Zhiwei nodded forcefully and turned to leave with Chen Tang.

Xu Tong said lightly, "I see the two of you are not this girl's relatives; you aren't qualified to make decisions for her, are you?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the disciple of the Profound Celestial Temple, who had been standing beside him, flashed and blocked the entrance of the hall.

"What's the meaning of this?"

Qingmu's expression turned cold, and she scolded, "In broad daylight, is the Profound Celestial Temple going to abduct someone?"

"You're exaggerating."

Xu Tong said, "You are not related to her, so you are not qualified to make decisions for her."

Before the two could reply, Zhiwei couldn't stand it anymore.

Just hearing this Daoist child belittle Chen Tang as an ordinary person, filled with disdain in his words, she already disliked him.

Now she liked him even less.

Zhiwei said, "They are my benefactors; they are my family. Even if I were to decide myself, I wouldn't cultivate with you!"

Xu Tong looked at the angry Zhiwei, not annoyed, but instead, he liked her even more.

Chen Tang, however, frowned and suddenly asked, "How do you know she is not related to us?"

Xu Tong simply smiled slightly and said mockingly, "Just a little trick. I calculated and knew it."

"Oh, are you that capable?"

Chen Tang pretended to be half-believing and asked, "What else can you calculate?"

Xu Tong said, "Many things. For example, she comes from Changze County and was originally a maid of the Xu Clan. A while ago, your master's family encountered a disaster, and only you survived, which is why you were taken in by these two."

Zhiwei's small mouth hung open, her face showing shock.

Qingmu frowned secretly.

Following her master through the Jianghu, she had seen many deceptive fortune-telling tactics, most of which involved special rhetoric to extract information, finally providing some ambiguous answers.

However, this person was a Daoist child of the Profound Celestial Temple and had just met them, not having said more than a couple of sentences, so how could he know this information?

Chen Tang smiled and asked again, "What you're saying, many people know. Can you calculate where her hometown is, who is in her family? Calculating such things would truly show your skill."

Zhiwei also showed a bit of expectation.

Xu Tong's face darkened slightly and he said, "Some matters involve the secrets of heaven; revealing too much will bring heavenly retribution."

This kind of talk could fool others.

Chen Tang wouldn't believe a word.

Qingmu said, "You heard it too; she doesn't want to go with you."

With that, she led Zhiwei toward the outside of the hall.

The disciple guarding the door looked at Xu Tong.

Xu Tong waved slightly, signaling for the disciple to let them pass.

Chen Tang and the other two left the hall and the Profound Celestial Temple, encountering no obstacles along the way.

It seemed as if the scene in the hall was just a minor incident.

In fact, Chen Tang deliberately tested a few sentences, and Xu Tong's reaction already made him alert.

Qingmu looked at Zhiwei and asked, "Have you met that person before?"

"No."

Zhiwei shook her head and said, "It's strange. How did he know those things?"

Chen Tang said, "There are only two possibilities. First, he has been to Changze County; second, someone from Changze County told him."

Qingmu asked, "If it's the second possibility, why would someone from Changze County tell him this?"

"That is the key point."

Chen Tang said briefly, then turned to head toward the Profound Celestial Temple.

Soon after, Chen Tang returned and said, "I found out, that Daoist child's surname is Xu."

"Xu..."

Qingmu felt a stir in her heart and said, "The Xu Family?"

Chen Tang nodded and said, "It should be."

Qingmu thought for a while and said, "That matter is already closed. He shouldn't know it was you. Given his current status, would he keep an eye on Zhiwei? From his reaction just now, it doesn't seem he wants to continue entangling."

"Hard to say, not knowing this person."

Chen Tang shook his head and said, "If he doesn't persist, that's fine. If he keeps an eye on Zhiwei, it indeed becomes troublesome."

Just earlier at the Profound Celestial Temple, he looked around, finding the defenses tight, making it impossible for him to sneak in unnoticed.

No chance for a preemptive strike.

For now, he could only wait and see.

At this moment, the crowd had started moving toward the East Market Training Ground.

Chen Tang and the other two followed the flow.

Passing by a blacksmith's shop, Chen Tang went in for a look around.

The previous blade had dulled, buried on the mountain.

In the shop, Chen Tang bought a fully black sheathed long knife, matching his black attire.

Today is the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the day of grading at the training ground.

Aside from the martial artists participating in the grading, prominent families and various forces from Wu'an County would come to observe.

If the grading succeeded or performance was good, there would be opportunities to enter large families as a guest or personal attendant.

Not to mention the generous salary, there would also be opportunities to learn higher-level martial arts.

"The Ding Family has arrived; all the silk business in Wu'an County belongs to the Ding Family."

"Members of the Guo Family are here too. The Guo Family is one of the earliest prominent families in Wu'an County, with family members holding official positions in the Capital City."

"The boss of Tongbao Bank, Boss Jin, is also present."

More and more people gathered in the grading training ground.

Apart from the people of each prominent family, there were many onlooking citizens gathered here, discussing.

As soon as Chen Tang and the other two entered the training ground, they saw Mei Yingxue and others occupying a section, waving at them; the people from Changze County were there.

The three went over.

Mei Yingxue, both nervous and excited, knew she probably wouldn't pass the grading test this time, but even participating was a rare opportunity.

Mei Yingxue looked at the man beside her, smiling as she asked, "Brother, if you succeed in the grading test, do you want to return to Changze County to help our father, or find a large family in Wu'an County?"

Mei Jixian hesitated for a moment and said, "Go back to help father."

Mei Nianzhi shook his head with a smile and said, "No need for that. If you can find a position within a large family in Wu'an County, it's certainly better than returning to Changze County."

Chen Tang glanced around and asked, "Did all the prominent families from Wu'an County come?"

Logically, with their mansion in Wu'an County and such a cavalry, Li Junqing's family should have some reputation.

"Not yet."

Mei Nianzhi said, "The last to arrive are the biggest forces in Wu'an County."

"Moreover, the main event today is the County Mansion's banquet. It's said that the most talented and promising martial artists graded each time are chosen by these forces at the banquet."

At this moment, a group of governmental officials approached, led by a slender figure wearing a black gauze cap, a long knife at the waist, with an aquiline nose, phoenix eyes, and exuding a fierce aura!

"The County Captain has arrived!"

A shout came from the crowd.

Chen Tang quietly observed the man.

The County Captain could be considered one of the most powerful figures in Wu'an County, in charge of the county's law enforcement, city defense, and military affairs.

The soldiers at the four city gates, governmental officials in the government office, constables, and Chief Constable, all under his command, obeying him alone.

According to Meng Liangyu, the position of County Captain requires one to be at the Fifth Grade Cultivation to qualify!

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