Chapter 28: When the two sides contend, it is called martial arts.

“Shall we retreat to the mountains ahead of time?”

In the dilapidated courtyard at the head of Yang Family Village, Yang Zhengxiang’s aged face showed an uncontrollable weariness and anxiety.

Yang Zhenshan was wiping the tip of his short spear, slightly shaking his head, and said, “It’s not time yet.”

He already knew that the Northern barbarian cavalry currently entering Da Rong territory were just small detachments.

If it were a large force, they would have no choice but to hide in the mountains.

But if it’s just small detachments, Yang Zhenshan believed they could give it a try.

It’s not that he wanted to take risks with the lives of Yang Family Village’s residents, but for them, it’s hard to part with their homes.

Despite some people wanting to flee south and others wanting to hide in the mountains ahead of time, in reality, the majority of people didn’t want to leave Yang Family Village.

Once they left Yang Family Village, if the Northern barbarian cavalry came attacking, the village would surely be set ablaze.

Even if the Northern barbarian cavalry retreated in the future, it would be very difficult for the villagers to survive.

Furthermore, mountain paths are difficult to traverse. Although Yang Family Village had made early preparations, the food transported to the mountains was still limited; most of the food was stored in each household. Without this food, how could they survive?

This is why Yang Zhenshan wanted to do his utmost to defend Yang Family Village.

Yang Zhengxiang had the same thought, but his mind was somewhat chaotic, fearing that his decisions might be wrong, therefore he was inevitably worried about this and that.

“Zhengshan, if I happen to fall in this battle, the Yang Family will be entrusted to you!” Yang Zhengxiang suddenly said in a deep voice.

Yang Zhenshan looked up sharply, his eyes glittering, “Clan Leader, the village needs you to stand firm!”

If he had only wanted to use Yang Zhengxiang to fit into the Yang family before, now he truly recognized Yang Zhengxiang.

Yang Zhengxiang was a person with conviction and responsibility, placing the interests of the Yang Family in a significant position.

Such a person deserved respect.

“I’m already old; for the Yang Family, you are more important than me,” Yang Zhengxiang said softly.

Yang Zhenshan remained silent.

Who is more important than whom?

This was not a good topic of conversation.

He wasn’t a noble person; his heart was full of selfish emotions.

To be frank, giving his life for the Yang Family was something he truly couldn’t do.

Not to mention the Yang Family, even for the people of Yang Family Village, it would be very difficult for him to fight to the death for their protection.

After all, he was not the original Yang Zhenshan; he had feelings for Yang Family Village and the Yang Family, but those feelings were not deep enough to sacrifice his life for.

Yet suddenly, he felt such an impulse.

Perhaps it was because of Yang Zhengxiang’s influence, or maybe there was that passion within him to dare to charge ahead.

Yang Zhenshan, holding his spear, slowly stood up.

With a flick of the iron spear, Jin Qi burst forth, thrusting into the earthen wall beside him.

There was no crumbling, no dust; the spearhead entered the earth wall as if piercing into sand.

“No matter what, I will do my best in this battle,” Yang Zhenshan said lightly.

Yang Zhengxiang, however, was staring blankly at the spearhead that had entered the earth wall.

“Jin Qi!”

“Refining Power, or Postnatal?”

He stiffly turned his neck to look at Yang Zhenshan.

“There’s still some distance from reaching the Postnatal Realm,” Yang Zhenshan said softly.

Yang Zhengxiang trembled all over, suddenly exhaling a long breath, then said with surprise and joy, “Is the Yang Family going to produce a Postnatal Martial Artist?”

“Hahaha~~”

He laughed heartily, as if dispelling all the anxiety and fatigue in his heart.

Yang Zhenshan also smiled faintly.

However, Yang Zhengxiang’s smiling expression soon faded.

“You must stay alive; you haven’t become a Postnatal Martial Artist yet!”

He hoped that the Yang Family would have a Postnatal Martial Artist, whose difference from a Body Refining Realm Martial Artist was like heaven and earth.

A Body Refining Realm Martial Artist is just the most basic level of martial artists and although they hold certain status among ordinary folks, they are still commoners.

However, a Postnatal Martial Artist is different. If a Body Refining Realm Martial Artist is akin to a Scholar, then a Postnatal Martial Artist is like an Imperial Exam Candidate or an Advanced Scholar, eligible for officialdom.

In the military, a Postnatal Martial Artist at the very least starts as Hundred Households, a Standard Sixth-Rank Military Officer.

If Yang Zhenshan really could become a Postnatal Martial Artist, it would be a tremendous boon for the entire Yang Family.

Therefore, Yang Zhengxiang was very reluctant for Yang Zhenshan to take risks. He wanted Yang Zhenshan to safely and steadily become a Postnatal Martial Artist, to protect and foster the growth of the Yang Family in the future.

It must be said that Yang Zhengxiang spared no effort for the sake of the Yang Family, but Yang Zhenshan did not agree with his ideas.

“What is Martial Arts? It’s about contention. The practice of Martial Arts lies in the word ‘struggle’ – to contend with the heavens, the earth, and other people. Life never ceases, and the fight never ends!”

“Stability might enable me to gradually enter the Postnatal Realm, but it would cut short my future path in Martial Arts!”

“Clan Leader, do you want a Postnatal Realm martial artist, or do you want a martial artist with unlimited potential in the future!”

Yang Zhenshan spoke earnestly.

This was his realization about Martial Arts during this period.

In the end, Martial Arts are all about the path of power.

Things like secluded cultivation and quiet meditation are not what a Martial Artist should be doing.

Yang Zhengxiang watched Yang Zhenshan in a daze, his thoughts churning ceaselessly.

After a long while, he finally let out a long sigh and said, “I was mistaken; I have lost the ambitious heart of a Martial Artist!”

“You are right, but I still hope you can take good care of yourself.”

“The future of the Yang Family rests on you!”

A slight smile appeared on the corner of Yang Zhenshan’s mouth as he said, “Clan Leader, rest assured, I was born into the Yang Family and will remain with the Yang Family my whole life!”

These words were not spoken lightly. The original body was born into the Yang Family, and so was he. It was just that there were different meanings to these two ‘born into.’

No matter the future, he could not leave the Yang Family.

In this place, leaving one’s clan is considered a heinous act, destroying one’s reputation and subjecting one to ridicule.

Since Yang Zhenshan had integrated into the Yang Family, naturally he had no thoughts of leaving.

“That’s good!” Yang Zhengxiang nodded in satisfaction.

Just at that moment, a figure suddenly burst into the courtyard, shouting loudly: “Grandfather Zhengshan, it’s terrible, there are Northern barbarian cavalry on the back mountain!”

The two who were talking were shaken to their cores, and Yang Zhenshan’s heart leaped violently.

The inevitable had finally arrived.

They exchanged glances, and Yang Zhenshan said coldly, “Let’s go and see!”

With that, he slung the cloth bag carrying his Short Spear over his shoulder, took up his iron spear, and strode out of the dilapidated courtyard gate.

Meanwhile, Yang Zhengxiang hurried towards the old locust tree at the center of the village, taking three steps at a time.

Moments later, a dinging and clanging of metal resounded through Yang Family Village; the entire village was thrown into a frenzy of busyness and panic.

Several middle-aged men hastened to the front of the village, lifting the prepared barricades to block the village entrance.

Yang Minghui led the trained young and able-bodied men to prepare for defense, while those who were out patrolling swiftly returned, joining the ranks of the defenders, with only Yang Mingzhi and others remaining on the back mountain.

“What’s the situation?” Yang Zhenshan asked as he arrived at the top of the back mountain.

“Dad, over there, look!” Yang Mingzhi pointed northward, lowering his voice as he spoke.

Yang Zhenshan looked in the direction indicated, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes.

Indeed, Northern barbarian cavalry had entered the back mountain, but they weren’t aimed at Yang Family Village. They had come due to a skirmish.

From atop the mountain, one could clearly see two armies engaged in battle.

The scale wasn’t large; the Northern barbarian side numbered about two or three hundred, while the border army was about a hundred strong.

However, the border army’s situation seemed grim; facing an enemy twice their number, the border army soldiers fought while retreating, inadvertently leading the Northern barbarian cavalry to the rear of Yang Family Village.