Chapter Forty-Five: Father-in-Law and Son-in-Law

After listening to Zhang Xuan, Zhao Yun could only scratch his head, spread his hands in helplessness, and then followed Yang Zaixing, blatantly ignoring Zhang Xuan’s presence. Yang Zaixing glanced at Zhao Yun and added a few words, “If you want to stay healthy, stay away from Zhang Xuan; if you want to improve your martial arts, stay away from Zhang Xuan; if you want to enjoy life, stay away from Zhang Xuan...”

Hearing this repeated refrain of “stay away from Zhang Xuan,” Zhang Xuan wondered when his eldest brother had become so witty, able to utter such modern-sounding lines. Watching the figures of Yang Zaixing and Zhao Yun gradually recede into the distance, he silently cried out in his heart, “How could you mere mortals ever hope to understand my world? Finding anyone who truly understands me in this world is harder than winning at mahjong; even the south wind tile is hard to draw, let alone self-drawing a winning hand with it.”

After walking a short distance, Yang Zaixing turned back and approached Zhang Xuan. “So, how do you plan to train lately? You’re not actually going to run laps around this town, are you?”

Zhang Xuan had indeed considered this. In the past, he and Yang Zaixing and the others had already established a fairly systematic training regimen. Now, with their environment changed, some adjustments were necessary. “Training? Running around the town? Forget it. That would make me feel like a monkey being stared at. No way. But running should still be part of it. The courtyard here is pretty big, so maybe I’ll just run laps around it. I just don’t know how long we’ll be staying here, or how long Master Tong and his senior Li Yan will be with us. Maybe we should practice with the spear or the halberd instead? After all, we have two true masters here now. If we can learn even a little from them, we should seize the opportunity. No, not ‘steal’—we’ll be openly seeking their guidance! Most people don’t encounter such masters in a lifetime. We’ve run into two at once; this is a rare chance, something to treasure. Later on, I’ll even have bragging rights, being able to say that I’ve received direct instruction from the ‘King of the Spear’ and the ‘King of the Halberd.’ That’s real prestige.”

“Well, the first part of what you said makes sense. You should definitely seize this opportunity. As for the rest, Xiao Xuanzi, you really are incorrigibly mischievous. Be careful Master Tong doesn’t drag you out and give you a beating.”

While Zhang Xuan and the others were considering their next steps in the training ground, Li Yan and Master Tong followed their father-in-law into Yan Mao’s room. After the head of the Yan family sat down, he gestured for the two of them to find seats as well. Li Yan and Master Tong, seeing their father-in-law’s serious demeanor, felt a little nervous. Usually, unless there was something important, he would not summon them to his room. They each found a seat and watched him anxiously, finding this more nerve-wracking than facing an enemy.

After they were seated, Yan Mao spoke. “Both of you have been traveling for a long time and have finally made it home. Tell us what your next plans are, so my daughter and I can be prepared.”

Li Yan and Master Tong exchanged glances before Li Yan spoke first. “Father-in-law, my junior and I were just discussing this. For now, we plan to stay here for a while. We hope you’ll also allow those who came with us to stay until they find a suitable place.”

“The people who came with you—haven’t you already made arrangements for them? Just keep things as they are; it’s just a few more chopsticks and rooms. Our Yan family can handle that. But I noticed you brought several youngsters. Are you planning to take on new disciples?”

Master Tong recounted how he had met Zhang Xuan and the others, explaining that the question of accepting disciples would be decided later. Li Yan then briefly introduced his disciple, Yuwen Chengdu, whom he had met in Bingzhou. Li Yan had a friend there who ran a martial arts school. The first time Li Yan saw Yuwen Chengdu, the boy was lying on the school’s wall, watching the training inside. Afterward, Yuwen Chengdu would imitate the moves with a stick, showing promise as a martial artist. Li Yan asked around the school and learned that Yuwen Chengdu had been watching from outside for a long time. At first, everyone invited him in, but he refused, so they simply allowed him to observe from the wall.

Sometimes, when Li Yan had nothing better to do, he would offer instruction at the school. People would ask the owner who this instructor was, and upon learning it was the “King of the Halberd,” they told Yuwen Chengdu. From then on, Yuwen Chengdu clung to Li Yan, respectfully asking for guidance, serving tea, following him everywhere. It was this persistent shamelessness that finally wore Li Yan down, so he accepted Yuwen Chengdu as his disciple.

“Back to the main point—what are your plans going forward? Xiong Fu (Tong Yuan’s courtesy name), why don’t you go first?”

“I intend to stay here for a while, then take Yu’er and Fei’er with me to our sect, where I’ll instruct Fei’er and the others, passing on everything I know. Honestly, I believe Yang Zaixing, Yuwen Chengdu, and Yang Hu all have the makings of future generals. As for Zhang Xuan, I still can’t quite figure him out or predict what he wants to do. Then I want to spend some time at the sect with Yu’er and Fei’er, to make up for all the years I haven’t been at their side. I ask for your permission, Father-in-law. Senior brother, what about you?”

“I’ll stay here for some time as well, then I need to seek out Nanhua. I have a feeling that big changes are coming, and I need to confirm it with him. He’s been making arrangements there for a long time. I just can’t understand how they aren’t exhausted from all their scheming. In any case, I’ll find him and try to get some answers, so we can prepare in advance. But Nanhua is always mysterious and hard to find.”

After listening to Li Yan, Master Tong frowned deeply, while Yan Mao lowered his head in thought. After a while, he looked up at Li Yan. “I have the same feeling—that the world will soon be in chaos. So, while you’re both home, I wanted to consult you about the Yan family’s next steps.”

“It’s just a feeling, after all—no one can say for sure. What if we’re wrong? Let me meet with Nanhua first. After that, I’ll go to Yingchuan and speak with Sima. After all, my junior and I are both men of action, not minds for strategy. Coming to us for advice on such matters is like grasping at straws.”