Chapter 63: The Order to Expel

  The news quickly spread throughout the Tang residence — the family head had brought a woman home, and not only did he hold her hand, but he also took her into the inner chambers and showed her the treasure vault.

  The mansion was soon abuzz with gossip.

  The news eventually reached the ears of the Tang family’s patriarch, Old Master Tang.

  "Zhong Shu, Guangzu, come with me," Old Master Tang commanded succinctly. He had always spoken pinly and without unnecessary words.

  The Tang family elders who were cultivating in the inner chambers, as well as various aunts and uncles from the Tang family, followed Old Master Tang to the backyard.

  Upon arriving at the backyard, they saw San Bao, blushing with her hair in disarray, rushing out of the room.

  *Cough! Cough!* Tang Guangzu immediately cleared his throat and quickly reminded San Bao to be mindful of her appearance.

  "Grandfather!" Tang Mingli’s voice came from behind San Bao. "Mingli pays his respects to Grandfather!" Tang Mingli quickly walked out of the room, pulling San Bao with him to bow in front of Old Master Tang.

  San Bao looked up at Old Master Tang. He was wearing a deep gray robe, exuding vitality despite his age. His hair was white, yet his face youthful, with steady footsteps and an aura of immense spiritual power. He said nothing, merely watching San Bao, his gaze seemingly probing.

  Standing to his left was a young man, with eyes and brows simir to Tang Mingli’s, though his eyes were sharper. His intense gaze never left San Bao, making her face turn even redder.

  "This is my cousin, Tang Mingyu," Tang Mingli smiled and introduced, "And this is my great aunt, my fifth uncle, sixth uncle, and my elder uncle..."

  San Bao politely nodded at each person, but she noticed a middle-aged woman standing behind Tang Mingyu. The woman smiled, but her eyes held an undeniable hostility, as if she was ready to pounce on San Bao at any moment.

  To the right of Old Master Tang stood a middle-aged man. San Bao noticed he was the one who had coughed earlier to remind her, and she smiled gratefully at him. He, too, was looking at her, but his gaze was warm, filled with the affection of an elder and a hint of joy.

  "This is my father, Tang Guangzu," Tang Mingli calmly introduced.

  So this was Tang Mingli’s father. San Bao thought, nodding respectfully toward Tang Guangzu.

  "If you show respect to Guangzu, you should also show respect to me," the middle-aged woman, who had been eyeing San Bao with hostility, suddenly spoke.

  Just as San Bao was about to bow, Tang Mingli grabbed her arm.

  "Why is it that every woman around you bows respectfully to me, but she’s an exception?" The middle-aged woman raised her eyebrows and began to argue. "Look at how red their faces are, how disheveled their clothes, and how she rushed out so suddenly. What were you two doing just now?"

  "Shut your mouth!" San Bao was about to speak, but Tang Mingli spoke first. "Father, this woman isn’t from the Tang family. Please take her away."

  Before Tang Guangzu could speak, Tang Mingyu intervened, "Ding Yi is your father’s second wife, so she is also your mother. How can she not be part of the Tang family?"

  "Uncle, please manage your son," Tang Mingli ignored Tang Mingyu and turned to speak to another middle-aged man. "This is a matter of the main branch, not for the other branches to interfere."

  Tang Guangzu gently pulled the middle-aged woman’s sleeve, signaling for her to leave with him.

  The middle-aged woman was not content. "Mingli, this woman is so rude. I think she’s much worse than the Miss Ding you brought back st time."

  San Bao gestured to Tang Mingli to stay calm and bowed to the middle-aged woman.

  The middle-aged woman rolled her eyes. "What’s your name, young dy?"

  "My surname is Xu, from the Xu family of Moling," San Bao replied.

  "The Xu family of Moling? The one that’s betrothed to the Wang family of Hailing?" The middle-aged woman finally saw her chance and immediately began to attack San Bao. "I heard that the Xu family only has one daughter, and that daughter lived in the Medicine King Valley with the young master of the Wang family for months, waiting for the wedding. Then, somehow, she changed her mind and eloped with the second young master of the Wang family. Could that be you?"

  "What? That happened?" Whispers began to spread among the crowd. "The family head carefully chose, and this is what he brought back—someone who’s been through so much!"

  San Bao couldn’t hold back anymore. She activated her spiritual energy and released her pressure field. The murmuring stopped immediately, and the people who had been gossiping fell silent.

  "As a female cultivator from a small noble family, having reached the middle stage of Danjing cultivation is indeed remarkable," Tang Guangzu spoke. "But Mingli is the head of my Tang family, and the woman he marries must be someone who can assist him. With your cultivation, you’re far from enough. And given your background, you can’t provide him much support. Mingli’s marriage will be arranged by me, Miss Xu, and this ends here."

  Tang Guangzu was straightforward in issuing the order to expel her.

  San Bao smiled faintly. "Mingli and I are just friends. He insisted on bringing me here, showing me around. I’ve long since gotten bored. I’ll take my leave now."

  San Bao stressed the word "friend" as she said it, and Tang Mingli’s face immediately turned pale. When he heard she was leaving, he reached out to grab her arm in panic.

  San Bao shrugged off his hand and quickly walked toward the front gate.

  "Mingli, come with me. I have something to say to you," Tang Guangzu’s commanding voice rang out from behind. Tang Mingli hesitated for a moment, but still followed after San Bao as they walked toward the mansion’s exit.

  "Stop him!" Tang Guangzu’s anger was evident as he shouted. The Tang family members looked at Old Master Tang and then at their family head, unsure of whom to support.

  "How dare you!" Tang Guangzu stormed forward and suddenly threw a punch toward San Bao’s direction.

  The powerful punch rushed toward her like a tidal wave. At this moment, San Bao was unaware and continued walking toward the front gate.

  Seeing this, Tang Mingli leaped behind her and took the punch for her.

  "Ah!" Tang Mingli coughed up blood and colpsed to the ground, beginning to regute his energy to heal.

  "You..." Tang Guangzu walked over, feeling Tang Mingli’s pulse. "For this woman, you’re willing to sacrifice your life?"

  "Grandfather, she is the only person I have ever loved in my life," Tang Mingli spoke with difficulty but managed to finish his sentence.

  "Foolishness!" Tang Guangzu waved his sleeve and turned back toward the inner chambers.

  The Tang family members, seeing the patriarch’s fury and their family head injured, all hurriedly scattered, fearing they would be caught in the conflict.

  San Bao was unaware of all of this. She walked toward the outer courtyard, heading for the gate. As she passed by, every Tang family member, servant, and guard looked at her with strange smiles, no longer showing the same respect they had when she first arrived.

  A chill ran through her heart. She knew she was not welcome here.

  Looking back, she realized Tang Mingli had not chased after her. A sense of loss filled her heart. She sighed, her steps quickening as she walked out of the Tang family mansion.