Chapter 20
It Doesn't Matter Whether You Agree or Not
"Grandfather is well. He's about to emerge from cultivation."
Han Xiaoyi explained flatly. She could act as arrogantly as she wanted here because she had a Grandmaster-level grandfather backing her.
Behind her were 3 bodyguards, each with power at Martial Master 1st stage.
Among young masters and misses from these clans, only she and those from 3 other clans could boast several Martial Master-level cultivators as followers.
One was the Han clan in this eastern region.
Two was the Xie clan in the north.
In the western region, there was the Zhu clan.
And finally, the Gua clan living in the south.
All 4 clans had one thing in common—they had Grandmaster-level cultivators in the clan. Their strength and influence spread wide, attracting lower-level cultivators to join or pledge loyalty. They were collectively called the 4 great clans.
If the Tang clan didn't have considerable influence and weren't an alchemist family, Han Xiaoyi wouldn't even consider them worth her notice.
That was the influence of a Grandmaster.
And it was the reason why the Tang clan treated Bai Fanxian so respectfully and wanted to get a bit closer to her.
"Then what happened earlier, Father?"
Tang Xiuhuan turned to ask his father, who even now still had a grim face.
"Nothing. These people are just talking nonsense."
Tang Tianjie, who had calmed his emotions, still had his eyes fixed on the three guests.
"Nonsense? Old Man Tang."
Yi Fan, who was closest, laughed lightly.
"We just want to see the treasure. That's all."
"The piece that spread pressure last night..."
Tang Xiuhuan immediately understood why these people came.
As he predicted, the explosion of power from the level 5 pill—strong enough that cultivators throughout the city could sense it last night—must have attracted the attention of these large clans.
These people were quite sharp. In just one night they'd traced the aura's origin back to the Tang clan.
"...We don't have any treasure like that."
Tang Xiuhuan certainly couldn't tell them it came from Bai Fanxian.
"Xiuhuan, don't try to hide it. Everyone knew when yesterday's events happened."
Ting Kangming pressed on. Even though there was a smile at his lips, his eyes staring over were full of greed.
"I'm not hiding anything. How could the Tang clan have treasures that valuable?"
Tang Xiuhuan sighed and acted submissive.
"That's fine. Let us inspect the Tang clan house."
Han Xiaoyi spoke with presumption. Tang Xiuhuan's eye twitched at that sentence.
"Miss Han...that's going too far."
Even ordinary people would be angry at such a request. Who would let strangers rummage through their own house?
Knowing those people had ill intentions, they couldn't possibly agree.
"Uncle Tang, let's not waste time on this."
Yi Fan suddenly spoke up.
"The longer it drags on, the more chaotic it'll be. Today there'll probably be many more people visiting the Tang clan house."
Yi Fan's words seemed like veiled threats.
"So if just the 4 sides know right now, everything will be easier to handle..."
In other words, if they agreed to share that treasure with everyone here right now, there wouldn't be problems later if more people found out.
"Right. The Tang clan shouldn't be too greedy. The treasure that could spread pressure like that must at least be a level 5 treasure, right?"
Ting Kangming pressed.
"As Young Master Yi said, if the Tang clan agrees to share it with us, I guarantee there won't be any problems. The Ting clan will consider you allies in the future."
He put forth an offer. A business-minded person like Tang Xiuhuan scoffed aloud.
Allies in the future?
That was no different from empty promises. It was like they were giving the treasure away for free!
Did the Ting clan think he was an idiot?
"Similarly, the Han clan will consider you good friends in the future."
Han Xiaoyi herself began pressing too. But the pressure from the Han clan was far greater than the Ting clan.
"This is Grandfather's wish." Han Xiaoyi smiled faintly. "If the Tang clan refuses, I wonder what Grandfather will say?"
Han Xiaoyi played her trump card!
The wish of a Grandmaster-level being!
The name of Grandmaster level alone might not pressure the Tang clan. But this was the Han clan—the clan with the most cultivators under its command in this eastern region!
If the Tang clan refused, they would displease the Han clan. A number of cultivators in this eastern region would become enemies with the Tang clan immediately to curry favor with the Han clan.
Tang Xiuhuan felt immediate stress. Partly from outside pressure.
But also because the Tang clan didn't have that treasure!
That treasure was Bai Fanxian's pill—and it had already been eaten by Tang Yeye to save her life. So what could Tang Xiuhuan do except refuse?
"...The Tang clan really doesn't have that treasure."
Tang Xiuhuan sighed. He didn't know how to make these people believe.
"Then we'll have to get rough..."
The smile on Han Xiaoyi's face disappeared instantly. She turned to signal her three bodyguards.
"Search everywhere. No matter what you find, report everything to me. The Han clan will take responsibility."
The young woman ordered arrogantly, looking extremely pleased.
"...Don't go too far!"
Tang Tianjie, as the Tang clan head, exploded with Martial Master 6th stage qi in fury.
Han Xiaoyi, who acted arrogant earlier, turned considerably pale.
Her cultivation power was only at Cultivator 8th stage.
She could act tough only because of Grandmaster Han Junpo's prestige and her Martial Master 1st stage bodyguards.
Facing Tang Tianjie's crushing qi pressure, no one in this room dared move.
Even Ting Kangming, whose cultivation power was just one stage lower, still felt pressure that made his body tremble slightly.
The higher the level, the greater the gap in power. Ting Kangming's cultivation power was at Martial Master 5th stage, but feeling Tang Tianjie's full-force pressure, he still broke into a sweat.
"Clan head, people from the military are requesting to see you!"
Before matters could escalate, one servant ran into the reception room out of breath. He hurried to report to the clan head, worried this would become serious.
Having government officials or military make trouble was never good.
"...Who is it?"
"They're from the Black Hawk unit. They want to see the clan head."
"Black Hawk?"
Tang Tianjie dispersed his qi pressure. People in the room began breathing comfortably again. Especially Liang Zhongxin, who followed Young Master Yi—his legs were still trembling.
He had never encountered anything like this before!
He was just a young master from a minor clan in this city. He'd come to follow Young Master Yi because of his father's orders. Most importantly, he was an ordinary person.
He knew about cultivators, but he had never felt the anger of a Martial Master-level being before.
The pressure released caught his breath. Both legs trembled, unable to move even a step. He felt like if he made a sound, he would be killed immediately.
"Let them in..."
Tang Tianjie ordered. Soon the servant led a group into this reception room.
The room that used to look spacious suddenly felt crowded.
If Bai Fanxian saw the group who walked in, she would be surprised. They were the group of cultivators she met at the medicine shop where she sold the hundred-year ginseng!
There were 4 of them. The one leading seemed to be the head because he had the most cultivation power—Martial Master 5th stage. Most importantly, they all had a silver wing-shaped symbol attached to their chests.
Upon arriving, the group's leader stated his purpose immediately.
"Greetings, Tang clan head. Sorry to disturb you. But I came here by military orders."
He spoke with a serious, clearly audible tone. His personality was very much like a high-ranking military officer in the army.
"What is it?"
Tang Tianjie asked in surprise.
"Yesterday a treasure estimated to be dangerous was detected in this area. We're requesting the Tang clan's cooperation."
Tang Xiuhuan, who was listening on the side, furrowed his brow at his answer.
The military had sharp noses too?
It wasn't strange. The military's intelligence network was said to be the best. They'd only just appeared now because they didn't need to rush like the 3 clans who hurried over earlier.
They could cite military authority and easily take away any treasures found!
The three clans already in the reception room ground their teeth. They had rushed over early, afraid other clans would snatch it first. But the real problem was the military and government!
"We don't have any treasure like that..."
Tang Tianjie sighed and answered. He didn't know how many times he'd said this today.
"That's fine. We just need the Tang clan to cooperate. We promise not to damage anything."
The unit head's words sounded very similar to the 3 clans before. He spoke with an impassive face, unlike the other 3 clans who had strange smiles at the corners of their mouths and turned to signal their own people to get ready.
Once the military started moving, they would have their people join in too!
"...You think I'll agree?"
Tang Tianjie exploded with qi once more. The Black Hawk unit head stood firm with an impassive face, however.
"It doesn't matter whether you agree or not. We've already started the survey."
At that instant, they heard the startled voices of several maids echoing from inside the house.
Tang Tianjie and Tang Xiuhuan's faces turned pale when they heard Tang Xinlan's voice and Tang Yeye's crying mixed with those sounds!