C19 Shocking Everyone

After overhearing the conversation, Yang Xiao hastened to the Martial Hall.

To his astonishment, Yang Xuan was there—in the Martial Hall! His father had actually permitted Yang Xuan's presence there!

Yang Xiao seethed with anger. He had always dismissed Yang Xuan as nothing more than a waste, but now he realized his error. How had Yang Xuan managed to deceive the City Lord? And why, after his father had expressly forbidden Yang Xuan from pursuing cultivation, was he now allowing him in the Martial Hall?

Yang Xuan was indeed cunning!

But what good were Yang Xuan's clever schemes now? With the City Lord taking such a keen interest in his calligraphy, what could Yang Xuan possibly do?

If Second Uncle were to find out about all this, Yang Xuan's actions would surely infuriate him to no end.

In no time, Yang Xiao reached the Martial Hall and made a beeline for the Sword Skill Section of the Book Tower in search of Yang Xuan. He spotted him immediately.

Yang Xiao lunged at Yang Xuan.

With his acute senses, Yang Xuan's eyes snapped open, and he swiftly evaded the grab. Looking up, he realized it was Yang Xiao.

Frowning, Yang Xuan inquired, "What's the matter?"

"Come with me and you'll find out. Father has summoned you to the hall; something very fortunate awaits you," Yang Xiao remarked, his face twisted in a mocking sneer.

"Eldest Uncle wants to see me?" Yang Xuan reluctantly set his book aside and followed Yang Xiao out.

As soon as Yang Xiao and Yang Xuan entered the hall, the City Lord noticed them.

"Young Fellow Daoist Yang Xuan, I've been admiring the two pieces of calligraphy you've done these past few days, and my fondness for them only grows. I even tried my hand at a few pieces, but mine are embarrassingly inferior. Please, come and grace us with more of your work," the City Lord said, rising eagerly to greet him as soon as he saw Yang Xuan.

It was only then that Yang Xuan realized the City Lord had come. He hurried over and bowed respectfully, replying, "If you hold them in such high regard, I will certainly oblige."

The City Lord chuckled heartily. "Excellent, the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone are all yours to use!"

Yang Xuan approached the City Lord and accepted the brush handed to him. Closing his eyes, he reflected on all that he had encountered in the recent days, channeling every insight he had gleaned into the strokes of his calligraphy.

The City Lord observed Yang Xuan's posture and aura as he wrote, then examined the freshly inked characters. He was struck with awe once more.

After a moment, he nodded in admiration, "Excellent penmanship! Previously, your writing heavily mimicked that of Prime Minister Xu, but now, you've infused your own understanding into each stroke, bringing them to life. You may very well reach the heights of Prime Minister Xu one day!"

The City Lord's praise left the assembly in the hall dumbfounded.

Wasn't this the moment for the City Lord to expose Yang Xuan's deception and hold him accountable?

Yang Xiao moved closer, scrutinizing the calligraphy in the City Lord's grasp. As a cultivator, he was familiar with the handwriting of Prime Minister Xu. A single look sent a shock through him. Could it truly be identical to Xu's script? Was this genuinely Yang Xuan's work? Yang Xiao looked up at Yang Xuan, his expression one of sheer disbelief.

Yang Xuan was concealing his true capabilities!

"Yang Xiao, step aside. The City Lord is present, and such impudence will not be tolerated," said Yang Dingshan, alarmed by Yang Xiao's behavior. He hurriedly pulled him back, well aware that Yang Xiao's intention was to embarrass Yang Xuan.

"City Lord, I beg your forgiveness for my son's impertinence. I assure you, he will face strict discipline," Yang Dingshan implored, his face flushed with embarrassment.

The City Lord squinted at Yang Xiao, whose face had turned a pallid shade of green, and wondered why the patriarch's son seemed to harbor such animosity toward Yang Xuan.

"Yang Xuan is a friend of mine; I trust you will look after him," the City Lord said with a smile that, despite its warmth, carried an implicit caution. Yang Xuan was, after all, the only progeny of his Second Brother—how could he possibly mistreat him? The City Lord's words were a clear expression of his displeasure with Yang Xiao. Yang Dingshan quickly responded, "Rest assured, City Lord. Xuan is my child as well, and I will take good care of him."

"If there are any doubters of Yang Xuan's ability to emulate Prime Minister Xu's calligraphy, come forward and see for yourselves. In all my years, my eyes have never been deceived," the City Lord announced, laying out the pieces on the desk. The crowd pressed in for a closer look.

Yu Xuezhong was growing increasingly impatient as he briskly approached the desk, only to be struck dumb by what he saw. Had he not witnessed Yang Xuan's writing firsthand, he would have been convinced that the script before him was the genuine work of Prime Minister Xu.

At just sixteen, Yang Xuan possessed an extraordinary talent for calligraphy. What heights could he reach in ten, twenty, or thirty years? His potential was boundless. It was no surprise that even the City Lord had suggested Yang Xuan might one day rival Prime Minister Xu's accomplishments.

The City Lord was thoroughly pleased with everyone's reactions that day. His visit wasn't solely for a calligraphy exchange with Yang Xuan; above all, he wanted the Yang family to recognize the young man's exceptional gift and his own esteem for him. Any villain plotting against Yang Xuan would now have to think twice, considering the City Lord's regard for the boy.

After the City Lord and Yu Xuezhong departed, only Yang Dingshan, Yang Xiao, and Yang Xuan remained in the main hall. Yang Dingshan fixed his gaze on Yang Xiao and bellowed, "Yang Xiao, kneel down! It seems my words that night fell on deaf ears. What vendetta do you have against Yang Xuan that you would stoop to sabotage him?"

"I feared the Yang family would be duped by him, that he'd bring us trouble!" Yang Xiao retorted defiantly.

Enraged, Yang Dingshan hurled his teacup at Yang Xiao's head, declaring, "The City Lord is a man of profound cultivation. Do you really think Yang Xuan could fool him? Your pettiness knows no bounds. I refuse to watch the Yang family crumble at the hands of someone like you. Today, I will inform the clan that your role as the young patriarch is revoked. I hope you'll learn to be more generous-hearted in the future!"

Ignoring the blood trickling down his forehead, Yang Xiao shot a furious look at Yang Dingshan.

"Get out!" Yang Dingshan's disappointment was palpable. He was well aware of the City Lord's true intentions for visiting, which only intensified his anger towards Yang Xiao's actions.