Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 919: Chapter 658: I Am No Longer a Subject of Da Rong!

“What? Chen Mingxi isn’t qualified enough?” Yang Zhenshan was somewhat surprised.

An Yuxing gently shook his head, “Of course, Chen Mingxi isn’t qualified enough. Although she’s an Innate Martial Artist, her strength is still too weak!”

“If I were Chen Wansong, I would personally come to invite you, and maybe there would be a glimmer of hope!”

“Not only would I come personally, but I’d also bring Chen Zhaojun with me!”

“What court affairs, what national matters, as long as we bring you back, nothing else is a problem!”

He seemed to have great confidence in Yang Zhenshan, making Yang Zhenshan a bit embarrassed.

“Oh! You believe in my abilities that much?” Yang Zhenshan asked curiously.

“Naturally!” An Yuxing, slightly tipsy, replied.

The strength of the Drunken Immortal Brew is no exaggeration, even An Yuxing, a heavy drinker, couldn’t handle the aftereffect.

Yang Zhenshan also felt somewhat intoxicated, but he drank less and managed to keep a clear mind.

The two just chatted idly until An Yuxing, snoring, fell into a deep sleep, and only then did Yang Zhenshan stand up.

“This old guy is still the same as before!”

Yang Zhenshan complained.

Yet, he kindly supported An Yuxing, taking him to a small courtyard nearby to rest.

…

The next day.

Yang Zhenshan still met with Chen Mingxi.

In the ancient tea room, Yang Zhenshan and Chen Mingxi sat opposite each other, with Qingxia personally serving them beside.

Asking Qingxia to serve tea and water was unavoidable.

Although there were more than ten maidservants and women in Yang Zhenshan’s courtyard, most were rough servants doing laundry and cleaning, while serving tea and attending to guests was only suitable for Qingxia and Red Cloud alongside Yang Zhenshan and Yu Qingyi.

If it were anyone else, Yang Zhenshan wouldn’t need any attendants, but facing Chen Mingxi was different; someone familiar with etiquette had to be present.

“Your Highness, please!” Yang Zhenshan smiled as he saw Qingxia had poured the tea.

Chen Mingxi elegantly took the tea, savoring the warm aroma as her eyes brightened.

“Excellent tea!”

Yang Zhenshan explained, “This is newly prepared tea personally made by my wife. If Your Highness likes it, you may take a few pounds with you!”

“May I ask if Mrs. Yu is present? I’ve long wanted to visit Mrs. Yu, but unfortunately, I hear she’s not on the island!” Chen Mingxi planned to engage with Mrs. Yu but Yu Qingyi had been avoiding the public.

“Your Highness didn’t come at a good time, she left to visit a friend not long ago,” Yang Zhenshan said, not revealing that Yu Qingyi was hiding.

Chen Mingxi nodded slightly, continuing to enjoy the fragrant tea.

Yang Zhenshan also drank tea on his own.

Honestly, he didn’t know what to say to Chen Mingxi; they weren’t familiar with each other, leaving little to converse about. Plus, considering Chen Mingxi’s status, Yang Zhenshan was hesitant to jest.

In comparison, drinking with An Yuxing was more comfortable. They could laugh and joke freely.

Seeing Yang Zhenshan silent, Chen Mingxi sighed and initiated the conversation.

“I believe senior knows about the current disorder in Da Rong, with rebels arising everywhere!”

Yang Zhenshan slightly lowered his eyes, “I’ve heard some rumors.”

“The imperial uncle and His Majesty wish to invite you back to oversee the court and suppress the rebels!” Chen Mingxi stated directly.

Yang Zhenshan chuckled lightly, “Your Highness, I am no longer a minister of Da Rong!”

Chen Mingxi was stunned, looking at Yang Zhenshan in a daze.

She didn’t expect Yang Zhenshan to be so straightforward.

This wasn’t a refusal, but a clear detachment from Da Rong.

“Senior!”

Yang Zhenshan interrupted, “Your Highness should understand, it’s not that I don’t want to return, but if I do, His Majesty wouldn’t be able to conduct things comfortably!”

“When the late emperor was in power, he already considered this issue, and precisely because of this, I chose to leave Da Rong, and the late emperor was willing to let go.”

“If I return now, to put it bluntly, even if His Majesty trusts me, I may not trust myself!”

He sipped his tea gently and continued, “Moreover, Your Highness may not know, but my family, the Yang family, has established a dynasty, the Dajing Dynasty, a thousand miles south of Divine Wood Island, with my grandson as the king.”

Chen Mingxi stared at Yang Zhenshan in bewilderment, her mind in disarray.

The Yang family established a dynasty?

This was news to her!

If the Yang family founded a dynasty, what reason does Yang Zhenshan have to return to Da Rong?

To contest Da Rong’s throne?

“This~~”

She wanted to say something but didn’t know what to say.

Yang Zhenshan smiled slightly, continuing to leisurely enjoy his tea.

Return to Da Rong?

He definitely would return, but not now.

Even if he did return, he wouldn’t pledge allegiance to the Emperor of Da Rong!

To be blunt, Chen Zhaojun isn’t qualified!

In terms of prestige, an emperor is the most exalted, but in terms of status, sorry, outside their borders, their prestige is meaningless.

Simply put, an emperor’s prestige is valid only within their kingdom’s borders; outside, what’s valued is strength.

If you’re strong, I’ll respect you.

If you’re weak, hehe~~

Previously, Da Rong was powerful, its influence reaching the East South Sea Domain, even the western part of the Ten Thousand Miles Sea Domain, but that was its limit.

In the central and eastern parts of the Ten Thousand Miles Sea Domain, who cares about the Emperor of Da Rong?

And now the Yang family?

Not as glorious as Da Rong once was, but the Yang family’s reputation already commands respect in the mid-region of the Ten Thousand Miles Sea Domain.

With just a few words, Yang Zhenshan silenced any further talk, leaving Chen Mingxi to struggle before ultimately giving up on persuading Yang Zhenshan to return to Da Rong.

The reason she gave up wasn’t because of Yang Zhenshan’s ‘rebellious’ words, but because his attitude said it all.

Chen Mingxi left just like that, forgetting even Chen Yan, her niece.

Whether it was intentional or truly forgotten, regardless, she didn’t mention Chen Yan when leaving.

Yang Zhenshan was happy to be spared the trouble; since she forgot, Yang Zhenshan naturally wouldn’t remind her.

An Yuxing didn’t rush to leave; Yang Zhenshan arranged a courtyard for him, so he stayed directly on Divine Wood Island.

This old guy never cared about mundane etiquette, shamelessly staying on Divine Wood Island without hesitation.

An Yuxing wasn’t without kin on Divine Wood Island; although he didn’t send his descendants there, let’s not forget Yang Chengmao was his Disciple.

The master is here, so naturally, Yang Chengmao accompanied him.

Thus, An Yuxing had a pleasant stay on Divine Wood Island. When Yang Zhenshan had time, they drank together; when not, An Yuxing roamed the island with Yang Chengmao.

Sometimes he would even offer some guidance to Yang Chengmao.

Although Yang Chengmao had Yang Zhenshan’s tutoring, having another elder’s guidance was undoubtedly beneficial to him.

However, Yang Chengmao’s cultivation greatly surprised An Yuxing.

How old is Yang Chengmao?

Not yet forty.

Yet he already possessed the cultivation of the Postnatal Ninth Layer, and it seemed it wouldn’t be long before he reached the Half-step Innate.

Around forty-year-old Half-step Innate Martial Artists are impressive wherever you find them.

However, what astonished An Yuxing more was that there were many talents on Divine Wood Island not inferior to Yang Chengmao.

At first, he didn’t notice, but after discovering another talent, his jaw nearly dropped.

The talent he discovered was none other than Wang Mingzhe.

Wang Mingzhe was a year younger than Yang Chengmao, yet already a Half-step Innate.

In terms of talent, Wang Mingzhe surely surpassed Yang Chengmao.

Where there’s a first, there’s a second and a third.

An Yuxing couldn’t resist any longer. This day, accompanied by Yang Chengmao, he went to the training grounds of Divine Wood Island.

This training ground belonged to the Divine Wood Navy, which was recently expanding, recruiting another 2,500 soldiers, totaling five thousand.

And it happened to be the time for the new recruits’ training.