Chương 243: Guests Arrive

Plum Manor, Night. Seeing the two Yang sisters suddenly kneel down out of nowhere, Song Que understood that some trouble had likely arrived. He didn't let any emotion show, raising an eyebrow as he asked:"What's the matter? Why kneel all of a sudden?"

"Young Master, I have a matter to beg of you."

"What matter?" Seeing no emotion whatsoever on her Young Master's face, Yang Mi knew he was displeased, but she still gritted her teeth, kowtowed, and spoke:"Young Master, if it is possible, please save our older brother."

"Your older brother? Didn't you say the Yang family was completely wiped out?" Grandee Song asked in a deep voice.

"Young Master, he is my father's adopted son, and also the one who protected us sisters as we fled. Like us, he didn't die; it seems he was sent to a place called Mount Xuanwu to do hard labor in a mine." Realizing it wasn't a matter of seeking revenge against Old Xue, Grandee Song's expression softened slightly.

"Stand up and tell me the specific details." Only then did Yang Mi and her sister obediently stand up and explain it to him. In less than a moment, Song Que understood the whole story. It turned out that among Yang Yixing's personal guards, there was a man named Huzi. He was an orphan taken in and raised by the Yang family since childhood. This man was utterly loyal and possessed extraordinary aptitude; in his early twenties, he already had the strength of the 6th Grade.

If he hadn't confined his life to the military camp, he would have definitely made a resounding name for himself in the martial world. Because of this, Yang Yixing cherished Huzi deeply and had intended to formally adopt him as his son, but unfortunately, this incident occurred before the ceremony could take place. That time, while protecting the two girls as they fled from the bandits' pursuit, he was unfortunately captured alive by the underworld figures, and the three of them were subsequently separated.

The two sisters were taken to Jiangdong to be sold, while Huzi was taken away to mine at a place called Mount Xuanwu somewhere in the Jiannan Circuit. Given this, it was highly likely that the man was still alive. Song Que pondered for a moment before nodding:"Alright, if the opportunity arises, I will have someone make inquiries. This Young Master cannot guarantee that I will save him, but as long as it is within my capabilities, I will definitely do my best."

"Many thanks, Young Master!" Overjoyed, the two sisters knelt down and kowtowed once again.

"Alright, it's late. Go back and sleep."

"Yes, Young Master!" Watching the two little girls skip away happily, Grandee Song finally sighed, shook his head, and went into his room. ….. The 816th year of Great Yan, First Lunar Month. Last year, winter came early and left early. Right after the New Year, the chill in the air had almost entirely been swept away. In the plum garden, the trees were racing to push out new buds, and a vibrant green was beginning to blanket the vast earth. The 4th day of the New Year.

Having completed his obligations of paying New Year's visits during the first few days, Grandee Song finally had some free time today. He dragged several people from his household out into the courtyard to work. Beside his small lake, a perimeter wall had seemingly been built out of nowhere, enclosing several mu of land. The soil inside had already been plowed once before the New Year, and a thick layer of black, mixed mud had been spread over it.

Grandee Song, drawing on his countless generations of peasant ancestry, now picked up his family's old trade. With his hands clasped behind his back, he directed Nie Feng, Xiong Ba, and Knife to work:"Knife, the sowing density shouldn't be too thick. Use the ruler and measure the distance carefully for me."

"Mhm, Old Nie is doing well. Blockhead Xiong, how many times has this Young Master told you? Pour less water! Are you trying to drown my seeds?"

"Hehe, sorry, Young Master!"

"Young Master, please sit down and rest for a bit. It won't hurt. You haven't sat down since we started." The two little maids were considerately and attentively taking care of him, carefully watching his feet, afraid that the thief Song might dirty his shoes. Nie and Knife:..... We've been bending over all morning, selling our faces to the earth and our backs to the sky, and we haven't even complained yet. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

Faced with life's unfairness, the group could only silently weep in their hearts.

"Roar... grrr...!" At this time, Little Black, guarding outside the gate, let out a warning growl. Having already identified the visitors through Lightning, Song Que pondered for a moment before shouting:"Little Black, let them in!"

"Grrr..." Only after its small mountain-like body moved aside did Li Xin and Xiaoxiao walk in hand-in-hand. Seeing these two so affectionate with each other, Grandee Song felt a pang of sourness in his heart.

"Big Brother!" Xiaoxiao had been taught well by the kid Li; she didn't feel awkward calling out "Big Brother" as well.

"Big Brother, what are you guys doing here?" Nodding and greeting the two, he answered his question perfunctorily:"Nothing much. Since I have some free time, I plan to plant some rice to eat. It's more reassuring to eat what you grow yourself." This was actually the truth, except he didn't explicitly mention that he was planting Jade Sun Rice. This matter was too deeply involved; the fewer people who knew, the better.

"Planting rice?" Little Li and Xiaoxiao were collectively bewildered. Setting up such a massive formation just to plant rice? Looking at the nearly three-meter-high walls surrounding them and the giant tiger guarding the gate, even if you said he was burying gold, people would believe it.

"That's right, responding to the call of the great man: Spring is the festival of planting trees, making the country more and more spring-like. Xiong Ba and I are striving to bring the buds of spring to fill Plum Manor." Although he didn't understand what kind of bizarre operation his boss was pulling, Li Xin still nodded in worship and praised:"So that's how it is. Big Brother, you truly understand so much."

"Hehe, it's nothing, just ordinary. What did you brat run over here for?" Hearing Song Que ask this, Li Xin immediately perked up, straightened his back, and shouted:"Big Brother, do you notice anything different about me?" Girlfriend? New clothes? Or what? Grandee Song's head was full of question marks. After sensing him carefully for a moment, he raised an eyebrow and exclaimed:"Oh, so you brat broke through to the 3rd Grade. No wonder your blood and Qi are so vigorous and thriving.

I thought you were just so lovey-dovey with Xiaoxiao that your face was flushed with the spring breeze of love." Hearing his teasing, Xiaoxiao's face burned red as she lowered her head. Li Xin could only give a goofy smile and scratch his head:"Hehe, I've been continuously training these past few days, and last night I had a moment of inspiration and successfully broke through."

"Mhm, not bad, keep up the good work."

"Big Brother, aren't you excited?" Seeing that his Big Brother wasn't as excited as he had imagined, Li Xin asked with a hint of disappointment.

"What's there to be excited about? Look at Xiong Ba, he's already broken through to the 5th Grade. Knife became 4th Grade during the New Year. Even the two little maids, Yang Mi and Yang Zi, have become martial artists. This little achievement of yours doesn't count for much; you still need to keep working hard. Besides, you can only do many of the things you want to do after breaking through to the 4th Grade, understand...?" Grandee Song raised his eyebrows and winked.

Stealing a glance at the silent Xiaoxiao beside him, whose face was still blushing pink, Li Xin instantly brimmed with fighting spirit. He put on a serious face and nodded:"Big Brother is right, I will definitely work even harder." No longer caring to complain about how Old Xiong and Knife had secretly broken through and left him behind, the kid made a massive resolution in his heart. If I haven't passed the exams, there will be no consummating the marriage. For the sake of my own future happiness...

onward, young man!...... The first lunar month is the month of play and leisure. With this excuse, Grandee Song comfortably hid in Plum Manor to slack off, not managing a single thing. All day long, if he wasn't practicing martial arts and punching, he was teasing his adorable little maids, living an incredibly carefree life. Today, he even took some time out to watch Knife train his personal guards. On the open training ground, Knife stood solemnly with his hands clasped behind his back.

In front of him, fifty young boys were lined up neatly in ten long rows, rigorously practicing their saber techniques. The saber techniques were just the simple Wind-Chasing Saber and Mountain-Cleaving Saber methods—two basic martial arts—but for these kids, it was already enough. Everyone's face was solemn, practicing the saber techniques with neither servility nor arrogance, occasionally letting out a unified, resounding shout. That imposing aura was certainly nothing to scoff at.

Seeing that all these children had forged a crisp and disciplined demeanor, obeying commands without hesitation, Grandee Song nodded in satisfaction. It seems we can move on to the next step of intensive nurturing. But first, there was an important matter to attend to. He turned to Nie Feng and instructed:"Old Nie, shave all of their heads for me later. Being bald is both cool and convenient, and so much more hygienic." Nie Feng:.....

"Understood, Young Master!" Thinking about how he would lead a bunch of shiny, bald lackeys to beat people up in the future, Song Que felt genuinely happy and satisfied. I'll have to come up with a truly resounding name for them later. How about Grandee Song's 50 Iron Men? Hehe heh....

"Pavilion Master, Vice Pavilion Master Tie's daughter, Miss Tie Yuniang, and a few others are outside requesting an audience!" Just as Grandee Song's soul was wandering beyond the heavens, a servant ran up to report. Frowning in confusion as to what this little lady was doing here, and having already observed through Lightning that there was another familiar figure in the group, Song Que nodded and instructed:"Invite them into the guest hall; I will head over immediately."

"Understood, Pavilion Master!" The man loudly acknowledged the order and quickly ran off. Grandee Song didn't linger here any longer, heading back with Nie Feng and Xiong Ba to receive the guests....... Guest Room. Stepping through the door and seeing the four people in the room, Song Que smiled and cupped his hands:"Zishan, Yuniang, Brother Xu, and this brother here, greetings!" The four of them naturally didn't dare to be remiss, hurriedly standing up:"Greetings, Young Master Song!"

"Haha, there's no need to be so polite, everyone please sit." Laughing heartily and making small talk with the group, only after the servants brought in fragrant tea did he curiously turn to the last person on the other side and ask:"This brother has an extraordinary aura. Zishan, could you introduce him to me?" These words weren't merely flattery. With his acute spiritual sense, Song Que could detect a faint threat from the man. This meant his strength wasn't much weaker than Xiong Ba or Nie Feng.

Furthermore, given that his age was roughly similar to Old Nie's, he was definitely not some nameless nobody. Xu Zishan immediately stepped forward to confirm his guess:"Brother Song has good eyes. This is my senior brother, the Point-Star Sword, Gao Jun."

"So it is a distinguished disciple of the Heavenly River Sword Sect. Brother Gao, I've looked forward to meeting you for a long time!"

"I wouldn't dare. My meager achievements are nothing compared to Young Master Song's. It is Pavilion Master Song's deeds that truly leave us in absolute admiration. To build such an enterprise from scratch to what it is today, I am in awe!" Gao Jun replied with perfect measure, his polite and courteous demeanor easily winning people's favor. Grandee Song was in a great mood, so he sat down and began to chat with them.