Chapter 649: The Rumored "White Moonlight" (Part 1) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
Gong Xichou asked her, "So what if I hit you?"
Yang Ying was speechless when asked the question.
There's really nothing we can do.
Not to mention that her father was already an ordinary person, even if he still had his strength, he would be nothing more than a lamb to the slaughter when facing Gongxi Chou, who was at the level of a fifteenth-rank junior master. However, Yang Ying hugged Yang Gong's arm and said, "It's nothing, I was just venting my grievances to my father."
With her blood relatives still alive, she was no longer alone; she still had a source of life, and seemed to have boundless courage to face the future.
Yang Ying shrank halfway behind Yang Gong and asked his superior in a soft voice, "Didn't the general do this when he was young?"
Gong Xichou: "...You're still young?"
He had never actually done it before, after all, Ji Mo Can wasn't around.
I used to act spoiled with my uncle. I vaguely remember that when I was still too young to walk steadily, I tripped and fell on the road and broke a front tooth. In order to "avenge" him, my uncle used a burst of martial energy to "crush the road to dust".
Gong Xichou was so frightened by the commotion that he dared not file a complaint again.
Yang Gong: "In my eyes, Aying will always be a child. Why can't she confide in me if she has any grievances outside?"
Gong Xichou: "..."
"Mama, come here!" He didn't want to see the father and daughter for the time being, so he tossed a wooden stick to Chen Tang and said, "Help me loosen up my muscles."
“That suits me perfectly.” Shen Tang also wanted to give the father and daughter a proper get-together and accepted Gong Xi Chou’s challenge.
This time, neither of them used martial arts or spiritual power; they fought solely with their techniques, resulting in a fierce and evenly matched battle that left them both drenched in sweat. Finally, they sat side-by-side on the rooftop, completely unconcerned about their appearance. From this elevated position, they could see the desolate city outside the courtyard.
Shen Tang used his hand as a fan to fan himself.
"Xiaocheng is much quieter now."
Gong Xichou remained silent on the topic.
Shen Tang realized the topic was inappropriate and changed the subject with a smile: "Ordinary martial artists who lose the strength they've cultivated for half a lifetime, even if they don't go completely insane, certainly won't be able to adjust their mentality... When Master Yang was rescued, his energy and spirit were never very good..."
Gong Xichou then agreed to engage in the conversation.
"But I think his state of mind has actually improved."
"When he woke up, I went to see him. Yang Gong never asked about the Danfu Martial Courage. I was curious, and he said frankly, 'My family is gone, my parents are gone, my wife and children are gone... I'm all alone. Does my strength still matter?' Fortunately, Heaven took pity on him and allowed him to reunite with his blood relatives after many years. He was no longer alone and had someone to rely on for the rest of his life."
Compared to the pain of losing a blood relative, strength is insignificant.
It was because of this that Yang Gong gradually emerged from his predicament.
But Gongxi Chou was always a spoilsport.
He said, "Yang Ying is going to the battlefield."
Shen Tang said, "Since the daughter is following in her father's footsteps, she should naturally take the lead."
Gong Xichou said sarcastically, "With her limited strength, if she encounters a formidable opponent, she might die in battle somewhere, and Yang Gong would have to suffer the pain of a parent outliving their child. After losing and regaining, and then losing again, there is no greater pain than this."
For example, Ji Mo Canzhi to him.
Shen Tang replied, "Which fierce general didn't rise from weakness to strength? Didn't they rise by the blood of countless lives? It's a matter of life or death. One general's success is built on the bones of ten thousand, this is the path every famous general must take. I don't think Yang Ying is destined to die young."
As if just remembering, Shen Tang asked Gong Xichou, "Yang Ying is a woman, when did she begin to cultivate?"
Gong Xichou said, "About two years ago."
Shen Tang: "Do you know why she is able to cultivate?"
Gong Xi Chou was puzzled: "Can't Mama also cultivate? Aren't there female martial arts practitioners under Mama's command? This is strange."
Shen Tang shook her head: "It's different."
Her situation is quite different from Yang Ying's.
Yang Ying's situation is different from Bai Su's.
Bai Su is different from the students of Longwu County Academy.
Shen Tang's ability to cultivate is mostly related to the national seal she acquired at some unknown time; Bai Su's ability to cultivate is because she chose to serve Shen Tang when he was still in obscurity; the carefully selected students from Longwu County are those whose household registration is in Longwu County—the raising of the border barrier means the establishment of the "Kang Kingdom," and everyone within the borders is a subject, while Shen Tang treats men and women equally and all can cultivate.
Yang Ying does not fall into any of the above three categories.
So how did she begin her cultivation as a woman?
Gong Xichou wasn't entirely sure about this either.
Amidst Shen Tang's puzzled gaze, he guessed, "...Perhaps it's related to my elder brother or his descendants...A new high priest is born, and with daily prayers and chanting to the gods, divine blessings will descend. Yang Ying is under my command, and theoretically, she's also a vassal of the Gongxi clan, so she can naturally enjoy divine favor. Perhaps...that's why she's able to cultivate?"
Shen Tang noticed a blind spot: "The Gongxi clan isn't new to having a high priest. Women weren't allowed to cultivate before, were they?"
Gong Xichou scratched his head: "To be precise, women other than the High Priestess cannot cultivate. Our ancestors had several high-level female priestesses in succession." However, the High Priestess's power system is different from that of Wenxin Wudan, so it is not a reliable reference.
Isn't it because of the gods?
Why was Yang Ying able to cultivate?
Shen Tang suggested, "It's not difficult to verify. If you encounter a woman with cultivation talent in the future, take her as your retainer. If she can also cultivate, it means she is indeed related to the Gongxi clan. If she cannot, it means there is another reason for Yang Ying's situation."
Gong Xiqiu thought about it and agreed.
There will be plenty of opportunities to verify this in the future.
Shen Tang asked him, "When do you plan to leave?"
Gong Xichou: "Take a few days to recover from your injuries."
Shen Tang bent her elbow and casually put her arm around his shoulder, saying, "After the spring planting next year, I'm going to send troops to deal with Zheng Qiao. If you're not far from the battlefield at that time, remember to come and support me. We're best friends, surely you can't refuse such a small gesture?"
Gong Xiqiu tilted his head and thought for a moment: "How much?"
Shen Tang: "...Talking about money hurts feelings."
She considered Gongxi Chou her closest friend and confidant.
Gong Xichou treated her like an ATM!
He put on his singing, recitation, acting, and fighting skills, and even cried about being poor: "To be honest, my subordinates either want money or their lives, and even the landlord doesn't have any extra money or grain to pay you!"
Gong Xichou bluntly exposed her.
"You just don't want to pay and you want to dine and dash."
Shen Tang: "..."
Silly kids aren't so easily fooled anymore.
People are always in high spirits when they have a happy event. Having found his beloved daughter, how could Yang Gong possibly contain his joy? He smiled at everyone he met, leaving them all bewildered. Yang Ying, however, after the initial overwhelming joy of their reunion, felt a deep sadness upon seeing her father, who had aged so much.
Yang Gong knew what was making her sad.
Stroking his daughter's hair, he said, "What's there to be sad about? Even the most valiant general will grow old one day. But, Ah Ying, God has been kind to me. He gave me the opportunity to watch you grow taller than me in my lifetime."
Although Gong Xichou was ruthless, he was a good master.
Yang Ying's talent is far superior to his. She has the potential to reach even greater heights and become even stronger, and Yang Gong is equally proud of her.
When Gong Xichou was about to leave, the happiest person was his eldest son, Xun Ding, who wished he could clap his hands in celebration and say, "It's good that this scourge is leaving!"
When you're in a good mood, you're more motivated to work.
The walls of Xiaocheng have been ravaged by war and are on the verge of collapse.
Because of a shortage of manpower, Xun Ding was dumped on him by his elderly father, and he could only do it with a heavy heart—he couldn't owe his own father a debt he owed even to the King of Hell. Despite it being the dead of winter, he easily broke into a sweat, so he simply took off one sleeve, tucked it into his coat, and carried the repair tools around the city walls.
He was cheerful and easygoing, without any airs, and easily became friends with the other soldiers, chatting and laughing all day long.
On this day, a group of people arrived in Xiaocheng.
The soldiers initially guessed that they had come to deliver money to ransom people.
Xun Ding slapped the other person on the back of the head: "Nonsense, didn't you see the huge 'Chen' written on the flag the team was holding up?"
They must be one of our own.
Xun Ding didn't pay much attention to this team at first.
As the procession reached the city gate, Xun Ding glanced casually and caught a glimpse of a familiar face revealed when the carriage curtain was lifted.
Overjoyed, he jumped down immediately.
"It's you!"
Xun Ding's sudden appearance startled the guards near the convoy, who drew their weapons and surrounded him.
Prayer, the person inside the carriage, Shan: "..."
Before he even entered the city, God had already given him a big surprise, and he broke out in a fit of coughing.
Xun Ding, a martial artist with a keen eye, asked, "Why do you look so weak and bloodless? Are you sick or injured?"
Qi Shanchong waved his hand, signaling them to step back.
He forced a faint smile.
"What are you doing here, Young Master Xun?"
A month before meeting Shen Tang, Qi Shan met Xun Ding at a secluded teahouse in a post station, using his current alias. The two had a pleasant conversation. More than four years had passed since then, and it was unexpected that Xun Ding, that mischievous boy, had such a good memory and still remembered him.
and--
Xun Zhen was also in Xiaocheng.
Could it be that the father and son have been reunited?
Qi Shan felt a chill run down her spine as she looked at the pitted and uneven walls of Xiaocheng, and for the first time, the thought of retreating crossed her mind...
He didn't want the society to die.
Unfortunately, Xun Ding's words extinguished his joy.
"I came with my father." Hao Da'er's words were not entirely a lie; he had indeed been captured and brought here by Xun Zhen.
"...Is your father Xun Hanzhang?"
"It is indeed my father. Do you know him?"
Qi Shan chuckled and said, "He is my colleague."
Is it too late for him to turn back to Linshan County and bring Chu Wuhui over? If he had known that this calamity awaited him in Xiaocheng, he wouldn't have fought with Chu Wuhui for it. Qi Shan's injuries hadn't healed, and his face was paler than usual, so Xun Ding couldn't see any flaws.
"What a coincidence! We had a very pleasant conversation at the inn earlier, and were so engrossed in drinking and singing that I didn't even have a chance to ask your name."
"My surname is Qi, my given name is Shan, and my courtesy name is Yuanliang."
Xun Ding didn't hold back his praise: "A fine name, a fine courtesy name!"
He then volunteered to take Qi Shan and the others to the government office. Knowing he couldn't avoid it, Qi Shan simply closed his eyes and resigned himself to his fate: "Okay."
Because they absorbed some of Qiu Cheng's team and made good use of the prisoners who hadn't yet been redeemed, helping with some unimportant and trivial administrative tasks, Shen Tang and the others weren't particularly busy. Moreover, Xiaocheng had long suffered from problems; for example, the former governor Yan Cheng had built numerous brothels to revive the economy, leading to a poor social atmosphere. Repairing the situation would take time, so they had to proceed gradually.
Qi Shan and the others arrived, only to find nothing.
They asked where the prefect had gone.
The official said, "He's seen his friend off."
The city gate through which Shen Tang saw Gong Xi Chou off was not the same as the city gate through which Qi Shan came. The official then said, "Military Advisor Xun is on duty today."
Qi Shan: "..."
Speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao arrives. Xun Zhen: "..."
Their eyes met, and lightning flashed between them.
_(:з」∠)_
Qi Shan said, "This year is unlucky."
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
