Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 209: Chapter 203 Wang Sheng’s Gratitude

Yang Zhenshan left the city through the West City Gate, and then let Red Cloud joyfully gallop away.

In just a short moment, he had left his personal followers far behind, out of sight.

The followers didn’t mind. They stopped under a large tree next to the official road and gathered together for a leisurely chat.

They were already used to it.

Yang Zhenshan often took Red Cloud out for a gallop. At first, they tried to keep up, but later realized their horses couldn’t catch up with Red Cloud, so they stopped trying. After all, Yang Zhenshan would return on Red Cloud before long, and they would wait right here.

Sure enough, half an hour later, Yang Zhenshan returned on Red Cloud’s back.

“Alright, it’s getting late, we should head back now!”

On the horseback, Yang Zhenshan stroked the fiery mane and said.

Whinny~~

However, Red Cloud shook its big head, unwilling to return.

This creature’s stamina was too robust; having run for half an hour, it didn’t feel tired at all, instead, it seemed more excited than before.

Yang Zhenshan felt that the Yang family could no longer accommodate it; it deserved to roam a vast grassland.

“I will bring you to the horse farm tomorrow! You can run to your heart’s content there!”

Yang Zhenshan reassured.

Only then did Red Cloud calm down, looking around curiously with its bright, spirited eyes.

Yang Zhenshan, meanwhile, glanced towards the west.

Judging by the time, Yu Qingyi should be almost back.

Sigh, without his wife at home, even sleeping at night felt off.

He missed his wife!

It had been two years since they were married, and this was the first time Yang Zhenshan and Yu Qingyi were apart for so long.

It was only four or five days, but to Yang Zhenshan, it already felt like an eternity.

Somehow, he had become accustomed to Yu Qingyi’s presence.

Indeed, Yang Zhenshan harbored some dependence on her.

Yes, dependence.

Because Yu Qingyi was his family.

Yu Qingyi meant something different to him.

Though Yang Mingcheng and others were also his family, they were not his biological children, and even now, with their deep affection, there was still a barrier between them.

But Yu Qingyi was different, she was the wife he married, the family member he chose for himself, not like Yang Mingcheng and his siblings who were from his original life.

Being alone in another world, Yu Qingyi held a unique significance to Yang Zhenshan.

And under her meticulous care, Yang Zhenshan naturally developed a dependence on her.

“Let’s go back.”

After a glance, Yang Zhenshan returned to the city.

He wasn’t worried about Yu Qingyi encountering danger.

Yu Qingyi was now different from two years ago, with a cultivation at the Postnatal Seventh Layer and was close to breaking through to the eighth.

Ding Qiu now also had the cultivation of the Postnatal Fifth Layer, and almost all the Yang family guards had reached the Postnatal realm.

Those maids and old women were almost all Martial Artists as well.

Unless surrounded by a large army, there was absolutely no danger to Yu Qingyi and the others.

Just as Yang Zhenshan returned home, Wu Hai came forward to report: “Master, Lord Wang requests an audience!”

Lord Wang was none other than Wang Sheng.

For the past two years, Wang Sheng had been staying in the garrison, working earnestly as a Bazong.

Yang Zhenshan had taught him a lot, from training troops to leading them, from personal cultivation to military strategies, sparing no effort.

It was also because of Wang Sheng that in these past two years, the relations between the Yang family and the Wang family had grown much closer, with Wang Bin offering Yang Zhenshan considerable assistance.

At the very least, in financial and grain matters, Wang Bin had never shortchanged Yang Zhenshan.

Yang Zhenshan looked up at the sky, which was nearing dusk, and wondered what Wang Sheng wanted at this hour.

“Where is he?”

“In the tea room, Eldest Young Master is entertaining Lord Wang!” said Wu Hai.

“Okay!”

Yang Zhenshan nodded and headed towards the front courtyard.

Upon entering the tea room, Yang Mingcheng was chatting casually with Wang Sheng.

Despite Yang Mingcheng having no official military role, no one dared to underestimate him.

Firstly, because he was the eldest son of the Yang family and, secondly, because of his cultivation.

Among the three Yang brothers, Yang Minghao, being the youngest, had always been a step behind, currently at the Postnatal Third Layer. Yang Mingzhi, having been at the Jianning Guard for these years and lacking the nourishment of the Spiritual Spring Water, progressed slower in his cultivation, with it currently at the Postnatal Fourth Layer.

However, Yang Mingcheng, who had always been by Yang Zhenshan’s side, receiving the most guidance and the most Spiritual Spring Water, advanced the fastest in cultivation, now reaching the peak of the Postnatal Fifth Layer.

He had few chances to show his skills, and as he was not one to seek attention, outsiders only knew that Yang Mingcheng’s cultivation was not low, but no one had an accurate idea of his realm, except for Yang Zhenshan.

“Dad!”

“Greetings, my lord!”

Yang Zhenshan walked into the tea room, with Yang Mingcheng and Wang Sheng quickly standing up.

“Sit down.”

Yang Zhenshan casually took a seat next to the tea table.

Yang Mingcheng immediately poured him a cup of tea.

“Did you seek me out for something?” Yang Zhenshan looked towards Wang Sheng.

Wang Sheng hesitated a bit, “Lord, father wants me to return to Jia City!”

“Return to Jia City!” Yang Zhenshan’s expression shifted slightly, then he nodded, “It’s time to go back!”

“But I don’t want to go back!” Wang Sheng said somewhat despondently.

He was doing very well in An Yuan City, and he was aware of how much he had learned in these past two years.

In his heart, he had already come to regard Yang Zhenshan as his teacher.

Yang Zhenshan smiled and patted his shoulder, “You, my friend, cannot be tempted by comfort!”

“Don’t forget, you are the eldest son of the Wang family!”

Amongst the families, eldest sons and grandsons must bear more responsibilities.

The Yang family is like this, and the Wang family is no exception.

Next year’s military campaign is approaching, and it is likely that Wang Bin is anxious about Wang Sheng joining the garrison’s campaign, prompting him to summon Wang Sheng back to Jia City.

Wang Bin will undoubtedly be deployed, and Wang Sheng is expected to hold the fort at home.

Just as when Yang Zhenshan goes on a campaign, he too would leave Yang Mingcheng in charge at home.

“But I also wish to earn my stripes on the battlefield!” Wang Sheng did not address himself as a subordinate, but simply as ’I’; he did not see Yang Zhenshan as a superior officer, but as a revered elder.

Wang Sheng was no weak heir of wealth; his presence in An Yuan City proved that he was an ambitious man.

He harbored a heart set on achieving great things and yearned to gallop across the battlefields.

Yang Zhenshan understood these feelings well, but he would not encourage Wang Sheng.

“You can take to the battlefield, but only if you manage to train up your son first!”

“Ha ha, rather than thinking about how to defy your father now, it would be better to properly cultivate your son, for once he can stand on his own, you’ll be able to let go as well!”

For a great family, legacy is of utmost importance.

Hearing Yang Zhenshan say this, Wang Sheng felt much consoled.

His eldest son was already ten this year; in a few years, he might try to take on responsibilities.

“Dad, does that mean that once Chengye grows up, I too can go to war?” At this moment, Yang Mingcheng suddenly chimed in.

Wang Sheng was an ambitious person, and Yang Mingcheng was equally unwilling to merely manage the family’s stud farm; he was also eager to become an official, a high-ranking one at that.

Yang Zhenshan gave him a sidelong glance and said, “Even if Chengye grows up, it won’t do unless you become a bit more shrewd!”

The problem with this fellow was that he was too straightforward; letting him become an official was genuinely worrying to Yang Zhenshan.

Even Yang Zhenshan himself was almost caught in someone’s schemes, much less Yang Mingcheng.

“Uh!”

Yang Mingcheng scratched his head in slight embarrassment.

Wang Sheng couldn’t help but slyly smile.

Being straightforward has its own advantages, and being friends with such people is the best.

That’s why he was very close to Yang Mingcheng, and the two often went out riding horses together; he had also visited the Yang family’s stud farm many times.

“Lord, I will be returning to Jia City tomorrow!” Wang Sheng said.

Yang Zhenshan nodded his head, “Go back then. Jia City isn’t far from An Yuan City; if you ever wish to visit, you can always come back anytime, and we will also be visiting Jia City often.”

“Hmm!”

Wang Sheng nodded vigorously but suddenly knelt down on the ground, startling Yang Zhenshan.

“What are you doing?”

“In these past two years, Lord has been generous with your guidance, benefiting me greatly. I am immensely grateful!”

“Though there is no formal bond, we have the reality of a teacher-student relationship. Please allow me to offer you a bow, Lord!”

With that, Wang Sheng kowtowed three times with loud thuds.

He really had gained a lot. Initially, he only came to learn about marshaling troops, but he didn’t only study that and military tactics—Yang Zhenshan also provided much guidance in his cultivation.

In two years, he had broken through two levels, and now his cultivation had reached the Postnatal Fourth Layer.

Just on this alone, bowing twice to Yang Zhenshan was not at all a loss.

His breakthrough within two years was largely due to the Spiritual Spring Water, but Yang Zhenshan truly provided much guidance, so his bowing was not misplaced.

Yang Zhenshan smiled with satisfaction and then stood up to help him to his feet, “You know I’ve never cared much for these worldly rituals, your intentions are enough to satisfy me!”

Wang Sheng’s gratitude was not something Yang Zhenshan would refuse, nor was there reason to refuse it.

Moreover, Yang Zhenshan truly admired Wang Sheng.

“Lord!” Wang Sheng was somewhat overcome by emotion, his eyes reddening.

Yang Zhenshan himself felt somewhat uncomfortable, as if they were parting for life and death.

“Alright, alright, I won’t keep you for dinner!”

With that, Wang Sheng bid farewell and left.

Watching his retreating figure, a sense of melancholy washed over Yang Zhenshan.

Wang Sheng’s gratitude meant that Yang Zhenshan’s meticulous teaching over the last two years was not in vain.

This bond would become part of the Yang family’s heritage.

A family’s heritage includes not only wealth, the passing down of martial arts traditions, but also matrimonial alliances and interpersonal relations.

“Dad, it’s about time to eat!” Yang Mingcheng spoke up.

Yang Zhenshan nodded slightly, and just as he was about to head back to the rear courtyard, a rush of hurried footsteps approached from behind.

“Master, Madam has returned!”

Wu Hai ran over in a hurry.

Yang Zhenshan’s eyes sparkled, and without uttering another word, he quickly hurried toward the rear courtyard.

As he arrived at the gate of the rear courtyard, Yu Qingyi and others were already disembarking from the carriage.