Grade-B Attendant

It was not until after lunch the next day that Qiao Wuwang finally arrived, fashionably late.

The moment they met, he apologized. "Sorry, brother. I meant to come this morning, but Big Sis dragged me off to pay respects to the old master, then kept me for a meal. I came late—don't take offense."

In truth, Qiao Yaoyao had only sent people out to investigate the night before and needed to wait for their report, so she had deliberately held him back. Qiao Wuwang, however, knew nothing of this.

"You're too kind, Third Young Master," Yang Yi said. "After returning from a journey, it is only proper to let the elders know you are safe. There is no hurry on my end."

"Come. I'll take you to see Big Sis."

Yang Yi gave his uncle a few instructions, telling them to wait at the inn for news and not wander about, before leaving with Qiao Wuwang.

The outer fort, Qiao'an City, had been built along the mountain. The Qiao Family Fort's Inner Fort, meanwhile, sat within an enormous valley, surrounded on all sides by steep stone cliffs that rose sheer for a thousand fathoms, grand and wondrous in appearance.

Compared with the bustle and prosperity of the outer fort, the Inner Fort was undoubtedly far more secluded.

With Qiao Wuwang leading the way, they naturally proceeded without obstruction.

When they reached a hall, Qiao Wuwang strode straight inside and called out, "Big Sis, Brother Yang is here."

Behind a desk within the hall, Qiao Yaoyao raised her head at the sound and looked toward Yang Yi, who had followed Qiao Wuwang in.

Yang Yi looked up and saw an exceptionally exquisite face. His brows immediately rose. Damn, what a beautiful woman!

Qiao Yaoyao's features were picturesque, her dark brows carrying the breath of spring. Her skin was fair, and there was a faint seductiveness in the shifting ripples of her eyes.

Perhaps because she had managed clan affairs for years, her gaze upon Yang Yi unconsciously carried a trace of scrutiny.

She had already received her subordinate's report. The intelligence showed that Yang Yi's origins and background were entirely clean, with no sign of entanglement with any other force.

Yet the more this was so, the more curious she became. An utterly ordinary young farm boy had cultivated such astonishing ability, yet had hidden it so well, neither showing the mountain nor revealing the water. Had Iron Eagle of Black Wind Stronghold not sought his own death, this true dragon might have remained coiled in a pond, obscure and unknown.

How could someone so young possess such restraint?

"Greetings, Miss Qiao!" Yang Yi clasped his fists below, his voice ringing clear.

Qiao Yaoyao smiled brightly. "Little Brother Yang, you are too courteous. You saved Wuwang's life. By rights, it is my Qiao Household that should thank you."

Yang Yi shook his head. "Third Young Master fell into danger because of the Yang Household's affairs in the end. Between Third Young Master and me, there is only friendship, not a debt of gratitude."

He understood propriety and knew his limits. Qiao Yaoyao nodded slightly.

The lifesaving favor owed to the Qiao Family Fort's Third Young Master was no small matter. If Yang Yi entered Qiao Family Fort carrying that favor with him, many matters afterward would become difficult to handle.

Now that Yang Yi himself could keep things clear, Qiao Yaoyao was naturally very pleased.

"Wuwang said you have entered the Mistblood Realm?" Qiao Yaoyao moved past the earlier subject.

This was the second time Yang Yi had heard such a term. Some guesses arose in his heart, and he nodded. "Yes!"

"Could you test your hand?" Qiao Yaoyao asked with great interest.

Someone so young in the Mistblood Realm naturally had to be seen with her own eyes. Besides, this could also count as an assessment.

"Certainly!" Yang Yi agreed frankly.

"Tie Shan!" Qiao Yaoyao called out.

Not far from her stood a burly man built like an iron tower, his hands clasped behind his back. Ever since Yang Yi had entered, he had remained silent, not even shifting his gaze.

At the call, he immediately walked toward Yang Yi.

So tall, so huge!

Yang Yi was already considered fairly tall, yet this Tie Shan was much larger than he was.

How had this man grown like that?

At such close range, Yang Yi could even vaguely sense the surging, majestic vitality and blood within the other man's body.

This guy... is stronger than me! For no apparent reason, this thought rose in Yang Yi's heart. It was an instinctive judgment.

Tie Shan lowered his eyes slightly and said expressionlessly, "Attack me with your full strength!"

"Then be careful!" Yang Yi shouted low. Clenching his fist, he launched a ferocious punch forward.

He went all out with this punch. As the blood within him surged, he felt all the strength in his body gather into his fist.

Boom...

Yang Yi stared at Tie Shan before him. The man's body had merely swayed slightly before becoming as steady as ever, and Yang Yi's eyelid twitched.

Iron Eagle's skull had caved in from one punch by him, yet Tie Shan had only swayed a little?

Even Yang Yi's fist hurt somewhat.

This man truly was much stronger than him, though that was only normal. After all, Yang Yi had cultivated for only a short time.

"Well?" Qiao Yaoyao asked as she looked at Tie Shan.

A flush flickered across Tie Shan's face and vanished. He exhaled softly before saying, "Mistblood!"

"Good!" Having received confirmation, Qiao Yaoyao's face lit with delight as she got down to business. "Little Brother Yang, Wuwang wishes to recommend you to join Qiao Family Fort as an Attendant. What do you think?"

"Since Third Young Master thinks highly of me, Yang Yi is willing to serve Qiao Family Fort!"

Qiao Yaoyao was even more pleased. "Those in the Mistblood Realm who join Qiao Family Fort are Grade-B Attendants. Your monthly silver will be five hundred taels, with six hundred jin of meat, along with a certain amount of rice, flour, and other provisions. If you go out to carry out missions, compensation and rewards will be granted as appropriate. Are you satisfied with these terms?"

Five hundred taels of silver a month, six hundred jin of meat... Yang Yi would never have dared imagine such things in the past. What was there to be dissatisfied with?

Moreover, Qiao Wuwang had brought him into Qiao Family Fort, so the Qiao Household certainly would not cheat him in such matters.

"I have no objections." Yang Yi nodded.

"Good, Attendant Yang. From this day onward, we are one family." Qiao Yaoyao's smile was warm, and even the way she addressed Yang Yi changed.

"Also, Grade-B Attendants may reside in the Inner Fort, and their family members may move in with them as well."

"Big Sis, I recall that Cuiwei Residence is still vacant, isn't it?" Qiao Wuwang spoke with a smile.

"Cuiwei Residence..." Qiao Yaoyao pondered briefly, then nodded. "That will do!"

The moment her words fell, a hearty laugh suddenly came from outside.

"Haha, niece, wonderful news." Accompanied by laughter, a simply dressed old man strode in from outside. Two round iron balls turned in his hand. Though he was not young, he walked with the stride of a dragon and the gait of a tiger, vigorous and agile.

Behind the old man, a sword-bearing man entered as well.

"Second Uncle." Light flickered in Qiao Yaoyao's eyes as she hurriedly rose. Qiao Wuwang also quickly bowed.

"Wuwang is back?" Second Uncle Qiao first narrowed his eyes at Qiao Wuwang. "When did you return?"

"I returned last night." Qiao Wuwang answered respectfully. "It was too late, and I was planning to visit Second Uncle today."

"It is enough that you have such thoughtfulness. Your grandfather is old, and I can no longer fight either. In the future, Qiao Family Fort will be handed over to you younger generation. Show more filial respect before your grandfather from now on. Do not run around everywhere and make friends with all sorts of riffraff."

Yang Yi, standing beside them, raised his eyelids.

Qiao Wuwang frowned slightly.

"Second Uncle, this is..." Qiao Yaoyao interrupted the conversation between uncle and nephew and looked at the sword-bearing man behind Second Uncle Qiao.

"Niece, this is the good news I spoke of." Second Uncle Qiao laughed heartily, stepping aside as he looked at the man. "Introduce yourself."

The sword-bearing man stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "Shen Qian. Greetings, Miss Qiao."

"You are Shen Qian, head of the Shen Lineage in Clearwind City?" Qiao Yaoyao asked in surprise. Clearly, she had heard this name before.

"It is indeed Shen!" Shen Qian answered proudly.

"I have long admired your name."

"You flatter me, Miss."

"Niece, Shen Qian intends to become an Attendant of my Qiao Household. I have already agreed to this, and came especially to inform you." The iron balls in Second Uncle Qiao's hand rotated slowly as his face beamed with smiles.

Qiao Yaoyao was exceedingly surprised. "Head Shen wishes to join my Qiao Household?"

Second Uncle Qiao said, "Would you not call that good news?"

Qiao Yaoyao nodded. "If so, then it truly is excellent news."

"According to clan rules, Shen Qian possesses Mistblood strength and should be a Grade-B Attendant. Apart from receiving all provision supplies, he may also reside in the Inner Fort. I have already ordered people to clean Cuiwei Residence; it will be ready today."

"Cuiwei Residence..." Qiao Yaoyao frowned. "Second Uncle, I'm afraid Cuiwei Residence will not do. Choose another place."