Chapter Sixty-Nine: Return to the Yang Family

After five months, Yang Ze returned once more to Tairong Street. As he walked up to the Yang family estate, gazing upon the familiar grounds, a deep sense of emotion stirred within him.

He stepped forward, but two servants at the gate blocked his way. “Who goes there?” they demanded.

Yang Ze glanced at the two unfamiliar faces, choosing not to force his way through. He replied calmly, “I am Yang Ze. I wish to see the head of the Yang family.”

The servant on the left burst into laughter. “You’re the Second Young Master? Ha! You say it so easily. Our Second Young Master is now the chief steward of the Yang family in the North City—that’s no small position. Why don’t you take a good look at yourself? How dare you impersonate him just to see our master? If you’ve nothing better to do, be on your way. Don’t make us use force, or it won’t end well for you.”

In their eyes, this solitary man was surely no one of importance—he lacked any sign of status or retinue.

Yang Ze’s expression turned cold. He hadn’t expected these two to be so insolent; after announcing his name, instead of reporting inside, they mocked him.

Just as he was about to teach them a lesson, a voice called out from behind.

“That, that’s the Second Young Master!”

Yang Ze turned and saw an elderly man standing there. Though he didn’t recognize him, the old man must have served the household for years—otherwise, he wouldn’t have recognized Yang Ze at a glance.

Two younger servants dressed in livery accompanied the old man. The elder pulled them forward, and all three bowed deeply to Yang Ze.

“Greetings to the Second Young Master!” they chorused.

In the past, they might not have been so startled, but in the past months, Yang Ze’s reputation had spread throughout Yuyang City. They all knew that the Second Young Master was no longer the weakling he once was.

Seeing the old man salute, the two gatekeepers were struck with terror. They dropped to their knees with a thud and kowtowed before Yang Ze.

“Second Young Master, we failed to recognize greatness before us and blocked your way. Please, spare us!” they pleaded, their voices trembling and their heads bowed low, daring not to look up.

They were truly frightened. They could never have imagined that this visitor was the real Yang Ze. In recent days, they’d heard his name often—he was said to have wiped out entire families without blinking, a ruthless killer. They dreaded that they had angered him and would be struck down on the spot.

After a long time with their heads pressed to the ground, they finally dared to lift them slightly, only to find Yang Ze was already gone.

Yang Ze had no interest in dealing with the two of them—he had more important matters at hand.

Once inside the Yang family estate, the three servants did not follow—Yang Ze had forbidden it. He had come for Yang Yuanzhen, and did not wish to draw attention.

Moving through the estate by memory, Yang Ze soon arrived at Yang Yuanzhen’s study. The head of the family spent most of his time there, so Yang Ze headed straight for it.

Without revealing his presence, Yang Ze tiptoed to the study’s door and knocked.

After just two knocks, a voice called from within, “Who is it?”

Yang Ze opened the door and stepped inside.

Yang Yuanzhen was reading at his desk. Looking up, he saw Yang Ze and a look of puzzlement crossed his face.

“What are you doing back here? And barging into my study unannounced?” Yang Yuanzhen’s tone was stern, clearly displeased.

Yang Ze closed the door behind him. “I’m here because I have something to discuss with you,” he said evenly.

Yang Yuanzhen frowned—this was the first time he’d heard Yang Ze speak with such resolve. He could not imagine what had happened.

“What is it?” Yang Yuanzhen noticed Yang Ze was armed.

“Very well, let’s not waste words. Tell me, who is Yang Yuankai?” Yang Ze asked directly.

Yang Yuanzhen’s pupils contracted in shock—he had not expected such a question. “Who told you that name?”

“So it’s true,” Yang Ze said, a weight lifting from his shoulders. “Now I can finally sever all ties with the Yang family.”

“I asked you—who told you that name!” Yang Yuanzhen slammed the table, making the teacups rattle and crack.

“That’s not the point,” Yang Ze replied coldly. “What matters is that I am not your biological son. My father gave his life for the Yang family. That settles our debts. From this day forth, there is nothing tying me to the Yang family.”

Yang Yuanzhen’s face darkened. “Insolence! Are you trying to rebel?”

“You raised me all these years, and I owed you for that. But my father also sacrificed his life for the Yang family. That cancels everything between us. As I said, you remain in charge of the Yang family—I will not return, nor will I ever seek anything from you. The Yang family men in North City will be recalled—henceforth, they will no longer answer to the Yang family.”

With these words, Yang Ze made his intentions clear. He had come to sever all ties with the Yang family, so that the Tongyang Alliance could stand truly independent.

He had not made this decision rashly, but after careful thought. With his current strength, and with Old Xie’s aid, he could easily control the Tongyang Alliance. There might be some turbulence in the short term, but nothing he couldn’t handle.

Without the Yang family as his backer, expanding his influence in the future would certainly be more difficult. Yet, if he could enter the Wuyang Martial Academy, the Four Ways Guild would come under official jurisdiction, and he would have no need to worry about such things. Once the Yang family no longer benefited from him, and the guild passed to government hands, there would be no further pressure from them.

No matter how he looked at it, the advantages outweighed the disadvantages. There was no reason to hesitate.

But Yang Yuanzhen saw things differently. He thundered, “Now that you know the truth, Yang Ze, do you feel nothing for this family? You think it is wise to abandon the protection of your kin?”

“All these years, I raised you, invested countless resources in you. And now, with a single phrase, you would cut away everything? Yuankai died for this family—if he could see you betray us now, he would never rest in peace!”

Yang Ze let out a laugh. In his brief time with this family, he had received little from them—how could he feel any affection? As for the late Yang Yuankai, whom he had never met, such emotional blackmail was pointless.

He replied, “There’s no need for these empty words. My father died for the Yang family—that’s enough. I suffered more than a decade of injustice here; it’s time to end it. Nothing you say today will change my mind.”

Seeing that Yang Ze was resolute, Yang Yuanzhen’s expression grew even more sinister. “If you refuse the cup offered in friendship, you’ll be forced to drink the cup of punishment. Stubborn fool! The only way to teach you is to subdue you and drag you before our ancestors to repent!”

With that, Yang Yuanzhen took a step forward, reaching out to seize Yang Ze.

Yang Ze’s eyes flashed as he retreated, dodging behind the furnishings of the study. Yang Yuanzhen pressed forward relentlessly, making repeated attempts to grab him.

Yang Ze kept moving, never drawing his blade. He knew full well that his Black Tiger Sword Technique had come from Yang Yuanzhen himself. Although Yang Ze had surpassed his master in level and strength, Yang Yuanzhen had honed the technique for years. With his own superior cultivation, there was little advantage to be gained from using the sword, save for its blade aura.

So Yang Ze did not dare to act rashly. Yang Yuanzhen, frustrated at his failure to capture Yang Ze, grew colder and increased his speed, channeling his energy for a swifter assault.

Under this fierce pressure, Yang Ze found himself with ever less room to maneuver. At last, cornered, Yang Ze struck out with his palm, aiming for Yang Yuanzhen’s face.

Yang Yuanzhen met the blow with his own palm; their powers collided, sending a shockwave through the study and shaking the bookcases.

After the exchange, Yang Ze twisted aside, dodging once more to prolong the standoff.

Enraged, Yang Yuanzhen unleashed a flurry of attacks as he pressed closer.

Yang Ze focused on evasion, countering only occasionally. The study reverberated with the sounds of their battle.

The room trembled as they exchanged dozens of blows. Though Yang Yuanzhen had the upper hand, he could not subdue Yang Ze—the struggle was evenly matched.

“Yang Yuanzhen, give it up. That night, I was already weakened by a strike from Xu Wenwu before you captured me. Did you really think you could overpower me so easily?”

In a fight to the death, Yang Ze would not be Yang Yuanzhen’s equal, but he could certainly hold his own.

Yang Yuanzhen said nothing, unleashing the full power of his cultivation as he charged, leaving only a blur in his wake. Yang Ze’s eyes narrowed as he dodged and parried, but Yang Yuanzhen managed to seize his arm and lock it fast.