My lord, spare his life!

Everyone looked at each other.

You look at me, I look at you.

The brainwaves reached an unprecedentedly unified frequency.

The atmosphere remained tense for a long time until someone broke the silence with a dry voice, uttering a startling statement: "Does the lord mean... that it's not Zhang Boyuan who's taking advantage of our destitute descendants, but rather that we're taking advantage of her destitute descendants?"

This is indeed a very bold idea.

Wang Ba: "..."

The man who had spoken was immediately sent flying, landing with a thud that left him dazed and disoriented. Had Wang Qi not held back, he could have killed him instantly. Wang Ba quickly distanced himself, crying, "My son, my son, I didn't say a single word!"

These are people's ideas, not his.

Wang Ba simply wanted to help his son achieve his dream.

Studying too much also has its downsides; for example, Wang Qi started to consider the consequences of murder. In the past, he would have killed without hesitation. Faced with Wang Ba's sophistry, Wang Qi retorted, "What do you mean by 'what about my looks'? I can conquer new territories for her; why would I need to use my looks to please her?"

Seeing this, Wang Ba's confidant secretly tugged at his lord's sleeve: "My lord, you've seen it too. Young Master won't be able to make a living like this."

It's not that he's diminishing his own prestige.

Even using one's looks to please others requires considering one's innate talent and physical attributes.

Shaojun is clearly not very good at this.

Forget about eating offspring; to put it bluntly, he won't even be able to win favor, and will probably only starve. Wang Qi could hear these words from his trusted confidant, Qu Quren, even from a hundred meters away, let alone now that the two were only a few steps apart. Wang Qi was so angry that he hit him.

The trusted aide hid behind Wang Ba, protecting his lord in front of him.

Wang Ba proved reliable in crucial moments. Faced with his father's rage, he spread his wings like a rooster and said, "No, no, my son, your uncle is too old and weak to withstand a punch from you."

"Get out of my way, you old bastard! I'll kill you too!"

The room was thrown into chaos.

Although He Ning always felt that his sworn brother and adoptive father were mutually agreeable, as the adopted son, he couldn't stand by and watch his adoptive father be killed, so he naturally had to intervene. While he was intervening, he realized something—why was his sworn brother so aggressive towards him! Could his adoptive father have ever had any idea of ​​him fighting for his sworn brother's favor?

If the adoptive father is heartless, then the adoptive brother is devoid of human compassion.

He has no human emotions, but a beastly heart.

The less domesticated a wild animal is, the more protective it will be of its food.

He not only targets competitors who share his ambitions, but also those around him who seem to have no competitive relationship with him—his kindness is scarce, and his malice is unreasonable. Understanding this, He Ning's efforts to break up the fight eased slightly.

Wang Qi hit someone and then left.

Everyone was exhausted.

"...Who doesn't want a virtuous wife? I've never heard of anyone specifically marrying a troublemaker who only knows how to destroy the house. The little bit of wealth they built up outside isn't enough for him to squander." Everyone acknowledged Wang Qi's good looks, but dismissed his temper.

Wang Ba said awkwardly, "That's all my son likes."

Others murmured, trying to sabotage it: "It's not presentable!"

"My lord, it's not a good deal to rush into a sale."

"We can't exactly tell Zhang Boyuan that we can have Dongxian, but we also want Jiang Shaojun. He'll probably think we have ulterior motives and are deliberately trying to harm her family." Even if a celestial being stood in front of them, they would still have to back away if Jiang Shaojun had this kind of temper.

Putting themselves in Zhang Boyuan's shoes and then looking at Wang Ba, who insisted on forcing his son onto her, everyone's resentment towards Zhang Yang inexplicably diminished.

There was only a subtle sympathy and schadenfreude.

Wang Ba: "..."

He cautiously looked around, fearing that Wang Qi would return with his attack.

"Enough, enough. These things depend on fate. I'll just watch and see. Gongsun might not mean it that way." After not seeing anyone for a while, Wang Ba became bolder. "When I was his age, what didn't I understand? I was tired of being a father. On the other hand, he probably doesn't even know the difference between a man's and a woman's body. What does he know about men and women? Just don't let him lose money."

Immediately afterwards, Wang Ba changed the subject.

"There's something I'd like to discuss with you."

After the chaos, the anger in everyone's hearts dissipated, their emotions subsided, and reason returned. Hearing that Wang Ba wanted to get down to business, they chose a clean spot in the ruins to sit down. Wang Ba then explained the plan that Zhang Yang had mentioned during the day.

Upon hearing this, everyone sneered.

"She said if we dare to report it, she dares to agree?"

"Ha, what arrogance!"

"Exactly, how long has she been making a name for herself? Has it even been a year? Even if she plundered every last drop of wealth from the people under her rule, she still wouldn't be able to sustain this. How much wealth does she really have?"

"However, the counties in the mountains are wealthy, so perhaps it really is true."

The crowd discussed the source of Zhang Yang's wealth.

Wang Ba, who was listening nearby, hurriedly explained, "It's not that I'm trying to speak well of her, but her wealth probably didn't originate from the mountain counties. I suspect she contributed quite a bit to them. Most of the spoils she collected were invested in governing the land and improving people's lives."

The remainder will be used for military supplies and to pay pensions and salaries to soldiers.

He calculated that Zhang Yang's gains in the mountains were limited.

Everyone naturally believed in Wang Ba.

The confidant said, "...In that case, let's test him."

"Of course we need to test her. If she's rich, and Dongxian is truly handed over to her, she might not be interested in Dongxian's assets. If she's poor, she might just be pretending to try and trick Dongxian into handing it over. In that case, how will we know how much she's taken from Dongxian?"

As he watched them discuss, Wang Ba's thoughts gradually drifted away.

When he came to his senses, everyone had left, leaving only He Ning behind.

Wang Ba: "Wu An, is your injury serious?"

The bruises on He Ning's face had faded considerably, but his fair complexion and the fact that he had never been a talkative or cheerful person had cultivated a timid and reserved demeanor over time. Those who didn't know him might think he was easy to bully, but that was far from the truth.

"It's alright, my sworn brother didn't kill me." That level of attack was far from fatal to him. "There's just one thing I'm still worried about... My uncles and elders have some schemes against Lord Boyuan... If she finds out about this, will it have any impact?"

In the candlelight, Wang Ba's expression was extremely cold, showing none of the warmth he had shown when facing Wang Qi: "Having calculations means having something to gain. If everyone had no desires, Dong Xian could be sold to anyone for a good price; it doesn't necessarily have to be her."

The seven emotions and six desires emphasize the words "emotion" and "desire".

If she can't even tolerate this kind of scheming, she won't go far.

Wang Ba: "If Dongxian really goes to war with her, no matter the outcome, there will always be casualties under her command. What you uncles and elders are calculating is not how much Dongxian is worth, but how much the people under her command will be worth in this battle. You don't need to worry about her."

He Ning obediently replied, "Yes."

Wang Ba looked at his most favored adopted son and suddenly said, "There's something you should know: Guan Zong is currently under Zhang Boyuan's command. Zhang Boyuan is protecting him, so you can't kill him."

He Ning's expression remained completely emotionless.

"My son knows."

He learned about this earlier than Wang Ba had anticipated.

"Go to sleep, it's getting late."

"Son takes his leave."

He Ning returned to his room and closed the door. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a fleeting change in the light and shadow inside. Alarmed, he slowly turned his head. The room, which had previously been empty except for him, now seemed to have a second presence. Looking at the dark shadow on the wall, so different in size from his own, he gripped the hilt of his sword: "Sneaking around like that, come out!"

The figure moved and transformed into a gray-clad youth.

The gray-clad boy had long black hair casually tied up with straw, his temples disheveled. His clothes were also casual, with his shirt wide open, almost reaching his waist, revealing a large expanse of tanned skin. The boy's shoulders weren't broad, but his waist, abdomen, and chest were not thin; anyone with a discerning eye could tell that he was a trained fighter and not to be trifled with.

He Ning sized up the gray-clad youth: "Who are you?"

The latter's features weren't particularly refined, but they had a somewhat rough and unrestrained quality, giving him a chivalrous air. It's unclear why he appeared here.

"I've come looking for you. Are you He Ning?"

"It's me. Are you here to recommend yourself?"

In this world, there are no fixed methods for selecting talent; family background and social standing are extremely important. However, there are always some exceptionally talented individuals who, relying on their superior skills and audacity, secretly sneak in and recommend themselves in this way. This method also has its drawbacks; those who are not truly capable will be beaten to death.

At such a young age, why do you call yourself "Sajia"?

The gray-clad youth said, "No, I'm just looking for you."

He Ning racked his brains but couldn't recall the gray-clad youth: "I don't know you. Young friend, could you please introduce yourself?"

The gray-clad youth was slightly surprised to hear He Ning address him like that: "I am of the same generation as your mother, so I am not your young friend. Wang Hongtu probably told you that my name is Guan Zong."

He Ning suddenly opened his eyes wide and gripped the knife hilt tightly.

Guan Zong, his mother's killer.

He Ning was always patient and restrained, and even in this situation, he did not show any extreme emotions: "I don't know why Lord Guan has come. Is it to eliminate the root of the problem? I'm afraid that won't work. My godfather won't allow it, and neither will my godbrother."

Guan Zong looked at He Ning's face.

They tried to find traces of that woman on the latter's face.

"No, I'm here to deliver something."

As he spoke, Guan Zong reached into his robe and took out an object that He Ning recognized—a jade pendant He Ning had seen on his deceased mother. To avoid any unnecessary misunderstanding, Guan Zong placed the jade pendant on the table and did not touch it with He Ning.

Unlike ordinary jade pendants engraved with landscapes, flowers, and birds, this jade pendant is smaller than the palm of your hand, with a half-body human figure engraved on the right side.

He Ning looked at Guan Zong, puzzled, waiting for an explanation.

"It was I who beheaded your mother back then..."

He Ning interrupted him coldly: "There's no need to go into details."

Guan Zong: "Do you know that she descended from the heavens to ward off evil?"

He Ning: "My godfather said he was a child who cried at night."

Guan Zong nodded: "Then you'll remember that."

"...What exactly are you trying to say? Don't even think about leaving until you explain yourself!" His intuition told him that Guan Zong was hiding something.

Most of them are related to the deceased mother.

Guan Zong smiled and disappeared without a trace.

He Ning: "!!!"

Meanwhile, Guan Zong leisurely appeared elsewhere, wandering around looking for a place to drink. Unfortunately, the city was deserted, and the only two taverns had closed early. He could only wander into the kitchen to see what food was left.

"Tsk, it's gotten even shorter."

Guan Zong looked at the figure on the wall and shook his head.

The already oversized clothes looked even worse on her.

With the stolen chicken leg dangling from his teeth, he used his free hand to adjust his drooping belt and re-tie it. He glanced up at the seemingly taller courtyard wall, nimbly vaulted over it, and leaped onto the roof. Before he'd taken two steps, he nearly bumped into a wolf.

"Ouch, my chicken leg!"

His voice sounded a little more immature than before.

The wolf grabbed him by the back of his collar and then disgustedly threw him away.

"You little beast, daring to bully me—" Guan Zong rolled up his sleeves, revealing two thin arms, but when he saw the young man walking out from behind the big wolf, his cursing stopped abruptly, and he couldn't help but complain, "Have you made your home on the roof?"

Guan Si ignored Guan Zong's complaints, only glancing at the other's chaotic aura: "The 'Descending Stars' attack has begun?"

Guan Zong's shoulders slumped, and a look of helplessness crossed his youthful face.

"Yes, it's time for me to become young again."

He bent down, picked up the chicken leg, brushed off the dust, and put it back in his mouth.

Guan Si gave him a cold glance.

Although he didn't speak, Guan Zong understood.

"I've planned it all out. I'll definitely get back to the house before I turn into a baby. This doesn't count as running around." Babies don't have teeth, so he won't be able to eat big meals for a while. He'll take advantage of the time he can still eat and nibble on a few more bites while he can, and also take care of He Ning's matter.

The wrath of the stars caused him to revert to childhood, and He Ning seized the opportunity to strike. Even Zhang Yang couldn't save him in time. In the blink of an eye, Guan Zong's face became even more youthful and round, his appearance regressing to that of an eight or nine-year-old. He quickly slurped up the chicken bones and spat them out.

Fifteen minutes later—

Guan Zong looked at his palm: "Why isn't it getting smaller?"

According to his experience, the speed of rejuvenation should be faster and faster, from eight or nine years old to eight or nine months old, in less than fifteen minutes.

Guan Si suddenly realized something: "You gave your essence blood to Bo Yuan?"

Guan Zong's lips twitched as he said, "That's right."

The two remained silent for a moment.

They remained silent, and Zhang Yang, whose childhood physique was revealed, was even more silent.

As an NPC born with an adult size, her field of vision has never been this low. Even if the game developers adjust her size in subsequent updates, they can only make adjustments based on the initial size, with limited fluctuations; she can't get much lower.

The system logs weren't messy enough.

A notification popped up: "[Congratulations! You have unlocked the child model. You can now adjust your height to 120cm]"

Zhang Yang poked at the system screen, his face expressionless, yet he threatened in a soft, affected voice, "120 what? Give me back my perfect 186!"

The system logs naturally did not respond to her.

Zhang Yang reluctantly opened his data list.

Name: Zhang Yang, courtesy name Boyuan

Age: Unknown (disguised)

[Powers]: Tianyue County, the mountain counties, Dongxian County and its vassal states (50% progress achieved)

[Stars]: None available

[Talent]: Extravagant spending

Loyalty: -40 (Is this correct?)

Morality: 40 (At least it's starting to improve)

[Strategy]: 48 (Wow, almost halfway through!)

[Ambition]: 101 (a little overkill)

[Title]: Children are at odds, the elderly are immoral

[Current Status]: Having occupied several counties in the mountains, you have initially gained the capital to contend for supremacy, but your foundation is still unstable. These challenges are unlikely to be significant for you. Your biggest problem right now is your shrunken height; even when you jump, you can't reach someone's knees.

Zhang Yang: "..."

It took a long time to find the answer in a bunch of system log records.

Congratulations on receiving "Rejuvenation (gift from Guan Zong)"

Zhang Yang: "..."

? ?|??w?`)

I wanted to buy some snacks from Zhao Yiming near my apartment complex tonight, but there was a really, really long line at the store, so I'll have to go early tomorrow.