Otherworld Advance Team
Chapter 1437 - 1430: Return Empty-Handed

Chapter 1437: Chapter 1430: Return Empty-Handed

The aristocratic families continuously relied on military force to maintain their rule, which led to the concept of the nation becoming extremely null and void. This was because the so-called Imperial Court, the so-called royal family, was merely a selection by several major aristocratic families to push forth a proxy to rule.

In fact, the entire Empire’s power still remained firmly in the hands of a few aristocratic families. There was no other reason except for the resources they controlled and their formidable military strength.

If one were to look from the perspective of modern people on Earth, Cheng Ziang would have found it almost impossible to comprehend the existence of the Nine Thousand Battalion. In truth, this system was the result of the Imperial Court’s compromise with the aristocratic families, allowing these families to have their private armed forces.

Since the founding of the Dongsheng Empire, the Civil Official corps began to gradually take control of state power and receive authority from the hands of the aristocratic families.

Even so, the aristocratic families still firmly held the power of speech within Kyushu, and the Civil Officials could only placate them rather than daring to slight them in the slightest.

The Yichuan Clan of Jiangzhou, situated in West Outer Heaven, was a very typical family that relied on military strength to rule. For them, literacy was meaningless. They only needed to learn to recognize characters to read Cultivation secrets.

The adoration for military strength resulted in the neglect of those without capability. The most typical example was Yichuan Ying; with her inability to cultivate, she couldn’t even be married off, as others would think marrying her would mean their descendants would be unable to Cultivate as well.

In truth, this was a claim without scientific basis, as the research of people from Earth in the Western Continent had already proven that Magic aptitude had little to do with bloodline.

Unless one marries into the Elf Race or the Dwarf Race, which could significantly increase the likelihood of their descendants’ Magic aptitude, the inheritance among members of the same race is essentially random, and bloodlines cannot change that.

Thus, one could imagine that the situation in the East Continent must be similar. The reason Yichuan Long could become an exceptional person among humans, aside from his own efforts, was that his natural aptitude played a crucial role.

However, how could conventional prejudice accommodate scientific truth? In their eyes, Yichuan Long was an exceptional person among humans, while Yichuan Ying was nothing but an ornamental vase. The Yichuan Clan’s disregard for her had even reached the point where they could abandon her at will; clearly, this was something Yichuan Long could not tolerate yet was unable to change.

It was precisely because of this that Yichuan Long dared to entrust Yichuan Ying to Cheng Ziang and others. Something he couldn’t protect was better off being given to someone else rather than being broken in his own hands.

Yichuan Long sighed deeply and focused his gaze on Cheng Ziang before speaking seriously, "We are enemies, and there will surely be chances to meet in the future, and it will certainly be on the battlefield. I hope that as my enemies, you will not mistreat Ah Mei because of this."

"Rest assured, since we are taking her with us, we naturally will not mistreat her just because she is your sister," Cheng Ziang responded.

"That’s good," Yichuan Long nodded in satisfaction, and then added, "I won’t tell anyone about today’s matter, and I trust you can also keep this secret for me, right?"

"Are you worried I’ll run to your father and tattle?" Cheng Ziang smiled and asked.

"Actually, even if my father knew, I wouldn’t care," Yichuan Long shrugged and continued, "But I just don’t want to see him upset; after all, he is my father."

"Romantic sorrows have been meaningless since ancient times," Cheng Ziang couldn’t help but say.

"Thanks for the criticism," Yichuan Long didn’t quite understand the phrase.

"We are taking Yichuan Ying away, and will surely continue to use her against the three great aristocratic families," Cheng Ziang said.

"I know, but it doesn’t matter to me; whatever Ah Mei does, whether right or wrong, I won’t oppose it," Yichuan Long stated, "I only hope that you will not put her in danger, just like today."

"Big brother..." Yichuan Ying looked at Yichuan Long with a moved expression.

"We are confident in our escape, so we are not taking risks," Cheng Ziang said with a relaxed expression, "To put it unpleasantly, it is because you are Yichuan Ying’s brother that we didn’t plan to kill you. Otherwise, in the confrontation just now, you would have already lost your life at her hands."

As he said this, Cheng Ziang gestured towards Feng.

"Should I be thanking you for that?" Yichuan Long showed a faint smile, unsure whether he was mocking or truly grateful to them.

"Gratitude is unnecessary, after all, we are not some great evildoers. What we have done is merely our understanding of justice," Cheng Ziang said indifferently.

"Justice?" Yichuan Long murmured in a somewhat dazed tone.

"Let’s end our chat here," Cheng Ziang said, "but I am very curious. Without being able to take us back, how will you explain this to your father and Dangyang Wu? You are now trapped in Green Village."

"With me here, we are not taking risks," Yichuan Long declared confidently.

"Hehe, I like your personality." Cheng Ziang couldn’t help but crack a smile and spoke sincerely.

"I do too, it’s just a pity that we are enemies," Yichuan Long also said with a smile.

"Well, let’s part here, Yichuan Long, take care of yourself." Cheng Ziang waved his hand, signaling the others to mount up and prepare to leave.

"Big brother..." Yichuan Ying held Yichuan Long’s hand, her expression full of reluctance.

"Ah Mei, you have grown up and should learn to grow up on your own. Never forget how to fly just because your wings have been clipped. That place is not our safe haven; the farther away we go, the better," Yichuan Long looked at her, his voice laden with emotion.

"I can’t bear to leave you..." Yichuan Ying’s nose turned sour, and she couldn’t hold back her tears once more.

"I feel the same, but fate has decreed it so, and there’s nothing we can do," Yichuan Long shrugged his shoulders with a look of self-reproach, "In the end, I still need to apologize to you. I knew father wanted to kill you, but I was powerless to do anything; I could only fret. You should be grateful that you’ve found reliable friends who have helped you... Ah, go with them. I’m sorry for failing you as your big brother."

At that moment, Yichuan Ying could no longer speak, sobbing as she threw herself into Yichuan Long’s arms, crying out loud. Yichuan Long gently patted her back, comforting her in a soft voice.

Cheng Ziang watched the siblings silently, knowing that this separation was almost certainly a permanent farewell. Yichuan Long would not betray his father—to take control of the Yichuan Clan, he could only wait for Yichuan Hong to die of old age and then pass the position of Patriarch to him. But how long would that take?

With a heavy heart, Yichuan Long helped Yichuan Ying onto the horse, then stood forlornly watching them disappear into the distance. Cheng Ziang looked at the inconsolable Yichuan Ying and then turned to gaze at the retreating figure of Yichuan Long, feeling inexplicably as if he resembled a clown, standing alone at the side of the road, waving at the departing figures.

After watching the group leave, Yichuan Long picked up the broken half of the spear and mounted his horse to return to Green Village. The journey was unobstructed, and he quickly found himself before Yichuan Hong and Dangyang Wu.

As soon as Yichuan Hong saw Yichuan Long return alone, he felt a sudden sense of foreboding.

"Where are they?" he hurried to Yichuan Long, his voice filled with urgency.

"I am incapable, father. They have escaped..." Yichuan Long knelt on the ground, showing his severed weapon and damaged armor.

"What happened to you?" Yichuan Hong demanded angrily.

"I am sorry, father. The bandits who kidnapped Ah Mei are low-ranking experts. I almost fell into their trap and they nearly shattered my Inner Core," Yichuan Long said, his voice flustered.

He knew well the importance his father placed on him. As long as he mentioned that his Inner Core could have been destroyed, Yichuan Hong would not have any more questions. Recruiting his daughter back was not as crucial to him as preserving his son, who was a rare talent.

"Have you nothing else to say now?" Dangyang Wu stood up abruptly, his hawk-like eyes fixed intently on Yichuan Hong.

"Wait, this matter is mostly due to the chaos sown by the bandits. Mei’er must have been misled by them. I urge you, Manor Lord, to see clearly," Yichuan Hong turned to explain.

"Indeed, the bandits tricked Ah Mei away. Despite my many persuasions, Mei’er would not change her mind," Yichuan Long added.

"I don’t care about your family affairs. All I know is that your Yichuan Clan’s girl attacked my son. Now he’s been crippled, how are you going to compensate for this damage?" Dangyang Wu demanded sternly.