I Cultivate in a Government Office

Chapter 236: Chapter 135: Yang Family Borough (Part 2)

He was actually quite pleased with himself for saying that. But knowing he couldn’t really accomplish anything and would only end up souring relationships, he’d come here to hide out and enjoy the peace.

”Speaking of which, how has that kid Wenjian been doing lately?” Yang Jianmu changed the subject, asking about his second son.

Yang Wenning wiped his hands and thought for a moment. ”Aside from going on missions, Second Brother just buries himself in his training. I estimate he can reach the Qi Cultivation Stage before he turns thirty.”

Wang Qin sighed. ”That child... his personality is even more withdrawn than his brother’s. I wonder if he’s eating well over there, or if he’s gotten used to the place...”

She looked out at the sky beyond the house.

...

「Lingshan New District.」

In the northwestern, upstream section of the New District’s planned map, next to a newly dug irrigation canal and a stretch of gentle, rolling hills, sat a complex of meticulously arranged buildings—the Yang Mansion and its attendant estate.

This area was far from the bustling construction sites and factories of the New District’s core. The environment was serene, and with the Spiritual Qi guided by the terrain, it was several degrees richer here than elsewhere.

At the very center of the mansion was a sprawling, independent courtyard of about thirty mu. With black roof tiles, white walls, flying eaves, and interlocking brackets, its style was grand and dignified, yet refined. This was the core of the inner residence where Yang Wenqing lived, and it was also the current de facto center of power for the entire Yang Clan.

With this courtyard as the core, several neatly planned roads radiated outward, like stars revolving around the moon.

Along both sides of these roads were smaller, yet equally well-constructed courtyards. While uniform in their general style, they had variations; their specific layouts differed slightly based on the occupants’ closeness of kinship to the main family and the size of their contributions. Some were three-courtyard compounds, others two-courtyard, and each came with its own small garden or training ground.

Further out were continuous stretches of fertile fields, medicinal herb gardens, fruit orchards, and several livestock farms. Paths crisscrossed the fields, which were encircled by irrigation channels, and farmers hired by the clan could be seen toiling within them.

Viewed from a distance, the entire area’s white walls and black-tiled roofs were nestled among green trees and fields in perfect order. It looked less like a family estate and more like a meticulously planned small town.

At the village entrance stood a stone archway, inscribed with the two simple, archaic words: ”Yang’s Residence.”

At this moment, on the eastern training ground of the inner residence’s main courtyard, Yang Wenjian was practicing his fist forms alone.

He was shirtless, wearing only a pair of black training trousers that revealed lean, well-defined muscles that were not overly bulky. Six years had passed, and the once quiet, taciturn youth had grown into a young man with a resolute expression. One could still faintly see a resemblance to Yang Wenqing in the set of his brows, but his aura was far more stern.

Every punch he threw tore through the air with a distinct whistle. His footwork was steady, and as he moved and shifted, not a single speck of dust was stirred from the ground, displaying his excellent control.

At the edge of the training ground sat a small stone table with a water kettle and a few clean white towels. In the distance, under the covered walkway of the inner residence, servant girls in plain dresses would occasionally pass by on light feet, not daring to disturb him.

After finishing a set of forms, Yang Wenjian slowly came to a finishing stance and exhaled a long, warm, white breath. He then walked to the stone table, picked up a white towel to wipe his sweat, but his gaze drifted involuntarily to an old, leafy banyan tree beside the training ground.

The tree had been transplanted from their old home in Sanhe Town and was said to be over a hundred years old. Here in the new residence, it remained just as lush and green. Looking at it, the hard line of Yang Wenjian’s mouth seemed to soften a fraction.

While the sensation of Qi Sensing was still present in his body, he drained the cup of medicinal liquid from the stone table in one gulp. He then walked quickly to the banyan tree, sat down cross-legged, and activated the Gathering Spirit Array around it to guide the Spiritual Qi in his body through a full circulation cycle.

Half an hour later, he opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of turbid air. As he stood up, a servant girl handed him a small flask.

Yang Wenjian took the flask and gulped down some of the prepared, lightly-salted spring water. The cool liquid soothed his somewhat dry throat and helped his jumbled thoughts to settle.

Just then, the sound of familiar footsteps approached from a distance.

Yang Wenjian looked up. It was Aunt Zhou, who had moved with them from their old home. Standing by the Moon Gate, she said, ”Second Master, the Master is calling you to eat.”

”Alright, I’m coming.”

Yang Wenjian handed the flask back to the servant girl, grabbed the clean short-coat draped over the side of the stone table, and casually threw it on. He then followed Aunt Zhou toward the main courtyard’s dining hall.

The dining hall was located in the eastern wing of the main courtyard. It wasn’t particularly large, but it was elegantly and warmly furnished. A large square table stood in the center, already set with four home-style dishes and a soup.

Yang Wenqing was already seated at the head of the table. In six years, his air of authority had deepened, and his gaze was profound and calm. Only a flicker of weariness, almost imperceptible, would occasionally cross his brow—a mark left by the burden of governing the region.

Hearing footsteps, Yang Wenqing looked up. Seeing his younger brother enter, a gentle smile appeared on his face. ”You’re here? Have a seat.”

Yang Wenjian nodded and sat down across from his older brother, his back ramrod straight.

A young man in the same City Defense Bureau uniform stood guard at the dining hall entrance. He was a member of the Yang family from Yang Wenqing’s nephew’s generation. His name was Yang Zhong, and he currently served as Yang Wenqing’s driver. He was usually quiet, but extremely reliable in his duties.

”How is your cultivation progressing?” Yang Wenqing asked casually.

Yang Wenjian ate a mouthful of rice. Only after chewing and swallowing did he reply, ”It’s fine.”

Yang Wenqing looked at his brother and said, ”Impatience is the greatest taboo in cultivation. You have a heart for the path and are willing to work hard. That already puts you ahead of most people.”

”But aptitude is decided by fate; you can’t force it. In this world, those with innate talent are a minority to begin with. Lacking talent simply means you need more patience. Constant dripping wears away the stone—it’s not a feat achieved in a single day. You will eventually succeed in your Qi Cultivation.”

He paused, his tone softening. ”Your path isn’t about competing with others in cultivation speed. It’s about finding the way that suits you. Also, don’t just train by yourself all the time. Go talk with Wenyuan more often.”

”Wenyuan... he officially entered the Qi Cultivation Stage half a year ago,” Yang Wenjian said softly.

”Mm. A Qi Cultivator at twenty-eight is quite good for a family like ours.” Yang Wenqing nodded. ”He was able to take that step because he was patient. Even though I had to help him refine his Spiritual Qi in the end for him to succeed, his mental fortitude was the most critical factor. If you lack his composure, I wouldn’t dare attempt to help you, even when you reach the critical point of advancement.”

He looked at his younger brother. ”On the path of cultivation, experience, guidance, and even appropriate assistance are all important, but one’s disposition is paramount. Wenyuan has a calm temperament and is down-to-earth. His insights from breaking through might be enlightening for you. You’re brothers; visit each other and talk more. It can only do you good.”

Yang Wenjian listened in silence. The frustration in his heart seemed to be soothed somewhat by his older brother’s words. He nodded and said in a low voice, ”I understand, Big Brother.”

”Let’s eat.” Yang Wenqing smiled and picked up his chopsticks again.

After breakfast, Yang Wenqing left the dining hall with Yang Zhong. They passed through the covered walkways and courtyards of the inner residence to the front courtyard, where a standard-issue City Defense Bureau Flying Shuttle was already waiting quietly.

Yang Zhong quickened his pace for a few steps to open the rear cabin door for Yang Wenqing.

Yang Wenqing boarded the Flying Shuttle and settled into a wide, comfortable seat. Yang Zhong sat in the pilot’s seat and skillfully started the shuttle. With a low hum, the Flying Shuttle ascended smoothly, leaving the airspace above Yang’s Residence and heading toward the City Defense Bureau’s branch office in the core of the New District.

As it gained altitude, the immense changes Lingshan New District had undergone over the past six years slowly unfurled below like a painted scroll...