Chapter 502: Nowhere to Flee

“Um… can you not go to that duel?” Yan Dechang finally blurted out the question that he’d been holding back all day on the dining table. He looked at Yan Liqiang worriedly. No father in this world would be happy to hear that his son was going to duel with a seasoned expert.

It had been three days since Yan Liqiang received the battle invitation from the Soaring Heaven Sect. Even if Yan Liqiang didn’t tell Yan Dechang about this, his father still managed to find out. Not only did Yan Dechang find out about it, but the entire Liuhe Town did too. When Yan Liqiang came back today, he had already heard people talking about it in town. In an era that lacked entertainment, gossip and news spread as fast as the speed of light. Yan Liqiang guessed that everyone in the northwestern region probably knew about it by now.

The Soaring Heaven Sect responded quickly. On the contrary, Yan Liqiang had yet to receive any news from the Soul Mountain Sect due to distance. This was probably one of the reasons why the Soaring Heaven Sect dared to make a move against him.

Looking at Yan Dechang’s worried face and his graying hair, Yan Liqiang tried his best to sound relaxed and natural. He swallowed whatever that was in his mouth, then set his chopsticks down gently.

“Father, there was a conflict between the manufacturing bureau and the Transportation Office recently. They lost many people, and one among them was a disciple from the Soaring Heaven Sect. Although Northwestern Transport Commissioner Jiang Tianhua appeared to have given up on this, he still couldn’t accept the situation so he urged the Soaring Heaven Sect to stir up trouble with me. I have already avoided this once in the Imperial Capital, but it’s impossible for me to avoid it the second time. If I do, I’ll risk having the manufacturing bureau and Liuhe Town’s progress taken from me and destroyed. Both are the Yan Clan’s properties, built upon countless people’s effort! There’s nothing I can do but fight these dogs until the bitter end!”

“But I heard your opponent will be the best archer in Yun Province, Elder Cai Yingwu from the Soaring Heaven Sect! That person is too strong, I’m afraid that…”

“Don’t worry, Father. Your son will not die so easily in the hands of others!” Yan Liqiang chuckled.

“Since my return to Gan Province, countless people have their eyes on me. They want to show me my place so badly and crush me beneath their feet. They’re overcome by jealousy when they see the manufacturing bureau making profit. The Transportation Office and Soaring Heaven Sect are not the only ones that harbor ill-intentions against us. I must settle this once and for all. As long as I manage to deal with this, no one in the northwestern region will dare to try anything on us again. I knew this day would come when I returned, so I’ve been preparing myself. This is the time for me to establish my power. I’ll definitely come back alive! If I make it through this, things will start looking up for our Yan Clan next year.”

Yan Liqiang didn’t make this up to assure Yan Dechang. He had already made preparations since long ago. If he didn’t kill a lot of experts, how could he bring himself to say that he was powerful? How would he be able to instill fear? Yan Liqiang might have made a name for himself, but his reputation mostly gave off the impression of a mysterious young rising star. It had nothing much to do with being a powerful expert.

Although he had a great reputation, not many were afraid of him. This was also the reason why Jiang Tianhua and the Soaring Heaven Sect dared to come knocking on his door. Although the manufacturing bureau had earned some respect through its recent conflict with the Transportation Office, it wasn’t good enough yet. All it needed was the blood of a reputed expert from the northwestern region to turn that respect into fear.

If the Soaring Heaven Sect didn’t pop up this time, Yan Liqiang would’ve continued making his fortune quietly. Now that they had showed up, Yan Liqiang wouldn’t back down either. He had to establish his power through this duel to make space for the future development of the Yan Clan and the manufacturing bureau in the northwestern region. In the end, this contest was just the continuation of that blindfolded contest in the Imperial Capital from last time.

After listening to Yan Liqiang, the worried look on Yan Dechang’s face gradually faded away. “Do you have the confidence?”

“Rest assured, Father! I am quite confident in this!”

“No matter what, you must remember that while there’s life, there’s hope. At your age, winning isn’t everything. I was still an apprentice in a blacksmithing workshop when I was your age, earning less than ten taels of silver a year. Look at you now! You have everything you could possibly want and you are a million times stronger than I was! As long as you live, time will be on your side. Even if you don’t make it now, you’ll definitely surpass Cai Yingwu in three or five years time!”

Yan Dechang glanced around the lavish dining hall. “As long as you survive, it’s alright even if we lose all our properties in Liuhe Town or the manufacturing bureau in Huanglong County. We can start over again! Your father still has the energy to open a new blacksmith store in another place and support you!”

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Warmth filled Yan Liqiang’s heart, causing his eyes to burn for some reason. However, Yan Liqiang didn’t cry. He laughed instead and pulled a face at Yan Dechang. “Rest assured, Father! You haven’t even held your grandchild in your arms yet! Nothing’s going to happen to me! I came back today to inform you that I will be training in seclusion for a month starting tomorrow. If things start to look really bad, then your son will think of a way to survive! Just like you said, I’ll just have to train in seclusion for another three or five years at worst. By then, no one will be able to take away what’s mine again!”

Yan Dechang finally let out a sigh of relief and squeezed a smile on his face. “That’s good if you think that way! Fine steel takes effort to temper. Nothing comes easy in life. A few setbacks in life is nothing for youngsters like you!”

“Alright, Father. I’ll listen to whatever you say!”

“That’s right. Come, eat! This is your favorite red braised pork! Mother Wu personally made this for you since she knew that you were coming back today…” Yan Dechang picked up his chopsticks and served a few chunks of braised pork into Yan Liqiang’s bowl.

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By the time Yan Liqiang finished his meal with Yan Dechang and returned to his courtyard, Yu Qing had finished preparing hot water for Yan Liqiang to wipe his hands.

The little girl who had always been energetic around Yan Liqiang seemed preoccupied today too. She was also smiling a lot less today.

When Yan Liqiang dried his hands and Yu Qing was about to carry the water out, Yan Liqiang stopped her. “What’s wrong? Are you still angry at me? The archery academy is full of boys so it’s inconvenient for you to stay there. That’s why I have you return here, where you can also focus on your cultivation better!”

“Qing’er knows Young Lord means well. How can I possibly blame you?” The girl lowered her head and replied softly.

“Then why are you unhappy?”

The girl immediately raised her head to look at Yan Liqiang, before lowering her head again. “Qing’er only has herself to blame for being useless. If I was good enough, I would’ve killed those bad guys so they wouldn’t be able to bother you again!”

Yan Liqiang was taken aback for a moment before bursting into laughter. He reached out to pinch Yu Qing’s cheek, and repeated the same thing Yan Dechang told him to her. “Fine steel takes effort to temper. Nothing comes easy in life. My Qing’er is impressive enough. Practice the techniques I’ve taught you well, and they will certainly be of use to me one day!”

The girl’s face immediately burned up. Her eyes flickered to Yan Liqiang before she nodded earnestly.

…

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Yan Liqiang only stayed one night at the Yan Residence before returning to the archery academy early next morning. After making some arrangements in the archery academy, he quietly left the place alone with his Horned Python Bow and two quivers full of arrows that night.

No one knew where Yan Liqiang went, including Shi Changfeng. All they knew was that he was going to train in seclusion for a month and would be back on the 20th day next month…