Chen Tang alighted from the carriage, revealing an expression of admiration, and praised: "The legacy of the family, indeed extraordinary. I am deeply impressed."
Yan Xianzhi observed his face, seemingly to see if he truly possessed an expression of admiration.
Chen Tang indeed showed a look of admiration, which pleased him.
Yan Xianzhi smiled and said: "Lord Chen Tang, this phenomenon in the sky, only you can see it. A sword sharpens over ten years, yet untouched by frost. Today, I show it to you to let Lord Chen Tang see the unyielding sharpness of the sword of our Thirteen Families. This sword, your late father once saw, and now you must see it too."
Chen Tang felt a sense of respect and said: "The Thirteen Families have profound depth and great ambitions."
Yan Xianzhi looked at him deeply and smiled: "After seeing it, you must not tell others."
He clapped his hands, and a few clerks came flying forth, presenting drinking vessels.
Yan Xianzhi poured wine and said: "After all, you served as an official in the court for years, and the court has never mistreated you; leaving silently can chill many friends."
Chen Tang bowed deeply and said, "Lord, you decide to punish as you see fit."
Yan Xianzhi raised a wine cup and handed it to him with a smile: "Punishment is unnecessary. After all, we served together in the court for many years, though not intimate friends, but you dedicatedly fulfilled your duty as the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, ensuring the court’s smooth operation without mishaps. I admire your talents but, unfortunately, cannot utilize them further. For the camaraderie of these past years serving together, I toast to you."
Chen Tang took the wine cup and said: "Thank you, Lord!"
Yan Xianzhi raised another cup and the two drank it in one gulp.
Yan Xianzhi set down his wine cup and smiled: "When you return to Xinxiang, live well on Qianyang Mountain. Your official position will be retained by the court, and the monthly salary will be delivered to your home by the Xinxiang County Office. Young Lord Chen in the Western Capital will fare as you once did, you needn’t worry about him."
Chen Tang nodded silently.
Yan Xianzhi, with a red-rimmed eye, said: "As you depart, it’s uncertain when we may meet again, which fills me with some sadness."
Chen Tang sighed and bid him farewell.
Yan Xianzhi watched him depart, still waving from afar.
Chen Tang sat in the carriage, looking back, still able to see the celestial gods filling the sky; they were the ancestors of the Thirteen Families, with continuous incense burning for six thousand years, their divine power had reached an incredible level!
The wooden carriage traveled a thousand miles, the celestial phenomenon of the gods still remained, whenever he looked back, he could see the heavenly divinities bathed in ceaseless incense.
At night, the carriage weary, stopping to rest.
Chen Tang hung lanterns to ward off evil spirits under the moonlight.
He took out Spiritual Beast Meat, fed the carriage, lit a campfire, cooked meals, and fed Chen Shi’s mother, busy for a long time before finishing.
The night grew deeper, moonlight hazy.
When Chen Tang turned back, what met his gaze was not moonlight but resplendent divine radiance.
He could still see the celestial gods.
Two days later, they passed through the desert to reach Great West Lake. Chen Tang looked back and saw the celestial gods filling the sky.
Another day passed, he arrived in Xinxiang, returning to the long-awaiting Qianyang Mountain.
This journey was exhausting with travel fatigue; he didn’t worry about himself but wondered if Chen Shi’s mother could endure it.
As night approached, he arrived at Huangpo Village, hesitating at the village entrance, unconsciously slowing his pace.
"Little Tang... It’s Little Tang back!"
Grandma Yu Zhu was at the village entrance winnowing soybeans with a basket, discarding shriveled beans, looking at the approaching wooden carriage and Chen Tang with dim old eyes, stared for a while before recognizing it as Chen Tang, quickly setting down the basket in surprise, and exclaimed: "Chen Tang, how have you aged so much! You’ve been gone for years! Your father has passed away!"
Chen Tang’s anxious heart suddenly felt calm, his face no longer stern, and he smiled: "Auntie, I’m back. How is your health?"
Grandma Yu Zhu grasped his hands and rambled on: "...You used to study when you were little, I remember, your father was penniless, unable to hire a teacher, you went to the soil slopes outside the village reading aloud. You were very smart, the villagers all praised you, later you pursued studies, married a wife, and had a kid. Your wife was virtuous, very kind to everyone... Where’s your wife?"
Chen Tang smiled, though his demeanor was somewhat melancholic: "In the carriage, Auntie. Her health is poor, she’s been in a coma for many years."
Grandma Yu Zhu lamented: "Indeed, I remember. Your wife lost her mind, then she was paralyzed. When your son died, she went mad, she couldn’t accept the death of your son, couldn’t endure it, and lost her mind. Later, she became paralyzed, and you took her to the Western Capital for treatment, it’s been over ten years, still not healed? And I forgot to tell you, your son lived again! Your father resurrected him, terrifying, we all thought resurrected Little Ten was an evil spirit. Have you seen him?"
Chen Tang smiled and listened, occasionally inserting: "Yes, Auntie, I’ve seen Little Ten."
"Do not neglect Little Ten, he suffered a lot."
"Yes, Auntie, I will not neglect Little Ten."
Chen Tang parted with Grandma Yu Zhu, walked into the village, smiling and greeting every villager he met, stopping to chat with them, listening to their tales of past events, he saw many unfamiliar faces, some were children born after he left, some were people once familiar now aged.
Many familiar faces were absent, they must have passed away.
Old Lady Wu Zhu walked over, her vision keen from years of catching melon thieves in the melon field, exclaimed upon seeing him: "Chen Tang, how have you aged so much in half a year? I saw you last year, you were spirited then!"
"Auntie, you saw my brother Chen Wu."
"Nonsense! I heard Little Ten call him father. If it was your brother Little Wu, I’d be eaten alive!"
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