Capital, high Mansion
A resounding slap echoed as Gao Ming, seated at the main throne of the Grand Hall of Gao Mansion, pounded his palm on the table. His expression was filled with fury, and he gritted his teeth as he said, "That rebellious son of ours, he boasts of returning, but since leaving his backing sect, I haven't seen him in person. I've heard that he first went to the forbidden zone and then traveled around with Pei Jiangnan. I wonder what he's after. Is this not planning to be at odds with the Grand Master?"
Gao Ming is the father of Gao Ti Lang and holds the position of Minister of Rites in the court. He is considered to be a high-ranking official in the government. Gao family is a century-old aristocratic family, which has been settled in the capital for over three hundred years ago. It has passed down through generations, climbing step by step to reach its current status.
To ensure that his family would flourish for a thousand years, Gao Ming racked his brains and had his three sons establish roots in various industries. However, he never expected that the third son, Gao Ti Lang, who joined the Town Military Command, would go against the grain and follow Pei Jiangnan instead.
Although Pei Jiangnan has considerable power in the court, it is the Grand Master who truly wields absolute power. After today's morning meeting, Gao Ming has come to see through the situation. He knows that Pei Jiangnan is on the decline and will surely be eliminated by the Grand Master in the future. Therefore, upon returning, he urgently sent messengers to investigate news of his rebellious son, ensuring that he did not grow too close to Pei Jiangnan.
"My brother Gao, please do not be angry. High Tian Lang is still young, and his only idol is the strong. As one of the Double Heroes of the empire, Pei Jiangnan possesses immense power and thus has become his idol. Once he reaches a certain age, I believe he will come to understand this."
Beside Gao Ming, Liu Zhenfu, the Minister of Public Security, tried to persuade him with kind words. He had known Gao Ming since they were young and had a good relationship. It was all due to his care that Gao Tian Lang was in the Town Military Command.
"When he reaches that age, our Gao family might already be eradicated by the Grand Master. Don't let me find him. If I do, I must..."
"What do you intend to do, father?"
At this moment, a resounding laugh rang out, and lo and behold, Gao Tianlang, who had recovered from his injuries in Chen Mo's courtyard, hurriedly came over.
The moment he saw Gao Tian Lang, Gao Ming jumped up instantly and, without a moment's hesitation, took a vine stick from the side and chased after him, ready to beat him. Upon witnessing this scene, Liu Zhenfu, the Minister of Public Security, was immediately alarmed and promptly stepped forward to intervene.
"Brother Gao, stop, please! You're striking without even asking why, that's too much... Tianlang is not a child anymore; he needs his dignity."
"Yes, yes, Uncle Liu is right. Father, you are being too harsh"
Upon seeing his father holding the vine stick ready to strike him, Gao Tianlang immediately hurriedly ducked behind a pillar.
"Age does not matter. Even if he were eighty or ninety, he is still my son. Beating my son is a natural right, and it's shameful that you constantly anger me. I will not spare him until I beat him to death."
Gao Ming was still in a rage, holding the vine stick and ready to strike, but he was pulled firmly by Liu Zhenfu, unable to move.
"Who said I'm not doing anything serious? By following Pei Jiangnan, I am doing something serious..."
Gao Tian Lang replied with a stubborn look, "I am as unbothered by the boiling water as a dead pig."
"Hey, do you think you have a point now? Tell me, what kind of future do you have by following that Pei Jiangnan? Now, all the real power in the court is with the Grand Master. Following Pei Jiangnan is the same as being at odds with the Grand Master. Is this action of yours to provoke your father so much that he might die of grief and have to seek a mountain to practice..."
Upon hearing that following Pei Jiangnan has no future, Gao Tian Lang immediately became dissatisfied, "It would be great if you died, then there would be less mouths to eat and more mouths to pray for...".
"Hmm?"
Upon hearing this, not only Gao Ming, but also Minister Liu, turned pale. He released his grip, no longer attempting to stop him. Such a "filial" son was indeed in need of strict discipline.
Gao Ming held the vine whip and charged at Gao Tianlang, who immediately leapt onto the eaves and clung onto them, too afraid to come down. The former, a scholar-official, lacked the ability to chase him up, so he could only hurl abuses from below.
Gao Tianlang clung to the eaves with both hands, too afraid to come down, but realizing that this stalemate was not a solution, he immediately explained, "Father, following Master Pei will definitely lead to my rise in status. You don't know this, but recently, through Chen San Zang's connection, Master Pei has linked up with the Backing Sect. It is said that the elder of the Backing Sect is willing to offer the treasure of Shuiyue Dongtian (Water Moon Paradise) to Master Pei. As soon as he acquires it, he will definitely break through to level two, at which point his status will rise accordingly...".
"What did you say?"
Gao Ming was momentarily taken aback, and with the vine whip in his hand, his anger subsided significantly. After exchanging glances with Minister Liu, they nodded to each other in understanding and then left the Grand Hall together.
"Master Pei, the matter you entrusted me with is now completed. I hope you sail smoothly..."
Gao Tianlang wiped away the sweat on his forehead, only to realize that he couldn't see his father's figure anymore. Only then did he slowly let go of the eaves and slide down...
The Capital, Miao Mansion
In his resplendent red robe, Miao Tiannan listened to his subordinate's report and his expression suddenly grew serious, his old eyes filled with a hint of concern.
"Pei Jiangnan is only a level three official, yet he dares to challenge me. Imagine when he reaches level two, that will be much more difficult for us. Moreover, his connection with the Backing Sect has given him additional leverage. If he succeeds, our situation may become even more precarious."
"But, could it really be that easy for a third-level martial artist to advance to the second level?"
On Miao Tiannan's side, Xiao Tianyi sat upright, with his fingers gently tapping on the desktop. His expression also became somewhat serious.
"The conditions for a third-level martial artist to advance to the second level are quite stringent. However, I have heard that the treasure within the Water Moon Grotto of the Backing Sect is boundless. The patriarch of the Backing Sect was over sixty years old when he entered Daoism, yet he has now reached the second level. I suspect that there is a connection between this and the treasures within the Water Moon Grotto... Perhaps, the Backing Sect does indeed have a way to allow Pei Jiangnan to break through to the second level."
"What should we do then? Should we send for Tianfeng to come over?"
Miao Tiannan's eyes met Xiao Tianyi, awaiting his response in silence.
Xiao Tianyi's fingers stopped abruptly in the air, and then he shook his head seriously, "Tianfeng has a limited number of people, scattered throughout the Nine States, all of whom are busy with important tasks and cannot be easily relieved of duty... Whether this matter is true or false has not been ascertained. If we were to send Tianfeng here abruptly, it might affect the current situation... Let's have the Spiderweb investigate it instead."
"However, Pei Jiangnan is not an ordinary person. If a mere Spiderweb member were to investigate him, they might not even make it before they died... Are we supposed to recall the high-level experts from other places?"
"It's not feasible. Time is not on our side. I've heard that Pei Jiangnan has already set out for the Backing Sect... With the current situation, it's only fitting that we dispatch the elite Spiderweb from the Imperial Mausoleum."
Miao Tiannan stood up, his expression changing repeatedly, "Long Feiwu is in the Imperial Mausoleum, and we cannot afford any carelessness. This action may not be appropriate."
Xiao Tianyi shook his head, "In the end, she is just a caged bird, unable to leave. Even if she dares to come out, she doesn't need so many Spiderweb experts watching her. We can assign stronger members to watch over the Imperial Mausoleum. Each team can be dispersed a bit, so as not to be all caught up at once... If Long Feiwu does come out, we will know in a short time."
