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Chapter 194: Status
🕑 Added 2025-06-01 23:59:34 +0000 UTCAll Novels || Martial God
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A year ago, Taicang County City had been attacked by bandits, and its city walls and many shops within the city were all destroyed. At that time, when He Yiming arrived there, everything he saw was in ruins, a truly unbearable sight. However, over a year later, when He Yiming once again arrived below Taicang County City, he couldn't help but be a little dazed.
The towering city walls seemed to bear no resemblance to the memories in his mind. If he hadn't been so confident in himself, certain that he wasn't directionally challenged, then after seeing these impressively huge city walls, he would have even suspected that he had taken a wrong turn. Yuan Lixun, on the other hand, had not seen the County Town's dilapidated state, so she was unaware of it. From a distance, she curiously looked at the height of the city walls and the continuously entering and exiting crowds, exclaiming, "Young Master, Taicang County City is truly prosperous. Even our Prefecture City is only comparable to this."
He Yiming parted his lips and smiled slightly. He held Yuan Lixun's hand and didn't directly enter the city. Instead, he used Light Body Technique to circle the city walls. A moment later, he had already familiarized himself with the surrounding environment.
The current Taicang County City is more than five times larger than before. However, such a massive project could definitely not be completed in just one year. Besides the side he came from, the other three sides of the city wall only had a city gate built, while the rest of the city sections were bustling with construction. Perhaps because the city was about to prosper, every city gate was crowded with people. Although those wishing to enter and exit the city had been separated as much as possible, it still appeared quite congested. Moreover, at each unbuilt section of the city wall, in addition to the construction workers, countless soldiers patrolled, so no one dared to enter or exit from there.
Upon seeing this scene, He Yiming was also surprised by the speed. Before his last departure, he knew that the County Town was about to be rebuilt and expanded, but for the Cheng Family's power to be so quick? That seemed unlikely.
After a full circle, He Yiming and Yuan Lixun appeared near the city gate like phantoms. He Yiming controlled his movements perfectly; although it was sudden, he stopped at a blind spot for most people, so he was largely unnoticeable. Only a five or six-year-old child stared at them with wide eyes, seemingly not understanding why they could appear there so abruptly. However, before the little one could figure out this profound question, He Yiming and Yuan Lixun had already left and headed towards the city gate.
Although they weren't wearing silks or satins, just ordinary commoner clothes. But, let alone He Yiming, an Innate powerhouse, even the current Yuan Lixun was a minor Acquired Stage expert of Inner Energy Seventh Layer. Inner Energy Seventh Layer might not be much in the Hengshan Mountain lineage, but this was Taicang County. Even among the Three Great Families' third-generation disciples, only He Yitian was the sole Inner Energy Seventh Layer expert. From this, one can deduce the status such a person holds in Taicang County.
As the two of them walked on the main road, they naturally differed slightly from ordinary people. Around them, people subconsciously stepped back a few paces, leaving a certain space. When everyone around them did this, it immediately made them stand out abruptly. He Yiming frowned slightly; he knew this was due to his lack of attention. Spending a long time in the deep mountains and old forests, he had forgotten the omnipresent powerful True Qi of an Innate powerhouse. Although it wouldn't harm the innocent, being in a crowd was like a lighthouse in the dark, constantly emitting intense light. A crane in a flock of chickens, nothing more.
He shook his head slightly, truly unable to bear the gazes of those around him, who were intentionally or unintentionally peeking in their direction. Finally, he pulled Yuan Lixun's hand and strode forward quickly. He merely slightly increased the extremely faint aura of a powerhouse that naturally emanated from him. This level of aura would not cause any harm to ordinary people, but it would make them subconsciously and actively avoid him. So when they walked straight towards the city gate, everyone made way without any complaints.
This unusual sight immediately caught the attention of the city gate guards. Even if these guards were not discerning, upon seeing this scene, they understood that these two individuals were absolutely not to be trifled with, at least not by them. A soldier leader quickly moved the other city gate guards aside, trotted forward, bowing and scraping, saying, "Sirs, may I know your esteemed names and where you come from?"
He Yiming stopped, surprised, and asked, "Do I need to register to enter the city?"
If an ordinary person asked this, the soldier leader would have slapped him long ago. But facing He Yiming, who had not restrained his aura, he had no such thought. Instead, he respectfully said, "Ordinary people naturally don't need to, but your identities are certainly extraordinary. This humble one is just following regulations. Please do not make things difficult for this humble one." The soldier leader explained while bowing and scraping, his face full of sincerity.
Yuan Lixun gently tugged He Yiming's hand. He Yiming smiled helplessly and said, "My name is He Yiming, and this is my wife Yuan Lixun. As for where we come from, you don't need to know." Having said that, he pulled Yuan Lixun's hand and left directly, no longer bothering with the man.
The soldier leader felt a bit angry. Several times he wanted to reach out and stop them, but in the end, he dared not act rashly. Suddenly, his movements stiffened. He remembered the name He Yiming had given, and his face instantly changed dramatically, his body even beginning to tremble.
A soldier nearby stepped forward and said, "Headman Cheng, what kind of people are these two? They didn't give you any face. They even dared to hold hands in broad daylight. Should we go teach them a lesson and extort some silver to honor you, old man?"
Headman Cheng was startled at first, then a cold sweat immediately broke out on his back, instantly soaking his undershirt and inner garment. In his eyes at this moment, this soldier, who usually knew how to flatter him the most, was as terrifying as a ferocious demon. He slapped him without hesitation, sending the soldier spinning like a top for several turns. When the soldier fell down, dizzy, he actually fainted directly.
The surrounding soldiers were all silent, like cicadas in winter. They didn't know how their companion had offended their boss, but their boss was a distant relative of the Cheng Mansion. Although not valued by the powerful Cheng Mansion, he was definitely not someone these small figures could provoke. With just a word from Headman Cheng, their current good job would surely be gone. So, one by one, they stiffly stood up straight, not daring to say a word.
Headman Cheng snorted angrily, ignoring whether the man was unconscious, and said, "Blind fool, what's wrong with holding hands? That's... a trend, you idiot!" Then, he glared fiercely around and said, "Listen up, all of you, keep your eyes open and don't cause trouble. No private favors today. If I find out, I'll definitely report it to the City Lord and have every one of you skinned alive." With that, he snorted coldly and quickly left.
The soldiers exchanged glances, not understanding why Headman Cheng was throwing a tantrum and cutting off their source of income. However, under the intimidation Headman Cheng had established daily, they dared not resist. A moment later, they continued to let people enter the city. But this time, it was the ordinary people who were surprised, because these soldiers, apart from the fixed entry tax, no longer demanded any other money. Even if someone tried to offer something as per custom, they were flatly refused. This made everyone click their tongues in amazement, and those who saw He Yiming and Yuan Lixun enter the city secretly speculated about their identities.
***
He Yiming naturally paid no attention to what was happening behind him. He walked cheerfully with Yuan Lixun through the city, and in a moment, they arrived at the busiest section of the city. He had originally intended to go home and visit his parents, but passing through this area and seeing the sparkle in Yuan Lixun's eyes, his heart immediately softened, and he accompanied her for a leisurely stroll. Of course, after entering the city, He Yiming had learned his lesson and completely reined in his aura, not letting out a single trace. Thus, others could no longer perceive that unique aura about him.
The moment Yuan Lixun entered the area, her eyes immediately lit up. However, she mostly observed with her eyes and barely spoke, let alone made any purchases. It seemed as if simply looking around was enough to satisfy her. He Yiming shook his head and sighed softly. However, the prosperity here had undergone a dramatic transformation compared to a year ago, and even he found it somewhat dazzling.
Suddenly, He Yiming's ears twitched slightly. Although he hadn't deliberately used the Clairaudient Ear skill, if he couldn't hear familiar voices speaking nearby, then this skill wouldn't deserve to be called an Innate skill. He gently tightened his grip on Yuan Lixun's hand. Yuan Lixun turned back in surprise, seeing He Yiming with a strange expression gesturing towards their back and to the side.
Yuan Lixun looked in that direction, confused, and then her mouth slightly parted, revealing a wry smile. There, too, was a young man and woman, smiling as they picked something at a stall. Although there were no intimate gestures between them, not even holding hands, He Yiming and Yuan Lixun could tell from subtle actions that their relationship was not simple. Of course, what truly surprised He Yiming and Yuan Lixun was that this pair was none other than He Yiming's fourth sister, He Yiling, and Yuan Family's Eldest Young Master, Yuan Liling.
Upon seeing them, Yuan Lixun's first reaction was to break free from He Yiming's hand, which immediately made him feel frustrated. If he had known this, he would have pretended not to see them.
He Yiling and Yuan Liling were, after all, Inner Energy Sixth Layer experts. Being stared at from a certain direction for a long time, they naturally sensed it. They almost simultaneously turned their heads and looked in that direction. However, when they clearly saw He Yiming and Yuan Lixun's faces, they both exclaimed in surprise, and then their reactions were completely different. He Yiling's face was full of joy, and her eyes even seemed to glow faintly. As for Yuan Liling, his facial muscles were a bit stiff, and his gaze towards He Yiming was filled with awe, even more restrained than when he saw his own old man.
He Yiming smiled slightly. He walked a few steps forward, weaving through the crowd, and arrived beside his fourth sister. "Sixth Brother, you're back." He Yiling said, overjoyed, "You've been gone for a whole year, we missed you terribly." He Yiming nodded, softly acknowledging her. However, a strong warmth surged in his heart, and his thoughts instantly returned to the He Family Village of the past. There, especially every morning, a group of third-generation disciples, led by Third Uncle, would perform morning exercises in the backyard training ground.
He Yiming didn't know why, but when he recalled He Family Village, this particular memory was the most vivid. He Family Village was established by He Wude and was relatively new, with only a few third-generation disciples. However, precisely because of this, the relationship between the third-generation disciples was far closer than that of ordinary centuries-old established families. Perhaps due to certain reasons, there might be minor disagreements, but in their generation, family ties had not yet faded; blood was still thicker than water.
Even though He Yiming was an Innate powerhouse, upon seeing his fourth sister, he realized that the longing and attachment he felt for his relatives far exceeded his own imagination.
"Fourth Sister, are you shopping?" He Yiming seemed to have completely shed his identity as an Innate powerhouse, asking just like an ordinary person chatting with family, "What do you want to buy?" As he said this, he glanced at Yuan Liling, and his half-smile immediately made He Yiling's face flush.
"Sixth Brother, don't think nonsense, there's nothing between us."
"Fourth Sister, did you misunderstand?" He Yiming put away his smile and said earnestly, "I didn't say anything, you know." He Yiling glared at him fiercely, then suddenly seemed to remember something and sighed, "Sixth Brother, when you go back, please don't tell Father, okay?"
He Yiming was slightly startled. He was suspicious and asked in a deep voice, "Fourth Sister, what happened? Do you have any misunderstanding with Third Uncle?"
He Yiling shook her head, remaining silent. After the initial joy of meeting her Sixth Brother, she seemed to have finally remembered his extraordinary nature. As a member of an aristocratic family, she naturally understood the weight of an Innate powerhouse, and she no longer dared to speak the thoughts hidden in her heart.
He Yiming's gaze shifted to Yuan Liling. The Yuan Family Eldest Young Master bowed deeply, saying, "Greetings, Master He." His attitude was respectful, without the slightest hint of disrespect. He Yiming nodded slightly. With just a glance at his expression, he knew it would be unlikely to get anything out of him.
Yuan Lixun's heart stirred. She stepped forward and pulled Yuan Liling aside, and the brother and sister began to whisper to each other.
"Eldest Brother, what's wrong with you and Sister Yiling?"
"Sigh, Miss He and I are deeply in love, and our two families' statuses are well matched. But Uncle He Quanyi holds a grudge against me and refuses to agree to our marriage no matter what. Instead, he wants to arrange a marriage between Miss He and someone from the Cheng Family or Xu Family."
Yuan Lixun blinked her beautiful big eyes. She asked in surprise, "Why is that?"
Yuan Liling smiled bitterly. "How would I know? Perhaps he just doesn't like me." As he said this, his voice also had a hint of resentment, but due to the current power of the He Family, he simply couldn't bring himself to say anything more.
Yuan Lixun shook her head slightly, turning to look at He Yiming. She naturally knew that with He Yiming's strength, he must have already heard their conversation. He Yiming indeed frowned slightly, but he also didn't understand Third Uncle's thoughts. However, his current insight was quite sharp. Seeing how the young man and woman interacted, he immediately understood that they truly loved each other sincerely. It would be a bit heartless to forcibly separate them due to Third Uncle's persistence. And hearing Yuan Liling's meaning, Third Uncle actually favored a descendant of the Xu Family or Cheng Family, which made him even more displeased.
He Yiming smiled faintly and said, "Fourth Sister, let's go back first. I'll talk to Third Uncle and put in a good word for you. Perhaps Third Uncle will change his mind." He Yiling looked up suddenly, her eyes sparkling with joy. Upon receiving He Yiming's promise, she was like a drowning person who had grasped a large piece of wood and then boarded a boat using it. She knew that although Sixth Brother was not an elder in the family, given his status, whatever he said would likely be more effective than what an elder said. If he was truly willing to speak up, then Father might actually agree. Although a young woman's reserve made it difficult for her to respond, her gaze conveyed all her inner thoughts.
The four of them walked in formation, heading towards the He Family's residence in the city. He Yiming and Yuan Lixun naturally walked together, while He Yiling and Yuan Liling followed a little further behind. Perhaps due to some hint from Yuan Lixun, Yuan Liling's face also held a peculiar gleam. He bowed his head and whispered, "Yiling, do you think Master He will speak for us?"
He Yiling confirmed, "Our relationship has been good since childhood. Sixth Brother will definitely plead with Father." At this point, a glimmer of hope flashed in her eyes: "If Sixth Brother speaks, Father will at least reconsider. In our family, Sixth Brother can at least make half of the decisions now."
Yuan Liling had no objection to this, and he secretly thought that if an Innate powerhouse were to be born in the Yuan Family, then not to mention making half of the decisions, even if he wanted to make all the decisions, his father and grandfather would surely not say a word. Suddenly, a thought surged in his mind: if he himself were an Innate powerhouse at this moment, or an Acquired Stage cultivator at the Tenth Level of Inner Strength peak, would He Quanyi still firmly oppose this matter? He looked at the two figures walking slowly ahead, and a strong desire to reach the pinnacle of martial arts suddenly surged within him. This was an uncontrollable feeling, because at this moment, he suddenly felt that family power, in the face of such immense strength, seemed so insignificant and fragile.
