Translator: Myuu Editor: Myuu
Lu Peien smiled, “I understand what you mean, Liqiang. This place is like a big pond filled with big fish and big crocodiles. Lu Clan is only a small fish, and we know our place. I have only two tasks for this trip. The first is for money and to look out for any feasible business opportunities that we can invest in. Second, Old Master said that the Imperial Capital is a place full of hidden talents. It is full of dojos and martial experts. Remember the Revival Pill we fed to your father? The person who gave this pill to Old Master is now the supervisor for the Soul Mountain Sect in the Imperial Capital. The Soul Mountain Sect is quite influential in this capital, and their business allies run a few coal yards. If we can build a business relationship with the Soul Mountain Sect, our clan’s hopeful talents might have the chance to study at their Imperial Capital branch.”
“Oh, I see. Have you visited the Soul Mountain Sect already?”
“No, I have not. I arrived in the Imperial Capital yesterday. Then I went to Lord Sun’s residence to look for you. Your father wanted me to pay you a visit on his behalf. He was worried that you might spend more than what you earn in the capital, so he wanted me to bring you some money. However, I was told by the servants in Lord Sun’s residence that he was not at home, and that you were no longer working for him. They also told me that you had gone to Deer Villa. Later, I heard the news that one of Lord Sun’s men would be dueling today. I guessed you would be here to watch, so I came here and waited for you. If you didn’t show up, I would have had to look for you in Deer Villa.”
Yan Liqiang felt warm upon hearing his father’s concern and his request for Lu Peien to bring him some money across this distance. “How is my father?”
“He is fine, of course. The blacksmith store is on fire. Everyone in Pingxi Prefecture knows that the weapons from the Yan Clan’s blacksmith store are of reliable quality with reasonable prices, especially the kukri knife you designed. It is the hottest selling item and it has become the signature of the Yan Clan’s blacksmith store. Your father is very busy dealing with his apprentices every day. Oh yes, your father has been promoted to be the Liuhe Town Constable by the county magistrate. He is currently the decision-maker of Liuhe Town. Hahaha…”
“My dad is now the Liuhe Town Constable?”
Yan Liqiang somehow felt that it was a little funny upon hearing the news, but he felt glad at the same time. The previous Liuhe Town Constable was from the Hong Clan. Since the waning of the Hong Clan, the town constable post had been vacant for some time. Yan Liqiang didn’t expect for Yan Dechang to get the position.
“Your father is a man with principles. He is fair to everyone. Now that his business is good, he even donated money to fix the roads and schools. He is a popular man now in the town. Everyone likes to look for him if they run into any trouble.”
“I’m worried my father might have too much free time. Now that he has some work to do, I feel less worried,” Yan Liqiang smiled.
“Liqiang, what is your position at Deer Villa?”
“I’m the superintendent of the Deer Villa archery range!”
“Superintendent?” Lu Peien frowned. This was not a common job title, so Lu Peien had never heard of this before. “Is this some kind of official position?”
“I guess so.”
“What is the rank?”
Yan Liqiang rubbed his face as he was a little shy to give his answer, “Not a high-ranked position, just a Yingyang Commandant!”
“What?” Lu Peien’s relaxed face was suddenly replaced by a stunned expression as he heard this. He almost thought he heard it wrong. “Liqiang, are you saying that you are now a Yingyang Commandant?”
“Yes, but this position doesn’t have much authority in the Imperial Cavalry Unit and I don’t have any followers. My duty as the superintendent of the archery range is to patrol Deer Villa’s archery range. It’s an easy job and I have a lot of free time to cultivate.”
“Even though you don’t have any authority, a Yingyang Commandant is still a Yingyang Commandant. Plus, it’s a Yingyang Commandant in the Imperial Cavalry Unit who takes direct orders from His Majesty. Therefore a Yingyang Commandant is considered a high position in the Imperial Cavalry Unit…”
Lu Peien was slightly excited after hearing the news. He never expected Yan Liqiang to become a Yingyang Commandant of the Imperial Cavalry Unit within half a year. It was unbelievable, almost like magic to him. Becoming an official servant in the empire was not a rare occurrence; in fact, some people said that there were more than enough official servants that you might bump into one of them at any time. However, a Yingyang Commandant was a high rank, even among the Commandants. Qian Su worked half his life in the Gan Province military camp and was currently managing a weaponsmith quarter, but was only ranked as a Feiyang Commandant; so Yan Liqiang would technically be Qian Su’s superior. The general of Gong Barracks in Huanglong County, Gong Tieshan, was also a Yingyang Commandant, so he was the same rank as Yan Liqiang. The difference, however, was that Gong Tieshan was actually given an army to command while Yan Liqiang was not. However, taking into account Yan Liqiang’s young age and the fact that he was in the Imperial Cavalry Unit, this was already a huge feat for him.
Lu Peien always felt that Yan Liqiang was a capable individual. He would be able to achieve success wherever he went. However, such a huge achievement in such a short period of time was really something Lu Peien could not even imagine. This would be something most people could never achieve in their lifetimes.
“Your father will definitely be happy to know that you are now an official Yingyang Commandant. The Old Master will also jump in excitement once he knows that…!”
“Hehe! I’m just lucky. I contributed a little along the journey, and fortunately enough, Lord Sun took good care of me.”
Lu Peien surely did not know the story of how he got himself the Yingyang Commandant position, but Yan Liqiang did not want to brag, so he tried to keep his story as simple as possible.
Just as Lu Peien wanted to add on that, they both heard noises coming from the Arena of Life and Death. The crowd started cheering, “They are coming! They are coming!” Through the crowd, two men appeared on both sides of the street as they calmly headed to the center of the stage.
Yan Liqiang immediately noticed one of them. It was Liang Yijie, and he was wearing a black suit, holding a sword in his hand. There were seven more youngsters walking alongside Liang Yijie: five males and two females, all wielding weapons as well. Those were probably Liang Yijie’s friends, and they were here to support him.
“Liqiang, if you are free, stop by the Gan Provincial Guild Hall. I will be staying there for the next few days as I will be in the Imperial Capital for quite a while.”
“Sure, Sixth Brother. Carry on with your work. I will certainly visit you at the Gan Provincial Guild Hall soon!” Yan Liqiang nodded.
Lu Peien briefly spoke to Yan Liqiang further before he left the crowd. He did not stay to watch the fight with Yan Liqiang. After all, this occasion was not suitable for Lu Peien to appear to be too close to Liang Yijie.
Now that Lu Peien had left, Yan Liqiang walked through the crowd as he headed toward Liang Yijie.
“Brother Liang!”
“Liqiang!” Liang Yijie smiled instantly upon seeing Yan Liqiang. He passionately patted Yan Liqiang’s shoulder as he announced to his friends, “This is the brother I have told you guys about. His name is Liqiang. He is a friend indeed! Don’t underestimate Liqiang here! He may seem young, but he is a capable young man!”
Liang Yijie spoke highly of Yan Liqiang in front of his friends, and the seven friends were immediately impressed by this. They all looked at Yan Liqiang as though there was a flower on Yan Liqiang’s face…
