Yang Xiao

Back in the cave, the campfire still crackled, and the scent of roast chicken had not yet fully faded, but the atmosphere had grown somewhat stifling.

Zhang Wuji, Yin Li, and the other two watched Zu Hao return as if nothing had happened, lingering fear still visible on their faces.

"Brother Zu, wh... where did that strange man go?"

Zhou Zhiruo asked softly.

"A scourge that should not have existed. It has been dealt with."

Zu Hao spoke calmly. "It's all right now. Get some rest early; we still have to travel tomorrow."

The children trusted Zu Hao completely. Seeing him so composed, they felt somewhat reassured, yet after such an incident, they could no longer relax as they had before.

Zu Hao had them take turns keeping watch, while he arranged a circle of Western Region Golden Silkworm Thread outside before resting.

The next morning, dawn broke.

Zu Hao put away the Golden Silkworm Thread, and after everyone packed their belongings, they continued toward Sitting Forget Peak.

Around noon, a strange peak came into view.

The mountain was extraordinarily steep, like a sword thrust straight into the clouds. Above its midpoint, it vanished into swirling mist. Its terrain was so perilous that ordinary people could scarcely reach it. This was Sitting Forget Peak, the secluded residence of Yang Xiao, the Ming Cult's Left Emissary of Light.

Zu Hao had the packhorse wait at the foot of the mountain. Using his telekinesis, he carried Zhang Wuji, Yin Li, Zhou Zhiruo, and Yang Buhui with him, moving as though riding the wind as he rapidly ascended the nearly vertical cliff face.

This immortal-like feat left the children both startled and delighted, and they clung tightly to Zu Hao.

Before long, the five of them landed on a relatively flat area atop the peak.

Several simple stone houses stood against the mountainside. In the open space before them stood a middle-aged man in a coarse white robe. His features were handsome and refined, but he carried an air of desolation and solitude as he stood with his hands behind his back, seemingly gazing out at the sea of clouds.

Hearing the disturbance, he suddenly turned around. His gaze flashed like lightning as it instantly locked onto Zu Hao's group.

"Who are you? Why have you come to my Sitting Forget Peak?"

Zu Hao said, "Left Emissary Yang, I am Zu Hao. Entrusted by Miss Ji's last wish, I have brought her daughter here."

When Yang Xiao heard Zu Hao mention being "entrusted by Miss Ji's last wish," his expression changed drastically, and he shouted, "You're lying! You're lying!"

"This is absolutely true. If Left Emissary Yang does not believe me, you may verify it yourself."

Zu Hao did not think much of Yang Xiao. Under modern criminal law, Yang Xiao would be a rapist, the sort who deserved to die.

What was even more absurd was that Ji Xiaofu had developed feelings for Yang Xiao. It was truly melodramatic.

If Zu Hao had not thought Yang Xiao still had some use, and had not wanted Yang Buhui to be left without anyone to rely on, he would have wanted to kill the bastard outright.

He patted Yang Buhui and said, "Go on. He is your father."

Yang Buhui stepped forward nervously. Looking at Yang Xiao's weathered face, an instinctive closeness rose from her bloodline, and she timidly called out, "Fa... Father?"

Yang Xiao's body shook violently. Disbelief first filled his face, followed by complex emotions of wild joy, guilt, and sorrow.

In a blur, he arrived before her. Squatting down, his hands trembling slightly as he held Yang Buhui's shoulders, he saw the token hanging around her neck and completely believed Zu Hao's words. In a hoarse voice, he asked, "What was your mother's name?"

"Ji Xiaofu."

Yang Buhui answered truthfully.

Yang Xiao asked again, "And you?"

"Buhui. Yang Buhui."

"Buhui! Buhui!"

Yang Xiao's eyes immediately reddened. He walked to the cliff's edge and cried out in anguish, "I treated you that way, yet you never regretted it!"

"Ah!"

As if driven mad, Yang Xiao suddenly attacked the nearby rocks in a frenzy, sending stone fragments flying everywhere.

Only after venting for a while did Yang Xiao embrace Yang Buhui and ask about what had happened.

After a long time, Yang Buhui finally sobbed as she haltingly recounted Ji Xiaofu's death, how she had been left alone, and how Zu Hao had fortunately rescued and protected her.

Yang Xiao's expression changed repeatedly as he listened. At times he was grief-stricken, at times enraged, until it finally turned into profound gratitude toward Zu Hao.

He stood, straightened his robes, and bowed deeply to Zu Hao. "Yang Xiao thanks you, sir, for protecting my daughter!"

Zu Hao calmly accepted the bow. "It was a small matter. Left Emissary Yang need not dwell on it. Now that Buhui has been safely delivered here, I have settled one concern as well."

Yang Xiao shook his head and said seriously, "To you, Mr. Zu, it may have been a small matter, but to Yang Xiao, it is a debt of gratitude as great as being given a new life."

"If not for you, my daughter and I might never have met again in this lifetime."

"You traveled thousands of miles to bring my daughter to me. How could I offer no repayment? Whatever you want, just say it. There are probably few things in this world that Yang Xiao cannot do or obtain."

Zu Hao laughed. "Left Emissary Yang is too courteous. However, there are indeed several matters in which I would like to ask for your help."

Yang Xiao immediately ordered a banquet to be prepared.

During the meal, Yang Xiao remained deeply grateful to Zu Hao, while also sighing over the backgrounds of Zhang Wuji and the others.

After three rounds of wine, seeing that the time was right, Zu Hao said, "Left Emissary Yang, the Yuan Court is now tyrannical, the people suffer, and corpses from starvation lie everywhere."

"The Ming Cult seeks to overthrow the Yuan and save all under heaven. Beyond military force, we must also address the fundamental needs of the people."

"As the saying goes, before the army moves, provisions must go first. With enough food and supplies stockpiled, there will be no lack of soldiers."

Yang Xiao's expression grew solemn. "What you say is very true, sir. Most disciples of our Ming Cult also come from impoverished backgrounds and understand the suffering of hunger all too well."

"Yet Heaven and Earth show no mercy. The Central Plains have suffered repeated disasters, and provisions have always been a great problem for the righteous army!"

Zu Hao smiled faintly and took out a bundle he had prepared beforehand. Opening it, he revealed several strange tubers and grains. "Left Emissary Yang, please look. This is called a potato, this is called a sweet potato, and these are corn seeds."

"These three crops all withstand drought and poor soil, and their yields are extremely high, far surpassing the wheat and millet currently grown in the Central Plains."

"If they can be widely cultivated, they will save countless lives, greatly enrich the righteous army's provisions, and even benefit all the common people under heaven."

Yang Xiao picked up a potato and a sweet potato, examining them carefully with doubt in his eyes. Though he was not a farmer, he knew the yields of ordinary crops.

Zu Hao then explained in detail the planting methods, growth cycles, and approximate yields of these three crops.

When he heard that each mu could yield several thousand jin or even more, Yang Xiao could not help but be moved. If it was true, this was practically an auspicious gift from Heaven, enough to change the course of the world!

"Sir... is this truly true? Where did such divine things come from?"

Even Yang Xiao's voice trembled.

"There is not a word of falsehood. These are goods from overseas."

Zu Hao's gaze was calm. "I will entrust these seeds to you. You will be responsible for finding land within Ming Cult-controlled territory to test and promote their cultivation."

"This matter will benefit the present age and future generations. It concerns the survival and growth of the descendants of Yan and Huang, and is far more important than the grudges of the martial world or temporary victories and defeats."

"I hope Left Emissary Yang will keep the people of the world in mind and treat this matter with due seriousness."

Yang Xiao looked into Zu Hao's clear and resolute eyes, then at the "divine items" in his hands. Recalling the ability and bearing Zu Hao had displayed while saving his daughter, he already believed seven or eight parts out of ten.

He took a deep breath and solemnly put away the seeds. "Sir has entrusted me with such an important task and shown such concern for all living people. How could Yang Xiao dare refuse? I will certainly do everything in my power to spread these three crops. If anything is achieved, it will all be to your credit, sir!"

Zu Hao waved a hand. "Success need not belong to me. I only seek to have no regrets in my heart."

After a pause, he added, "There is one more matter in which I must trouble Left Emissary Yang."

"Please speak, sir."

Zu Hao took out the Heavenly Sword, which had already been broken into two pieces, along with Little Divine Edge. "I have heard that the Ming Cult originated in Persia, and that there may be skilled craftsmen within the cult proficient in metallurgy."

"Could Left Emissary Yang find a way to reforge this sword as it was, and turn this dagger into double-pointed throwing knives?"