Chapter 174: Preparations

After a moment of consideration, Yan Dechang asked Yan Liqiang a question. “Liqiang, you have always been assertive of your own opinions. Can you tell me what you think about this?”

“I feel that there are benefits in following Lord Sun at his side. I can see various aspects of the world and gain a bit more experience from it. Lord Sun might give some guidance in the future too. Of course, the road ahead will not be normal, but if I decide to follow Lord Sun, I fear that I will have to follow him when he leaves Gan Province. A wave of problems will follow his career path, so I have to bear those burdens as well…”

“You are right. Whatever kind of wealth and honor you want in this world, you have to bear the risks that come with it. Nothing is free after all!” Yan Dechang nodded his head.

“Then do you agree that I should go, or no?”

Yan Dechang laughed and glanced at Yan Liqiang with gentle, loving eyes, “Pingxi County is too small for you. As a man, it’s a good thing to get a chance to go out, see the world, train yourself, and try something. It seems like this Lord Sun has a good reputation based on how you described him. With you following someone like him, I will be at ease. I was a young man before, so I dreamed of wandering around the world too. And I know how young people think. That’s why you don’t have to set me up. Just do what you want with any scruples. You are still young so you still have a lot of time. Your father isn’t in his seventies yet and I can still take care of myself. Moreover, I have a bunch of disciples in Liuhe Town. Nothing will happen if you leave Gan Province. I support your decision to go. However, there’s still one thing I’m a bit worried about…”

“Father, what are you worried about?”

“Naturally, anything will be useful for those who follow Lord Sun by his side. You still haven’t progressed as a Martial Warrior yet, so will you be able to protect yourself should you encounter something?” Yan Dechang said as he gazed at Yan Liqiang with worried eyes.

When Yan Liqiang glanced around and saw no one outside, he took a deep breath and said, “Father, I have something to tell you…”

“What is it?”

“I have already progressed as a Martial Warrior!”

“What?” Yan Dechang suddenly stood up from his chair and looked at Yan Liqiang in shock.

Regardless, Yan Dechang had a hard time believing his son’s words. A few months ago, Yan Liqiang had just passed the Horse Stance stage, and within these few months of just arriving at the martial arts academy, he was able to progress to a Martial Warrior. How was this possible?

Yan Dechang looked at Yan Liqiang with wide eyes and noticed a perfectly determined expression on his face. There was absolutely no hint of him joking whatsoever. Yan Dechang opened his mouth to say something, but couldn’t. In the end, he slowly sat back down on his chair, still clearly startled by the news. As if he had thought of something all of the sudden, he asked Yan Liqiang in an urgent tone, “Liqiang, have you told anyone else of this news?”

“Father, you are the first person to know this. I haven’t even told other people yet!”

“That’s good. That’s good. Your progression rate is too terrifying. I have never heard of someone who could progress this fast like you before. Uncle Qian even said that you would always dream of a deity imparting things to you. For now, you shouldn’t let too many people know that you have progressed as a Martial Warrior to avoid getting into trouble…”

“I understand!”

Yan Dechang suddenly closed his eyes and finally opened them a few seconds later. He deliberately used a calm tone to speak with Yan Liqiang. “It’s been a few months after you left home and you still haven’t lit an incense for your mother. Come and do it today. In the meantime, you can tell your mother that you’ve progressed as a Martial Warrior and make her happy about it…”

“Alright!”

…

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The incense hall was a newly constructed area inside the house. One wasn’t there before. Just two months ago when they were renovating the house, they built the incense hall at the same time. The Yan Clan’s memorial tablets were enshrined inside there.

Yan Liqiang and Yan Dechang then arrived at the incense hall. Yan Liqiang respectfully lit up three incense sticks and stuck them on the incense burner of the memorial tablets.

When Yan Liqiang was offering the incense sticks on the burner, Yan Dechang stood beside him and watched him with an expression that he would usually not display; it was as if he was sad and happy as Yan Liqiang finished the entire process. Yan Dechang had tried to say something, but he stopped himself several times. In the end, he didn’t manage to say anything and buried every one of his thoughts inside his heart.

…

Yan Liqiang did not sleep well that night. Even after he finished his nightly routine and cultivated a few rounds of Muscle Tendon Changing and Marrow Cleansing before he went to bed, he kept rolling around as he laid on the bed, unable to fall asleep. Two scenes kept replaying inside his mind — the first one being the words Yan Dechang said when he first got drunk several months ago, and the second scenario where Yan Dechang shouted to him at his last moment of life and death.

——”Xuelian… did you see? Our son… ranked first amongst the top three…. I promised you before… to nurture Liqiang… waiting for the day for him to have the ability… to… avenge you… Then I…can finally put my mind at ease and join you…. Wait for me…”

——”RUN, LIQIANG! IF YOU CAN LEAVE THIS PLACE ALIVE TODAY, DON’T FORGET TO EXTERMINATE THE SHATU SEVEN TRIBES TO AVENGE YOUR MOTHER…!”

Yan Liqiang initially thought that Yan Dechang would tell him something when he came back this time. However, Yan Dechang still didn’t tell him anything. Even if he wanted to, he held back his tongue, sensing that it wasn’t the right time yet.

Yan Liqiang could only pretend that he didn’t know anything.

…

The next day, Yan Liqiang said his goodbyes to Yan Dechang as he was about to leave home. He brought the Horned Python Bow that he had previously stashed at home with him and headed toward Huanglong County.

Yan Liqiang went to the Weaponsmiths Quarter first and stayed there for half a day, telling Qian Su about the story where Sun Bingchen wanted to recruit him as his attendant.

Qian Su only uttered eight words of advice to Yan Liqiang regarding this matter: “This is a golden opportunity, don’t miss it!”

After that, Qian Su quickly took Yan Liqiang with him to pay another visit to the Lu Residence.

During these few days, the Lu Residence had been busy with the lotus root briquette that Yan Liqiang had mentioned to them. Based on what Qian Su said, the Lu Clan had already secretly initiated Yan Liqiang’s method in trial manufacturing a batch of lotus root briquettes. In the end, they were left with good results, which was beyond their expectations. Because of that, they were greatly encouraged to continue on. The Lu Clan was eager to take down the market in Pingxi City by preparing to join forces with several powerful partners.

The news of the substitution of the Prefectural Governor of Pingxi City had spread everywhere. For now, the Lu Clan was waiting for the new Prefectural Governor to appear before they could pay their utmost respects. They planned to roll up their sleeves again once they got through that phase.

Old Master Lu was quite surprised upon Yan Liqiang’s visit again. Nevertheless, he was happy to see him once more.

Ever since Lu Beixin returned last time, she became an entirely different person and she never once mentioned Wang Haofei again. Her attitude toward Old Master Lu and some of her family members had turned upside down as well.

Seeing how his precious daughter had finally come to an understanding about her family’s struggles, Old Master Lu was pleasantly surprised and happy. Of course, there were no words to describe how grateful he was toward Yan Liqiang.

It seemed like no one in the Lu Clan was unsatisfied with Yan Liqiang as the Lu Clan’s future ‘potential son-in-law’.

When Qian Su mentioned how Yan Liqiang was selected by Patrol Inspector Sun Bingchen to become his attendant, they were dumbfounded after they listened to his story…