News and Decree

"Come out," Yang Lingrui called into the depths.

The person inside heard the voice and came out trembling.

When Scarface saw Yang Linghu covered in wounds yet still alive, his heart clenched.

Then, seeing that Yang Lingrui had already entered the Qi Gathering Mid-stage, he panicked even more and simply dropped to his knees with a thud.

The two had thought he would beg for mercy, but instead he said, "Please, honored seniors, I am willing to serve you like an ox or horse. Please save my big brother! Save him!"

"Your big brother is still alive?"

Yang Linghu was also somewhat surprised. Liao Feng had only had half a breath left at the time.

Scarface hurriedly nodded.

The two exchanged a glance, then told him to lead the way.

After entering the cave, they saw Liao Feng, who was barely recognizable. He still clung to life by a thread.

"Years ago, my big brother and I explored a cave abode and obtained a pearl. Now, he has that pearl in his mouth, which is the only reason he can keep hanging on."

As Scarface spoke, he wiped away another tear. "But this cannot go on. At most, in three days, my big brother will run out of breath and die."

"So that was it."

Yang Linghu then asked, "What are your names? Where do you come from? Why were you mixed up with Zhang Chen?"

Scarface did not dare be vague in the face of the questioning, so he laid out his entire history, detail by detail.

His name was Han Wang. He, Liao Feng, and the effeminate man whom Yang Linghu had killed with one punch were sworn brothers.

They had originally been Rogue Cultivators in the Eastern Wilderness. Later, they joined the Seventh Prince's rebel army. Then the Eastern Wilderness split apart and the country descended into chaos. Even cultivators like them could not protect themselves, so they could only flee in all directions.

That was how they became wandering bandits and entered the territory of the Tiger Chasing Dynasty.

Later, the three encountered Zhang Chen. Because they had no way to deal with his precious jade, they agreed to work for him in order to stay alive.

At the mention of Zhang Chen, Han Wang asked what had become of him.

When he learned that Zhang Chen was dead, he clapped his hands in delight. "Good death! What a good death!"

He had witnessed the battle among the three with his own eyes. If not for that damned Zhang Chen betraying them at the critical moment, how could his big brother have fallen into such a miserable state?

"Thank you, honored seniors, for avenging my big brother!"

"You hate Zhang Chen, but not me?" Yang Linghu asked with a smile.

Han Wang said, "We were the ones who attacked you first, honored senior. You were merely defending yourself. But Zhang Chen was a true traitor and scum!"

"Heh, interesting. But we cannot save your big brother, nor will we. Give him a quick death."

Hearing this, Han Wang's expression darkened, and sorrow rose in his heart.

"Do you still know anything about the situation in the Eastern Wilderness?" Yang Linghu asked.

"I do... I know some. Back then, we followed the Seventh Prince through quite a few places," Han Wang said.

After hearing him, Yang Linghu and Yang Lingrui returned to the cave entrance to discuss the matter.

"What should we do? Kill him?" Yang Lingrui asked.

After pondering for a moment, Yang Linghu said, "At present, we know very little about the situation in the Eastern Wilderness. We should bring this man back to the Lineage and let the elders question him before making a decision."

"Fine. Then we'll spare his life."

The two returned, and Yang Linghu said to Han Wang, "Take out the pearl. Keeping him alive like this is torture. He would be better off dead."

Though Han Wang could not bear it, he had to admit that Liao Feng's state was worse than death.

Once the pearl was removed, Liao Feng let out that last breath and went still.

After burying his body, the three returned to the Yang Family.

Within the Yang Family Forbidden Ground.

Yang Lingqing had no heart left for meditation. Only after Chen Yang sent her a thought and she learned that Yang Linghu had come to no harm did she finally breathe a sigh of relief.

At that time, Yang Guanfeng and Zhao Qi also returned home from White Stone Town, bringing back extremely significant news.

The Dynasty had issued a decree ordering every Lineage and sect under its rule to send people to the Eastern Region border to suppress the unrest.

The list that had been sent out specifically named the Songshan Yang Family and ordered Yang Guanfeng to go.

"They want you to go, ancestor? How can that be allowed?"

"It is not just me. Wang Xiong, Zhang Tianqi, and the heads of the various Lineages in White Stone Town and Willow Leaf Town are all on the list."

Yang Guanfeng clasped his hands behind his back and looked up toward the horizon. "This is how the Dynasty weakens the Lineages under its rule. Even though our Yang Family has broken away from the towns and established itself independently, as long as we remain on Tiger Chasing soil, that decree cannot be defied."

Though Yang Lingqing was dissatisfied, she could only shake her head helplessly in the face of reality.

"The Eastern Wilderness is in complete chaos, and the border has long since been left without control. It is likely a foul miasma of lurking tigers and coiled snakes, exceedingly dangerous," Yang Lingqing sighed.

Yang Guanfeng stepped forward, patted her shoulder, and smiled. "Do not be discouraged. With you at home, I can rest easy. Besides, this journey is not without its benefits."

Since the Dynasty was mobilizing people on such a massive scale, it naturally had to offer corresponding rewards.

Any Lineage that sent people would receive monthly Spirit Crystal rewards from the Dynasty, calculated according to the number of people sent and their cultivation realms.

"Just treat it as taking a long journey to work as hired hands."

"You still have the mood to joke, ancestor."

As they spoke, the Pine Forest Thick Earth Array stirred.

"Patriarch, Lingrui and Linghu have returned!"

The three went to greet them. When they saw Yang Linghu covered in wounds, they were all startled.

Yang Guanfeng hurriedly took him into the house for a careful examination. Fortunately, the injuries were only to his flesh and body and had not damaged his foundation for cultivating the Dao. He only needed to rest and recuperate properly for some time.

After instructing Zhao Qi to look after Linghu, Yang Guanfeng returned to the main courtyard.

At this moment, Han Wang was already kneeling on the ground, waiting to be questioned.

"Patriarch, this man is a minor leader among that band of wandering bandits. He came from the Eastern Wilderness."

"Oh? The Eastern Wilderness?"

Yang Guanfeng stepped forward and gave Han Wang a brief once-over, then understood seven or eight parts of his background.

"You entered the Dao through cultivating a copper skin and iron bones body, didn't you?"

"Yes!"

"You practice leg techniques. Springing kicks or whip kicks?"

"Answering honored senior, springing kicks!"

Those two simple questions left Han Wang drenched in sweat, overwhelmed by the immense pressure.

He had never told Yang Lingrui or Yang Linghu what cultivation method he practiced or what martial arts he trained in, yet Yang Guanfeng had seen through it all at a glance. How could he not be terrified?

"Mm. As a wandering bandit, by the rules, you should be beheaded."

"This lowly one understands! Thank you, honored seniors, for sparing my life! This lowly one is willing to make a blood oath and repay this kindness!"

Seeing how sensible he was, Yang Guanfeng personally witnessed him make the blood oath.

"Though the death penalty may be spared, living punishment cannot be escaped."

He said, "Since you know something about the Eastern Wilderness, accompany me there to suppress the unrest at the border. Consider it a chance to atone for your crimes."

The moment he heard that he would be returning to the Eastern Wilderness, Han Wang instinctively shrank back in fear.

After all, he had fled to Tiger Chasing in the first place to save his life. He had never expected that he would now revisit that old ground.

But he also understood clearly that being allowed to live was already a great stroke of fortune. He had no choice, much less any right to refuse.

So he gritted his teeth, hardened his heart, and agreed. "Han Wang is willing to follow and serve at honored senior's side!"

"Good. Rest in the outer courtyard for the next two days. On the third day, depart with me."

"Yes!"

Over the next two days, Yang Guanfeng had a long talk with Elder Yu and spoke at length with the three children as well.

At midnight on the second day, after everyone had gone to rest, Yang Guanfeng came alone to the ancestral hall.

He first paid respects to the ancestors, then stepped forward and knelt before Chen Yang.

"Yang Family Patriarch, Yang Guanfeng, pays respects to Immortal Venerable."

"Immortal Venerable's divine abilities are boundless. You have repeatedly saved my Yang Family from peril and protected the younger generation of my Yang Family. The Yang Family shall remember Immortal Venerable's great kindness for ten thousand generations!"

"Guanfeng has lived his entire life for the Lineage, and having reached this point, I am already content. Yet I cannot control my own fate. I am about to journey far away, and my heart simply cannot settle or rest. Thus, I have come to disturb Immortal Venerable. I hope Immortal Venerable will forgive me."

"This journey will likely be one where nine die and one survives. Guanfeng has already prepared himself for the possibility of never returning home. If the Lineage declines in the future with no one to carry it on, or if disaster should strike and great calamity descends, Guanfeng dares to ask Immortal Venerable..."

At this point, even Yang Guanfeng's weathered face began to tremble. It was clear that he was undergoing a difficult struggle in his heart.

Chen Yang was moved by the sight. He had thought Yang Guanfeng would ask him to preserve the Yang Family's bloodline in times of danger.

But in the next moment, when Yang Guanfeng spoke again, Chen Yang's mind shook violently.

"Guanfeng dares to become that unfilial sinner!"

"If great calamity truly comes, I ask Immortal Venerable not to be burdened by the Yang Family. Simply press onward toward the Great Dao!"