Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Father-in-Law's Gift

When Fang Qingyan caught sight of the man in iron armor with frost-white temples, her eyes brimmed with tears. Seeing his wife in such a state, Yang Nan realized that his prestigious father-in-law had truly come to the city gates to welcome them.

Though the armored man appeared haggard, he possessed an imposing, dignified aura. His features were refined, resembling a Confucian scholar more than a general. Yang Nan had heard of the renown of the Marquis of Iron Square, Fang Da.

Fang Da had guarded the frontiers of the Great Yuan Dynasty for over a decade. His martial prowess had reached the level of a Grandmaster, and he had once led his armies north to annihilate one hundred thousand of the Hu tribes. The northern tribes were terrified at the mere mention of his name. Not only was he a master of strategy with a brilliant combat record, but he was also a man of letters, equally skilled with the pen and the sword. He had been a close, lifelong friend of Yang Nan’s father, Yang Yuan, and stood as one of the Great Yuan Dynasty’s most irreplaceable military geniuses. This was the origin of their betrothal.

As the carriage reached the Marquis, Fang Qingyan stepped down, bowed gracefully, and sobbed, "Daughter... pays her respects to Father!"

Even though Fang Da’s heart was as hard as iron, seeing the daughter he had thought lost for eight years standing before him moved him to tears. He leaped from his horse to lift her up, repeating, "Good, good, good... it is enough that you have returned."

Seeing her father’s hair turned white, no longer the dashing figure he once was, Fang Qingyan realized how many hairs he must have lost worrying about her over the years. Overcome with heartache, she embraced her father, and they wept together. Having been separated for eight years, they had endless words to share, and for a time, they stood by the city gate in conversation.

While the father and daughter spoke in soft tones, Yang Nan stood by awkwardly. He feared his father-in-law’s rebuke if he approached, yet it would be deeply disrespectful to remain aloof. Beside him, Chi Yang, sensing his thoughts, gently tugged his sleeve. "A-Nan, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. Regardless of the circumstances, you must go and ask for your father-in-law’s forgiveness."

Yang Nan gave a bitter smile. "Big Brother, I brought Qingyan to the brink of death and nearly made her a widow. How could my father-in-law possibly forgive me?" He understood perfectly: while the Marquis had married his daughter to him, he had never intended for her to marry a dead man, nor for her to suffer a permanent separation. What father would accept such a son-in-law? It would be a mercy if he didn't cut him down with a sword.

"An ugly son-in-law must eventually meet his in-laws," Yang Nan muttered to himself. He strode forward with composure. He had faced demons and monsters; surely he could handle a mortal man? If the worst came to the worst, he would let the man strike him a few times. With his current level of cultivation, a few sword blows would do him no harm.

Yang Nan walked up to the pair and bowed. "This son-in-law pays his respects to you, Father-in-law!"

Fang Da looked up, a strange glint flashing in his eyes as he studied Yang Nan. "You are Yang Nan?" He showed no sign of anger, merely observing him closely. In that brief moment, Yang Nan felt as though Fang Da’s gaze were a pair of sharp swords capable of piercing the soul.

Fang Da withdrew his sharp gaze, looked back at his beloved daughter—who appeared more beautiful and radiant than ever—and finally softened his expression toward Yang Nan.

Yang Nan offered a warm smile and said sincerely, "It is I. I have been incompetent, causing Qingyan to suffer. I ask for your punishment, Father-in-law." Though it was said that a daughter married off was like spilled water, Yang Nan took full responsibility. If not for him, would Fang Qingyan have faced such trials? A man must own his mistakes; there was no need for excuses.

Fang Da nodded, showing no trace of anger, and said calmly, "Since you have returned, let us go back to the manor to talk."

Yang Nan was stunned. Was that all it took for his father-in-law to forgive him? Before he could recover, his two servants, Yang Da and Yang Er, hurried over and whispered, "Young Master, the Marquis knows everything you did during your month-long delay. Rumors are spreading everywhere that the grandson of the old Duke is working for the people, and your reputation in the Southern Continent is vast! At first, when the Lady did not return for over a decade, the Marquis was furious, cursing you as a profligate and a wastrel. But later, when he heard you had driven away the cultivators and prevented them from interfering in mortal affairs, and that you had pacified the ten prefectures of the South in just one month, he drank wine and praised you, which dissipated his anger. Still, Young Master, be careful."

The two servants were well-acquainted with the Marquis. Seeing their master’s bewildered expression, they hastened to advise him.

Yang Nan nodded, feeling a surge of relief. Wenyang Prefecture, as the Marquis’s fief, was essentially his private city, and its people were his subjects. Fang Qingyan was his only daughter, and her return brought joy to all. Seeing the people’s genuine happiness, Yang Nan realized his young wife was no ordinary woman. After questioning his servants, he learned that Fang Qingyan had been exceptionally gifted and kind-hearted since childhood; she had not only treated the sick but had helped her father govern Wenyang, offering many ideas that benefited the people. The image of a high-born young lady sitting in court to govern the land had become a celebrated legend in the Great Yuan Dynasty.

Though the Marquis was well-read and skilled in warfare, he was far less effective at local governance or saving lives than his daughter. Her prestige in Wenyang naturally rose accordingly, and her safe return was a cause for genuine celebration.

"Wishing Lady Fang health and longevity!"

"Wishing Lady Fang a hundred years of life!"

*To think that my little wife is not only a skilled physician but also a talent for statesmanship,* Yang Nan thought, watching the jubilant crowd. He shook his head with a wry smile. The joy on the people's faces was unmistakable. He felt a sense of wonder, realizing how little he truly knew of his own wife. In just half a year, she had come to understand his heart, yet he knew almost nothing of her.

The Marquis’s manor was vast, with two colossal stone lions at the gate symbolizing power and authority. As Yang Nan walked toward the crimson lacquer doors with his servants, they swung open to reveal a sea of maids and attendants bowing in welcome. Seeing the familiar sights, Fang Qingyan’s eyes reddened again.

Seeing his daughter safe and unchanged after eight years, Fang Da felt an immense sense of comfort. He was not a rigid man, and with no resentment left, he led Yang Nan and his party into the manor.

Inside, the pavilions and towers stretched for miles, a testament to worldly wealth. Having grown up in the Duke’s manor, Yang Nan was no stranger to such luxury, yet he felt a twinge of sentiment: worldly riches, once clung to, could erode one’s Daoist heart. One must not become attached.

"Son-in-law, you spent over a decade in Kunlun. Since you have come to my manor, you must stay for a few days. I have already had the ancestral home at Mount Qingming prepared for you. If you wish to pay your respects to your ancestors, you may depart in the coming days." Seeing his daughter head to the inner quarters to meet her mother, Fang Da turned to Yang Nan with a gentle, refined smile.

They say a son-in-law is like a son. Fang Da’s love for his daughter extended to her husband, and he treated this rough-around-the-edges son-in-law with warmth.

Yang Nan said with shame, "I am grateful for your thoughtfulness, Father-in-law. I grew up in Chang’an and have never returned to the ancestral home at Qingming. I do not know if the graves of my ancestors are still intact." An ancestral home was the foundation of a clan. Even though Yang Nan had transcended the mortal world, he could not forget his roots. Since his grandfather had passed the estate to him, he had to bear that responsibility.

Fang Da shook his head and smiled. "The old Duke had everything arranged before his passing. A branch of the Yang family is responsible for the ancestral rites. Even if your main line has fallen, as long as the ancestral home remains, the Yang family can rise again! This mountain is under the sole responsibility of your four servants. It is in your name, and even your uncles have no right to intervene—unless they come to seize it by force!" Fang Da clenched his fist, his expression proud. "If they dare come to my Wenyang Prefecture, they will have to ask if my ten thousand iron-clad soldiers agree!"

With the two families united, their fates were intertwined. Fang Da would naturally stand by Yang Nan. No matter how powerful Yang Lan and the others were, they would not dare offend the Marquis of Iron Square, whose prestige in the military was unparalleled.

Yang Nan’s eyes sharpened. "Thank you for your protection, Father-in-law. The ancestral graves are the roots of the Yang family; no matter how far the descendants may fall, we cannot abandon them. I will never forget your kindness." He was truly grateful to this battle-hardened man. Had it not been for the Marquis’s care over the years, the ancestral estate would have been lost long ago.

Fang Da sighed. "Wealth and glory are like dreams and bubbles, vanishing in an instant. You are now a practitioner of the Dao; even if you do not attain immortality, you will live for centuries. In the future, you will surely be able to look after the descendants of both our families. I do this only for my daughter’s sake, so there is no need for thanks. However, son-in-law, your sweeping expulsion of the cultivation sects will inevitably lead to trouble."

Yang Nan was startled. His father-in-law clearly supported his actions but was worried for him. A few Grandmasters did not equate to invincibility. The Heavenly Demon Gate and the Heaven Talisman Gate were formidable, and unless Yang Nan could summon his master, Bu Xu, to oversee things, the Southern Continent would soon be awash in blood. Yet, his journey down the mountain was meant to temper his Daoist heart and fulfill his vows; he would not seek aid from the Kunlun Sect. If he could not pass this trial, how could he hope for immortality?

"Do not worry, Father-in-law. I have already calculated the risks. No one shall interfere with the Yang family’s land. If they wish to come, I shall be ready!"

Fang Da nodded, smiling. "I am old and cannot intervene in the disputes of the immortal sects, but I have prepared two things for you. If they are of use, take them."

Fang Da gestured, and two servants brought forward two jade boxes. He opened them, revealing the contents. "This Essence-Crystal Yin Spirit Iron was obtained from an overseas immortal mountain. I only practice martial arts, not the Dao, so it is useless to me. Since you are a disciple of the Weapon Sect, you can use it to refine a divine weapon. Furthermore, this Iron Blood Token commands three hundred martial arts Grandmasters who reside within it. They are all my personal death squads. You have the ambition to sweep across the world; these three hundred Grandmasters will surely be an asset to you."

The Essence-Crystal Yin Spirit Iron shimmered with light, and the Iron Blood Token felt heavy and dense. Yang Nan felt the immense weight of the gift. The Marquis had given him almost everything he had! With these, Yang Nan’s influence in the South would surge. Unless the two great sects mobilized their entire strength, he could protect himself.

Fang Da had done this half for his daughter, and half for the people of the South. Yang Nan understood this perfectly. Even if the path of cultivation was difficult, he could have abandoned the South, but Fang Da had placed the hopes of the entire region upon his son-in-law.