C13 The Patriarch Returned

In the blink of an eye, a month had flown by.

Ever since the clash between Yang Xiao and Yang Xuan, the latter's name had become a frequent topic among the Yang family members. Yang Xiao was renowned for his exceptional talent in cultivation among the family's youth, yet Yang Xuan had managed to hold his ground through over a dozen exchanges, remaining undefeated. This had taken the Yang family by complete surprise.

It was common knowledge that due to the edict of family head Yang Dingshan, Yang Xuan had been barred from cultivating from a young age. But now, he had somehow developed a remarkable level of cultivation! Moreover, at just sixteen, Yang Xuan was a full two years younger than Yang Xiao. One could only imagine that by the time he reached eighteen, his cultivation might surpass that of Yang Xiao.

Indeed, he was proving himself a true scion of the Yang family's genius lineage!

Most of the family, however, were pleased with this turn of events. Their joy stemmed not so much from Yang Xuan's achievements, but rather from their disdain for Yang Xiao's character. His arrogance and egotism, coupled with the authority he wielded as the patriarch's son, had left a sour taste among his peers. Now, with Yang Xuan emerging as a challenger to Yang Xiao, they felt a profound sense of satisfaction. In essence, they preferred looking up to Yang Xuan over being lorded over by Yang Xiao.

Word of the family's sentiments quickly reached Yang Xiao, casting a shadow over his recent days. He was irked by the whispers of those he deemed cowards, who insinuated that he couldn't match up to Yang Xuan. If not for his concern for clan rules and his aunt, he would have forced Yang Xuan to his knees, begging for mercy. He couldn't stand the thought of Yang Xuan outshining him.

But no matter, his father was due to arrive soon. Once Yang Dingshan was back, Yang Xiao was determined to ensure Yang Xuan would pay dearly.

"Young master, the patriarch has returned," informed Yang Xiao's attendant, rushing in with the news.

Yang Xiao's moods had been erratic lately. Just the day before, he had berated his servant over tea that was served too hot. The servants, seething yet silent, suspected that Yang Xuan was the root of his volatility. Wasn't he the one who had dared to defy Yang Xiao?

The servants' resentment towards Yang Xiao quickly transferred to Yang Xuan. They secretly wished for Yang Dingshan's return to bring about a harsh reprimand for Yang Xuan. Only then, they believed, would Yang Xiao find relief, and their own lives would improve.

"Alright, you may leave now," Yang Xiao said, his voice steady. Upon hearing the dismissal, he clenched his fist in determination and quickly stood to make his way to the main hall.

Inside the main hall, Yang Dingshan, who was known for his stern demeanor, was surprisingly wearing a hint of joy on his face. It was clear that something wonderful had occurred.

The Grand Elder, ever the impatient one, was like a child despite his fifty-odd years. He eagerly looked to Yang Dingshan and pressed, "Patriarch, how did the three children fare in the Leap Test? Come on, share the news with us!"

"You can tell by the Patriarch's beaming smile," chuckled the Second Elder, teasing the Grand Elder. "At least let the man have a drink of water first, will you?"

"Yang Qianhuan possesses a mid-grade level five talent, the highest among the three. Yang Ahjiao is at mid-grade level two, and Yang Zhou is at mid-grade level three," Yang Dingshan announced, then lifted his eyes to the three youngsters standing before him. "Remember, your innate talent is merely a foundation. The heights your cultivation will reach depend on your effort and perseverance. Do not become arrogant." His voice took on a stern edge as he imparted this wisdom.

The trio bowed their heads in acknowledgment, responding in unison, "Yes, we will take your words to heart."

Once the children had departed, the Grand Elder couldn't contain his glee, bursting into hearty laughter. "Who would have thought that all three Yang children would be of mid-grade talent? This puts my mind at ease!"

Laughter and smiles spread among the Yang family members, sharing in the joy of the moment.

In Qingzhou City, a mid-grade level five talent was highly esteemed, a rarity even among the other prominent families.

And the Yang family had not just one, but individuals with mid-grade level two and three talents as well! The family's prospects for resurgence were brighter than ever.

The Yang family's main hall was abuzz with celebration.

As the merriment subsided, Yang Dingshan rose to his feet and gestured towards a man in his thirties beside him, a striking figure with short hair. The crowd's attention shifted to the man as Yang Dingshan introduced him, "This is Yuh Ting'en, a dear friend I've known for many years. Tingen served as the examiner for the Leap Test, sent from Jingdu. And the young lady beside him is his daughter, Qingcheng, whom you can consider my niece. She is currently a disciple of Xu Ruxian, and her potential knows no bounds!"

When the Yang family learned that Yuh Ting'en was the chief examiner for the Leap Test in Qingzhou City, they were taken aback. And upon discovering that Yuh Qingcheng was a disciple of Prime Minister Xu, they were left with nothing but profound astonishment.

Could it be that this young girl was the disciple of the renowned Prime Minister Xu of the entire Great Wei?

The young members of the council hall couldn't help but turn their gazes towards Yuh Qingcheng, captivated and unwilling to blink.

The girl appeared to be fifteen or sixteen, radiating a refreshing elegance and an irresistible charm.

The Yang family disciples fixed their eyes on her, astounded that someone so young was already a celebrated disciple of Prime Minister Xu. Her potential seemed boundless, and to top it off, she was stunningly beautiful.

Was it even possible for such a perfect girl to exist?

Yang Dingshan, spotting Yang Xiao in the corner of the hall, gestured to him meaningfully and said, "Yang Xiao, Qingcheng is new to Qingzhou City. Make sure you look after her well and show her every courtesy."

In truth, from the moment the girl had entered, his eyes had been drawn to her and had scarcely wavered since.

Her beauty was unparalleled among Qingzhou City's youth, and her esteemed status made her even more captivating. If Yang Xiao could win her favor, his future would be limitless.

With this in mind, Yang Xiao's thoughts sprang to life. The concerns he had planned to voice were momentarily forgotten as he smiled and assured, "Qingcheng has traveled a long way. I'll make sure she's well taken care of. Should she need anything, she need only ask."

Yuh Qingcheng responded with a gracious smile, "Thank you."

Yang Dingshan gave a subtle nod and addressed the assembly, "Well then, if there's no further business, you're dismissed."

With that, the elders and the younger members of the council filed out, leaving only Yang Dingshan, Yang Xiao, Yuh Ting'en, and Yuh Qingcheng behind.

"Brother Dingshan, your son must be eighteen now, right? His cultivation is quite impressive among his peers," Yuh Ting'en remarked, observing Yang Xiao.

Yang Dingshan replied with a smile, "Tingen, Xiao is indeed a couple of years older than Qingcheng. But when it comes to cultivation talent, he's still a few steps behind her. Qingcheng's talent is rated upper fifth grade, and her cultivation base has reached the intermediate level of the Second Stage. Her progress in cultivation is remarkably swift!"

Yang Xiao was in a foul mood after hearing the news. The three participants of the Leap Test all possessed greater innate talent for cultivation than him, which didn't sit well with him. To make matters worse, the clan had been abuzz with talk about Yang Xuan for the past few days, adding to his irritation. Now, Yuh Qingcheng was outshining him as well. He figured that if he could win her over, then all her assets would become his.

"Dingshan, don't flatter her too much; it might go to her head," Yuh Ting'en advised, casting a glance at his daughter who was usually up to some mischief. "The Yang family's younger generation is quite impressive this year. The three prodigies from the Leap Test are no slouches. They're bound to be the mainstays of our clan in the future."

They reminisced for a while until it was time for dinner.

Post-dinner, Yang Dingshan summoned Yang Xiao to his room. He had noticed Yang Xiao seemed eager to speak during the council meeting but had held back. Now with some free time on his hands, Yang Dingshan was ready to hear what Yang Xiao had to report about the recent significant occurrences within the family.

Yang Xiao hurried to Yang Dingshan's room, unable to contain his impatience.

Upon arrival, Yang Xiao greeted his father with a bow and began to speak with a tone of dissatisfaction, "Father, several major incidents have taken place in the clan during your absence, all revolving around Yang Xuan. The first incident involved the theft of treasures from the City Lord's Mansion. The thief sought refuge within our family, and while in hiding, was injured and had the treasures taken by Yang Xuan. At first, I was skeptical. You had explicitly forbidden the family from providing Yang Xuan with any cultivation-related books or magical artifacts, leading everyone to believe he was just an ordinary person. However, a month ago, I sparred with Yang Xuan and discovered his cultivation level is far from low. He managed to hold his own against me for over ten exchanges without sustaining a scratch."

After finishing, Yang Xiao quickly masked his expression, wary of revealing his inner thoughts to Yang Dingshan.

Yang Dingshan tapped the table rhythmically with one hand while the other clenched so tightly that his nails dug into his palm, unbeknownst to him. His brow furrowed deeply as he pressed, "What other significant matters are there? Out with it, tell me everything."

Yang Xiao was quite pleased with his father Yang Dingshan's reaction and went on to say, "Father, there's another matter. Yang Xuan actually possesses an authentic piece by Prime Minister Xu! What's more, he had the audacity to stamp his own seal on the calligraphy. Yu Xuezhong and I stumbled upon this and brought it to the City Lord. Subsequently, the City Lord summoned Yang Xuan to the City Lord's Mansion. Strangely enough, the City Lord didn't fault Yang Xuan for defacing Prime Minister Xu's original work. He even provided Yang Xuan with a cultivation manual. I suspect Yang Xuan may have offered something detrimental to the Yang family in return for his release. Father, why don't we seize Yang Xuan tonight, strip him of his cultivation, and thoroughly question him?"

"There's no need to rush this," Yang Dingshan said, furrowing his brow. His concern was twofold: he was troubled by Yang Xuan's situation and displeased with Yang Xiao's approach.

Yang Dingshan, as Yang Xiao's father, had long recognized his son's strong utilitarian and envious nature. Yang Xiao found it hard to accept anyone outshining him. Without proper guidance, Yang Xiao was bound to stray. Dingshan had left Yang Xiao in charge of the family's affairs as a test, but it was becoming clear that the outcome was less than satisfactory.

After some contemplation, Yang Dingshan spoke up. "Xiao, I saw the look on your face today while I was discussing matters with Tingen in the council hall. Yang Xuan and Yang Qianhuan are your kin. Their exceptional talent for cultivation should be a source of joy for you. They are the future mainstays of our family. If you believe that the family's success rests solely on your shoulders, you are sorely mistaken.

"The world is full of individuals with greater cultivation talents than yours. If you think talent alone dictates one's destiny, then how can you aspire to transcendence? Even someone as gifted as Prime Minister Xu would not have reached his current heights if he were arrogant and complacent. Remember, cultivation talent merely sets the baseline; it is diligence that defines the pinnacle. It's commendable that you strive for progress, but take care not to lose your way."

"Stay out of Yang Xuan's affairs. You're dismissed!"

Yang Xiao was taken aback by Yang Dingshan's words, momentarily frozen in surprise. Had he erred? Wasn't it his father who had prohibited Yang Xuan from pursuing cultivation? He had strived to ascend, only to find that his efforts were seen as missteps in his father's eyes?

"Leave now!" Yang Dingshan, supporting his forehead with his left hand, gestured dismissively with his right.

"As you wish, Father." Despite his reluctance, Yang Xiao knew better than to argue. With a heavy heart, he quietly withdrew.