The Wangchao's Move

By seniority, Yang Shu and Yang Linghu's group of three were of the same generation.

It was just that he had been born later. When the Beast Tide wreaked havoc back then, he was only three years old and had been hidden in the cellar along with the other young children of the Yang family.

"Ah! Little Brother is here."

Seeing Yang Shu, Yang Linghu put away his cultivation stance.

Beside him, Wu Tong sat on a rattan recliner. She gently stroked her swollen belly with one hand and beckoned with the other. "It is our little Family Head. Come, sit over here."

"Sister-in-law, please do not tease me. Yang Shu cannot bear even a fraction of the Family Head title right now."

Yang Shu shook his head with a smile.

Nowadays, with the Sanglu Valley branch established, he was essentially the one managing affairs.

However, any major decisions still had to be sent to Songshan first, and could only be passed down after Yang Lingqing had reviewed and approved them.

Yang Shu stepped forward and sat down beside Yang Linghu.

"Brother Linghu, it has been four months now, has it not?"

"Yes, in another ten days, it will be the fifth month."

As he spoke, Yang Linghu looked at Wu Tong, a warm light softening his eyes.

Although the family had arranged their union, they got along perfectly, never once exchanging even a harsh word.

Wu Tong possessed a resilient temperament, lacking the fragile delicacy of ordinary women. On the path of cultivation, she never sought shortcuts and was always willing to endure bitter hardship.

This was something Yang Linghu greatly admired. Cultivating the Brute Force Art required enduring immense physical pain.

Back when he first entered the Dao and cultivated, even he could hardly bear it at critical moments and had to cry out, but Wu Tong swallowed all the pain without a single sound.

Wu Tong equally admired Yang Linghu's mastery of techniques. They shared no barriers from their very first meeting and spoke with great joy.

Later, under Yang Linghu's guidance, Wu Tong's techniques advanced rapidly. While still at the first realm of cultivation, she was already on the verge of pushing the Brute Force Art to its second level.

Spending all their days together, they became both teacher and friend. With the family actively encouraging the match, feelings naturally blossomed over time.

"Sigh... it is just hard on Junior Sister. During these days of nourishing the child, she cannot move about or cultivate. It is truly tormenting."

"Senior Brother, do not say that. Since we met, you have looked after me endlessly. After our marriage, the family even built a courtyard specifically for me and invited a Formation Master to lay down defensive formations."

Wu Tong said softly, "These past days, Senior Brother has tended to my every need and performed martial arts for me daily. How could I possibly call this hard?"

Hearing this, Yang Linghu took her hand and gently drew her into his embrace, a trace of guilt rising in his eyes.

After more than two years together day and night, he understood her deep yearning for the Great Dao better than anyone.

It was only a pity that her innate aptitude was truly lacking. Even with relentless cultivation, it would be immensely difficult for her to reach the middle stage of Qi Gathering.

In truth, before they were even wed, Yang Lingqing had Zhao Qi deliver a premium Marrow-Washing Pill to them.

Following the incident at Lone Moon Mountain, the Wangchao had granted the Yang family a writ of commendation. This Pill was what Yang Lingqing had exchanged her merits for from the Wangchao Treasury.

Yang Lingqing had originally intended for Wu Tong to consume it to mend her constitution, but Wu Tong had refused.

Since stepping onto the path of cultivation, Wu Tong had grown increasingly aware of how frail her aptitude was.

Refusing the Marrow-Washing Pill was no impulsive choice, but the result of quiet, sober deliberation.

With her current talent, even if the Pill improved her roots, her ultimate limit would merely shift from the early stage of Qi Gathering to the middle stage.

At the time, the Yang family already possessed four middle-stage cultivators, and both Yang Lingqing and Yang Linghu would step into that realm in a few short years.

If she took the Pill, it would still take her decades of bitter effort to reach the middle stage.

Even if she stumbled upon some fortuitous encounter in the future, she would achieve nothing without at least another ten or twenty years.

By then, one more middle-stage cultivator would mean little to the Yang family-at best, it would be a minor flourish.

What the Yang family truly and desperately needed right now were top-tier cultivators-those with the Potential to reach the late stage of Qi Gathering, Perfection, or even the Condensed Origin realm, who could uphold the family's standing.

It was entirely out of consideration for the family's overall interests that Wu Tong declined the Marrow-Washing Pill, passing it into Yang Shu's hands instead.

His talent was currently second only to Yang Lingrui within the clan. By consuming this Marrow-Washing Pill, Perfection would be within his grasp, and the Condensed Origin realm would be in sight.

Her decision had stunned both Yang Lingqing and Yang Linghu, and left Yang Shu with a deep, lasting gratitude.

From then on, he frequently brought gifts to visit the couple.

"I am a bit tired. Senior Brother, would you help me back to the room to rest?"

"Ah, of course."

Yang Linghu supported her, slowly escorting her back to the side room in the rear courtyard.

Returning to the front courtyard, he saw Yang Shu secretly wiping away tears.

He stepped forward and gently patted Yang Shu on the shoulder. "Little Brother, do not be sad."

"Sigh... I just feel the injustice for Sister-in-law. She and her father were the sole survivors of the Beast Tide, and every step of her cultivation path has been agonizing. When she finally obtained this Pill, she thought only of the family and gave it to me."

Yang Shu sighed.

Hearing this, Yang Linghu sat down beside him and offered comfort. "Little Brother, this is simply how the world is. Eight or nine things out of ten will go against your wishes. Just as our family now relies on the Wangchao and the He Family-we are forced by circumstances, not acting out of our own desires."

"It has not been easy for the Yang family to reach this point. Each of us carries a burden. We must bear our responsibilities and play our roles well."

"Lingqing once told me that every generation has its own mission. If we endure more hardship and make more sacrifices now, the future descendants of the Yang family will be able to live more comfortably and freely."

Yang Shu calmed his emotions. "I will remember Elder Brother's teachings."

"Alright, enough of this. You came today-did the Wangchao make a move?"

"Yes, the Family Head sent a letter."

With that, Yang Shu handed over a letter bearing the "Qing" command token to Yang Linghu.

The contents detailed the Wangchao's latest movements.

Ever since Lone Moon Mountain issued the decree forbidding descent from the mountain, the Sects across the region that had noticed something amiss had also restrained themselves.

The first round of probing between the two sides was over. Now, it was time for a new game of chess.

To lure the Sects' pieces onto the board, the Zhuhu Wangchao had released a total of twenty-four hidden caches and treasure grounds.

Among them, three were located near the Wangyue region: the Black Snake Hidden Cache, the Mayfly Treasure Ground, and the Lotus Pond Treasure Ground.

The Black Snake Hidden Cache restricted entry to the early stage of Qi Gathering, the Mayfly Treasure Ground to the middle stage, and the Lotus Pond Treasure Ground to the late stage.

He Shenglai had delivered the Wangchao's secret edict to the Yang family. The family's focus for this action would be the Black Snake Hidden Cache and the Mayfly Treasure Ground.

Within them, they were to retrieve a Black Snake Blood Scale and a portion of Mayfly Essence-two rare spiritual materials.

As for the final location, the Lotus Pond Treasure Ground, the Yang family could decide on their own whether to send anyone in.

This matter was of grave importance, and Yang Lingqing dared not treat it lightly.

After careful deliberation, she set her arrangements: Yang Lingrui, Xie Chuan, and Lü Lianshun would enter the Mayfly Treasure Ground together.

She herself would lead Liang Yi and Zhao Qi to the Black Snake Hidden Cache.

At home, Yang Shu and Lü Fangxuan would guard Songshan, Yang Linghu would remain with Wu Tong, and Elder Yu would hold down Sanglu Valley.

The hidden caches and treasure grounds would all open in forty days. However, due to the long journey, the Yang family members needed to set out a month in advance, leaving them a mere ten days to prepare.

After reading the letter, Yang Linghu pondered briefly. "This is bait cast by the Wangchao to drag the Sects into the fray. By the time we arrive, the situation within the caches will undoubtedly be complex and fraught with danger. With Lingrui at the Mayfly Treasure Ground, it should be fine, but these arrangements for the Black Snake Hidden Cache..."

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