Chapter 125: Yang Huailiang

Even after the sound of hooves faded, everyone still couldn’t wake up from their dreams.
A giant tiger soaring through the air, wreathed in flames. A middle-aged man with a striking appearance who slew nearly a hundred bandits with a mere wave of his hand.
Either of these scenes far exceeded everyone’s understanding.
Lin Dong let out a long sigh. Such dreamlike, elegant killing techniques, along with that domineering apology—didn’t this middle-aged man embody everything he had ever dreamed of achieving at will?
“I’m afraid we’ve encountered a peak expert!”
Yang Ling said calmly beside the man with the red scarf.
Everyone shuddered and turned to look at Yang Ling.
When they turned over the man’s corpse, a dark red mark on his forehead caught their attention.
“All of them have it on their foreheads, without exception. Moreover, these bandits were attacking from different directions, which means either this man can instantly change his location or that sword can strike from various angles.” Yang Ling took a deep breath, his lips tinged with coldness. “To do this in an instant, aside from those who have reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship, I can’t think of anyone else.”
“It must be a peak expert!” Lin Dong nodded, looking at the silver rabbit still lying on the ground. Just one roar was enough to scare a seventh-tier silver rabbit like that—so that giant tiger was undoubtedly a king among ninth-tier spiritual beasts.
Only a peak expert could control such a spiritual beast.
“I never expected that a peak expert would pass by Autumn Wind Mansion.” Yang Qingting seemed dazed, her throat as if blocked, her voice slightly hoarse.
“Pass by?” Lin Dong frowned slightly. He suddenly remembered the middle-aged man’s words as he left—“Hurry to save someone!”
Vaguely, he seemed to recall something.
“A peak expert in his forties—I must achieve that too!” Nearby, Tian Hao clenched his fists, gritting his teeth.
Lin Dong’s heart stirred. A peak expert in his forties, rushing to save someone, and passing through the official road leading to Xilan City—coincidentally… Yun Lan also used a sword.
A name surfaced in his mind.
Yun Cangqiong!
It was very likely that Yun Lan had already met Yun Cangqiong.
When he came, Lin Dong had specifically asked about Old Ding’s condition, learning that he could hold on for another one and a half months. That’s why he hadn’t taken Old Ding along. In his plan, even if Yun Cangqiong couldn’t reach Xilan City within one and a half months, since the Wind Spirit Grass had already been collected, they could return to Xilan City within minutes.
Unexpectantly, Yun Cangqiong had still arrived.
It seemed his bold gamble had already failed by half.

Lin Dong smiled bitterly. If Yun Cangqiong really cured Old Ding, the reward for the super-large mission would likely be lost as well.
It depends on luck!
Shaking his head, Lin Dong patted Tian Hao’s shoulder and said with a smile, “What’s the use of imitating others? You should set a goal—to become a peak warrior before the age of forty.”
Tian Hao mumbled, “Is that possible?”
“How can you know it’s impossible without trying?” Lin Dong replied calmly.
“Mm!” Tian Hao nodded firmly, making up his mind in silence.
“A peak warrior before forty…” Yang Qingting and Yang Ling were stunned by Lin Dong’s words, not realizing that he had set this goal to avoid putting too much pressure on Tian Hao.
After several rounds of arrows, although only a few arrows were stuck in the carriage, the horse had already died. Helplessly, everyone had to calm themselves down and continue on foot.
They reached the nearest inn and managed to buy a carriage, finally restoring their usual composure.
There were no more disturbances along the way. As they looked toward Qiufeng City in the distance, a voice came from outside the carriage: “Big brother, are you from Xilan City?”
Outside, Ma Chun replied indifferently, “What do you want?”
“I’m a servant of the Yang family from Xilan City, here to pick someone up. If…”
Before the speaker could finish, Yang Ling spoke from inside the carriage, “Yang Si, go back and inform the family head that the guest has arrived.”
“Sixth young master! I’ll go inform the family head right away.”
In an instant, the sound of hurried horse hooves approached and then faded away. Lin Dong lifted the carriage curtain and saw a burly man swinging a whip as he rushed through the city gates, causing chaos.
“I haven’t been to Qiufeng City in six years. The Yang family here is still just as domineering!” Lin Dong smiled, his tone devoid of any emotion.
Yang Qingting’s face turned red. If someone else had said those words, she would have ignored them or told them the Yang family had reason to be domineering. But coming from Lin Dong, it sounded extremely harsh to her.
Six years ago, it was precisely because of the Yang family’s domineering behavior that Lin Dong’s leg had been broken.
“Ma Chun, stop here!” Lin Dong ordered before returning to his meditation.
Yang Huailiang held great authority within the Yang family. Lin Dong dared to sit in the carriage and wait, but Yang Qingting and Yang Ling didn’t dare. Seeing that Tian Hao also had no intention of getting out, they exchanged glances and got out of the carriage together.
In just half an hour, Yang Huailiang, waving his whip, caused another wave of chaos as he rushed out of the city gates.
Seeing Yang Ling and the others from afar, Yang Huailiang felt slightly relieved. Throughout the journey, he had been vigilant, but since he hadn’t encountered them even near the city gates, he thought he might have missed them by accident. Thankfully, they were still outside the city.
Sigh!

He pulled the reins sharply; the black horse beneath him neighed and reared up on its front hooves. Yang Huailiang kicked his legs and dismounted.
“Father!” Although Yang Ling hated Yang Huailiang deeply, his expression remained respectful.
“Mm!”
Yang Huailiang nodded slightly, patted Yang Ling’s shoulder, and praised him for his actions before turning around, his gaze fixed on the carriage curtain. After a while, seeing no one come out, he didn’t mind and laughed heartily, “Brother Lin, Xiao Tianhao, I’ve been looking forward to seeing you day and night these past month or so.”
Lin Dong smiled before getting up, lifting the carriage curtain, and stepping down from the carriage. He bowed to Yang Huailiang and said, “Family head, it’s been years—you still look as strong as ever.”
Yang Huailiang was pleased and quickly waved his hand, saying, “I dare not claim such a title. Brother Lin has long left our Yang family; how could I still deserve to be called family head?”
Tianhao also stepped down from the carriage and bowed slightly to Yang Huailiang, saying, “Good to see you, family head!”
“I dare not accept such praise…” Yang Huailiang was overjoyed. He had already received news half a month ago that Lin Dong had refused to join the Yang family, but out of respect for Yang Ling, he could come and visit.
Yang Huailiang had been worried that Yang Ling’s influence wasn’t strong enough. Seeing Lin Dong not get off the carriage earlier had made him even more anxious, but now his worries were relieved.
Times change—Yang Huailiang had a positive attitude. Lin Dong used to be a servant in the Yang family, nothing more than an insect in his eyes. But times have changed now; Lin Dong has a son who can at least become strong, and that son has already joined a sect.
He understood better than anyone that a family head of a mansion city is worthless, not just in the future but even now. The fact that they still called him family head clearly meant they regarded him as part of the Yang family out of respect for Yang Ling. This was an enormous surprise for Yang Huailiang.
It would be even better if their relationship could deepen further!
Without hesitation, Yang Huailiang gestured for them to come aboard, saying, “Brother Lin, Xiao Tianhao, come on board. We’ve prepared food and drinks—just waiting for you to arrive.”
“Young master, Miss Yang, come on!” Lin Dong nodded and called out to Yang Ling and Yang Qingting, then pulled Tianhao back into the carriage.
Yang Huailiang glanced at Yang Qingting, who silently got on the carriage. One called him young master, while the other called him Miss Yang—the gap between them was enormous.

Fortunately, this daughter had gotten along with him for over a year. Presumably, during that time, he must have suffered a lot from her temper. Otherwise, after being together for over a year, even as ordinary friends, they should have developed a fairly strong relationship.
After thinking this through, Yang Huailiang was not surprised but rather pleased. Qingting was already an older woman, and now that his status had changed, it was only natural that he no longer saw her in the same light.
The Yang family had more than just Yang Qingting as a daughter!