Chapter 2719 — Stop Right There!

"Elder Tang, it is time you went to cultivate!" At this moment, the Grand Elder reappeared in the guest room. She spoke to Tang Zhi first, then looked at Kang Xiaofeng and the others. "My friends, forgive me—Elder Tang's visiting time is up. She must go and cultivate. You may as well stay here for now."

"Ah..." Tang Zhi had wanted to spend more time with Kang Xiaofeng and the others, but she could not disobey the Grand Elder. Helpless, she said, "My mother is here too—you all know her. Shall I have her come and talk with you?"

"Oh, Auntie is here too? That works..." Liu Xinlan nodded. There was nothing else for it; after all, they could not interfere with Tang Zhi's cultivation.

"All right, then I'll be going." Tang Zhi rose apologetically. "I'll have my mother show you around Snow Valley. The scenery here is quite beautiful."

"All right, Yun Yun, go and do what you must," Xiaofen said as well.

The Grand Elder led Tang Zhi away. Her goal had been achieved, and naturally she did not want Kang Xiaofeng and the others to keep talking with Tang Zhi. The more one said, the more one erred—what if Tang Zhi's longing for Wei Zhao were stirred up again?

So the cultivation hour was merely an excuse. The Grand Elder's true purpose was simply to stop Tang Zhi from continuing to converse with them.

Not long after the Grand Elder and Tang Zhi had left, Tang Zhi's adoptive mother, Wang Yujie, arrived at the guest room. This was a fearsome woman who could go anywhere in Snow Valley unimpeded, and even the Grand Elder dared not offend her—better to avoid the sight and spare herself the vexation, so she simply refused to meet her!

Toward a person like Mother Tang, the Grand Elder was helpless: she could not strike her, could not scold her, and could not drive her away!

Tang Zhi's temperament was gentle and meek, so the Grand Elder could keep her in hand; but Mother Tang was a woman utterly impervious to reason, whose sole aim was the good of her own family. She took a share of whatever fine thing she saw in Snow Valley, and ordered about anyone she met, as though Snow Valley were her own home!

What left the Grand Elder most helpless was Mother Tang's pet phrases: I'll call Wei Zhao here! I'll take Tang Zhi away! I'll have my daughter Bingtang tear your Snow Valley down!

So the Grand Elder's strategy for dealing with such a person was to humor her. So long as Tang Zhi cultivated in peace and Mother Tang pulled no absurd stunts, she let her be—Snow Valley had money and goods enough, so giving her a little did no harm!

As for her ordering others about, that did not matter either. Tang Zhi was an elder of Snow Valley, and an elder's mother naturally possessed such authority—it was only that Snow Valley had never seen such a case before, since those elders' parents had all passed away.

Moreover, Mother Tang had another identity: she was the birth mother of Bingtang, the Palace Master of the Ice Palace. With such a formidable status, the Grand Elder did not dare do anything to her. And so Mother Tang reigned supreme in Snow Valley.

The disciples of Snow Valley all knew by now that Snow Valley harbored a person more formidable than even the Grand Elder. Should anyone encounter her, they must never provoke her—otherwise they would die a most miserable death...

"Xiaobo, Xiaofen, Xinwen, you've come!" Mother Tang was delighted to see the three of them. "Why hasn't Wei Zhao come?"

"The boss, he... Auntie, you know as well that the boss drank the Forgetfulness Herb potion. That was Tang Zhi's wish, and we couldn't presume to..." Kang Xiaofeng said, somewhat awkwardly.

"Oh, I know. But once he's powerful enough, he can come and take us all away—or he can just take over Snow Valley. Right, I have another daughter too, and she can marry him as well. Then the Ice Palace and Snow Valley will both be his, and the whole matter will be settled!" Mother Tang said with great nonchalance.

Now only Mother Tang dared speak such treasonous words so recklessly here, and the Snow Valley disciples did not dare offer the slightest rebuttal. Everyone was used to it by now—even the Grand Elder dared not cross her, so what were these disciples?

"Uh... that's true too..." Kang Xiaofeng wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and nodded. Mother Tang was something else—she was going to marry her other daughter to Wei Zhao as well?

"Right? Oh, and lately I've gathered a great many rare treasures. Take them back for Wei Zhao and have him eat them to build up his strength properly—I'll get him more good things!" Mother Tang said. "And you three have a look around too. If you see anything good, just take it back with you—don't stand on ceremony!"

"..." Kang Xiaofeng was somewhat speechless. Mother Tang, you really are formidable! He had known before that this was her character, and in the past he had not much cared for it—but today he finally realized that this character of hers was actually a good thing!

"Come on, I'll show you around!" With that, Mother Tang led Kang Xiaofeng, Xiaofen, and Liu Xinlan out of the guest room to tour Snow Valley.

This was the three's first time entering Snow Valley, and they could not help but be captivated by its scenery. It was truly beautiful and lovely here, far more beautiful than any ski resort—a landscape entirely formed by nature. Within Snow Valley, numerous steward disciples were busily at work, though at the sight of Mother Tang they all shrank away.

"You there, bring us some fruit and something good to eat!" Mother Tang pointed at a patrolling disciple.

"Yes, Madam Tang." The patrolling disciple nodded hurriedly and hurried off, then hurried back just as quickly, now carrying a platter of fruit and several glasses of freshly squeezed juice.

Kang Xiaofeng and the others gaped in astonishment, but Mother Tang took the fruit platter without a care and handed it to the three of them. "Eat up—the fruit here is pure natural, green, and pollution-free. Delicious! When you leave, take a few crates back with you. As many as you want—if that's not enough, we'll pick some fresh!"

"All right..." Kang Xiaofeng said weakly. He took two fruits and handed them to Xiaofen and Liu Xinlan, then took one for himself and began to eat. And truly, the fruit here did taste quite good—after one bite, Kang Xiaofeng did not want to put it down!

After the fruit, Mother Tang took Kang Xiaofeng, Xiaofen, and Liu Xinlan to Snow Valley's medicinal garden. Mother Tang had come to conduct her weekly routine raid, and today happened to be the day, so she brought the three of them straight there.

Just then, several Snow Valley disciples came toward them, pushing a small handcart loaded with fresh medicinal herbs just picked from Snow Valley's medicinal garden.

"You there—stop right there!" Mother Tang planted her hands on her hips and barred the disciples' way.

"Madam Tang..." the Snow Valley disciples asked hurriedly and fearfully, "Is something the matter?"

"What are you doing? Has it passed my inspection, that you're pushing it out? You pick once a week, and it must go through my inspection—only what I've looked over and rejected may be carted away. Don't you know that? You little thing, you must be new here, aren't you?" Mother Tang jabbed a finger at the disciple and scolded.