Chapter 120: Red Sun Over Wuzhou

The two climbed to the mountain summit and reached a cliff’s edge. Looking out from the height, the greater part of Wuzhou’s southern district lay revealed beneath them.

The rising sun cast a touch of warmth into the frozen, snow-covered world. Strands of golden light bathed the two men and spilled over the city, as if gilding the edges of the urban sprawl. The old man and the youth stood one behind the other, silent, as though struck dumb by the grandeur of the view.

Duan Yuanqing, finding the vast horizon liberating, exhaled a long breath, feeling the gloom in his chest dissipate. His heart felt immensely at ease; he thought to himself that after today, the "Twin-Blade" Duan Yuanqing who haunted the streets would exist no more.

Chu Feitian sighed, "The red sun shines on Wuzhou, white snow blankets the vanity. When winds rise and clouds shift, it is the time for heroes to stir."

Duan Yuanqing, a man of rough stock, could not grasp the full meaning of the scholar's words, but he surmised that this old gentleman was no ordinary person, possessing a depth of spirit as vast as the mountains and rivers.

It was the eve of the New Year. Rich or poor, every household was busy with preparations, for the celebration symbolized family reunion and the hope for a bountiful harvest in the coming year.

Xiao Wu was occupied with moving house. Only a few days prior, his young master had granted him a home as a reward for his outstanding service over the past year, filling him with boundless excitement. His old home had long since fallen into ruin; he had saved quite a bit of money and planned to undertake major repairs next year, but his master had gifted him a residence that every worker in the Yang household dreamed of owning.

It was well known that, aside from the family’s martial practitioners, only a few supervisors and select workers of great contribution had been granted such housing—a clear sign of the young master’s recognition of his worth. He had been too busy with the annual year-end preparations to move until now. He and his family were delighted; even on the final day of the year, they were determined to move into their new home.

Auntie Wang’s family had moved in two months earlier, and now that her nephew’s family had arrived, she was overjoyed. Her nephew was a promising young man—she had been right to recommend him to the young master—and naturally, the whole family pitched in to help. After the work was finished, the two families shared a reunion feast. As they recalled the past, they spoke of how they once struggled for food and clothing, without a shred of hope for the future. Now that everything had improved, they wept and laughed in the same breath.

Hua Erya’s family was equally boisterous and joyful. Earlier, her elder sister, Darya, had been redeemed from a small family in the northern district. Though Darya was not particularly clever, she was industrious beyond compare. They planned for her to find work in the Yang household’s workshops after the New Year. With their parents and the three sisters gathered, the family was finally reunited.

Early in the morning, Hua Erya had asked Xiao Lan to help invite Hua Mingzhu for the New Year’s feast. When Mingzhu returned home, she brought along the Li brothers, Mei Yuchen, and Bai Zhuluo—her fellow disciples.

The Li village was too far away for Li Tianjun to visit, so the three Li brothers and the men who had come with them remained in the city, conveniently swept up by Hua Mingzhu. Mei Yuchen’s mother was busy handling year-end settlements with Brother Cheng, so she could not attend. As for Bai Zhuluo, she was drawn by Mingzhu’s descriptions of the taste of a mother’s home cooking.

The group enjoyed a hearty meal at Mingzhu’s home. Seeing the vibrant, spirited youths, Hua’s parents were overjoyed and treated them to the best of everything they had. Fortunately, preparing a gourmet meal was no longer a difficult task for them.

At noon, Yang Cheng hosted a grand banquet to treat those who had remained at the Yang estate, joined by the three primary supervisors: Old Yang, Su Yingxue, and Li Tianjun.

The evening dinner, however, was much quieter.

Night fell, and in the courtyard of Yang Cheng’s residence, a table was set with hotpot, wine, and side dishes. Only five people sat at the table: Chu Feitian, Lu Baichuan, Liu Changqing, Bai Muyun, and Yang Cheng. The servants had cleared the table and departed, and even Xiao Lan had returned home to reunite with her family, leaving the group undisturbed.

Seeing no one move, Yang Cheng thought to himself, *Very well, since they are all high-and-mighty figures, I suppose the job of pouring the wine falls to me.*

He picked up the bottle and filled everyone’s cup, smiling sheepishly. "Gentlemen—er, sir, seniors, and brothers—it is the New Year, after all. Let us not be so solemn. I’ve held up the facade of being a family head for nearly a year; I truly wish to take a break and relax. Come, let us eat and drink; let us put aside these stiff expressions."

Across from him, Liu Changqing pointed at Yang Cheng and laughed, "It is that very nature of yours that I like—it seems detestable at first, but in truth, it is open and honest." The others laughed as well.

Yang Cheng did not take offense. He took a sip of wine and popped a piece of meat into his mouth, saying with a shrug, "Everyone here is a master; for a small fry like me, there is nothing to hide. It is better to relax than to sit here and feel physically uncomfortable."

Chu Feitian spoke, "I am a newcomer here, and having wandered about, I am quite surprised by your management methods, Young Master Yang. Seeing the loyalty the people hold for you, your ability to win hearts is truly sophisticated. I have one question: what is your ultimate ambition?"

Liu Changqing interrupted with a hint of indignation, "It is true that Brother Yang has a heavenly talent for management, but he is a man who treasures his own life above all else. If you judge him to have ulterior motives simply because he is compassionate and charitable, as one might from the perspective of a high official in the Central Capital, then you have gone too far."

Chu Feitian smiled faintly. "Do not misunderstand, Brother Liu. I am merely accustomed to asking out of curiosity. Even if there were such a thing, it would be of no concern to a man of the wilderness like myself."

Bai Muyun added, "Chu, you have not spent much time with Brother Yang, so I understand your question. Even I harbored such thoughts at first. If you spend more time with him, you will realize that his methods stem from his true nature, with little desire for fame or gain."

Yang Cheng chuckled awkwardly. "My thanks to Brother Liu and Brother Bai, though I am not sure if that is a compliment. Am I truly viewed as such a timid, life-fearing person in your eyes?"

Bai Muyun smiled and said nothing. Yang Cheng turned back to Chu Feitian. "Elder Chu, you do not understand. My cultivation is low, and I have never had grand ambitions. As for starting this venture, it was merely to ensure my own survival in this world. It was only as more ordinary people began to rely on me that I felt the weight of responsibility. I hoped to have the power to protect them, and so, step by step, I have been led to where I am today."

Chu Feitian nodded and continued, "For cultivation families, resources are paramount. With such lucrative industries as yours, even if you have no grand ambitions, you will eventually become a target of contention between various factions."

Bai Muyun agreed, "That is precisely what worries me. Based on my observations, the Yang family’s industries are developing at a breakneck speed, earning thousands daily. Within a few years, your wealth will surpass that of the great families in Wuzhou, yet your number of martial practitioners lags far behind. When the other families grow envious, they will exhaust every means to devour you. Even if you can handle them, the City Lord of Wuzhou will be wary of the birth of a new major power."

Yang Cheng sighed, "How could I not know this? That is why I have always maintained a low profile to avoid conflicts of interest. Since the Yang family is currently obscure and ignored, we have managed to live in relative peace—for now."

The others nodded in silent agreement.