Chapter 114 — Reinforcements

"This Tang kid just has to make a scene wherever he goes." Liang Qiu gazed at Tang Tang atop the distant lamp post, half sighing, half admiring. They had watched with their own eyes how Tang Tang had grown from a super repeat student into what he was now, and so their feelings ran all the deeper.

"Pity he isn't handsome enough," Sima Tangshan added quietly.

"What! Is Basic Tang not handsome enough?" Amaury's eyes went wide with astonishment. "Why do I think he's very handsome? He's only a tiny bit below the Lively Martial Man."

"The fact that you think he's handsome says it all," Sima Tangshan added quietly once more.

Tang Tang could hardly be called handsome: short hair, thick brows, a face still carrying a boy's softness, though the sharp angles were already faintly visible. His eyes were not large, and he made no effort to hide his wild, unruly nature; when he narrowed them, he gave off a ferocious impression.

But when he grinned foolishly, his eyes would still open wide in a way that was indescribably comical.

As for his build, it was simply perfect—tall and well-proportioned, harmonious in every proportion, without an ounce of spare flesh.

"They're here." Han Zhao's expression was icy. "Prepare to move."

On the rooftops in the distance, agile figures were swiftly closing in on the plaza.

"Looks like a hard fight." The steady, prudent Liang Qiu wore a grave expression.

"Aha, excellent! Basic Tang is stealing all the glory—I can't let the name of the Lively Martial Man be disgraced. I'll show Basic Tang what kind of powerful man is worthy of such a resounding name as the Lively Martial Man..." Amaury raised both arms, exultant.

"You really don't need to worry about our division chief?" Sima Tangshan said quietly.

Han Zhao turned her face. "Would you?"

Sima Tangshan gave a soft laugh. "Of course not."

"Let's go." Han Zhao lowered her eyes, betraying nothing, her left palm resting on her sword. She bent low, pushed off with her feet, and shot forth like an arrow loosed from a bowstring.

The others, without a word, dashed out after her.

Four figures flew swiftly across the rooftops.

"It's rare to see our ice beauty so impatient," said Sima Tangshan, his voice like drifting, uncertain smoke.

Click!

Han Zhao's sword slid partway from its sheath, and the temperature of the surrounding air plummeted.

"You'd best not provoke her," Liang Qiu warned Sima Tangshan.

Amaury wore the look of a good little child and put distance between himself and Han Zhao. Once the ice beauty Han flew into a rage, even Amaury, who always loved a fight, gave her a wide berth. She would draw her sword without a word, every strike aimed at a vital point, and more importantly, though her temperament was cold, it was fiercely unyielding—once she was truly angered, there would be no end until one of you died.

Sima Tangshan gave a low chuckle, but shut his mouth.

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"Who is this person?" A flicker of surprise crossed Kong Yiyu's face as her gaze settled on the lamp post.

Huo Yanguang's strength had already astonished her. So young, yet already at the fifth-rank high stage, able to comprehend the killing move of a fifth-rank martial technique—Huo Yanguang's talent and diligence were both outstanding.

But what shocked her even more was the unfamiliar youth who had defeated Huo Yanguang. After all, she had been stationed in Perseus for many years, and she still knew a thing or two about the young people of Perseus.

Yet Huo Yanguang's brilliance had been completely eclipsed by the youth on the lamp post.

Fierce, calm, tenacious...

For the first time, she saw such dazzling combat qualities in a youth so young. He had been at a total disadvantage in strength, yet he had been able to win. This little Tang kid was truly no simple matter.

Kong Yiyu's features were beautiful, carrying a mature charm; her face bore only the lightest touch of makeup, and her plain white garments only set off her fairy-like beauty all the more.

Who could have imagined that this peerlessly beautiful and dignified woman was actually the division chief of the Light Inkstone Perseus Branch?

Kong Yiyu was surprised, but her subordinates around her were even more so. Back then, because of Kong Youlin, they had dumped Tang Tang in the Daling outer camp and never paid him any mind again. No one had ever imagined they would see Tang Tang again here.

Wasn't this Tang kid supposed to be in the Daling outer camp? How had he gotten out?

And... his strength was actually so formidable!

Their faces were full of uncertainty and alarm.

Kong Yiyu saw the peculiarity at a glance and said calmly, "It seems there's something hidden here."

Hearing this, her subordinates' mouths went dry. The chief's thoughts were hard to fathom, her moods unpredictable; when she seemed calm, it was often the prelude to an outburst. Not daring to conceal anything, they told the whole story from beginning to end.

Kong Yiyu listened quietly to the end, her expression unchanging.

Her subordinates kept their heads bowed, not daring even to breathe, cold sweat trickling down.

Kong Yiyu said nothing; her gaze fell on Tang Tang atop the lamp post, now with a bit more interest. If her brother had taken a liking to him and brought him to Perseus, this little Tang kid must have something special about him. She knew very well that her brother, who had just been killed, had a remarkably good eye for people.

At the thought of her brother, a flash of killing intent crossed her eyes. She would surely find the murderer who had killed her brother!

She quickly suppressed that killing intent, her attention returning to Tang Tang.

But... the power of bloodline?

Kong Yiyu shook her head inwardly. The Tang Duo combat method was clearly not the Black Soul style. Though she was far away, her eyesight was extraordinary, and she had seen the earlier battle clearly.

It was a martial soul... a silver martial soul!

She too was filled with doubt and alarm. She could tell that Tang Tang had only recently stepped into the fifth rank, and to have cultivated a silver martial soul at the fifth rank...

Had she not seen it with her own eyes, she would never have believed it. Moreover, she knew her brother could not possibly have failed to notice Tang Duo's silver martial soul—which meant Tang Tang must have cultivated it during this recent period.

The Peacock... wait!

Deep in her calm, unrippled eyes, something seemed to flicker.

Suddenly, she caught sight of Amaury and his group, and something came to mind. "You said he came together with Amaury and the others?"

Her subordinate gave a start and hurriedly replied, "Yes! All of them came from Yaochuan City!"

A faint, knowing smile appeared on Kong Yiyu's peerless face.

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Tang Tang in his current state could only be described as utterly bedraggled—soot and smoke all over, his magnificent, noble Peacock armor now battered beyond recognition.

Only when the Peacock had withdrawn back into the armor did Tang Tang feel a trace of coolness from it. Tang Ke smiled wryly; this time the Peacock would probably need some time to recover its former state.

Fortunately, the spoils were rich.

Below, the guards all wanted to step forward, yet feared Tang Tang might take the opportunity to do their young masters harm. Tang Ke felt immensely pleased with himself, but at the thought of how these Tang kids had dared to lecture him and Qianhui earlier, his expression darkened.

This Tang youth was hardly the easygoing sort.

You think that by joining forces, you can force me to bow my head?

Too naive!

The furious curses from the plaza below never ceased, but Tang Tang paid them no heed. He bent down and casually grabbed a rope; the young master tied to it was someone he did not recognize.

Two guards immediately rushed out from the crowd below, their faces somewhat pale.