Protect Our Patriarch

……

In the end, Wang Shouzhe couldn't escape that calamity.

Shuiyue Pavilion had gradually become an indelible memory in Wang Shouzhe's life.

The unpredictability of Ruoling's appearances added a touch of thrill to his seemingly calm life, sometimes bringing him "fright" or "delight."

However, this process usually started with fright, followed by delight, and then fright again... The mixed feelings left Wang Shouzhe sighing at the whims of fate.

Five days later.

Wang Shouzhe and Liu Ruolan returned to their cozy family courtyard, resuming their peaceful and uneventful life as if that intense night of fighting had never happened.

The clan members, who were shocked by the news of the clan leader couple's battle that night, were curious about the outcome but wisely refrained from asking.

After all, according to some clan members who went to report and seek instructions, the clan leader's face seemed a bit pale, and his body appeared somewhat weak, indicating he had likely suffered some losses.

Therefore, the clan members who adored the clan leader deeply buried this matter in their hearts and secretly vowed to teach the clan's children well, so as not to burden the clan leader further—he had it too hard.

On this day.

It was no different from usual.

Except that there was a mysterious woman in Wang Shouzhe's study.

She wore a water-blue Basalt combat skirt, her figure curvaceous, her hair tied up one-third of the way, a mysterious veil on her face, and a long sword hanging on her back, looking both valiant and ethereal.

What made Wang Shouzhe's cheeks twitch was that her eyebrows bore a slight resemblance to Liyao's, even down to some of the small accessories on her body.

"Commandery Prince Hao is from the line of His Majesty's second legitimate son. Although this line is not very prosperous, it does have a prince and more than ten commandery princes..." The mysterious woman reported intelligence while noticing Wang Shouzhe's distraction, raising her eyebrows slightly, "Clan Leader, I am reporting intelligence to you, please focus."

"..." Wang Shouzhe's eyelid twitched, muttering, "Wang Mei, how can I focus when you're dressed like this?"

This mysterious woman was none other than the Wang Clan's most extraordinary family guard—Wang Mei.

"Clan Leader, this is the most popular women's attire in Guilong City right now." Wang Mei flicked her hair and said calmly, "Ever since Miss Liyao swept through the capital, dominating her generation with no rivals, her attire has become all the rage. I also wanted to help the clan leader alleviate his longing for his beloved daughter. Please do not let your thoughts wander."

In an instant.

Wang Shouzhe's brow twitched, feeling an urge to throw her out. What kind of twisted idea was this?

"Get to the point."

Wang Shouzhe took a sip of tea, suppressing the urge to hit someone.

Every time Wang Mei came to report, she was dressed differently, leaving him at a loss. This time she was dressed like Liyao, so next time, would she dress like Ruolan?

This made Wang Shouzhe almost forget what she originally looked like.

Wait...

Wang Shouzhe frowned slightly, falling into contemplation.

What did Wang Mei originally look like?

"Commandery Prince Hao was exceptionally talented from a young age, with strong bloodlines, and entered the military system for training. Due to his godlike military strategies and his habit of leading from the front in critical moments, often turning the tide of unfavorable battles, he earned the title of 'Little Military God' and was deeply loved by the soldiers in the military system." Wang Mei reported seriously.

As Wang Shouzhe listened, he reviewed the intelligence on the paper, frowning, "This person has the ambition to govern the country, is a godlike military strategist, and comes from an extraordinary background. He sounds like a perfect candidate for the emperor."

"Exactly." Wang Mei nodded, "Before the Imperial Heir Struggle began, Commandery Prince Hao already had extremely high support within the royal family and the military system, far surpassing Commandery Prince Kang. If he hadn't been ambushed and killed on the outer region battlefield while chasing an enemy force just before the Imperial Heir Struggle began, this struggle would have been a foregone conclusion."

"His resume and character are quite impressive." Wang Shouzhe carefully reviewed Commandery Prince Hao's past, analyzing his personality, "He has a grand vision and strategy, far beyond Commandery Prince Kang and Commandery Prince An. No wonder Commandery Prince An holds him in such high regard."

Previously, when Commandery Prince An mentioned his "Brother Hao," Wang Shouzhe took note and ordered Wang Mei to investigate.

Accustomed to relying on intelligence and anticipating the enemy's moves, Wang Shouzhe naturally wouldn't miss such significant information. Especially since Commandery Prince Hao had a significant influence on Commandery Prince An's growth.

"Can you find out how he died on the outer region battlefield?" Wang Shouzhe half-closed his eyes, rhythmically tapping his knuckles on the desk, "There are some doubts about this. Based on the information from his previous battles, Commandery Prince Hao was indeed adventurous, often using risky strategies and having brilliant plans. But his layouts were meticulous, and he was well aware of the dangers of the outer region battlefield. Without significant benefits, he wouldn't have taken such risks."

"Clan Leader, Emperor Longchang had long ordered a ban on discussing Commandery Prince Hao's matters, and the intelligence about that battle was sealed." Wang Mei said helplessly, "The time you gave me was too short. If you give me more time to investigate slowly, I might find something."

After a pause, Wang Mei's eyes, which were very similar to Wang Liyao's, suddenly lit up, "Could it be that the clan leader suspects Prince Dexin's line of foul play?"

"Hard to say. The struggle for the throne involves enormous interests, and Commandery Prince Hao's advantages were too obvious. Prince Dexin's line indeed had a motive." Wang Shouzhe said, "Of course, this is just a guess. Wang Mei, you can try to verify it carefully, ensuring your safety."

"For the clan leader, I can give up everything, including..."

"Be safe."

"I mean including..."

"I said be safe..."

"Alright, you're the clan leader, you have the final say." Wang Mei's eyes were wistful, "Could it be that my attire today is inappropriate?"

"......"

Wang Shouzhe silently took out a bow.

Five breaths later.

Wang Mei appeared rather disheveled outside the courtyard.

Looking at the courtyard wall in front of her, her eyes were not discouraged at all but filled with unwavering faith. Clan leader, I, Wang Mei, will never give up. I am now in the Celestial Realm and have plenty of time to wait.

Speaking of Wang Mei, she indeed had some skills. No one knew where she got a Wuji Baodan, but after taking it, she barely raised her aptitude to the level of a prodigy and finally stepped into the Celestial Realm after much struggle.

At this moment.

Wang Shouzhe's second legitimate son, Wang Zongrui, also arrived at the courtyard, ready to report to his father about the recent educational progress of Wang Yingxuan.

But as soon as he saw Wang Mei, he shivered all over.

Elder sister is back?

No, this is not his elder sister Wang Liyao.

Wang Mei also noticed Wang Zongrui at this time. She put away her unusual expression, gave Wang Zongrui a meaningful smile, and saluted, "Greetings, Young Master Zongrui."

Then, she floated away.

Wang Zongrui stood there as if struck by lightning, stunned for more than ten breaths.

That familiar voice... He remembered hearing that voice when he was young. Yes, Xiaoxue... the woman who looked exactly like Xiaoxue!

It was that incident that became his biggest nightmare in his youth, making him doubt whether he was his father's and Xiaoxue's son when his mother beat him several times.

It took him a long, long time to suppress that nightmare.

But that nightmare... seemed to have reappeared.

……

At the same time.

To the west of the Changning Garrison town, there was a remote valley.

This valley belonged to the Changning Garrison government and was a military area, forbidden to ordinary families and commoners.

The valley was called "Insect Valley," surrounded by various poisonous insects like snakes, centipedes, and more.

The nearby residents regarded this place as a forbidden area, and under the teachings of their elders for generations, they never dared to approach within five miles.

On this day.

Two figures flew through the sky from the direction of Changning Garrison, like rainbows piercing the sun. Their majestic aura tore through the sky, leaving two long trails in the clouds.

Such a powerful aura clearly indicated they were Celestial Realm cultivators.

After all, although Lingtai Realm ancestors could also fly, they could only hover for a short time and couldn't fly long distances. Their aura while flying was far inferior to this.

When the two figures stopped above Insect Valley and the protective qi dissipated, it became clear that they were two women.

One of them wore a yellow Basalt combat attire, sword boots, and a hunting cap. Her beautiful face exuded a heroic spirit that ordinary men couldn't match.

Even standing there casually, she exuded a strong and domineering aura, looking valiant and heroic, like a heroine.

"Wang Luojing, speed up your work." She hovered with her hands behind her back, exuding strong confidence and composure with every move. Her eyes were full of pride as she looked at the woman beside her, "This family action is nominally to explore the outer regions, but in reality, it's to pave the way to the Shenwu relics. This is a great opportunity for us to establish merits for the family and strive to enter the family's first sequence. The opening of the Shenwu training relics is the cornerstone of my imperial path. Don't waste too much of my time."

The woman beside her was slightly smaller in stature.

She wore a veil and a dress with dark tones and intricate patterns. If you looked closely, you could see that the patterns were of various fierce poisonous insects.

Her eyes were cold and deep, like a bottomless pool, carrying a hint of chill, "I came to visit my master after receiving his letter. I don't need your company."

These two women were none other than the prodigies of the Changning Wang Clan in Longzuo Academy, Wang Luojing and Wang Luo Qiu.

They grew up together and entered the academy together. Although they often quarreled and didn't get along, they had become accustomed to working together over the years. Wherever they went, they were almost always together.

For example, this time, Wang Luojing didn't specifically inform Wang Luo Qiu, but Wang Luo Qiu still habitually followed her.

With that, Wang Luojing no longer paid attention to Wang Luo Qiu and directly flew down into the "Insect Valley," a place considered dangerous by ordinary people.

Insect Valley was indeed a sinister place, filled with countless poisonous insects.

But as soon as Wang Luojing landed, the various poisonous insects scattered in terror as if they had encountered a nemesis, leaving her a clean landing spot.

"Luojing seeks an audience with Master."

Wang Luojing cupped her hands and spoke softly.

Looking at the exotic-style stilt house not far away, her eyes revealed a hint of nostalgia. Before entering the academy, she spent half of her time here learning insect control and more complex and dangerous techniques from her master, Zhou Changfeng.

Zhou Changfeng was a spirit insect master employed by the Changning Garrison government and had made significant contributions throughout his life.

The [Red Bull Fire Toad] he bestowed upon her had also been of great help. Without it, she might not have passed the Shenwu Royal Dynasty dungeon.

However, as she entered Myriad Butterfly Valley and gradually learned a more rigorous and comprehensive inheritance, the knowledge and various poisonous insects her master Zhou Changfeng taught her became somewhat insufficient.

Most of those insects had been eliminated, except for the Red Bull Fire Toad, which had good growth potential and was still occasionally used in battles.

Despite this, Wang Luojing always regarded Zhou Changfeng as her master and visited him whenever she returned to Changning, sharing interesting stories from the academy.

"It's Jing'er, come in."

Inside, a weak and aged voice came from Zhou Changfeng.

Wang Luojing pushed the door open and entered. Seeing Zhou Changfeng, who was sitting weakly on a bamboo couch, her face changed, and she hurriedly supported him, "Master, what happened to you? Who hurt you?"

"It's nothing, just my lifespan running out." Zhou Changfeng was very old, but his expression was carefree, "Jing'er, don't be too sad. I've lived for 192 years, which is already considered long-lived among Lingtai Realm Basalt cultivators."

Although Wang Luojing understood this was natural, as Lingtai Realm cultivators rarely lived past 200 years without reaching the Celestial Realm, she couldn't help but feel a deep sadness.

"Jing'er, my time is running out." Zhou Changfeng looked at Wang Luojing with deep longing, as if seeing someone else through her, "I called you here because I knew my end was near and wanted to say goodbye. Also, after much thought, I've decided to pass on the half of the [Holy Gu True Method] I have to you."

"True Method?" Wang Luojing was slightly surprised, "Master, how did you come to possess a True Method?"

True Methods were extremely rare cultivation secrets, often called "supreme techniques," guiding Basalt cultivators to the Divine Realm.

The Holy Land's nine veins were renowned for their nine True Method inheritances.

Outside the Holy Land, only top-grade families had True Method inheritances. Otherwise, one could only try to excavate relics, which was dangerous and had a low chance of success. Even if one found a True Method, it was often incomplete.

Any True Method was a core inheritance treasure for a family. Even the Changning Wang Clan didn't have a True Method inheritance. Only Wang Liyao, apprenticed to Tianhe Daoist, could cultivate a True Method.

Thus, even half a True Method was invaluable.

"I obtained this in my youth from the Southern Barbarian Gu Clan." Zhou Changfeng's eyes showed a hint of guilt, "I've explained the details in two letters. One is for you, and the other..."

He looked at Wang Luojing with a serious expression, "Luojing, you must promise me that after you learn it, you will take this half of the True Method and the letter to the Southern Barbarian Gu Clan's Holy Maiden."

The Southern Barbarian Gu Clan?

Having studied at the Purple Mansion Academy for over sixty years, Wang Luojing's knowledge had greatly expanded. She knew that some barbarian tribes existed around Daqian, some isolated and resistant to contact, some submissive, and others destroyed.

After all, Daqian's vast territory wasn't gained for free, and many barbarian tribes had been wiped out.

The Southern Barbarian Gu Clan was one such tribe.

Daqian's army had tried to eliminate them several times but failed due to their geographical location and powerful Gu insects.

Because of this, the Southern Barbarian Gu Clan was hostile to Daqian people.

Going to the Southern Barbarian lands was dangerous.

However, out of gratitude for her master's kindness, Wang Luojing agreed, "Master, when the time is right, I will make the trip for you."

With Wang Luojing's promise, Zhou Changfeng's last concern was resolved. The breath that had sustained him finally dissipated.

After a few more words, he could no longer hold on, and his life gradually faded.

Though saddened, Wang Luojing followed Zhou Changfeng's last wish, not burying him but letting his countless poisonous insects devour him and the stilt house.

……

At the same time.

Monan Commandery, Anbei Garrison.

Anbei Garrison was located in the northwest of Monan Commandery, with Western Sea Commandery to the south and the endless Dala Great Desert to the north. The vast Anbei Garrison was sparsely populated, with most people living on the grasslands near the center of Monan. The area near the Dala Great Desert was too barren for permanent residents, visited only occasionally by herb gatherers.

This was one of the most desolate places in Daqian.

However, in this desolate land near the Dala Great Desert, a solitary town stood.

Calling it a town was inaccurate, as it had no walls and resembled a settlement formed by many people gathering together.

At the center of this settlement was a grand architectural complex, with flying eaves and painted beams, exuding majesty.

At the main entrance stood a large archway with the royal dragon emblem.

Above the main gate hung a red plaque with gold characters reading "Commandery Prince An's Household."

This mansion was the residence of Commandery Prince An in Anbei Garrison.

When Commandery Prince An chose Anbei Garrison as his fief and personally selected the location for his mansion, this Commandery Prince's Household was built.

As a quasi-imperial heir, Commandery Prince An's mansion was funded by the royal family and built according to regulations, naturally grand and majestic.

Many royal guards, family members, and followers came with Commandery Prince An, forming a complex and numerous group.

For convenience, they built their residences nearby.

Over time, this place became a settlement. After decades, it grew into a small town with a few inns, teahouses, general stores, and cosmetic shops, giving it a semblance of a town.

On this day, the rarely opened vermilion gate of Commandery Prince An's Household suddenly opened.

Guards and numerous servants emerged, swiftly cleaning the street in front of the mansion.

Anbei Garrison was often windy and sandy, and the street would be covered in fine sand if not cleaned for a day. The servants quickly made the street spotless, as if it had never been dusty.

Even the dragon stone carvings at the mansion's entrance were meticulously polished.

The customers in the teahouse across the street were surprised and began to speculate.

Such a grand display—was Commandery Prince An's Household expecting a distinguished guest? Could it be a royal commandery prince?

As they wondered, a large convoy of carriages entered the settlement.

This convoy, consisting entirely of box-shaped ox carts, stretched from the mansion's entrance to the outskirts of the settlement. The leading cart bore the flag of Qian's Trading Company and the emblem of the Changning Wang Clan.

The convoy slowly stopped at the mansion's entrance.

Soon, Commandery Prince An's eldest son, Little Commandery Prince Wu Shengjun, led several stewards out.

Wu Shengjun was a calm young man, handsome and upright, walking with natural grace.

Born into royalty, he had always interacted with important figures, giving him confidence in dealing with people.

As Wu Shengjun came out, the door of the leading ox cart opened, and a young man in a white robe, exuding extraordinary demeanor, stepped out.

This young man was the young clan leader of the Changning Wang Clan, Wang Zong'an.

"Wang Zong'an greets Little Command "Wang Zong'an greets Little Commandery Prince," Wang Zong'an bowed to Wu Shengjun, his demeanor humble yet elegant. "I didn't expect to trouble Little Commandery Prince to personally welcome me. I am deeply honored."

"Young Clan Leader Zong'an, you have traveled a great distance to support my father in Anbei Garrison. It is only right for me to welcome you," Wu Shengjun returned the bow, equally graceful and sincere.

One represented the Commandery Prince's Household, and the other represented the Changning Wang Clan. This meeting signified a deepening cooperation between the two sides.

In a way, this meeting was historic.

As they exchanged pleasantries, the doors of the other ox carts opened, and more people disembarked.

Wang Zong'an had not come alone.

The other carts carried numerous seeds, saplings, and various instruments and equipment developed jointly by the Wang Clan and Changchun Valley over the years.

To transport these items, they had to travel by ox cart overland, taking nearly half a year. Otherwise, the journey from Longzuo Commandery to Anbei Garrison would have taken only seven or eight days by flying carriage.

Accompanying him were Senior Brother Jinshan and several elders and disciples from Changchun Valley, as well as many direct and collateral members of the Wang Clan, including family guards and servants.

Among the direct members were more than a dozen individuals.

Wang Shicheng, the eldest son of Wang Zongchang, now fifty-four years old; Wang Shichuan, the eldest son of Wang Zongyao, now forty-two; and Wang Shihong, the eldest son of Wang Zongcai, now thirty-two, all accompanied Wang Zong'an to Anbei Garrison as his stewards, ready to assist him.

Additionally, there was a group of young clan members in their twenties.

These young people, having graduated from the clan school and gained a few years of experience, were capable of handling various tasks independently. Their presence would make Wang Zong'an's work in Anbei Garrison more efficient and ensure he had capable hands at critical moments.

This was a luxury the Wang Clan could afford now, thanks to its increased population. Fifty years ago, when the clan had fewer members, Wang Zong'an might have had to come alone, handling everything himself and risking being underestimated.

After the introductions, Wu Shengjun invited Wang Zong'an into the Commandery Prince's Household.

Wang Zong'an, here to assist Commandery Prince An in developing the Great Desert, would stay in Anbei Garrison for a long time.

Naturally, Wang Zong'an accepted the invitation.

The others also had their accommodations arranged by Wu Shengjun.

It took about an hour to settle everyone.

Once everything was in order, Wang Zong'an requested to see Commandery Prince An.

Wu Shengjun had anticipated this and led him to the shelterbelt.

Less than a hundred miles northwest of the Commandery Prince's Household lay the Great Desert.

Commandery Prince An had built his household here to demonstrate his determination. He wanted to oversee the transformation of the desert under his governance.

Soon, they reached the sparse shelterbelt.

Following Wu Shengjun, Wang Zong'an ventured into the depths of the shelterbelt to find Commandery Prince An.

Senior Brother Jinshan, trailing behind Wang Zong'an, casually entered the shelterbelt. Seeing some officials cutting and sharing sand melons, he joined them, striking up a conversation.

Both sides were technical experts, naturally finding common ground. Within moments, Senior Brother Jinshan had blended in seamlessly, as if he were one of Commandery Prince An's officials.

Anyone unaware might have mistaken him for a member of Commandery Prince An's staff.

Senior Brother Jinshan had come with "sincerity," having no choice but to repay the debt he owed Senior Sister Lu Wei for the transformation of the White Jade Spirit Peony.

He had two options: participate in various strange and terrifying experiments with Senior Sister Lu Wei or work with the Wang Clan to develop the Northwest Garrison.

Choosing the latter was a no-brainer...

"Zong'an greets Commandery Prince," Wang Zong'an, led by Wu Shengjun, found Commandery Prince An and bowed deeply, "I am here on my father's orders to assist Commandery Prince."

By seniority, Commandery Prince An's daughter was Wang Zong'an's granddaughter-in-law, making Commandery Prince An a generation lower than Wang Zong'an. However, given Commandery Prince An's royal status, Wang Zong'an naturally wouldn't insist on such formalities, allowing each to address the other as they saw fit.

Commandery Prince An, Wu Mingyuan, was a middle-aged man with a dignified bearing, exuding an aura of authority and wisdom. He looked at Wang Zong'an with a warm smile, "Young Clan Leader Zong'an, you have traveled far to assist me. Your presence is greatly appreciated."

"Commandery Prince is too kind," Wang Zong'an replied respectfully. "My father has high hopes for this collaboration, and I will do my utmost to support your efforts in developing the Great Desert."

"With the support of the Wang Clan and Changchun Valley, I am confident we can achieve great things," Commandery Prince An said, his eyes gleaming with determination.

The two men exchanged a look of mutual understanding, knowing that this partnership could shape the future of their respective domains.

As they discussed plans and strategies, the sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the shelterbelt. The vast desert beyond seemed to shimmer with endless possibilities, waiting to be transformed by their combined efforts."Young Clan Leader Zong'an." Commandery Prince An greeted Wang Zong'an with delight, quickly extending his hand to support him. Eagerly, he asked, "Master Wang Shouzhe mentioned in his letter that you would bring a treasure this time, one that could significantly accelerate the construction of the protective forest. What exactly is this treasure he spoke of?"

"It's this."

Wang Zong'an smiled calmly and then removed an ancient bracelet from his wrist.

"The Xi Rang Bracelet?" Commandery Prince An, with his sharp royal eyes, immediately recognized the bracelet's origin but remained puzzled. "While the Xi Rang Bracelet is indeed precious, it can't solve my current dilemma. Could it be that there's more to this bracelet than meets the eye?"

"Your Highness is perceptive," Wang Zong'an smiled. "The Xi Rang Bracelet is merely a container. What my father truly wanted me to bring is the exotic plant within it."

"Oh? What kind of exotic plant?" Commandery Prince An's interest was piqued.

Senior Brother Jinshan, hearing this, also became curious. He quickly brought his melon over, eager to see what Wang Zong'an had brought. During their journey, he had noticed the Xi Rang Bracelet on Wang Zong'an's wrist and had repeatedly asked about its contents, but Wang Zong'an had refused to reveal anything, leaving him itching with curiosity.

Now that the mystery was about to be unveiled, he was determined to see it clearly.

"You'll understand once you see it, Your Highness."

Wang Zong'an didn't keep them in suspense. He raised his hand and infused profound energy into the Xi Rang Bracelet.

In an instant, the bracelet emitted a radiant glow. A ball of green light shot out and landed on the ground ahead.

The next moment, the green light rapidly expanded, transforming into a large tree in the blink of an eye.

The tree stood several zhang tall, its trunk thick and robust. Its lush, green canopy spread out like a grand umbrella, and rich wood elemental energy permeated the air.

Unconsciously, the saplings within a radius of several dozen li seemed to receive a powerful boost, suddenly becoming vigorous and lively. Their previously wilted leaves regained their vitality.

Even the surrounding air seemed to become fresher.

"The... Longevity Tree?"

Senior Brother Jinshan's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets in shock.

Where did Zong'an get a Longevity Tree? Could it be from Senior Sister Lu Wei? Does this mean the rumors are true, that Zong'an is really...

But that can't be~ He had seen Senior Sister Lu Wei's Longevity Tree before, and it was much bigger than this one. Could it be...

Suddenly, Senior Brother Jinshan's eyes widened as he thought of something.

"Thud~"

The melon in his hand fell to the ground, and he stood there as if struck by lightning.

One of the top ten unsolved mysteries of Changchun Valley—the "Disappearance of the Longevity Tree Spirit Seed"—had finally been officially solved.

Junior Brother Zong'an, oh Junior Brother Zong'an, you actually managed to secretly obtain the Longevity Tree Spirit Seed while none of us were paying attention? You've truly deceived us all so thoroughly~~

His gaze turned wistful, his expression as if Wang Zong'an had stolen the goddess he had admired for a hundred years.

...

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