Chapter 648: Father and Daughter Reunited, Almost Unrecognizable [Seeking Monthly Tickets]
"Four years have passed since I last saw him. What level has he reached now?"
When Yang Gong asked this question, his words were filled with longing, envy, and melancholy. He had no chance to pursue a higher peak in martial arts in this life. But when he thought that the end of his life's efforts was just a temporary stop for that arrogant young man, he felt helpless. In the face of absolute talent and a clear mind, no amount of effort would be worthwhile.
Shen Tang said, "He's a fifteenth-grade junior cultivator. I think his cultivation level is very stable, and he's probably not far from breaking through..."
Gong Xichou's progress did not slow down as his cultivation level increased; at this rate, he might actually be able to break through to the twentieth rank of Marquis.
"Heroes emerge from among the young; the younger generation is truly formidable."
Shen Tang complained, "He's considered a young man now."
At times, he also resembles a spirited young man.
Yang Gong: "..."
It would have been better if the lord hadn't mentioned it, because it reminded him of something—this lord in front of him was much, much younger than Gong Xi Chou. Back then, Xiao Cheng was being chased and beaten by Gong Xi Chou, but now he was able to barely win against him, and Gong Xi Chou was even practicing dual cultivation.
If Gongxi Chou is the chosen one of heaven, then what is our lord?
Is he the chosen one of Heaven?
Yang Gong muttered, "Young people these days..."
Each one is more terrifying than the last.
As they spoke, the two walked to Gong Xichou's lodging. Shen Tang's army strictly adhered to military discipline upon entering the city, not only avoiding disturbing the people but also actively contributing manpower to repair the damage. The commoners of Xiaocheng were initially terrified, fearing it was a ruse, and hid in their homes, afraid to venture out. Only after realizing there was no danger did they gradually return to their daily lives. The courtyard where Gong Xichou and his sister resided was adjacent to the commoners' living area.
Therefore, some people can still be seen on the street, but compared with when Shen Tang first came to Xiaocheng, it is still much more desolate.
Before Shen Tang could even raise her hand to knock on the door, she heard the rapid, rain-like sound of wooden sticks clashing inside the courtyard. The sound was incessant, and occasionally she could hear a woman's muffled groans of pain and the loud thuds of heavy objects falling to the ground. It was clear from the sounds that a fierce battle was taking place inside.
She knocked a few times, but there was no response.
"It looks like no one is available to open the door for the time being."
"Shall we visit another day?"
Shen Tang shook his head and said, "That won't do. I've made this trip before, and if I don't see the person, how can I face all the unfinished government affairs? As long as we don't give up, there's always a way. Since we can't go through the door, we'll go through the wall; the effect will be the same."
Having said that, he led Yang Gong directly onto the top of the wall.
Inside the courtyard, in the martial arts training ground.
Gong Xichou sparred with a man in black, never stepping outside the small circle drawn on his feet. The man in black, on the other hand, repeatedly charged with the stick, only to be knocked away, get up, charge again, and be knocked away once more.
Shen Tang and Yang Gong simply sat on the wall.
In just fifteen minutes, I witnessed the unfortunate man in black being repelled in various ways. He was either sent flying through the air or rolled on the ground, and several times he even had to brake with his face. In the process, his body was covered with countless wounds left by the wooden sticks.
Gong Xi Chou had already noticed the two uninvited guests sitting on the wall. One of them watched the commotion for a while and then chimed in, "Young master, I've beaten Gong Xi Chou before. I'll teach you how to defeat him, I guarantee you'll learn it..."
Upon hearing this, Yang Gong shifted his gaze from the man in black—he felt as if he had seen this man somewhere before, but the man's face was covered in red marks from the smearing and dust, making him unrecognizable: "My lord, this is not good."
Isn't this blatant fraud?
Shen Tang: "But I didn't lie."
Yang Gong carefully considered Shen Tang's words. He was indeed telling the truth, but believing him would only lead to a worse beating. Sure enough, with Shen Tang's guidance, the man in black performed slightly better, but he was still defeated in less than three moves.
The broken wooden sticks were scattered all over the ground.
The matter was only temporarily resolved when Gongxilai appeared.
Gong Xilai, holding a nourishing soup that had been simmering for a long time, looked at his best friend's face, which was practically disfigured, and said with both heartache and helplessness, "Brother, could you please refrain from hitting Aying's face with the stick next time?"
"She fell down on her own, I didn't hit her with a stick. Besides, martial artists recover quickly, what's a little scratch?" Gong Xichou raised his hand to beckon Shen Tang, who was sitting on the wall, to come down and taste the soup his dear sworn sister had made.
This is something only he has.
They were only willing to share it out of consideration for our friendship.
Shen Tang, with Yang Gong by his side, jumped off the wall and passed the black-clad man who was meditating and adjusting his breathing. Shen Tang tilted his head back and drank the wine in one gulp, wiping his mouth as he said, "My sister's cooking is exquisite; even the royal chefs aren't this good. No wonder I noticed you've gained weight; you've been eating all by yourself."
Gong Xichou: "...That's my sister."
He added, "I haven't gained weight either."
Gong Xilai smiled shyly: "Mr. Shen is joking."
Gong Xichou quipped, "There's a saying that goes, 'If someone is being overly solicitous, they're either up to no good or a thief.' Mama's glib tongue, typical of spoiled brats, is definitely up to no good. She might even be after you, Alai. Be careful."
Even after his motives were seen through, Shen Tang didn't blush and said bluntly, "Since you've figured it out, I won't beat around the bush. I just feel a connection with this girl, and rather than having her run around with you investigating the truth, it's better for her to stay here with me and be taken care of. I'm not bragging, but Longwu County is one of the few paradises around the world. Xun Yong'an is here too, so how could you not trust him?"
Gong Xichou remained expressionless.
“I can truly rest assured as long as you don’t mention Xun Ding.”
"I'm really worried about Xun Dingzai."
Shen Tang: "..."
Unexpectedly, Gong Xichou's sister complex was so serious. Where there's a will, there's a way. She suggested, "Then you should leave a few more trusted confidants to follow our sister. Anyway, you're a bachelor and you won't be in any danger running around. It would be a waste to bring your troops with you."
"Stay here, and I will make sure they all fulfill their duties!"
"I can even help you guard against Xun Yong'an!"
Shen Tang continued to deceive, patting his chest loudly.
"If you can't trust others, how can you not trust me?"
Yang Gong was utterly shocked by Shen Tang's shamelessness—if these words were heard by others, it would be no different from demanding hostages in front of them! Could someone like Gong Xi Chou tolerate threats? But he underestimated the bizarre thought processes of Shen Tang and his companion.
“Mama has a point.”
Gong Xiqiu carefully considered Shen Tang's suggestion.
"But why did you go to all this trouble to keep Ah Lai here?"
Shen Tang smiled and said, "Xiang Zhuang's sword dance was aimed at Liu Bang. Today, Shen Tang has come to your door, naturally with your intentions. I am currently short of people, and given my long-standing relationship with your clan, it would be somewhat unreasonable for you to continue helping others, wouldn't it?"
Holding a girl in your hand, can a sister-complex fly away?
Gong Xichou: "..."
"Like father, like son; like brothers, like tigers! Our relationship is as strong as blood brothers, isn't it?" Shen Tang patted his chest instead.
Gong Xichou: "To tell the truth."
Shen Tang: "I need more people!"
Gong Xiqiu's brows furrowed deeply, as if this was an extremely difficult decision. Finally, he relaxed his brows and said, "If you are truly a 'sacred object,' I will return. But as for training troops and commanding troops, I don't have that much time. At most, I can go into battle a few times. It's not that I'm unwilling, but I still need to find a close relative who has been living away from home. I hope you understand."
Being a vanguard in battle is fine, but being a commander is out of the question.
Do you still have close relatives living away from home?
This is the first time I've heard Gong Xichou mention it.
Gong Xichou: "Yes, he is my elder brother."
"What's yours is mine, and I'll send people to look for it too."
Gong Xichou moved his lips, then swallowed back the words he wanted to say.
Having achieved his goal, Shen Tang was just about to find an excuse to leave with Yang Gong when Gong Xi Chou noticed the familiar, burly man standing behind Shen Tang with a steady demeanor. After a moment's thought, he said, "It's you! You're still alive?"
Yang Gong said, "He's lucky to be alive."
Gong Xichou could naturally tell that although Yang Gong was an ordinary person, he didn't possess the decadent air of a hero in his twilight years, suggesting that the other party's state of mind had improved. It was just a pity that his dantian was already destroyed. Gong Xichou asked him, "What's your name?"
He wanted to know the name of his former rival.
Yang Gongdao said, "Yang, given name Gong, courtesy name Gongcheng."
Gong Xilai felt the name sounded familiar for some reason. Just as he was about to ask Yang Gong something, he heard the black-clad man, Yang Ying, who was meditating and regulating his breathing, turn red and his blood and qi surge wildly. Gong Xilai noticed this immediately and forcibly suppressed the surging martial energy: "What are you doing?"
Can martial energy run rampant through the meridians?
Unexpectedly, Yang Ying swallowed the blood rising in her throat, hurriedly got up to search for something, and her gaze locked onto a familiar figure. Her eyes quickly reddened and misted over, her lips trembled uncontrollably, and her throat spasmed from emotional agitation, unable to utter a single word. How could Yang Gong not notice this burning gaze? He looked at the tall, disheveled man in black, his expression one of bewilderment.
"Why are you staring at me like that, young man?"
The black color concealed his figure, and the other person had a martial arts tiger tally at his waist. Coupled with his frequently gruesome and horrific face, Yang Gong truly believed he was a young man. Hearing the familiar voice he hadn't heard for many years, Yang Ying could no longer hold back, tears streaming down his face. He cried out, "Father!" His voice was neither deep like a man's nor soft like a woman's, but somewhere in between.
"...Why does the young man call me father?"
Yang Gong did not remember knowing the other person.
Hearing the address "Xiao Lang," Yang Ying was stunned. Her mind flashed back to her younger brother, who had died young in her arms, his body now cold. Overwhelmed with grief, she cried out, "Father, I am A Ying, your daughter A Ying, not my brother A Xiong..."
Ah Ying? Ah Xiong?
Yang Gong suddenly opened his tiger-like eyes wide.
He stood frozen in place, like a statue.
Looking at the young man who called himself "Aying," Gong Xichou was overwhelmed by a mixture of joy and confusion, leaving him unable to react in time. Only then did Gong Xichou remember that Gong Xilai had said that Yang Ying was a relative of one of his defeated opponents, but he hadn't specified who it was.
So Yang Ying was the daughter of Yang Gong?
Shen Tang was also surprised by this coincidence.
"You, you, you really are Ah Ying..." Yang Gong struggled to control his limbs, but he couldn't control the overwhelming emotions surging within him. His tiger-like eyes were already filled with tears. He raised his hand to touch Yang Ying's face, but he was afraid that it was just an illusion.
Yang Gong had a daughter and a son.
One was named Ying, and the other was named Xiong.
However, the son is still too young, and only a few relatives know his real name. Outsiders only know that he is the second in his generation.
"I am!"
Two simple words were enough to make Yang Gong unable to hold back any longer.
He burst into tears on the spot, hugging his daughter who had already caught up to his ears and sobbing uncontrollably, venting his emotions. After a while, he wiped away his tears with his palm and looked at his daughter, who looked nothing like her: "How did you become like this?"
Yang Ying pointed at Gong Xichou: "He did it."
Yang Gong: "..."
Oh, yes.
He also watched as Gong Xichou beat Yang Ying for fifteen minutes.
_(:з」∠)_
Actually, from the serialization of "Empress" all the way to the book "Retreat Me," I've always had a question I can't understand: why would anyone think that in female-oriented online novels, the supporting characters' romantic partners are there to solve the male characters' marriage problems? We're in a female-oriented online novel, aren't we creating excellent male partners for the female characters?
(At least the family background, ability, temperament, and social status are all good. Isn't this better than finding a servant to marry off a personal maid? In terms of social status, the woman is also compatible with the upper class rather than the lower class...).
P.S.: Yang Gong's name is indeed Yang Gong.
(End of this chapter)
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