Chapter 428: Back At Home

Draped in a cape and moving against the snow, Yan Liqiang and his company returned to Liuhe Town by nightfall. Upon Yan Liqiang’s return to the Yan Clan’s manor, the place instantly became lively.

“Young Lord, you are back!”

The moment Yan Liqiang dismounted his steed, Yu Qing came over to take Yan Liqiang’s cape.

“Have you gotten used to living in Liuhe Town over the past few days?” Yan Liqiang asked. While making his way inside from the yard, he was looking Yu Qing up and down. It had only been a month since he last saw her, but Yu Qing’s face seemed to have grown rounder and she had also grown taller. Yan Liqiang wondered if it was because she had settled down in life or because she was still a growing girl. At first glance, she seemed to have grown into a slender and graceful woman.

“Old Master, Uncle Zhou, and his wife have been taking good care of me. Mother Wu also taught me many things too! I’m enjoying my time here!” Yu Qing replied obediently.

“What about those skills and fundamentals I taught you? Have you been practicing?” Yan Liqiang casually asked.

“I’ve been practicing!” Yu Qing nodded.

“Good. Cultivation requires perseverance. Look for me first if you have any doubts, do not act rashly. It’ll be bad if you hurt yourself in the process. Remember not to run before you can walk!”

Yu Qing’s gaze flickered to Yan Liqiang and she blushed, “Alright.”

While they were talking, Zhou Hongda who knew Yan Liqiang had returned came running toward them from the courtyard ahead of them. “Greetings, Young Lord!”

“Where is my father?”

“The Old Master is in the dining room. He’s been working until quite late in the blacksmith workshop lately so he’s been taking his dinner late…”

“Very well. I shall head over to the dining room since I haven’t had my dinner yet either. Steward Zhou, please have the kitchen prepare ginger soup and dinner for Hu Haihe and the others too…”

“Understood, I will have it ready for everyone shortly!”

“Good.”

…

Yan Liqiang dined with Yan Dechang and Zhou Tiezhu tonight. Steward Zhou had ordered the kitchen to make a few more dishes knowing that Yan Liqiang would be coming home. The three of them had dinner together at the same table just like how they did before the Yan Clan became wealthy.

Zhou Tiezhu left first after dinner, knowing that Yan Dechang would have quite a lot of catching up to do with his son.

As soon as Zhou Tiezhu left, Yan Dechang couldn’t stop himself from asking the most pressing question on his mind. “You have just returned to Pingxi City and the Shatu people have caused such a huge incident. I heard in town that the Provincial Governor has killed many Shatu people in the city. Did any of them come after you?”

“Those Shatu people have been targeting me…” Ensuring that there were no outsiders around, Yan Liqiang recounted the incidents that transpired in Pingxi City to Yan Dechang.

As expected, Yan Dechang immediately tensed up as soon as he heard that the Shatu people were going to assassinate Yan Liqiang. “What will happen to you from now on? Knowing these Shatu people, they’ll surely make a second or third attempt even if they failed the first time…!”

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“Those Shatu people are indeed troublesome. Putting aside the fact that my position as the Qiyun Protectorate General agitates them, I’m afraid that the Grand Chancellor in the Imperial Capital isn’t going to let me off so easily. Even so, don’t worry about me, Father. Those Shatu people are mortals too. They’ve suffered heavy losses this time so I’m guessing that they’ll stop for the time being!”

“But you can’t just wait for them to come. There’s a proverb that says ‘There are thieves of a thousand days but not guarding against them for a thousand days.'[1] This simply won’t work!” Yan Dechang still looked worried.

“It’s actually very easy to make the Shatu people give up. I’ll just have to let them know that they won’t be able to bear the consequences of assassinating me or I’ll make it so that they have no way of killing me. Many things in this world cannot be solved by just relying on a few assassins. On the contrary, things would’ve been very easy if assassins could be used to solve every problem!” Yan Liqiang smiled as he spoke with confidence.

“I have returned this time to inform you that I will leave Qinghe Town tomorrow. I shall find a place to focus on my cultivation for half a year alone. As long as I improve my cultivation, I have nothing to fear against any assassins sent out by the Shatu people!”

“You’re right. One must be strong to forge iron. If one is capable, then he has nothing to fear against the Shatu people’s despicable methods. Where do you plan to cultivate?”

“I haven’t decided yet. I’m just looking for a quiet and peaceful place, probably outside Pingxi Prefecture, but not too far from there either.”

“Is our home is no good?”

“The spear technique I’m cultivating now will cause great disturbances. Not only that, but I also need to be in a very specific environment. Home isn’t a very suitable place and I may just attract more trouble home if I stay here. I’ll just find a spot in the wilderness!”

“You’re leaving tomorrow?”

“Yes, I will be leaving tomorrow. I have already asked Uncle Qian to take care of the manufacturing bureau. Oh right, they will send a four-wheeled carriage over tomorrow for you. Since the carriage is slower than rhinodrake steed, we rode back without it today…”

“Do not worry so much, just focus on your cultivation!” Yan Dechang patted Yan Liqiang’s shoulder. “Steward Zhou and Steward Lu are very capable men, you don’t need to worry about home. The County Magistrate paid a visit two days ago. Ever since your return, everyone in town has been supportive of us. I’m guessing no one in Pingxi Prefecture will dare to find trouble with the Yan Clan now. In two days time, I will ask Steward Zhou to hire a few more competent guards. We’ll hire experts since we’re not short on money…”

“Father, you don’t need to worry about hiring guards. During my meeting with the Provincial Governor, he promised me that he’ll introduce a few veterans that have retired from the Gan Provincial Army to serve as the Yan Clan’s guards. They are seasoned soldiers who have fought on countless battlefields and have seen all sorts of battles. Every single one of them is reliable and loyal. By the time they arrive, you won’t have to worry about your safety at home any longer!”

Yan Dechang let out a long sigh. “That’s great!”

“When those veterans are here, you can arrange them to train the youngsters in Liuhe Town as preparation for them to join the archery academy…”

…

…

After discussing the arrangements for the second half of the year with Yan Dechang, Yan Liqiang returned to his little courtyard and then called Hu Haihe and Yu Qing over to brief them. He then proceeded to pack his luggage that night, preparing some necessities he needed for his cultivation.

The Heavenly Realm collapsed because he was assassinated by an expert lurking in the Divine Sword Sect. His return journey to Gan Province was also full of unexpected perils. The moment he returned to Pingxi City, a Shatu assassin came after him. Yan Liqiang might’ve appeared to be calm, but such encounters in succession had made him aware of the immense danger he was facing.

This was the exact reason why Yan Liqiang decided to cultivate in seclusion. He was prepared to spend half a year to significantly raise his strength to another level. This was so that he could better protect himself, and give a big surprise to those who were planning to do him in through despicable methods.

Before sunrise the next day, Yan Liqiang put on a thick cape and silently left the Yan Residence with only a Dragon Spine Steel spear, a warbow, a quiver, and his luggage.

It was snowing heavily and frosty outside. In just one night, the entire land was blanketed by the silvery white snow.

After Yan Liqiang left Liuhe Town and saw no one around, he held his spear and performed the lightness skill technique. Each step covered the distance of several zhang. In just the blink of an eye, Yan Liqiang’s silhouette disappeared into the snowy landscape as he sprinted through the wilderness….