Everything was already decided. Nothing could be changed.
Peng Yu Lan personally felt Feng Lin Bo's sorrow.
Who was it that risked everything in the beginning, who resisted the imperial court's punitive expeditions?
It was so difficult to achieve what they have today! And now, it's all being taken away?!
— They brought a wolf into their home... and bred tigers... — Peng Yu Lan sat murmuring to herself on her knees. She no longer looked like a person of high society.
Peng Yu Cai could understand his daughter's feelings, and with another sigh, he said:
— Bringing in a wolf is good, breeding tigers is also not bad. It depends on how you look at it. Does this not prove Shang Chao Zong's capabilities? Who else in this world possesses such abilities? In this regard, if we compare them to Feng Lin Bo, Chao Zong appears far more prominent. How many years has Lin Bo been entrenched in Kuangai County? Yet Chao Zong hadn't even had time to settle in Cang Wu County before he seized Qingshan County. He has proven to everyone that he is indeed the son of Ning Wang, Shang Jian Bo!
Peng Yu Lan shook her head: Lin Bo had accumulated all this for so many years, and then someone else came and took everything that had been amassed. And you say Lin Bo couldn't do such a thing? Without Lin Bo's efforts and resources, what could Chao Zong have done? With whose funds did he seize Qingshan County? We carefully cultivated the peach, and a stranger came and took it. Where is the justice in that?
— A stranger? — Peng Yu Cai stood up, took his daughter's hands in both of his, and helped her rise. He wiped the tears from her face and said:
— Not a stranger. Shang Chao Zong is not a stranger to us. He is your son-in-law, half your son. He, you, and I—we are all family.
Peng Yu Lan asked mournfully, "Father, then who are Ru Yi and Ru Jie? They accumulated this wealth, and now they must hand it all over to him, and even bow to him? Is that also one family?"
Peng Yu Cai: "From your perspective, one might say that Shang Chao Zong is of imperial lineage. And if so, wouldn't he then have the right to take our property, which is technically the property of the Yan Kingdom? Do you see it? Yu Lan, some things cannot be 100% right or wrong. It all depends on how you view them. And one must always look far into the future."
Yu Lan: "The future? What future can we speak of?"
She clearly understood that this was for the future, and she had already resigned herself to the fact that Shang Chao Zong would be superior to her sons. But *above* them – that, she could not accept.
Peng Yu Cai remained silent. He understood her. Anyone in their position would be unreconciled.
However, she was Peng Yu Cai's daughter, so he patiently explained everything to her.
He also reminded her:
— Before his departure, Lan Ruo Ting told me about Feng Ru Nan. She returned to Kuangai County and has not gone back to Chao Zong. She cannot be persuaded. I hope I can convince her to return. Yu Lan, in the current situation, power has shifted to Shang Chao Zong. If you truly care about Ru Yi and Ru Jie, then persuade her to return as quickly as possible.
— Men... they are just men. Should another woman appear in his sight, you and Shang Chao Zong will become strangers. If Shang Chao Zong achieves success, he will wield even greater power. And then the Heavenly Jade Sect will have to treat him with courtesy. Ru Nan is his wife, yet she does not live with him. She is like a widow with a living husband. If Shang Chao Zong decides to take another wife, then we will have nothing to say...
At that time, while the Heavenly Jade Sect arrived in Kuangai County, a group of young men arrived from the village where Yuan Gang once lived, escorted by Shang Chao Zong's guards. They happened to be passing through Kuangai County at that very moment and finally, after overcoming a difficult journey, reached Qingshan County.
Upon reaching the mountain valley, they dismounted from their horses. The group of robust young men kept looking around, curiosity sparkling in their eyes.
It wasn't long before Niu You Dao and Yuan Gang emerged to greet them.
Had they been other people, Niu You Dao would not have come out to meet them.
But these were Yuan Gang's fellow villagers, so there was no avoiding it; he had to show his care.
— Brother Yuan, Brother Dao!
Upon seeing them, several young men immediately waved their hands and ran towards them. They didn't even pay attention to the guards.
Niu You Dao signaled the guards not to interfere.
With Niu You Dao, the young men still maintained a respectful distance, but they flung themselves onto Yuan Gang with wild embraces.
They were overjoyed, and a crowd of them hoisted Yuan Gang, tossing him into the air.
Hei Mudan and the others were surprised. So, this stoic and perpetually serious Yuan Gang could actually smile?
After they let go of Yuan Gang, he asked them:
— Why only the four of you? What about the other two?
Da Wang replied, "Da Hei Zi got married, and it's only been a few days since his wedding. Mu Tou also got married recently. Their parents are eager for grandchildren, so they haven't let them leave yet."
Yuan Gang nodded. If they didn't want to come, then it was their business.
Hearing the commotion, Shang Chao Zong and Lan Ruo Ting approached. Upon learning that people from Niu You Dao's village had arrived, Lan Ruo Ting couldn't wait to see them. So he couldn't hold back and came. The Prince was also curious.
— Your Highness, Mister Lan. — Niu You Dao greeted them courteously.
When the young men saw Shang Chao Zong, they realized he was the Prince and immediately became flustered.
They knew nothing of etiquette and simply stood beside Yuan Gang. They behaved just as boorishly as Yuan Gang himself. (Translator's Note: Literally "Yuan Gang's little ones" or "Yuan Gang's puppies.")
— I heard Lord Dao's fellow villagers have arrived, so we specially came to take a look. — Shang Chao Zong said with a smile, looking at the young men.
— These village folk know no etiquette; I ask Your Highness not to blame them. — Niu You Dao immediately understood their situation.
Lan Ruo Ting gazed intently at the young men. He had already noticed that these lads were far from what he'd expected. Of course, these were the young men he had seen for the first time. However, since then, they had changed greatly. They had matured, each possessing a tiger-like back, and they bore a slight resemblance to Yuan Gang. Each was healthy and strong. An ordinary soldier was no match for them.
Lan Ruo Ting and Shang Chao Zong exchanged glances, concluding that these young men would certainly be formidable. If they served in their armies, they would undoubtedly achieve high ranks. It seemed that village truly wasn't simple, for such gifted individuals to emerge from it.
In fact, Niu You Dao had also noticed that these young men had changed significantly. He cast a profound glance at Yuan Gang.
Since the Prince had come, Niu You Dao personally escorted him back. Meanwhile, Yuan Gang led the young men to wash up.
When Niu You Dao escorted the Prince away, he ascended a rock and looked out over the cliff.
It wasn't long before Yuan Gang came to him. Without waiting for Yuan Gang to say anything, Niu You Dao, with his back to him, asked:
— Did you impart the Hard Qigong technique to them?
Yuan Gang remained silent. He understood why Niu You Dao was concerned. In truth, he himself hadn't thought this Hard Qigong would be so extraordinary.
In his previous life, when he trained with others, everyone used the same techniques. So, sharing techniques was normal for them. When teaching those young men, Yuan Gang hadn't considered the consequences. He hadn't thought it might lead to problems.
Yuan Gang nodded: "Indeed! However, I've noticed something strange. After my wounds healed, we seemingly began training at the same time, but they appear to be significantly inferior to me. Much more so."
Niu You Dao: "Every person has their own unique aptitude for cultivation. Just like cultivators throughout the world, it is the same with your Hard Qigong. However, such advantages should not be widely spread. You must be more cautious and avoid inviting trouble. You surely understand me."
Yuan Gang merely nodded silently. He himself understood that dangerous things should not be taught to just anyone!
Just then, a shout echoed from halfway up the mountain:
— Brother Yuan, Brother Dao.
The washed-up young men scrambled up the rock like tigers. And their behavior was clearly not in line with proper conduct.
Niu You Dao turned and smiled faintly.
Yuan Gang said displeasedly:
— This isn't the village. Don't make a fool of yourselves; from now on, you will call him Lord Dao!
— Lo... Lord Dao? — Several people were surprised. They were unaccustomed to addressing Niu You Dao in such a way.
Yuan Gang then looked at Niu You Dao and said:
— Lord Dao, their names are utterly useless. They'll just make people laugh. Please give them more suitable names.
He was right, in truth. He himself at least had a normal name, Yuan Gang. That was because at one point, a stranger lived in the village who helped choose Yuan Gang's name. But these lads had typical village names, like Da Wang (meaning 'Big Lout') or Niu Er Gou (meaning 'Ox Two Dog'). Such names were normal in the village, but not outside.
As for Niu You Dao's name, it was more fitting for a free-spirited individual. (Translator's Note: The name carries multiple meanings; one apt interpretation is 'A Wise One from the Niu Clan'.)
As for surnames, the villagers didn't bother much. Most of the surnames were either Niu or Yuan.
Niu You Dao smiled and looked at the young men's faces. Then he looked at Yuan Gang and enunciated clearly:
Fast as the wind: Feng.
Calm as the forest: Lin.
Fierce as fire: Huo.
Immovable as a mountain: Shan!
Feng... Lin... Huo... Shan!
Yuan Gang understood perfectly. He smiled and nodded, then turned to the young men:
Da Ban, you are now Yuan Feng. Meng Zi, you are now Niu Lin. Gouzi, you are now Yuan Huo. Da Wang, you are now Niu Shan!
— My name is Yuan Feng, and yours is Niu Lin... — several people said, calling each other by their new names, and burst into laughter.
Niu You Dao understood Yuan Gang. And Yuan Gang was pleased with Niu You Dao's choice. Niu You Dao also understood what Yuan Gang had in mind.
Indeed, on the second day, Yuan Gang selected several hundred people for himself. He wanted to recruit his own army. He did not want to take Shang Chao Zong's soldiers. Yuan Gang recruited suitable individuals from villages and towns.
Niu You Dao instructed high-level cultivators to accompany Yuan Gang to ensure his safety.