Another clear morning. The blue sky was cloudless, and beneath it, Southern Capital City bustled with activity.

A crowd of commoners had gathered at the city gate. In front of the notice board, a scholarly-looking man was swaying his head as he read aloud the posted announcement. Around him stood quite a few people dressed like laborers, their buzzing discussions filling the air.

“Are they recruiting soldiers? Is there going to be another war? Haven’t heard anything about it.”

“You don’t understand. This is called military preparation. If they wait until war actually breaks out to recruit soldiers, it’ll be eight lifetimes too late.”

“I see, better safe than sorry. Being a soldier’s not bad – free food and lodging, plus pay, and you don’t even have to go to the battlefield. When I get back, I’ll have my son sign up.”

“Hmph, the Ye Family Army has strict military discipline. Those military laws are all extremely harsh. Even without going to the battlefield, the training alone will be more than you can handle.”

“Still gotta make them enlist. Old Ma from next door has a son in the Ye Family Army, and you should hear him brag. Hmph!”

As they were talking, the sound of “clang-clang-clang” jingling bells came from the distance. Looking up, they saw a rider with the large character “Post” embroidered on his clothes, galloping toward them on a yellow stallion. The horse’s hooves churned up a continuous line of flying yellow dust.

The steed flew forward like lightning. Yet the rider still seemed to think it was too slow, cracking his raised whip in the air with a loud snap.

“Crack!” The crisp sound of the whip made the yellow stallion neigh and charge toward the city gate even more energetically.

“Urgent official documents from An Capital!” The rider’s deep shout from afar scared the commoners blocking the gate entrance into quickly retreating. Even the gate guards hastily cleared a path.

“Whoa~” The yellow stallion gave a clear whinny. In the blink of an eye, it had already passed through the gate, bringing with it a gale full of yellow dust. So fast that passersby couldn’t even make out the rider’s face, leaving only the sound of crisp hoofbeats growing fainter in the distance…

The Ye Manor’s Flower Hall.

Ye Haoran sat steady and upright in the center of the hall, head bowed as he savored fragrant tea. A small blue porcelain teacup, young tea buds picked before the spring rains. One sip, and the refreshing fragrance rose to permeate heart and lungs.

“Good tea!” Ye Haoran set down the teacup and sighed. “A cup of clear tea, two ounces of wine. How much longer can these peaceful days last?”

Just as he was sighing, an old servant in blue clothes came rushing in urgently – it was the steward Ye Cai.

“General, there’s an urgent courier report from An Capital!”

“Quickly! Show him in!” Ye Haoran’s expression tensed, and his brow furrowed.

Soon after, the dust-covered rider strode in. Upon seeing Ye Haoran, he immediately knelt on one knee and held up a wax-sealed paper packet, calling out loudly, “Reporting to the General Who Pacifies the South! Urgent letter from Minister Fang of An Capital!”

“Mm, you’ve worked hard.” Ye Haoran took [visit our site]a sip of tea before rising to receive the letter, gesturing for the rider to stand and speak.

“Did Minister Fang have any verbal message for you to convey to me?” Ye Haoran didn’t open the letter yet, asking instead.

“Reporting to the General Who Pacifies the South! No!” The rider knelt on one knee again to report.

“Oh.” Ye Haoran showed no reaction, raising his hand to signal Ye Cai to take the man to receive his reward and see him off.

After Ye Cai left with the courier, Ye Haoran returned to his study, opened the letter, and read it with fierce eyes. He gave a cold snort, then paced back and forth in the study dozens of times with his hands clasped behind his back.

Then Ye Haoran’s authoritative voice rang out from the study. “Ye Cai! Make preparations quickly. I’m departing for An Capital this afternoon. Also, call one of the Ye Family Army soldiers.”

“Yes, this old slave will see to it immediately.” Though Ye Cai felt Ye Haoran’s trip to the capital was rather hasty, as an old steward he knew the rules – when the master doesn’t want you to know something, don’t ask.

However, informing Second Wife was still appropriate. Before long, Second Wife came hurrying to the study. Ye Haoran was handing a rolled letter to a Ye family personal guard.

“Give this to Ye Wei. He must receive it personally.” Ye Haoran said.

“Yes.” The guard tucked the letter safely inside his clothes against his chest, then turned and quickly left the study.

Second Wife hurried forward to ask, “General, why are you leaving in such a rush this time? Could something have happened in the capital?”

Ye Haoran smiled. “Don’t worry too much. It’s just that His Majesty has criticized me twice in succession during court sessions for staying inactive and allowing the barbarian tribes to develop unchecked.”

Second Wife also came from an official family and pondered, “Why doesn’t His Majesty issue an edict ordering you to suppress the barbarians, but instead scolds you in court?”

Ye Haoran laughed mockingly. “He’s declaring his position to all the civil and military officials.”

“Then why don’t you just send troops to eliminate that khan or whatever?”

Ye Haoran smiled indifferently. “The day we exterminate the barbarian tribes will be the day my Ye family begins its destruction.”

Second Wife was startled and asked again, “Then aren’t you walking into a trap by going to the capital?”

Ye Haoran smiled. “Don’t worry. As long as the barbarian tribes aren’t eliminated, my Ye family will be safe. This trip is to reassure the emperor. I’ll bring plenty of gold and silver to grease some palms here and there. Nothing will happen.”

After speaking, Ye Haoran instructed further, “To put the emperor at ease, I may stay for quite some time. I’m entrusting the household to you. Don’t cause trouble outside, and maintain good relations with the other households. All this fighting and scheming among yourselves just makes outsiders laugh at us.”

“This concubine understands.” Second Wife bent her knees slightly in a curtsy, a movement that displayed her still round and perky bottom. Though Second Wife was not young, she maintained herself well. Ye Haoran couldn’t help reaching out to give her a squeeze.

“General~ you’re about to leave and you’re still being naughty… Oh my, we’re an old married couple, what’s there to touch? The more I say, the more excessive you get. Can’t touch the front, mm…” Though Second Wife complained with her mouth, her heart was delighted. This old lady isn’t inferior to those young hussies, I can still hook the General. Just wait till the General leaves, you little tramps, and see how I deal with you! And that ugly woman too, I haven’t forgotten!

Ye Haoran’s wandering hands didn’t continue for long, because the other households had gotten word too, and sons and daughters came to bid farewell. With quite a crowd, Ye Haoran returned to the Flower Hall to say goodbye to everyone.

Husbands and wives parting, quite a few young wives had red eyes with tears. Second Wife watched with growing irritation in her heart: You little tramps, perform all you want. Once Ye Haoran leaves, I’ll show you what I’m made of!

Ye Haoran naturally had no idea, still earnestly comforting several concubines he’d recently taken, then repeatedly instructing his several sons. From the looks of it, the hall was full of paternal kindness and filial piety, a harmonious gathering.

No one mentioned that the Ye family had another young master who’d been facing the wall in self-reflection for over a year! Perhaps everyone had forgotten. That fool and the ugly woman were already the forgotten corners of the family, and moreover, in this past year, that fool had completely disappeared from sight.

Of course, some people remembered – like Second Wife or Ye Cai. But would they remind Ye Haoran? Of course not. They wished Ye Kong would face the wall for life and die in the ancestral hall, saving them the annoyance of seeing him.

Around noon, in the inner courtyard of the Ye manor, a figure in a gray-white robe was walking rapidly. Though the old man was advanced in years, he walked very urgently, making people worry he might fall at any moment.

This was Teacher Zhang Wude from the study hall. He’d only heard at lunch that Ye Haoran was going to the capital, so he’d set down his half-eaten meal and hurried out.

“The General has already left. He just departed.”

“Oh.” Zhang Wude’s legs went weak. He turned and ran toward the gate.

“Teacher, is something the matter? Please slow down…” A maid called out twice, wondering aloud, “Teacher Zhang always scolds others about proper standing and sitting posture. Why is he so disheveled today?”

“General, wait!” Zhang Wude’s running form was quite ungainly. He was already somewhat hunched, and not accustomed to running, so when he ran his legs were still half-bent.

But the situation was urgent. He couldn’t care about dignity. He couldn’t watch Ye Kong be locked up for another year.

Fortunately, he caught up. Ye Haoran had just mounted his horse and was waving to the crowd seeing him off when he saw Zhang Wude burst through the crowd and lean gasping against the last carriage.

“Teacher, why such urgency?” Ye Haoran quickly dismounted to support Zhang Wude.

“General… you forgot something. Eighth Young Master… is still in the ancestral hall. It’s already been… over a year…”

Upon hearing this, Ye Haoran’s body shook. That’s right, he still had an eighth son. Since that failed apprenticeship attempt, he’d actually forgotten he had a son facing the wall in self-reflection.

In the blink of an eye, over a year had passed. Previously, the longest punishment had been one month of self-reflection before the ancestors. But Ye Kong had been there for over a year. Heavens, that place was cold and terrifying, with no bed. He’d actually stayed there for a year!

“Alas, I’ve been derelict as a father.” Ye Haoran couldn’t help but sigh, then said to Zhang Wude, “Teacher, let him come out. I don’t have time to bid him farewell. After he comes out, tell him to cause less trouble, read more books, and not fight with his brothers… I’m troubling you with all this, Teacher.”

That afternoon, a spirited youth walked out of the Ye family ancestral hall. He’d grown considerably taller than a year ago. What was different from when he entered was also his bearing, his movements, and his confidence.

After a year of cultivation, a considerable amount of spiritual energy had condensed in his Qi Sea. That spiritual energy was like a seven-colored cloud mass. Though stolen content nothing showed on the outside of his body, in reality his thinking, muscles, and bones had all been nourished by spiritual energy far beyond ordinary people.

His gaze was clear and bright, his vision excellent. His movements were agile, his reactions extremely quick. Even his memory had improved considerably. Cangnan Continent’s writing and poetry no longer stumped him. As for martial prowess, it had improved dramatically. Even though he’d never practiced martial arts, Centurion Liu Changqing was no longer his match.

“Eighth Young Master, don’t come back in again!” After a year together, Ye Kong had developed good feelings for Liu Changqing and the soldiers.

Ye Kong laughed. “Look at what you’re saying. I can come into the Ye family ancestral hall whenever I want. It’s not a prison.”

Liu Changqing realized he’d misspoken and laughed awkwardly. “Haha, what I mean is don’t come back to reflect before the ancestors anymore.”

Ye Kong patted him and laughed. “Actually, I’d prefer to stay here long-term and not leave.”

In fact, Ye Kong’s words were sincere. Since beginning cultivation, he’d returned to his courtyard less frequently. Staying here with no one to disturb him, doing nothing but eating and cultivating, made it the best cultivation site.

However, Ye Kong had another reason for not wanting to leave earlier – the Five Elements Ascension Scripture was still on him. If by chance Ye Haoran came to the ancestral hall to check on the treasure books, he’d have an opportunity to return it in advance.

But now he didn’t need to worry. Ye Haoran had left and wouldn’t return soon. He could safely take the treasure book out.

As for another reason he was leaving the ancestral hall – his spiritual consciousness was now sufficient to open that Complete Collection of Talismans in his Spirit Platform.

This was tremendous good news for Ye Kong. He now had a cultivation method. If he could visit our site add various powerful talismans to his arsenal, he wouldn’t need to fear encountering cultivators.

“Old Liu, don’t see me off. I’ll come back to visit when I have time.” Ye Kong’s way of addressing Liu Changqing had become much more casual.

“Great! We’ll be waiting for you to come back and drink with us.”

Ye Kong nodded, then swaggered toward his small courtyard, humming, “Only I’m the most swag… No one’s cooler than me…”