Chapter 398: A Kind Forefather
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
On this day, a large number of households had their lanterns lit late into the night.
The men who were about to leave to join the military would only be spending three more nights at home, from tonight onwards.
Three days later, they would join the military, be it up north or down south, towards the east or the west!
Each one of them gazed deeply at their home and at their family members. Never had they realized that their home was this warm and beautiful, never had they felt such reluctance to leave it behind.
Their sons, who were usually mischievous and they would love very much to beat up time and again were actually adorable and vivacious. How they wished they could see them play innocently like this, forever.
They, however, could not.
If Yutang were to fall, their homes would no longer exist.
A subjugated nation meant the extinction of its people; once Yutang was gone, how could its people survive?
If their home country were to be conquered by the others, who knew what sort of treatment awaited them? How could the invading wolves allow their family to continue living?
They would rather be dogs of a peaceful nation than to be slaves of a subjugated country! Oh how this phrase spelled out in the citizens’ hearts!
There were hundreds of thousands of families whose dining tables filled with dead silence.
There were people who drank their wine without words.
"Bottoms up!"
"Alright!"
"…do well once you leave, don’t embarrass your elders at home."
"…yes!"
"The house will be fine."
"Assuredly."
"If… if…" The old father lowered his head; his silver strands trembled under the lantern light while his face was obscured in the dark where the light could not reach. His voice was raspy as he spoke, "If… there comes that moment, don’t forget that… within you, flows Yutang’s blood. We’re there to put our lives at stake, we’re not there to surrender!"
"Don’t worry, father! Your son is no coward!"
"Good, good."
The old man stood up to leave halfway through the drinks, swallowing whatever he seemed to want to say, and instead, said hoarsely, "Go… talk to your wife… Tell her that our family awaits your return. If you don’t come back, we will take her in like our own daughter. In the future… we’ll prepare her dowry!"
"Alright."
It was a sleepless night for the hundreds of thousands of families.
When the men departed to the battlefield, Yutang’s land exuded the aroma of wine. Countless elders kneeled before their ancestor's graves alone, with candles and offerings, tears coursing down their wrinkled faces.
"Spirits of ancestors, bless our children, that they may safely return…"
The dancing flame of candles flickered before the countless graves throughout the nation of Yutang.
…
On the other side of the world, Yun Yang finally met the descendant of the legendary Physician Genius family, Sun Chengfeng.
Chancellor Lan stayed by his side, watching nervously as Sun Chengfeng checked Elder Yun’s pulse.
Elder Yun was in a delicate spot now. If he could not be cured, they could only go on with the original plan that was littered with loopholes.
If Supreme Cloud was not captured, the Empire of Ziyou’s ‘good’ days would come to an end.
Even if they had subjugated Yutang, the Empire of Ziyou, as the main executor of this scheme, would definitely face Supreme Cloud’s wrath. That would be difficult to stomach.
After enduring the disastrous attacks, could Empire of Ziyou escape the attention of the other empires when it was bound to be at its weakest? The Empire of Ziyou would collapse entirely!
If Supreme Cloud had really gathered all the Nine Supremes’ powers and manifestations, he could turn the Empire of Ziyou into a marsh just by directing the water of Lunar River into the country. How many could actually survive that calamity?
"What a strange pulse indeed…" Sun Chengfeng frowned, his finger not leaving Elder Yun’s wrist once he had pressed on it. "How odd…"
Chancellor Lan asked anxiously, "What is it?"
"Elder Yun’s pulse – according to the theory of pulses, it should’ve stopped beating long ago but there’s a flow of air of vitality within his meridians maintaining it all along… In other words, this Elder Yun… cough… forgive my frank words… should have been long dead. Somehow, he is living and breathing until now…"
Yun Yang said in admiration, "Physician Sun’s assessment of pulses is impressive indeed, not at all weaker than your ancestor’s. Truly accurate!"
"Not only is it rare and wondrous that Elder Yun can stay alive until now, a feat unachievable by many, even if Elder Yun can soothe his injuries, it still damages too much air of vitality and his own cultivation base."
Sun Chengfeng said, "I believe Elder Yun knows that there might not be room for another bout of extenuating circumstances."
Yun Yang heaved a long sigh, "That is correct."
Those two words that were grimly weighed down with despondency.
Chancellor Lan sighed as well.
Physician Sun’s diagnosis had once again proved what Elder Yun said to be all true. At the same time, it proved that his hypothesis was correct as well. However, what was the use now of proving it to be true? He had to be able to cure him!
Only when Elder Yun’s condition was better would there be a possibility to discuss the next step!
Chancellor Lan asked nervously, "Does Physician Sun have any way to remedy this?"
Physician Sun frowned. "It is a difficult task…"
Chancellor Lan’s heart went cold at once. "Could you possibly just try?"
Sun Chengfeng thought about it for a moment before saying, "Elder Yun is wise and knowledgeable; you have fought this condition for years. I believe his knowledge of this injury surpasses my own. I wonder if Elder Yun knows how to cure it? Or maybe the direction of alleviation?"
Yun Yang sighed softly and said, "I actually know well how to alleviate and even how to treat it. I am also well aware of the prescription, but to gather those remedies… it’s as hard as entering heaven!"
Chancellor Lan brightened up and said, "As long as there is a way, we have hope. What medicine does Elder Yun’s prescription need?"
Yun Yang answered faintly, "The bitterness of the flood dragon’s gallbladder, the frost of a peacock’s tail, the sweetness of roving water, the sourness of the snow mountain pomegranate, the heat of a unicorn’s horn, the saltiness of a Weightless Whale’s blood, and… the core of siderite, in addition to the catalyst which is also the hardest of all – the volition of thousands of people condensed into a globule. Only then will there be hope."
Chancellor Lan was baffled by what he heard like he was listening to heaven’s commandments.
Sun Chengfeng mused for a bit and said, "May I ask who gave you this prescription? It’s… I’ve never heard of it."
Yun Yang looked at him incredulously; gone was his indifference as he said in shock, "You don’t know? It was given to me by your ancestor, Sun Damao!"
Sun Chengfeng was flustered, not from anger, but shame and an indescribable pride. "My ancestor… Cough, Ancestor… Damao is only a nickname his friends gave him. Forefather’s name is Sun Jishi."
Yun Yang scoffed, "So what if I call him Sun Damao? This bastard… he left right after giving me the prescription. Is he still alive?"
Sun Chengfeng’s expression grew even more reverent. "Forefather has passed on two hundred and seventy years ago…"
Yun Yang rolled his eyes but a flash of sadness colored his face. He turned indifferent once again and said, "I didn’t expect that… he died quietly after sharing the prescription with me… How dare he?"
He blustered in irritation, but the expression he wore was one of sorrowful reverie. He then said slowly, "Back in those years… your grandfather was such a kind man…"
The admiration was strong in his words.
Sun Chengfeng said respectfully, "Since senior and forefather are old friends…"
Yun Yang gave an odd chuckle and said, "Old friends? Your ancestor is my sworn little brother. He’s ol’third! This old man is the eldest!"
Sun Chengfeng was shocked. "Senior, you… you... are you...the God of Wine?"
Yun Yang snorted, "God of Wine? I don’t recall ever having such a lame title!"
Sun Chengfeng stood up reverently and swept his clothes of creases before kneeling down on the spot. "Chengfeng of Sun Family formally gives greeting to Old Forefather! Good health and fortune, Old Forefather. This grandson… is inexplicably touched, I apologize for my previous impoliteness and ask for Old Forefather’s forgiveness."
Lan Wuxin had earlier guessed Elder Yun’s real identity, but he did not verify it after all, especially when Elder Yun himself did not disclose it personally. Even though he was rather certain about the latter’s identity, he did not dare say it out loud and refrained from sharing his observations with Sun Chengfeng.
Before he arrived, Sun Chengfeng had no idea who he was treating.
When he arrived and checked the pulse, Sun Chengfeng was shocked. The pulse told him that this man before him should have been dead for a good amount of years; it was strange but since the other party was an expert and had even told him of a grave injury he carried with him, it was explainable why they would come to him anyway.
However, how did he become his old forefather even as they were speaking?
Elder Yun was sworn brothers with Sun Chengfeng’s ancestor and the former was the eldest. His forefather was the elder’s little brother, so that would make Elder Yun his Old Forefather!
Chancellor Lan was also baffled.
Oh, sh*t. What kind of complicated relationship is this?
We haven’t done anything yet and you fellows are acknowledging each other. Somehow, someone has become another's forefather in the blink of an eye. How quickly things have escalated!
That’s not right. With that cultivation base and seniority, going to heaven is just a matter of thought – that’s how amazing he is!
Even as realization struck him, Chancellor Lan remained rather distraught.
He and Sun Chengfeng had known each other since they were young and had usually called each other brothers. Would that make the elder man his own Old Forefather too?
How could Chancellor Lan not be distraught by this?
Chancellor Lan was the head figure of the Empire of Ziyou’s officials and the forefather of civil officials; he was someone highly regarded. Before this old man though, he was downgraded all the way to being a grandson!
Looking at Sun Chengfeng with white hair calling this character Old Forefather respectfully, kneeling on the floor and filled with so much praise, Chancellor Lan felt the knots entangled within him. Should he join in and call him Old Forefather too?
Thinking of this, Lan Wuxin shuddered violently; he did not wish to dwell upon the thought!
"Get up. You’re not young either. Courtesy is something to be considered done as long as there’s sincerity; does it have to be so formal? Damao was like this back then, always so polite and well-behaved…" Yun Yang said kindly and sighed, "At least this kind of man is always blessed. Practicing medicine and saving the people, the Physician Genius Family has an ongoing bloodline and descendants of a similar nature…"