Each word written in the manual was a gem and each phrase incisive; it was so much more astute than the mystical Qi manuals she usually read. The more she flipped through the book, the more astounded she was and the more she felt the charm of this mystical skill.
"This mystical skill is too invaluable." Shangguan Lingxiu’s fair hands gripped the Triple Threat Mystical Skill manual tightly. "I’m afraid that the Shangguan Family of Generals and I cannot accept this gracious gift!"
Yun Yang frowned and said, "Sister Lingxiu’s words are all too formal. We are children of the martial arts world, it would only be right that we behave like a family. I have no reason to hold onto this skill manual, why are you being courteous to me? It would only be hypocritical to still be courteous at this point."
Shangguan Lingxiu burst out laughing, regained her straightforward manner and said, "Alright, I shall keep it. Young Brother Yun, I shall remember this favor of yours!"
Yun Yang smiled. "It is my utmost honor that the Shangguan Family of Generals can accept my gift. That being said, you can’t train them like this anymore, Sister Lingxiu; their mystical Qi cultivation should be the top priority. You’ll also need to take note of treasured gems, mystical stones, mystical crystals and anything else that can help increase their mystical Qi. Also, mystical meat should be one of their staple diets from now as well. This is very important to cultivators of higher level mystical Qi, you wouldn’t want to skip that."
Shangguan Lingxiu nodded seriously and said through gritted teeth, "I know! Yun Yang, if the Shangguan Family of Generals could ever revive its former glory in the future, it’s all thanks to you and what you’ve done tonight!"
"Sister Lingxiu is exaggerating the whole matter." Yun Yang smiled. "I shall bid my leave then. You should go home too. You need not toil so hard in future. Actually, you might need to work even harder just to supply these children with their cultivation resources. The amount needed will almost cost an astronomical figure, you should be prepared for that."
"Thank you." Shangguan Lingxiu straightened up and bowed to Yun Yang respectfully.
Yun Yang chuckled and turned to leave; his lean figure instantly disappearing into the night.
Shangguan Lingxiu sighed softly looking at where Yun Yang had faded away; her expression then returned to its usual hardened calmness as she hollered, "Come over, nephews! We’re going home!"
"Really? Really?"
"Really. You need not exhaust yourselves so much in the future and you won’t have to come here to train your courage anymore."
"Really? Wow, that’s awesome!" The six children cheered, hugging and patting each other on the back.
Looking at the six children’s joyful faces, Shangguan Lingxiu was happy as well. Her grasp on the mystical skill manual was tight, her emotions were intense.
It will be alright!
The Shangguan Family of Generals… will be alright!
Thank you, Yun Yang.
When Yun Yang returned to the Residence of Yun, the sky was already gaining its radiance as dawn showered the world once more.
The truth was nothing coincidental like what Yun Yang had told Shangguan Lingxiu; the truth was that Yun Yang had watched everything that had happened in Shangguan Family of Generals by the side for the entire day.
That included the six children being woken up before daybreak to train. First, they had to adjust their breathing before they began their long-distance run bearing weights. All manners of physical training then followed suit.
When they had completed everything, the sky had only held the slightest glimpse of sun rays; the toll it had taken had made Yun Yang immensely shocked.
However, it was still a start.
Various training and drills followed; exercises to work all physical aspects of the children before they began practicing with both ranged and melee weapons including swords, spears, sabers, axes, forks and more. Soon, they began their archery and horse riding as well.
The break period was only two hours during noon but even then, the children had to read books and records on the art of war while they rested, memorizing classic war examples accompanied by some random quizzes.
What can one do to prevent this battle from suffering a huge loss?
What can one do to turn defeat to victory under such circumstances?
What can one do in this situation in order to keep the abilities intact?
Do you choose to retreat and conserve resources or die fighting under that situation?
Punishment awaited each wrong answer.
Yun Yang felt his heart twinge while watching the scene; the eldest among the children was nine years old while the youngest was only six years old.
It was far too brutal for them to train like this, or even to live in such a harsh environment.
After they had dinner and rested for a bit at night, Shangguan Lingxiu brought them out again to the shoddy red-light district to fight with thugs; training them in actual combat and experiencing the fleeting vagaries of life and death. Until late in the night, they were not given a chance to rest but were brought to the unmarked cemetery to train their courage instead.
What the children had gone through in this entire day gave Yun Yang the chills – this was a day in the life of the children of the family of generals!
Yun Yang heaved a sigh that wafted up to the sky.
Looking at the all-female seniors in the Residence of Shangguan and looking at the innumerable ancestral tablets in Shangguan’s ancestral hall – this was the price paid by the family of generals.
Of course, Yun Yang understood why they had to do this; they were not intentionally torturing these children, their own flesh and blood.
In truth, they felt even more sorry for these children than anyone else.
Yet they had to do this!
Even when they had thought the training was incredibly brutal, they still could not prevent things that were far worse from happening.
These children had their destiny sealed the moment they were born, their futures had been decided – they were to be gruelingly trained from a young age without a single day of rest and get married when they grew up to leave their lineage. After that, only the battlefield awaited them.
They would inevitably perish in war.
Their remains would be brought home, wrapped in horse hide.
This was their life.
Looking at the grief-filled gazes of the widows had when they watched their children, it was known that they had long seen the coming of this day.
Just like what Shangguan Lingxiu had said, no matter how much respect militants from the other nations had for the Shangguan Family of Generals, they were enemies the moment they entered the battlefield. They would never allow the descendants of the Shangguan Family of Generals to live and have their day when they revived their glory!
The day of their glorious revival would only be clear in the enemy’s memories!
Since ancient times, the ultimate ending for the entire family of lion-hearted men and women in the legends of the family of generals was none other than being ruined and left without heirs.
There was never an exception!
None!
"What a depressing fate this is! Why must a lion-hearted family of meritorious officials succumb to such a cruel fate? Is this the destiny of a warrior, the pre-requite for one who defended his country and protected homes?"
Yun Yang was lost in his thoughts as he stood in the morning breeze.
Could the Shangguan Family of Generals’ tragedy really be avoided based only on Shangguan Lingxiu’s current efforts?
It was impossible, of course!
Life and death were fleeting the moment one entered the battlefield!
Descendants of the Shangguan Family of Generals had always been the enemies’ center of attention; others would only be relieved when this center of attention was gone.
"Let me help you all."
Yun Yang said softly, "The family of meritorious officials who have bled for the nation should not be without posterity!"
…
The Nine Heavens Dictum was suddenly flooded with requests, various messages coming in at an alarming rate.
"All the influential officials of the imperial court have attacked the military simultaneously. These actions were executed without any warning."
"His Majesty the emperor seems to have issues with his health as his pallor has worsened of late. Suggest that extra attention be paid to this."
"A lot of petty crimes committed by middle and low-ranked military officers have been blown out of proportion and their past crimes pursued with the intention to severely punish them. There are already seventeen assistant generals currently imprisoned. Personal opinion suggests that there must be a significant cause behind this."
"Other than the crown prince, the other princes are closer to the civil officials than the military officials; this trend is growing increasingly apparent."
"The two old marshals seem to still be able to subdue the commotions representing the military side but there have been withdrawals in minor aspects. This phenomenon does not bode well."
"Old He is currently bedridden from sickness; the crown prince has personally visited him as has His Majesty the emperor… There aren’t any rumors surrounding the incident as it seems to have been swept under the rug."
"The nearest of generals from other countries have arrived within a five-hundred mile radius of Tiantang City…"
"Regarding the Towering Wind Pavilion’s men that lord wished to be investigated, a few of them have appeared but Shui Wuyin has yet to be seen. He is suspected to have left Tiantang City. A search across a wider area is currently being conducted."
"There are countless unknown martial artists entering Tiantang City of late and they have spread out soon after, disappearing within the city. Is this to be investigated?"
"The grassland’s grass has been lush this year as its combat power is pushing towards its peak. This subordinate estimates that war is near."
"Dongxuan, Dayuan, Tianci, and the other powerful empires are making active preparations and foraging for provisions in an effort that involves the entire nation; the word is out is that they are stocking their national treasury to prepare for the rumored drought. Their real motive, however, remains unclear."
…
As Yun Yang opened the Nine Heavens Dictum, message upon message popped up.
After reading through them, Yun Yang could sense the distinct smell of fumes that belonged solely to war.
The military must have more channels than he currently possessed to know about the other empires’ activities and the imperial court must have already known the information he now held in his hands.
However, with the wit and intelligence of His Majesty the emperor, it was rather unusual that he had still not reacted until now.
Things were not looking altogether optimistic as the influence was weak from the military since there were only Marshal Qiu Jianhan, Leng Daoyin, and Tie Zheng who were making appeals while civil officials were hard at work trying to sabotage the entire situation.
What Yun Yang was most bewildered about were the civil officials’ attitudes.
Even though civil scholars had never liked war and detested militants, even when they were attacking the military to acquire more power, how could they not see that the nation was in danger? Why were most of them still adamant on not having a war?
This was terribly peculiar.
Yun Yang was not ready to believe that all the civil officials in the imperial court were short-sighted or blinded by power and wealth; his gaze lingered on the activities of the civil side as he mused, "Could this be related to He Hanqing?"
"The hand that has been secretly manipulating the Empire of Yutang or at least, Tiantang City… is it He Hanqing?"
"What has happened to His Majesty the emperor?"
Yun Yang’s thoughts were as scattered as his brain.
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