Since they were going to fall out sooner or later, why not face it with the toughest attitude from the beginning?
If this was a game of chess, the Mount Song Army headquarters was just casually placing a piece, representing the Li Palace's reestablishment of its voice to the continent.
The second move that landed in Wenshui City was the deciding move, the deciding move, the deciding move, the deciding move, the deciding move.
The person who wrote the letter wanted to use Tang Thirty Six's incident to force Chen Chang Sheng to put on the toughest attitude.
This attitude was for the Tang clan to see, not for the Tang Second Master to see.
Although the chief branch had lost its power, the Tang clan was still the Tang Old Master's Tang clan.
The person who wrote the letter was gambling on what sort of decision the Tang Old Master would make in the face of the Orthodoxy's most unyielding stance.
The greatest problem was that the circumstances of the Tang clan over the past few years had proven that the Tang Old Master clearly supported the second branch. To put it another way, he had already made his choice between Shang Xingzhou and Chen Changsheng, master and disciple. Moreover, how could a person like the Tang Old Master change his stance just because of the Orthodoxy's unyielding stance?
…
…
Before the Tang Old Master, the Orthodoxy first had to confront the Tang Second Master.
This middle-aged man, who was said to have taken complete control of the Tang family, was undoubtedly one of the most powerful men on the continent.
But outside this quiet Taoist temple, he looked like an ordinary middle-aged man.
Perhaps it was because the archbishop of Wenshui was not as humble in front of him as he usually was, much less fawning.
The bishop seemed to really treat him as an ordinary middle-aged believer who wanted to pay his respects to the Pope.
In the early morning, the three Prefects of the Orthodoxy and one hundred cavalry entered Wenshui City.
Not long after, many voices came from the Taoist Hall.
It was at this time that the Tang Second Master came to the stone steps and expressed his desire to pay a visit to the Pope.
The bishop helped him make the announcement, then said that His Holiness the Pope had just woken up and was in the middle of washing up, so he needed some time.
This was a very normal matter. Although the Tang Second Master knew that this was an excuse, he could only wait at the bottom of the stone steps.
But he didn't expect that this wait would last for half a day. The morning light dispersed the fog in the forest, and then turned into warm sunlight that was rarely seen in winter.
As time passed, the two Guardians standing behind the Tang Second Master and his attendants grew uglier and uglier.
The Pope had come to Wenshui, so the Tang clan naturally should have sent someone to meet him, but why did the Second Master have to wait for so long? Was this a show of strength to the Tang family?
If not for the Tang Second Master maintaining his silence, they might have already begun to quarrel.
After all, this was Wenshui City. From a certain perspective, the head of the Tang clan was the true emperor.
Whether it was Emperor Taizong or the infamous Tianhai Divine Empress, in this city, their decrees had never been as effective as a single word from the clan head.
In their view, the Second Master represented the Tang clan. Even the Pope could not humiliate him like this!
The Tang Second Master had stood at the base of the stone steps with his hands held behind his back for half a day. Let alone anger, not even impatience had appeared on his face.
But that didn't mean he was calm.
In fact, he was in a terrible mood at the moment.
In the coup of the Mausoleum of Books three years ago, he had played an extremely important role. The common people did not know, but those who had the right to know knew.
From that moment on, he became an influential figure in the continent.
Although he still had not become the master of Wenshui City, everyone knew that that day was not far away.
Whether it was the family business or the internal affairs of the various branches, the Old Master had given him the responsibility to handle them.
He was already the de facto master of Wenshui City.
Especially after Tang Thirty-Six had been imprisoned in the ancestral hall half a year ago, no one dared to question this point, not even Xuelao City.
Even if he had gone to the capital to see His Majesty a month ago, he could have gone straight to the palace without needing to send a message!
Now, who would dare to intentionally leave him hanging for so long?
"Not being able to kill you in the snowy mountains is truly a regrettable matter, and I even let you enter Wenshui. That idiot White Stone, how did you get discovered? But even if you came to Wenshui, other than throwing a tantrum like a child, what else could you do? His Holiness the Pope … is he really that big? "
The Tang Second Master gazed at the eaves of that Daoist church deep in the forest, his expression calm as he thought of a few treasonous words.
When he thought of that last sentence, he found it very amusing. He was very humorous, and the corners of his lips perked up.
In the past, the Archbishop of Wenshui at his side would assuredly have tactfully asked, "Why is Second Master smiling?"
But today was different. The Archbishop of Wenshui looked at him and seriously said, "Sir Tang, please do not be impolite."
The Tang Second Master's smile suddenly vanished. He could no longer maintain his composure, a layer of frost appearing on his face.
Just when all his patience was about to vanish, the announcement finally came from the Daoist church.
The Tang Second Master and the others ascended the stone steps, passing through the quiet and secluded winter forest and arriving outside the divine gate. Raising their eyes, they saw the pear tree.
There was no figure under the pear tree, no snow on the ground, and no snow-like white flowers. The stone slabs had just been washed with water, so they were wet and clean. Perhaps there had been blood earlier?
The clouds that filled the sky and the warm winter sunlight had not vanished. It was still far from nightfall, but many lanterns had already been lit in the hall.
Standing outside the divine gate and peering in, one would occasionally have the misconception that this place was a vast sea of stars.
The Tang Second Master walked into the divine gate.
The two Guardians and the Tang clan guards prepared to follow, but they were stopped.
The Archbishop of Wenshui calmly said to the Tang clan, "Please do not wander around the forest, or else you will also die."
As they spoke, several dozen priests arrived at the river bank in the rear garden. Two thick and heavy chains gradually emerged from the water, blocking the river.
Because of a certain rule of the Tang clan, there were basically no boats on the Wenshui, but the Daoist church had still made complete preparations.
The Tang Second Master gazed at the sea of lights in the hall. After a moment of silence, he raised his hand to indicate that his followers should stop.
Crossing the high threshold and arriving in front of the quiet hall, he saw Linghai Zhiwang and An Lin.
The two archbishops stood on the stone steps in front of the hall, looking like two statues of gods.
The Tang Second Master greeted them, then slowly opened his mouth.
He was laughing, but there was no sound.
This was his habitual expression. Sometimes, it would be comical, sometimes abnormally terrifying, but no matter the time, it was always brimming with derision and malice towards the world.
Linghai Zhiwang expressionlessly looked at him like he was looking at an idiot.
An Lin gave a slight nod in return, then paid him no more attention.
The Tang Second Master's smile gradually faded as he asked, "To have two archbishops guard the gate, has any Pope ever done this before?"
After saying this, he did not wait for an answer. With a light brush of his sleeve, he pushed open the door and walked in.
Countless lanterns were lit in the hall, the light so bright that it fell on his face.
He was rather similar to Tang Thirty-Six. His face was handsome, but the space between his brows was even more indifferent.
In the next moment, that indifference finally dissipated, transforming into an indescribable emotion.
In the center of the Daoist church was a prayer mat.
This was naturally for people to kneel on.
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… …
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