Chapter Fourteen A Month's Goal

  After a while, Nie Han withdrew his hands that were stuck to Rong Qiusheng's back and stood up with a hint of apology. "Sorry, your injuries are too severe, my abilities can only help you this far."

  Ru Qiu Sheng also stood up, waving his hand. His gaze towards Nie Han no longer held any disdain. A peerless expert like him had to be taken seriously.

  "You and I met by chance, but you didn't hesitate to lend a helping hand. I'm already very grateful." Rujiaosheng bowed deeply to Niehan to express his gratitude, and it seemed that Niehan's actions had embodied the Confucian virtue of "ren".

  Nie Han declined for a moment before saying: "Now that I know about your injury, it's even more impossible for you to leave. Follow me back to the manor and rest properly."

  "Absolutely impossible!" Rujisheng was a young man with a pale face, and he naturally felt uneasy in his heart.

  Yang Yu Xi heard this and quickly tightened her right hand which was grasping Rong Qiu Sheng's clothes, to which Rong Qiu Sheng could only shake his head in resignation.

  Nie Han's face turned serious, "Am I Nie Han blind? Are you Ruan Qiusheng also a stubborn and unyielding pedant?" His tone was filled with disdain and contempt.

  As expected, Rujiaosheng's body trembled slightly, and his eyes stared at Niehan like a torch. Niehan didn't back down, and the two men faced off against each other, their powerful auras spreading out from them as the center, forcing others to retreat. Yang Yuxi, who was standing closest, was blown away directly.

  "Ah! I'm dying...!" Yang Yu Xi fell to the ground, writhing in agony, groaning nonstop. Rong Qiu Sheng quickly withdrew his aura upon seeing this, and Nie Han also stopped suppressing him afterwards.

  After confirming that Yang Yuxi was fine, Rujiaosheng looked at Nie Han and said word by word: "I, Rujiaosheng, am not a pedantic Confucian! Pedantic Confucians are just some common people who only see the trees but not the forest, ruining the reputation of my Confucian school!"

  Upon hearing this, Nie Han's serious expression was instantly replaced with a smile: "If it weren't for the words of a corrupt Confucian scholar, one should clearly see the current situation and make the correct judgment. The current situation is that you have suffered severe injuries and urgently need to rest and recover; the correct judgment is to follow me back to the manor and receive the best treatment in Yushi City."

  "Ah..." Rujisheng also came to his senses, realizing he had fallen for Nie Han's provocation.

  Nie Han took advantage of the situation and said: "If you're not a corrupt Confucian, then follow me. Otherwise, don't blame me for looking down on people!"

  Ru Qiu Sheng could only sigh and shake his head with a bitter smile, and after a long while, he said: "In that case, I won't decline anymore."

  Nie Hanshuang laughed and patted Rujiaosheng's shoulder, saying to Yang Yuxi who had just stood up beside him: "Third Master, let's return to the manor!"

  Yang Yu Xi rubbed her sore butt and glared at Nie Han, saying: "I'll go back and tell Grandpa Yang Lin that you bullied me! You made me fall and it hurts to death!!"

  Nie Han was not the only one who laughed at this, even Rong Qiu Sheng and the guards couldn't help but burst out laughing.

  Nie Han had a "can't do anything about you" expression on his face, laughing and scolding as he picked up Yang Yuxi, coaxing: "Third Young Master, I'll take you home, now can you not report me?"

  Yang Yu Xi crossed her arms over her chest, a smug look on her face: "That... depends on your performance!"

  After a while, everyone returned to the city master's mansion. After learning that the visitor was Rujiaosheng, the entire city master's mansion treated him with great respect. Yang Lin was arranged to prepare the best guest room and invited the best doctor to come and treat him.

  Study room.

  Yang Sanwang faced the window, while Yang Yuxi knelt in front of the desk with her back to him.

  "Yang Yu Xi, tell me, what did you promise me?" Yang San Wang didn't turn his head back, his tone was serious and left no room for doubt.

  Yang Yu Xi hung his head, stealing a glance at Yang San Wang's back, and said in a low voice: "I promised Dad to come back..."

  "What time is it now?"

  "The ugly hour has passed..."

  "Hmph, you're late by more than an hour! Do you know that the first principle for a good man to stand in this world is to keep his credit?! What he promised others, no matter how difficult it is, must be done. If he can't do it, then don't promise others! Is this the first time I'm teaching you this?" Yang Sanwang finally turned around, looking down at Yang Yuxi with an air of subtle intimidation that lingered in the small study room.

  Yang Yu Xi lowered her head and looked at her own hem, carefully saying: "B-but is it..."

  Yang Sanwang waved his hand to interrupt Yang Yuxi's words and said sternly, "Do you want to say it's because of going to the desolate valley to find Red Root Green Leaf Grass?"

  Seeing Yang Yu Xi not responding, Yang San continued: "Don't make excuses, making excuses is a coward's behavior. You could have come back and told me before leaving, why did you take it upon yourself to go to the desolate valley alone? Speaking of the desolate valley, I remember now, didn't I strictly forbid children from entering the desolate valley alone? Disregarding my ban, your crime is even more severe!"

  Yang Yu Xi still lowered his head, his attention had been drawn to a small crack on the ground, his gaze followed the crack and finally found it disappeared in front of a pair of shoes. His eyes then moved up along the shoes and saw Yang San's severe and angry face, he shuddered and didn't dare move again.

  Yang San forgot that he had his hands behind his back and continued to say: "Do you know how much effort everyone put in to find you?! Is it fun to get lost?! Ah?!"

  Yang Yu Xi whispered: "If you don't want me to disappear, you can lock me up, adding another month is nothing!"

  Yang Sanfeng coldly smiled: "Lock up? You're dreaming! Are you going to sneak out again at night to find Xiaoyan?"

  "Huh?" Yang Yu Xi was stunned as if struck by lightning, then said with embarrassment, "You know all this too?"

  Yang Sanfeng coldly stared at Yang Yuxi, letting out a cold snort: "Hmph! You're really something, actually digging a tunnel in the woodshed! If I hadn't gone to find Xiaoyan just now, you would have fooled me!"

  Yang Yu Xi shrunk his head and stuck out his tongue.

  At this time, the door opened and Yang Lin pushed it open and came in, walking to Yang Yu Xi's side and giving him a gentle stare. He said to Yang San Wang: "Master, everything has been arranged, Doctor Zhang has already come to see you."

  Yang San took a deep breath and temporarily ignored Yang Yu Xi, asking Yang Lin: "What did Doctor Zhang say?"

  Yang Lin replied, "Doctor Zhang said that external injuries are minor, the key is internal injuries. All five organs and six viscera have shifted positions. If it weren't for his extremely strong power to forcibly stabilize them, this life would be in danger!"

  Yang San forgot to think for a moment and said, "If that's the case, then the problem is serious. Yang Lin, you go see him personally tomorrow, and help him if necessary."

  Yang Lin looked at Yang Sanwang with some surprise and ventured: "Sir, if that's the case..."

  Yang Sanwang waved his hand, indicating that he should not speak again, and then said: "This Rujiaosheng has a high talent, and will surely achieve something in the future, which is also helpful to our Great Zhou. Moreover, this Rujiaosheng is after all his disciple..." The last sentence Yang Sanwang said very lightly, and before he finished saying the two words "disciple", he waved his hand again and stopped speaking.

  Yang Lin looked at Yang San with deep meaning and said, "Alright, I understand."

  Just as Yang Lin was about to leave, he was pulled back by Yang Yu Xi. Yang Yu Xi opened her big eyes and looked pitifully at him, wanting to say something but hesitating: "That, Grandpa Yang Lin, that... uh?" Her eyes blinked rapidly as she sent secret signals to Yang Lin.

  Yang Lin smiled and scolded a sentence, answering: "Don't worry, I've already helped you send the Red Root Green Leaf Grass to Xiaoyan's hands."

  Yang Yu Xi became happy like eating sugar and sweetly said: "Thank you grandpa!"

  Yang Lin chuckled and then saw Yang San's serious gaze, immediately stopping her smile. She said to Yang Yu Xi: "Third Master, you should listen carefully to Grandfather's teachings. I'll leave first."

  "No, Grandpa, don't go..." Yang Yu Xi felt the piercing gaze of Yang San Weng and shivered slightly. She quickly turned around to grab Yang Lin, but found that he had already closed the door. Before closing the door, Yang Lin still smiled warmly at Yang Yu Xi, but she felt that his smile was somehow gloating.

  "Dad, go on..." Yang Yu Xi could only turn back with a humiliated expression, kneel up straight and speak in a low voice.

  Yang San suddenly didn't want to scold him anymore, he stared at the moon outside the window, as if talking to himself or Yang Yu Xi, or someone else: "In a few more months, Wu Yuwen will take part in the imperial examination."

  Yang Yu Xi was slightly stunned, but it's always good to not be scolded. He took over the conversation: "Yes, Dad, when are Big Brother and Second Brother coming back?"

  Yang San forgot to gently shake his head and said, "It won't be too long."

  Yang Yu Xi nodded understandingly, then asked: "Isn't the imperial examination age-restricted? Big Brother and Second Brother are only fourteen years old, compared to those old scholars who have spent half their lives studying for the imperial examination, they can't possibly have an advantage, right?"

  "Indeed." Yang San forgot whether he agreed or disagreed, "However, what's important is participation, and the martial arts exam has age restrictions."

  "Big Brother and Second Brother are so excellent, they will definitely be on the golden list!" Yang Yu Xi's words revealed her admiration for her two brothers without any concealment.

  Yang Sanwang said, "I didn't expect them to achieve anything good this year, I just wanted them to take it as part of their training. This year's imperial examination will surely be a fierce battle between the three factions of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism."

  "Huh? Does Father mean that Autumn will also participate this year?"

  Yang San nodded and said, "Not only will I participate, but I'll also be a top contender for the championship. It's going to be interesting to see who will be the number one scholar of our generation this year."

  "I really want to go see it!" Yang Yu Xi's eyes were full of hope.

  "Think again, just stay quietly in the woodshed!"

  "No... Dad..." Without the secret passage, Yang Yu Xi didn't want to be locked in the woodshed at all.

  "Now you know, why bother earlier?!" Yang San forgot without any compromise.

  Yang Yu Xi's face fell in disappointment, her mood sinking even lower, the whole person like a wilted eggplant, spiritless and listless.

  Yang San let out a silent sigh and then said to Yang Yu Xi: "However, I can give you another chance."

  "What an opportunity!" Yang Yu Xi immediately became energetic and spirited, without a hint of weakness.

  Yang San forgot to laugh and said: "Within a month, if I break through to the Ling Qi upper level, I won't lock you up."