The first was that the Tang Family was not truly the weakest of the four great families at all, but had kept its strength hidden away through quiet years of biding its time.

The second was that the Tang Family had no worthy successor. Whatever strength the clan held, the moment Old Master Tang died it was finished, and so once again they would not dare show their faces at the Mid-Autumn Conference. Even if they came, they could only place dead last.

Both rumors carried weight, and so everyone was eager to see just how the Tang Family would fare at this year's Conference.

As the hours wore on, the Qin Family, the Wu Family, and the Liu Family arrived one after another. Yet there was still no sign of the Tang Family.

"My bet is the Tang Family stays away again."

"And if they came, they'd only finish last. Better to stay home than show up and lose face. In their shoes, I wouldn't come either."

"If they skip it once more this year, then the rumors must be true. Once Old Master Tang passes, the Tang Family scatters to the winds."

"..."

The crowd buzzed with talk, and few held out any hope for the Tang Family.

"The Tang Family arrives-" Just as the talk was at its height, a clear, carrying voice rang out, and a procession came riding in from the east.

Every head turned at once. At the front strode a powerfully built old man, spirited and vigorous, moving with the bearing of a dragon and the stride of a tiger. It was none other than Old Master Tang!

Behind him, a lovely figure drew every eye.

Her bearing was stately and graceful, like an immortal descended from the heavens.

At the sight of Zi Yun, every man present went slack-jawed.

At the side of such a beauty walked a handsome young man.

Dressed in white, a wide grin across his face. He carried a folding fan and glanced about in every direction, now and then winking at a pretty girl or two, the very picture of a careless rogue. Who else could it be but Young Master Tang.

Behind them came the rest of the Tang Family, who took the foremost seats on the eastern shore of the lake. For the first time in three years, all four great families of Yun City had gathered together at the Mid-Autumn Conference.

"The Myriad Pill Pavilion arrives-" Another voice called out, and the crowd stirred, all turning toward the source. At the very front walked none other than the Myriad Pill Pavilion's chief Alchemist, Wu Xuan.

Wu Xuan wore close-fitting attire that lent her a sharp, spirited air, while the full curves straining at her chest set countless men swallowing in spite of themselves.

Walking shoulder to shoulder with her was the Myriad Pill Pavilion's Elder, Ge Ming.

As the people of the Myriad Pill Pavilion appeared, the crowd hurried to offer their greetings. After all, the vast majority of Yun City's Pills came from the Myriad Pill Pavilion's hands, and no one dared show such a great tree anything but respect.

Wu Xuan smiled and greeted them all, every frown and smile of hers enough to stir the blood. The air of authority she carried, the poise of a commanding mature beauty, set countless men's hearts pounding.

Yet beautiful as Wu Xuan was, no one was foolish enough to flirt with her.

Except, of course, Young Master Tang.

Just as everyone was paying their respectful greetings to Wu Xuan and her party, Tang Yan rose to his feet and waved at her with gusto. "Miss Wu Xuan, Master Ge, come sit over here."

"Tch, a wastrel's a wastrel through and through. Doesn't even stop to think what standing the Myriad Pill Pavilion holds. Who'd ever sit with your Tang Family?" At Tang Yan's shout, the clans not bound to the Tang Family at once let out scornful murmurs.

"Miss Wu Xuan, my Liu Family has tea already prepared. Why not come sit with us, chat over a cup, and admire the Mid-Autumn moon together?" A rich, magnetic voice carried across. From the Liu Family's seats, a tall, slender youth rose and extended the invitation with courteous grace.

"Ooh, Young Master Liu is so handsome!" As Liu Zhi stood, peach-blossom delight bloomed in the eyes of more than a few young maidens.

And seeing that it was Liu Zhi who had risen, the rest were certain the Myriad Pill Pavilion would take its seat with the Liu Family.

Wu Xuan had heard both Tang Yan and Liu Zhi, of course. She turned her head and took a few steps toward the Liu Family. Just as everyone assumed she truly meant to go, she stopped, and in a voice sweet as an oriole's said, "Many thanks for Young Master Liu's kind offer. But I made an arrangement with Young Master Tang some time ago-to discuss poetry with him should the chance arise. I hope Young Master Liu will forgive me."

With that she gave a nod toward the Liu Family and walked gracefully toward the Tang Family.

Tang Yan had, in some measure, done Ge Ming a favor as well, and so Ge Ming too wished to go over and exchange a few words with him. He fell in behind Wu Xuan, and together they made for the Tang Family's seats.

With both of the Myriad Pill Pavilion's senior figures heading to the Tang Family's seats, the others naturally followed close behind, all making their way toward the Tang Family.

And now the way everyone looked at the Tang Family had changed sharply.

Wu Xuan's light, airy words had seemed to grant the Liu Family ample face, yet anyone could see they were an indirect slap across the cheek.

Choosing the Tang Family over the Liu Family-did that not plainly say which held the higher place in her regard?

And if the Myriad Pill Pavilion stood by the Tang Family like this, what bond lay between the two?

The crowd grew more curious about the Tang Family by the moment. This clan, forever ranked last among the four great families-how was it that every recent turn of events surrounding them left people so utterly astonished?

When Wu Xuan reached the Tang Family and paid her respects to Old Master Tang, her gaze settled on Zi Yun at Tang Yan's side.

Wu Xuan dealt often with the great families, and at the sight of Zi Yun her heart gave an involuntary jolt.

The woman wore not a trace of makeup, yet her beauty was beyond compare. Plain and unadorned as she seemed, the noble air she had been born with was not oppressive, and yet it warned others against drawing too near.

A woman like this had surely come from some great family.

But Yun City had only its handful of great families, and Wu Xuan had never laid eyes on such a person. Could she have come from elsewhere?

"Oh? This young lady is unfamiliar to me. Might I ask how to address her?" Wu Xuan asked with a smile.

Looking at this woman whose looks and bearing were no less than her own, Zi Yun felt a flicker of surprise. A smile graced her face all the same as she said graciously, "I am Zi Yun. Miss Wu Xuan is truly lovely."

Just as she was about to return the pleasantry, Wu Xuan's heart clenched. Something had struck her, and she asked at once, "Could Miss be Zi Yun of Heavenly Fragrance's First Zi?"

"Elder Sister is not only blessed with natural beauty, but with rare wit besides." Zi Yun was a little surprised at Wu Xuan's discernment, yet admitted it freely all the same.

Wu Xuan shot a stunned glance at Tang Yan. Zi Yun, seated this close to Young Master Tang?

Why would Zi Yun appear among the Tang Family of Yun City?

Tang Yan's hand was surely in all of this somewhere.

Seeing two peerless beauties seated to Tang Yan's left and right, the men present could not help but burn with envy.

Some of the clan sons quietly resolved to give Tang Yan a thorough beating in the Martial Contest, to shame him before the beauties.

The Myriad Pill Pavilion had scarcely settled in when the people of the Heavenly Treasure Auction House arrived as well. With that, all of Yun City's foremost powers were finally present.

"The City Lord arrives-"

At word that the City Lord's Manor had come, a flicker of anticipation passed through every eye. By long custom, once the City Lord's Manor arrived, the Mid-Autumn Conference was about to begin.

City Lord Lin Xiao appeared, greeted everyone with a smile, offered a few customary words of blessing, then came straight to the point. "A fine evening and lovely scenery-I'll not spoil anyone's pleasure. Zhou Ying of the City Lord's Manor will now set out the rules of the Mid-Autumn Conference."

Under the watching crowd, a lean old man stepped up onto the high platform.

Everyone knew Zhou Ying as well-a renowned man of letters of his generation in Yun City. His style was elegant and refined, and no small number of his verses had spread throughout the city.

Cupping his hands to the assembly, Zhou Ying spoke in his scholarly manner. "Honored guests, once more the Mid-Autumn Festival is upon us. A fine evening, lovely scenery, the bright moon above, and all of us gathered as one-surely none should leave until well in their cups.

"The Mid-Autumn Conference holds the same two events as in years past: the Literary Contest and the Martial Bout.

"Any native of Yun City not yet past thirty-five may take part. First comes the Literary Contest. Its judges shall be City Lord Lin, Ge Ming of the Myriad Pill Pavilion, Qin Changdao of the City Lord's Manor, and this old Zhou himself."

"The Literary Contest runs three rounds. Will all the gifted gentlemen and fair ladies entering the Literary Competition please come up to the literary stage!"

The moment Zhou Ying finished, the talented young men surged toward the high platform, brimming with confidence.