Chapter Ninety: A Dramatic Rise in Strength

Yang City summoned Old Zhu and went with him to the front hall to visit the wounded first. After inquiring one by one about their injuries, he instructed the physicians to use the best medicine available, so long as it would help everyone recover as quickly as possible.

The guards, together with the martial fighters who had come to lend a hand, were deeply moved. Only here, under Young Master Yang, could they feel what it meant to be respected.

Yang City also had the physicians dress Hong Yun Mountain and the others’ wounds, and arranged for them to rest in the western side chambers. He did not treat them as prisoners under guard, but even had wine and food prepared for them.

He personally invited Dao Bai Liu to join the celebration banquet, but Dao Bai Liu politely declined. After all, he had stumbled into the whole affair today and, in a moment of impulse, turned against the Azure Fire Gang; in his own eyes, it was hardly something glorious.

Yang City could only settle Dao Bai Liu in properly, telling him to eat and rest first, and that they would speak at length after he had finished dealing with the matter at hand.

By afternoon, Yang City had Xiao Lan summon the martial artists resting in the side chambers, and the wine and dishes were brought out in full.

When everyone had arrived, the front hall was filled with lively commotion.

Yang City sat in the seat of honor, with Zhu Unfettered accompanying him at the side. Along the two rows below, from the most senior figures such as Li Tianjun and Duan Zhiwu downward, the guards and martial retainers took their places, and a few young men and women were seated among them as well.

Before each row stood long wooden banquet tables, specially commissioned by Yang City for feast days. They were laden with all manner of wine, meat, snacks, and fruits.

Many of the dishes were new; the Yang family’s guards had never been shortchanged and had all tasted them before. But for the fifty men brought by Old Zhu, everything was novel.

Yang City was in high spirits today. Whatever could be brought out, he had brought out nearly all of it. His only regret was that his strong liquor had not yet been brewed.

Seeing that the feast was ready and everyone was hungry, Yang City rose and lifted the wine bowl filled by Xiao Lan. When the others saw the young master stand, they all rose as well, facing him.

“Gentlemen, today in our challenge against the Azure Fire Gang, we won a resounding victory. You have upheld the honor of the Yang and Zhu families. From this day forward, any petty thieves or rogues on the streets who dare covet the businesses of the Yang and Zhu families will have to think twice. I thank you, brothers, for fighting so bravely for this cause. Please drink this bowl with me. To victory!”

Old Zhu also raised his bowl toward the crowd. “To victory!”

“To victory!” everyone cried in unison, their voices shaking the beams. They lifted their bowls and drank together in one breath.

Yang City wiped the wine from his chin, refilled his bowl, and said, “Today you all charged forward with great courage. Old Zhu and I both saw it from the rear, and we thank you for what you have done for the Yang and Zhu families. Today, every one of you will be rewarded.”

Several of the guards replied, “Young Master, your words are too generous. We have been fortunate to receive your kindness. Working for the Yang family is only our duty; we would never dare ask for a reward.”

The rest echoed the same sentiment.

Yang City waved a hand. “At the Yang family, those who merit reward shall certainly be rewarded. Once the banquet is over, Steward Su will have someone deliver it. Those who have contributed most will receive double. Come, another drink!”

Everyone laughed. “Thank you, Young Master. To victory!”

After they had drained their bowls, Old Zhu stepped forward with a broad smile. “I, Old Zhu, won’t steal the limelight. As for all the rewards, I’ll add another share equal to them myself. Thank you all for helping me hold my head high today. Let us drink this bowl as well!”

As a merchant, he was not stingy. With the Azure Fire Gang dealt with, he would lose at least several hundred thousand each year; over ten years, that would be millions. Such rewards were nothing worth mentioning.

“Haha!”

“Thank you, Patriarch Zhu!”

“To victory!”

After three rounds of drink, the atmosphere was extraordinarily heated.

Yang City raised his bowl again and said solemnly, “To the guards of the Yang family seated here: what you accomplished today cannot be measured by money alone. I will reduce your service term by half a year.”

Many hands holding wine trembled involuntarily. The guards were first stunned, then erupted into cheers; many were even moved to tears. They came from all over, each with his own hardships, but hearts are made of flesh, and who among them did not miss his family? Their gratitude toward the Yang family’s young master could no longer be expressed in words.

Though Zhu Unfettered and the others did not know what the Yang family’s “service term” meant, seeing more than a hundred men so stirred, they could not bear to interrupt.

Yang City went on, “For today, except for those on duty, do as you please. Eat and drink to your heart’s content.” Having said that, he no longer concerned himself with the crowd, and began drinking back and forth with Old Zhu.

The entire front hall’s atmosphere rose once more. Everyone ate and drank as they pleased, and those who knew each other as well as those who did not began exchanging toasts.

Li Tianjun also relaxed enough to drink. As a man usually so meticulous, he naturally knew that two powerful masters were stationed in the rear courtyard; even if the house let down its guard for a day, nothing could go wrong. After toasting the young master and Boss Zhu, he moved to sit beside Duan Zhiwu. He and Duan Zhiwu had taken to each other at first meeting, mutually appreciating one another, and the two of them naturally drank well together.

Yang City also held a very favorable impression of Duan Zhiwu. Moreover, since he was one of Old Zhu’s honored retainers, his status was different from the others; naturally Yang City came over personally to drink a bowl with him and exchange a few words.

He also expressed his thanks to the many men brought by Old Zhu and familiarized himself with them. In Yang City’s view, were it not for the constraints of the times, there would be no true difference between high and low. The more goodwill one could build, the more benefit it would bring in the end.

The guards also came forward one after another to toast the young master. Seeing that Yang City was already slightly drunk and fearing he would not be able to hold out, Zhong Qiang and the others deliberately came over to help him soak up the liquor.

After drinking too much, Yang City indeed could no longer withstand it. He told everyone to enjoy themselves and not return until they were drunk, then had Xiao Lan support him back to the rear courtyard to rest.

Today was a day worth celebrating for Yang City. From an ordinary man to a cultivator, he had reached this point. Though his cultivation had not advanced much, at the very least he no longer had to live timidly and submissively. Now he could stand against the Azure Fire Gang; in the future, he would be able to grow strong enough to oppose even greater enemies. At last, he had found a place to survive in this chaotic age.

From here on, he would need to work harder and strengthen himself more quickly. Thinking of the days ahead, Yang City lay down and soon drifted into deep sleep.

With Yang City absent, the others grew even freer and more at ease, drinking until the sky dimmed. Old Zhu also led the martial artists who had come to lend support in bidding farewell and returning home.

Many of the guards took this chance to make merit, and one after another told Li Tianjun that they did not want rewards, only to remain in the Yang family’s service.

Only by nightfall did Yang City wake and remember that Dao Bai Liu had still been left waiting. He hurried up to wash and dress.

When Xiao Lan saw the young master awake, she informed Yang City that the banquet in the front hall had already dispersed, and that Li Tianjun had asked him to come once he was up.

By the time Yang City reached the front hall, he saw Li Tianjun already leading more than thirty guards, waiting for some time.

Yang City seated himself, and one after another the men stepped forward to swear their loyalty to him and to the Yang family. Yang City was greatly pleased; among them were the three Fusion Realm experts, including Yan Shuihan.

Though they had come from different circumstances, all were men who had found no success in life and were willing to remain with the Yang family in the future of their own free will.

Their加入 greatly strengthened the Yang family’s direct martial force. Most had been screened and examined by Li Tianjun through multiple layers, and Yang City himself had personally witnessed them in battle. Though they had once been prisoners, or had been framed, abandoned as pawns, or burdened by private attachments, they were by no means cowards who feared death.

After speaking with each of them in turn, Yang City had someone record which men needed their family members brought over, or else instructed Li Tianjun to go first thing the next morning to the mercenary corps and hire experts to escort them over.

Housing would be assigned uniformly to the residential villas in the east and west courtyards. Those not yet assigned would have to wait a few more days, until the additional construction was completed, before moving in.

The martial artists thanked him gratefully before dispersing to rest.

Yang City then kept Li Tianjun behind and instructed him: first, to fill all vacancies among the guards; second, to expand the force by another hundred men, bringing the total to two hundred. If the southern city could no longer provide manpower, then they should go to the labor markets in the eastern, western, and northern districts to select capable people.