Under One Person: Dressed as Lü Liang, with vests all over

Chapter 180 A new brain is always the best!
"Ha! As expected of the demon of Quanxing, his words are so light."

Tang Miaoxing sneered, her words full of sarcasm.

"You want to ask me questions? So you dare to trespass into my Tang Clan's forbidden territory?"

As he spoke, Tang Miaoxing slowly stood up and walked steadily toward where Lü Liang and the others were.

A mocking smile played on his lips, and his aura suddenly shifted, unleashing a powerful pressure that surged towards the crowd like a tidal wave.

"Xia Liuqing, aren't you afraid that once you come here, you'll never be able to leave?"

Faced with the powerful pressure emanating from Tang Miaoxing, Lü Liang remained calm, shrugged, and said unhurriedly:

"Tang Tomb is the burial place of the Tang Clan's ancestors, so we won't take advantage of this auspicious place."

"Moreover..." He paused slightly, his gaze sharp as he stared directly at Tang Miaoxing, and continued with a resolute tone, "Not only me, but Sect Leader Tang is probably not going to die even if he wanted to today."

"What are you talking about?"

Upon hearing this, the bald man who had led everyone in immediately glared angrily and shouted loudly.

However, Tang Miaoxing was not angered by Lü Liang's seemingly provocative words.

He stared intently at Lü Liang, his eyes revealing a strong sense of scrutiny, as if trying to see right through Lü Liang.

Just then, Xu Xin, who had been focused on the chessboard, finally shifted his gaze and looked towards Lü Liang.

A hint of curiosity rose in his previously withered eyes.

……

Just as Tang Miaoxing was unsure of himself and preparing to continue his attack on Lü Liang, Xu Xin unexpectedly spoke up:

"Senior brother, won't you introduce these people to me?"

Tang Miaoxing was taken aback when Xu Xin spoke up at this moment, and his brows furrowed instantly.

Before Tang Miaoxing could speak, Zhang Chulan, who had been quietly observing from the sidelines, immediately beamed with a warm smile, quickly stepped forward, and introduced himself to Xu Xin:
"You must be Senior Xu Xin."

"My name is Zhang Chulan, and I am Zhang Huaiyi's grandson. According to seniority, I should call you my godfather."

Xu Xin carefully examined Zhang Chulan for a while, a glint of reminiscence flashing in his eyes.

“Zhang Huaiyi’s grandson… those big ears really do look a lot like his…”

He sighed softly and said with emotion:
"When I first met Zhang Huaiyi, he was just a young Taoist priest. I never imagined that his grandson would grow up so big now."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chulan's smile widened, and he said with a grin:
"Hehe, Grandpa, you can treat me like your grandson too!"

Xu Xin couldn't help but chuckle at Zhang Chulan's comical antics. He shook his head gently with a smile, then his gaze slowly shifted to Feng Baobao beside him.

"Whose descendant is this? He looks somewhat familiar."

Xu Xin muttered to himself as he carefully examined Feng Baobao, his eyes slightly narrowed as he looked at her intently.

Upon hearing Xu Xin's words, Feng Baobao tilted her head and sized him up.

A barely perceptible flicker of excitement flashed in Zhang Chulan's eyes as he nervously observed Xu Xin's expression.

Unfortunately, a moment later...

Xu Xin shook his head. "I really can't remember... Sigh, as people get older, their memory really isn't what it used to be."

However, the doubt in his eyes did not disappear; he seemed to still be thinking back.

Zhang Chulan suppressed his excitement, pretending to be nonchalant, and casually pointed to Feng Baobao and Zhang Lingyu, introducing them as follows:

"This is my colleague at the company, Feng Baobao. And this is my junior uncle, Zhang Lingyu from the Celestial Master's Mansion."

Xu Xin nodded slightly in response, then turned his gaze to Lü Liang.

Seeing this, Lü Liang nodded slightly and said calmly, "Quanxing, Xia Liuqing."

"Back then, I heard of Xia Liuqing's reputation. He's known as the ruthless tyrant of the Quanxing, but... you're probably not the real Xia Liuqing."

Xu Xin narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze as sharp as a hawk's, and his tone was far more certain than questioning.

Lu Liang remained expressionless upon hearing this, but was somewhat surprised inside.

Even Tang Miaoxing failed to see through the disguise, yet Xu Xin saw through it at a glance?
It’s interesting!

"Oh? Why do you say that?" Lü Liang asked calmly.

“Your demeanor.” Xu Xin narrowed his eyes, his gaze fixed on Lü Liang, and said slowly, “Your demeanor is not like Xia Liuqing’s; it’s more like someone else.”

"Like who?"

“An old friend,” Xu Xin said vaguely.

……

This time, it was Tang Miaoxing's turn to show surprise.

He stared intently at Lü Liang, his expression unfriendly, and said coldly:

"Ah, I was blind."

"However, since you have the audacity to trespass into my Tang Clan, why bother hiding your true identity like this?"

"I did not mean to deceive the Tang Clan leader. I did this for the sake of the Tang Clan."

Lü Liang said very considerately:
"Many forces outside are watching the Tang Clan. If I hadn't come under this false identity, I'm afraid I would have been entangled by various forces before I even got close to the Tang Tomb."

"At that time, I can simply change my appearance and leave, but your carefully planned scheme, Master Tang, will probably be ruined because of it."

"Hmph! Smooth talker!"

Tang Miaoxing snorted coldly, already having a guess in her mind.

"Skilled in disguise, currently in the eye of the storm, and intimately familiar with the internal workings of our Tang Clan... There aren't many people who meet all these criteria..."

Tang Miaoxing narrowed her eyes and said, "You are—"

"Master Tang, to avoid unnecessary trouble, it's best not to bring this matter to light."

Before Tang Miaoxing could finish speaking, Lü Liang decisively interrupted him.

Lu Liang still had a smile on his face, but his eyes were fixed firmly on Tang Miaoxing.

"My identity isn't actually that important. What's important is that our arrival is definitely a good thing for the Tang Clan leader."

"Good news? Ha!"

Tang Miaoxing's gaze swept quickly over Zhang Lingyu before returning to Lü Liang, a mocking smile playing on her lips. "Is that a clever scheme?"

"If you really don't want the outside world to know that the Quanxing people are coming to the Tang Sect, you shouldn't have let Zhang Lingyu show up here after the matter of Zhang Lingyu's association with the Quanxing people had become a big fuss."

"With your skills in disguise, it shouldn't be difficult to hide Zhang Lingyu's relationship with Quanxing."

“But the way you are doing this is clearly a deliberate attempt to let the outside world know that Quanxing has targeted the Tang Sect.”

"You're causing trouble at the Tang Clan under Xia Liuqing's name, and you're making sure everyone knows about it. What exactly are you up to?"

"Master Tang is indeed perceptive."

Upon hearing Tang Miaoxing's incisive analysis, Lü Liang did not respond directly. Instead, he first offered a sincere compliment, then, still with that calm smile on his face, slowly said:

"Master Tang, there's no need to worry. Actually, our goals are the same."

"I also think it's time to bring the Jia Shen Rebellion to the forefront of the world of supernatural beings for discussion."

Upon hearing this, Tang Miaoxing's gaze sharpened instantly, her brows furrowing tightly as she pressed for an answer:
"Do you want the outside world to know that Quanxing is investigating the Jia Shen Rebellion?"

Lu Liang smiled but said nothing.

That was indeed one of his objectives.

The purpose of drawing outside attention to the Tang Clan is to make people connect the major events that are about to happen in the Tang Clan with the Quanxing Sect.

More importantly, the other thirty-six thieves who are still alive need to know about this.

Let them understand that Quanxing is conducting an in-depth investigation into the Jia Shen Rebellion, and that the outside world's attitude towards the Thirty-Six Thieves has now changed.

Not only Xu Xin, but they can all reappear in the world.

According to the intelligence obtained by Lü Liang from Yaoxing Society, less than half of the thirty-six thieves who were confirmed dead that year were actually dead, and the whereabouts of the other half were still unknown.

Moreover, even among those who are presumed dead, the actual circumstances may be exaggerated.

Take the Tang Clan for example. They presented false evidence back then, which allowed Xu Xin to survive peacefully in the Tang Tomb for many years as a "dead man".

Therefore, the number of the thirty-six thieves still alive is definitely not limited to Xu Xin, Zhou Sheng, and Ruan Feng.

"Master Tang, if you are interested in my plans, I would be very happy to discuss them with you in detail."

"However, what I want to talk about may not be suitable for so many people to hear together."

As he spoke, Lü Liang politely gestured for him to leave, saying, "Why don't you finish dealing with your current matters first?"

……

Tang Miaoxing snorted coldly, but still shifted her gaze from Lü Liang to Wang Ye.

Of the five people in Lü Liang's group, four had already introduced themselves, leaving only Wang Ye, who was wearing a "Mei Jinfeng" disguise.

Wang Ye originally intended to gloss over the matter, simply nodding slightly and saying, "Quanxing, Mei Jinfeng."

To everyone's surprise, Xu Xin immediately declared, "This Mei Jinfeng is also a fake."

"Hmm?" Tang Miaoxing looked surprised again, her gaze sweeping back and forth between Wang Ye and Xu Xin.

Xu Xin explained calmly:

"I've heard of Mei Jinfeng before. I heard she was a little girl who followed Wugensheng, the leader of Quanxing Sect. She never did anything bad and only joined Quanxing to follow Wugensheng."

"Such a person, having finally met someone like me who knows so much about what happened back then, actually managed to hold back from speaking and not ask a single question about Wugensheng..."

"Senior brother, think about it carefully, does this make sense?"

Hearing this analysis, Wang Ye helplessly scratched the back of his head. Then, he bowed to Tang Miaoxing and Xu Xin and said:
"This junior is indeed not Granny Jin Feng, but as for my true identity, it's best not to reveal it. Hehe, you two can just consider me as someone who's here to join in the fun and make a cameo appearance."

Wang Ye's joking remark instantly eased the previously serious atmosphere, but this relaxed mood did not last long.

Tang Miaoxing quickly turned her sharp gaze to Zhang Chulan and questioned him:
"Zhang Chulan, the Quanxing people are known for their arrogant behavior, so it's not surprising that they trespassed into my Tang Sect. But what about you? What is your purpose in trespassing into my Tang Sect's forbidden area?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chulan immediately adopted a righteous and stern expression and delivered a passionate speech:

"Master Tang, I have come here specifically to stop the Quanxing sect's outrageous behavior!"

"Alas, it's a pity our abilities were limited. Despite our best efforts to stop them along the way, we ultimately failed..."

Hearing Zhang Chulan's nonchalant nonsense, Tang Miaoxing's lips twitched, and he waved his hand speechlessly.

“Zhang Chulan, even if you really did follow Quanxing to Tangzhong as you say, the current situation is still quite troublesome.”

"Back then, we were known for dealing with the disciples on the Thirty-Six Thieves list. Now, either my junior brother is really dead... or you all die here..."

"I have to silence them, understand?"

A sharp glint flashed in Tang Miaoxing's eyes. He spread his hands and spoke with an undeniable determination.

"What if those sects that also dealt with their own thirty-six thieves come to the Tang Clan to demand an explanation?"

Tang Miaoxing's words made the atmosphere in the cave tense.

Lu Liang remained calm, looking directly at Tang Miaoxing, and said:
"Master Tang, what you say makes sense. However, we actually have a third option."

"Oh? Tell me about it."

Tang Miaoxing's gaze was deep and unfathomable as he stared intently at Lü Liang.

Lü Liang pointed at Xu Xin and asked:
"The reason why the Tang Clan leader wants to kill us is to keep the secret that Xu Xin of the Tang Clan, one of the Thirty-Six Thieves, is still alive, right?"

“That’s right,” Tang Miaoxing replied simply and decisively.

"What if this secret no longer needs to be kept? What if Senior Xu Xin could see the light of day again and live openly before the world? Wouldn't we all be spared from losing our lives here?"

Upon hearing this, a barely perceptible glint flashed in Tang Miaoxing's eyes, but his voice remained serious as he pressed on:

"Then, what if those sects come looking for trouble for our Tang Clan?"

"That's the company's responsibility!"

Lu Liang pointed at Zhang Chulan, "The people from the company are right here."

Seeing this, Zhang Chulan immediately remembered the lines he had discussed with Lü Liang beforehand, and hurriedly said to Tang Miaoxing:
"Master Tang, I dare not speak for other things, but I believe I have some talent in understanding the company's action plan and the leader's intentions, hehe."

"In fact, the company's attitude towards the Thirty-Six Thieves has already changed."

"If you don't trust me, that's fine too," Zhang Chulan said sincerely. "I'll call Chairman Zhao right now and get a clear answer. What do you think, Sect Leader Tang?"

Tang Miaoxing pondered for a moment, then nodded gently.

……

Soon, Zhang Chulan dialed Zhao Fangxu's number and gave a concise report on the Tang Sect's affairs.

“Okay.” Zhao Fangxu’s voice came clearly from the other end of the receiver. “Chu Lan, just give the phone to Tang Miaoxing. I’ll have a chat with him for a bit.”

Immediately afterwards...

Zhang Chulan switched the phone to speakerphone and handed it to Tang Miaoxing.

Tang Miaoxing reached out and took the phone, first letting out a heavy sigh, and said:

"Chairman Zhao, you must be aware of the situation. I'm in a very difficult position right now..."

“Originally, it wouldn’t have mattered if my junior brother had just spent his whole life trapped in the tomb and died, but now that Quanxing has made such a fuss, Chairman Zhao, what do you think I should do?”

"Those Quanxing people are truly despicable!" Zhao Fangxu's voice came through the phone, echoing in the cave. "On the contrary, you, Tang Sect Leader, are magnanimous and considerate of the overall situation, which is admirable!"

He continued, following Tang Miaoxing's words, "I understand the Tang Clan's situation back then very well. On one hand, there was that special environment, and on the other hand, there was the bond between fellow disciples. Making such a choice between them is both admirable and respectable!"

"Thank you for your understanding, Chairman Zhao," Tang Miaoxing said. "So, what do you think I should do now?"

"No, no, you don't need to ask me. I'm not qualified to give you advice or anything. I'm just expressing my opinion on behalf of the company."

Zhao Fangxu's voice continued to come from the other end of the phone.

"As for you, a disciple who has been in seclusion for decades, I have no opinion on you. As for how to arrange things afterward, as long as it does not violate the law, that is your Tang Clan's business."

"As for your concern about the leak of information about your junior brother, I do have some authority to say about that..."

"Regardless of what he did back then, and regardless of whether the way people dealt with these 36 people was too extreme, this matter was already closed back then."

"To this day, I will not allow anyone to use this incident to cause trouble again. This applies not only to your Tang Clan, but to everyone in our company—whoever causes trouble, I will deal with them!"

"Understood!" Tang Miaoxing's tense expression instantly relaxed.

"Alright, I won't delay Tang Sect Leader's business any longer," Zhao Fangxu said with a smile. "You can discuss the rest with that kid Zhang Chulan."

"Okay, thank you, Chairman Zhao!"

……

After hanging up the phone, Tang Miaoxing handed the phone back to Zhang Chulan and said:
"Zhang Chulan, since Chairman Zhao said he would discuss everything with you, I would like to invite you to witness a major event for our Tang Clan today."

Lü Liang already guessed what Tang Miaoxing was about to say, and hurriedly interrupted:

"Master Tang, wait a moment."

"Hmm?" Tang Miaoxing looked over in confusion.

Lu Liang turned his gaze to Xu Xin and said, "I would like to have a private chat with Senior Xu Xin."

As soon as Lü Liang said this, Tang Miaoxing's expression immediately turned serious.

As soon as Lü Liang said this, Tang Miaoxing's expression instantly turned serious.

He turned slightly to the side, intentionally or unintentionally blocking Lü Liang's view of Xu Xin; clearly, he did not intend to agree to the request.

Just as Tang Miaoxing was about to politely decline, Lü Liang spoke first:

"Master Tang, there's no need for you to answer me in such a hurry. I'd like to consult Senior Xu Xin first. What do you think?"

Tang Miaoxing subconsciously turned her gaze to Xu Xin.

Xu Xin narrowed his eyes slightly. Although he did not express his opinion explicitly, the meaning in his eyes clearly showed that he was willing to have a chat with Lü Liang.

Lü Liang also noticed this scene.

Actually, he had noticed from the beginning that Xu Xin had been secretly observing him, clearly showing that Xu Xin was also interested in him.

Unlike Tang Miaoxing and Zhang Wang, who both value stability, Xu Xin is a curious person who is very willing to take risks.

This curiosity alone was enough to make him interested in Lü Liang's proposal.

The reason Xu Xin did not immediately express his opinion was simply out of respect for Tang Miaoxing, and he did not want to embarrass the sect leader in front of everyone.

"What, does Master Tang not trust Senior Xu Xin's strength, or do you lack confidence in the Tang Clan's ultimate technique, Dan Shi?" Lü Liang provoked.

Upon hearing this, the Tang Sect Master snorted coldly.

He looked at Xu Xin and said, "Then let's go with my junior brother's idea."

……

All eyes turned to Xu Xin.

Xu Xin stood up unhurriedly, nodded slightly to Tang Miaoxing, and said:

"Senior brother, then I'll have a chat with this young friend for a bit."

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the two strolled to a secluded corner of the cave.

Xu Xin seemed completely unconcerned about the dust on the ground. He casually chose a spot, sat down directly on the ground, then looked up at Lü Liang and asked:

What do you want to ask me?

Seeing this, Lü Liang also sat down.

His first question was very direct.

"Senior Xu, you just said I looked familiar. Did you think I resemble Wugensheng?"

Xu Xinyan nodded slightly.

"What do you think is similar?"

“It’s just an indescribable quality,” Xu Xin said, his expression unchanged.

The words were too vague, and Lü Liang couldn't deduce anything from them in a short time.

After a moment's thought, he continued to ask:

"Senior, when you swore brotherhood, Wugensheng must have mentioned that ceremony, right? Why didn't you try it that time?"

Upon hearing this question, Xu Xin's body stiffened instantly, his gaze towards Lü Liang became wary, and his brows furrowed tightly.

After a moment, he sighed deeply and asked in return:
"You already know about the ceremony?"

Lü Liang nodded and said frankly, "I obtained some items left behind by Wei Shufen and Tian Xiaodie back then."

"Senior, I've heard that the ritual requires eight sacred objects from different sects, and also eight disciples from sects with ancestral ancestors who have attained sainthood to guard the eight gates. Is that true?"

"Yes." Xu Xin nodded again to confirm.

"But based on what I know so far, the Tang Clan does not meet either of the above two conditions."

Lu Liang stated bluntly, "The Tang Clan has no ancestors who have transcended the mortal realm, and as for sacred objects..."

He pointed to the tall stone tablet standing in the center of the cave, "That should be it..."

“Yes.” Xu Xin’s gaze also fell on the stone tablet. “The Life and Death Tablet cannot be moved at all.”

"The Tang Clan does not meet those requirements."

His gaze was fixed on Lü Liang as he slowly spoke:
"Besides the two conditions you just mentioned, there is actually another requirement for that ceremony."

"What is it?" Lü Liang asked hurriedly.

Xu Xin did not directly answer the question, but slowly turned his gaze to the Tang Clan disciples dressed in white training uniforms, and said slowly:
"The Tang Clan is different from other sects. All our techniques and cultivation are for one purpose—to kill, and to kill more efficiently."

"The Tang Clan's secret technique of pill devouring perfectly embodies this point."

"Only by having an extremely indifferent attitude towards life can one possibly master Dan Shi."

"The moment you try to master Dan Shi, you have already given up your life."

"The essence of Tang Clan's martial arts lies in this killing intent, which can both kill others and harm oneself."

"Therefore, the Tang Clan's methods belong to the metal element."

Upon hearing Xu Xin's explanation, Lü Liang's eyes suddenly lit up, and he already had a guess in mind. He couldn't help but ask:
"You mean... the Five Elements?"

　Thank you to 18-Pleated Fried Dumpling and King Ziwei for the monthly tickets!! Thank you!!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)