Chapter 130: Ahting, Senior Brother’s Natural Enemy
The next day, after the rain had cleared, leaving behind a hot and humid atmosphere, Ye Anping, hunched and nursing his back, directed about twenty guards from the Jiang Mansion to place wooden stakes in the yard.
“That one over there, that’s you. Move the stake two feet to my right.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
The wooden piles were roughly adult-sized and emitted a spiritual aura. The staff didn’t understand why their young master wanted to fill the central courtyard with these spiritual wood piles, but they didn’t question it. However, their attention shifted to the silver-haired girl staying with the young master. Most of the maids and nurses in the Jiang Mansion believed that she was the cause of the young master’s current weakness. Yet, they were puzzled by this, as for the past few months, their young master had been sharing a room with his wife every day without any signs of discomfort. Why had he started supporting his waist only after the arrival of the silver-haired girl?
Observing that the staff had almost finished arranging the backyard, Ye Anping looked up at the sky and estimated the time in his mind. Li Feng should have begun preparing the formation, and tonight or tomorrow night, the blood sacrifice formation would be activated.
Suddenly, a child’s voice interrupted Ye Anping’s thoughts.
“Uncle!!”
Over the past period, Liang Ahting and Ye Anping had become familiar with each other, and her playful nature had come to the fore. Ye Anping heard the sound from above and looked up to see Liang Ahting lying on the main hall’s roof, smiling at him.
Seeing him looking up, Ahting jumped down from the thirty-foot-high eaves, forming a “T” with her arms, landing in front of him, and then ran over, grabbing his hand.
“Uncle, come play chess with me. I’ll beat you this time.”
Ye Anping, busy with preparations, patted her head. “Uncle is busy. Ask your aunt to accompany you.”
Hearing this, Liang Ahting turned to Pei Lianxue, who was nibbling an apple nearby. Pei Lianxue enjoyed the company of children and quickly agreed.
“Ahting, my aunt will accompany you.”
After silence, Liang Ahting shook her head, replying with disdain, “My aunt is too bad at chess. It’s no fun to play with her.”
Ye Anping raised his eyebrows, feeling puzzled. Why did Ahting refer to Pei Lianxue as her aunt?
Liang Ahting then turned her attention to Feng Yudie, dozing on another chair next to Pei Lianxue, with snot bubbles hanging from her nose. Running up to Feng Yudie, Ahting popped the mucus bubble and made a surprising request.
“Second aunt!! Can you play chess with me?!”
Ye Anping, hearing this, also raised his eyebrows and looked at them, feeling even more puzzled. Why did this girl call Feng Yudie her Second Aunt?
Feng Yudie woke up, looking at Ahting, twisting her hand in confusion. It took her a while to react, and asked, “What did you call me?”
Liang Ahting innocently tilted her head. “Second aunt, the maids in the Jiang Mansion said this before. My uncle brought a second lady back, and the second lady gave him back pain…”
Feng Yudie looked puzzled and turned to Ye Anping, hoping for an explanation. Ye Anping walked over, gave Liang Ahting’s head a gentle pat, and said, “She’s not your second aunt.”
“Huh?” Liang Ahting turned to Ye Anping, asking, “Uncle, are you a heartless man?”
Ye Anping blinked in confusion, his face reflecting bewilderment. Liang Ahting continued, “Uncle is close to her but doesn’t marry her. Isn’t that heartless?”
Ye Anping pursed his lips and pinched her cheek, responding, “I haven’t been close to her.”
“Then, uncle, why do you look so weak?”
Ye Anping fell silent momentarily, then replied with a serious expression, “Your aunt is responsible for that.”
“But my second aunt didn’t do anything?”
Ye Anping was momentarily speechless, his lips slightly parted. Dealing with such childlike queries made him feel a bit helpless. Despite his junior sister and Feng Yudie being only fifteen or sixteen years old, not much older than Liang Ahting, the latter seemed to embody the curiosity and innocence typical of a teenage girl.
Ye Anping noticed a lack of activity in the yard at that moment. Turning around, he realized that all the nursing staff carrying wooden piles had paused, evidently engrossed in the conversation. Seeing his gaze, they quickly resumed their tasks.
Speechless, Ye Anping glanced at Pei Lianxue and Feng Yudie, who wore indifferent expressions. Swiftly changing the topic, he asked Liang Ahting, “Where is your adoptive father?”
“There he is,” Liang Ahting pointed behind Ye Anping, and he turned to follow her finger.
Liang Zhu had just entered the Jiang Mansion gate, observing the nursing staff carrying wooden piles. Puzzled, he refrained from asking and glanced at Ye Anping before heading through a side path to the backyard.
Ye Anping raised his voice, calling out, “Brother Liang!”
Liang Zhu pretended not to hear and turned into the side courtyard without glancing back. Ye Anping quickly added, “There are great benefits to be gained!”
Liang Zhu continued to ignore him.
“…something you’ve always dreamed of.”
Upon hearing these words, Liang Zhu paused in his steps. After pondering for a moment, he turned around and walked over. “You called me?”
Ye Anping directed Liang Ahting to Feng Yudie, asking her to play chess in the main hall. He then explained to Liang Zhu, “You will face a person named ‘Wu Chengzhou’ in the future. He’s a demonic cultivator specializing in formations during the early stage of core formation. I’ll use these wooden stakes to simulate his formations. Once you become proficient, you can deal with him.”
Liang Zhu frowned, questioning, “Why don’t you handle it yourself?”
“We’re dealing with other demon cultivators. There are three groups: my wife and I, the silver-haired girl, and you.”
Hearing this, Liang Zhu glanced at Feng Yudie and Pei Lianxue, then observed the wooden stakes around him. After considering it for a while, he asked, “You want me to handle a demon cultivator in the core formation stage alone?”
“Um.”
“I’m not like your two ladies. I don’t have that ability.”
After saying that, Liang Zhu attempted to leave, but Ye Anping quickly added, “You can handle this, and the reward I offer is something you currently need.”
A place to stay… Liang Zhu frowned and stopped again. “What’s the meaning?”
“After the Chilong Conference, I won’t stay here. Young Master Jiang will bring his master to prove his identity, and you won’t be able to stay. I can arrange a place for you, and Ahting can calm down and cultivate.”
“What’s the Sect?”
“Hundred Lotus Sect.”
“Hundred Sect?” Liang Zhu frowned, hesitated, and asked, “The young master of the Hundred Lotus Sect, Ye Anping. Is this your true identity?”
Ye Anping was momentarily surprised. “What do you think?”
“I thought your current face was all fake,” Liang Zhu said expressionlessly, then confirmed, “…Do you mean what you said? I can take Ahting to the Hundred Lotus Sect, and they will accept me?”
“I have the final say in the Hundred Lotus Sect.”
Liang Zhu nodded without further comments.
“Then what do I do?”
“Stand in the center of the courtyard. Protect your spirit and body first. I’ll teach you how to dodge.”
“Um.”
Liang Zhu took ten steps back and stood between the wooden stakes, using his sword fingers to gather energy and mobilize the spiritual power in his body to protect himself.
Ye Anping retreated to his previous position, releasing spiritual energy from his feet. Over fifty wooden piles in the yard floated one after another in an instant.
“Brother Liang, you can only use your physical skills to dodge. If you get hit, start over. The first is to encircle and attack, with the southeast as the attacking opportunity. Focus on the southeast.”
“Well… Let’s do it.”
…
