Chapter 7, The Crisis Approaches

Physical strength has greatly increased, at least doubled compared to before. The intervals between breaths have also significantly lengthened, and the body seems to have grown a little taller

To the west of the Yang clan, there stands a tall residence with a steep roof, its main gate tightly shut. Above it hangs a large plaque inscribed with "Hall of Precepts," exuding a chilling atmosphere that sends shivers down one's spine

There are still many unclear aspects regarding this matter, and I will need to ask Yang Erniu about it another day

But I have never actually consumed such a thing myself

The lady, Sen Lingdao, gazed as if she were a beast choosing its prey

Yang Ji could even feel the residual heat from above.

Lead the way

Beast, kneel down!

The lady's face was dark and gloomy, exuding a sense of chill

After a moment, Yang Ji said calmly

Yang Ji practiced his punches under the lights again. There were no particular techniques involved; it was purely a test of physical endurance

Yang Jidao

"Little beast, the clan has already called the doctor to examine Yang Yong. He is seriously injured and has not been able to get out of bed until now. This cannot be mistaken, Yang Ji. Are you suggesting that the injuries on Yang Yong were self-inflicted?"

After passing through several archways, Yang Ji finally re-entered the heart of the clan after an eight-year interval. Along the way, he was met with piercing gazes directed at him.

So many strange things happened that night, and Yang Ji needs to thoroughly check his body

Madam, I only want to ask one question—what was Yang Yong doing at my place in the middle of the night when we have no dealings with each other

Yang Ji quickly reviewed the events of the day in his mind, but found nothing of significance

Who knows, that Yang Yong fellow is also unlearned and inexperienced, so it is not surprising that he encountered difficulties. However, the madam, I have heard, has brought in an expert in criminal law

Beneath these old and worn skins, patches of smooth, white, and tender skin emerge, which is the newly formed skin of Yang Jixin.

What fault does Yang Ji have?

Yang Ji made up his mind and simply closed his eyes to fall asleep

This ... ... , you may leave for now. Yang Ji, what do you wish to ask?

A hint of surprise flickered in the eyes of the two clan guards, but they said nothing more and turned to leave

I do not know if it is an illusion, but just as I stepped into the Hall of Discipline, I faintly heard a low sobbing sound in my ears; however, upon listening closely, it vanished.

The lady spoke coldly from her elevated position

As the night deepened, Yang Ji carefully checked the doors and windows several times. After confirming that there was no one outside, he began to examine his own body

Undoubtedly, the key lies in the "stone" obtained from Yang Erniu. Alternatively, it can now be referred to as "star iron" according to Yang Erniu's words.

Several clan elders responded on behalf of the group

His gaze shifted, looking towards the three clan elders, waiting for them to speak

The guards of the Discipline Hall will not heed his words; his previous respectful demeanor towards the three clan leaders was not without reason

Outside, the frost is intensifying, and the wind blows colder than yesterday

is not

According to Yang Erniu, it was a "meteor" that had fallen from the sky, which he was selling on the street, and he even demanded a price of one or two taels of silver for it, resulting in him being beaten up.

Yang Ji, you have committed an offense. Please come with us for a while

Yesterday, he observed clearly that the sky had darkened. Apart from himself, Liang Bo, Yang Yong, and the two guards, there were no other people around, which gave him the confidence to trust this situation.

Just wait and see the show

I find it strange; this young man used to seem quite intelligent, so why is he acting so "bold" this time? He clearly knows that dueling is prohibited within the clan, yet he still dares to break the rules

Two guards approached with stern expressions upon hearing the words

Their temples are prominently raised, with flashes of blood visible beneath the skin, and their sharp gazes are like knives and swords, all of which reveal their formidable martial arts cultivation level

Yang Ji also became angry and shouted: "You say I assaulted Yang Yong and harmed my own kin. Very well, as long as you can answer me a few questions, I willingly accept the punishment according to the clan's laws"

... ...

The three elders of the clan smiled with their eyes narrowed and raised their hands to signal him to get up. However, before they could speak, a chilling and loud reprimand suddenly echoed in their ears

Madam

This is

The middle-aged woman, with golden hair and a fair complexion, holds a cup of tea in her hands. Her eyes are half-closed, giving off an air of unpredictability and profound mystery.

This clan is no longer bearable. As long as there is an opportunity, I will definitely leave here

As he unbuttoned his clothes, Yang Ji finally understood what his previous feelings had been.

... ...

That is not the case

No wonder Yang Erniu's behavior was so unusual; it turns out he was not selling stones at all. For the price of one or two silver coins, he was actually selling fallen star iron, which is definitely overpriced. How ridiculous it is that we thought he was lying; in fact, he was the most clear-headed person among us. We simply failed to recognize the gold inlaid with jade!

Hmph, very well! The madam, furious to the extreme, sneered and lifted her eyelids, "You have beaten Yang Yong and harmed your own kin, with irrefutable evidence. How dare you still attempt to argue?—Come here, slap him!"

Yang Ji stopped, standing there in a daze, hearing the pounding of his heart in his chest, growing faster and faster

... ...

I do not know whether Yang Yong injured himself; I only want to know where Yang Yong was injured

Suddenly, Yang Ji's eyelid twitched, and he recalled something.

In fact, when he faced Yang Yong, he already had a sense of it. However, when it was truly confirmed, he could not help but feel excited, and his heart began to race

This matter has the testimony of two bodyguards of Yang Yong, do you still want to deny it

Yang Yong dares to fight as if he has the heart of a bear and the courage of a leopard

Yang Ji lowered his head, looking in shock at his body

Yang Jidao

People were pointing fingers and reveling in misfortune. Although they belonged to the same clan, Yang Ji and they were fundamentally from two different circles, with no overlap to speak of, let alone any feelings.

Is there anyone else

He actually thought that what Yang Erniu held in his hand was just an ordinary stone, just like those local ruffians. Remembering the trust Yang Erniu had in him at that time, he couldn't help but feel a wave of shame in his heart

At this thought, Yang Ji's face turned pale, and cold sweat broke out all over him. Over the past few years, he had been extremely cautious and meticulous, all to avoid being caught by the madam. Unexpectedly, this time he had made such a "grave mistake".

Yang Ji secretly cursed in his heart

Not good

What does this woman want to do? Why are there three clan elders?

Is what he said really true

Yang Jishuang's eyes widened in anger, confronting head-on, without any fear

Pushing the door open, I immediately saw two rows of guards as sturdy as iron towers, each with an expressionless demeanor, exuding an air of sternness

Yang Jihong said

Yang Ji contemplated for a long time and finally began to calm down slowly

Breathing is strong, cardiovascular function is normal, limbs are coordinated, and no discomfort is felt

Yang Ji has heard of such things. It is said that consuming certain precious natural treasures can have this effect, fundamentally enhancing a person's innate qualities in a short period, allowing them to achieve changes that would normally occur years later.

Yang Ji looked at the middle-aged woman on the high platform, a flicker of deep hatred flashing in his eyes, but it quickly faded away. He took a step forward and directly entered the Hall of Discipline

After a moment, Yang Ji continued to examine his body

Yang Ji sternly questioned

Recalling past events, Yang Ji couldn't help but feel a flush on his face

Yang Ji silently thought to himself

He remembers that before leaving, he had picked a stone from Yang Erniu's stall

"You say that I assaulted a member of my own kind, but who is there to testify?"

Yang Jisheng was only aware of heaven and earth, parents, and ancestral laws; apart from this, he never knelt. He did not understand to whom the lady of the house wanted him to kneel

Please wait, I will put on my clothes

a complete transformation

Yang Ji let out a cold snort, knowing that the "Madam" was about to start making trouble

Yang Ji has met several clan elders

The sudden reprimand took everyone by surprise, even startling the three clan elders.

Based on the results of the test, it is at least ... ... six segments of breathing

Yang Ji's gaze was stern as he looked towards the hall

Hmph! Here it comes

At the top of the hall, four high chairs were arranged, and a middle-aged woman with a stern expression sat motionless on one of them, while a middle-aged steward stood behind her.

Yang Ji listened to these discussions, the veins on his forehead subtly protruding, yet he still forced himself to suppress it

Having identified the cause of the anomalies in his body, Yang Ji conducted another examination. However, apart from a significant increase in strength and an enhancement of his innate qualities, he found nothing else. There was only a peculiar sensation in the center of his forehead, as if something were present, yet it was not tangible.

Hehe, good...

Yang Ji originally did not believe it, but after thinking it over, aside from Yang Erniu's so-called "Meteor," there was nothing particularly special about it.

What is going on here

No way, a master of criminal law, that kid is in for a tough time

Several clan elders were rendered speechless, exchanging glances with one another, and saw astonishment reflected in each other's eyes

Who dares

Suddenly, Yang Ji felt a jolt in his heart as he recalled something

What exactly happened

Early in the morning, two vigilant and imposing clan guards burst in, their loud voices resonating like the sound of a great bell, causing the house to tremble.

It is the guard of the Discipline Hall

In the grand hall, the "Madam" had her eyes half-opened, but at this moment, they were fully wide open. Her fair complexion was covered with frost, and her piercing gaze sent chills down one's spine, as if she intended to pierce through Yang Ji.

Yang Jisi slowly dressed without any panic, while carefully reviewing the strategies from last night in his mind.

That's it, that's it... The matter has already been settled, and it's too late to regret. Moreover, a real man knows when to act and when to refrain. Liang Bo has been bullied to this extent, and I have endured it; what kind of man does that make me? At worst, when I see the madam tomorrow, I will face whatever comes my way.

It's doomed

Seeing that it is still early in the morning, Yang Ji prepares to go to bed for another sleep

My skin ... ...

Today, while focusing solely on dealing with Yang Yong, I forgot that private duels are strictly prohibited within the clan. Once Yang Yong spreads this information, the matriarch will undoubtedly seize this opportunity.

Is that really possible? He can also injure Yang Yong?

The matters related to this have already been made public, and there is nothing that cannot be said about the *illustrated* book.

A stir of emotion surged within him, and he hurriedly reached into his bosom; however, his hand grasped nothing but emptiness. The stone had vanished without a trace, leaving only some shattered fragments behind.

Beside her, three esteemed elders of the clan stood closely, their presence diminished significantly.

Yang Ji was left speechless.

Yang Ji bowed respectfully, completely ignoring the "Madam" beside him

Yang Ji made some adjustments, and everything is normal

Hmph! Those two guards were originally people by Yang Yong's side; how can their words be trusted? Madam, do you not understand such a simple principle?

There are no changes without reason in the world, Yang Ji is well aware that there must be something he has overlooked

His body was covered in cracked skin, resembling patches of old tree bark. Yang Ji's perception was not mistaken; what he had previously torn off was indeed a piece of skin that had come off his body

A series of thoughts flashed through Yang Ji's mind; such a spectacle was undoubtedly an extraordinary level of treatment

The three patriarchs felt somewhat uneasy under Yang Ji's gaze, and finally waved their hands to dismiss a few guards.

This time, it has fallen into the hands of the madam

According to Yang Yong, it should be just outside your residence

Yang Ji displayed an expression of disbelief

Is it... Yang Erniu?!

Oppressing one's own kin brings about consequences for oneself

Regardless of what has happened, some things are certain. That stone could not have disappeared without reason; the residual heat on the gravel is definitely not something that could be caused by his body temperature

You foolish creature, do you still not recognize your mistake?

Yang Ji was taken aback, and he even noticed that the calluses formed from years of holding a pen on his hands had all fallen off one by one. Now, he resembled a delicate young master whose fingers had never touched the slightest bit of onion water.

Yang Jiyu spoke with sarcasm

Yang Ji recognized him at a glance

An elder of the clan

Yang Ji quietly closed his eyes. Although he could see nothing before him, in Yang Ji's perception, it was as if a massive "iceberg" had appeared, and what he was currently seeing was merely "a corner" of it.