Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 579: Chapter 497: When the Snipe and the Clam Grapple, the Fisherman Profits_2

Under the eaves, the strings of rainwater also filled him with wonder.

The thin mist rising from the ground also filled him with wonder.

It was as if he was observing and getting to know this world anew.

However, this strange feeling was overly profound; he wanted to delve deeper, but couldn’t grasp it, feeling as if a threshold was blocking his entry.

”Looks like I can’t practice today! You all can go back when the rain stops!” Yang Zhenshan said, taking a sip of his tea.

”Master, I wish to train a bit more!” Prince Dai didn’t want to leave.

Yang Zhenshan looked at him, his deep eyes carrying a faint smile, ”The way of practice values perseverance, don’t mind this short interruption!”

”But I feel that practicing here with Master, I make faster progress!” Prince Dai said.

Yang Zhenshan couldn’t help but chuckle.

Prince Dai’s feeling was naturally correct, after all, here he could drink the Spiritual Spring Water anytime.

And after drinking the Spiritual Spring Water, training would indeed yield twice the result with half the effort.

In this past month, the progress of their three disciples’ training was very apparent.

Even Prince An, who didn’t usually focus on practice, had made significant progress.

”If you wish to stay here, then stay!” Yang Zhenshan said with a smile.

At this moment, Wu Hai hurried into the hall, first giving a fist-and-palm salute to Prince An and Prince Dai, then coming to Yang Zhenshan’s side.

”Marquis, the Lu family sent a message, Old Master Lu has passed away!”

Yang Zhenshan was slightly startled and then let out a long sigh.

”When did it happen?”

”Eight days ago!” Wu Hai said.

Yang Zhenshan nodded, stood up, and walked under the eaves, looking at the densely clouded skies.

Birth, aging, sickness, and death are human nature!

Before coming to the Capital City, Lu Songhe was already in a state of burnout, and his passing was inevitable.

Yang Zhenshan’s feelings towards Lu Songhe were complicated.

On paper, Lu Songhe was his father-in-law, but in reality, this father-in-law had no relation to him, Lu Songhe being just the predecessor’s father-in-law.

Yet Yang Zhenshan had also called Lu Songhe ’Dad.’

Over the years, there had been some friction between the Yang family and the Lu family about Yang Zhenshan’s remarriage, but they had eventually resolved these issues.

Now, the relationship between the two families was still very close.

Yang Zhenshan still held a deep respect for Lu Songhe.

”Have Mingcheng prepare for a trip back to Anning County!” Yang Zhenshan said quietly.

The title of father-in-law was somewhat hollow, but the identity of grandfather was indeed solid.

And Lu Songhe had taken good care of the Yang family in the past; Yang Zhenshan might not remember Lu Songhe’s kindness, but the three brothers of the Yang family could not forget.

”Understood!” Wu Hai responded and then left.

The death of Lu Songhe brought some ripples to Yang Zhenshan’s mood, but Yang Zhenshan soon let it go.

After all, he had known that Lu Songhe’s time was short, and Lu Songhe, nearly eighty, saw the Lu family flourishing and had Lu Wenquan, a promising child, which meant Lu Songhe passed with blessings and longevity.

Lu Songhe likely had no regrets.

After heavy rain comes clear skies.

Due to the issuance of the Martial Order, recently, many Jianghu Martial Artists came to the Capital City.

The streets of Capital City saw many Jianghu Martial Artists in tight clothing, carrying weapons, mostly coming to inquire about the Martial Arts Department news.

And there were also many from the Yang family who came inquiring.

Hengdao Sect’s Ji Hai, Jing’an Shang family’s Shang Mingde, Sky Blue Sword Sect’s Hua Jinqiu, even Yang Minghui had run over from Yang Family Village.

Jianghu forces not only include Sect forces but also family forces.

The Jing’an Shang family is a family force primarily based on the transmission of Martial Arts.

However, part of the Martial Order didn’t apply to Martial Arts Families, such as granting Sect Master orders and bestowing official titles.

And regarding the Martial Arts Families, the court’s stance was much softer and did not demand the Martial Arts Families to take specific actions.

But Yang Zhenshan gave them the same advice.

If able to join the Martial Arts Temple, join the Martial Arts Temple; if able to enter the Martial Arts Pavilion, then enter the Martial Arts Pavilion.

In short, it was just one saying, ”Follow the court’s lead, and you won’t be wrong.”

Yang Zhenshan was acutely aware of Emperor Yanping’s determination to control the worldly society, so opposing the Martial Order at this time meant opposing the entire court.

With the court’s power, to eliminate a few sects as a warning to others was all too easy.

Rather than be the chicken that gets slaughtered, it’s better to obediently follow the court’s arrangements, join the Martial Arts Temple, and seek a more advantageous position for one’s sect or family.

Yang Zhenshan had successively met with Ji Hai and Shang Mingde in the Marquis Mansion, and after getting his advice, they did not hesitate much and immediately agreed.

And Yang Zhenshan also wrote them a recommendation letter, recommending them to Marquis Jianchang.

Although he had only seen Marquis Jianchang twice at the morning court and was not closely acquainted, Marquis Jianchang would likely not refuse his recommended candidates.

As for Hua Jinqiu and Yang Minghui, it was different.

They were relatives of the Yang family, and upon arriving in the Capital City, it was natural for the Yang family to extend full hospitality as a host.

The Martial Order had little to do with the Yang family; the Yang family had many descendants serving in the military, and truly had no need to bother with the Martial Order.

The Sky Blue Sword Sect, located in Chongshan Town with limited strength, had no qualifications to meddle in the affairs of the Martial Arts Temple; perhaps once the Martial Arts Department was established in Liao Yuan, the Sky Blue Sword Sect could send a few disciples there to aim for a minor position.

Hua Jinqiu stayed with the Yang family for three days before leaving; she planned to select a few disciples after returning, to send to Liao Yuan’s Military Suppression Department, as per Yang Zhenshan’s suggestion. Thus, she did not stay long at the Yang family.

Yang Minghui, on the other hand, stayed temporarily at the Yang family. In addition to inquiring about the Martial Order, he also wanted to attend Yang Chengmao’s wedding.

As time moved toward the end of June, the Capital City was abuzz due to the Martial Order, the Martial Arts Temple, and the Martial Arts Pavilion, and amidst this buzz, the Yang family was also busy preparing for Yang Chengmao’s wedding.

June thirtieth.

The Li family came to the Capital City from Chongshan Town.

In the evening, Yang Zhenshan returned from the Martial Arts Pavilion headquarters and met the Li family and Yang Wanying.

”Grandpa!”

As soon as Yang Zhenshan entered the main courtyard, young Yang Wanying came up to greet him, her eyes curving into crescents as she looked at Yang Zhenshan.

The little girl, only four years old this year, had her hair tied up into two buns, her round chubby face exceptionally endearing.

Compared to the chirpy Yang Wanting, Yang Wanying was much more serene.

Yang Zhenshan stepped forward and picked up the little girl, asking, ”Did you miss grandpa?”

”Yes! Wanying also wanted to come to the Capital City with grandpa, but mommy was unwilling!” The little girl complained without any shyness.

She naturally wanted to come to the Capital City where she had lots of brothers and sisters, and a baby nephew just born, but in Fuzhou City, she was the only little girl and couldn’t even find someone to play with.

”My daughter-in-law pays respect to father!” The Li family, seeing Yang Zhenshan’s return, quickly came forward to pay respects.

”Did you encounter any trouble on the road?” Yang Zhenshan smiled.

”No, we came by boat escorted by Tenglong Guard, everything went very smoothly!” The Li family smiled.

In Yang Zhenshan’s arms, Yang Wanying interrupted, ”Grandpa, we saw a very big fish in the sea!”

”Oh! How big was it?”

Yang Zhenshan sat down, and Qingxia immediately served tea.

”It was bigger than our boat!” The little girl described, spreading her arms wide.

”That’s a whale!” Yang Zhenshan placed her on his lap and chuckled.

”Whale!” The little girl’s eyes shone as she blinked, ”Grandpa, is whale tasty?”

”Pfft~~”

Her question made the Li family, who had just sat down, burst into laughter, ”Dad, this girl wanted to eat that big fish, and while on the boat, she even wanted to catch that big fish!”

”I said we couldn’t catch it, but she insisted that grandpa would definitely be able to catch a big fish! She said once we arrived in the Capital City, she would ask grandpa to catch a big fish for her!”

The little girl felt discontented with her mother exposing her and huffed, ”Grandpa can definitely catch that big fish!”

This adorable and naive expression truly endeared Yang Zhenshan.

”Ha ha ha~~” Yang Zhenshan burst into hearty laughter.

Yu Qingyi and others were also amused by her.

”When grandpa has time, I will take you to catch a big fish!” Yang Zhenshan laughed.

After all, there are no animal protection laws in this world, so even if he caught a whale to cook and eat, no police would come knocking at the door.