun Piaopiao targets the middle ranks of the Tang Family for an assassination, it won’t only cripple the operation of various family branches temporarily, but also will likely result in heavy losses. It would be better to eliminate her as soon as possible to avoid future problems.”

Upon hearing Tang Luo and Tang Feng’s assessments, Clan Leader Tang Zu solemnly nodded his head, saying, “Understood.” He then turned to Tang Luo. “Actually, apart from the matter of Yun Yinfu, I came here to discuss Tang Zhi’s instruction regarding your duel with Xiao Ziyu at the peak of Red Cloud Mountain.”

“Oh?” Tang Luo raised an eyebrow, asking curiously, “What, am I not allowed to fight?”

“Tang Zhi asked me to tell you,” Clan Leader Tang Zu said solemnly. “You must fight with all your might in the duel. If possible, kill him!”

His deadly seriousness caused the candlelight in the hall to flicker, prompting Tang Luo to knit his brows, stare at Tang Zu’s eyes, and ask, “What do you mean? Do we not need the alliance?”

Caught by surprise at the sudden questioning, Tang Feng and Tang Zu exchanged glances before Director Tang Feng asked, “How did you know that our Tang Family and the Xiao family have formed an alliance?”

This was virtually the Tang Family’s top-secret information, and only a few crucial figures knew about it. Even many Martial Ancestors and family leaders were kept in the dark. Yet it was laid bare by Tang Luo’s words.

“The last time I went to collect rent from the Xiao family, I felt that the attitudes of the two Xiao brothers were very strange. That’s when I suspected an alliance between the two families.” Tang Luo folded his arms and said, “But with the Mi Clan still eyeing us like a tiger, the clan leader wants me to kill Xiao Ziyu. Even if we’re afraid of his future achievements and want to prevent disaster before it happens, now is not a good time, right?”

With bloodline power from the Fire God and several kinds of unique fires, Xiao Ziyu’s Flame Dragon was formidable enough to temporarily suppress the peerless Sky Sword Dao. It made sense for such an extraordinary genius to be feared by others, but at the least, they should wait until the battle between the two families had a clear outcome, right? Tang Luo couldn’t avoid feeling doubtful about why the cunning Tang Zhi would choose for him to act now.

“From the moment you challenged him, the Mi Clan would have begun plotting for your duel, aiming to create a rift between the Tang and Xiao families. Hence, Tang Zhi conjectured that this duel will certainly be manipulated by the Mi Clan. After all, ever since Mi Jin has always liked to ensure victory before starting a war with his forward-thinking nature. Clan Leader Tang Zu explained, “We might as well fulfill the Mi Clan’s wish. On the day of the duel, several teams of Martial Ancestors will escort you to Red Cloud Mountain, and the result of the battle will be Xiao Ziyu’s death.”

“Would Xiao Jinlin agree?” Tang Luo asked, frowning. He had also figured it out. It was nothing more than a play put on by the two families to fool the Mi Clan into believing their scheme had succeeded. But Xiao Ziyu was Xiao family’s gem, would Xiao Jinlin let him be sacrificed to deceive the Mi Clan?

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