It was another sunny morning. There was not a single cloud in the blue sky. Under the sky, Nan City was bustling with activity.
There were many citizens gathered at the city gate. In front of the notice board, a scholarly looking man was shaking his head as he read the notice. Around him were many people dressed like peasants. The buzz of discussion was endless.
"You want to recruit soldiers? Is there going to be a war again? I haven't heard of it. "
"You don't understand. This is called preparing for war. If we wait until there's a war and recruit soldiers, it will be eight lifetimes too late."
"I see. It's better to be prepared. If you can be a soldier, you can eat and sleep for free. There's even pay. This Old Man will get my son to sign up."
"Pfft, Ye Jiajun is strict in managing the army. The military laws are strict. Even if you don't go to the battlefield, the training will be enough to make you suffer."
"Still, let them be soldiers. Second Ma next door has a son named Ye Jiajun. Look at him bragging, humph!"
Just as he was speaking, he heard the sound of hooves coming from afar. Looking up, he saw a rider with a large "Yi" character embroidered on his clothes. He was riding a yellow buckskin horse, and the horse kicked repeatedly, causing a trail of yellow dirt to fly up.
The horse galloped as fast as lightning, but the rider still felt it was slow. He raised his whip and made a loud crack in the air.
"Pa!" The crisp sound of the whip made the yellow horse whinny and charge towards the city gate with even more energy.
"An Du urgent document!" The rider roared from afar. The citizens who were blocking the city gate retreated in fear. Even the soldiers guarding the gate quickly made a path.
"Neigh ~" The yellow buckskin horse let out a clear neigh, and in the blink of an eye, it had already passed through the city gate, bringing with it a gust of strong wind that was filled with dirt. The speed was so fast that the passersby couldn't even see the rider's face clearly. They could only hear the crisp sound of the horse's hooves moving further and further away.
Ye Mansion's reception hall.
Ye Haoran sat in the middle of the hall, his head lowered as he tasted tea. The small celadon teacup was filled with sprout before the rain. He drank it in one gulp and a refreshing fragrance rose.
"Good tea!" Ye Haoran put down the teacup and sighed, "A cup of tea and two taels of wine. How long can these comfortable days last?"
Just as he was sighing, an old servant dressed in green rushed in from outside. It was the butler, Ye Cai.
"General, there's an urgent report from Andu!"
"Quick! Please come in! "Ye Haoran's expression froze and he frowned again.
Soon, the dust-covered rider strode in. When he saw Ye Haoran, he immediately knelt on one knee and held up a wax-sealed paper bag. He said loudly, "Greetings, General of the South! An urgent letter from Assistant Minister Fang of the Andu Province! "
"Yes, thank you for your hard work." Ye Haoran took a sip of tea and stood up to receive the letter. He gestured for the rider to stand up and speak.
"Assistant Minister Fang, do you have a message for me?" Ye Haoran didn't open the letter and asked.
"General Zhennan! No! "The rider knelt down on one knee and reported.
"Oh." Ye Haoran didn't react. He raised his hand and motioned for Ye Cai to take the people to receive the reward and send them off.
After Ye Cai left with the courier, Ye Haoran walked back to the study. He opened the letter and read it with fierce eyes. He snorted and paced back and forth in the study with his hands behind his back.
Then Ye Haoran's authoritative voice sounded in the study. "Ye Cai! Prepare quickly. I will leave for Andu in the afternoon. Also, call Sergeant Ye Jiajun. "
"Yes, this old servant will do it now." Ye Cai felt that Ye Haoran had left in a hurry this time, but as an old steward, he knew the rules. If the master didn't want you to know, then don't ask.
However, it was still necessary to inform the Second Mistress. After a while, the Second Mistress hurried into the study. Ye Haoran was handing a letter to the Ye Family soldier.
"Give it to Ye Wei. Have him accept it personally," Ye Haoran said.
"Yes." The soldier put the letter away and quickly walked out of the study.
The Second Mistress hurried over and asked, "General, why are you in such a hurry this time? Did something happen in the capital?"
Ye Haoran smiled. "Don't worry. It's just that His Majesty has reprimanded me twice in court for not moving and allowing the barbarians to develop."
The Second Mistress was also from an official family. She muttered, "Why didn't His Majesty order you to exterminate the barbarians, but scold you in court instead?"
Ye Haoran sneered. "He wants to make his stance clear to all the officials."
"Then you can send troops to destroy that Khan."
Ye Haoran smiled faintly. "The day the barbarians are exterminated will be the day the Ye Family will be destroyed."
The Second Mistress was shocked. She asked again, "Then won't you be walking into a trap by going to Nandu this time?"
Ye Haoran smiled. "Don't worry. As long as the barbarians are not exterminated, the Ye Family will be safe. This time, I want the Emperor to be at ease with me. I'll bring more money and bribe everyone. Nothing will happen."
After Ye Haoran finished speaking, he ordered, "To make the Emperor feel at ease, I may stay for a few more days. I'll leave the family to you. Don't cause trouble outside, and the family must maintain a good relationship with the other branches. Outsiders will laugh at you if you fight with me."
"This concubine understands." The Second Mistress bent her legs and bowed. This action showed off her round and bouncy butt. Although the Second Mistress was not young, she took good care of herself. Ye Haoran could not help but reach out and pinch it.
"General, we're about to leave, and you're still up to mischief … Aiya, This Old Man is an old wife. What's there to touch? The more you talk, the more you go. You can't touch the front, hmm …" The Second Mistress said unhappily, but she was happy inside. I'm not any worse than those little sluts. I can even seduce the General. Sluts, wait and see how I'll deal with you after the General leaves! And that ugly woman, I'll remember her!
Ye Haoran did not mess around for long because the other branches had also received the news. His sons and daughters also came to bid farewell. There were quite a lot of people, so Ye Haoran returned to the Reception Hall to bid farewell to everyone.
When the husband and wife separated, many of the women were tearing up. The Second Mistress was furious. Sluts, do your best to put on a show. Once Ye Haoran leaves, I'll let you know how powerful I am!
Of course, Ye Haoran did not know. He was still doing his best to comfort the concubines he had just taken in. Then, he warned his sons. It looked like the father was kind and the son was filial.
No one mentioned that the Ye Family still had a young master who had been facing the wall and reflecting on his mistakes for more than a year! Perhaps everyone had forgotten that the fool and the ugly woman were already forgotten in the corner. Moreover, in the past year, the fool had disappeared without a trace.
Of course, there were people who remembered, such as the Second Mistress or Ye Cai. But would they remind Ye Haoran? Of course not. They wanted nothing more than for Ye Kong to face the wall for the rest of his life and die in the ancestral hall. That way, they wouldn't be upset when they saw him.
At noon, in the inner courtyard of the Ye Family, a figure wearing a gray and white coat was walking quickly. The old man was old, but he walked in a hurry. It made people worry that he would fall at any moment.
This was Mister Zhang Wude from the school. He had only heard that Ye Haoran was going to the capital during lunch, so he put down his half-eaten meal and hurried out.
"The general has already left. He just left."
"Oh." Zhang Wude's legs softened. He turned and ran out the door.
"Mister, what's the matter? Slow down … "a servant girl called out and wondered," Mister Zhang always reprimands others for standing and sitting properly. Why is he so disgraceful today? "
"General, please wait!" Zhang Wude did not look good when he ran. He was a little hunched and did not run often. His legs were half bent when he ran.
However, the situation was urgent. He couldn't care less about being polite. He couldn't watch Ye Kong be locked up for another year.
Luckily, he caught up. Ye Haoran had just mounted his horse and was waving to the people who were sending him off when he saw Zhang Wude rush out of the crowd and lie on the last carriage, panting.
"Mister, why are you in such a hurry?" Ye Haoran quickly dismounted and came to support Zhang Wude.
"General … you forgot something. Eighth Young Master … is still in the ancestral hall. It's already been … more than a year …"
Ye Haoran's body shook when he heard this. Yes, he still had an eighth son. Ever since he failed to find a master, he had actually forgotten that he still had a son to face the wall and reflect on his mistakes.
In the blink of an eye, more than a year had passed. In the past, the longest punishment was to face the ancestors and reflect on himself for a month. However, Ye Kong had already been there for more than a year. My god, it was cold and scary there. There was no bed, but he actually stayed there for a year!
"Sigh, I have failed in my duty as a father." Ye Haoran couldn't help but sigh. He then said to Zhang Wude, "Mister, please let him out. I don't have time to say goodbye to him. Let him come out and cause less trouble, study more, and don't fight with the brothers … I'll have to trouble Mister for everything."
In the afternoon, a spirited youth walked out of the Ye Clan's ancestral hall. He had grown a lot taller than a year ago. Compared to when he first walked in, his expression, movements, and confidence were also different.
After a year of cultivation, his Qi Sea had already condensed a lot of spiritual energy. The spiritual energy was like a seven-colored cloud. His body couldn't be seen from the outside, but in fact, his thoughts, muscles, and bones were all nourished by the spiritual energy far beyond that of an ordinary person.
His eyes were clear and his vision was excellent. His movements were agile and his reaction was very fast. Even his memory had improved a lot. The words and poems of Cang Nan Continent were no longer a problem for him. As for his martial strength, it had greatly improved. Even if he had never practiced martial arts, Centurion Liu Changqing was already no match for him.
"Eighth Young Master, don't come in again in the future." After a year of getting along, Ye Kong, Liu Changqing, and the other soldiers had a good relationship.
Ye Kong said, "Look at what you're saying. I can come in and out of the Ye Clan's ancestral hall whenever I want. It's not a prison."
Liu Changqing realized that he had said something wrong. He smiled embarrassedly and said, "Haha, what I meant was, don't come in and reflect on your ancestors in the future."
Ye Kong patted him and said with a smile, "Actually, I hope to stay here for a long time."
Actually, what Ye Kong said was true. Ever since he started cultivating, he didn't go back often. No one would disturb him here. Other than eating, he would cultivate. It was the best place to cultivate.
However, there was another reason why Ye Kong didn't want to go out. The Five Elements Immortal Ascension Scripture was still with him. If Ye Haoran came to the ancestral hall to look for the treasured book, he would have the chance to put it back in advance.
But now, he didn't have to worry. Ye Haoran would not come back in a short time. He could also safely bring the treasured book out.
As for leaving the ancestral hall, there was another reason. His Divine Sense was enough to open the Encyclopedia of Talismans in the bier.
This was great news for Ye Kong. He now had a cultivation method. If he matched it with all kinds of powerful talismans, he wouldn't have to be afraid of cultivators.
"Old Liu, you don't have to send me off. I'll come back to play when I have time." Ye Kong's address for Liu Changqing was much more casual now.
"Okay, we'll wait for you to come back and drink."
Ye Kong nodded. He swayed his big arms and walked to his own courtyard. He was still humming, "Only I swayed the most … no one is more handsome than me …"
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