Protect Our Patriarch

……

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, more than ten days had passed.

On the beautiful Dongchacha Lake, a luxurious pleasure boat drifted leisurely.

This was the famous Tianyan Fang.

Inside the spacious pavilion of the boat, a group of elegantly dressed young people were drinking fine wine, listening to refined music, and boasting loudly.

"Let me tell you, it was on that dark and windy night," Little Commandery Prince Wu Jinghao said animatedly, "that despicable Zuoqiu Qingyun used the vile method of poisoning..."

A quarter of an hour later.

"I, Little Commandery Prince Wu Jinghao, fought that villain for three hundred rounds!"

Another quarter of an hour later.

Yet another quarter of an hour later.

"Despite his endless insults, I stood firm... Of course, Shihai and the others didn't perform as well as I did, but overall, they did okay."

"Little Commandery Prince, you're so mighty and impressive."

A group of ten to twenty second-generation heirs flattered the Little Commandery Prince in various ways.

"Little Commandery Prince, tell us more about Celestial Maiden Youqing. Is she really as formidable as the rumors say?"

"Celestial Maiden Youqing, huh? Although she tried her best to hide her origins, my fiery eyes saw through her true identity at a glance..."

"Little Commandery Prince, I heard your father was grounded?"

"Naturally, just a few days ago, Yaoguang Master from Qing'an Academy personally visited our Monan Commandery City. In front of the Commandery Governor, my father, and the Zuoqiu Clan's Ancestor, I revealed the Heavenly Recording Disk. You can't imagine the scene.

"Yaoguang Master first saw Zuoqiu Qingyun's arrogant demeanor in the first half of the recording. Then, in the second half, he saw the remnants of his youthful indiscretions and flew into a rage, crushing the Heavenly Recording Disk in his hand.

"And my father was grounded by my mother after she threw a fit."

"And there's something you can't even imagine. The Zuoqiu Clan has a villa in our Monan Commandery called 'Qian Garden.' After Zuoqiu Qingyun's incident, the Commandery Governor's office sealed and searched it. Guess what they found in the secret room? Filthy and heinous things!"

"Luckily, Shihai and I had long suspected Zuoqiu Qingyun was up to no good."

"Little Commandery Prince and Young Master Shihai, you both did a great job this time. I heard the Commandery Governor gave you a generous reward. The Monan Commandery Princess even directly rewarded the Little Commandery Prince with a million Top Gold."

The Little Commandery Prince laughed proudly and waved his hand, "Eat and drink to your heart's content, everyone. It's all on me! Tianyan, play another tune for us~"

Celestial Maiden Tianyan, who was accompanying them, had a smile in her eyes, but her face under the veil was somewhat stiff. These shameless brats just wouldn't stop bragging.

If it weren't for the fact that they did indeed jump out to save her back then, she might have kicked them all into the river.

Even Wang Shouzhe, who was sitting nearby, watched the scene with a smile, occasionally sipping his wine, looking quite pleased. These carefree and somewhat delusional young people reminded him of his own lost youth.

He didn't dislike the Little Commandery Prince and Wang Shihai. Compared to the deeply malicious Zuoqiu Qingyun, these young people were somewhat endearingly naive.

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"Are you satisfied now?" Celestial Maiden Tianyan gave him a sidelong glance and transmitted her voice, "You've orchestrated everything, resolved the hidden dangers, and cleared your name with me."

"Celestial Maiden, don't speak nonsense," Wang Shouzhe replied with a smile, "I had nothing to do with this. The Little Commandery Prince and the others can testify that it was Saintly Land prodigy Cao Youqing who did it."

"Cao Youqing, huh~" Celestial Maiden Tianyan felt a bellyful of grievances but couldn't express them.

……

A few days later.

Wang Shouzhe bid farewell to the Monan Wang's Clan and set off on his journey home.

The Monan Wang's Clan also expressed that they would soon send their young members and elders to visit the Longzuo Wang's Clan and the Changning Wang's Clan.

However, Wang Shihai couldn't wait and left with Wang Shouzhe ahead of time.

This trip to Monan took Wang Shouzhe two to three months, but the gains were enormous. The Wuji Baodan allowed Wang Shouzhe to successfully advance to become a great prodigy.

Moreover, his relationship with the Monan Wang's Clan had warmed significantly. There were also many other scattered gains.

Let's not talk about the journey home for now.

The Wang's Clan was no longer the weak clan it once was. Even if Wang Shouzhe, the Clan Leader, was away for a short time, the clan would continue to develop orderly and steadily.

Changning Garrison, Ping'an Town.

By the shores of Zhuhui Lake.

As June approached, the weather grew increasingly hot. The wheat had long since entered the filling stage, and the fields by the lake were adorned with heavy, golden ears of wheat, presenting a scene of abundant harvest.

On the embankment by the lake, tenant farmers were shirtless, opening the sluice gates to channel water from the lake into the ditches to irrigate the wheat fields using the irrigation system built by the Wang's Clan.

On the wide cement road, women with baskets and children in tow walked by, bringing meals to their men working in the fields.

On the shimmering lake, fishing boats occasionally glided by, breaking the surface into ripples. Across the lake, one could see the outline of the Zhuhui Manor.

Occasionally, patrol guards, leading teams of family retainers, would pass by the lake. These retainers, dressed in uniform attire and armed with swords, looked spirited and disciplined, exuding a strong sense of security.

No matter how turbulent the outside world was, life here remained as calm and ordinary as ever.

From a distance, everything appeared busy yet peaceful, like an unfolding painting, with each frame soaked in the passage of time and the tranquility of life.

At the entrance of the Wang's Clan, a towering archway bathed in sunlight looked grand and majestic.

This archway was a gift from the government, representing the face of the clan. The higher the clan's rank, the more majestic the archway, and the more intricate the carvings.

Among the common folk, the advancement of a clan was often referred to as "changing the door lintel," which originated from this tradition.

Over the past twenty years, the Wang's Clan had changed its archway twice. The current wooden archway, representing a seventh-rank clan, stood over ten meters tall, imposing and grand.

Under the archway, a group of people had gathered at some point.

At the forefront of the group stood a middle-aged woman in her forties or fifties.

She wore a luxurious brocade robe, exuding an air of elegance, holding the hand of a four or five-year-old boy, with maids and servants following behind, clearly indicating her distinguished status.

Liu Feifei, holding her son Wang Shicheng's hand, noticed the group near the archway and quickly led her son over to pay respects, "Sixth Aunt, Ninth Uncle."

It turned out that this woman was the wife of the sixth elder, Wang Dinghai—Chen Shi.

Chen Shi came from the direct line of the Donggang Chen Clan. In her early years, she was quite favored in her maiden family. After marrying into the Wang's Clan, although she endured a few years of hardship, she soon returned to a comfortable life with the rise of the Wang's Clan.

Therefore, although she was over fifty, her face showed no signs of aging. Instead, she exuded a more dignified air than younger women. At first glance, she didn't look like the wife of a direct line of a clan but rather like a noblewoman from a prominent family.

As for the boy she was holding, he was naturally her youngest son, Wang Shoucheng, now four years old.

"Oh, it's Zongchang's family~" Chen Shi smiled upon seeing Liu Feifei, "You went back to the Shanyin Liu Clan to visit your family a while ago. I haven't seen you for some time."

As they spoke, Wang Shoucheng and Wang Shicheng had already greeted each other according to their ranks and went off to play.

Chen Shi glanced over, seeing the maids and servants carefully watching the two children, she felt relieved and continued chatting with Liu Feifei, "You must have received a letter and came here to wait for Zongchang, right?"

"Yes," Liu Feifei nodded shyly, "My husband wrote that he would return home today, so I brought Shicheng out to welcome him."

Since the Wang's Clan obtained the development order last year, Wang Zongchang had been sent to the outer regions. Although there were often letters, and she occasionally heard news from Fourth Aunt, it had been a long time since they had seen each other, and she couldn't help but feel restless.

Chen Shi, having experienced youth herself, understood her feelings immediately and couldn't help but laugh, "Your Zongchang has indeed made something of himself. At just over thirty, he's already helping his grandfather with the exploration and development of the outer regions. Unlike my husband, who was still stuck in the Qi Refining stage at that age~"

Chen Shi's father-in-law was Ancestor Xiaohan.

As the first ancestor of the Changning Wang's Clan to advance to the Lingtai Realm after Ancestor Long Yan, Ancestor Xiaohan's bloodline level was not as high as the young prodigies like Zongchang, but his two decades of hard cultivation had not been in vain.

Moreover, Wang Shouzhe had specially purchased a Xisui Dan for Ancestor Xiaohan, helping him elevate his bloodline to the second level.

Last summer, Ancestor Xiaohan's cultivation finally broke through to the third level of the Lingtai Realm. This time, he and Wang Zongchang were stationed in the outer regions, responsible for the upcoming exploration and development.

The family's elders were treasures, their wisdom from weathering life's storms could greatly benefit the younger generation.

"Sixth Aunt, please don't say that~" Liu Feifei smiled, "Seventh Uncle Shouye is now apprenticed to Pill Cauldron Master. Your good days are still ahead~"

"Sigh~ What good days? I'm just a worrier." Chen Shi, though flattered, couldn't help but sigh, "Shouye is quite reliable, but Shouming and Luoqing are both strong-willed. No matter how I persuaded them, they insisted on going to the outer regions. I worry every day, afraid that one day I'll wake up to bad news... Let's not talk about such unlucky things."

Hearing this, Liu Feifei's brows furrowed with worry, but she still comforted Chen Shi with a few words.

As they spoke, a large convoy of carriages and horses appeared on the wide cement road outside. Though still far away, the flags flying in the convoy made it clear it was the Wang's Clan's convoy.

Chen Shi and Liu Feifei immediately stopped talking, their eyes filled with anticipation.

Soon, the convoy arrived at the square outside the archway, and the guards began directing the family retainers to unload the goods.

Noticing the group waiting under the archway, a retainer ran to the back to report.

Soon, several people rode out from the convoy, heading quickly towards the archway.

These were all young people, led by a man with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, exuding an impressive aura. He was none other than Wang Zongchang, the second of the eighth generation "Zong" characters in the Wang's Clan.

Back then, he had been parasitized by the Bridal Blood Gu by chance, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise, allowing his bloodline to transform. Later, in the Shenwu Royal Dynasty's trial, he passed the second stage and obtained the primary bloodline qualification improvement liquid. After taking it, his Xunfeng bloodline transformed again, reaching superior quality and becoming a prodigy praised by the world.

Such qualifications, while not the best in the talent-rich Wang's Clan, were enough to make him a direct disciple of the Purple Mansion in the academy. Wherever he went, he was worthy of the praise "young hero."

Now, at just thirty-five, he had already broken through to the third level of the Lingtai Realm two years ago, becoming a mainstay of the Wang's Clan, qualified to oversee a region.

Despite his young age, even some of the Shou and Luo generation youngsters admired his strength and abilities.

"Husband."

Seeing him, Liu Feifei immediately led Wang Shicheng to greet him, her face filled with excitement.

Wang Zongchang, equally excited to see his wife, quickly dismounted and greeted her, "Thank you for managing the household, my dear."

Back then, he had met Liu Feifei by chance while handling matters for Fourth Uncle at the Shanyin Liu Clan. He was immediately attracted to her gentle demeanor.

After several encounters, he found her increasingly endearing and asked his parents and Fourth Uncle to propose marriage to the Shanyin Liu Clan.

Over the years, he was often away, and it was thanks to Feifei that he could fulfill his filial duties to his parents.

"Husband, you're the one working hard for the family outside," Liu Feifei blushed and curtsied, "I'm just doing my duty."

"Father," little Wang Shicheng, in his childish voice, tugged at Wang Zongchang's sleeve, "You've been away for so long. Did you bring me a present?"

"Of course, I did," Wang Zongchang joyfully picked up his son, "Once we get home and I check your homework, I'll give you your present."

As the family of three chatted happily.

Wang Shouming of the Shou generation and Wang Luoqing of the Luo generation watched from a distance. Wang Shouming sighed, "Our Zongchang was a dashing young man, admired by many noble ladies. How did he become so greasy after just a few years of marriage? Instead of learning the good things, he picked up Fourth Brother's habits~"

"Brother, you've grown bolder after some time in the outer regions, teasing Zongchang is one thing, but now you're even gossiping about Fourth Brother," Wang Luoqing giggled, "Wait till I tell Fourth Brother."

"Sister, my dear sister~" Wang Shouming immediately cowered, pleading, "I was just joking. If Fourth Brother hears about this, who knows what trouble I'll be in."

"Alright, give me that spirit beast 'Little White Fox' you found in the outer regions," Wang Luoqing blinked mischievously, "and I'll keep your secret."

"No way, no way. You're a girl, why do you need a fox?" Wang Shouming refused.

"You're a boy, it's even worse for you to have a fox. Wang Shouming, you'll never get a wife."

"Are you kidding? I'm the eighth young master of the Wang's Clan... No, who needs a wife, women are too much trouble."

"Argh~!"

Suddenly!

A crane's cry echoed from the sky.

A spirit bird flying carriage descended swiftly from the clouds, circling twice before landing steadily at the main entrance of the Wang's Clan's residence.

Ancestor Long Yan, Wang Shouzhe, and Wang Shihai disembarked from the carriage.

Seeing them, everyone was overjoyed and quickly went to greet them, "Greetings, Ancestor. Greetings, Clan Leader."

"Shihai, come, let me introduce you," Wang Shouzhe warmly pulled Wang Shihai over and introduced him to everyone, "This is Wang Shihai from the Monan Wang's Clan."

"Shihai, this is your Second Uncle Zongchang." "Second Aunt Feifei." "Eighth Granduncle Shouming." "This is your Ninth Aunt Luoqing~"

Wang Shihai's smiling face instantly froze. He had forgotten that the Changning Wang's Clan had ridiculously high seniority.

What a mistake!

Wang Shihai felt that coming to the Changning Wang's Clan was the biggest mistake of his life!

……