"Young Master Qi, how does the air in Dragon Capital compare to Nanling?"
While Shen Lang accompanied Yu Xiao in happily packing up their stall and heading home, a thousand miles away in Dragon Capital, a noble young man in flowing white robes was leisurely sipping tea in the courtyard of a traditional quadrangle house. He posed this question to the hooked-nose man sitting opposite him.
"The air in Dragon Capital is naturally better than Nanling, after all, there are no annoying people here."
The hooked-nose man speaking was none other than Kong Wudao, who had suffered a loss at Shen Lang's hands and had shamefully fled back to Dragon Capital from Nanling. The person sitting opposite Kong Wudao was none other than Qi Tuojiang, the young master of the Qi family in Dragon Capital.
"Shen Lang, he is indeed a very annoying person. Someone like that should not exist."
After Kong Wudao finished speaking, Qi Tuojiang said through gritted teeth, "Young Master Kong, we have suffered losses at Shen Lang's hands repeatedly in Nanling. Now that we're back in Dragon Capital, many people are mocking us behind our backs for being incompetent. There's only one way to completely suppress this voice, and that is to kill Shen Lang at all costs. Don't you agree?"
"Of course. What Young Master Qi says is exactly what I want to say."
Kong Wudao spoke, "When a lion of the grasslands is accidentally bitten by a hyena, other hyenas will think the lion is a house cat, and then everyone will want to take a bite. There are too many hyenas, and if they truly attack in a swarm, although the lion will not fear them, it will become incredibly annoyed."
"The only way to avoid being passive is to tear apart the one hyena that accidentally bit you, and do it in front of the other hyenas, so they know that a lion is always a lion, not a house cat. Any challenger will ultimately have only one fate: to be utterly destroyed."
"Young Master Kong's words make sense. Unfortunately, Shen Lang is at the height of his power now. He has recognized Song Qingyi as his godmother and suddenly has the protection of Song Shadao. If we want to move against him in Nanling, it's unrealistic."
Qi Tuojiang slowly took a sip of tea and said, "Shen Lang now has a foundation in Nanling. With the protection of Song Shadao and Song Qingyi, coupled with his monstrous martial arts cultivation, no matter how many experts we send to Nanling, they will ultimately be like sheep entering a tiger's den."
"Young Master Qi's concerns are not unfounded. I have also considered this."
Kong Wudao spoke, "Shen Lang's backing is formidable, and his martial arts are equally terrifying. Even Master Shanyuan died by his hand. With Shen Lang, we can only resort to strategy."
"Oh, does Young Master Qi have a good idea?"
Qi Tuojiang looked at Kong Wudao upon hearing this and said, "We are brothers, and we have gone through hardships together in Nanling. You cannot hide any ideas from me."
"Young Master Qi is joking. We are brothers, how could I hide anything from you?"
Kong Wudao slowly stood up and said, "I heard that Young Master Qi's cousin, Qi Pijiang, also has a grudge against Shen Lang, right?"
"Yes, he was supposed to marry An Lan, but on the wedding day, Shen Lang and Ye Shishi disrupted it. He ended up abandoning the bride and fleeing Nanling in shame, becoming a laughingstock."
Qi Tuojiang sighed, "Young Master Kong, you're not thinking of using my cousin as a pawn, are you?"
"Why not?"
Kong Wudao retorted when he heard this.
"Of course not. Although my cousin Qi Pijiang can be considered an outstanding individual, he is far from Shen Lang's match. You and I have both suffered losses at Shen Lang's hands; how could he possibly be Shen Lang's opponent? I'm afraid you can't count on him."
Qi Tuojiang shook his head, directly rejecting Kong Wudao's suggestion, and said, "It seems you need to consider another plan."
"Young Master Qi, don't be in a hurry. Wait for me to finish speaking before you deny it."
Upon hearing Qi Tuojiang's words, Kong Wudao smiled and said, "Although your cousin Qi Pijiang is not Shen Lang's match, his younger sister, your cousin Qi Siyuan, should not be underestimated. I heard that your cousin has been using his sister Qi Siyuan to infiltrate the powerful families in the south, especially getting very close to the Tang Sect."
"I know what Qi Pijiang and Qi Siyuan are doing. These matters are permitted by the family. Are you implying that the Tang Sect can be utilized?"
Qi Tuojiang asked, "The Tang Sect announced some time ago that Shen Lang is a son-in-law of the Tang Sect, and he is engaged to Tang Wan'er. Although Shen Lang marrying Wang Yuyan now is a slap in the face to the Tang Sect, will the Tang Sect join us in dealing with Shen Lang?"
"Young Master Qi, have you ever met Tang Jiutian?"
Upon hearing Qi Tuojiang's words, Kong Wudao suddenly asked.
"Tang Jiutian, I haven't met this person. He has lived in seclusion for many years, and I haven't had the chance to meet him."
Qi Tuojiang said, "I recall that Young Master Kong's mother is from the Tang Sect, right?"
"Yes, my mother is Tang Jiutian's cousin, so in that regard, Tang Jiutian can be considered my uncle."
Kong Wudao smiled and said, "When I was young, I went back to the Tang Sect with my mother. I have seen Tang Jiutian. He is a god of slaughter, who would rather betray the world than let the world betray him."
"Shen Lang killed Tang Zixuan and crippled Tang Qubing, which already created a deadly feud with the Tang Sect. Tang Jiutian will not forget this deep hatred, let alone marry his daughter to Shen Lang."
Kong Wudao said, "If my guess is correct, Tang Jiutian has temporarily suppressed his hatred because Shen Lang offered a condition that greatly appealed to Tang Jiutian. However, no matter how generous the condition, it is unlikely that Tang Jiutian can tolerate the current humiliation."
Kong Wudao smiled sinisterly, "Tang Jiutian betrothed his daughter to Shen Lang, but now Shen Lang, even if he sought a substitute, wouldn't be able to reach Tang Wan'er. Tell me, is this not a profound humiliation? If it were you, Young Master Qi, could you tolerate it?"
Hearing Kong Wudao's words, Qi Tuojiang smiled and said, "If it were me, I certainly couldn't. However, Tang Jiutian is Tang Jiutian after all. As a generation's overlord, he probably wouldn't easily make an enemy of Song Shadao."
"He won't do it openly, but that doesn't mean he won't do it in secret."
Kong Wudao said, "I plan to go and meet this uncle I haven't seen in a long time and have a family reunion."
"Family reunion?"
Qi Tuojiang heard this and said, "I see Young Master Kong's intention is not to have a family reunion, but to add fuel to the fire for your long-unseen uncle."
"If this fire can burn Shen Lang to death, then I am willing."
Kong Wudao smiled and said, "This bastard Shen Lang, I have endured him for too long. I truly wish he would not live in this world for even a moment."
"Of course, I feel the same way."
Qi Tuojiang smiled upon hearing this, stood up, and raised his teacup, saying, "Since Young Master Kong has a plan, I will offer tea in place of wine and congratulate Young Master Kong on his imminent success."
"Young Master Qi, rest assured, if this trip goes smoothly, the annoying person will disappear from this world before long, and you can also seize the opportunity to win back the heart of the lady."
Kong Wudao looked at Qi Tuojiang and smiled, "My people have already found out where Gu Qinghan is. Young Master Qi, do you want to know?"