Clan Unity

The Li City Wu Clan's ancestral residence stood within high walls and a grand courtyard, right beside Wu Family Alley. It was where the Wu Clan held ancestral rites, gatherings, and feasts in ordinary times, and it was also Clan Chief Wu Qiming's residence.

"Get down." Wu Qiming was the first to step from the carriage.

Wu Yuan helped Wan Qin down, his gaze sweeping across the ancestral residence. It was not on the level of the General's Mansion, but it was still quite extraordinary.

In Wu Yuan's memories, ever since his father had died in battle, he and his mother had usually come here only before the New Year and the three major festivals.

The three major festivals were the Sect Founding Festival, the Clan Establishment Festival, and the Martial King Festival. All were solemn commemorative and sacrificial festivals, the grandest of occasions.

For the people of the Central Plains Seven Provinces, the Martial King Festival was shared by all, commemorating the legendary progenitor of humanity, the Martial King. The other two festivals, however, were not necessarily the same everywhere.

Of course, throughout the lands governed by the Hengyun Sect, the Sect Founding Festival fell on the same day.

"The Clan Chief has returned." The steward of the ancestral residence hurried forward. Seeing the two following behind him, he smiled as well. "So it's Little Brother Yuan and sister-in-law."

"You're too polite, Steward Fang." Wu Yuan smiled.

The steward's surname was Fang, and he was deeply trusted by Wu Qiming. In Wu Yuan's memories, he had always been rather indifferent toward most members of the Wu Clan.

It seemed—

The results of the Martial Academy Grand Competition had already spread. Fourth place might not have been the most eye-catching, but it was already dazzling enough.

"Old Fang, prepare wine and food. Later, I will dine with Wu Yuan," Wu Qiming instructed. "Also, without my orders, no one is to enter the study."

"Yes." Steward Fang answered at once.

Wu Yuan and his mother followed Wu Qiming into a study on one side of the courtyard. It was quiet here, with a great many books and an elegant air. It was more than a notch above Wu Yuan's home.

They each took a seat.

"Wu Yuan, I've already said everything that needed saying on the road."

"The Qing Family is not especially powerful, but they are willing to arrange an engagement with the family head's legitimate daughter. I have met that young lady of the Qing Family as well. She is learned and well-mannered, aspires to succeed in the imperial examinations, and could be of help to you," Wu Qiming said directly.

"The Luo Family is also willing to offer their sixth branch's legitimate daughter in marriage. She may seem inferior to the Qing Family's young lady, but the Luo Family is a wealthy and extravagant great clan. They are willing to provide a substantial amount of silver to support your cultivation. If I recall correctly, Luo He, the Luo Family head's son, was once your fellow student and close friend."

"As for the remaining families, I did not think they suited you, so I declined them for you." Wu Qiming looked at Wu Yuan. "Your mother believes the Qing Family is the better match."

"Mother, you want me to marry too?" Wu Yuan frowned.

"It is only an engagement. You can marry a few years from now." Wan Qin was clearly quite satisfied. "Mother has seen that legitimate daughter of the Qing Family from afar several times..."

"Mother!"

Wu Yuan frowned. "Your son has no plans to become engaged for now, nor any intention of marrying anytime soon."

"Clan Chief, please decline the Qing and Luo Families on my behalf. The reason is that I wish to devote myself to martial cultivation and have no interest in romance between men and women for the time being," Wu Yuan said solemnly.

Before Clan Chief Wu Qiming could speak, Wan Qin at his side flared up directly.

"Yuan'er, you have always been determined and had your own mind in all you do. Your mother has always gone along with you." Wan Qin looked at her son, somewhat angry. "You have achieved greatly in martial cultivation, and I am proud of you. But you must take marriage seriously. I raised you and your sister to adulthood. If you do not marry and leave behind no descendants, how will I face your father in the future?"

Wu Qiming smiled.

Wu Yuan, however, felt a headache coming on.

In his previous life, there was scarcely any parental pressure to marry during the Interstellar Era. Indeed, a considerable portion of humanity had even been raised through "socialized child-rearing."

Unfortunately, this was the Central Land World. In many ways, it shared much in common with ancient Blue Star, where the continuation of one's bloodline outweighed the heavens.

Of course, Wu Yuan would not blame his mother.

Different social structures naturally gave rise to different currents of thought and customs.

"Mother."

Wu Yuan patiently said, "It is not that your son does not wish to marry. It is merely that I have only just turned fourteen, the finest time for martial cultivation, and I do not wish to be distracted."

"When your son reaches his twenties and achieves great success in martial cultivation, I will naturally consider marriage. By then, I will also be able to choose a wife more suited to me," Wu Yuan said with great solemnity.

"In your twenties?" Wan Qin hesitated somewhat.

"Sister-in-law, it is perfectly normal for truly powerful martial artists to marry in their twenties or thirties." Wu Qiming smiled. "That is also why I did not strongly urge Wu Yuan."

"Fine!"

Wan Qin trusted Wu Qiming greatly, but she still shot Wu Yuan a glare. "In the future, you are not allowed to mention not marrying to me again."

"Yes, your son will remember." Wu Yuan nodded repeatedly.

"Yuan'er, I do not understand the important matters, but the Clan Chief does. When something happens, discuss it more with him. Mother will go to the rear courtyard to see your aunt first. You and the Clan Chief can talk." Wan Qin rose, gave Wu Qiming a slight bow of apology, and left the study.

The aunt she spoke of naturally referred to Wu Qiming's wife.

"Wu Yuan, you have a good mother. Do not disappoint her expectations." Wu Qiming sighed with feeling.

"Mm." Wu Yuan nodded slightly.

Although Mother Wan Qin was limited by her knowledge and horizons, she was by no means foolish. She had long guessed that Wu Qiming had sought Wu Yuan out for more than just the matter of marriage.

If it had only been such a matter, there would have been no need to come to the Wu Clan ancestral residence at all.

They had come here because walls had ears, and there were important matters to discuss.

Therefore, after the marriage discussion was finished, Wan Qin tactfully withdrew. She trusted her son's judgment, and she also trusted that the Clan Chief would not treat Wu Yuan unfairly.

"Are you truly not considering marriage?"

Wu Qiming poured tea as he spoke. "You are a sensible person. You should understand the benefits of an engagement."

"Our Wu Clan is still somewhat weak in the end. It is difficult for us to invest a large quantity of resources in you."

"If you became the son-in-law of the Luo Family or Qing Family, it would be equivalent to gaining the support of another great clan. Your martial cultivation would proceed more smoothly." Wu Qiming looked at Wu Yuan.

"I will not consider it." Wu Yuan shook his head.

Clan Chief Wu Qiming was right. If Wu Yuan had merely been an ordinary Martial Academy disciple, marrying into a great clan would have been the best choice.

Martial cultivation required financial support!

And for these great clans to preserve their splendor, they likewise needed the support of powerful martial artists.

It was a win-win arrangement.

Unfortunately, Wu Yuan's need for money was not particularly great. Or rather, whether it was the Qing Family or the Luo Family, the wealth they could provide would be of pitifully little practical help to Wu Yuan.

More importantly—

In Wu Yuan's heart, his future wife ought to be someone with whom he shared mutual affection. How could he choose one so casually?

"Clan Chief, neither the Qing Family nor the Luo Family is easy to deal with. When they seek a son-in-law, they hope to receive tenfold returns." Wu Yuan said calmly. "Any assistance they offer me now will become restraints upon me in the future."

"Once you grow strong and become part of the sect's upper ranks, overseeing a commandery or even a prefecture, whether you help them or not will depend on a single thought from you," Wu Qiming said.

He put it very tactfully.

But Wu Yuan understood what he truly meant. Take what was offered and use it first. Once he was done, he could completely kick them aside in the future, offering them a little favor. Could they really dare to turn hostile?

"Kindness must be repaid with a gushing spring; enmity must likewise be repaid tenfold." Wu Yuan did not conceal anything, his voice ringing like struck metal. "Clan Chief, this is my martial heart. In all I do, I, Wu Yuan, must stand upright and open, never going against my own heart."

Wu Qiming's eyes lit up. Martial heart?

He faintly began to understand why Wu Yuan had progressed so quickly.

"Fine. Since you have decided, I will not urge you further." Wu Qiming said, "What do you think about Xu Yuanhan's matter?"

Wu Yuan understood instantly.

This was likely the true focus of Wu Qiming's questions.

This matter had to remain secret. Wu Qiming could not discuss it with anyone else in the clan.

"Xu Yuanhan was inferior in skill and lost a fair fight. What is there to say?" Wu Yuan shook his head. "We have already honored our promise. Otherwise, neither Xu Yuanhan nor Liu Ruyan would have been my match."

"Mm." Wu Qiming said regretfully, "Had I known this would happen, I should not have agreed to the Xu Family's request back then. You entered Cloud Martial Hall a year late, only to benefit that Liu Ruyan."

"Who can know the future? That was the best choice we had at the time." Wu Yuan spoke frankly.

Wu Qiming sighed. "I understand that as well, but after today's unexpected turn, I do not know whether the Xu Family will become dissatisfied with us."

"Our Wu Clan has done all that duty and righteousness require. If the Xu Family still wishes to oppress us, we cannot simply retreat at every turn." Wu Yuan voiced his opinion.

Lowering one's head for a time was so that one could ultimately hold it high.

If one only knew how to bow one's head, one would eventually be trampled into the dust at the bottom of the valley.

"I will consider it." Wu Qiming nodded lightly. "However, given General Xu's character, he should not go so far."

"Fine, we can discuss this matter later."

"Wu Yuan." Wu Qiming looked at him. "When it comes to martial cultivation, our Wu Clan has fewer than ten Martial Masters and not even a single Proficient Expert. We can offer you little help, aside from some silver. If you need anything, you must speak to me."

"After today's grand competition, no one in the Wu Clan will oppose you again," Wu Qiming said.

"I have not even spent all the silver from last time. If I truly need something, I naturally will not stand on ceremony with the clan." Wu Yuan smiled.

In Wu Yuan's memories, many Wu Clan members had seemed to oppress his family over the past several years and had voiced their objections, but the core reason was not his father's death in battle.

Rather, after his father's death, his family had found it difficult to support his cultivation, causing them to occupy a large amount of the clan's resources for a long time.

With Wu Qiming's support, the clan treasury had spent over a thousand taels of silver on Wu Yuan one after another.

This amount of money was not much to a great clan.

But to the Wu Clan? It was an enormous sum!

After all, the clan treasury was earned through the hard work of several hundred clan members. It was meant to strengthen the entire clan.

Throughout the Central Land Continent, most clans had internal competition, but generally speaking, they stood united against outsiders. A family that was not united would sooner or later decline.

Moreover, do not forget—

The previous Wu Yuan could only be considered one of the higher-ranked disciples at the Martial Academy. He could not be called a top talent!

To become a Proficient Expert? It was exceedingly difficult!

That was the true reason many Wu Clan members had been dissatisfied. They believed the resources were being squandered in vain.

But today, at the tender age of fourteen, he had claimed a top-four position in the Martial Academy Grand Competition. That was enough to convince the entire Wu Clan and make them understand that the resources invested had not been wasted.

In truth—

This was also one reason Wu Yuan had wanted to participate in the Martial Academy Grand Competition.

He held gratitude toward the entire Wu Clan. Revealing the tiniest portion of his strength could make the whole clan rejoice and feel inspired. Why would he not do so?

Could it be—

Like in some novels he had read in his previous life, he had to seek opportunities to slap his clansmen in the face? What needless trouble!

From every perspective, Wu Yuan hoped the Wu Clan would grow stronger.

"Haha, I hope you will not blame the attitudes of those uncles and elders in the clan before this. None of them had it easy." Wu Qiming smiled. "In truth, we are all looking forward to it. We hope that our Li City Wu Clan can produce a Proficient Expert as well!"

"Doing business? Without martial strength to support it, excessive wealth is a blessing in disguise."

"To become a truly powerful and prominent great clan, powerful martial artists are the foundation!"

PS: I'm getting married on the eleventh soon. Although I made many preparations over the past two months, the complexity still exceeded my imagination. I spent the entire day running around outside today, so before the third, update times may not be very stable. But I will do everything I can to maintain two updates a day!