Methods

"Hey, have you heard? A huge family moved here from Willow Leaf Town—several dozen people."

"Of course. I also heard there's an Immortal Master in that family, and they've now pledged themselves to the Main Family."

"That's truly enviable. If only the two of us could be fortunate enough to join the North Bank Clan in this lifetime."

The two traveling peddlers chatted as they walked. After turning a corner, they arrived at the main road before Zhao Mansion.

They glanced at the Zhao Mansion plaque, their faces showing a trace of disgust.

"Those Zhao Family playboys are utterly detestable!" one of them said, shaking his head.

"Exactly. The Clan Soldiers already taught them a lesson, yet they still haven't learned. It hasn't even been long, and they've gone to our South Bank again to wreak havoc and cause trouble."

The other chimed in, "The Zhao Family's reputation has been utterly ruined by those few. Now, whenever South Bank shops spot them from afar, they're so frightened they shut their doors and windows."

From the two men's complaints, it was clear that those Zhao Family juniors had indeed gone too far.

Just as they passed in front of Zhao Mansion, waves of shrill, miserable screams suddenly erupted from within the courtyard.

"Ahhh!! Help!!"

"Murder!!"

The two peddlers shuddered in fright, while people nearby heard the commotion and began gathering in their direction.

The screams from inside Zhao Mansion continued, but with the gates tightly shut, no one dared enter to investigate.

After roughly a quarter of an hour, the screaming stopped, leaving only faint sobs drifting out.

Bang!

The gates of Zhao Mansion were kicked open. Everyone turned toward the sound and saw Zhao Dapeng emerging, his hair disheveled and his body covered in blood.

His appearance frightened the passersby badly enough that they shouted and hurriedly backed away.

Though frightened and curious, the two peddlers craned their necks to look. They saw that Zhao Dapeng held a cleaver in one hand and dragged a burlap sack with the other.

Such sacks were usually used to hold grain, but no one knew what this one contained. It too had been dyed crimson with blood.

Zhao Dapeng dragged the bloodstained burlap sack all the way toward the Yang Family residence.

After receiving the news, the Clan Soldiers hurriedly reported upward, and Yang Tieli rushed over.

"Brother Zhao, what are you planning to do?"

Yang Tieli stopped Zhao Dapeng and asked.

Zhao Dapeng looked at him, gasping for breath as he forced out a smile. "Commander Tieli, don't worry. This old man isn't here to cause trouble. I feel guilty in my heart, so I'm going to the Main Family to plead guilty."

"Plead guilty?"

Yang Tieli looked at the burlap sack behind him and roughly guessed what was inside.

"It happens to be on the way. How about we go together?"

"That would be for the best!"

After agreeing, Zhao Dapeng followed beside Yang Tieli to the gates of the Yang Family residence.

Yang Feiyun was already waiting at the entrance.

Outside the gates, the spectators had gathered into a vast sea of dark heads, craning their necks and trying to squeeze closer.

Zhao Dapeng did not waste words. Upon arriving, he immediately knelt and kowtowed three times to Yang Feiyun.

"Sir! I failed in my discipline. These fools disgraced the clan outside—it is my Zhao Family's fault."

As he spoke, Zhao Dapeng poured out the contents of the burlap sack. There were six human heads in all!

"Waaah!"

The bloody scene made the villagers around them gasp sharply. The more fainthearted ones even rolled their eyes and fainted on the spot.

Pointing at the heads still rolling across the ground, Zhao Dapeng said, "These black sheep cannot be kept. I have dealt with them according to the family rules. Zhao Dapeng was once nothing more than an old farmer in the mountains. Everything I have today was bestowed by the Main Family. Before all these fellow townsfolk, I swear to you, Sir: never again will the Zhao Family allow such a thing to happen. Should anyone offend again, I, Zhao Dapeng, will bring my own head to see you!"

As his words fell, the spectators began discussing among themselves. Some clapped and cheered, some shook their heads and sighed, while others wore gleeful smiles, interested only in the spectacle.

Zhao Dapeng heard them but did not care. Their opinions did not matter; what mattered was how the Yang Family viewed this.

After Yang Feiyun heard him out, he turned and gave several instructions to the steward, then stepped forward and helped him up.

"Sir, I..."

"Say no more. This matter cannot be blamed on you."

Yang Feiyun said gently, "When one person attains the Dao, even the chickens and dogs ascend to heaven. If an Immortal Master emerged from anyone's family, they would not necessarily fare any better than your Zhao Family."

At those words, Zhao Dapeng froze for a moment before wild joy appeared on his face.

The onlookers cried out in surprise as well. A Zhao Family boy had truly succeeded in cultivation!

This news had never been released before. Even Zhao Dapeng himself had not known.

"Sir! You mean my boy has succeeded in cultivation?!"

"Hahaha, would I lie to you? But Old Zhao, we must call him Immortal Master Zhao now," Yang Feiyun said with a laugh.

"Right, right, right! We must follow the rules—it should be so!" Zhao Dapeng nodded repeatedly, his eyes narrowing into slits from his smile.

"Come, I'll first take you inside to change clothes. Immortal Master Zhao has already accompanied Immortal Master Liang up the mountain. The two have been talking pleasantly, as though they regretted not meeting sooner."

The moment Zhao Dapeng heard Yang Feiyun's words, he understood their meaning.

Lowering his voice, he said, "Rest assured, Sir. My Zhao Family will surely watch over and support the Liang Family!"

The two entered the Yang Family gates, and the Clan Soldiers cleared away the six heads on the ground.

No one cared about their deaths anymore. What people discussed more was that the Main Family had gained two more Immortal Masters on the mountain.

Meanwhile, the Liang Family group was also brought to their residence.

The moment they entered the courtyard, they were dumbfounded.

The courtyard the Yang Family had prepared for them was even more luxurious and grand than their former home in Willow Leaf City.

And that was only the beginning. When they later saw the vast stretches of newly reclaimed fertile fields, a three-story tavern, and several newly furnished shops, they could no longer restrain their emotions and burst into tears, embracing one another.

They had thought they would be living under another's roof, coming here to labor as hired hands. Yet the Yang Family had not only preserved their lives, but also protected their dignity. More importantly, they had felt respect.

"Master Yang, everyone in the Liang Family is endlessly grateful!"

Liang Min, the Liang Family's second-in-command, said through tears, "Such immense kindness can never be repaid. We wish only to serve the Main Family, never declining even for ten thousand generations!"

"Brother Liang, you overstate it."

Yang Xiaolei waved his hand. "The Liang Family has long had ties with ours. Now that the Liang Family's Immortal Master has joined our immortal mountain, we will be one family from now on. There's no need for such courtesy."

After settling the Liang Family, Yang Xiaolei returned to the Yang Family residence and found Yang Feiyun.

"Second Brother, there are no more issues on the Liang Family's side," Yang Xiaolei said.

Yang Feiyun nodded. "Lingqing's method truly worked. We did not need to intervene at all; the problem was resolved as easily as a blade slicing through bamboo, and the tone was set for both families."

As they spoke, the two looked up toward Mist Mountain, their hearts filled with emotion. To have a junior like Yang Lingqing was truly the Yang Family's fortune.

Yang Family Forbidden Ground.

After Liang Yi met the Yang Family cultivators, Zhao Qi took him to his residence in a side courtyard.

The moment the two left, Gao Hui, the town chief of White Stone Town, arrived outside the formation to pay a visit.

"Greetings, Yang Family Patriarch."

"Town Chief Gao, you are too courteous. Please come in."

Yang Lingqing welcomed him inside.

After Yang Guanfeng left, she had acted as patriarch and dealt with Gao Hui on many occasions.

Gao Hui admired this girl, who had only just turned fifteen, from the bottom of his heart.

Her way of handling matters differed from Yang Guanfeng's, but her methods of managing the family and social dealings were every bit as brilliant as his.

"This is the reward money issued by the Dynasty this month. Keep it safe."

After the two sat down, Gao Hui took twenty Spirit Crystals from his storage pouch.

Ever since Yang Guanfeng had been chosen by the Dynasty and left home, the Yang Family had received Spirit Crystals bestowed by the Dynasty each month as compensation.

"Twenty? Why are there ten extra this month?" Yang Lingqing asked.

Gao Hui smiled. "Brother Guanfeng rendered meritorious service while suppressing the unrest in the east. These additional ten are a reward from the Dynasty."

At the mention of meritorious service, no joy appeared on Yang Lingqing's face. Instead, a trace of worry surfaced.

Rather than his achievements or the additional reward money, she hoped more that her family's ancestor would remain safe and sound.

"There is one more matter regarding this visit that I would like to discuss with the Yang Family Patriarch."

"Please speak freely, Town Chief Gao."