Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 337: Chapter 326 Jealousy Makes People Ugly! _2

In the back courtyard, Yu Qingyi was embracing Little Ming Zhao and chatting leisurely with Ning Qingqing.

To be honest, Ning Qingqing was not well-regarded by others outside. Her reputation in the worldly society was not good, somewhat notorious.

However, in recent years, Ning Qingqing has kept a low profile, hardly stirring up trouble in the worldly society, which somewhat improved her reputation.

“Auntie!” Little Ming Zhao exclaimed.

Ning Qingqing looked at the little one, feeling incredibly conflicted inside.

“Ah, you truly make me envious now!”

Yu Qingyi gracefully poured her a cup of flower tea, smiling and saying, “Everyone has their own fate, Sister Ning, please don’t mock me!”

“Hehe, you sure know how to joke!” Ning Qingqing said in a somewhat sarcastic tone.

Jealousy makes people ugly!

At this moment, Ning Qingqing felt very ugly.

In front of Yu Qingyi, she felt as inferior as a clown.

Now in the entirety of Liaodong, which woman in the worldly society doesn’t envy Yu Qingyi?

When Yu Qingyi married Yang Zhenshan initially, everyone had a reason to mock Yu Qingyi, after all, she was a stepmother.

But now, who would mock Yu Qingyi? Everyone who hears the name Yu Qingyi envies and resents her.

To the sons and daughters of the worldly society, life sounds free and easy, but only they know their own suffering.

Yu Qingyi’s marriage into the Yang family was almost like a carps leaping through the dragon gate, transforming from a lady of the worldly society to a lady of officialdom, and if Yu Qingyi was not living well in the Yang family that would be one thing, but Yu Qingyi lives so comfortably, and most importantly, she reaped the benefits of her husband’s status, being declared a Second-rank Imperial Decree Lady.

At this moment, Ning Qingqing, seeing Yu Qingyi so graceful, beautiful, and gentle, couldn’t help but let the jealousy surge inside her.

Looking at Little Ming Zhao, Ning Qingqing felt her heart struck violently, both sour and painful.

Which woman doesn’t want to support her husband and educate her children!

Sadly, she might never have the chance in this lifetime!

Even though she is still stunningly beautiful, her reputation has been ruined, and she fears she might never marry in this life!

Thinking of her own reputation, Ning Qingqing felt like a deflated balloon, her interest in envy and jealousy somewhat diminished.

Seeing her like this, Yu Qingyi didn’t know what to say.

Originally, she wanted to catch up with her, but everything she might say seemed to flaunt her own situation inadvertently, making it hard for Yu Qingyi to even start the conversation.

Thus, the catch-up ended abruptly, leaving Yu Qingyi feeling somewhat disappointed.

However, the next day, Yu Qingyi’s mood was filled with joy because Hua Jinqiu arrived.

Naturally, as family should look after their own in business, Yang Zhenshan, having invited the Yang family, would certainly not forget the Sky Blue Sword Sect.

In treating Hua Jinqiu, the Yang family’s attitude was even more respectful. Upon receiving the news, Yang Zhenshan, along with Yu Qingyi, went out of the city to welcome him.

These years, Hua Jinqiu had not changed much, still having that cold, frosty demeanor, still retaining his charm.

“Please, Uncle Master!”

Facing Hua Jinqiu, Yang Zhenshan showed great respect, treating him with the courtesy due to an elder.

And Hua Jinqiu’s attitude towards Yang Zhenshan was also very gentle. He knew full well how Yu Qingyi’s life had been these years, and could not find a single fault with Yang Zhenshan.

However, Yang Zhenshan did not engage in deep conversation with Hua Jinqiu. After welcoming Hua Jinqiu into his home, he had to rush off to the city gate to welcome more guests.

Yang Zhengxiang came!

Yang Zhenshan truly did not expect Yang Zhengxiang to come personally.

Seeing Yang Zhenshan, Yang Zhengxiang greeted warmly, “Should I now address you as General?”

“Don’t tease me, big brother, it’s cold outside. Let’s go inside and talk,” Yang Zhenshan laughed heartily.

Within the clan, he and Yang Zhengxiang were of the same generation, but as the Clan Leader lineage has always been from the senior branch, it was fitting for Yang Zhenshan to call Yang Zhengxiang ’big brother’.

As for the issue of ranking, the Yang family has too many internal branches, and since Yang Zhenshan and Yang Zhengxiang have long since parted ways, naturally, their rankings wouldn’t be considered together.

Yang Zhenshan glanced at the group of youths behind Yang Minghui, didn’t say much, and first took Yang Zhengxiang back home.

In the main hall of the front courtyard, Yang Zhenshan looked at Yang Zhengxiang and couldn’t help but feel a bit emotional.

Unconsciously, he had been in this world for more than eight years, and looking back now, it felt just like yesterday.

“Ming Hui, why don’t you take the younger ones to rest for a bit? They must be tired from the journey!” Yang Zhengxiang said briefly to Yang Zhenshan, then instructed Yang Minghui.

Yang Zhenshan gave a glance to Yang Mingcheng beside him, and Yang Mingcheng immediately stepped forward and said, “Clan Leader, I will take the elder brother down to make arrangements!”

“Mm, go ahead!” Yang Zhengxiang looked kindly at Yang Mingcheng and said.

After they left, Yang Zhenshan then looked at Wu Hai beside him and hinted, “Old Wu, you go down first and wait!”

Wu Hai complied and then led the serving servants out of the hall.

“What did Big Brother want to tell me?” Yang Zhenshan asked curiously.

Yang Zhengxiang leaned in close to Yang Zhenshan, lowered his voice, and asked, “What is your cultivation level now? I heard that you killed a Postnatal Ninth Layer martial artist on the battlefield last year!”

The cultivation levels of martial artists are generally kept secret, as no one reveals how high or strong their cultivation is, just like no one tells how much money they have.

Because once the true level of one’s cultivation is exposed, it is easy to be targeted by enemies.

Seeing his serious expression, Yang Zhenshan couldn’t help but smile.

“Postnatal Eighth Layer, I’m not far from the Ninth Layer!”

He didn’t lie to Yang Zhengxiang and spoke truthfully.

Because for him, the level of cultivation wasn’t the basis for measuring strength.

Not to mention his physique far surpasses martial artists of the same realm, but he has already condensed Innate True Qi, possessing the strength of a Half-step Innate.

His strength being the strongest below the Innate level may be an exaggeration, but there shouldn’t be many people below the Innate level stronger than him in this world.

“Is there hope for you to become an Innate Martial Artist?” Yang Zhengxiang’s somewhat murky eyes were filled with hope.

He had never thought he would have any connections with Innate Martial Artists before, but now he genuinely hoped that someone from the Yang family would become an Innate Martial Artist.

Yang Zhenshan pondered for a moment, then said, “There’s a fair chance!”

“Really!” Yang Zhengxiang’s eyes suddenly brightened.

“Mm!” Yang Zhenshan affirmed with a nod.

Yang Zhengxiang slowly pulled back his leaning posture, his body slightly trembling as he said, “Good, good, good~~”

He was very excited.

Yang Zhenshan poured him a cup of tea and smiled, “Big brother, you must take care of your health. When I reach the Innate Realm, I will definitely return to Yang Family Village to pay homage to our ancestors, and you must preside over the ceremony for me!”

Yang Zhengxiang’s face flushed slightly as he nodded vigorously.

“I look forward to that day!”

But after the excitement, he showed emotions of guilt and regret, “Ah, it’s a pity! It’s all my fault!”

“What’s the pity?” Yang Zhenshan was somewhat puzzled.

Yang Zhengxiang said, “It’s a pity that your injury was healed too late. If I had been willing to use the entire clan’s resources to heal you sooner, perhaps you would already be an Innate Martial Artist now!”

His face was full of regret and self-blame.

In his view, if Yang Zhenshan’s injury could have healed many years earlier, even a decade earlier, given Yang Zhenshan’s talent, he would have already become an Innate Martial Artist by now.

Yang Zhenshan stroked his beard, not knowing what to say.

If his predecessor’s injuries had healed earlier, he might not have had the chance to come to this world.

And with his predecessor’s talents, well, his predecessor’s talents weren’t bad either; becoming a martial artist at fifteen and if he could have steadily progressed, reaching the Postnatal Fifth Layer would be quite secure; as for higher cultivation levels, that would depend on opportunities and resources.

“Big brother, there’s no need to blame yourself. Everyone has their own destiny. Although those twenty years of silence brought me immense pain and hardship, they also made my temperament much steadier and more reserved!”

“Without those twenty years of silence, perhaps I wouldn’t have achieved what I have today!”

That was all Yang Zhenshan could offer as consolation.

Hearing this, Yang Zhengxiang nodded in agreement, “In the practice of Martial Arts, the state of mind is extremely crucial!”