I Can See Your Combat Power
Chapter 1650 - Ninety-Two: Reconcile Great Resentments

Chapter 1650: Chapter Ninety-Two: Reconcile Great Resentments

With Liu Tang setting an example, the leaders of the He and Nong families no longer held back and followed suit, putting forward their demands.

However, unlike the Liu Clan, they did not request to arrange for their children to be enrolled in school; instead, they sought to complete the missing parts of their secret arts or enhance their prospects in advancing their secret techniques.

To these requests, Tang Luo readily agreed, and after that, there were no more official matters at the banquet, which carried on in a harmonious atmosphere with both host and guests enjoying themselves.

After the third round of drinks and the fifth flavor of dishes, the three slightly inebriated clan leaders used the excuse of pressing official business to bid farewell, and Tang Luo accompanied by Du Wei, saw them out of the city.

The craftsmen who came with Liu Tang from Chaochang entirely occupied his quarters, but due to the congestion in the city, it was impossible to find housing. Thus, the Head of the Liu Family made a grand gesture and instructed the craftsmen to live on the boats for the time being, while he boarded the Nong Family’s merchant ship.

Upon seeing the leaders of the two families coming together, Patriarch He’s eyes flickered with thought. Expressing concern about congestion on the Liu Family’s merchant ship, he also offered his family’s guest ship, which was moored nearby, to join them on board.

As soon as the Nong Family’s large ship set off from the docks of Unparalleled City, the three men met again in the guest cabin, their faces sober and their expressions grave.

Their visit to express goodwill towards Unparalleled City this time was not only taking advantage of the situation but more importantly to mend the relationship with the Void Grandmaster.

Yet, with such great sincerity displayed, they had ended up partaking in an impersonal business discussion, a result that could hardly be satisfying.

What puzzled the Nong Family Chief and Patriarch He even more was the behavior of Liu Tang.

"Jianchuan City is in ruins, the younger generation of the Liu Clan suffered heavy casualties, and there were not many intact descendants who moved to Chaochang. To send two hundred nephews and cousins to the Unparalleled Academy, Brother Liu is truly bold!"

Though the powerful families of Longzhou compete with each other, the intermarriages over the past thousand years have created numerous familial entanglements.

Among the current descendants of the Liu Family in Chaochang, many are relatives by marriage from the He and Nong families. As a maternal family elder, Patriarch He’s questioning didn’t seem out of place.

Liu Tang was well aware that Clan He was once again expressing discontent with him, but he had compelling reasons for his actions.

He had specifically boarded the Nong Family’s large ship to find an opportunity to speak openly with the two leaders.

After all, both the He and Nong families had put forth significant effort to help the Liu Clan successfully relocate and dominate Chaochang, and hence there was no need to conceal non-critical information.

"Having met the headmaster today, what do you brothers think of him?"

Instead of rebutting or explaining his decision to send his relatives to the academy, Liu Tang directly asked the two patriarchs with a serious tone.

Sensing the gravity in his voice, both the He and Nong family chiefs frowned and meticulously recalled the details of their recent encounter.

"Insightful and extremely reserved," the Nong Family Chief spoke up first. He personally came to Unparalleled City on this occasion primarily to test Tang Luo.

No matter how indirect his probing was, the other party remained entirely inscrutable. Even after a banquet, aside from discerning Tang Luo’s Yuanzhou accent, he couldn’t glean any other information.

It wouldn’t have been unusual if the other party had always been coldly aloof and unresponsive, but considering that everyone seemed to enjoy the feast, such a smooth and worldly response could only come from someone with a deep understanding of human interaction.

"I have a different view from the Nong Family Chief," said Patriarch He, shaking his head. "Based on the headmaster’s accent, he’s undoubtedly a strong figure from Yuanzhou, and very likely a powerful individual from Yiren Pavilion. Although we are the leaders of the powerful families in Longzhou, both of you know that we do not weigh much compared to the holy lands, so it is normal for him not to reveal his background. On the contrary, considering his frank and open manner regarding personal favors and business, I feel that the headmaster is very precise with his grasp on matters."

"As long as it doesn’t exceed the principles, he is a person who is extremely easy to converse with."

So-called opinions are the perspectives from which each person views the world; the same event, the same person, can present a different landscape from different angles. Both Heads of the Families’ assessments of the Principal are from their own perspectives—correct in a way, but ultimately lacking in comprehensiveness.

However, Liu Tang’s question is not about completing the Principal’s image through the perspectives of the three individuals, but rather about connecting information.

Therefore, after hearing the judgments of the two brothers, Liu Tang asked again: "What do the two elder brothers think about Unparalleled City and the Unparalleled Academy’s current situation—do they consider it perilous?"

This question was easier than the last one, so Patriarch He almost didn’t hesitate to answer immediately.

"Judging by Du Wei’s expression and the congestion within the city, without our help, Unparalleled City will collapse in no more than ten days. If obstacles are thrown in its path, the collapse will only happen more rapidly!"

The Nong Family Chief also nodded slightly in agreement. As Heads who have governed dozens of cities, a brief trip down the streets is all it takes to approximately assess a city’s health.

The so-called ’too much is as bad as too little’; the situation faced by Unparalleled City is even more dangerous than that of a city with a shortage of people.

"Then, if a conflict were to arise, do the two elder brothers believe that Unparalleled City can emerge victorious in battle?"

Liu Tang tossed out the most important question, yet it only elicited a chuckle from Patriarch He.

"Has Brother Liu forgotten that if not for the concern over the influence of the Void Grandmaster, Unparalleled City would have been destroyed long ago. Although the Evil King Palace has closed off its mountain, the Dutian Heavenly King is targeting it. If a military disaster really occurs, with only the Principal to rely on, what can he fend off?"

"That’s curious then; with Unparalleled City in such danger, and the Principal lacking the ability to turn the tide, why still maintain a demeanor of strict adherence to protocol, rejecting all comers from a thousand miles away?"

Liu Tang spoke indifferently: "Throughout the banquet, this man spoke amiably without any of the haughtiness that the disciples from sacred lands typically have, and if we look at Du Wei’s attitude, we are supposedly the saviors pulling Unparalleled City out of fire and water. However, this favor has turned into a business transaction. Don’t the two elder brothers find this strange?"

In the cabin, there were no fools. Once Liu Tang pointed this out, both the Nong and He Family Chiefs immediately realized something.

"You mean to suggest that the Principal’s indifferent expression isn’t truly reflecting his feelings?"

"Patriarch He is perceptive!"

Liu Tang sighed: "If nothing unexpected happens, all these actions are likely instigated by the Void Grandmaster. The campaign against the Tang Clan by Longzhou, I’m afraid, will stir up more turmoil!"

The campaign against the Tang Clan, where the just army struck with heavy blows, and the Tang Clan of Longxi was forced into a sorry state – such advantage-laden battles are usually broadcasted far and wide.

They are even glorified in local states for centuries, but after the campaign against the Tang Clan, the Evil King Palace closed its mountain, and the powerful families who exerted great effort did not boast about it, nor did the disciples from the helping sects use it as a talking point.

Such oddity was merely because the youngest grandmaster of Xiehe overshadowed the eight directions, silencing all clans with his might.

Hearing now from Liu Tang that this person might still harbor resentments, neither Patriarch He nor the Nong Family Chief could avoid feeling worried.

"Just now I was wondering why the Principal, though seemingly amiable, was so distant in his demeanor. Following Brother Liu’s guidance, I’ve come to a realization. But how is this related to you sending students to the Academy?"

Patriarch He said, puzzled.

"If the Void Grandmaster truly harbors thoughts of revenge, whatever we do is futile. To contend with such deep resentment, we can only rely on these junior nephews and nieces."

Liu Tang sighed heavily: "At worst, at very worst, we must ensure Lin Chuan’s lineage continues for a while longer."