Chapter 141

"With so many guards posted below, how on earth did you get up here!" Liao Qiniang demanded coldly.

"You thought you could trap me by leaving me on the summit, yet didn't I escape? There is always a way to get up here if one is determined," Yang Yaozong replied airily, without turning to look at Liao Qiniang, who stood behind him with her sword leveled at his neck.

Only then, prompted by Liao Qiniang, did Han Xiong recall the siege of the summit. Like the others in the room, he frowned as he stared at Yang Yaozong.

As Yang Yaozong reached for the kettle sitting on the stove, he felt the blade of Liao Qiniang’s sword press closer against his skin. He paused for a moment and smiled. "Don't be nervous; I’m just reaching for the kettle."

Liao Qiniang felt that any threat she posed was useless against this man. She withdrew her sword, though her beautiful eyes remained fixed on his every move.

Yang Yaozong lifted the kettle and smiled as he refilled the tea cups for those in the room. He then took a waterskin containing milk from Yin Ruyun’s hand, poured some into the kettle, and placed it back on the stove. His movements were slow, steady, and methodical. Finally, he found a seat, while Yin Ruyun stood behind him, cradling Yang Fan.

The room was deathly quiet, all attention focused on Yang Yaozong, as if everyone were waiting for what he would say next.

Yang Yaozong took a sip of tea, looked at the glaring Liao Qiniang, and smiled. "Didn't you say you wanted to invite me to be a tutor for the children on the summit? To show my sincerity, I’ve brought my wife and child along. I’ve decided to accept your suggestion and become a tutor here."

As soon as he finished, he felt a wave of icy chill emanating from Yin Ruyun behind him, causing him to shift uncomfortably in his chair and cough softly.

Liao Qiniang looked at Yin Ruyun, who wore a bamboo hat with a veil, then at the infant in her arms. She frowned, looking at Yang Yaozong sternly. "Don't try to fob me off with talk of being a tutor! I'm not a fool! Tell me! Who are you exactly, and how did you get up to the summit?"

"Qiniang," Liao Dingyuan called his daughter’s name in a calm, steady voice. He then stared at Yang Yaozong with an expressionless face. "Yang Guo! I suspect your wife is a master of martial arts, and it was she who brought you up to the summit, wasn't it?"

Yang Yaozong looked at Liao Dingyuan with genuine surprise. "Uncle Liao, your insight is truly like a torch! How did you guess that my wife is a martial arts master?" After saying this, he couldn't help but shift in his seat again.

Yin Ruyun, hearing Yang Yaozong brazenly refer to her as his wife, was already blushing deeply. Fortunately, the black veil of her hat hid her face, allowing her to stand before the others with a composed demeanor, though the look she cast at Yang Yaozong was filled with shamed annoyance.

Liao Dingyuan gave a cold hum. "I fear that even if all of us here joined forces, we would be no match for your wife’s skill." At these words, Liao Qiniang and the others turned their gaze toward the silent, motionless Yin Ruyun.

Yang Yaozong, however, straightened his back, looking as pleased as if Liao Dingyuan had been complimenting him.

Liao Dingyuan stared at Yang Yaozong and continued, "When I first met you, I sensed you were no ordinary man. I even warned Qiniang that if we couldn't make you stay, we had to kill you. I never expected you to escape on your own. Have you returned today specifically to seek revenge?"

Feeling the questioning and wary gazes of everyone in the room, Yang Yaozong smiled and shook his head. He stood up and poured the warmed milk into a clean cup. "Qiniang and the people on this summit treated me very well. Why would I come seeking revenge? At the time, I truly had urgent matters to attend to and had to leave in a hurry; otherwise, I might have stayed longer and served as your tutor for a while."

Liao Dingyuan pondered for a moment before fixing his eyes on Yang Yaozong. "If not for revenge, surely you didn't return just to be a tutor! Are you... a lobbyist for Gu Youning?"

"Are you referring to Gu Youning, the Prefect of Jining? I don't even know him! Why would I be his lobbyist?" Yang Yaozong replied, meeting Liao Dingyuan’s gaze with a candid expression.

"Why on earth did you come back then!" Liao Qiniang, annoyed by his evasiveness, glared at him.

"When men are talking, what business is it of a woman to interrupt? How ill-mannered!" Yang Yaozong scolded, glaring at her.

"You!" Liao Qiniang had never been scolded by anyone in her life. To be rebuked by Yang Yaozong—a man who was once her prisoner—left her momentarily speechless. She could only stare at him with shamed indignation, as if she wanted to slice him into a thousand pieces with her eyes, having forgotten she still held her sword.

Liao Qiniang's uncle, Uncle Chen, and her sixth sister all watched Yang Yaozong with great interest. Han Xiong, however, looked between them with concern.

Liao Dingyuan smiled with profound meaning. "Since you aren't Gu Youning's lobbyist, what is your purpose here? Even if you didn't know what had happened to the stronghold, you saw that the summit was under siege when you arrived. You are a clever man; surely you can guess the situation. You aren't going to tell me you returned specifically for Qiniang, are you?"

"Father!" Liao Qiniang cried out in embarrassment. She had never expected her father to ask such a thing.

The others seemed equally surprised, yet they all waited for Yang Yaozong’s answer. Han Xiong looked at him with palpable excitement.

Yang Yaozong looked at the blushing Liao Qiniang, stood up, and pulled Yin Ruyun over to where he had been sitting. The milk had reached the perfect temperature, and little Yang Fan had woken up; it was time to feed him.

Watching Yin Ruyun gently feed the baby, Yang Yaozong looked up at Liao Dingyuan and smiled. "You could say I returned for Qiniang, but I also returned for the people on this summit and for the brothers in the stronghold. I heard some of what you were discussing outside the door, though I am not yet clear on why the stronghold has divided. Would Uncle Liao be willing to explain the situation to me in detail? Perhaps I can be of some help."

Chen Guanghan, who had been observing Yang Yaozong closely, asked, "Are you with the Imperial Court?"

Yang Yaozong smiled at him. He did not answer, but his expression gave them their answer.

Liao Qiniang’s eyes turned red, and she lunged at Yang Yaozong with her sword, shouting, "You corrupt official!"

"Qiniang, stop!" Liao Dingyuan shouted in alarm.

But his warning came too late to stop her momentum.

Yin Ruyun rose gracefully and flicked her finger against the tip of Liao Qiniang’s sword, forcing it aside. With another flick, she struck Liao Qiniang’s wrist, causing the sword to fly from her hand and land in Yin Ruyun’s grasp. Yin Ruyun turned, handed the sword to Yang Yaozong behind her, and quietly sat back down to continue feeding Yang Fan.

Liao Dingyuan and the others hadn't even seen her move. They stared in disbelief at the woman in the black dress, who was now sitting calmly as if nothing had happened.

Liao Qiniang was even more stunned. Having practiced martial arts since childhood, she was the best in the stronghold; she never imagined that in front of this woman, she wouldn't even have a chance to counterattack before being disarmed.

Yang Yaozong sighed and returned the sword to Liao Qiniang.

She refused to take it, snorted, and walked away to sit off to the side, turning her back to him. She didn't even understand why she had impulsively attacked him.

Yang Yaozong smiled helplessly. "I am indeed with the Imperial Court, but I am not really an official, and nothing I have done could be called the actions of a 'corrupt official.' Qiniang, do you remember when I told you that if I could ensure the well-being of the women, children, and your brothers, would you be willing to give up your position as leader? Do you remember how you answered?" Yang Yaozong frowned as he looked at the silent woman and said solemnly, "You said you didn't care for this position. I came here today to tell you that I am here to offer you amnesty. I promise to provide a place for the women, children, and elderly on this summit to live in peace, and I will not mistreat your brothers!"