Chapter 2: The Family is Wiped Out

  Tang Tian Sheng, Tang Lin's father, specialized in jade carving and was extremely skilled. Any piece of jade that came from his hands was highly sought after by royalty and nobility, which led to the Tang family becoming acquainted with many high-ranking officials in the imperial court, giving them a strong backing.

  As the saying goes, there is always a second to everything. The Tang family in this Tian Guang City is not the only family that operates jade business. Here, there is another family that is also famous for carving and selling jade - the Qin family.

  The Tang and Qin families were both famous for their exquisite jade carvings. Legend has it that the ancestors of the two families had learned their craft from the same master craftsman, which is why they had always been on good terms, with a close relationship spanning generations. However, during the time of Tang Lin's grandfather, a falling out occurred between the two families over a certain matter, causing them to become estranged and eventually sworn enemies, a state that has continued until now.

  It is said that the cause of the matter was a piece of jade, when Tang Lin's grandfather and Qin's ancestors obtained an extraordinary good jade, the two families worked hard for three years to carve the beautiful jade, and received praise from the emperor at that time, and also gave a plaque to the Tang family. However, the Qin family, who had made equal efforts, got nothing, just because of this matter, the two families fell out and became sworn enemies!

  But there are exceptions, Tang Lin has been very close to Qin Ling'er, the young lady of the Qin family, since childhood. Although the two families have been sworn enemies for generations, there was no estrangement between these two children until three years ago when Qin Ling'er suddenly disappeared without a trace. Tang Lin searched for her with his mother and many others but couldn't find any news about her.

  ……

  On this day, Tang Lin was alone in the study, holding a biography in his hand, looking at it with a mixture of understanding and confusion. This book was secretly given to him by Tang Xinyi. It is said that Tang Tianying treasured this book very much, usually keeping it locked in a small wooden box in the study, never allowing anyone to touch it, including Tang Lin's siblings. It was precisely because of this that Tang Lin's curiosity was piqued, and he decided to sneak a peek, wondering what made this book so worthy of treasuring.

  Due to Tang Lin's previous misdeeds, he had secretly entered Tang Tian Sheng's study more than once. Therefore, Tang Tian Sheng ordered that Tang Lin was not allowed to approach the study by half a step again. All of the Tang family's servants became Tang Tian Sheng's informants, and as soon as they discovered any unscrupulous intentions from Tang Lin, they would immediately report it!

  "I thought this book was something special, but it's just someone's notes. I thought it was some kind of martial arts secret manual, how disappointing! It got me all excited for nothing!"

  "Brother, have you finished reading that book? Father is coming back, hurry up and give it to me, I need to return it!"

  Just then, Tang Xinyi bounced in, holding two strings of sugar gourds in her hand, eating with relish.

  "I'm not reading it anymore, I thought it was some kind of martial arts secret book, but it's just a broken manual, I don't understand what's written in it at all. You quickly take it back and put it away!" After finishing speaking, she flung her hand and threw the book to Tang Xinyi.

  "Oh, then I'll send it back, brother, and what about tomorrow's sugar gourd..."

  "Can't hide you anymore, look at that greedy face of yours, hurry up and send it back, be careful, don't get caught!"

  "Don't worry about it, I'm Daddy's little darling. Even if we get caught, I can just shift the blame to you, hehe!"

  "Brother, I've noticed that you've been looking worried these past few days. Are you still thinking about Qin Ling'er?"

  "What? Get out of here, you little brat! Hurry up and return the book. If Father finds out, it'll be terrible!"

  "Cut! You were obviously caught by me, but you won't admit it. Forget it, I'm too lazy to care about you!"

  After finishing speaking, she pouted her small mouth and skipped away.

  Looking at the back of Tang Xinyi, Tang Lin let out a deep sigh and immediately shifted his gaze to the horizon, saying: "Ling'er, where are you exactly? Can we still meet again?"

  ……

  "Ah... it's still great on the main street, so lively!" Tang Lin let out a breath and walked with his hands behind his back, looking like a little adult, appearing very leisurely, causing passersby to burst into laughter.

  Looking at the expressions of the people around him, Tang Lin said in a low voice: "Hmph! What's so funny? If you knew that I've lived for two lifetimes, I'm afraid you'd be too scared to laugh."

  Tang Lin was strolling down the street alone, glancing around at this and that, completely ignoring the gazes of passersby, still doing his own thing, with his hands behind his back, walking in a standard four-square step, looking quite comical!

  "Halt!" A slightly childish but provocative voice reached Tang Lin's ears.

  To the owner of this voice, Tang Lin was extremely familiar. Turning his head to take a look, as expected, it was none other than Qin Feng, the young master of the Qin family, who had a long-standing feud with the Tang family!

  "What's up? Young Master Qin, you're looking for me?"

  Tang Lin walked with his hands behind his back and his feet tiptoeing, looking like a little hooligan.

  "Tang Lin, I heard from Er Gou that you're quite good at fighting. Today, I want to experience it for myself!" A kid who looked around the same age as Tang Lin said with a proud and arrogant tone.

  "Qin Feng, I'm not interested in fighting with you. Besides, fighting with someone as petty and vicious as you would be beneath me. You'd better leave quickly with your tail between your legs, I still want to go shopping!" He even gave Qin Feng a disdainful look afterwards!

  "You..."

  Qin Feng was infuriated by Tang Lin, his eyes gleaming with a venomous and sinister light, staring at Tang Lin like a poisonous snake.

  Qin Feng was no match for Tang Lin, who had the experience of two lifetimes. This kid was good at arguing, and it was one of Tang Lin's strong points - he had never lost an argument before!

  "You think you're something, if it weren't for your sister's face, I would have beaten you up long ago! Let me tell you, Qin Feng, don't look for trouble, I'm not someone to be trifled with. If you keep messing with me, take a look at that dog over there, he'll be your example!"

  "Hmph! Tang Lin, I'm telling you, my father has already found the immortal, and soon that immortal will take me as his apprentice. At that time, you and your Tang family can just wait for your doom! Let's go!"

  "Tang Lin, see how long you can be arrogant. After today, your Tang family will be expelled from Tian Guang City." Qin Feng looked at Tang Lin with a venomous gaze and thought to himself.

  Looking at Qin Feng, who was being surrounded and flattered by the crowd, Tang Lin's face was filled with doubt, and he whispered: "Being taken as a disciple by an immortal? Just because of you? Unless that immortal has gone blind! Bah!"

  After being disturbed by Qin Feng, Tang Lin also lost interest in continuing to stroll around. He turned around and headed back, with Qin Feng's voice echoing in his mind all the way.

  "Is it true that an immortal wants to take Qin Feng as a disciple? Looking at his appearance, he doesn't seem to be lying. How did the Qin family find the immortal?" He muttered to himself all the way home, walking in a steady and unhurried pace.

  "Lin'er, come and eat! As soon as it's time to eat, you run out. Just wait till I make a pair of fetters for you, see if you still dare to run around every day!"

  Tang Tian Sheng's voice came over and also startled Tang Lin who was lost in thought.

  "Dad, Mom, I'm not eating anymore, I don't feel well, I'll go back to my room first!"

  Looking at her son's unpleasant face, Tang was anxious and hurried to Tang Lin's side, feeling his forehead and pulse, looking extremely concerned.

  "Liner, aren't you uncomfortable there? Tell Mom!"

  Looking at her tense mother, Tang Lin's heart warmed up and he smiled: "Mother, I'm fine, just a bit tired. I'll go back to my room first, you eat with Father!"

  "Hmph! Running around all day, how can you not be tired!"

  In Tiangui City, almost everyone knew that Tang Tian Sheng was extremely strict with Tang Lin, never speaking to him in a good tone. However, Tang Lin also knew that his father loved him dearly, it's just that he expressed it in an improper way.

  Tang Lin lay in bed, Qin Feng's voice still echoing in his ears, unable to fall asleep. It had been thirteen years since he came to this strange world. In these thirteen years, everything Tang Lin saw and heard far exceeded what he could understand. In this world, there existed immortals who could fly through the sky and traverse the earth with ease. They were all-powerful, able to take lives from a thousand miles away with their flying swords, move mountains and fill oceans, summon the wind and rain. Being taken as an apprentice by these immortals was something that ordinary people didn't even dare to dream of.

  "What kind of good fortune did Qin Feng encounter, to be favored by an immortal? If he learns immortal magic, won't my Tang family be in trouble?! No way, I'll also find an immortal to be my master. Even if I don't become an immortal, learning some magic is better than nothing. At least I can protect my parents and sister. Tomorrow, I'll ask Father to find me an immortal master too. If the Qin family can do it, so can the Tang family!" With this thought, a smile finally appeared on Tang Lin's face, filled with anticipation, he fell into a deep sleep.

  At midnight, the entire Tian Guang City had fallen into a dreamland. Except for a few night watchmen who sat together drinking and chatting, there was no other sound in Tian Guang City, making it seem unusually quiet.

  A loud "boom" broke the silence of the entire Tian Guang City, followed by screams, curses, and the sound of clashing steel.

  The Tang family's gate was smashed open by a group of unidentified people, who then rushed into the courtyard and killed anyone they saw, like evil spirits from hell, eerie and terrifying, cold-blooded and bloody.

  Tang Lin was also startled awake by the sudden noise, and just as he was about to open the door to see what had happened, the bedroom door was kicked open, and Tang Tian Sheng's figure appeared in front of Tang Lin.

  All that could be seen was Tang Tian Sheng's disheveled clothes, his left hand holding a large knife stained with blood, and his right hand embracing a terrified Tang Xin Yi. With a tense face, he said to Tang Lin: "Lin Er, quickly take your sister through the secret passage and leave, go as far as you can, don't come back again."

  After finishing speaking, he piled up the bookshelf in Tang Lin's bedroom, and a hidden door appeared before Tang Lin.

  "Dad, what's going on?" Tang Lin asked with wide eyes and a puzzled face.

  "Don't ask any more questions, hurry up and take your sister away." After saying that, he put Tang Xinyi down and then threw over a bundle, pushing the Tang siblings into the hidden passage.

  Just as the door was about to close, Tang Tian Sheng's voice came again, "Lin Er, take good care of your sister, never come back to Tian Guang City again, and don't let the Qin family find you, hurry up!"

  The door of the dark passage closed with a "bang", and in the pitch-black darkness, Tang Lin pulled his sister Tang Xinyi, who was crying non-stop, and ran wildly, not knowing where the passage led. Tang Lin felt that the passage seemed endless, and the two stumbled and staggered, falling countless times. Tang Lin's knees were sore and cool, but to protect his sister from getting hurt, he had already picked her up and was running forward with a shaky gait...