Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 409: Chapter 395: If you don’t make a move soon, this old man will cross the river!

Xiang Qiaohe sat next to Ye Changkai, ”Since Mr. Ye has such leisure and elegance, then I shall keep you company.”

”Oh!” Ye Changkai looked at him in surprise, ”Aren’t you afraid that someone else will beat us to the punch?”

”If you’re not afraid, what is there for me to fear?” said Xiang Qiaohe.

”Hahaha, how interesting~~” Ye Changkai laughed heartily.

What does it matter if he beats us to the punch?

To obtain the Jade Dew Spirit Peach, it’s not about who kills Yang Zhenshan to get it, but who brings Yang Zhenshan’s head to Mountain River Tower to claim the bounty.

So, beating someone to the punch is meaningless; the crucial point is being the ”cuckoo” that catches the early worm.

...

Inside a nondescript residence in the heart of Xinglong Prefecture City.

Luo Jingsong and Sun Chunsheng sat facing each other with indifferent expressions.

Both were from the Star Moon Sect, yet they were not well-acquainted.

Luo Jingsong was the Hall Master of Yuheng Star Hall, one of the Seven Stars Hall, while Sun Chunsheng was the Sword Protector of the main hall.

The position of Sword Protector in the main hall was somewhat akin to a Guest Elder—a high status but without real power.

Hence, Luo Jingsong did not fear Sun Chunsheng much.

The two did not have a superior-subordinate relationship, nor a distinction in status.

However, Sun Chunsheng did come from the main hall, and he was carrying out the main hall’s orders, so Luo Jingsong followed them.

”Yang Zhenshan is strong, and he’s the General of Chongshan Town. Have you considered the consequences of trying to kill him?” Luo Jingsong asked.

”We’ve considered it, but the Jade Dew Spirit Peach is very important to the main hall!” Sun Chunsheng said in an indifferent tone.

”How important?” Luo Jingsong pressed.

”More important than Yuheng Star Hall!” replied Sun Chunsheng.

Luo Jingsong’s face darkened.

If it’s more important than Yuheng Star Hall, does that mean the main hall would sacrifice Yuheng Star Hall for the Jade Dew Spirit Peach?

Although he had suspected this before, Luo Jingsong couldn’t help but feel a surge of anger upon hearing Sun Chunsheng’s words.

However, he did not argue with Sun Chunsheng, as it was pointless.

Sun Chunsheng was merely the Sword Protector of the main hall, following orders, and could not influence the main hall’s decisions.

”I understand. I will help you retrieve the Jade Dew Spirit Peach!” Luo Jingsong said coldly.

Then he stood up and left.

He had completely lost hope in the main hall, a feeling that had been growing over the past five years.

Seven Stars Hall was merely an extension for the main hall to gather gold and silver, it never cared about their life and death.

For years they had striven to meet the main hall’s demands, only to be treated as expendable.

Without Yuheng Star Hall, the main hall could simply create another.

But if he lost Yuheng Star Hall, could he create a new one?

Without Yuheng Star Hall, whether he could survive was another matter.

...

On the banks of the Ru River.

The sound of horse hooves shattered the boastful glow of the twilight.

On the riverside dock, a number of Martial Artists in various attires watched the coming cavalry troop.

As the distance closed, the dock’s Martial Artists grew increasingly noisy.

”Is that Yang Zhenshan?”

”It should be. It’s said Yang Zhenshan is tall and burly, with an extraordinary bearing. Seeing him today, it seems the rumors are not unfounded!”

”Hehe, I’ve heard General Yang is quite bloodthirsty. Five years ago, during the battle in the Northern regions, General Yang, with just a thousand Cavalry, slaughtered more than a hundred thousand Hu Zei. A few months ago, he even burned tens of thousands of Northern barbarian Cavalry at Guanshan Pass!”

”Among the border town generals, General Yang is definitely one of the most astute and courageous!”

Many Martial Artists watched Yang Zhenshan, who was rushing by, and started discussing among themselves.

As the gold list from Mountain River Tower spread, Yang Zhenshan’s name became widely known in worldly society, turning him into a figure recognized by all in merely a few days.

”I wonder if General Yang can escape this disaster! I heard many are eyeing his bounty!”

”There are always those in this world who disregard dynastic loyalty for the sake of profit!”

There are also heroes in the worldly society.

Not all Jianghu Martial Artists are the kind that disregard morality for their own cultivation.

Many Jianghu Martial Artists uphold the justice of the family and nation, serving the country and the people.

And generals like Yang Zhenshan, who defend the frontiers for the Dynasty and the common folk, are also admired by many Jianghu Martial Artists.

However, at this moment, Yang Zhenshan was unaware of these Martial Artists’ thoughts. He rode his horse contentedly on the road, arriving at the riverside dock of Ru River.

This dock was located at the northern edge of Xinglong Prefectural City, less than three hundred miles from the boundary of Shuntian Prefecture.

Yang Zhenshan was about to traverse the dock to head towards Xinglong Prefectural City.

However, just as Yang Zhenshan was about to enter the dock, his senses suddenly jumped, followed by the swift attack of a deadly Arrow.

”General, be careful!”

The ever-vigilant personal follower shouted a warning upon hearing the whizzing sound.

Yang Zhenshan’s pupils constricted sharply as he suddenly extended his hand in front of his chest.

The next moment, a dark black arrow appeared in his hand.

Looking at the arrow, Yang Zhenshan’s eyes narrowed slightly.

What was expected to come has finally arrived!

But it was also time for it to come; any later and he would have entered Shuntian Prefecture.

If he were to suffer an assassination attempt by Jianghu Martial Artists after entering the jurisdiction of Shuntian Prefecture, that would be an utter disregard for the court.

”Step back,” Yang Zhenshan said lightly, looking straight ahead.

”General!” his personal followers said anxiously.

Yang Zhenshan waved the arrow in his hand, ”Back off!”

”Yes, sir!”

The twenty personal followers had no choice but to follow Yang Zhenshan’s order, spurring their horses away from Yang Zhenshan’s side.

Meanwhile, Yang Zhenshan looked toward the martial artists and porters on the dock.

This dock was not small, as it was a part of the official road leading to the prosperous province, Xinglong, and served as a critical passage connecting the north and south banks of the Ru River.

Although there were other roads to the capital after entering Shanhe Province, this one should have the most travelers, which made the dock exceptionally busy.

At this moment, many boatmen and laborers on the dock were busy moving cargo, and quite a few Jianghu Martial Artists stood or sat on the boats, watching Yang Zhenshan from the riverbank.

And not far behind Yang Zhenshan followed a number of Jianghu Martial Artists.

These Jianghu Martial Artists had been following him for a long time, from Xinping Town all the way to here.

With a casual glance, Yang Zhenshan noticed that there were no fewer than a thousand Jianghu Martial Artists around him, among whom were many martial artists of extraordinary presence.

As for the one who shot the arrow!

Yang Zhenshan’s gaze turned toward the Tower Ship on the dock’s pier, where a slightly thin figure stood on the ship’s mast.

”Since you’ve made your move, stop hiding. All of you, come out!”

”Hahaha, if you don’t take action now, I’m going to cross the river!”

Yang Zhenshan tossed aside the arrow in his hand and laughed aloud.

His laughter echoed between heaven and earth, exuding a bold and majestic presence that made the surrounding Jianghu Martial Artists who had gathered for the excitement become even more fervent.

”Truly gallant, as expected of a commander who charges into the fray on the battlefield!” someone praised.

”General Yang is mighty!” others cheered for Yang Zhenshan.

Ah, the Jianghu Martial Artists!

They enjoy watching excitement and don’t shy away from stirring trouble!

Some wanted to kill Yang Zhenshan, while others admired him, but most were there just for the excitement.

What do Jianghu Martial Artists enjoy the most?

Watching masters fight!

On any given day, a duel between masters would surely attract countless Jianghu Martial Artists to watch.

And this time, Yang Zhenshan, having made it onto the Mountain River Tower’s gold list with a reward of a Jade Dew Spirit Peach, naturally attracted many masters intending to assassinate him, and hence, a large number of Jianghu Martial Artists came to watch.

”That’s ’Hundred Steps Pierce Willow’ Tong Jiuxin!” a Jianghu Martial Artist identified the archer.

Tong Jiuxin was a new master in the Jianghu, renowned for his archery skills unrivaled in the Da Rong Jianghu; he could hit a willow leaf at a hundred steps, which earned him his moniker.

However, Tong Jiuxin was always a mystery, with even the Secret Martial Guards unable to track his movements, so no one expected him to be the first to strike at Yang Zhenshan.

Tong Jiuxin’s gaze became piercing as he watched Yang Zhenshan discard the arrow.

His guaranteed hit was easily caught by Yang Zhenshan, which was entirely beyond his expectations.

Nevertheless, this did not deter him from abandoning the thought of assassinating Yang Zhenshan. With a flicker of his body, he leaped like a great roc from the mast, and in mid-air, he executed a sparrow flip while a whistling sound signaled the launch of more sharp arrows flying straight toward Yang Zhenshan.

The corners of Yang Zhenshan’s mouth curved up slightly; he had waited so long to finally encounter a worthy opponent.

However, it’s a pity the opponent was only an archery expert, which made him feel somewhat disappointed.

Yang Zhenshan sprang from his horseback, and in the next moment, he grabbed the Short Spear under the saddle with one hand, hurling it with a flick of his sleeve, and the Short Spear shot out ferociously.

Arrows flew toward him, but Yang Zhenshan, in mid-air, wielded his spear, ’clang clang’ deflected the arrows.

On the battlefield, arrows were most common.

Yang Zhenshan had never feared arrows, for a simple reason: the lethality of arrows was limited and couldn’t threaten him.

The power of an arrow did not depend on the archer’s strength but on the bow’s force.

The heavier the bow, the stronger the shot arrow.

On the battlefield, most bows were of one-stone or two-stone weight, while bows over three stones were few.

As for even heavier bows, they were even rarer.

Tong Jiuxin’s bow must be over three stones, but even so, it still posed no threat to Yang Zhenshan.

Yang Zhenshan could easily dodge or deflect the incoming arrows.

Compared to that, the Short Spear thrown by Yang Zhenshan was unmatched in ferocity.