Chapter Sixty-Two: Mu Family Village (Seeking Recommendation Votes)

Old Xie had been struck by the blade aura of the man in black; now, a deep wound split his chest, blood soaking his entire body, and he had already lost consciousness.

Yang Ze looked at the gravely injured and unconscious Old Xie, his heart tightening as he immediately shouted, “Someone, quick, come here! Help!”

Hearing his cries, only then did people rush out from Tongyang Money House. In truth, the sounds of the fierce battle outside had long reached their ears, but none dared to venture out. Now, seeing the scene before them, they were all stunned.

“What are you standing there for? Hurry and fetch a doctor!” Yang Ze, seeing the panicked crowd, burned with anger and shouted furiously.

None of these servants had ever seen Yang Ze so furious before. A few, frightened out of their wits, hurried off to find a physician.

“You care so much for a mere servant?” After the servants had all run off, Yang Yuanzhen stepped toward Yang Ze, already restored to the authoritative posture of the family head.

“To you he may be just a servant, but to me, he is much more—a vital aid in my life. Without Old Xie, I would not be where I am today. Perhaps I would still be wasting away in some forgotten corner of the family,” Yang Ze replied, his gaze never leaving the unconscious Old Xie, refusing to even look at Yang Yuanzhen.

“It seems you harbor no small amount of resentment toward me. But I must tell you, there is a reason behind everything I have made you go through,” Yang Yuanzhen said gravely.

“A reason? Is that what you call it? Was it also your reason that had my eldest brother try to assassinate me, and pit the Jinghai and Wansha Gangs against me?” Yang Ze retorted without courtesy.

“You’ve figured it all out? I suppose it’s no surprise. Without such wit, you could never have carved out such a place for yourself in North City.

But if you think it was I who ordered your brother to do all that, you are mistaken. I never imagined he would dare go so far, even to the point of striking at his own brother. I have already disciplined him; such things will not happen again,” Yang Yuanzhen sighed.

“Father, sometimes I truly feel as though we are not a family. Your treatment of me has always been so different from how you treat my eldest and third brothers. Everything they enjoyed growing up, I never had. You once told me that I was not as good as my elder brother, that I shouldn’t compete with him, and that I should yield everything to him.

So I yielded. I moved out from the main residence to live alone in the annex, rarely ever showing myself within the family. Yet, even then, my eldest brother would not let me go. He tried again and again to ruin me. I have nothing left to yield. If I yield any further, will it be my very life that you require before you are satisfied?”

Yang Ze spoke each word with deliberation, the weight of past grievances and the feelings he’d developed since coming to this world pressing upon him. What kind of family could be so unjust?

Yang Yuanzhen’s expression was complicated. After a long pause, he finally said, “It is true that I have wronged you. But in recent times, I have done all I can to support your every move. No matter what trouble you stir up in North City, I have always borne the consequences for you. We are family. I will not abandon you.”

Yang Ze lowered his head and said nothing more. No matter what Yang Yuanzhen said, his favoritism was all too clear. The former Yang Ze had already been filled with disappointment toward the family; now, he himself felt no affection for it either.

Seeing Yang Ze remain silent, Yang Yuanzhen hesitated, then said, “Come, let’s go. The situation is too chaotic right now. It’s not safe for you to be here alone. Come with me and I’ll feel at ease.

As for your eldest brother, don’t concern yourself. I’ve placed him under house arrest for three months. He is still confined and will not cause you any more harm.”

“With his current ability, what harm could he possibly cause me?” Yang Ze suddenly asked.

Yang Yuanzhen was momentarily taken aback. Only then did he realize that Yang Ze was no longer the insignificant presence he once was in the Yang family. Now at the high stage of Qi Induction, master of three streets in Four Passage Alley—either identity would put any young man in Yuyang City far beneath him.

As for Yang Hai, he was only a beginner in Qi Induction—before Yang Ze, he didn’t stand a chance and was in no position to pose a threat.

“Father, you should return as well. You too were injured tonight. Go back and rest properly,” Yang Ze said coldly.

Yang Yuanzhen wanted to say more, but in the end, he simply shook his head helplessly, told Yang Ze to come to him if anything happened, and left.

Even after Yang Yuanzhen had gone, Yang Ze noticed that his father had not mentioned the Martial Institute’s admission spot. He couldn’t understand it—was there some secret that made Yang Hai the only possible choice? Was his father truly unwilling to support him, even a little?

Yet Yang Ze was no longer who he once had been. Even without the family’s backing, he was determined to forge his own path.

Soon after, a doctor arrived to tend to Old Xie’s wounds, finally allowing Yang Ze to breathe a sigh of relief. Only then did he cough up a mouthful of black blood himself.

Seeing this, many gathered around, asking if he was all right. Yang Ze only shook his head.

Just a few days ago, he had forced himself to slay two peak Qi Induction warriors before he’d even healed, and now, after clashing with a postnatal martial artist, his unhealed injuries had been aggravated anew.

Nevertheless, having consumed so many spiritual medicines, his body had been greatly strengthened and nourished by the Black Stone. These residual injuries would heal with a little rest.

Once Old Xie’s condition had stabilized, Yang Ze finally allowed himself to relax, exhaustion washing over him as he returned to rest.

The battle on Xiangyun Street, under the publicity of the authorities and the Xu family and other martial groups, quickly spread throughout Yuyang City.

For a time, storms brewed and everyone was on edge.

Martial artists of the postnatal realm—two of them, no less—appeared. In Yuyang City, aside from the authorities, no other power could withstand them.

The reputation of the authorities soared to unprecedented heights, overshadowing all the martial factions. Even after the incident, when the Xu family, Yang family, and Feisha Gang joined forces, their combined influence was still inferior to that of the authorities.

Especially after the city lord ordered the garrison to seal the city and search house by house, the might of the authorities became apparent to all.

Yet perhaps the two postnatal martial artists were too well hidden; even after three or four days of searching, no trace had been found.

Yang Ze had also dispatched men to investigate. After all, he had nearly lost his life to the blade of one of those warriors—how could he not care?

During that night’s fight, Yang Ze had truly come to understand the power of a postnatal martial artist. His own blade aura was enough to kill a peak Qi Induction cultivator, yet the blade aura of the postnatal opponent had defeated Yang Yuanzhen and three others.

Those four were no ordinary Qi Induction warriors; they had each reached the pinnacle of that realm, just a step away from advancing, yet they were still no match.

This was why Yang Ze was so anxious. If those two were not caught, who knew when they might strike again? Would he be lucky enough to escape next time?

Thinking back to that night’s ordeal, Yang Ze felt a heavy weight in his heart. After all, even he didn’t know why he had been targeted by such powerful foes. As he pondered whether to visit the magistrate’s office to ask Yuan Heng for information, a servant hurried in.

“Chief Steward—”

“What is it?” Yang Ze asked.

“News has just arrived—the two postnatal martial artists have been found.”

“What?!” Yang Ze exclaimed, surprised—he was just about to seek answers at the office, only for news to reach him first.

“Where were they found? Speak quickly!” Yang Ze urged, deeply concerned for his own safety.

“According to reports, the two were hiding in Mu Manor. They were discovered by Bai Fei, leader of the Feisha Gang in West City. Now Chief Constable Ouyang has gone with the office’s three chief constables and three of the martial world’s great experts to confront them. As for how things are going, I do not know. The moment I heard, I rushed back to report.”

Mu Manor?

Hearing the name, Yang Ze paused.

He had heard of that group—it was said to have a peak Qi Induction master, and its location was not far from Jin Manor. That made Mu Manor a very suspicious place.

Yang Ze knew little of Mu Manor, for it had always kept a low profile. He hadn’t heard of any of their people being active in the martial world in recent years. The only reason people remembered the place was because of Mu Dou, their peak Qi Induction master.

He never expected that such a low-profile group would be involved with postnatal martial artists. They truly knew how to conceal themselves.

If the two postnatal warriors were indeed in Mu Manor, then its master, Mu Dou, could hardly be uninvolved. That place must now be the site of a fierce battle.

Yang Ze recalled Ouyang Xin’s struggle with a postnatal martial artist that night—any one of them was more than a match for Ouyang Xin, and now, with two acting together, victory was far from certain.

Without time for further thought, Yang Ze set out immediately, for this was a matter closely tied to himself—he could not ignore it.

If Ouyang Xin and the others could not overcome those two men in black, then Yuyang City would no longer be a safe place for Yang Ze. He would have to find a way to escape.