"Stay in the commandery capital? For how long?"
Xu Mingwei frowned slightly upon hearing this, his pupils contracting.
His black pupils contracted as if pinched by invisible fingers, and his originally calm features suddenly became sharp.
"The martial path is difficult. Naturally, the longer the better." The Yang family head said calmly, "Worthy nephew, rest assured. My Yang family will certainly have grandmaster experts teach them and use the best medicinal diet resources. We won't mistreat them just because they're relatives by marriage."
"When they encounter the innate threshold, we'll also provide the appropriate Qi-Drawing Pills."
Qi-Drawing Pills?
Does he really think my Xu family cares about them?
Xu Mingwei inwardly complained: After a couple of years when my father researches the formula, won't we have as many as we want? Why would we need to look at others' faces like you do?
"Yang family head, that won't be necessary. In terms of martial cultivation, my Xu family naturally won't mistreat our own descendants."
Seeing this, Yang Zhao immediately stepped forward to mediate, saying with a smile, "Family head, my son-in-law only has two sons. If you have them both stay in the commandery capital unable to see their own parents, that's somewhat inhumane."
"After all, he's also the Xu family head."
The Yang family head turned to look at Yang Zhao, "Cousin, what you say is reasonable. Then what do you think would be best?"
"I'm being kind-hearted. They want the inherited martial arts, didn't I readily agree? Helping them cultivate is also for the sake of their Xu family.
Could it be that the Xu family's martial cultivation surpasses my Yang family?"
"Naturally it cannot compare."
Although Yang Zhao thought well of the Xu family and believed they had hope of matching the Yang family, he didn't think the current Xu family could excel beyond the Yang family in martial resources and cultivation.
At the same time, he also guessed his cousin's meaning, wanting one of the two children to remain with the Yang family.
This was to cultivate him as the Yang family's future top martial expert.
In great families, gathering martial talents for their own use was extremely common.
He looked around. Perhaps among the Yang family people present, only their family was kept in the dark.
Xu Mingwei was about to say something but was held back by Xu Mingyuan.
The two looked at each other. Xu Mingyuan's eyes were extremely grave as he shook his head.
In terms of understanding people's hearts, Xu Mingwei wasn't as good as his younger brother.
Yang Zhao noticed something amiss. Xu Mingyuan naturally also discovered it.
Suddenly, he bowed respectfully to the Yang family head, "That the Yang family head is willing to help cultivate our Xu family's clan descendants, naturally my Xu family is ten thousand times willing."
"But as Uncle Yang Zhao said, my elder brother is after all the Xu family head. Although our Xu family cannot compare with the Yang family, if both children were handed over to the Yang family, wouldn't that invite ridicule?
If this were placed on any aristocratic family, I imagine they would all find it difficult to agree."
"How about one? How about Dezhao? He's my Xu family's legitimate eldest grandson. Let him remain in the commandery capital to receive the Yang family's cultivation, and return to our Xu family when he comes of age."
The Yang family head's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at Xu Mingyuan, his knuckles lightly tapping the tea table. The "tap tap" sounds echoed in the main hall.
Xu Mingyuan was tactful and meticulous in thought.
He had long guessed that the Yang family wanted one, and had already determined it was the still young Xu Dewen.
"Since he's the legitimate eldest grandson, how could my Yang family be so inhumane? How about Dewen instead? I feel he has quite a connection with my Yang family."
Hearing these exchanges, the Xu Mingwei couple also suddenly understood.
The two looked at each other, both with anger in their eyes, but they didn't dare show it too much. Moreover, Xu Mingwei believed that since Xu Mingyuan had spoken up, he must have the means to turn things around.
A business genius who had never fallen behind in negotiations!
"How about Dezhao instead? He's just turned six, also the age to begin martial arts."
The Yang family head remained silent.
At this moment, Xu Mingyuan's tone shifted, "Of course, if the Yang family head feels a connection with Dewen, that's also fine, but he's still very young after all. How about waiting another five or six years before coming to our Xu family to fetch the child?"
"Are you saying my great Yang family can't even care for a child?" The seventh elder's voice was cold.
"This elder jests. Are you suggesting my sister-in-law should return to her parents' home to care for Dewen? Or are you saying all Yang family children are born with biological mothers who don't need—"
"Mingyuan, how can you be so rude!" Xu Mingwei suddenly reprimanded, "How could the Yang family bear to separate a young child from his own mother?"
The Yang family head's brows furrowed slightly, as if displeased, and he glanced at the seventh elder.
The seventh elder immediately fell silent.
Yang Zhao also said, "Family head, I think Mingyuan's method is feasible. Wen'er is still too young. Let him stay by Ronghua's side for a few more years."
The Yang family head still hadn't spoken.
The atmosphere in the main hall grew increasingly oppressive. Many elders looked at the Yang family head, waiting for him to speak.
After a long while, just as he was about to open his mouth, Xu Mingyuan spoke again, "Since we're at an impasse, how about changing methods?"
"Oh, what method?"
"The Yang family's martial resources and cultivation, naturally our Xu family cannot match. But my elder brother is also a martial genius rarely seen in a hundred years. If the Yang family has someone of the same age who surpasses my elder brother, then our Xu family has nothing to say."
"Of course, if my elder brother happens to win by even half a move, we'll discuss this matter again in six years. How about that?"
Several of the many elders showed disdain on their faces.
A martial genius from a small family, even if he entered the innate realm, how far could he have progressed in just a few short years?
"Compare then. Let you witness the true genius of my Yang family."
The Yang family head pondered for a long while.
He had heard Xu Mingwei was twenty-five this year. The Yang family indeed had someone suitable.
Yang Shidao, who achieved innate realm at eighteen and was now exactly twenty-five years old, had just recently broken through to late innate stage, with hope of reaching innate perfection by age thirty.
However, his bloodline concentration was inferior to the Xu Dezhao brothers by quite a bit.
His current achievements were more than half the result of the Yang family's resources being devoted to him.
If it were Xu Dezhao or Xu Dewen, with the Yang family's full cultivation, they could even cultivate an innate perfection expert at twenty-five or twenty-six.
The Yang family head observed Xu Mingwei several times.
In the end, he still agreed.
Beyond the wager, this battle also concerned the Yang family's face.
"This family head agrees. I hope you won't regret it later." The Yang family head glanced at Xu Mingyuan and said calmly, "Seventh elder, go fetch Shidao."
"Yes, family head."
"Let's all move outside to wait."
Taking advantage of this time, Xu Mingyuan leaned close to Xu Mingwei's ear and said in a low voice, "Elder Brother, during the match, first appear weak. After gauging the opponent's strength, then win by a narrow margin."
"Why?" Xu Mingwei was full of resentment and wanted nothing more than to vent on the Yang family junior who would appear.
"I fear they may have other schemes afterward. At that time, we might rely on your martial prowess to win another round. Once it's settled, we'll return to Qingjiang today."
Xu Mingwei nodded slightly.
He trusted Xu Mingyuan's judgment of the situation.
A moment later, they saw the seventh elder with a young man at his side, wearing loose black martial robes, walking with the gait of a dragon and tiger to the front of the Yang family head.
"Shidao, don't lose face for my Yang family."
"Yes, family head!"
After speaking, Yang Shidao walked toward Xu Mingwei. Xu Mingyuan tactfully retreated to the side, standing together with Yang Zhao and Yang Ronghua.
The two stood three zhang apart, their eyes like cold pools quenching swords. When their gazes collided, it seemed to produce the sound of clashing metal.
On the left, Xu Mingwei in fluttering green robes. On the right, Yang Shidao in solemn dark garments. Though neither had moved their qi, their momentums had already engaged.