Castle of Black Iron

Before the two airboats arrived at Jinwu City, Zhang Tie had already accomplished the first communication with the other elders and clan head of Huaiyuan Palace.

Undoubtedly, this communication was necessary for both Zhang Tie and the entire Huaiyuan Palace. Through this communication, three things were confirmed. First, Zhang Tie’s real identity. Second, the position of Zhang Tie or the branch of Zhang Clan in Jinwu City in Huaiyuan Palace. Third, a major event relevant to both Zhang Tie and Huaiyuan Palace——All the other elders of Huaiyuan Palace and Zhang Tie had agreed to hold the secondary rotating chakra ceremony for Zhang Tie after the first lunar month in the next year.

After this rotating chakra ceremony, everyone in the world would know that Zhang Tie had promoted to an earth knight and was innocent.

The elders of Huaiyuan Palace had already predicted about the shocks of Zhang Tie’s secondary chakra rotating ceremony to the rest of the world. Although they had over 1 month to prepare for this rotating chakra ceremony, they still felt it was not enough given its unprecedentedly large scale.

Previously, when Zhang Taixuan promoted to an earth knight, Huaiyuan Palace could have prepared a rotating chakra ceremony for him; however, as Zhang Taixuan had been the provincial governor of Youzhou Province, they couldn’t do that. According to the laws of Taixia Country, all the officials above Class 9 in Taixia Country were forbidden to hold any ceremony in the name of themselves during their term of service, including the birthday, promotion, home move, delivery of children, marriage and rotating chakra ceremony. Even the official’s parents could only celebrate their birthday every 30 years. Although officials below Class 9 were not strictly requested, they were also restricted to do that. Because of this regulation, Huaiyuan Palace didn’t hold the rotating chakra ceremony for Zhang Taixuan.

Of course, Zhang Tie was not limited to this regulation. Meanwhile, Huaiyuan expected to drive away the haze over Huaiyuan Palace these years through this rotating chakra ceremony.

When they were less than 350 miles away from Jinwu City, under the respectful gaze of all the other elders of Huaiyuan Palace, Zhang Tie flew off the deck of Zhang Taixuan’s airboat towards Jinwu Airboat.

The moment Zhang Tie landed in Jinwu Airboat, Zhang Taixuan’s airboat had turned around and flew towards Youzhou City. Zhang Taixuan and the other elders of Huaiyuan Palace knew that Zhang Tie was longing for reuniting with his family members; therefore, they didn’t go back home with him in case of disturbing them.

Zhang Yang, Bai Suxian and Zhang Gui were all waiting for Zhang Tie on the deck of Jinwu Airboat. Only after 2 hours, Zhang Yang had already got acquainted with Bai Suxian and Zhang Gui. Zhang Gui regarded himself as Zhang Tie’s servant; Bai Suxian dared not give herself airs in front of Zhang Tie’s elder brother; Zhang Yang treated Bai Suxian as Zhang Tie’s wife. Therefore, they soon got acquainted with each other.

“How’s everything going?” Zhang Yang asked at the sight of Zhang Tie coming back.

“Let’s talk about it inside!” Zhang Tie smiled as he raised his right hand. At this moment, one more quaint remote-sensing finger ring appeared on one finger of his right hand. On the two opposite sides of the ring, there were two tiny top-class remote-sensing crystals, with which Zhang Tie could contact Huaiyuan Palace and Zhang Taixuan at the same time. After coming to Taixia Country for 5 years, the elders of Huaiyuan Palace had updated their remote-sensing finger rings for one time. Previously, their finger ring could only be integrated with one remote-sensing crystal; now, they could be integrated with two remote-sensing crystals.

“Fine, let’s talk about it inside!” Zhang Yang nodded.

The four people then entered the airboat. Zhang Yang led them into his study room.

Zhang Tie and Bai Suxian both followed Zhang Yang in; however, Zhang Gui didn’t enter the study room; instead, he just stood outside the door like a loyal dog.

“Zhang Gui, you come in too. As you will serve Zhang family from then on, you should know some things!”

“Yes, Master!”

After receiving Zhang Tie’s order, Zhang Gui entered the study. Zhang Yang, Zhang Tie and Bai Suxian sat down; however, Zhang Gui insisted on standing on Zhang Tie’s side.

Zhang Yang threw a glance at Zhang Tie. Zhang Tie then nodded towards Zhang Yang. As they were brothers, of course they understood each other well. From then on, Zhang Gui’s position in Zhang family had been fixed. Zhang Yang admired Zhang Tie’s power very much once again.

Zhang Tie told them about the details of the negotiation between him and the other elders of Huaiyuan Palace. After hearing that Zhang Taixuan would like to abdicate the position of clan head of Huaiyuan Palace to Zhang Tie, Zhang Yang frowned at once; Bai Suxian revealed a speculative look.

“Didn’t you agree with him?”

“The position of clan head of Huaiyuan Palace is nothing attractive to me at all. Therefore, I refused him immediately. Additionally, I expressed that anyone who wanted me to be the clan head of Huaiyuan Palace would drive me away from Huaiyuan Palace. Therefore, Zhang Taixuan didn’t urge that anymore!” Zhang Tie rubbed the finger ring that was especially matched for the elders of Huaiyuan Palace with a doubtful look, “I don’t know why Zhang Taixuan could suddenly have such a thought. To be honest, his words shocked me!”

“Given the current power of our Zhang family, we’d better not take the position of clan head!” Zhang Yang said before thinking for a short while, “We are alone in our generation of our family, our children have not grown up yet. I spend my full efforts in Jinwu Business Group. Even if you could become the clan head of Huaiyuan Palace, we don’t have too many reliable subordinates. Therefore, we couldn’t really take Huaiyuan Palace under control. The position of the clan head would just be nominal. If you really want to take this position, you could consider it when our children have grown up and could fulfill responsibilities in Huaiyuan Palace. By then, you might enjoy taking this position. I’m afraid that Zhang Taixuan was afraid of domestic conflicts when he found that you had greater influence and battle strength than him; therefore, he pretended to be that righteous and generous and wanted the other elders to express their stances to you!”

Zhang Tie threw a glance at his elder brother. After a few years of practice, Zhang Yang had been more imposing. Previously, the two brothers were afraid of meeting a clan elder; now, Zhang Yang talked about the position of the clan head of Huaiyuan Palace calmly as if he was talking about an ordinary business.

‘Actually, when I was young, I was less interested and ambitious about the so-called power and influence than my elder brother…’

As Zhang Tie was thinking about it, he nodded and said, “Hmm…I also think so!”

“Huaiyuan Palace only has one prefecture in Youzhou Province. It has fewer than 10 cities. It might be smaller than Fire Dragon Territory. The rank of the nobility of clan head is just count. If you want a title of nobility, you don’t need to ask it from others. Given your meritorious services in Earth-elements Realm, you could easily get a title of nobility when the Heavens Fortune List is exposed to the public. If you want cities, you could build as many cities as you like in the south border of Taixia Country, large or small; instead of having to consider about others’ moods. Who favors those cities and the title of nobility of count? As if he was showing his great leniency to you…”

Compared to Zhang Yang’s attitude, Bai Suxian’s tone sounded a bit dissatisfied. As the princess of Lord Guangnan’s Mansion, she really didn’t treasure the position of clan head. In Bai Suxian’s eyes, Zhang Taixuan’s behavior was like having her would-be husband state his stand about the ownership of the real estate as the elder of the family before her husband saw his parents-in-law as if Zhang Taixuan was afraid that the would-be son-in-law would share his real estate with a foreign aid. Of course, she felt unhappy.

With different stances, people would make different conclusions about the same topic.

After exchanging a glance with each other, Zhang Tie revealed a faint smile as he passed a message to Zhang Tie with his eye light——your wife is tricky.

Zhang Tie replied with his eye light——don’t worry, she’s under my control.

Zhang Yang threw a glance at Zhang Gui. Zhang Tie understood Zhang Yang’s meaning at once as he looked around and asked Zhang Gui, “Zhang Gui, what’s your opinion?”

“Master, please forgive this old slave for my offense!”

“It’s fine, there’re only 4 people here; we’re just taking the matter on its merits. Just put it straight!” Zhang Tie waved his hand.

“Yes, Master!” Zhang Gui bowed towards Zhang Tie before straightening up as he said with narrowed eyes, “In the opinion of this old slave, Zhang Taixuan the clan head of Huaiyuan Palace was malicious, one stone for two birds!”

Soon after Zhang Gui’s words, the atmosphere in the study froze at once. Zhang Tie also narrowed his eyes as he looked at Zhang Gui calmly before asking, “How?”

“If Master accepts the position of Clan Head of Huaiyuan Palace, what about your amazing secret methods? Would you share them with Huaiyuan Palace or not? If you don’t, you will have a bad reputation; besides, you might be blamed for despising the other members of Huaiyuan Palace. If you give someone a bit of rice, you’re helping him; if you give him a lot of rice, you’re drawing animosity. As Master favors Huaiyuan Palace now, all the members of Huaiyuan Palace would appreciate that and show their awe to you; if Master doesn’t preach your secret methods to them, as long as someone foment disunity and dissension in the dark, being driven by desire, they would hate you and be dissatisfied about you. If so, you would not keep the position of clan head for too long; additionally, there would be some potential threats!”

“If Master preaches all your secret methods to the other members of Huaiyuan Palace, Master might gain a good reputation in Huaiyuan Palace; however, you would lose your largest reliance in the chaotic world. Even though Master gains a good reputation, like what the eldest young master said, as the next generation of Huaiyuan Palace has not grown up, the lineal bloodline in Jinwu City couldn’t fully control Huaiyuan Palace. Finally, you are just a nominal clan head. By contrast, you would lose too much. Additionally, after Master’s secret methods spread over Huaiyuan Palace, the biggest benefactor would be the branch of Yiyang City which have the most population. Later on, when the juniors of the branch of Yiyang City grow up and there are some outstanding ones, it would be hard to say whether Master’s lineal descendants could succeed to the position of clan head anymore! It’s just one reason!”

“What about the 2nd reason?” Zhang Tie asked calmly.

“Second, if Master expressed in the public that you would not succeed to the position of clan head from then on, you would pose no threat to Zhang Taixuan in Huaiyuan Palace. As a gentleman, of course, Master would not break your promise. If Master wants to take the position of clan head later on, you would become a despicable man who breaks the promise for power and influence. How could a despicable man win the trust of members in Huaiyuan Palace and the rest of the world and be qualified to be the clan head of Huaiyuan Palace?”

“Therefore, no matter whether Master agrees with Zhang Taixuan or not, Zhang Taixuan is always the winner. He would gain one bird at first; as for the other bird, he would gain it slowly! As Master’s secret methods and the position of the clan head of Huaiyuan Palace are both unusual, someone would like to gain them in whatever means he could. Even disciples of the same sect or the same clan even father and sons, brothers would hurt each other every day across Taixia Country for secret methods, power and influence.”

“Of course, it’s just this old slave’s individual opinion. This old slave has witnessed too many despicable tactics and plots. I always treat people with the most malicious mentality. I don’t know what is kindness at all. This old slave didn’t acquaint with Zhang Taixuan; perhaps Count Long Wind is also a gentleman who always considers the wellbeing of Huaiyuan Palace and admires Master faithfully. This old slave might have blamed him wrongly by the mentality of a despicable man!”

After Zhang Gui finished his words, the entire study became quiet. Even Zhang Yang and Bai Suxian looked at Zhang Gui with widely opened eyes. They wondered where Zhang Tie found such a figure. Zhang Gui’s words were shocking and frightening. After his words, the atmosphere in the room became a bit colder.

When Zhang Gui spoke, Zhang Tie’s eye light became increasingly acute and heart-wrenching. Not until Zhang Gui finished his words did Zhang Tie close his eyes. After being silent for over 10 seconds, Zhang Tie opened his eyes while his eye light and voice both recovered composure.

“Count Long Wind is the clan head of Huaiyuan Palace. He’s selfless and is the pillar of Huaiyuan Palace. He deserves the respect of tens of thousands of people. Your words are too excessive. I don’t hope that to be heard by the 5th person!”

“Yes, Master, this old slave was muddle-headed and talking rubbish. I didn’t know what I was talking about on the earth!” Zhang Gui replied. Without argument and dissatisfaction, he just slightly lowered his body and stood behind Zhang Tie silently while lowering his eyes.

After being silent for a short while, Zhang Tie told Zhang Yang, “From then on, our family should establish a Foreign Affairs Agency. Zhang Gui will be the general steward of the Foreign Affairs Agency. With his help, we could be reassured when working outside. Old brother, you’d better allocate some people to the Foreign Affairs Agency…”

Zhang Yang threw another glance at Zhang Gui before nodding slowly…

Of course, they didn’t need to negotiate over everything in details.

After their talk, the airboat had already arrived at Jinwu City…