Douluo: When the piano sounds, the hidden weapon returns to the factory

Tang Yuehua's violet eyes lingered briefly on Tang San before slowly turning to Ning Fengzhi. Her slender fingertips tapped lightly on the table, producing a crisp, rhythmic sound.

"Sect Leader Ning," her voice was soft as water, yet carried an undeniable weight, "there were too many people and too many eyes at yesterday's banquet, so some things were inconvenient to say openly." Her gilded hairpin swayed gently with her slight forward lean. "The reason I've come today is that I have a business deal I'd like to discuss with you in detail."

Ning Fengzhi laughed heartily, the seven-jeweled glazed teacup in his hand reflecting a dazzling light in the sunlight: "Lady Yuehua, you flatter me." His gentle gaze swept over everyone present, "The three upper sects are of one mind, and helping each other is our duty. If you need anything, please speak freely."

When he turned to Tang San, a perfectly timed hint of elder's affection flickered in his eyes: "Little San, feel free to speak your mind. Don't be shy around Uncle Ning."

Upon hearing this, Feng Yao's lips curled into a subtle, meaningful smile. His long, slender fingers tapped lightly on the table, drawing everyone's attention to Tang San.

A hint of anticipation flashed in Tang Yuehua's eyes. This was the perfect opportunity to test Tang San's progress in his year of training at Yuexuan—not only to demonstrate the demeanor of a successor of the Haotian Sect, but also to showcase his value enough to impress the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.

Tang San's gaze lingered briefly on Feng Yao, his brows furrowing almost imperceptibly. Although reason told him that Feng Yao's title as an honorary elder of the Spirit Hall was merely a hollow one, he could still feel an inexplicable sense of unease every time he met the eyes of this mysterious man.

In Feng Yao's deep eyes, two completely different emotions seemed to coexist—sometimes revealing a sense of inexplicable comfort and closeness, and sometimes carrying a scrutinizing gaze that made Tang San feel uneasy. This contradictory feeling caused Tang San's fingertips to unconsciously rub together, a small action that he himself did not notice, revealing his inner turmoil.

Scenes from the past flashed through my mind: our first encounter at Notting Academy; the Soul Master Competition; yesterday's graduation ceremony.
Tang San subconsciously tensed his back. He forced himself to look away and refocus his attention on Ning Fengzhi's warm face. But the question lingered in his mind—it seemed that Feng Yao's presence often hindered his progress.

Tang San took a deep breath, the hesitation in his eyes gradually fading, replaced by a resolute look. He clasped his hands in a fist salute and solemnly looked at Ning Fengzhi: "Uncle Ning, I intend to establish a sect in Heaven Dou City with hidden weapons as its core, and I hope to receive the support of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and the royal family."

Upon hearing this, Ning Fengzhi paused slightly, the teacup he was swirling in his hand spinning. His deep gaze lingered on Tang San's face for a moment before he slowly said, "Oh? Is Little San going to start his own business?" His tone carried just the right amount of surprise and inquiry.

After a moment's contemplation, Ning Fengzhi leaned forward slightly, the patterns on his Seven Treasures Glazed Robe shimmering in the sunlight: "I wonder what the relationship is between this newly established sect and the Haotian Sect?"

Tang San remained calm, his voice steady and powerful: "Uncle Ning, rest assured, this sect will be based on hidden weapons and will be completely independent of the Clear Sky Sect." He reached to his waist, opened the jade box in his hand, and took out an exquisitely crafted hidden arrow. "These hidden weapons were all developed by me, and have absolutely no connection with the Clear Sky Sect's secret techniques."

Feng Yao subtly raised an eyebrow, his fingertips gently tracing the rim of his teacup. Qian Renxue maintained the gentle smile befitting a crown prince, but his eyes, hidden behind the fan, gleamed with a thoughtful light.

Tang Yuehua's violet eyes gleamed with satisfaction: "Xiao San has always been independent; these hidden weapons are truly the result of his painstaking efforts." She glanced meaningfully at Ning Fengzhi, "If he could receive some guidance from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, he would surely be able to make a name for himself in Tian Dou City."

Feng Yao's lips curled slightly, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes, but he remained silent. However, this fleeting smile was still accurately captured by the perceptive Ning Fengzhi.

Ning Fengzhi remained outwardly composed, but inwardly he understood. He elegantly picked up his teacup, using the rising steam to conceal the thoughtfulness in his eyes. Even though Tang San claimed that his newly established sect was independent of the Clear Sky Sect, could the fact that they were connected by blood be severed with just a few words? The young man before him was, after all, Tang Hao's son and a direct descendant of the Clear Sky Sect.

"Xiao San's ambition is admirable," Ning Fengzhi said in his gentle voice, the Seven Treasure Glazed Pagoda pendant swaying lightly at his waist. "However, establishing a sect is not something that can be accomplished overnight; it requires long-term planning."

His gaze casually swept over Feng Yao, then landed on Qian Renxue, before finally returning to Tang San's face: "The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School has always been happy to mentor younger generations, but the specifics of how to cooperate..." He tapped his fingertips lightly twice on the table, "...still require careful consideration."

These words were perfectly worded, neither explicitly refusing nor making any promises lightly. Tang Yuehua's purple eyes flickered slightly; Tang San's expression remained unchanged, only his fingers tightened slightly around the teacup.

Feng Yao took it all in, lowering his eyes to conceal his understanding. He knew better than anyone that in this game, the old fox that was the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School would not place his bet easily.

Ning Fengzhi gently set down his teacup, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile pendant reflecting a dazzling halo of light in the sunlight. His gaze towards Tang San remained gentle, yet held a deeper meaning: "Little San has the ambition to establish his own sect, and Uncle Ning is naturally pleased to see that. However..." He tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, "The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School is ultimately an affiliated sect of the Heaven Dou Empire. Such an important matter still requires Qinghe's approval."

As he turned to Qian Renxue, the patterns on his purple robe flowed like waves: "Even I, Ning, cannot interfere too much in the affairs of the empire."

Tang Yuehua's delicate brows furrowed slightly. She clearly saw the fleeting clarity in Ning Fengzhi's eyes—this sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School had already seen through their true intention of using the name of establishing a new sect to pave the way for the Clear Sky Sect to return to the Soul Master world and fight against the Spirit Hall.

"No wonder the Crown Prince came in person today," Tang Yuehua sighed inwardly, a hint of helplessness flashing in her violet eyes. She understood that if she wanted to drag the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School into this mess, she would have to be prepared to pay a heavy price.

Feng Yao took in everyone's reactions, a faint smile playing on his lips. He sipped his fragrant tea leisurely, seemingly oblivious to this silent game of wits.

Qian Renxue—still resembling Xue Qinghe—looked troubled: "Young Master San is a talented young man, and it's naturally a good thing he has such ambitions." Her voice was gentle, yet carried the prudence characteristic of someone in a position of power, "However, the forces within Tiandou City are deeply entrenched, with various families having cultivated their networks for many years, their influence extending to every industry."

Then Qian Renxue pointed at Feng Yao: "Even someone like Xiao Feng had a lot of trouble getting into the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy. Your hidden weapons are exquisite, but to gain a foothold in this dangerous place..."

Tang San's lowered eyelashes cast a shadow on his face. He understood perfectly well that behind these high-sounding words lay nothing more than a calculated maneuver to gain an advantage. If Ning Fengzhi and Xue Qinghe were truly willing to help, with their combined power, it would be incredibly easy for the Tang Sect to establish itself in the Heaven Dou Empire.

His fist clenched unconsciously inside his sleeve, his nails digging deep into his palm. His past life's experiences in the Tang Sect flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern—the various injustices suffered by outer disciples.
“Your Highness is absolutely right,” Tang Yuehua’s clear voice rang out promptly. Her violet eyes held earnestness. “Your Highness is absolutely right; there are many points we still need Your Highness to clarify.”

Qian Renxue's lips curled slightly: "How about this—the hidden weapons developed by Xiao San are of immense strategic value to the Imperial Army." Her voice was calm and measured, yet carried an undeniable authority. "If you are willing to provide the blueprints for the basic hidden weapons, the Heavenly Dou government will mass-produce and equip them for the army."

"Then these hidden weapons can be classified as supplies for the Heaven Dou army." She looked intently at Tang San. "In the name of the Crown Prince, I guarantee that not only will the blueprints be classified as top secret of the Empire, but I will also ensure that your sect will not be interfered with by any force within Heaven Dou City." As soon as she finished speaking, Tang San suddenly stood up, knocking over a teacup on the table, which shattered with a crisp sound.

"This is impossible!" His voice was filled with barely suppressed anger, and his eyes were slightly red.

The atmosphere in the hall suddenly froze. Ning Fengzhi's fingers, which were stroking the scepter, paused slightly. Feng Yao, meanwhile, watched Tang San's outburst thoughtfully, a strange light flashing in his eyes.

Qian Renxue calmly took a sip of tea, as if she had anticipated Tang San's intense reaction. When she put down the teacup, the bottom of the cup touched the table with a meaningful soft sound.

Tang San's chest heaved violently, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. Although Xue Qinghe had only asked for blueprints for low-end hidden weapons, as a disciple of the Tang Clan, he understood the implications better than anyone else—in his previous life, those seemingly ordinary hidden weapons such as sleeve arrows and throwing knives constituted the sect's main source of income.

Although the Crown Prince promised not to sell these hidden weapons, once the Heavenly Dou Army deploys them on a large scale, it will be tantamount to cutting off the Tang Sect's largest market space in the future. Those profits that should have been exclusively enjoyed by the Tang Sect, and those financial chains that could support the sect's development, will all vanish.

Tang San's fingertips unconsciously traced the moonlit night over the Twenty-Four Bridges, his mind racing as he calculated the gains and losses. Sunlight streamed through the stained-glass window, casting dappled shadows on his face and illuminating the turbulent thoughts in his eyes. He seemed to already see that if he agreed to this condition, the Tang Sect would be forever confined to the niche market of high-level hidden weapons.

“Your Highness,” Tang San’s voice was low and strained, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth, “this condition is, I must say, difficult for this junior to accept.” The moment he raised his head, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes, a glint only found in the elders of the Tang Clan of his past life. “The art of hidden weapons values ​​a complete system. Even basic hidden weapons are crucial to the foundation of the sect.”

Despite Tang San's firm rejection, Qian Renxue remained calm, with a faint smile playing on her lips.

Feng Yao took a sip of fragrant tea at the opportune moment, his gentle voice breaking the brief silence: "Xiao San, you've oversimplified the idea of ​​establishing a sect." He set down his teacup, the porcelain clinking against the sandalwood table with a crisp sound. "Everyone here can see the value of hidden weapons, but have you ever considered—"

Feng Yao's gaze suddenly sharpened: "How will those Heavenly Dou nobles react to such exorbitantly profitable weapons?" He tapped the table lightly with his fingertip. "Your hidden weapons require refined iron, craftsmen, and transportation. And which of these isn't under the control of those deeply entrenched families?"

Qian Renxue chimed in at the opportune moment: "If I really wanted to take this business, I could simply requisition craftsmen to replicate it. No matter how exquisite the hidden weapons are, as long as they are man-made, replicating them is only a matter of time." She looked at Tang San with a half-smile, "Now, not only have you promised not to sell them to outsiders, but you're also willing to protect your sect's foundation under the guise of military supplies. This is already exceptionally preferential treatment."

Feng Yao added meaningfully at the end, "Moreover, equipping the army with hidden weapons alongside the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School might not necessarily be a bad thing for the Haotian Sect."

Upon hearing this, Ning Fengzhi's fingers trembled slightly beneath his purple robe. His deep gaze lingered on Feng Yao's face for a moment, and he was secretly astonished—this young man had actually seen through the profound impact of the widespread use of hidden weapons on the Soul Master world. Sunlight streamed through the glazed tiles, casting an unusual glow that illuminated the gleam in his eyes.

Tang San slowly sat down and fell into a long silence, his slender fingers unconsciously stroking the edge of the armrest.

Seeing this, Qian Renxue offered another tempting condition: "Little San, if you agree to this, I will not only grant your sect the former site of the Li Clan," she said with a slight smile, "but also allocate three hundred acres of surrounding land, with all expansion costs borne by the royal family."

Ning Fengzhi chimed in at the opportune moment: "If the disciples of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School could also be equipped with these hidden weapons," he tapped the table lightly with his fingertip, "all the materials and craftsmen can be provided free of charge by our school in the initial stages."

Seeing Tang San's expression shift slightly, Ning Fengzhi added meaningfully, "Once your sect is on the right track, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's rare materials will always be exclusively supplied to you at a price 20% lower than the market price."

Feng Yao watched with great interest as Tang San's furrowed brows gradually relaxed. Sunlight streamed through the stained-glass window, casting shifting shadows on the young man's face and revealing the intense internal struggle within his eyes. Tang Yuehua's eyes remained fixed on her nephew.

Everything in the world has its price, and even Tang Clan's hidden weapons are no exception.

Tang Yuehua gazed at Tang San, her beautiful violet eyes sparkling with anticipation. In her view, the conditions offered by Xue Qinghe and Ning Fengzhi were already extremely generous—although on the surface they had lost two major clients, the Imperial military and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, the hidden chain of interests behind them was far more profound.

She subtly gave Tang San a meaningful look. In this chaotic world where the Spirit Hall is eyeing them covetously, who can predict the future?

When the Empire's elite troops and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School disciples were all equipped with Tang Sect hidden weapons, in the eyes of the Spirit Hall, they naturally became ants on the same rope. Tang Yuehua pursed her red lips, as if she could already see the scene on the future battlefield where those poisoned hidden weapons bloomed deadly flowers on the Spirit Hall's soul masters—at that time, when the hidden weapons caused huge casualties to the Spirit Hall, the Spirit Hall would not verify whether you were in cahoots.

Tang San's gaze met Tang Yuehua's expectant eyes, and he immediately understood—from the perspective of the Clear Sky Sect, his aunt could completely accept these conditions. However, a lingering sense of unease remained in his heart, like the subtle sound of wind breaking before a hidden weapon is thrown. He clearly sensed something was amiss, yet he couldn't quite pinpoint the problem.

He took a deep breath and looked around at everyone. Ning Fengzhi's gentle and refined face wore a confident smile; "Xue Qinghe" looked calm and composed; even Feng Yao was watching him with a half-smile, his gaze seemingly able to penetrate one's heart.

"Brother Xue, Uncle Ning," Tang San's voice was a little hoarse, "this matter is of great importance, could you allow me to go back and consider it carefully?"

Upon hearing this, Qian Renxue's lips curved into a perfect smile: "Of course." Her gaze swept over Tang Yuehua's slightly anxious expression, and she added meaningfully, "Such a significant matter certainly deserves careful consideration."

Sunlight streamed through the glass window, casting a sharp shadow on Tang San's clenched fist. He clearly saw the fleeting glint in Feng Yao's eyes when he uttered the word "consider." Was it relief or disappointment?

(End of this chapter)