Urban God of War: The Live-in Son-in-law

Chapter 227: Cultivating Loneliness

Is this old man as vigorous as Huang Zhong?

What are these crazy thoughts? Even if you, an old geezer, want to go to battle, I wouldn’t let you. Ye Feng felt exasperated. Isn’t it just about changing a title? Why so uncooperative?

"Change the title."

Ye Feng decided to be straightforward about it. This using ’Your Highness’ left and right...

The old man was entitled to such address, but those who didn’t know better might think I, your son-in-law, am mistreating you, sir.

"I thought it was something serious. That’s easy."

"Ye Feng, Mr. Ye, Feng’er, Grandson?"

That last one, who’s taking advantage of whom?

Upon hearing this, Ye Feng’s eyebrows twitched slightly. Hong Zhenguo, this old man, had just been talking about how there must be respect between master and servant, and now he’s getting too familiar.

"’Your Highness’ is too common, and Mr. Ye is unnecessary. From now on, it’s ’General Ye’!"

Ye Feng decided firmly, to Hong Zhenguo’s delight.

Excellent!

Hong Zhenguo immediately nodded in approval. Calling him ’General’ seemed to let him envision the commanding presence of Ye Feng, as it stirred something within him.

The Northern Border, a place where years and ideals are buried.

There, generation after generation rose, and loyal souls of the nation perished. It was a stage for heroes and an abyss for the weak. It was laughable that the Zhu Family of the Northeast, mere local snakes, aspired to claim what never belonged to them.

It was time to drum up the spirit and reclaim the Northern Border!

"When we are alone, we needn’t be so courteous, right Grandpa?"

Of course, Ye Feng didn’t know what Hong Zhenguo was thinking, but he could tell that the old man had become much more spirited.

In their conversation, the topic changed unexpectedly.

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"We’ll follow the General’s orders."

Hong Zhenguo laughed heartily, satisfied with the address of ’Grandpa’.

Months had passed in the blink of an eye since he left Jiangdu and then returned. Ye Feng didn’t chat much with Hong Zhenguo but went to the courtyard himself. It was clear that the place had been kept very clean, and there was not a speck of dust on the furniture, nor any sign that someone had been living there.

Somebody cared!

Ye Feng sat alone in the courtyard, lost in thought. After a while, he closed his eyes slowly and formed a Seal with a peculiar hand posture. His breathing became slow and steady, then continued at a strange rhythm.

What is this!

In the small courtyard, Xiao Chuanqi, who was practicing martial arts, opened his eyes. Immediately his figure floated in the air, looking towards Ye Feng’s location. But just one glance almost caused him to lose his balance and fall to the ground.

This speed!

What kind of martial art was his Highness practicing to have such an exaggerated speed of absorbing Primordial Qi of Heaven and Earth? It was even more outrageous than robbery—it was like a whale constantly drawing in water.

Getting further and further behind.

Xiao Chuanqi felt helpless as he landed back on the ground. He had thought that after breaking through to Martial King, he could catch up with Ye Feng, but now it seemed that the gap had not only remained but was getting wider than before.

It wasn’t that he wasn’t trying hard enough; it was that he had met someone "unreasonable."

Unable to practice properly as the surrounding Vital Energy was nearly all absorbed by Ye Feng, Xiao Chuanqi had no choice but to sharpen his sword. His way of getting stronger was not only through practicing martial arts but also his sword, which was crucial to a swordsman. The Treasure Sword of a swordsman was never forged but rather honed.

In the world, the process of a martial artist practicing martial arts is essentially about absorbing the Primordial Qi of Heaven and Earth to purify and empower themselves, also known as Marrow Cleansing and Meridian Purging.

Four hours later, Ye Feng finished his martial arts practice and suddenly opened his eyes. His brown irises sparkled with golden light, reminiscent of the legendary Fiery Eyes Golden Pupils.

Still one hundred and nine acupoints!

Ye Feng exhaled a breath of stale air, his brows furrowed deeply. In the four hours of cultivation, the amount of Primordial Qi of Heaven and Earth he had absorbed was indeterminable, as there was still no measure for it in the Martial Dao World.

Yet, Ye Feng was confident that it was no less than any previous sessions. However, all that energy failed to open a new acupoint; his body still had one hundred and nine acupoints without any apparent change. Although his Qi Force felt more robust than before, he felt as if he had practiced in vain.

In truth, there were some changes. The Primordial Qi settled in Ye Feng’s acupoints had clearly thickened, and on two of the acupoints, the Qi had even formed into droplets of golden color, although he couldn’t see them.

Forget it; if it’s one hundred and nine, then it’s one hundred and nine.

Ye Feng didn’t dwell on the issue any longer. To believe he had only one hundred and nine acupoints would be impossible for him, but where the one hundred and tenth acupoint was and how to open it was still unknown.

"The Hong Family is not so simple!"

Ye Feng stroked his chin. Back in Xuanyuan Nation, he had never seen a place like the Hong Family’s, capable of gathering so much Primordial Qi of Heaven and Earth.

Just why such a good place only produced two inept descendants like Hong Wei and Hong Yuting?

Ye Feng felt a twinge of pain in his teeth. He genuinely felt it was a disservice for Hong Zhenguo. After all the hard work to build a legacy, to see it potentially ruined by his grandchildren was a pity. However, the affairs of the Hong Family were no longer his concern.

Now, Ye Feng was lying on a wooden chair, basking in the sun, recalling the events of the past several months, especially the sweet-smiling visage that lingered in his mind.

At noon, when other members of the Hong Family woke up, they learned that Ye Feng had already arrived as a guest. However, before Hong Tianming and his wife could eagerly come to greet him, Ye Feng had already entered the separate courtyard.

As per the old rules, Hong Zhenguo arranged for four guards. Without Ye Feng’s permission, anyone who dared to barge in would be killed on the spot.

"It’s all your fault, you useless thing. I’m in my prime, looking like a flower, and I ended up marrying you, a worthless excuse of a man who can’t even protect his family business."

In the detached courtyard, Hong Tianming and his wife returned dejectedly. They were not fools; Ye Feng made it clear he did not want to see them. At this moment, Zhang Yuman, gaining confidence from who knows where, began to rail at her husband by her side.

"Shut up!"

"Back when you were mocking and ridiculing him, I didn’t see you being so smart. Zhang Yuman, let me tell you, the one who truly made a blind choice was me, marrying such a shrewish woman like you."

Hong Tianming retorted angrily, flinging his sleeve.

"Oh, so now you despise me, is that it?"

"Let me tell you, Hong Tianming, you are nothing but a loser. Without me, would you be where you are today? What skill is there in yelling and cursing at me? If you have the ability, go on and prove it to me! Take back the Hongtian Group, reclaim the things belonging to the Hong family, and don’t make me, an old woman, schmooze others and endure their disdain for your sake."

"I’m worked to death, and this is the outcome I get. I might as well not live, wuwu…"

Zhang Yuman just squatted on the ground, her cries loud but without tears.

This!

"Stop pretending, get up. Do you want more people to laugh at us?"

"It doesn’t matter if he doesn’t want to see us. Let’s go and talk to Qingyan now. She has a share in the Hongtian Group as well. I believe she won’t just sit by idly."

In the end, Hong Tianming softened. Despite their quarreling, he was clear that Zhang Yuman did have a hard time despite no apparent achievements.

"Right, how did I not think of that? We still have Qingyan."

Zhang Yuman immediately got up, not even giving Hong Tianming a glance, as she walked away swiftly and decisively.

"My lord, there is someone who requests to see you."

In the midst of haziness, the distinctive loud voice of Sima Zhantian awoke Ye Feng.

"Who is it?"

Ye Feng asked with a frown, realizing he had fallen asleep there.

"Someone named Zhang Wenyu."

Sima Zhantian replied.

"Ask him to come here."

Ye Feng immediately said.

Unexpectedly, the Daoyi Chamber of Commerce had some ability; they found this place so quickly. He had thought it would be Yan Xu with his big, dark face coming to pay a visit.

Soon, a middle-aged man in his forties, dressed in formal attire and sporting a slicked-back hairstyle, came before Ye Feng.

Daoyi Chamber of Commerce, Zhang Wenyu, Chairman of the Daotian Group.

"Zhang Wenyu pays respects to the master."

Zhang Wenyu quietly observed Ye Feng; after a moment, he then spoke with a slight bow.

Calm, restrained, profound as a peerless devil lurking within the abyss, Zhang Wenyu couldn’t shake off an odd thought that seemed to come out of nowhere. It was as if, during that brief eye contact, an invisible mountain had been placed on him by Ye Feng.

"The Daoyi Chamber of Commerce belongs to the Old Northern King, so how could I be your master?"

Ye Feng said indifferently.

"You are the master. Whoever inherits the Black Card becomes the master of the Daoyi Chamber of Commerce. This has been the case from my father’s time to my two brothers, and it will not change."

Zhang Wenyu dared not look Ye Feng in the eye anymore, said with his head lowered.

"I was serious, I didn’t really want the Black Card. Sadly, the teacher had no descendants to pass it on to. All these years, I, likewise, haven’t managed the Daoyi Chamber of Commerce."

"Zhang Wenyu, the Black Card is right here. I don’t like to force others. The Old Northern King’s purpose in supporting the Daoyi Forest Society was not as complicated as you think. The teacher only hoped that more wealthy people who aren’t from prominent families would rise up and genuinely help society."

"You have two options. One, take the Black Card and leave, from now on the Daoyi Chamber of Commerce is under you and your brothers’ control, as long as you don’t go against the Old Northern King’s wishes, I won’t trouble the Daoyi Chamber of Commerce in the future; Two, follow me and work for me, never to betray, or face death upon violation."

"You are surely aware of my predicament, so there’s no need to rush your answer. Take a good think about it. I will give you one day to consider it; after you decide, then come and take the Black Card."

Ye Feng placed the Black Card on the stone table.

"Please take it back, master."

Just as Ye Feng turned around, Zhang Wenyu already had his response.

"You don’t want to consider it?"

This time, Ye Feng was the one surprised. Even if he wasn’t well-acquainted with their affairs, he knew that the Daoyi Group today boasted assets in excess of a hundred billion. Such an enormous wealth that was easily attainable.

Not tempted?

"No need to consider. I had already made up my mind before coming here."

"Why would the master need to test me, knowing full well whether the holder of the Black Card could really become the master of the Daoyi Chamber of Commerce, as the king is well aware."

Zhang Wenyu said with a wry smile, clearly no novice in such matters.

"Indeed, from the beginning, I knew the Black Card might not be useful, but what I said before was all true. You don’t need to take risks for me; just coming here personally shows enough."

Hence, what Ye Feng wanted all along was merely an attitude; he just wanted to see whether the Daoyi Group was on his side or not.

The rest simply didn’t matter!