"Husband jests. No matter how overbearing your concubine is, I wouldn't go that far."
Wen Jing turned around and smiled faintly at Yang Shichang. "However, Father is right. The Xu family has indeed developed well these years. At the very least, they're no worse than some seventh-rank families in the commandery city.
"Perhaps they're only lacking some martial foundation compared to a sixth-rank family."
"Good that you understand. Cause less trouble. Know that we've come here as refugees."
"Don't worry, Husband. Sister Ronghua just said the Xu family has very strict rules. Even wandering about casually might get you detained on the spot. With my third-rate martial level, how would I dare act recklessly?"
"Ten years ago, Brother-in-law was already at late innate realm. He should have entered the grandmaster realm by now." Yang Shichang murmured to himself.
"That's stronger talent than Yang Shidao. I heard he's been stuck at the grandmaster bottleneck recently, unable to break through." Wen Jing said with surprise.
"More than just a bit stronger." Yang Shichang said. "In a fight at the same level, my brother-in-law could beat him with one hand tied behind his back. He's a martial genius who could defeat innate perfection opponents while only at late innate realm."
"That's truly remarkable." Wen Jing looked at him with some puzzlement. "But Husband, why are you so excited?"
"You just have to take a jab at me or you feel itchy, don't you?" Yang Shichang said helplessly.
Yang Ruifeng and Yang Ruiyao were stifling laughter nearby.
"You two shouldn't laugh either. Later, find your cousins to give you a thrashing, and you'll understand your father's feelings. Truly, why was Zhou Yu born when Zhuge Liang existed!"
Yang Ruifeng said blankly, "Father, I don't think that saying is used this way?"
"You're too far behind Uncle!"
"Hey, you're all picking on my shortcomings. You're really asking for a beating."
"Chang'er's family is making a fuss again." Lady Yang teased.
Yang Zhao let out a long sigh. "Not an ounce of dignity as a head of household. How old are you now, still can't settle down? Why not learn from Mingwei? Steady, dignified, methodical.
"Look at Dezhao and those children. Which one doesn't respect their father?"
"Children and grandchildren have their own blessings. It's actually quite nice for Chang'er's family to be like this, full of warmth and liveliness. I don't ask him to bring glory to our ancestors. I'd be content if he could just enjoy a peaceful life." Lady Yang said with a smile.
"A doting mother spoils her child!"
…
Evening banquet.
Three generations of the Xu family were all present.
Adults at one table, the younger generation at another.
Seeing the Xu family flourishing with many descendants, Yang Zhao sighed with emotion. "Brother Xu, when I left Qingjiang, Mingwei and Ronghua had just married not long ago. Now you too have a house full of children and grandchildren, enjoying the happiness of family."
"Brother Yang, isn't it the same for you?"
"How can Chang'er compare to your children who are all so well-behaved? Each one outstanding among their peers."
"Not at all. Look at this girl. She's already twenty-seven this year and still hasn't found a husband. I'm worried too. Mingxian is the same. Fortunately, their elder siblings are more reassuring. Otherwise, if they all followed their example, our Xu family would face a decline in descendants."
Lady Yang said in surprise, "I was just curious earlier, thinking that Mingshu's husband and Mingxian's wife had matters to attend to and couldn't come. So they're actually still unmarried."
"Too picky." Bai Jing glanced at Xu Mingshu and said with a helpless smile. "Elder Sister, I've already resigned myself to fate."
"How can a woman not marry? In a few more years she'll be thirty. For men it's fine, at most they'll be laughed at a bit. But for women, people will point and gossip."
Bai Jing gave Xu Chuan a look: See? This is the normal way of thinking.
Xu Chuan smiled and said, "Sister-in-law jests. Who would dare laugh at her? Never mind her several brothers, she herself could break that person's fingers."
"Exactly." Xu Mingshu said. "Why should women be laughed at for this?!"
"So what if I'm thirty?"
"If it's not someone I like, even if I'm seventy or eighty, I won't marry!"
"Besides, I'm doing just fine on my own!"
Lady Yang, Wen Jing, and Shen Nianyan were hearing such statements for the first time, appearing somewhat shocked as if struck by something.
As for Yang Ronghua and the others, they were already used to it.
"Mother, Sister Mingshu just has this personality. She's a heroine who yields to no man, a remarkable woman. We've long since stopped finding it strange."
Lady Yang's face showed a slight flush of embarrassment, and she immediately stopped mentioning Mingshu's marriage.
She had originally been thinking of introducing someone suitable but such a remarkable woman with such a personality was not one that ordinary men could handle.
Several days passed in the blink of an eye.
Yang Shidao ultimately went to find Xu Mingwei.
As the strongest genius of his generation in the Yang family, losing to Xu Mingwei back then had left a shadow in his heart. He had never accepted it and had always hoped for a rematch.
More than ten years had passed in a flash, and now he finally had the opportunity.
This battle, he only wanted to bring things to a close.
"What does Brother Shidao want with me?" Xu Mingwei said indifferently.
"I'd like to challenge Brother Xu to a match."
"A match with me? Why?" Xu Mingwei suddenly chuckled softly.
"Years ago, I lost to you. But I refused to believe my martial talent could be inferior to someone of the same age from a remote county. So I trained day and night, but this also created inner demons. Now I'm stuck before the grandmaster threshold, unable to enter."
"Is that so? Then isn't that my fault?"
"No, it was my excessive pride. Though I've gradually let it go now, I still want closure. I ask Brother Mingwei to grant me this." Yang Shidao lowered his head and spoke sincerely.
Xu Mingwei's knuckles tapped lightly on the desk as he pondered.
After a long while, he finally said, "Since Brother Shidao requests this so sincerely, how could I refuse? Let us move to the martial training grounds."
"Thank you, Brother Mingwei, for granting this."
At martial training grounds, the sparring match between Xu Mingwei and Yang Shidao drew quite a crowd of spectators.
"I heard the one sparring with our Family Head is a martial genius from a major commandery city clan. I'm opening betting. Everyone place your wagers on who will win."
The others looked at him as if he were an idiot.
That guard smiled awkwardly and scratched his head. "Haha, I misspoke. The bet is on how many moves it takes for the Yang family young master to lose."
This matter also reached the west courtyard.
Yang Shichang became interested and immediately had someone lead him to the martial training grounds.
Yang Zhao and Yang Ruifeng followed as well then they heard the idle chatter of the off-duty guards.
"Grandfather, is Clan Uncle Shidao really as hopeless as they say?" Yang Ruifeng looked at Yang Zhao.
More than one person in the Yang family had told him that Yang Shidao was the most outstanding genius of the previous generation, far beyond what his father Yang Shichang could compare to.
Yang Zhao remained silent, his eyes calmly watching the two people in the martial training grounds but Yang Shichang said, "Feng'er, those guards are probably right. Your Clan Uncle Shidao is indeed no match for your uncle. As for how many moves until he loses, hard to say. Maybe three, maybe five."
Yang Ruifeng was embarrassed, thinking to himself: Father, sometimes I really feel you're not like a Yang family member, more like a Xu family clansman.
"Stop talking so much. Just watch." Yang Zhao said irritably.
The bluestone ground reflected the slanting sun, stretching the two shadows long.
Yang Shidao wore a black martial outfit, a kind of determination between his brows. His aura was astonishing, making his robes flutter loudly.
Xu Mingwei stood in his blue-green robe, like an ancient pine rooted firmly in place, immovable.
There was not the slightest trace of aura around him, carrying a sense of returning to simplicity and truth.
"Brother Shidao, please make your move."
"Brother Mingwei, please use your full strength."
With that said, Yang Shidao's innate true qi surged, his right palm glowing with a crimson light.
In an instant, a crimson palm print half a zhang tall condensed into form then his toes explosively propelled him forward, his entire body shooting toward Xu Mingwei like an arrow leaving a bow.
Yet even as that overwhelming palm force struck at his chest, Xu Mingwei's expression remained unchanged. His right fist loosely clenched like a bud about to bloom, throwing an ordinary punch toward the crimson true qi palm print.
"Break!"
The sound was like thunder exploding.
The next moment, that extremely violent crimson true qi palm print was directly pierced through by a single punch. Countless strands of true qi dissipated into the air as scattered crimson sparks.
The force of that punch was like a raging storm, howling forth.
Not only did it shatter his hair-binding jade crown into two halves, but his entire body was also swept away by the overwhelming force.
Yang Zhao, Yang Shichang, Yang Ruifeng, and all the guards showed looks of astonishment.
What surprised them wasn't that he defeated Yang Shidao in one move, but that he had done so without even using innate true qi.
How terrifying must his strength be to accomplish that!
Yang Shidao suddenly coughed up blood, slowly rising to his feet. His eyes showed no disappointment, but rather relief.
Suddenly he laughed heartily, sweeping his sleeve and giving Xu Mingwei a deep bow.
After a moment, he departed calmly.
Throughout the entire process he remained silent, never uttering a single word.
Yang Zhao stroked his beard and smiled faintly. "Our Yang family will soon have another grandmaster."
"Father, how do you know? Do you have the ability to foresee the future?" Yang Shichang looked at his father in surprise.
"I can't be bothered to explain to you. Let's go back."
"Father, I also want to stay and spar with Brother-in-law."
"You? On what basis would you spar with Mingwei? Because your head is hard?"
Yang Zhao left with a flick of his sleeve.
Yang Ruifeng was also shocked by this battle, thinking to himself: Just how strong has Uncle become now?
He gave him the feeling of being even more powerful than the Yang family's Grand Elder.
"No, impossible. The Grand Elder is at late grandmaster realm. Uncle is even a year younger than Father, only thirty-six this year. How could he possibly have reached late grandmaster realm?
"Even in the commandery city, I've never heard of a late grandmaster expert at such an age.
"I wonder if the immortal cultivation families who have grandmaster martial resources have any?"
Yang Ruifeng had no way of knowing.
"Brother-in-law, you've grown stronger. Why don't we have a match too?" Yang Shichang said boldly.
Xu Mingwei was somewhat taken aback, then shook his head slightly. "Brother-in-law, let's not. I still have many matters to attend to."
"Then why did you spar with Yang Shidao?"
"Brother Shidao sincerely invited me, wanting to fulfill his years-long obsession. How could I not grant him that?"
"Actually, I also have a years-long obsession that remains unfulfilled. Really. Brother-in-law, don't you want to hear about it? Really don't?"
Xu Mingwei shook his head with a smile, already walking away.
"Father, I'm not trying to criticize you, but with the mental energy you put into this, you'd be better off spending three extra hours on martial training every day." Yang Ruifeng said.
"Three extra hours?!" Yang Shichang's expression suggested he found the idea ridiculous. "Then does your father still need to sleep?"
"I already only sleep five hours a day."
Yang Ruifeng's lips twitched slightly, then he left the martial training grounds.
As for those guards.
"Sigh, I should have expected our Family Head to be completely fair and impartial. I was thinking he might let the guest from the commandery city last a move or two to save him some face."
"Indeed. I lost big. My fifty wen!"
"I should be the one crying. I bet two hundred wen!"
"Hehe, everyone who lost, pay up. Don't even think about backing out, or I'm sleeping at your house tonight!"
"Get lost!"
The sparring match between Xu Mingwei and Yang Shidao also made Yang Ruifeng's heart itch.
When following Wen Jing and Yang Shichang to visit Aunt Yang Ronghua, he took the opportunity to propose that he'd like to spar with Xu Dezhao but before he could speak, it was actually Xu Dewen who said, "Cousin Ruifeng, let me spar with you."
"You? Dewen, you're a full three years younger than me. It's best not to overreach yourself. It wouldn't be good if I hurt you."
"It's fine. I also cultivate the Fire Origin Formula. I wonder how Cousin Ruifeng's Fire Origin Formula compares to mine."
Wen Jing smiled and said, "Though Feng'er's talent is only considered average, he's much more diligent than his father. He trains through the coldest winters and hottest summers without ever stopping.
"He stepped into the first-rate martial artist realm a while ago. He's hopeful of becoming an innate martial artist before turning twenty.
"Sister Ronghua, why not have Dezhao take the stage? Dewen is still a bit too young after all."
Yang Ronghua smiled faintly. "Since Wen'er wants to compete, let Wen'er spar with Feng'er. Wen'er is quite capable too."
"Mother, just let me spar with Cousin Dewen. However, if Feng'er happens to win by a move or half, I hope Aunt will let me witness Cousin Dezhao's strength."
Yang Ronghua pondered and looked at Xu Dewen, who was brimming with fighting spirit. She said, "Alright, alright. Aunt agrees."
However, though she didn't know Xu Dezhao's exact strength, it should be at least middle to late innate realm.
With Xu Chuan's pill Dao assistance, the strength of all Xu family members had improved very rapidly in recent years.
Xu Dezhao and Xu Deling were especially the standouts among the younger generation.
For this battle between juniors, even more people came to watch than the previous match between Xu Mingwei and Yang Shidao.
This represented the foundation of the Xu and Yang families' young generation, and also represented the future of both families.
Not only had all the juniors arrived, but even Xu Mingyuan, Xu Mingxuan, and Bai Jing had come to the martial training grounds upon hearing the news.
Everyone from the Yang family side had also arrived.
"I'll preside over this sparring match," Xu Mingshu volunteered.
The two were similar in strength, so this was to prevent either side from being accidentally injured.
"Father, I'm betting on Feng'er this time," Yang Shichang said. "After all, age matters. For martial practitioners, every year below twenty is crucial.
"Even a difference of just one year creates a significant gap, let alone three years."
He looked at Yang Shidao and continued, "Clan Brother Shidao, what do you think?"
"Clan Brother speaks reason. However, the martial path isn't solely about age difference. There's also the difference in talent. I've heard that the Xu family's Dezhao and Dewen brothers both have pure Yang family bloodline.
"The Fire Origin Formula was specifically created for our Yang family bloodline. The higher the bloodline purity, the stronger the technique's power, even allowing one to fight above their level.
"If the two are similar in strength, the outcome is hard to predict."
"Surely not? Sister, how strong is Dewen now?"
Wen Jing, Shen Nianyan, and the others also looked over curiously.
Yang Ronghua smiled gracefully. "I don't know about that. The children's martial matters aren't my concern. I only occasionally hear things from my husband. Last year I heard he'd stepped into the second-rate martial artist realm. I don't know about now."
Yang Shichang's lips curved into a slight smile. "Then I can rest easy. From second-rate to first-rate martial artist, the number of apertures to open far exceeds other realms. Even with medicinal diets and Qi and Blood Pills to assist, it takes three to four years."