Elderly Martial Saint: Sixty Times the Cultivation Speed ​​at the Start

When Yi Yang returned to the archives, Sun Hao was on the first floor, hunched over a table, flipping through booklets. He would yawn after flipping through two pages, as if the files had drained his energy.

Huang Yushu stood by the bookshelf, holding an old case file in his hand. When he saw Yi Yang enter, his gaze fell on the food box.

"Sir, who is that person outside...?"

Yi Yang placed the food box on the corner of the table without opening it.

"relative."

Huang Yu paused his fingers on the case file for a moment, then wisely lowered his head.

"I spoke out of turn."

Yi Yang sat down at the desk and opened the case file.

The paper is rough, with the edges worn and curled up, and it feels gritty to the touch.

But his fingers didn't stop on the words; instead, they traced the edges of the file back and forth.

To go or not to go?

It's okay if you don't go.

What does Yi Xun's banquet have to do with this old man?

A younger brother who squandered all of his family's resources when he was young and later tried to take over his house and land, is now inviting him out for drinks. Does he really think he can serve up a dish of brotherly love and respect?

It's mostly cold rice and stale soup.

But then I thought about it again, and there were quite a few guests at the Yi residence today.

Most of the prominent people in Yunwen Town will show up.

The files in the archives are inanimate objects, but the people are living ledgers. Who is on good terms with whom, who sits at the head table, who brings lavish gifts, and who is just there to freeload—these are all best seen at the dinner table.

Interestingly, once a person has drunk alcohol, their tongue tends to wander off to the front of their brain. This is an opportunity that's practically handed to you; it would be a shame to miss it.

Moreover, he is currently wearing the official uniform of the Sky Patrol Division, so even if he sits at the end of the table, no one would dare to overturn the table in his presence.

Yi Yang closed the case file.

"I'm going out for a while at Shenshi (3-5 PM)."

Sun Hao looked up from behind the table: "Sir, should I come along?"

Yi Yang glanced at him.

"What are you doing here? Attending the banquet in my place?"

Sun Hao rubbed his stomach and chuckled dryly.

"It's not impossible."

Huang Yushu couldn't help but cough.

Yi Yang waved his hand in refusal, saying, "Guard the files well and don't let anyone rummage through them."

It's almost Shen Shi (3-5 PM).

Yi Yang changed into the black-and-red-trimmed official uniform of the Sky Patrol Bureau, hung a sword at his waist, and left the patrol warehouse.

The streets of Yunwen Town were bustling with activity.

The old man selling candy clattered his copper spoon, while someone at the tea stall slammed their hand on the table, talking about Yi Zhanzhi becoming an apprentice of Lei Yun Martial Arts School, their spittle flying more frequently than tea dust.

"Seventeen-year-old Yi Jin Jing! What do you call that? That's like the ancestral graves emitting smoke!"

"The Yi family is now rich! From now on, everyone will have to call them Master Yi!"

"I heard that Master Mu of Lei Yun Martial Arts School personally accepted him as his closed-door disciple. Do you understand? Closed-door! Once the door is closed, outsiders can't even get in."

Yi Yang walked past without stopping.

When he passed by a silver shop, he went in and exchanged five taels of loose silver, wrapped it in red paper, and held it in his hand.

Five taels.

For the wealthy families in town, it wasn't enough for a single high-class banquet.

But for an old woodcutter in Sanmu Village, it was already considered decent.

That's too much; it's an overestimation of Inspector I.

Too little, deliberately shabby.

It wasn't that Yi Xun didn't have more silver, but five taels was just right for him.

Outside the gate of the Yi Mansion, red silk hung all over the lintel, lanterns were hung high, and several carriages were parked in front of the gate.

The wheels left fresh mud tracks on the bluestone slabs.

Two servants stood guard at the door to greet the guest. When they saw Yi Yang coming, they were first stunned, then they recognized his old face, and saw that he was wearing official clothes and carrying a sword, and that he was bowing lower than usual.

"The master has arrived. Please come in."

Use respectful titles.

But that hint of disdain hidden in the corner of her eye, like dust that hasn't been swept away, can't be hidden no matter how hard you try.

As Yi Yang stepped across the threshold, six tables of food and drink had already been set up in the courtyard.

The aroma of meat, wine, and cosmetics mingled together, warm and inviting, wafting into one's nose.

The guests numbered thirty or forty, mostly merchants, small landowners, and martial arts instructors from the town. They were dressed smartly, chatting and laughing, and when they raised their cups, they seemed to be flaunting two taels of silver from their sleeves.

At the main table, Yi Xun sat at the head of the table.

His old face was ruddy, his back was ramrod straight, and he was surrounded by seven or eight people who showered him with compliments.

"Master Yi, Young Master Zhanzhi has a bright future ahead of him!"

"The closing of Lei Yun Martial Arts School's doors is no ordinary threshold. It's only a matter of time before the Yi family enters the county town."

"You're enjoying a good life!"

Yi Xun smiled broadly, never putting down his wine glass.

Yi Zhanzhi is not here.

Others said he stayed at the martial arts school in the county town to visit his fellow disciples and would not return until later.

Liu Fu stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Sir, your seat has been arranged."

He spoke politely, but his steps led Yi Yang to the last table in the corner.

Several distant relatives and small vendors at the table nodded in acknowledgment when they saw Yi Yang dressed in official robes and carrying a sword, but none of them took the initiative to strike up a conversation.

Yi Yang sat down and poured himself a cup of tea.

Before long, Liu Fu stood in the courtyard, picked up the gift list, and began to recite the gift rites.

"Manager Wang of Wang's Grain Shop, presents a gift of fifty taels of silver and two bolts of brocade!"

Cheers erupted from the courtyard.

Shopkeeper Wang, with his pregnant belly sticking out, laughed so hard that his gums were showing.

"Mr. Li of the Li Family Pharmacy, a gift of thirty taels of silver and two doses of Blood-Activating Powder!"

"good!"

"Boss Li is so generous!"

"Manager Sun of Shengji Pawnshop presents eighty taels of silver and a pair of jade ruyi scepters as a congratulatory gift!"

This time, even people at the main table applauded.

Yi Xun rose and raised his cup, offering a distant toast to Manager Sun.

"Manager Sun, you've gone to so much trouble!"

Shopkeeper Sun waved his hand and raised his voice: "Young Master Zhanzhi's apprenticeship under a renowned teacher is a joyous occasion for our Yunwen Town. This meager gift is nothing to mention!"

That's well said.

But those eighty taels of silver were even more delicious than the roast goose on the table.

Yi Yang sat in the corner, listening to the congratulatory gifts being read out one by one.

That's how it is in the world of social interactions: the more money you have, the brighter your image becomes.

Just then, a patrol guard from the Sky Patrol Division suddenly entered through the door.

Dressed in black and carrying a sword, he walked steadily, and the noise in the courtyard was reduced by half.

Liu Fu hurriedly stepped forward to accept the gift, and after unfolding the gift list, his voice rose a little.

"Fang Yue, the Grand Inspector of the Celestial Patrol Bureau, presents these gifts: a fine sword and a bottle of fourth-grade mortal pills!"

Upon hearing this, many people in the courtyard stood up.

Yi Xun quickly left his seat to personally greet him: "Manager Fang is busy with official duties, yet he still remembers Xiao Sun's matter. I am extremely grateful!"

The guard clasped his hands and said, "The chief steward has duties to attend to today and cannot come in person, so he has specially ordered me to deliver the gifts."

Yi Xun repeatedly said, "Please sit, please sit! We must have a drink today!"

The guard declined a couple of times, but was still seated near the main table.

The gazes of the surrounding guests towards Yi Xun immediately intensified.

Who is Fang Yue?

The head of the Yunwen Town Sky Patrol Division branch, at the fifth level of the Qi and Blood Refining Realm.

Even if the person in person doesn't show up, a gift from such a person is enough for the Yi family to boast about for three years.

Liu Fu continued chanting the rites.

It was finally Yi Yang's turn.

When he opened the red paper and saw the five taels of loose silver inside, his face twitched slightly.

The movements were swift, but they did not escape Yi Yang's notice.

Liu Fuqing cleared his throat.

"Yiyang, five taels of silver as a congratulatory gift."

Suddenly, the courtyard was empty for a moment.

Five taels.

Placed among the gift lists of thirty, fifty, and eighty taels of silver, it stood out starkly in its meagerness.

Several guests turned to look at the last table.

His gaze swept back and forth between Yi Yanghua's white hair and the official robes of the Sky Patrol Bureau.

Someone asked in a low voice, "Yi Yang? Who is that? What's his relationship with the Yi family?"

This is what Liu Fu was waiting for.

He put down the red paper, his face displaying the attentiveness of a butler.

"This is the elder brother of the second master, the eldest master, Yi Yang."

"After the family split up in the early years, the eldest master lived in Sanmu Village and made a living by chopping firewood."

"A few days ago, the second master, thinking of his brotherhood, made a special trip to Sanmu Village to visit him. He even wanted to invite the eldest master to live in town and was willing to provide financial assistance."

He sighed as he said this.

"But the master politely declined at the time."

That's a very clean way of putting it.

It was so clean that there was dirt hidden between every crease of the words.

Yi Xun Renyi.

Yi Yang didn't appreciate the favor.

The guests understood.

And so discussion arose again in the courtyard.

"Master Yi is kind-hearted; even his own brother is taking care of him at this age."

"That's right. What kind of wisdom could an old man chopping wood in the village have? He wouldn't even accept a way out when offered one."

"If I had a younger brother like that, I would have moved to town to enjoy a better life long ago. What's the point of staying in this dilapidated village?"

"Now that the Yi family has climbed up to Lei Yun Martial Arts School, he's probably regretting it so much he can't sleep."

These words weren't spoken too softly.

Some of the words even drifted towards the end of the table.

Yi Yang held the wine glass, his fingertips touching the rim.

The hearing of someone in the Bone Forging Realm is excessively good; even whispers across three tables can be heard as clearly as if someone were reading accounts next to them.

But he wasn't angry.

Sixty years have passed.

Such words would have angered me when I was young, annoyed me when I was middle-aged, and now I just treat them like cicadas chirping on a summer night.

Quarrel.

But it has nothing to do with him personally. The Yi Xun cares about his image and appearance, and wants to put on a show of brotherly affection in front of his guests.

Let him act then.

The higher the stage is built, the more unsightly the fall will be when the legs give way.

Yi Yang drank the wine in his cup.

The wine is good.

It's spicy at first, but sweet aftertastes good.

But once it's ingested, it's nothing more than a mouthful of grain essence.

He put down his wine glass, stood up to leave, and did not go to the head table to offer a toast.

He didn't greet the visiting envoy, nor did he look at the pointing and whispering guests.

He simply straightened his cuffs and left through the side door next to the last table.

His back was slightly hunched, and his steps were neither hurried nor slow, just like an old man who had just finished a boring drinking party and still had to lock the chicken coop when he got home.

At the main table, someone whispered something in Izuru's ear.

Yi Xun glanced at the side door, his smile undiminished.

He raised his glass and said loudly, "Come, come, everyone, drink this cup to the brim! Zhanzhi's success today is entirely due to your support and kindness!"

The courtyard became lively again.

Nobody really cared that an old man left.

As Yi Yang walked to the main gate of the Yi residence and was about to step out, firecrackers went off outside.

The red paper scraps were blown onto the steps by the wind.

The sound of horses' hooves could be heard in the street.

Yi Yang stopped, thinking to himself, "Today's protagonist has returned."

Liu Fu, accompanied by his servants, greeted them at the door, bowing low and speaking with a joyful tone.

"Young Master is back!"

Five horses stopped in front of the Yi residence.

The young man at the front was wearing a new martial arts uniform, with a long sword hanging at his waist. He had sharp eyes and brows; it was Yi Zhanzhi.

He was followed by four young men and women, all dressed in the same clothes, and all were disciples of Lei Yun Martial Arts School.

Two senior brothers, one junior brother, and one junior sister.

The young girl rode on a chestnut horse, her hair neatly tied back with a ribbon. Her gaze swept over the gate of the Yi family mansion, carrying the poise of a martial arts disciple from the county town.

Yi Zhanzhi dismounted and tossed the reins to his servant.

"Steward Liu, arrange a few clean guest rooms. My fellow disciples will stay at your residence tonight."

Liu Fu nodded repeatedly in delight.

"It's all prepared, all prepared! Don't worry, young master!"

Yi Zhanzhi then walked inside the door.

As he passed by Yi Yang, he neither stopped nor called out to anyone.

It's like I didn't see it.

But Yi Yang noticed it.

The young man's peripheral vision lingered on his official robes and waist knife for a moment.

Although short, it revealed his inner turmoil.

Yi Yang sighed inwardly, "He's just a young man. He wants to pretend he doesn't care, but he can't help but steal glances to see if he'll congratulate him, apologize for what happened before, and fawn over him."

Yi Yang ignored him and walked straight away toward the Sky Patrol Division.