CH 221

The death of a Martial Extermination Ream expert outside the city was a massive event. However, Shang Ke had to suppress his curiosity as the convoy of the Shang Clan had yet to return. Tossing the matter to the back of his mind, he ordered, “We can deal with it later. Let’s return to the manor before deciding on anything else!” 

Even though many battles had taken place, the entire series of events didn’t take a long time.

The attack caught the members of the Shang Clan off guard initially, but they quickly managed to stabilize the situation.

When the convoy finally started to move again, the middle-aged man that was clad in clothes belonging to the Shang Clan approached. 

His gaze landed on Shang Xia before turning to Shang Ke. “Fifth Uncle, how should we deal with Yu Wugou and Qiao Han?” 

Waving his hand impatiently, Shang Ke snapped, “If they’re alive, send them to the institution. You can deal with the rest however you see fit.” 

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Cupping his fists, the middle-aged man turned to leave. However, he was stopped suddenly by a yell from Shang Ke. “Oh wait. Come back for a bit.” 

Turning to look at Shang Xia, Shang Ke continued, “This is your second uncle, Shang Jian. He’s the son of your First Grandpa.” 

Shang Xia was slightly surprised when the man called Shang Ke ‘Fifth Uncle’, and guesses started forming in his mind. All of his thoughts were confirmed then.

After the introductions were made, Shang Xia’s expression was a little rigid. However, he still greeted Shang Jian appropriately. As for Shang Jian, the smile on his face was even more unnatural when he returned the greetings.

The only reason Shang Xia greeted the man was just to be polite. Both of them seemed extremely distant from each other and it was their first time meeting. Shang Xia dug through the memories of the Original Shang Xia and discovered that he had barely any memory of the man at all!

“Your second uncle has always been away from the clan. He received news of the war on the Tongyou Peak and Patriarch Kou’s injury and decided to return. He rushed back as quickly as he could from the Ji Continent.” Shang Ke gave a simple explanation.

“Many thanks for your concern, Second Uncle!” Shang Xia added.

Nodding lightly, Shang Jian looked at Shang Ke and muttered, “I’ll go deal with the two of them.” As soon as he spoke, he turned to leave.

Seeing how Shang Jian was walking away, Shang Ke couldn’t help but sigh.

“Aren’t you curious? Don’t you have something you want to ask?” Shang Ke wasn’t too used to Shang Xia keeping silent. After all, the little brat had the balls to cut in when he, Shang Bo, and Ji Wenlong were talking. 

“If you guys plan on telling me, I’m sure you’ll mention what I need to know. It’s the same with the situation about my father.” Shang Xia chuckled.

Taken by surprise, Shang Ke didn’t know how to respond. He fell silent instantly.

As the two of them followed behind the convoy, the gates of the Shang Clan Manor were eventually revealed in the distance. Shang Ke finally broke the silence. “You’re a smart kid. Even though you didn’t go around asking us about what happened, you should have guessed it. You know that we might not tell you even if you asked anyway…” 

“Naturally… I know that my knowledge is limited by my lack of cultivation.” Shang Xia chucked lightly In response.

A bitter smile appeared on Shang Ke’s face as he shook his head. “After everything that has happened, we seem to have taken absolute advantage of the situation in the battlefield between the two worlds. However, all we managed to do was to push ourselves into an even more precarious situation. In the following years, regardless if it’s the Tongyou Institution or our clan, we have to raise our strengths as much as possible in order to cope! We need to consolidate the strength of our Shang Clan as soon as possible. The other three great clans are doing the same. Your guess previously was also right. The Tongyou Institution will start a mass intake of students the moment the recruitment season starts!”

Shang Xia looked at Shang Jian who was standing some distance away and he asked, “Fifth Grandpa, did Grandpa Bo step down from his position because of them?” 

With his jaws dropping slightly, Shang Ke only managed to respond after a short pause. “Not exactly. Well, at least, that’s not the main reason.” 

“I understand.” Shang Xia nodded before urging his horse to travel faster towards the Shang Clan Manor.

Watching Shang Xia leave, Shang Ke sighed softly as he revealed an expression of distress. 

Before Shang Xia even arrived at the entrance, he heard Shang Xi’s voice ringing angrily from the front of the convoy.

“Shang Yang, I guessed as much! Damn brat, you really came back! Why didn’t you come to help us when we were ambushed earlier?”

Shang Xia saw a youngster that wasn’t too much older than him who was waiting at the entrance of the Shang Clan Manor snap his fan shut. There was an imploring expression on his face as he jogged over to Shang Xi to help her off her horse. “You can’t blame me for this! No harm will befall our Shang Clan since we’re still in the Tongyou City. Didn’t Second Brother lead the troops over to help you out? I have to stay here to control the situation in case it’s part of the enemy’s plot to lure us all away.”

“You slippery brat…” Shang Xi slapped his hand away as he tried to help her dismount. Instead, she grabbed his shoulder and pressed down mercilessly as she leaped off her mount.

Gritting his teeth in pain, he pouted to show his dissatisfaction at Shang Xi’s actions. However, he chose to remain quiet like an obedient child.

After landing on the ground, she turned to stare at Shang Yang with a look of shock on her face.

He quickly swapped out his pained expression for a fawning smile. “Hehe, I was planning to give you a surprise. Oh right, I haven’t congratulated you for advancing. You should have already condensed your divine sense, right?” 

She snorted in response. “Damn brat, you’re full of shit as per usual. What do you mean surprise? You were planning to show off to me. Hmph. If I didn’t break through in the battlefield between the two worlds, won’t you be laughing your head off now?” 

“Of course not!” Shang Yang’s expression betrayed his true thoughts. 

“Ninth Uncle!” Shang Xia leaped off his mount and ran over with a look of joy on his face.

Even though Shang Yang returned with Shang Jian, it was Shang Xia’s first time meeting his second uncle earlier. He wasn’t too familiar with Shang Jian, but it was a different story for Shang Yang. His ninth uncle left the Tongyou Institution ten years ago, and Shang Xia used to hang out with him all the time. In the past, Shang Yang was sent out to the White Deer Paradise to learn the arts and he would return to the Tongyou City from time to time to visit them.

Perhaps it was due to their similarity in age, the two of them got along really well.

“Haha! Little Xia, you grew so much in two short years! Hey! You’re going to be as handsome as me at this rate!” Shang Yang smiled when he saw Shang Xia running over.

Just as they were about to continue joking with each other, Shang Jian arrived at the entrance of the Shang Clan Manor. The harmonious air disappeared in an instant and it became slightly awkward.

Coughing lightly, Shang Yang was about to break the silence but Shang Jian beat him to it. A smile appeared on Shang Jian’s face and he turned to Shang Xi. “Seventh Sister, it’s been so many years… Do you still remember me?”