Chapter 1623 — Bing Tang's Origins, Part One
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
"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...