Martial Sage from the Vajra Skill

Xu Yang shook his head and said, "Uncle, do you know of the Inner City Liu Family?"

Zhou Shunchang nodded. "Of course, I do. The Liu Family is a big name in Qingyuan City. The Huang Family isn’t even in the same league as them."

Xu Yang smiled and said, "The Liu Family wanted to marry their daughter to me before. They even offered fifteen taels of silver in Cultivation Resources per month, but I refused."

Zhou Shunchang was taken aback. ’So that’s how it is,’ he thought. ’The Huang Family really has a clever plan. To think my nephew was noticed by the Inner City Liu Family, who offered such generous terms.’

The next moment, his eyes widened. "You little brat! How could you refuse something like that without discussing it with me?"

"They wanted me to marry into their family!"

Xu Yang said with a smile. Zhou Shunchang’s expression softened at that. Marrying into another family was out of the question.

"The Huang Family isn’t asking you to marry into their family," he said. "And they aren’t asking for any betrothal gifts, either."

Xu Yang still shook his head. "Let me be honest with you, Uncle. I have no intention of getting married right now. If I did, the Liu Family would probably still be willing to marry their daughter to me, though the payment would be less. As for the Huang Family’s proposal, please refuse it for me."

Zhou Shunchang started to get a headache. If he were to force Xu Yang to marry, he’d naturally want him to marry the girl from the better-off Liu Family. The Huang Family was clearly trying to catch a prize for free, tying down his nephew with no investment.

But he was an employee of the Huang Family, so a direct refusal would be awkward.

"It’s fine. Just mention the Liu Family’s offer to them and say I’m still considering it. They’ll get the hint."

Xu Yang said, "If they still don’t give up, I’ll agree to a meeting and just find some excuse to turn them down then."

He didn’t want to make things difficult for his uncle, since it was an order from his employer.

"I suppose that’s the only way," Zhou Shunchang nodded.

After chatting with Zhou Shunchang a little longer, Xu Yang got up and left.

「Seven days passed in a flash.」

He was still at the Liu Mansion, spending every day in the Sacrificial Hall. He wasn’t sure if the Liu Family didn’t trust him or simply didn’t need him, but he had never once been asked to escort any of them outside.

Of course, it wasn’t just him; Wu Yongfeng and the others were in the same boat.

Every day, they would go to the Liu Mansion, practice their techniques, eat a meal, and then return to Weiyuan Hall.

On this day, news came from the Outer Courtyard: Qian Jiaxing had failed his breakthrough.

By the time Xu Yang rushed over, Qian Jiaxing had already left, so he didn’t get to see his crestfallen and despairing state.

Two days later, Zhang Yong and Zhang Hong both succeeded in their Qi Gathering and entered the Inner Courtyard.

Of the ten people selected by the Huang Family in their group, four had ultimately succeeded in Qi Gathering and become Martial Artists.

Both of them took three months to succeed in Qi Gathering, just like Wu Yongfeng. So even though they entered the Inner Courtyard, few people paid them any mind, and they could only band together with Xu Yang again.

Including Wu Yongfeng, the four of them now formed a small clique. They exchanged pointers and sparred together, with no need to suck up to anyone.

On this same day, Xu Yang’s Comprehension rose to 30, and the progress of his Cultivation Technique sped up considerably.

"Why the long face?"

Returning home at dusk, Xu Yang found his little sister, Xu Qing, sitting with a gloomy expression instead of practicing her calligraphy.

"That annoying guy from the Yang Family became a Martial Artist. Xu the Second and Zhang Cuiting brought him over during the day to show off. He was so arrogant, I really wanted to step on his face," the little girl said with a pout.

"I can’t believe he actually managed to gather Qi!"

Hearing this, Xu Yang showed a hint of surprise.

’There really is a bit of luck involved with this Qi Gathering business.’

He saw people like this every day at Weiyuan Hall.

Of all the people he had met, Yang Jun was probably the most useless. Even Zhou Yang was a bit better than him; at least his resolve was firm, and he worked hard. And Yang Jun couldn’t even compare to the likes of Qian Jiaxing.

And yet, he had somehow managed to succeed in Qi Gathering, apparently even after the three-month limit.

"Xu the Second’s good days are probably numbered," Xu Yang said with a laugh.

Xu Qing was a little confused, but just a few days later, Xu the Second showed up at their door with a bruised and swollen face, crying. Not only had he been beaten by Yang Jun, but he had also been kicked out. He was hoping Xu Yang and Xu Qing would take him in.

To this, Xu Yang had only two words for him: "Get lost."

"Ah Yang, no matter what, I’m still your father. How can you just abandon me?"

Xu the Second stood outside the door, not daring to enter because of the intimidating aura coming from Xu Yang.

"We’ve already severed our ties. Your life and death have nothing to do with me. Didn’t you say you could bask in the glory now that Yang Jun has become a Martial Artist? Why aren’t you off basking in it?"

Xu the Second’s face flushed red. He hadn’t expected that after years of holding it in, the moment Yang Jun became a Martial Artist, he would immediately find an excuse to kick him out.

"Get lost. If you dare to come and harass us again, it won’t just be Yang Jun who beats people—I will too. And while I’d never lay a hand on you since you’re my father, if I were to ask the Sanhe Gang for a favor, I’m sure they’d be happy to oblige."

Recalling the day Xu Yang had, without batting an eye, ordered Li Sanhe to chop off that man’s arm, Xu the Second didn’t dare to pester him any longer and could only go beg his own elder brother to take him in.

"No matter how bad he is, he’s still our father. Are we really going to do nothing?" the little girl asked, unable to bear it.

"Don’t worry. He’s a grown man with hands and feet. He won’t starve."

Xu Yang said, shaking his head.

Xu the Second had never done a single decent thing in his life, and Xu Yang could find no reason to forgive him. As for whether others would call him unfilial, he couldn’t care less.

By the next morning, he had already forgotten about Xu the Second’s visit and arrived early at the Liu Mansion.

As soon as he reached the Sacrificial Hall, he saw Zhang Bo standing there with a grim expression, a saber hanging from his waist—a rare sight.

"What’s going on?" Xu Yang quietly asked another Tributor, Wang Yun.

Wang Yun whispered, "A lecherous thief called Jade Butterfly has appeared in the city. He specifically targets the young misses of prominent families. Several have already been publicly reported as his victims, and who knows how many more haven’t been. The Liu Mansion has over a dozen young ladies, of all ages..."

Xu Yang was alarmed. "One of the young misses in the mansion was attacked?"

He remembered Qiu Wenjie mentioning a "Flower Thief" before; he never thought such a ’talent’ actually existed.

Wang Yun shot him a glare. "No, but with someone like that on the loose, the young misses of the mansion are in danger. From now on, whenever they leave the estate, they’ll need a Tributor to escort them. Our easy days are over."

After a short while, everyone had arrived, and Zhang Bo began his briefing. "Alright everyone, listen up! The master has been supporting us for a long time, and now it’s time for us to earn our keep. Don’t you dare bring shame to the Sacrificial Hall.

No training today. Conserve your energy and be ready for orders at any time.

When you’re escorting the young misses, do not give that thief any openings. Do your job well, and the master won’t be stingy with the rewards."

Hearing there would be a reward, Wang Yun, who had just been complaining about his easy days being over, started rubbing his hands together eagerly.

Working for a prominent family, the monthly stipend was just pocket change. The real money came from performing meritorious deeds.

He even secretly hoped that Jade Butterfly would show up at the Liu Mansion, allowing him to capture the thief in one fell swoop and gain both fame and fortune.

’Anyone who dares to target prominent families can’t be some mediocre bum,’ Xu Yang thought. ’If a couple of amateurs like us ran into him, we’d probably die without even knowing how.’

Xu Yang had no thoughts of earning merit. This Jade Butterfly had gotten away with so much already; he must be formidable. As someone who had only just entered the Qi Gathering stage, Xu Yang knew full well he didn’t have the skills required to victimize so many young ladies from prominent families.

"Brother Zhang Bo, what are Jade Butterfly’s methods? How old is he? If you tell us, we’ll be better prepared," a Tributor named Bao Gang spoke up.

Zhang Bo said, "He’s said to be an expert with poisons and has superb Lightweight Skill. If you encounter him, hold your breath immediately."

Just as he was speaking, a young woman dressed as a maidservant walked over and said, "Tributor Zhang, the Fifth Miss is going to Sunv Hall. Please arrange for a Tributor to escort her."

"Alright, please wait a moment!"

Zhang Bo nodded, his gaze sweeping over everyone’s faces before finally landing on Xu Yang. "Xu Yang, you will escort the Fifth Miss."