Chapter 1623 — Bing Tang's Origins, Part One

"This was the old master's order -- my apologies!" Da Bo said, his face expressionless. "Family head, please don't make things difficult for this old servant."

"Ah?" Tang Lintou froze. Upon hearing it was his father's will, he sighed helplessly. So his hope of extracting information from Xiao Ming had come to nothing. Even if he tried to force his way in, not only could he not best Da Bo, but if the old master got wind of it, his position as family head would be hanging by a thread.

At the thought, Tang Lintou could only turn around and leave in resignation.

Old Master Tang's stated reason for departing was peculiar indeed: he was approaching his eightieth birthday, and before the grand celebration, he wanted to go out for a stroll and see the world! As for bringing Tang Yu along, that was because Tang Yu was the eldest grandson, and he wished to give the boy some experience! This explanation held up well enough -- the old master's thoughts were as free as the wind, and no one was particularly suspicious.

As for Xiao Ming, the old master's reasoning was different: she had been shut up indoors for so many years. She was, after all, a daughter-in-law of the Tang family, and treating her so poorly really wasn't right. Taking her out was simply to lift her spirits!

Had Old Master Tang not long since sworn off wine and women in single-minded pursuit of the Heavenly Dao, the household might have suspected the old man harbored designs on Xiao Ming! But the Hidden Tang family was fabulously wealthy -- what beautiful woman could they not find? If the old master wanted one, he could summon a whole crowd. There was absolutely no way he would be after Xiao Ming.

And so the composition of this trio became even harder for anyone to fathom!

But unfathomable or not, the Hidden Tang family still had to run as it always had. Old Master Tang departed with Tang Yu and Xiao Ming, while Tang Lintou went on serving as family head. He didn't even dare send anyone to tail the old master and find out what exactly he was up to!

After all, Old Master Tang was a supreme expert at the Heaven tier, with perception far beyond ordinary. If Tang Lintou tried any petty tricks behind the scenes and the old master found out, he would not escape the consequences!

The moment Old Master Tang stepped out the family gate, he led Tang Yu and Xiao Ming straight for the Ice and Snow Spirit Mountain. They traveled all the way to Ice and Snow Spirit Town and once again arrived at the inn run by Shopkeeper Li of the Ice Palace, right there in town.

"Staying the night?" Shopkeeper Li blinked in surprise, raised his head, and looked at Tang Yu. His expression changed at once. His memory was quite sharp, and he did recall this face -- one of the trial candidates from the Ice Palace, though which family the young man belonged to, Shopkeeper Li couldn't quite remember. "It's you? Why are you back again?"

"Greetings, Boss Li. This is my grandfather, the former family head of the Hidden Tang family. We've come with an urgent matter -- we wish to request an audience with the Ice Palace Master. I hope Elder Li can help relay our request..." Tang Yu knew exactly what standing they held in the Ice Palace's eyes, so he didn't beat around the bush. He laid out his request plainly before Shopkeeper Li.

It was a bit direct, but he believed that if he tried to be subtle, it would only irritate Shopkeeper Li further.

"Oh? An audience with the Ice Palace Master?" Hearing Tang Yu's words, Shopkeeper Li couldn't help but find it faintly comical. The head of a mere hidden clan family, actually requesting an audience with the master of an ancient sect? Wasn't that biting off far more than one could chew? Still, Shopkeeper Li held back his amusement: "If you have any matter at all, I can relay it for you. But as for meeting the Palace Master -- let alone you, even I would find it extremely difficult."

"Ah... very well then. Could I write a letter and trouble you to deliver it on our behalf?" Tang Yu didn't press the issue. After all, Shopkeeper Li was right -- how could a member of the Hidden Tang family expect to meet the Ice Palace Master whenever he pleased?

"That I can do." Shopkeeper Li's role at the Ice Palace was, in fact, handling all correspondence -- letters between the Ice Palace and other sects and clans all passed through his hands. So Tang Yu's request was not unreasonable, and he agreed.

"Then we'll trouble you, Boss Li. Please open two rooms for us first. We'll settle in and wait here for the Palace Master's reply," Tang Yu said.

"Staying is no problem, but as for a reply, I can't guarantee the Palace Master will send one," Shopkeeper Li said. "Hand over your identification cards and deposit, and I'll get your rooms ready."

Old Master Tang, Tang Yu, and Xiao Ming promptly produced their identification cards and deposits, paid up, and received their room keys. They then returned to their rooms.

The letter to the Ice Palace Master was simple enough. Tang Yu and Old Master Tang discussed it together, then wrote down in plain terms their guesses about her origins, hoping she would agree to a meeting. The letter was written in the most courteous of language -- they figured that even if they weren't related, the Ice Palace Master would hardly hold a grudge against the Hidden Tang family over such a thing.

After finishing the letter, Tang Yu sealed it and handed it to Shopkeeper Li, asking him to deliver it to the Ice Palace Master on their behalf. The rest of the time, the three of them simply waited for news at the inn.

Atop the snow-crowned peak of the Ice and Snow Spirit Mountain, in the Ice Palace Master's chambers, Xiao Qing hurried over to the Ice Palace Master's side, a letter in her hand, her expression grave. "Palace Master, please look at this letter!"

Mail and correspondence for the Ice Palace Master were ordinarily reviewed and filtered by Xiao Qing first. Whatever she could handle, she handled; only what lay beyond her capacity was passed on to Bing Tang. This letter, however, clearly belonged to the category of supreme importance.

Bing Tang was slightly startled. It was rare to see Xiao Qing in such a state. "Aunt Qing, where is this letter from, that has you so flustered?"

"Palace Master, you'd better see for yourself..." Xiao Qing gave a wry smile, her expression somewhat strange.

"Oh? Very well." Seeing Xiao Qing's odd demeanor, Bing Tang nodded and took the letter. But barely half a page in, Bing Tang's expression had changed. The hands holding the letter trembled faintly.

She was, after all, a supreme expert at the pinnacle of the late Heaven tier -- one who rarely let her emotions show. Yet this time, she couldn't quite keep her composure: "She looks very much like me? Aunt Qing, is that even possible..."

"Palace Master, this..." Xiao Qing hesitated for a moment, then decided to speak plainly. "Palace Master, do you truly care about your origins?"

Xiao Qing's words left Bing Tang sitting in complete silence...