I Can See Your Combat Power

“Why would young master think like that?” Chang Fu was shocked, as if he was witnessing something unthinkable.

Tang Luo found Chang Fu’s extravagant reaction puzzling and asked, “Have I said anything wrong?”

Wasn’t it the greatest mistake for the pride of Xiling to doubt his own fame in Xiling?

After a moment’s thought, Chang Fu understood Tang Luo’s distress about nobles not visiting his place in two months. He couldn’t help but laugh, saying, “Young master misunderstood.”

“Misunderstood?” Tang Luo tilted his head, completely confused about what there was to misunderstand in this situation. “Please enlighten me, Uncle Fu.” “These two months in Xiling, the nobles have been busy seeking help, asking for materiel assistance from various sources. Not only the nine great families, but also some smaller clans claiming the mountains as their own, these nobles of Xiling dared to visit one by one. Being the top families in Xiling, the Tang and Mi Clans naturally had a constant stream of visitors. However, none of them has ever asked for resources here. Do you know why, young master?”

Coming to the Tang Clan but not asking for resources, what did these people come for? Tang Luo shook his head in confusion.

Chang Fu’s face glowed with an inexplicable brilliance and he proudly answered, “They just came to thank the patriarch and the elders.” “To thank us???” Tang Luo didn’t quite understand. What was there to thank when they were on the verge of starvation?

“Firstly, it’s because the young master has already given them something more precious than resources!” Chang Fu’s eyes filled with admiration. Who wouldn’t want their master to be kind-hearted? The young master of his household was hailed as a Buddha for all families, which made even the servants proud. “Secondly, they believe the young master has been put under house arrest after he spread the news of the flood. They didn’t want to embarrass you by asking for food. With all these factors combined, isn’t it a testament to the young master’s reputation in Xiling?”

How could outsiders know Tang Luo’s status in his family? In the eyes of the nobles from Xiling, the young prodigy who had informed them of the flood three days ahead had defied his family’s orders. Coupled with the fact that Tang Luo had not been seen since he had alerted the city, everyone believed that the Tang Clan had punished him.

This almost speculative assumption was unanimously accepted by all in Red Cloud Mountain. Every visiting noble avoided mentioning resources and only thanked the Tang Clan for their magnanimity. They praised Tang Luo profusely, claiming that the Tang Clan was the top family in Xiling.

The nobles of Xiling wanted to use this method to alleviate the Tang Clan’s punishment of Tang Luo. Even when resources were scarce, none of them dared to mention it in the Tang Clan.

“So that’s how it is.” Tang Luo murmured, rubbing his nose in annoyance.

Now he understood why no matter how long he waited, no one would come. These people actually thought he was under house arrest. Thinking about it, the law enforcement bureau was very strict with the clan’s descendants. Those who frequently went to the pavilion and divulged family secrets would be seized by the martial law enforcement bureau and put under house arrest. It was not surprising that they had such suspicions, but this had caused him a lot of trouble.

Fortunately, he had decided to go to Jiushan. If he had waited like a fool, the people might have revolted before they would come to him. Tang Luo shook his head helplessly and turned to the white-haired Chang Fu, “Uncle Fu, do you remember where my mother stored the resources sent by the people after the Five Acres Order?”

“Of course this old servant remembers.” With a twinkle in his eyes, Chang Fu asked, “Does the young master want to assist the people of Red Cloud Mountain?”

“Yes,” Tang Luo nodded, “Since these nobles are so considerate of me, I should return some favors.”

Besides martial arts, his approach towards life can be simply summarized as follows:

Fights that can be avoided, avoid;

Things that need not be bought, do not buy;

Social engagements that can be skipped, skip.

Tasks that can be done, do them!

He had been using this simple set of principles for fifteen years and felt quite satisfied with them. If no strange problems arose, he planned to continue using them.

He thought that being passive would mean fewer favors. However, he didn’t expect those nobles in Red Cloud Mountain to group him among them on their own accord. In this case, it seemed only right to give back.

“The young master is most honorable.” Chang Fu praised, “The patriarch has instructed that all the money and food in the mansion are at the young master’s disposal. Just do what you want.”

Although Tang Luo was the first person in Xiling to shed his mortal coil, his biggest shortcoming compared to the prideful ones who had already set up their own households in their twenties was his lack of a stable personal force. Whether it was Star Pavilion or Righteous Business Group, they were regarded as small businesses in the eyes of the people in Xiling, far from matching the forces of the prideful. Although Tang Luo can’t be measured as an ordinary prodigy, he was helpless without the necessary resources.

Tang Sen had instructed Chang Fu that as soon as Tang Luo needed resources, he should mobilize all of the mansion’s money, food, and hands, considering that he would be taking responsibility for the livelihood of the people on Red Cloud Mountain. This was the way a father showed his love for his child.

Although he understood his father Tang Sen’s profound intentions, Tang Luo still felt underestimated. It turned out his father didn’t trust him to solve the food problem in Xiling. Or was his father’s solution to feed the common people with the family’s food resources? This was both infuriating and amusing. However, Tang Luo didn’t blame Tang Sen. After all, without considering his family background, he was just a martial artist who had transcended mortality. It was understandable not to believe that he could solve the food problem for millions of people. If his mother was still alive, she would probably have handed over the keys to the granary to him by now.

But he already had a plan for the resettlement of all the people in Xiling. If it hadn’t been for the nobles’ delay in coming to his door, he would have completed the first step. Shaking his head helplessly, Tang Luo smiled at Chang Fu, “Uncle Fu, since you are my minister for the rite of adulthood, why don’t you advise my father?”

Advise?

Looking at the smiling face of Tang Luo, Chang Fu was puzzled, “I don’t understand what you mean, young master.”

“Have you ever seen someone who, after their coming of age ceremony, still asks their parents for food and money? If this gets out, I’ll lose all my face.” With a look of exasperation, Tang Luo waved his hand, “Just return the resources sent by the people and that will suffice. As for the food issue, I have my own solutions!”

“Oh, young master, don’t be so proud at this point.” Chang Fu shook his head and sighed, “In these two months, the flood has spread over twenty thousand miles. The western region of Longzhou has turned into a lake, with more than a hundred million acres of fertile land being flooded. Young master, where will you find a solution?”

It was not that he didn’t trust Tang Luo’s ability, but the scale of the flood was just too large. It affected the entire western part of Longzhou, and some lower- lying cities were completely submerged. Much of Longzhou West, originally flat land, had turned into lakes. Only places like Xiling, which was hilly, remained, providing arable land for habitation.

Under such circumstances, it was not just a shortage of food in Xiling, but in the whole western region of Longzhou. Unless they possessed large formations of giant immortal birds like the Mi Clan, they wouldn’t be able to bring back enough food from unaffected areas in Longzhou.