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“You’re really something, even the guide from Red Cloud Mountain knows you?” Brother Xu scrutinized Tang Luo, speaking in disbelief.

The deeds of affluent heirs are often hyped, a strategy employed by their families to build up their reputations.

A person’s prestige and virtue are accumulated through constant retelling and eventually solidify into tangible weight. Once the heir comes of age, any position he holds seems rightly his, preventing any disparity between virtue and rank.

But reputation is one thing; knowing the individual personally is another. For example, everyone in Middle Ying City knows of the illustrious Lord Eldest Young Master, but very few know Brother Xu himself.

Upon hearing Brother Xu’s jest, Tang Luo merely smiled and said, “I’m not that renowned, it’s just that this man and I have some history. Let’s proceed up the mountain.”

The children had already done so raucously. The trio couldn’t fall too far behind, so they nodded in agreement and began their ascent.

They chatted and laughed as they climbed. Most of the time, Brother Xu and Mi Bai were discussing art and the views along the way, while Tang Luo, content to simply listen, remained silent.

Before long, the trio caught up with the kids. After all, children get winded easily, and their initial energetic sprint had left them fatigued.

Their small faces were flushed a rosy red from exertion, yet they clung desperately to their lunch boxes, every last one of them.

Stopping in his tracks, Du Ziteng, who had been leading the group, waited for the trio and suggested, “The mountain path is starting to get steep. Should we let the children rest before we continue?”

Glancing at the main peak that towered into the clouds and then at the gradually steepening path, Mi Bai hastily agreed, “Sounds good, thank you for your consideration, Brother Du.” Apologetically, he then addressed Tang Luo and Brother Xu, “I apologize for my lack of foresight, for having brought the children on a spring outing and ruining your fun.”

He thought the path on Red Cloud Mountain would be like the one on North Mountain, with steps made of rock that children could traverse. He didn’t expect that the path on Red Cloud Mountain would end before it was fully built. Beyond this point, it was a combination of dirt and rocks with uneven steps that were half an adult’s height. Trying to bring a group of children to the mountain top would be too difficult, which made Mi Bai feel guilty.

However, Tang Luo expressed his understanding, saying, “That’s alright. Even if we can’t reach the mountain top, we can find a place of stunning natural beauty, with mountains and a river, to relax and have a meal.”

“Not far from here, there’s a bamboo forest that could serve as a resting area, with a spring and a pavilion. How does that sound?” Upon hearing that they wanted to find a place to rest, Du Ziteng hastily made his suggestion.

After Tang Luo confirmed, Du Ziteng led them to a mid-mountain bamboo forest, with a clear spring flowing through it and a pavilion aside.

It was like a paradise set up just for them. The children whooped for joy and bolted toward the spring. Mi Bai quickly followed, repeatedly cautioning them, “Be careful not to fall in.”

Watching the children play merrily, Du Ziteng heaved a sigh of relief and pointed to the bamboo forest, saying “Gentlemen, please rest here.”

The children struggle with the uphill trek, so we’ll just stay here. What do you say, guide?” Brother Xu leaned against a bamboo stalk, crossed his arms, and asked.

Delighted, Du Ziteng nodded and said, “That would be great, just great. This place is beautiful, quite a rare spot for a spring excursion…”

As he spoke, Brother Xu’s face turned cold. A Spiritual Sword appeared out of nowhere and pointed at Du Ziteng’s neck, its fierce aura made Du Ziteng’s hair stand on end, he looked at Tang Luo with fear.

“You indeed didn’t want us to go up the mountain!” Brother Xu’s eyes were full of frost. He found it suspicious how the guide was suggesting that they should stop and rest, and the route he had led them on. Why would the trail on such a towering mountain stop after one fourth of the way? How could anyone, let alone a group of children or ladies, make their way to the top?

This was an odd occurrence, moreover, the guide had suggested that everyone rest near the end of the trail and had led them to this bamboo forest.

Not to mention how odd it was for this vast bamboo forest to exist among a mountain covered with different types of pines, poplars, and acacias, how odd it was for there to be a pavilion here was puzzling too.

With the energy of building a pavilion, why not make more trails?

Although Brother Xu was not known for his strategic acumen, thanks to the perceptual ability of his Tongming Sword Body, people’s emotions couldn’t hide from him. Du Ziteng was nervous when he suggested that they rest, trying to act calm and caring. Yet, he was relieved and joyful when he said they would stay at the bamboo forest. Undeniably, this indicated the intention to keep them away from the mountain.

Therefore, Brother Xu brandished his Spiritual Sword, intending to get to the bottom of the matter. Since he was now perceived as an enemy of Xiling, even though the Xu Clan’s reputation was formidable, there was no guarantee that there wouldn’t be any idiots like those from the West City’s Four Small Clans.

This tactic to keep him at bay was clearly an ambush, and he needed to question it to understand how to break out of the trap.

Brother Xu cocked an eyebrow and asked, “How many people did you guys hide?”

The chilling Spiritual Sword was pointed at Du Ziteng’s neck, scaring him so much he hardly dared to breathe. Hearing Brother Xu’s accusation, he replied, baffled, “What do you mean, Master Xu? I don’t understand!” He then looked pleadingly at Tang Luo, “Tang Tianjiao, please explain to Master Xu, our Du Family has been the guardian of Red Cloud Mountain for generations, how could we possibly ambush visitors.”

Feeling Du Ziteng’s wrongful treatment, Brother Xu was taken aback.

Because he didn’t feel any fear or dread from him as if his plot had been exposed, which was odd. Frowning, he asked, “Then why did you try to stop us from going up the mountain? Are there secrets that you don’t want to disclose at the mountain top?”

“This…” Du Ziteng was startled by this sudden confrontation and was momentarily at loss for words.

Anticipated terror finally appeared, and surprise was captured from the chaos of his mind. It excited Brother Xu. He was going to continue his interrogation when he heard Tang Luo say, “Put away your Spiritual Sword. How could the villagers from Red Cloud have the courage to ambush you?”

In response to Tang Luo’s advice, Brother Xu didn’t even consider it.

“Eh, hey! Even if it’s not an ambush, they have secrets up the mountain. Wait until I unravel it, then you can witness my skill.” Brother Xu was particularly proud. It was his first time cracking someone’s hidden secret through clues. He attributed this accomplishment to his own cunning and wanted to show off in front of Tang Luo.

Tang Luo sighed slightly, “What secret could there be? Isn’t it just that a secret technique passed down by the Du family needs the Red Cloud crystal marrow for cultivation, and there is a peak entirely composed of Red Cloud crystals on Red Cloud Mountain. Therefore, they treat Red Cloud Mountain as their off limits and don’t want outsiders to intrude. That’s all.”

Upon hearing Tang Luo effortlessly revealing the biggest secret of Red Cloud Village, Du Ziteng felt weak and dizzy. The village’s generations-old allegiance to the mountain was to protect this secret. Today, it was easily exposed. If the Tang Clan were to use this as leverage, they would be under the Tang Clan’s control, and Red Cloud Village would lose its independence.

Brother Xu sensed Du Ziteng’s fear and realized that Tang Luo’s words were accurate. He felt disappointed, withdrew the Spiritual Sword and grumpily said, “A technique that relies on resources for cultivation won’t get far.. Why are you guarding it like a treasure?”