Book 2 Chapter 67: Setting Out - Martial God

## Chapter 67: Setting Out On the wide road, the sound of horse hooves echoed steadily. This cavalry had come from the capital, Tianluo City, and headed straight into the county town. Upon making contact with the Cheng family, they immediately pressed on without stopping towards Hejiazhuang. The horses in this cavalry were all renowned Northwest black horses, which were tall in stature, with slender straight ankles, and broad, prominent chests, rippling with muscle tendons. Under the sunlight, their coats shone like black satin. Although they couldn’t quite match He Yiming’s Red Silk Horse, these horses were still exceptional, a rarity. In the Northwest, acquiring one or two of such fine horses would be easy enough. However, to purchase over a hundred and form a cavalry? That was no small feat. Within the Tianluo Kingdom, only less than ten families could pull off such a grand gesture, and this particular batch came from none other than the Yu family of the royal household. Half a day later, when the carriage arrived before Hejiazhuang, it caused a stir. Not only did He Quanyi come out to greet them, but even Lin Taoli followed suit. At that moment, He Yiming, who was in his courtyard studying how to integrate the power of nature’s storms into his martial arts, received the news of the Yu family’s emissaries from the royal family. When he walked into the main hall, he immediately saw that He Wude and the other two of the second generation, along with his eldest brother, He Yitian, were all present. In honor of hosting the royal guests, even He Quanmeng had returned from the county town. In Hejiazhuang, the only one who remained in seclusion, unconcerned, was He Laibao, who was focused entirely on attempting to break through to the tenth level of inner strength. With a sweep of his gaze through the hall, besides the members of the He family, he noted that Cheng Ningsheng and his son Cheng Jiahui were also there as companions. To his greater surprise, even Xu Yinjie from the Xu family fortress, along with Xu Xiangqian and Lin Taoli from the Lin family, were present. He Yiming couldn’t help but inwardly smile bitterly. The name of the Tianluo Kingdom’s royal family possessed an undeniable allure for a small place like Taicang County. The three great families had all gathered for the sake of a royal representative—clearly a sign of their lack of confidence. If this were in the Fire Crow Kingdom, with the power of the Xie family, even if the King of the Fire Crow Kingdom himself were to visit, they wouldn’t mobilize the entire family. He had a moment of reflection, but his eyes fell upon the two strangers in the hall. One of them appeared to be an old man, with lips pressed tightly together, as if afraid to let any sound escape, yet his eyes occasionally flashed with a sharp gleam imperceptible to ordinary people. With just one glance, He Yiming discerned that this old man’s cultivation in inner strength was no less than his grandfather’s, poised at the pinnacle of the tenth level, seemingly just a step away from breaking through to innate strength. Of course, that step, though it seemed easy, was incredibly difficult to truly take. Many reached the pinnacle of the tenth level, but it was rare indeed for any to actually take that last step to advancement. Not only did it require extraordinary perseverance, but also incredible luck—something evidently not favored by this old man. Beside this old man stood a young man. This young man was notably handsome, wearing a headband with a piece of green jade at the center and two gold-rimmed jade earrings hanging from his ears. The broad cuffs and lapels of his garment, his hands and face marked by a hardworking life, his upright nose, and his gentle yet slightly melancholy eyes—He Yiming had to admit, his looks were strikingly over the top. Upon seeing He Yiming, both the old man and the young man showed a hint of astonishment. Though they quickly covered it, there was no fooling the people in the hall. In truth, they had heard of He Yiming's youth, but upon seeing him in person, they couldn't suppress their inner exclamations. How did someone so young become an innate expert? Particularly the old man, who felt a twinge of melancholy mixed with a slight tinge of envy. Nonetheless, he didn't dare exhibit any signs of jealousy. Envying an innate expert was tantamount to courting disaster. "Yiming, come over here, let me introduce you," He Wude said with a hearty smile, clearly having had a very pleasant chat with the two earlier. “This is Her Highness Yu Xiaoyi, the eldest son of the reigning sovereign.” Yu Xiaoyi slightly bowed, “Greetings, Master He.” He Yiming returned the gesture, “No need for formality. It’s an honor to have Your Highness visit.” Yu Xiaoyi felt a bit puzzled. This attitude from Master He seemed surprisingly amiable. Though he was the crown prince of Tianluo, he understood the status of an innate expert in the kingdom. The nation’s lone guardian mage, Shui Xuanjin, apart from the sovereign, never showed courtesy to the royal members. "This is Mr. Xue Lie," He Wude continued after a pause. "Mr. Xue Lie is the foremost disciple of Master Shui Xuanjin and is renowned as the top expert among those at the tenth level of inner strength in our Tianluo Kingdom." He Yiming let out a faint smile, though he wasn't surprised by this title. Being an apprentice to an innate expert naturally offered certain advantages. Possessing an innate technique and perhaps an artifact would indeed make dominating peers seem feasible. Let's not forget that the two Xie brothers once contended with his uncle using ninth-level inner strength, an unheard-of feat. Xue Lie's demeanor was notably more respectful; he stepped forward, unaffected by the age difference, bowing deeply, “Xue Lie greets Master He.” He Yiming slightly furrowed his brows and raised a hand, lifting him gently, “No need for such formality, Mr. Xue.” Though He Yiming’s gesture was small, it left Xue Lie astonished. He realized that standing before He Yiming, he felt utterly powerless. This sensation was one he had only ever perceived from his teacher. At last, he was wholly convinced that this excessively young man before him was truly an innate expert. He Yiming cast his gaze upon the Cheng and Xu family members, smiling and nodding slightly. Cheng Ningsheng and the others naturally returned the gesture with a respectful salute. Initially, they had all been seated, engaged in conversation. However, upon He Yiming’s entry, everyone stood up spontaneously, including all members of the He family without exception. "Yiming, His Highness has brought us many gifts this time,” He Wude stated with undeniable joy in his voice. Although Taicang County had suffered a rare century calamity with the attack of horse bandits, the He family not only remained unscathed but also gained substantially. He Yiming had brought back several tens of thousands of gold taels, and the gifts from Lin Taoli were equally impressive in value. Moreover, the wealth brought by the royal entourage from Tianluo City was a pleasant surprise. However, he understood that these offerings, golden and otherwise, were given purely as a tribute to He Yiming. Without his grandson, an innate expert, the He family would not have reaped such benefits, and his own fate could have been entirely different. Cheng Ningsheng chimed in with a smile, “Master He, the royal family has even declared a ten-year tax exemption for Taicang County and provided substantial financial support for repairing the damaged city walls. I’ve just evaluated the supplies, and they would not only restore the county walls but also allow for the construction of a formidable wall around Hejiazhuang.” He Yiming felt a stirring in his heart, knowing well the enormous expenditure required for building walls. If not for this, his grandfather wouldn’t have invested so heavily for years. Such assurances clearly came with Yu Xiaoyi and Xue Lie’s complete approval, or perhaps were entirely their directive. He sighed inwardly. The royal family indeed had incredible resources at their disposal. He Wude laughed heartily, “Brother Cheng, in this resistance against the bandits, it was the Xu family fortress that bore the brunt of the defense, and both your Cheng residence and the Xu family’s outer fortress suffered greatly. The funds should go towards rebuilding your properties.” He Yiming was slightly taken aback. Since when had his grandfather become so generous? Before he could respond, Yu Xiaoyi interjected with a smile, “Mr. He, you jest. The gigantic labor and the enormous services rendered by the three great families of Taicang County in annihilating the bandits are unparalleled achievements deserving of national gratitude. We must not let our heroes bleed and then suffer further.” His demeanor turned sincere, “The royal family will see to the reconstruction of the Xu fortress and Cheng manor. Rest assured, justice will be served for both your families.” Xu Yinjie and Cheng Ningsheng were overjoyed. They stepped forward immediately, bowing deeply in thanks. The financial burden of rebuilding, though within their capacity, would indeed deplete their resources significantly. This unexpected boon was a happy surprise. Post gratitude, while their view of He Wude improved slightly, decades of quiet rivalries meant true kinship would never be realized between these three patriarchs. At best, relations began to thaw. Xue Lie waited for the conversation to conclude and then bowed deeply again. "Master He, my teacher, Shui Xuanjin, was exceedingly delighted to hear of another innate master emerging in Taicang County. He hopes that Master He might visit the capital, as there is an important matter to discuss." His voice carried a sincerity that was difficult to refuse. Yu Xiaoyi also offered a deep bow, saying, "Please, Master He, grant us this request." He Yiming pondered for a moment before replying, "Visiting the capital to meet Master Shui is a long-cherished wish of mine. However, Mr. Xue, might I inquire what Master Shui wishes to discuss that requires my presence?" Xue Lie and Yu Xiaoyi’s expressions shifted slightly. They exchanged a glance before Yu Xiaoyi resolutely said, "Master He, while our Tianluo Kingdom may not rival the three great powers in the Northwest, it stands as a leader among the second-tier nations. However, within our three provinces, we have only Master Shui as our national guardian. Thus..." He Yiming frowned slightly, just about to express his lack of interest in the guardian role, when he caught sight of his grandfather making exaggerated facial expressions at him. He changed the words on his tongue, saying, "This matter requires careful consideration on my part. I shall give both of you my answer in a few days." Hearing his non-rejection, Yu Xiaoyi and Xue Lie visibly brightened with hope. As long as there wasn’t an outright refusal, there was room for negotiation. Yu Xiaoyi inwardly resolved to ensure the success of this endeavor, convinced that securing Master He’s agreement to become Tianluo’s national guardian would solidify his future claim to the throne. He Wude chuckled, "Your Highness, Mr. Xue, you’ve come a long way. Please rest for the night. Even if you plan to return to the capital, there’s no rush to leave tomorrow." He Yiming nodded, "Indeed, rest up. I will be tending to my studies." With that, he nodded to his family members and turned on his heel to leave. Though his actions were technically rude, neither the He family nor the other guests took offense. An innate master naturally possessed privileges, and it underscored their might and noble standing. Returning to his chamber, He Yiming had Yuan Lixun prepare his grandfather’s favorite tea from distant Dashen. The tea cakes were a gift from the Yuan family, originally meant for smuggling—but they gifted this batch to the old man instead. Delighted, the old man had shared a portion with He Yiming. Yet, to He Yiming, the quality of tea mattered little in terms of taste, so he kept it as a gesture of goodwill for his elders. Before long, the old man arrived in his room. Seated across from him, with a sip from his cup, the old man exhaled contentedly, clearly at ease. "Grandfather, you were signaling me earlier. What did you mean?" He Yiming asked directly. "Do you wish for me to take the position of national guardian, or not?" "Of course, I want you to take it," He Wude replied without hesitation. "Yiming, had I not wandered to Taicang County and laid down roots here, I wouldn’t have asked this of you. Among the Northwest kingdoms, Tianluo isn’t the most formidable. Above it stands the three great powers, closest being Kai Rong. You could be their national guardian for better benefits. But since we’ve established ourselves in Taicang, and the He family prospers here, I hope you’ll accept the role for Tianluo." He Yiming nodded slightly, understanding his grandfather's reasoning. Should he assume the mantle of Tianluo’s national guardian, it would ensure the He family’s prosperity and security. After considering, he spoke earnestly, "Grandfather, I understand your point, but my aspirations lie beyond. I seek the pinnacle of martial arts, refusing to be bound by the confines of any single country." He Wude laughed heartily, "Yiming, do you believe becoming the national guardian will confine you? It's merely a title. Unless calamity befalls the nation or a foreign guardian challenges you, you need not intervene." He Yiming raised his brows, "But isn't a guardian required to reside in the capital? How can I then explore the world?" He Wude’s smile faltered, and he sighed, "That is indeed a considerable problem." For most innate experts, reaching their level typically occurred at an advanced age, past sixty, leaving them disinclined to wander. These seasoned individuals often embraced a nation’s patronage, taking on the role of national guardian. However, He Yiming, reaching this stage at such a youthful age, was unprecedented. When faced with this issue, even He Wude found it tricky. He Yiming suddenly smiled, "Grandfather, don’t worry." He Wude’s eyes sparkled, "Do you have a solution?" He Yiming shook his head, "It's not that I have a solution, but rather they will need to." He Wude looked at his cherished grandson in bewilderment. He Yiming pointed towards the direction of Tianluo’s capital, "Once I get there, I’ll convey my aspirations to Master Shui. If he can accommodate them, I’ll accept the role. If not, I’ll walk away." Seeing He Wude’s complex expression, He Yiming assured him, "Rest easy. As long as I'm alive, the He family will remain unprovoked. Whether or not I serve as Tianluo’s guardian, this fact remains unchanged." He Wude pondered this for some time before slowly nodding, though a thread of regret lingered. If He Yiming could officially be their guardian, Hejiazhuang stood to gain significantly. Nonetheless, considering his grandson's ambitions, his personal hopes became secondary. Making his grandson happy and helping him achieve greater martial heights would inevitably elevate Hejiazhuang’s status beyond question. The following day, at the gates of He’s residence, there was a liveliness in the air. A massive cavalry set forth from Hejiazhuang, heading towards Tianluo's capital. In the group, alongside the royal guests, was Lin Taoli accompanying by carriage. From the He family, besides He Yiming and Yuan Lixun, only He Quanxin and He Yitian accompanied them. Per the old man’s wishes, He Yitian would inevitably venture the world one day, so it was crucial for He Quanxin and his son to see the world beyond. Watching as the convoy slowly embarked on the grand road, fading from sight, He Wude sighed deeply, unsure of the emotions within his heart. From this moment on, Hejiazhuang had officially stepped out of the small corner of Taicang County, entering the eyes of the Northwestern nations. And would Hejiazhuang’s prodigy, He Yiming, secure his footing in the Northwest...(To be continued. To find out what happens next, please visit www.qidian.com, with more chapters available. Support the author and enjoy legitimate online reading!)