Chapter Twenty-Seven: Back to the Future [Another update will be posted later]

"Xiao Ruoxue? Oh no!" At the very moment Xiao Ruoxue tumbled off the Broken Dragon Cliff, Tang Yi finally spotted her. With a flash, he teleported, caught her in his arms, and leapt back up to the top of the cliff. Xiao Ruoxue had already fainted from fright.

“Damn you, you three-legged wolf! You nearly got Xiao Ruoxue killed—go to hell!” Tang Yi chased down that crippled wolf, and with a swift kick, sent it plummeting over the edge. Just as he was about to take Xiao Ruoxue to Hua Ruoxue, his hand brushed against the fresh blood seeping from her wound.

“She’s hurt? Must have been bitten by that wolf. I’d better treat her at once!” With those words, Tang Yi began to use his powers to heal Xiao Ruoxue. Under his treatment, she slowly regained consciousness. Seeing her awake, Tang Yi breathed a sigh of relief.

“Xiao Ruoxue, are you feeling better?” he asked gently.

“Mm. Uncle, who are you?” Xiao Ruoxue blinked her large eyes at him.

“Uh, my name is Tang Yi. Yes, I’m a friend of your father’s. He asked me to take you to your grandmother’s house. Xiao Ruoxue, do you know where your grandmother lives?” Tang Yi had initially planned to make up a name to deceive her, but as he looked at her, the truth slipped out instead.

“Uncle Tang, my grandmother lives in Hundred Flowers Town, in a big house in town—bigger than ours at home,” Xiao Ruoxue replied.

“How could I be so stupid? I’ve met her grandmother before. Didn’t she tell me herself that her house was the Xin Residence in Hundred Flowers Town?” Tang Yi silently cursed himself.

“Xiao Ruoxue, let’s go to your grandmother’s house now, all right?” he said.

“Uncle Tang, I’m really hungry. And… where are my father and mother?”

“Well… your parents… I’m not really sure where they’ve gone. But I think your grandmother will know. When we get there, you can ask her yourself. For now, let’s get you something to eat!” Tang Yi picked Xiao Ruoxue up again and hurried toward the small town.

Back at the Hua residence, Tang Yi instructed the servants to prepare food and help Xiao Ruoxue bathe and change into clean clothes. Then he summoned the steward.

“Steward, Master Hua and his wife had urgent business and asked me to inform you. They also asked me to escort Xiao Ruoxue to her grandmother’s house. Please oversee the household affairs in their absence.” Tang Yi fabricated a story—full of holes, perhaps, but better than the truth.

Once Xiao Ruoxue had changed and eaten, Tang Yi prepared to leave the town with her. Not wanting to risk complications, he decided to teleport directly to Hundred Flowers Town. He told her, “Xiao Ruoxue, close your eyes for a moment.”

“Why, Uncle Tang?” she asked, yet obediently shut her eyes.

“All right, Xiao Ruoxue, you can open them now!” Tang Yi had already brought her to the bustling streets of Hundred Flowers Town. No one noticed their sudden appearance amid the throng.

“Huh? Uncle Tang, this is Hundred Flowers Town—my grandmother’s house! Are you an immortal?” she exclaimed in wonder.

Tang Yi laughed. “If you like, you can think of Uncle Tang as an immortal. Now, let’s go to your grandmother’s house.”

Navigating through the crowd, Tang Yi led her to the Xin Residence. When Xiao Ruoxue’s grandmother heard she had arrived—brought by a stranger—she immediately feared something had happened to the Hua family.

After welcoming Xiao Ruoxue and sending her off to rest, her grandmother brought Tang Yi to a side hall.

“Mr. Tang, can you tell me the truth?” she asked bluntly.

“Since you ask so directly, I’ll be frank.” Tang Yi recounted the events, adding only that he was Hua Liwan’s friend and that a few days before his death, Hua Liwan had sent word asking Tang Yi to escort Xiao Ruoxue to her grandmother. He hadn’t expected, however, that the very night before his arrival, Hua Liwan and his wife would die.

“Ah, such is fate,” Tang Yi sighed. “Now that Xiao Ruoxue is safely here, I’ll leave the matters of the Hua residence in your hands. I must take my leave.”

Bidding farewell to Xiao Ruoxue’s grandmother, Tang Yi found a secluded spot and instantly returned to Hua Liwan’s grave. There, Hua Ruoxue was still kneeling.

“Ruoxue, everything’s settled,” Tang Yi said softly.

“Brother Tang, thank you. Now I can be sure you’re truly the one who saved my life,” Hua Ruoxue said as she rose, though her legs were numb and she nearly stumbled. Tang Yi quickly supported her.

“Are you all right, Ruoxue?” he asked with concern, though inwardly he mused, “So it was me who saved her when she was a child. I thought my charm had increased, but it seems I’m a little disappointed. Still, saving a beauty is a kind of charm, too.”

“I’m fine, Brother Tang. Take me back to the future, please,” Hua Ruoxue said, her voice firm.

“Very well. What’s done is done. Let’s go.”

***

Driving back, Tang Yi and Hua Ruoxue returned to the headquarters of the Tang Group. Ming Wang soon arrived after hearing the news.

“Tang, you’re back so soon—everything went smoothly, I take it?” Ming Wang inquired.

“Yes, all went well,” Tang Yi replied. “I’m a bit tired today, so make yourself at home, Brother Zhao. I have something to discuss with you tomorrow—can you spare some time in the morning?”

“Of course. Get some rest, and I’ll come by tomorrow,” Ming Wang said, clapping Tang Yi on the shoulder. Tang Yi and Hua Ruoxue then retired to rest.

The next morning, Tang Yi and Ming Wang sat together in the parlor.

“What? Tang, you’re leaving already? I thought you agreed to stay for three years!” Ming Wang exclaimed.

“Calm down, calm down—you’re a prince, after all. Why are you so agitated?” Tang Yi tried to soothe him.

“How can I not be? If you leave, what will happen to the Tang Group? There are tens of thousands of employees now—you’re responsible for them!” Ming Wang was visibly upset.

“Relax and listen to me. It’s actually quite simple. The Tang Group can continue to grow even after I’m gone. The employees won’t be out of work.”

“Fine, then tell me how it’s so simple. If you can’t give me a good explanation, I won’t let you go…”

“Listen carefully. The Tang Group now has three subsidiaries. First, Eternal Communications—it’s already running smoothly. I’ve compiled all the technical theories into comprehensive manuals. As for the factories, I’ve broken down every production step in detail, and after these months of hands-on work, the staff can fully handle future tasks. So Eternal Communications can continue to develop on its own.

The second company is the television and film company. Although it’s not publicly listed, all the infrastructure is in place and it uses the communications base stations to broadcast signals. As long as the authorities don’t oppose it, it should spread quickly.

The last company is Tang Electric. The renewable energy plant is operational, and only the construction of the power grid remains. With the resources of Song, every village should have electricity within three to five years. As for the other industries, I’ve left theoretical foundation books I wrote myself. The people of Song will need to realize those on their own. I can’t do everything—if I did, how would Song ever progress…” Tang Yi pleaded earnestly.