Refining the Mountains and Rivers

Yang Fanshan returned smoothly.

It was rumored that the chaos in the Yang Family previously was because a female cultivator stole a treasure of the family. She was discovered when she tried to escape and she was killed on the spot.

Of course, these were the rumors. People were not foolish and they could guess that the death of the female cultivator was related to Yang Fanshan’s safe return.

However, no one was stupid enough to meddle with private matters of the Yang Family and insist on discovering the truth. Whatever the Yang Family said was the truth and people were only concerned about how the internal state of the Yang Family would change now.

Since Yang Fanshan had returned, the death of an offering was not enough. As the true leader of East Pole County, the succession of the Yang Family concerned a lot of people.

Even if the various powers of the county knew that things would not end so easily, they could not help but become dumbfounded by the unrest in the Yang Family.

In a short matter of time, three elders in power in the Yang Family were stripped of their power and were ordered to leave the county. The official announcement was that they were sent to handle other affairs of the family, but in actual fact, the elders were completely let go.

At the same time, a few outstanding talents of the Yang Family were placed under strict house arrest and they were told to reflect.

On the fourth day, the current family head of the Yang Family suddenly announced that Yang Fanshan would become the next family head.

Like the change of ownership of a city, a descendant of the Yang Family had suddenly appeared. After his journey to the Central Desolate Divine Area, it seemed as though an earthquake that spanned ninety kilometers wide had occurred.

He leaped into power and became the most respected and powerful person in the county.

There were no disputes.

After the announcement, the Yang Family head told everyone that he was closing himself in cultivation and he would hand over all privileges to Yang Fanshan.

However, the main reason why everyone was shocked was that the grand marshal of the East Border Army, Yang Wudi, fully acknowledged Yang Fanshan. Using the excuse of a patrol, he came to East Pole County and gave Yang Fanshan some instructions.

No one knew what they talked about, but after Grand Marshal Yang Wudi left, Yang Fanshan was still the current Yang Family head…this was an acknowledgment.

Many guests paid visits to the Yang Family and many superpowers came over to express their respect and loyalty to the new representative of the Yang Family.

Jin Shen had been promoted to become a trusted aide, and today, he came forward to announce that Yang Fanshan would not be meeting guests.

At this moment, Yang Fanshan was not at the Yang Family. He took a glance at the tightly shut gates of the courtyard in front of him and sucked in a breath of air before he knocked.

“Coming.”

Xu Xianglin opened the door and saw that their visitor was slightly pale. He was shocked to see the visitor.

“Yang Fanshan…” The moment he said this, his face flushed red and he cupped his hands, “I apologize for my mistake, please forgive me Lord Yang.”

Back at the wine house, the person who drank wine with him and suddenly became that unfortunate lord who was injured by Li Yuantai had turned his situation around. He was now the leader of the Yang Family. Xu Xianlin knew very well the power this position brought and hence he was very nervous.

Yang Fanshan smiled, “Brother Xu, we meet again.”

Xu Xianglin’s heart was slightly at ease and he quickly waved his hand, “I am not worthy of being called a brother. Why have you come today?”

Yang Fanshan did not answer his question but smiled, “Brother Xu, are you not going to invite me in?”

“Huh? Oh no no, Lord Yang, please come in!” Xu Xianglin frantically invited him into the yard.

Before Yang Fanshan could survey the place, a door was pushed open. Xu Zhiruo walked out, “Brother, do we have a guest?”

When she saw Yang Fanshan, she stood rooted to the spot.

Xu Xianglin quickly explained, “Lord Yang, this is my younger sister, Xu Zhiruo. Zhiruo, quickly bow to Lord Yang. Back then, we managed to escape because of Lord Yang’s help.”

Xu Zhiruo recognized the man, “Greetings to Lord Yang.” She stood up and was about to go back to her room, “You can continue your conversation with my brother; I will not disturb you.”

“Miss Xu, please wait.” Yang Fanshan awkwardly said, “Actually, I am here today for you.”

As he said this, he gave an apologetic look to Xu Xianglin.

Xi Zhiruo’s heart jumped and she recalled how Lord Yang had recently returned from the Central Desolate and she had made a deal with that lady. Her mind was in a mess and although she thought it was unbelievable, she could not help feeling embarrassed and panicky…what if?

Xu Xianglin looked at Yang Fanshan and then at his ordinary-looking sister. He wore a confused expression.

Yang Fanshan coughed lightly and cupped his hands together, “Brother Xu, could you give us some space so that I can speak with Miss Xu alone?”

“Alright!” Xu Xianglin turned around. He did not return to his room but he pushed open the gates and left the entire courtyard to the two people.

Xu Zhiruo almost scoffed and she could guess what her brother was thinking. If Yang Fanshan had been more obvious, he probably would not have hesitated to kidnap his own sister and deliver her to Yang Fanshan’s bed.

Similarly, Yang Fanshan did not think that Xu Xianglin would react like that. He wore an awkward look, “Look…Miss Xu, I am sorry to offend you.”

Xu Zhiruo calmed herself down, “Lord Yang, please speak.”

Before Yang Fanshan came, he thought carefully about this but he could not figure out how best to explain things. After some hesitation, he decided to tell the truth. Furthermore, there was no need for him to hide it from Xu Zhiruo anyway.

“Miss Xu, I am here because a certain lady asked me to fulfill her promise to you. If you are willing, you can become my wife and the lady of the Yang Family. I swear that I will protect you for life and ensure that you will not suffer.”

Xu Xianglin had gone outside but he did not leave. His ear was plastered to the door, and when he heard that direct question, he froze.

He staggered and accidentally pushed the gates open. In an embarrassed manner, he pulled himself up. He wore an awkward but excited expression.

Yang Fanshan was also a man and he was also someone who wanted to hold his head up with regard to things like this. Xu Zhiruo almost fainted and she thought to herself, ‘What an unreliable brother.’

Also, what is with that look? If Yang Fanshan’s words were directed to you, would you be crying out of joy now?

“I lost my balance. Don’t bother about me, I will be gone immediately.”

Xu Xianglin hurried out, not forgetting to close the door after him.

Back in the courtyard, Xu Zhiruo’s face was beetroot and there was complete silence in the area.

Yang Fanshan coughed, “Miss Xu, I know that this is too sudden. But don’t worry, what I said was true and no part of it is fake.”

Xu Zhiruo suddenly lifted her head and she stared directly into Yang Fanshan’s eyes, “You came for me today because of that lady’s instructions?”

Yang Fanshan looked at her and shook his head in a serious manner, “I can swear to the heavens that I fell in love with you at first sight when I saw you. As such, I wasn’t afraid of the consequences and I exposed my identity. I do not want you to be harmed at all.

“I admit that I am here today because of that lady’s orders. However, this is in alignment with my heart. Even if that lady had not ordered me, when I left the Jade Gate I had already decided that I would confess to you when I returned.”

Yang Fanshan’s words were fully sincere and each one came from the bottom of his heart.

Xu Zhiruo’s face turned bright red but her eyes were exceptionally clear, “I am willing…actually…when we first met…I already…had a feeling that…”

Yang Fanshan was jumping for joy.

‘Bam’, the gates were pushed open. Xu Xianglin was ecstatic and he dashed over, “Hahahaha! Alright! Hahahaha! As expected of my little sister, you did not disappoint your brother!”

He looked at Yang Fanshan, his grin was almost reaching his ears, “My brother-in-law, you have to take good care of my sister in the future. I will be watching you!”

This sentence closed the cover and the matter was settled.

Hehe!

A brother-in-law like him was impossible to find. He could not let this opportunity slip by.

“Brother!”

Xu Zhiruo was embarrassed and annoyed and she wanted to smack him.

Yang Fanshan was grinning from ear to ear and he felt like his life was perfect now.

The sky darkened. After Yang Fanshan saw off the drunk Xu Xianglin to his room, his eyes glowed brightly and he said, “Miss Xu, I will return first. Tomorrow, I will send men over to officially register the marriage.”

Xu Zhiruo shook her head, “How about in two days? It might be too rushed.”

Yang Fanshan thought about it and agreed, “Alright, then I will come the day after tomorrow.”

After she sent him off, Xu Zhiruo returned to her room. She touched her steaming face with her arm and realized that she was still smiling. At the same time, she knew clearly that that lady had fulfilled her promise by ensuring that her and her brother would live a good life.

It was time that she completed her part of the deal.

She opened a wooden box on her table. She pulled off the cloth covering the box and looked at the stone inside it in silence. At this point, there were sun and moon light specks shining from it. It was the Sun Moon Stone that Rourou bought at Surplus Shop back then.

Xu Zhiruo had never told anyone before that when this stone entered Surplus Shop back then, she had a feeling. This stone had karma that was closely connected to her, and now, the karma was going to be fulfilled.

Without hesitation, she lifted up the Sun Moon Stone. She did as Rourou instructed her to and placed the stone between her eyes. Her lips moved and she silently chanted. Immense pain shot through her body as she shivered and her eyes were extracted from her. It felt like there were countless blades slicing through her eyes.

Xu Zhiruo’s face grew pale and she shivered uncontrollably. However, the hands that were holding the Sun Moon Stone were very still and she did not stop chanting.

In this world, people gained some and lost some.

If she went against her word…Xu Zhiruo believed that she would end up in a very miserable state.

That lady would use a hundred, no, a thousand ways to make sure like she lived as though she was dead.

As such, Xu Zhiruo never had any intentions to break the deal.

After some time, Xu Zhiruo’s body slumped and she fell to the ground weakly. Her tightly shut eyes slowly opened as she shivered. They were still beautiful but they no longer had that otherworldly feeling.

The Sun Moon Stone in her hand was exceptionally colorful now. Numerous light rays shot out of it and made the entire room seem white.

It felt like there was really a sun and a moon in the stone now!

Xu Zhiruo experienced a sense of relaxation that she had never felt before. It felt as though the mountain on her back was finally off her.

“Since you do not belong to me, then leave.”

She released the grip on her hand and the Sun Moon Stone buzzed. A second later, it broke and disappeared.

Somewhere in the Central Desolate, a ship was heading towards the main city in Langya Area. Rourou’s eyes suddenly opened and she lifted her hand and tapped a finger in the empty space.

Buzz –

Invisible force instantly flooded out and filled the entire room.

In the next moment, heaps of pure light from the sun and moon shone brightly in her room. Rourou squinted and she smiled. For this sun and moon, she wasted much time and put in a lot of effort. Now, it was finally in her hands.

With their help, Qin Yu had a chance to succeed.

Even though this chance was not big, it was alright. They could take it one step at a time. Who knew what the future held?

She lifted her hand and held the Sun Moon Stone. The dazzling, bright sun and moon rays instantly disappeared. At the same time as Rourou put the Sun Moon Stone away, in the east of the Central Desolate, there was a sudden ferocious roar on a towering mountain.

The clouds and the sea were blown away in a ten kilometer radius around it. Vicious winds and a downpour started while lightning and thunder accompanied the storm.

On the mountain peak, a massive black scholartree that had lived for many years was struck by lightning. A large gash stretched across the middle of the branch and bright red sticky substance flowed out from within. In the next instant, the rain washed it away.

A Heaven Lifting Daoist with grey hair appeared in the storm. His expression was extremely dark and his eyes were filled with killing intent that made hearts shudder. Even the storm did not dare to close down on him and it felt like it was afraid of angering him as it slowly drifted away.

He had spent a few thousand years waiting for one day with great fortune. However, it was taken from his grasp completely. This not only meant that a few thousand years of time was wasted, it was a big stumble on his cultivation journey that he would have to make up for in the future.

“Who!

“Who is it!”

Kaboom –

Numerous bolts of lightning flashed in the sky as the Heaven Lifting Daoist roared in anger. He made offensive gestured at the pitch black sky above him and caused havoc in a kilometer radius. It was terrifying.

“You stole my fortunes and destroyed my cultivation. I swear that I will hunt you down no matter what and refine your soul until it is turned to dust and ashes. I will make sure that you will never reincarnate!”

The black scholartree broke and blood poured out of it continuously!

As Qin Yu cultivated, he suddenly felt his heart clench. His eyes flew open and he realized there were beads of sweat on his forehead.

Using his senses, he found that nothing appeared wrong. However, the fear in his heart continued to linger.

Something was wrong.

With this thought, Qin Yu stood up and pushed open his door.

He knocked gently on another door.

Rourou seemed to have guessed that he was going to come. After a few knocks, the door opened. When she saw Qin Yu’s pale face, she calmly asked, “You sensed it?”

As expected, she knew!

Qin Yu nervously entered the room and asked, “What is it? I feel like I am being targeted by someone.”

With a pause, his expression turned uglier and he said, “It seems like a very powerful existence. Someone who is so strong that I feel like I will definitely die.”

Rourou smirked, “Congratulations, your senses are right.”

Qin Yu rubbed his face, “What's going on, aren’t you going to tell me? I didn’t do anything; why am I being targeted?”

Rourou flipped over her hand and revealed the Sun Moon Stone lying in her palm. She explained, “Xu Zhiruo completed her part of the deal…simply put, you stole someone’s Great Dao treasure and you ruined his cultivation path. Is this explanation sufficient?”