"Um... competition, can you not go?" Yan Dechang had been holding it in for a long time, but finally couldn't help but say this at the dinner table, looking at Yan Liqiang with the worried eyes of a father looking at his son. As a father, I'm afraid no one can be optimistic when hearing that his son is going to duel with a well-known master.
Three days had passed since Yan Liqiang received the Feitianmen's challenge post. During these three days, even though Yan Liqiang had not told Yan Dechang about this matter, Yan Dechang still knew about it. Not only Yan Dechang, but probably the entire Liuhe Town knew about it. When Yan Liqiang came back today, he heard people in the town talking about it. In this age of scarcity of entertainment, the speed at which celebrity-related gossip and news spread was simply the speed of light. Yan Liqiang estimated that the entire Northwest probably knew about it by now.
Feitianmen reacted very quickly. In comparison, Yan Liqiang had not received the news yet due to the distance from Lingshan Sect, which was far away. This was probably the reason why Feitianmen dared to attack him.
Looking at Yan Dechang's worried face and the gray hair on his temples, Yan Liqiang tried his best to make his tone sound more relaxed and natural. After swallowing the food in his mouth, he gently put down the chopsticks in his hand, "Dad, do you know about the conflict between the Manufacturing Bureau and the Transportation Office some time ago? Many people died on their side, including disciples of Feitianmen. Jiang Tianhua, the Northwest Transportation Envoy, stopped on the surface, but he was still unwilling to give up, so this time he instigated Feitianmen to find trouble with me behind my back. This kind of thing is not something I can avoid just because I want to. I hid once in Dijing City, but I can't hide this time. If I hide, the current situation of the Manufacturing Bureau and Liuhe Town may be destroyed and taken away. This is the hard work of countless people and the foundation of our Yan family. I can only fight those bastards to the end!"
"But I heard that the elder Cai Yingwu from Feitian Sect who wants to compete with you is the best archery expert in Yunzhou. He is too strong. I am afraid..."
"Don't worry, Dad. I won't let your son die easily at the hands of others!" Yan Liqiang smiled. "Since I returned to Ganzhou, countless eyes have been staring at me, wanting to make me look bad and step on me. Seeing that the Manufacturing Bureau can make money, I don't know how many people are jealous. There is more than just the Transfer Office and Feitian Gate who are eager to try and get their hands on it. I must pass this level. One punch is enough to prevent a hundred punches. As long as I pass this level, no one in the entire northwest will dare to stretch their claws to us again. I knew since I came back that there would be such a day, and someone would definitely jump out. I have been preparing for it. This time is the time for me to establish my prestige in the northwest. I will definitely come back alive. After passing this level, our Yan family will have a new look next year."
What Yan Liqiang said was not a lie made up to reassure Yan Dechang, but Yan Liqiang had been prepared for this. What is a strong man? How can a person who has not killed a master have the nerve to call himself a strong man? How can he make people afraid? Yan Liqiang has a great reputation, but the reputation he made before gave people the impression of a mysterious genius boy who rose like a comet. He was not very related to strong men and masters. Although he was famous, not many people were really afraid of him. This was also the reason why Jiang Tianhua and Feitianmen dared to come directly to the door. The previous collision between the Manufacturing Bureau and the Transfer Office had made people look at the Manufacturing Bureau with admiration and awe, but it was not enough. In the middle, there was still a lack of the blood of a master who was famous in the northwest to embellish it. Only in this way could the awe be turned into deterrence.
This time, if Feitianmen didn't jump out, Yan Liqiang would naturally be happy to continue making a fortune in silence. But since Feitianmen jumped out, Yan Liqiang would not back down, but would fight to establish his prestige and show the prestige and future development space of the Manufacturing Bureau and the Yan family in the northwest. This competition, after all, is just a continuation of the blind competition that Yan Liqiang had last time in the Imperial Capital City.
I don’t know if Yan Liqiang’s confidence and ease infected Yan Dechang, but after listening to what Yan Liqiang said, the worry on Yan Dechang’s face eased a little, “Are you sure?”
"Don't worry, Dad. I'm at least 60 percent sure!"
"No matter what, you must remember that as long as there is green mountains, there is no fear of running out of firewood. At your age, winning or losing is actually not important. When I was your age, I was still an apprentice in a blacksmith shop, and I couldn't earn ten taels of silver all year round. Look at you now, you have everything you want, a thousand times better than I was back then. So, as long as you can survive, time will definitely be on your side. Even if it's not possible now, in three or five years, you will definitely surpass that Cai Yingwu!" Yan Dechang said, glancing at the gorgeous dining room, "As long as you can survive, it doesn't matter whether it's the Yan family's foundation in Liuhe Town or your manufacturing bureau in Huanglong County. We father and son are not afraid of starting from scratch. I, your father, still have some strength. Even if I open a blacksmith shop in another place, I can still support you!"
A scalding warm current flowed through Yan Liqiang's heart, making his eyes feel a little hot for no reason. But Yan Liqiang didn't cry. Instead, he laughed and made a face at Yan Dechang. "Don't worry, Dad. You haven't even held your grandson yet, so how could anything happen to me? I came back today to tell you that I will be in seclusion for a month tomorrow. Don't worry, Dad. If something really goes wrong, I will try to save your life first. Just like you said, at most I will practice in seclusion for another three to five years, and then come out. What belongs to me, no one can take it away!"
Yan Dechang finally breathed a sigh of relief, and forced a smile on his face. "You are right to think so. Good steel has to be tempered a thousand times before it can be made. There are not many deals in this world that can be finalized with one hammer. It doesn't matter if young people encounter a few more setbacks!"
"Okay, Dad, I'll listen to you!"
"That's right, come on, eat your food, eat your food, this is your favorite braised pork, knowing that you'll be back today, this is made for you by Aunt Wu..." Yan Dechang picked up the chopsticks and put the braised pork on the table into Yan Liqiang's bowl...
…
After finishing the meal with Yan Dechang and returning to his own courtyard, Yu Qing had already prepared hot water for Yan Liqiang to wipe his hands.
This little girl, who had always been lively in front of Yan Liqiang, seemed to be worried today and smiled less.
When Yan Liqiang dried his hands and Yu Qing wanted to go out with the water, Yan Liqiang stopped her and said, "Why are you still angry with me? The Kyudo Club is full of men. It's inconvenient for me to leave you here, so I asked you to come back. You can practice better when you come back!"
"Qing'er knows that the young master is doing this for Qing'er's own good, so how could she blame the young master!" The little girl lowered her head and answered in a low voice.
"Then why are you unhappy?"
The little girl raised her head, glanced at Yan Liqiang, and lowered her head again, "Qing'er only hates that she is useless and can't help the young master. If Qing'er has the ability, she will go and kill those bad guys, so that they can't harm the young master anymore!"
Yan Liqiang was stunned for a moment, then he laughed. He stretched out his hand and gently pinched Yu Qing's smooth and tender face, repeating to Yu Qing what Yan Dechang had just said to him, "Good steel must be tempered a thousand times before it can be made. There are not many deals in this world that can be finalized with one hammer. My Qing'er is already very capable. You should practice the skills I taught you well, and there will definitely be a day in the future when you can help me!"
The little girl's face suddenly became red. After quickly glancing at Yan Liqiang, the little girl nodded heavily with great seriousness.
…
Yan Liqiang only stayed at the Yan family for one night. Early the next morning, Yan Liqiang returned to the Kyudo Club. After making some arrangements for the Kyudo Club, Yan Liqiang left the Kyudo Club alone that night, carrying a horn python bow and two pots of arrows.
No one knew where Yan Liqiang had gone. Even Shi Changfeng knew that Yan Liqiang had gone to practice in seclusion for a month and would not be back until the 20th of next month...
(End of this chapter)