Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Qu Shaogong took out a gift list and handed it to Yang Zhenshan, saying, "How can I forget the debt of saving a life? But for the moment, I don't know how to express my gratitude properly. I could only prepare a small token of thanks. Please, Marquis Jing'an, do not refuse it!"

Yang Zhenshan was startled.

A thankfulness gift!

That was something unexpected.

Nonetheless, he took the gift list and glanced over the items, a flicker of light in his eyes.

"Since that is the case, then as her grandfather, I will accept it on behalf of Wanqing!"

After all, Wanqing did help, and it was fitting to accept this expression of gratitude.

Seeing Yang Zhenshan accepting the gift list, Qu Shaogong breathed a sigh of relief.

Afterwards, Yang Zhenshan had someone bring Qu Shaoshang and sent the siblings on their way.

Watching Qu Shaogong's departing figure, Yang Zhenshan stroked his beard thoughtfully.

This Qu Shaogong is quite a decent young man, shame that he comes from Duke Xing Mansion. Otherwise, he might have been considered a suitable match for Yang Wanqing.

Duke Xing Mansion is far away in Southern Border Town. If Wanqing were to marry there, it would be too far away.

Previously, Yang Zhenshan considered Guo Ziqiao from Marquis Wuding Mansion, and even Yu Qingyi believed that was too far, let alone Duke Xing Mansion.

Marquis Wuding Mansion might return to the Capital City in a few years, but Duke Xing Mansion is to be stationed indefinitely at the Southern Border Town. If she married there, she might not see her family very often in her lifetime.

Moreover, Duke Xing Mansion faced quite a bit of trouble, and the Jinlong Dynasty would not let things settle. Who knows if one day Qu Shaogong might be killed.

Yang Zhenshan shook his head with a hint of regret, turned around, and walked back to the front courtyard. Looking at all the gifts, he searched and found a white jade box.

The reason he accepted this gift on behalf of Yang Wanqing was because among the gifts, there was an item of Treasure Medicine that he needed.

Flame Red Lotus.

No, it wasn't something he needed, but something Xue Qiaoer needed.

Over the past three years, he had exchanged Hundred Herbs Brew for many treasure medicines, even having three Golden Jade Camellias, but he had never found the Flame Red Lotus.

Unexpectedly, today Qu Shaogong actually brought it.

Opening the jade box, inside was a fiery red lotus pod.

Yang Zhenshan's lips slightly curled. The Flame Red Lotus was precious in its entirety; its pods were rare delicacies, its leaves could be used in medicine. While not a Treasure Medicine, they were valued herbal ingredients, and even the petals could nourish the meridians.

Of course, the most important were the lotus seeds inside the pod, possessing the effect of penetrating meridians, with an effect similar to that of the Three Yellow Plums, both helpful in condensing Innate True Qi and breaking through bottlenecks of the Innate Realm.

What Xue Qiaoer needed were these lotus seeds. It was unknown if Xue Qiaoer had found the Flame Red Lotus; they had been to the Jinlong Dynasty for three years with no news of return.

After securing the Flame Red Lotus, Yang Zhenshan instructed Lu Shou, "Take these things to Wanqing's courtyard!"

Since it was a thankfulness gift for Yang Wanqing, it naturally should be given to her, and he, as the grandfather, had basked in his granddaughter's light today.

Returning to his study, Yang Zhenshan took out the Flame Red Lotus pod again, counting eighteen seeds on it.

With a thought, he entered the Spiritual Spring Space.

Eighteen seeds—he would keep six for Xue Qiaoer to use.

The remaining twelve could be planted in the pond within the Spiritual Spring Space.

However, the pond in the space now had floating lotus leaves, with twelve unidentified lotus plants surrounding the Spiritual Spring. Each plant had three leaves, clear as jade, and very pleasant to the eye.

It's just that these unknown lotuses were growing too slowly. Six years had passed, and only three leaves had emerged, the largest one no bigger than a palm.

Even immersed in the Spiritual Spring Water, they were growing at a snail's pace; one wonders what treasures they could be.

Yang Zhenshan had gotten used to these unknown lotuses and merely glanced at them before turning to plant the seeds of the Flame Red Lotus.

Nevertheless, the Flame Red Lotus grows in hot springs, so it's uncertain if it can thrive in the Spiritual Spring.

Yang Zhenshan thought it wouldn't be a major issue, as even the Ice Heart Fruit, originating from icy tundras, was flourishing in the Spiritual Spring Space.

The Spiritual Spring Space had the ability to allow plants to ignore growth environments, whether they are Spirit Plants or Treasure Medicines. Regardless of the needed environment, they could all thrive in the Spiritual Spring Space.

...

The assassination attempt on Qu Shaogong caused quite a stir in the Capital City as there were many offspring of influential families present with him at that time.

Moreover, several scions of these influential families were also affected, with five or six sustaining injuries; thankfully, none of them were fatal, but they did suffer an unwarranted disaster.

For several consecutive days, Qu Shaogong was busy making apologies to many powerful families.

Although many were annoyed by the incident, no one blamed Qu Shaogong for it. The key point was that blaming him was futile, as Duke Xing Mansion was not just any influential family. Though not based in the Capital City, nobody there could afford to disdain them.

After the Secret Martial Guards and the Martial Arts Temple captured assassins from the Jinlong Dynasty, the matter also came to pass.

However, recently Qu Shaoshang has been frequently visiting Marquis Jing'an Mansion to see Yang Wanqing. Naturally, Yang Zhenshan wouldn't worry about his youngest daughter's social life, for he was more bothered by Yang Wanqing's marriage prospects.

Somehow, the news that he was seeking a husband for Yang Wanqing had been leaked, and lately, numerous people had sent matchmakers to the Yang family to inquire.

In just a few days, the threshold of the Yang family was almost trampled flat, leaving Yu Qingyi and Ms. Wang worn out from dealing with it.

"Alas, which family is this now? If this keeps up, I won't be able to properly cultivate anymore!"

In the inner courtyard of the main residence, Yu Qingyi felt somewhat annoyed.

She had been seeking an opportunity to break through to the Innate Realm, but now she had to deal with a flood of marriage proposals every day, leaving her no peace to concentrate on her cultivation.

Yang Zhenshan was also speechless, "Have you asked Wanqing what she thinks?"

"That darn girl. When asked, she just says 'I'll see,' and there's never any follow-up!" Yu Qingyi was also at her wits' end with Yang Wanqing.

The darn girl was clearly also anxious about it, yet she always made excuses for delays.

The couple looked at each other and let out a silent sigh simultaneously.

There probably wasn't anything else in the world that could make both of them feel so helpless.

It was rather funny when you thought about it: an Innate Martial Artist and a Half-step Innate Martial Artist troubled by their granddaughter's marriage. Who would believe that if told?

"Enough is enough; let nature take its course. Whatever that girl wants to do, let her do it. After all, I've said before that before the age of twenty, she can decide for herself. After twenty, I will arrange it! It's only two more years anyway."

Yang Zhenshan decided to let it go; some things you can't just handle as you wish.

"Then I won't get involved any longer?" Yu Qingyi was a bit hesitant.

"Let your eldest daughter-in-law handle it, you should focus on your cultivation!" Yang Zhenshan said.

His granddaughter's marriage was important, but his wife's cultivation was also critical. Now was a key moment for Yu Qingyi's breakthrough to the Innate Realm; she couldn't be held back by other matters.

...

Originally, Yang Zhenshan had planned to let Yang Wanqing's marriage matters take their own course, but he soon noticed something amiss.

At first, it was just Qu Shaoshang frequently visiting the Yang family to see Yang Wanqing, but at some point, Qu Shaogong began to frequently make trips to the Yang family as well and often took both Qu Shaoshang and Yang Wanqing out to have fun.

On this day, as Yang Zhenshan was preparing to head to the Martial Arts Pavilion, he coincidentally saw Qu Shaogong and Qu Shaoshang leading Yang Wanqing out again.

Standing behind the gates, Yang Zhenshan watched the three leave with laughter and talk, stroking his beard and muttering, "This kid isn't planning to elope with my granddaughter, is he?"

Repaying life-saving grace by offering oneself in marriage?

"Duke Xing Mansion?"

He hesitated. Although he felt that Qu Shaogong wasn't too bad, he still found himself somewhat dissatisfied with the prospect of Wanqing marrying him.

"Let's not go to the Martial Arts Pavilion today, rest at home!"

Yang Zhenshan told his Personal Followers, then quietly followed behind Yang Wanqing and the two from Qu's family. He wanted to see if Yang Wanqing was interested in Qu Shaogong.

After leaving the house, the trio headed for the bustling Zhengyang Main Street and started browsing the shops.

Following them from behind, Yang Zhenshan felt increasingly uncomfortable as he watched their cheerful interactions.

Damn, this kid really does have ulterior motives.

The way Qu Shaogong looked at Yang Wanqing; his eyes were full of tender and sweet affection. It was as if he was just short of writing "I'm delighted by you" on his face.

And Yang Wanqing's gaze towards Qu Shaogong was not right either. Although it was not as obvious, the cheery smile that curved her eyes and eyebrows could not be hidden.

Standing together, Qu Shaoshang seemed like nothing more than a lightbulb, bright yet easy to ignore.