[Fantasy] The Great Sage's Joyful Heaven (Complete) - 6

page views:1 Publication date:2023-03-24

Chapter 53 Sharing a Bed
: 10-21 10:16:53 Word Count: 3070

Zhu Ruoxi was very curious along the way, not understanding why Yan Nange insisted on taking the alley. Now that they were home, she asked, "Brother, why did you choose the alley? Also, you walk so fast, it's like you're flying."
Yan Nange sat beside her, handed her an apple, took a bite himself, and said with a smile, "Little sister, didn't you see those young masters eyeing me so intently? I did it to prevent them from following us. As for my ability to walk so fast, that's natural, I've always been like that since I was little. I also have night vision, look." Yan Nange covered the candlelight, and a pair of eerie green eyes appeared in the dim light.
Zhu Ruoxi covered her mouth in surprise. The green eyes suddenly disappeared, and the room lit up again.
Yan Nange squeezed Zhu Ruoxi's small, slightly cold hand, and said with a smile, "You're the first person to know the secret of my eyes. Little sister, you must keep it a secret for your brother."
Zhu Ruoxi's beautiful eyes sparkled, and she smiled with delight, saying sweetly, "Don't worry, brother, I'll bury this secret deep in my heart and never tell anyone. Brother, how did you keep this secret from people before? Also, brother, can you tell me about your past?"
Seeing his little sister's expectant face, and knowing she was family, Yan Nange decided to tell her about his past. He said, "My eyes only light up when I look intently; normally, others don't notice. But I also have times when I lose focus and stare blankly, but I don't let anyone notice. It's related to my environment. Now, brother will tell you about my past experiences."
Yan Nange paused, looked at his little sister who was eagerly waiting for him to speak, smiled, and then began to recount his past in the warm candlelight.
By the time Yan Nange finished recounting his experiences, it was already late at night. Zhu Ruoxi admired him immensely, her affection for him deepening. Her gaze towards Yan Nange became increasingly tender and affectionate, a sweet smile playing on her lips. Unfortunately, although Yan Nange's gaze was sharp, he overlooked Zhu Ruoxi's gaze and thus failed to perceive her feelings.
Yan Nange's house had two bedrooms, one for him and one for Zhu Ruoxi.
Having been busy all day, Yan Nange was quite exhausted and fell asleep on the bed.
He was sleeping soundly when he was suddenly awakened by a piercing scream. It was Ruoxi. Yan Nange jumped up and rushed into Ruoxi's room. It turned out there was nothing wrong; she was having a nightmare.
Yan Nange shook the crying Zhu Ruoxi awake. Her head was covered in tears and sleep. Seeing it was Yan Nange, she threw herself into his arms and wept, repeatedly saying how terrible it was.
After Zhu Ruoxi calmed down, she still clung tightly to Yan Nange, whispering, "Brother, can I sleep with you? I'm scared."
Yan Nange naturally understood the proper boundaries between men and women, but she was his little sister, and seeing her fearful and expectant expression, he couldn't bear to refuse. Besides, those moralistic pronouncements were nonsense to him; he acted only according to his heart, and nothing else mattered.
Yan Nange agreed, letting Zhu Ruoxi wipe herself and change her clothes. Afterwards, the two returned to Yan Nange's room and lay down in each other's arms.
Zhu Ruoxi lay in Yan Nange's embrace, feeling incredibly happy and sweet, yet also filled with trepidation; his hot, masculine scent made her body burn. Zhu Ruoxi had long understood matters between men and women; young ladies from prestigious families had received early education in this area, and although they understood the vague nuances, they vaguely knew the secrets.
Yan Nange, however, felt nothing. Holding Zhu Ruoxi's slender, soft body, he soon fell asleep, and Zhu Ruoxi, lost in thought, slowly drifted off to sleep.
A bright moon hung high outside the window, its light filtering through the curtains and illuminating the sleeping faces of Yan Nange and Zhu Ruoxi. It was warm and sweet.
Early in the morning, before the sun had risen, Yan Nange woke up early, as he always did, a habit he maintained.
He gently pulled away from Zhu Ruoxi's tight embrace, gazing at her rosy cheeks as she slept. A wave of warmth and emotion washed over him. Though he resented fate, he was also grateful for it, for giving him a lovely little sister, a beautiful lover, Leng Ruqian, and the kind and lovable members of the Leng family.
After covering Zhu Ruoxi's cup, Yan Nange went to the courtyard and began practicing his punches and kicks. This was a habit he had developed since arriving in Lantian City; he had been lazy yesterday, so he was making up for it today.
Yan Nange didn't know any techniques, nor had he had the opportunity to learn any martial arts, so his punches and kicks were haphazard, but purposeful: to subdue an imaginary enemy.
In the Blackstone Mine, slaves often fought fiercely over food, sometimes even killing or maiming each other. The law of the jungle, survival of the fittest, was the rule of that cruel place. Yan Nange had survived only through his strength and intelligence. He hadn't told Leng Ruqian and Zhu Ruoxi about the cruelty he'd endured, fearing it would leave a lasting scar on their hearts.
Only wild beasts and dogs could survive in the Blackstone Mine; wild beasts were fierce, and dogs were absolutely obedient. Yan Nange was a wild beast, a deeply hidden one. He was usually meek and mild, but when angered, he would unleash his beastly nature, attacking and killing his opponent without hesitation. He had once brutally killed a slave who had bullied him to the point of no return, and from then on, no one dared to provoke him. From that moment, he understood more clearly that in this cannibalistic world, only strength could ensure a comfortable survival.
Yan Nange earned a nickname because of that forced killing incident: Mad Beast! However, only the slaves knew this nickname, just as only the slaves knew about the murder.
After taking down ten imaginary enemies, Yan Nange was drenched in sweat. She returned to her room and rinsed herself thoroughly with cold water before changing her clothes and starting to make breakfast.
Lengyuezhai provided breakfast and lunch, which Yan Nange usually ate there. However, now that Ruoxi was with them and didn't know how to cook, Yan Nange decided to eat breakfast at home, also bringing Ruoxi's lunch so she could simply reheat it.
Before the food was ready, Zhu Ruoxi got up and insisted on helping. Yan Nange refused, telling her to go wash up. By the time she finished, the food was ready, and the two sat down to eat.
Breakfast was plentiful; Yan Nange had prepared four dishes and a soup, specially made to nourish her since she was thin. During the meal, Yan Nange told Zhu Ruoxi not to wander around during the day, and if she felt bored, he would send her to the Leng residence for a while the next day. Zhu Ruoxi shook her head repeatedly, saying she could use the daytime to learn things and wouldn't feel bored.
After dinner, Yan Nange went to work, telling Zhu Ruoxi to be careful at home before leaving. Zhu Ruoxi watched him leave, then bolted the door. She went back inside to clean the room and do laundry. These were chores she was unfamiliar with, but she did them with great enthusiasm and felt very happy, imagining herself as her brother's little wife. Her face flushed red, a mixture of shyness and joy.

(Chapter 54: A Stunning Success
: 10-21 10:16:53 Word Count: 2806)

Yan Nange took a roundabout route to work in the morning; for Zhu Ruoxi's safety, he would do this from now on. He didn't notice anything unusual. After
Yan Nange finished polishing all the gemstones in the inventory, the polishing workers had nothing to do, so they went to learn other crafts and help out. Yan Nange went to the private room of the three masters, Li, Gao, and Liu, to help craft ornaments.
After five months of study, thanks to Yan Nange's diligent research and strong comprehension, he had essentially mastered the skills of his three masters. However, unwilling to compete with them for their livelihood, he hadn't mentioned becoming a craftsman to Leng Xuanwen for the past half-month since completing his apprenticeship. He continued to improve his skills, incorporating his own ideas and philosophies, striving to reach even greater heights.
While Yan Nange and his three masters were busy at work, Leng Xuanwen suddenly walked in. He cleared his throat and said with a smile, "Everyone, stop for a moment, I have something to announce."
Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at Leng Xuanwen in surprise. They wondered what their boss had to announce.
Leng Xuanwen was quite puzzled to see Yan Nange and the three craftsmen come out together, but he didn't say anything.
He looked around and smiled, announcing loudly, "The three sets of ornaments crafted by Masters Li, Gao, and Liu for the Liu family of Jiangnan have been highly appreciated by the family head. As you all know, the Liu family of Jiangnan is a renowned ornament business, one of the top ten jewelry merchants on the Jinshi Continent, with branches throughout major cities. The Liu family head has decided to order 5,000 sets of ornaments from our Lengyuezhai every month. If the work goes well, the order will increase to 50,000 sets per month. 50,000 sets, everyone! Our opportunity to rise has arrived! Soon I will recruit more people and expand the scale of our Lengyuezhai business. Given the exquisite skills of Masters Li, Gao, and Liu, from today onwards, their salaries will be tripled. If the business is very successful, I will give each of them a house. After the expansion, the three of them will be the leaders of the craftsmen. And everyone else, your salaries will all be increased by half! Hahaha!" Leng Xuanwen laughed heartily, and everyone else laughed heartily upon hearing such good news. Laughter erupted in the workshop.
The three masters, Li, Gao, and Liu, laughed for a moment, then suddenly realized something was amiss. They exchanged glances and nodded. Master Li suddenly asked loudly, "Boss, are those three sets of ornaments you mentioned the plum, bamboo, and orchid ones?"
Yan Nange understood Master Li's meaning and tugged at his sleeve from behind. Masters Gao and Liu smiled and gently shook their heads.
The laughter was interrupted, and everyone stared at Master Li in surprise, not understanding why he asked such a question. Only Old Wu knew the truth, but he said nothing, only nodding in silent praise for the three masters' character.
Leng Xuanwen was also surprised and smiled, "Yes! Why?"
Master Li turned to look at Masters Gao and Liu and the anxious Yan Nange, then turned back and said solemnly, "Boss, to be honest, those three sets of ornaments weren't made by the three of us."
Leng Xuanwen was very surprised, not understanding Master Li's meaning. Did he think they didn't get enough? He asked, "Master Li, I don't understand what you're saying. If these ornaments weren't made by you, then who were? There are only the three of you masters here."
Master Li laughed and said, "Boss, actually, those three sets of ornaments were made by Nan Ge. His skills have long surpassed ours, but fortunately, he's our last disciple. Haha."
Master Li finished speaking with a proud and self-satisfied smile, laughing happily. Masters Gao and Liu also laughed. Yan Nan Ge was moved, his eyes reddening, but he didn't laugh.
Leng Xuanwen and the others were all shocked. No one had expected Yan Nan Ge to appear out of nowhere and be so skilled.
Although the craftsmen often saw Yan Nan Ge working for the three masters and knew he had become their apprentice, they hadn't expected him to be so amazing, making the three masters admit their inferiority. You must know that making ornaments is not a skill that can be easily learned. Generally, it takes three to five years to learn anything, but Yan Nan Ge achieved this level in just five months, which would surprise anyone.
Needless to say, Leng Xuanwen was utterly astonished; he never imagined Yan Nange would suddenly become so capable. But after the initial shock came delight, a surge of joy. He thought to himself, "My judgment was right; he truly is a promising talent!
" Leng Xuanwen walked up to Yan Nange, patted him firmly on the shoulder, and said with a smile, "Nange, well done!"
Yan Nange smiled and nodded, saying, "It's all thanks to my three masters. I'm still far behind them and need to learn a lot more." He then looked at his three masters with deep gratitude.
Before Leng Xuanwen could speak, Master Gao said, "Boss, the three of us understand Nan Ge's thoughts. He doesn't want to be on equal footing with us, much less be superior. Nan Ge, but you're mistaken. The higher you stand, the more you surpass us, the happier we are, because it means we're not inferior either. We sincerely hope that you will become a master in the world of decorative craftsmanship, surpassing even the most skilled craftsmen in Tian Gong Fang, becoming the number one decorative craftsman in the world—that's our expectation of you! Nan Ge, the three of us believe that with your talent and wisdom, you can definitely achieve this goal!"
After Master Gao finished speaking, he patted Yan Nan Ge on the shoulder. Master Li and Master Liu also patted his shoulder, all expressing their belief that he could achieve this great goal.
Yan Nan Ge's heart surged with emotion. The encouragement from the three masters suddenly ignited his boundless fighting spirit and confidence. He suddenly felt that he could definitely become the number one decorative craftsman in the world. Yan Nan Ge was filled with boundless pride; the world suddenly opened up before him, and he saw a completely new and endlessly beautiful world!
Filled with ambition, Yan Nange shouted, "Rest assured, my three masters! I, Nange, hereby vow to become the number one craftsman in the world! I will let the whole world know the illustrious reputation of my three masters and my Lengyuezhai!"
He then suddenly realized something was amiss, seeing everyone staring at him in astonishment, and his
face flushed crimson. The crowd erupted in cheers and applause, mixed with good-natured laughter at his blushing embarrassment.
Before Leng Xuanwen could speak, Master Liu declared, "Boss, from now on, Nange will lead the craftsmen. He has the ability, and the three of us are willing to assist him."
Masters Li and Gao echoed his agreement, waving Yan Nange away to be quiet.

Chapter 55: Crafting Master Craftsmen
(10-21 10:16:54, 2753 words)

Old Wu chimed in with a smile, "Boss, the three masters are speaking from the heart. Nan Ge truly has the ability. In fact, he has the ability to lead the entire workshop. Compared to him, I am far inferior."
Old Wu finished speaking and looked at Yan Nan Ge approvingly. Yan Nan Ge hadn't expected Old Wu to have such a high opinion of him, and his eyes were filled with gratitude.
Leng Xuanwen was quite surprised, but the other craftsmen had no objections. They already admired Yan Nan Ge, and now, knowing his craftsmanship was so high, they were even more impressed. They would absolutely agree to have him lead them.
Leng Xuanwen thought for a moment, then asked with a smile, "Nange, what are your thoughts?"
Yan Nange didn't hesitate, looked at the three masters and everyone else, and said, "Actually, the three masters and Wu Tou'er all think too highly of me, but I want to thank you for your attention and encouragement. Now the polishing craftsmen are no less skilled than me, so I won't need to do the polishing work anymore. Boss, I want to be a craftsman specializing in ornaments, just a craftsman. I don't want to do anything else. I just want to focus on learning from the three masters, improving my skills, and not letting them down."
Leng Xuanwen nodded secretly. A person who is neither arrogant nor impatient, and who is not swayed by profit, has the potential to achieve great things. Leng Xuanwen gave Yan Nange an approving look and said, "From today onwards, Yan Nange is a craftsman at Lengyuezhai, with the same salary as the three masters. My previous decision remains unchanged. Everyone, our work will be even more demanding from today onwards, thank you for your hard work. However, hard work will be rewarded, and I will absolutely not treat you unfairly. Alright, let's get back to work! There will be extra dishes at noon today, and in the future too." After
Leng Xuanwen finished speaking, he patted Yan Nange on the shoulder and turned to leave, amidst cheers from the workshop.
Old Wu patted Yan Nange on the shoulder approvingly, and Yan Nange smiled and nodded at him. Everyone surrounded Yan Nange to congratulate him on his promotion. Yan Nange thanked them one by one, and after a while, everyone happily returned to work. Yan Nange's three masters patted him on the shoulder, and together they went into the crafting room.
Before finishing work, Old Wu suddenly announced some good news: this month's salary would be paid half a month early. He told everyone to go to the accounting office to collect it.
When Yan Nange received the first huge sum of money in his life—six hundred taels of silver—he was overjoyed and incredibly excited.
During his five months in Lantian City, Yan Nange set five goals: first, to become a jewelry craftsman; second, to open a shop; and third, to redeem Xueying from her servitude.
Now that the first goal had been achieved, the second goal was about to unfold with the arrival of six hundred taels of silver! How could he not be overjoyed? However, thinking of the third goal—redeeming Xueying—he couldn't help but feel a little apologetic, because from the moment he saw Leng Ruxian last night until the last moment, he had completely forgotten her existence. With Leng Ruxian, the third goal was no longer redeeming Xueying, but marrying Leng Ruxian. To Leng Ruxian, he could only apologize. But thinking about it carefully, he couldn't help but laugh at himself—Xueying didn't even know him, let alone want him to redeem her.
Thinking of this, Yan Nange felt relieved. The thought of being able to run his own business and marry Leng Ruxian in the future filled him with pride, and he shouted happily. Fortunately, the workshop was quite noisy, otherwise his shout might have frightened others.
After finishing work, Yan Nange took a roundabout route home. He didn't encounter anything unusual along the way, but he still felt uneasy, as if something bad was about to happen.
Yan Nange couldn't help but feel a pang of regret. He shouldn't have told those young masters about his profession last night. He himself was fine, but he was worried about Ruoxi getting hurt. However, upon further consideration, it wasn't that simple. With those young masters' influence, finding him wouldn't be difficult. After much deliberation, he decided to send Ruoxi to the Leng family's house tonight to ensure her safety.
He knocked on the door a few times, and it opened from the inside. Zhu Ruoxi's small figure rushed to him, hugging his waist. Yan Nange picked her up and asked, "What's wrong, little sister?"
Zhu Ruoxi's eyes were red, and she said softly, "Nothing, I just missed you, brother." She then hugged his neck and pressed her cheek against his.
Yan Nange felt a warmth in his heart, and he felt a deep tenderness for her. He hadn't expected Ruoxi to be so attached to him, missing him so much after just one day apart. This made him hesitate about his earlier decision, but thinking of her safety, he hardened his heart. He then said, "Ruoxi, I'd like you to stay at the Leng family's house for a while. I have some things to do. Is that alright?"
Zhu Ruoxi looked at him pitifully with teary eyes, and asked sadly, "Brother, do you dislike Ruoxi? Do you think Ruoxi isn't as beautiful as Sister Leng?" As she spoke, tears streamed down her beautiful eyes, quickly soaking her front.
Yan Nange felt a pang of sadness at her crying, but at the same time, he couldn't help but chuckle at her strange thoughts. He smiled and said, "Little sister, you are very beautiful. You're just still young. When you grow up, you'll definitely be a great beauty. Don't think like that. You're my family. How could I dislike you? I really have some things to do. I don't have time to take care of you, and I'm worried about your safety at home alone. Besides, I'm doing this so that we can live a better life! If you really don't believe me, then I won't do it, okay?" Yan Nange coaxed her. The first part of his words was true, but the last part was a lie. He couldn't possibly give up his ambition. Without the strength, how could he marry Leng Ruoxian? In his heart, Leng Ruoxian held more weight than Zhu Ruoxi, for she was his lover and future wife. Without Zhu Ruoxi, he would suffer, but without Leng Ruoxian, his life would be meaningless.
Zhu Ruoxi, of course, was unaware of Yan Nange's true feelings. Hearing his sweet words, she felt immense sweetness and happiness. Although she was reluctant to leave him, she was, after all, a knowledgeable and mature girl. It was only in front of him that she always revealed her childlike nature; in reality, her thoughts were as mature as an adult's. She knew that a man like him would not be content with mediocrity, nor could she hold him back. Moreover, she only wanted to leave a place in his heart, to be able to accompany him for life—that would be enough for her.
Zhu Ruoxi, her face still glistening with tears, said softly, "Brother, Ruoxi will listen to you in everything. But please don't forget that there's a little sister who's thinking of you and waiting for you to visit her." She spoke with deep sorrow, gently kissing Yan Nange's lips before resting her face against his shoulder, her cheek damp with tears, mirroring her own emotions.

(Chapter 56, "A Shocking Remark"
: 10-21 10:16:54, 2761 words)

Yan Nange suddenly felt a pang of guilt, realizing how awful he had been. He had just found a lover and neglected his little sister, who was so attached to him, yet he hadn't understood her pain. He felt ashamed, but also warmed by her presence: having a sister who cared for him, and whom he cared for in return, was truly a beautiful thing! However, his work was paramount, whether for Ruqian or Ruoxi. Ruoxi had to go to the Leng family; only there was she safe.
Yan Nange patted Ruoxi's back and said solemnly, "Little sister, I will visit you often. Once I've achieved something here, I'll bring you back, and then we'll never be apart again until you find your Mr. Right."
Zhu Ruoxi suddenly hugged him tightly and said, "Brother, I believe you. Ruoxi doesn't need any Mr. Right, Ruoxi just wants to stay by your side and be with you forever!" After saying that, she pressed her face even closer to Yan Nange's.
Yan Nange thought she was just being childish, so he coaxed her, "Okay, I'll take care of you for life and raise you into a chubby little pig. Is that alright?"
Zhu Ruoxi burst out laughing at his teasing and playfully scolded him for being a bad person. The two of them laughed and joked, and the gloomy atmosphere was swept away.
While they were playing around, Leng San came to invite Yan Nange to his residence for dinner. Yan Nange already considered Leng Ruxian as his wife, and the Leng family had been very kind to him and Ruoxi, so he didn't refuse.
Yan Nange presented Zhu Ruoxi with a set of silver ornaments, making her beam with joy. Even knowing that Yan Nange had also made a set for the three daughters of the Leng family, Madam Leng, and Old Madam Leng, her happiness remained undiminished. Yan Nange was also very pleased; it seemed he had chosen the right gift.
The ornaments were crafted by Yan Nange during his lunch break using materials he had been studying. Although made of ordinary silver, they were exquisitely crafted and showed great artistry.
Yan Nange told Leng San to go first, and he carried Ruoxi to Xinyue Street, where he bought some rare pastries, a jar of "Mingdingzui" (a type of liquor), and some dried plums. Finally, he bought several decorative boxes to pack the sets of ornaments. Then, following the same winding path as yesterday, they arrived at the Leng residence. Although it cost a considerable amount—a huge sum for Yan Nange—it was nothing compared to the precious gifts Old Madam Leng had given him and Ruoxi yesterday. Moreover, he now regarded the Leng family as his own, so he felt no heartache.
It was still evening, and the Leng residence, bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun, looked vastly different from yesterday. Yesterday it was beautiful, but today it was truly magnificent.
Seeing Yan Nange carrying a jar of Mingdingzui wine and a packet of dried plums, Leng Xuanren was both scolding Yan Nange for being too formal and overjoyed. Leng Xuanren naturally had no shortage of wine, but the wine Yan Nange gave was incomparable to the wine at home; it carried a sentiment, making it taste different.
Only Leng Xuanwen's family was in the living room of Ruyi Residence. Although the Leng Xuanwu, Leng Xuantao, and Leng Xuanlue families also lived in this vast Leng residence, they lived separately, which suited Yan Nange's wishes perfectly; otherwise, this gift would have been truly difficult to deliver.
Leng Ruyan jumped and grabbed Yan Nange's hand, overjoyed. Zhu Ruoxi climbed down from Yan Nange's arms and played with Leng Ruyan, thus relieving Yan Nange of his predicament.
Old Madam Leng was delighted to receive the pastries from Yan Nange, repeatedly praising her as a good child. Madam Leng then instructed the kitchen to prepare more delicious dishes, while Leng Ruxian, Leng Ruxuan, Leng Ruyan, and Zhu Ruoxi played together.
"Oh! Sister Junxi, your bracelet is so exquisite!" Leng Ruyan suddenly exclaimed, grabbing Zhu Ruoxi's small hand and looking at her bracelet.
Leng Ruxuan, reminded by her sister, noticed Zhu Ruoxi's earrings and exclaimed, "Sister, look! Sister Junxi's earrings are so beautiful! My goodness, even silver jewelry can be made so beautifully!"
Leng Ruxian also looked at Zhu Ruoxi's jewelry with admiration, eagerly asking, "Sister Junxi, quickly tell your sister where you bought these earrings. My goodness, if only our Lengyuezhai had such skilled craftsmen!"
Old Madam Leng and Madam Leng were also drawn in, so Zhu Ruoxi was pulled in front of Old Madam Leng. Everyone gasped in amazement, but Zhu Ruoxi only smiled happily, not revealing where the ornament came from, much to the impatience of the five Leng family women. Her beautiful eyes gazed tenderly and affectionately at Yan Nange.
Leng Xuanwen naturally knew who had crafted the ornament and secretly congratulated himself on his discerning eye.
This was exactly the effect Yan Nange wanted. Seeing the opportune moment, she smiled and said, "Grandmother, Aunt, two elder sisters, and Ruyan, you don't need to ask Ruoxi. I crafted this ornament during my lunch break. Actually, I also crafted a set for each of you, but I was afraid you wouldn't like it, so I didn't dare show it."
After speaking, Yan Nange took out five exquisite ornament boxes from her bosom and handed them over one by one. The five women opened them and exclaimed in delight, even the over-sixty-year-old Old Madam Leng. They all beamed with joy, cherishing the ornaments like precious treasures, praising them endlessly.
Seeing his mother, wife, and daughter so happy, Leng Xuanwen secretly praised Yan Nange for his thoughtfulness. He smiled and said to Old Madam Leng, "Mother, I almost forgot to tell you, the great achievement of the Liu family ordering our Lengyuezhai decorations was made by Nange. This young man has somehow become an apprentice of three master craftsmen, Li, Gao, and Liu, and has mastered a unique skill. The three sets of samples ordered by the Liu family were made by him. From now on, he will be the mat maker for Lengyuezhai." Leng Xuanwen patted Yan Nange's shoulder after speaking. Yan Nange smiled silently.
Old Madam Leng repeatedly praised him, and Madam Leng and the four beautiful women also looked on with admiration and affection. Those intense gazes made Yan Nange's face flush unconsciously. His shy appearance was quite adorable, and everyone couldn't help but laugh. Yan Nange also couldn't help but laugh, and the blush on his face gradually faded.
Leng Xuanwen suddenly remembered something and asked, "Nange, you said you made this ornament during your lunch break. You just saw your grandmother and the others yesterday. Could it be that you made this ornament all this afternoon?"
This was actually Yan Nange's secret, unknown to her three masters. Seeing that she couldn't hide it from him any longer, Yan Nange said, "There was also some time this morning, Uncle Leng." She knew this fact was somewhat shocking.
Everyone gasped, staring at Yan Nange in astonishment. Even those unfamiliar with the ornament's forging process knew that it wasn't something that could be made in a day or two. A set of relatively exquisite ornaments couldn't possibly be made in less than ten days to half a month!

Chapter 57 Amazing Knife Skill
: 10-21 10:16:55 Words: 2952

Leng Xuanwen took a long time to recover, saying, "My God, this is unbelievable! Only an hour for lunch break, and even if there's another hour in the morning, such speed and exquisite craftsmanship! Nange, even the fastest hand in the world isn't as fast as you!"
Seeing the shocked expressions on everyone's faces, Yan Nange knew she had frightened them, and said with a smile, "Actually, it's nothing, just a bit faster. As for skill, it's still far from perfect."
Everyone wanted to faint upon hearing this. Just a bit faster! Far from perfect! They really didn't know if he was being modest or arrogant!
Leng Xuanwen suddenly wanted to see his technique, so he said, "Nange, can you chop vegetables?"
Yan Nange understood Leng Xuanwen's meaning and nodded with a smile.
Leng Xuanwen ordered the servants to set out a cutting board, a knife, a piece of tofu, and a potato in the living room. The Leng family all watched him intently.
Yan Nange smiled as he picked up the cleaver, carefully examining the blade. Then, a flash of light and the sound of the knife hitting the cutting board followed, and Yan Nange smiled as he put the knife down.
Everyone stared in astonishment at Yan Nange and the tofu and potatoes on the cutting board, not understanding his meaning.
"Heavens! Look!" Leng Ruyan exclaimed, pointing at the cutting board.
Only then did everyone realize that the tofu and potatoes had suddenly blossomed like chrysanthemums, transforming into two incredible tofu and potato flowers.
First, there was an eerie silence, then cheers and applause from the maids and the Leng family. Yan Nange simply smiled, but inwardly he was incredibly proud. To be honest, his speed had always been his pride; it was his talent, like his terrifying strength and jumping ability when he was in a frenzy.
The cutting board was removed, the round table was set, and delicious dishes were quickly served. Everyone happily sat down and began the sumptuous dinner.
During the meal, everyone's conversation revolved around Yan Nange's astonishing culinary skills. Yan Nange, feeling quite embarrassed by the praise, focused his energy on eating, fearing further questions.
His eating speed and momentum were truly astounding; he devoured food like a whirlwind. The Leng family realized that he hadn't been able to eat his fill the day before. This time, he ate five large bowls of rice and most of the dishes, while everyone else combined couldn't even match a third of his appetite.
However, no one laughed at him; instead, they envied him, as he ate with great relish and displayed a masculine spirit. Everyone kept piling food onto his plate, which he accepted without hesitation, devouring it all. It should be noted that although he ate with great gusto, his table manners were not unseemly; he simply ate at a rapid pace. Watching him eat was a miraculous experience; no one had ever seen anyone eat like that before. The
moon was fullest on the sixteenth of the lunar month, and tonight's moonlight was even more beautiful than yesterday's. Therefore, after the meal, Old Madam Leng suggested going for a walk to aid digestion and also to visit Leng Ruxian. Everyone readily agreed, and Yan Nange was overjoyed, as he had been lamenting the lack of opportunity to see his beloved.
Bathed in the bright moonlight, the group strolled through the beautiful scenery of the Leng residence, chatting and laughing, creating a lively atmosphere.
Leng Ruyan and Zhu Ruoxi each held one of Yan Nange's hands; Leng Ruyan skipped and hopped, while Zhu Ruoxi remained serene and tranquil.
Leng Ruyan introduced the names of the various scenic spots to Yan Nange and Zhu Ruoxi, who listened with great interest.
"Brother Nange, the one in the center is Yanyu Pavilion, my residence. The one on the left is called Xianyun Pavilion, my second sister's residence. The one on the right is called Xuanfang Pavilion, my third sister's residence. And the one in the distance behind is my eldest sister's residence, Qianqian Pavilion. My eldest sister's name is Leng Ruqian, and she was the most outstanding among our four sisters, but she has always been plagued by illness. Alas!" Leng Ruyan, who had been skipping and hopping happily moments before, became sorrowful and her eyes reddened when she spoke of Leng Ruqian.
Yan Nange knew that the sisters had a very close relationship; Leng Ruxian became cheerful whenever she mentioned her three younger sisters.
The Leng family sighed in unison; Leng Ruyan's words had dragged everyone's spirits from high to low. Leng Ruxian had always been the greatest pain in everyone's hearts—a beautiful, talented young woman whose life hung by a thread. This was undoubtedly a torment for her loved ones who were deeply attached to her.
Suddenly, the sound of a zither came to mind, cheerful and flowing like a clear stream running under the sun, bringing comfort and joy.
"Eh! Mother, my sister seems to be in a particularly good mood today. How strange!" Leng Ruxuan exclaimed in surprise.
Madam Leng was also puzzled, but mostly delighted, and said, "Nonsense. Isn't it good that your sister is happy? But she rarely has such a good mood throughout the year."
Old Madam Leng smiled and said, "Nange and Junxi are truly lucky stars! Your arrival has made our Leng family's darlings as happy as an iron tree blooming. You must come often in the future. No, you should stay here, so our Leng mansion will be filled with laughter all day long."
Leng Ruyan jumped up again, shaking Yan Nange's arm and saying, "Yes, Brother Nange, Sister Junxi, it would be so great if you moved here. We could play together, and I could watch your amazing swordsmanship every day. Brother Nange, what do you say? What do you say?" Leng Ruyan began to plead.
Yan Nange smiled silently, his eyes fixed on the distant Qianqian Pavilion. The second-floor window was wide open, revealing the white-clad figure that haunted his dreams. Leng Ruqian smiled sweetly, gazing at him with tender affection. Though they were far apart, their eyes were locked, sparking a sweet and blissful connection. Her music welcomed him, and even more so, it spoke of the sweetness of their love.
Zhu Ruoxi noticed Yan Nange's unusual behavior and, following his gaze, saw the white-clad figure. Although she couldn't make out the woman's face, she knew she must be beautiful. Seeing the unusually sweet smile on Yan Nange's lips and the intense emotion in his eyes, Zhu Ruoxi concluded that her brother and this woman named Leng Ruxian had a special relationship.
A pang of sorrow gripped Zhu Ruoxi's heart. She thought to herself, "So my brother already has someone he loves. No wonder he made me stay here; it seems it's to make it easier to see this woman." But why did he lie to her, disregarding her reluctance? Yes, in his heart, he only pitied her plight; she was just an orphan he took in! How could a man like him like a child like her? Zhu Ruoxi, Zhu Ruoxi, wake up! Zhu Ruoxi felt self-pity and sorrow, and tears streamed down her face. Unfortunately, no one saw the little girl's heartbroken expression and her tear-streaked face. Not even Yan Nange.

Chapter 58: A Subtle Exchange of Feelings
: 10-21 10:16:55 Word Count: 2762

Actually, two other people also noticed Yan Nange's unusual behavior: Leng Xuanwen and Leng Ruxian. However, they both assumed Yan Nange was captivated by the music and didn't think much of it.
When the group entered the living room on the second floor of Qianqian Pavilion, the music had already stopped. A pretty maid was helping the frail Leng Ruyan to bow to the elders of the Leng family.
Leng Xuanren introduced, "Ruqian, these two are Yan Nange and Yan Junxi. Call them your younger brother and sister."
Yan Nange noticed that Leng Ruqian's complexion was better than yesterday, but not wanting to see her tired, he said before she could speak, "Sister Ruqian, you're quite delicate. Please sit down and rest."
Leng Ruqian knew Yan Nange was being considerate, and immediately smiled brightly, saying softly, "Thank you for your kindness, little brother. Junxi is so cute, come sit next to me."
Leng Ruqian knew Zhu Ruoxi's background and felt great pity for this adorable little girl.
Zhu Ruoxi had initially harbored some hostility towards Leng Ruqian, feeling that she had stolen her brother. However, seeing Leng Ruqian's delicate and frail appearance, and her sincere pity in her eyes, she felt as if Leng Ruqian knew her own feelings. Unconsciously, she yielded and went to her side. When she realized what was happening, she was already sitting next to Leng Ruqian, her small hand being held by her.
This older sister's hands are so cold and small! Suddenly, Zhu Ruoxi felt a pang of pity for this older sister, thinking to herself that such a sister was indeed too pitiful. Even she herself couldn't help but feel the same way, let alone her brother. In this way, her hostility and self-pity vanished, and she began to feel closer to the gentle and kind Leng Ruoxian.
Leng Ruoxian saw Zhu Ruoxi's jewelry and liked it very much, saying, "Sister Junxi, your bracelet and earrings are so beautiful!"
Zhu Ruoxi, unsure whether Yan Nange had given Leng Ruoxian any jewelry, dared not speak carelessly, only discussing the craftsmanship of the jewelry with Leng Ruoxian.
The Leng family rarely saw Leng Ruoxian in such high spirits, and even less so that she cared so much about jewelry. Everyone was disappointed that Yan Nange probably wouldn't give her a sixth set of jewelry, as this was their first meeting.
Just as everyone was feeling regretful, Yan Nange suddenly smiled and said, "Sister Ruqian, since you like the jewelry I made so much, I happen to have a necklace here that I think would suit you very well. Consider this a little brother's gift, and I hope you like it."
Under everyone's astonished gazes, Yan Nange took out another jewelry box from his bosom, identical to the one he had given to Old Madam Leng and the others earlier, and handed it to Leng Ruqian with both hands.
Leng Ruqian was overjoyed to hear this; this gift was an unexpected delight for her. She immediately accepted it with great joy. The moment she opened the jewelry box, her face suddenly flushed red. She glanced at it and quickly closed it again, saying shyly, "Thank you, little brother, I like it very much!"
Everyone was stunned. They had never seen Leng Ruqian smile so brightly and shyly at this moment! It turned out that she was so beautiful when she was shy! Everyone felt a little dazed, only Yan Nange and Leng Ruqian remained sober.
Everyone snapped out of their daze and secretly wondered what kind of necklace Yan Nange had given Leng Ruxian that would elicit such a reaction from her.
Driven by their curiosity, Leng Ruyan, Leng Ruxian, and Leng Ruxuan begged Leng Ruxian to see the necklace. Unable to resist their coaxing, Leng Ruxian glanced tenderly at Yan Nange and then shyly opened the jewelry box.
"How beautiful!" everyone exclaimed. Inside the box was also a set of silver jewelry, but this necklace was exquisitely crafted, far surpassing the ones given to Old Madam Leng and the others. Most striking was the crystal-clear heart-shaped pendant, shimmering and dazzling. What woman wouldn't love such a necklace? However, the heart-shaped pendant held a special meaning, suitable only as a gift between lovers.
Fearing that everyone might misunderstand him as being stingy and not giving them the best, Yan Nange smiled and said, "I'm glad you like it, sister. This necklace is different from the jewelry I gave Ruyan and the others; those were handmade by me. This necklace is different. It's a gift left to me by an old friend, which I just redeemed from the pawnshop. The pendant is made of bloodstone, a stone that's very beneficial for those with weak constitutions, but can easily cause blood stasis in healthy people. It seems you and this necklace are destined for each other; perhaps this is what they call fate!"
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, but for different reasons. Although the five women of the Leng family, including Old Madam Leng, weren't jealous of Yan Nange giving Leng Ruxian the necklace, they naturally didn't want him to neglect them. Zhu Ruoxi and Leng Xuanwen, on the other hand, were worried about how Yan Nange would explain it. Fortunately, everyone was satisfied with the outcome.
After chatting for a while, fearing Leng Ruxian would get tired, they all went downstairs. Yan Nange deliberately walked last, pointing to the bottom of Leng Ruxian's jewelry box before leaving with a smile and a reluctant farewell. His movements were swift, only Leng Ruxian noticed. Leng Ruxian smiled sweetly and said loudly, "Brother Nange, Sister Junxi, come play here more often. I love chatting with you!"
The Leng family members all heard this and were quite surprised, but then they understood. It seemed that Yan Nange and Yan Junxi were indeed very compatible with her tonight, which was a good thing. It seemed they should find more opportunities to bring them over in the future. Leng Xuanren
, Leng Ruxian, and Zhu Ruoxi, after observing just now, all came to the same conclusion: there was a story between him and her!
Thinking about how long Yan Nange had disappeared last night, they figured that the story must have started around that time. Perhaps, this was fate! The three of them sighed inwardly, not knowing whether this was good or bad for them, they could only let nature take its course!
Yan Nange was now very satisfied. She was happy with the gift she gave her lover, and she had also found an opportunity to meet again in the future. Tonight could be considered a great victory.
As the group returned along the same route, each with their own thoughts, Leng Ruyan dismissed the maid and, wearing the exquisitely crafted necklace, gazed at Gu Jingyan with a sweet and happy smile.
After admiring herself for a while, Leng Ruyan gently lifted the red silk lining at the bottom of the jewelry box. Underneath the silk was a movable partition. Removing the partition revealed many hidden ornaments, all made of silver, with the same floral decorations as the necklace, clearly part of a set. (

Chapter 59: Encountering Enemies and Overcoming Encirclement
: 10-21 10:16:56, Word Count: 2877)

Leng Ruyan secretly praised her lover's thoughtfulness. He not only gave her a token of their love in front of her family, allowing her to wear it openly, but also laid the groundwork for his future visit. She couldn't help but feel proud of her wise lover. At the same time, she guessed that these ornaments were handcrafted by her lover. Regardless of their exquisite craftsmanship, his thoughtfulness alone was enough to make her swoon. As for the jewelry he gave to his family, she knew it was different from hers; it represented a different kind of affection.
Earrings, bracelets, anklets, bangles, rings, and even a waist chain—each piece was exquisitely crafted, making her not only intoxicated by her lover's deep affection but also amazed by his incredible skill.
Having shed her silk robes, her slender and delicate snow-white body was revealed. Though her skin was excessively pale and her body somewhat slender, it was precisely this slenderness and pallor that accentuated her sickly beauty. Astonishingly, despite her frail appearance, she possessed a full and rounded figure, with stunningly beautiful curves. Especially striking were her delicate, cherry-like breasts, her slender waist, her flat stomach, and the mysterious allure of her breasts that dipped and then bulged downwards. Her pert buttocks, her long, shapely arms and legs, her dainty hands and feet, coupled with her exquisite face and swan-like, proud neck, made Leng Ruqian, completely naked, breathtakingly beautiful.
Wearing the complete set of jewelry Yan Nange had given her, Leng Ruqian stood before the rare full-length bronze mirror, turning and smiling repeatedly, thinking of her lover. Her pretty face flushed red, and she playfully flicked the nose of the beauty in the mirror, making an incredibly cute face.
It was late at night when Yan Nange left the Leng residence. Walking alone on the street, gazing at the bright moon, he let out a long sigh.
Zhu Ruoxi, at the Leng family's enthusiastic urging, had stayed at the residence. Thinking of her sorrowful gaze, Yan Nange felt a pang of pity, but he had no choice. For her safety, he had to do it.
As soon as he left the Leng residence, Yan Nange had a bad feeling. Whenever he had this feeling, it usually foreshadowed danger. Yan Nange quickened his pace, his whole body tense, vigilantly observing his surroundings, but apart from that uneasy feeling, he found nothing. Just as he reached a secluded spot at the end of Haoyue Street, three masked men in black blocked his path a short distance ahead.
Yan Nange looked back and saw that he was also blocked behind him, with men blocking the edge of the woods to his left, and the three-zhang-high wall of the Guo residence to his right. Yan Nange was surrounded.
Without a doubt, these men were sent by some young master to deal with him, but he didn't know which young master it was.
This wasn't the first time Yan Nange had encountered such a dangerous situation, so he remained calm. He planned to wait for an opportunity and first ascertain the background of these people. Yan Nange didn't understand martial arts, but with his animalistic intuition, he sensed that one of them was not to be trifled with. This person stood right in front of him. A
bright smile appeared on Yan Nange's face as he asked the formidable figure, "May I ask what business you have with me so late at night, sir?"
The man replied, "Young man, you have good eyesight and your skill is not weak either. You managed to outmaneuver three groups of men we sent. Which sect are you from?"
Yan Nange knew his guess was correct; this man was the leader of the masked group. Hearing the question about his sect, he realized the man had mistaken him for someone from the martial arts world, but he had no connection to it whatsoever.
Yan Nange smiled and said, "I think you've misunderstood, sir. I'm not a member of the martial arts world, just a humble ornament maker, working hard every day to make a living. What business do you have with me?"
The masked man laughed, "A very courageous lad, and quite polite too. Let me tell you, Young Master Lan sent us to tell you to stay away from the Leng family in the future. Today we're just here to teach you a lesson. If you continue to associate with the Leng family, then I'll have to apologize to you. Attack!" "
Wait!" Yan Nange shouted sharply, startling the black-clad men who were about to rush forward. The leader waved his hand, and the black-clad men stopped in their tracks.
Although Yan Nange wasn't afraid of these people—on the contrary, the more group the fight, the more advantageous it was for him—he didn't want to fight two people if he could end the fight by defeating one. If, if that were possible!
Yan Nange smiled and said, "I suppose you are the leader of this operation, and you are all just doing this for a living. It's not easy for anyone. Once I start fighting, it'll be hard to stop, and I might hurt you all. If you're willing, I'd like to have a match with you. If I win, you can let me leave; if I lose, you can do whatever you want with me. What do you say?"
Yan Nange wasn't actually confident he could defeat these people, and he didn't want to make enemies unnecessarily. With his current strength, he probably couldn't even fight these people, let alone the powerful Lan family behind them. Lantian City was practically his Lan family's territory!
The leader laughed and said, "You're quite clever, kid. Although I never like one-on-one fights, I'll make an exception for you because you're brave and resourceful. Come on."
Yan Nange smiled and said, "Then I won't hold back." Before he finished speaking, Yan Nange lowered his upper body, pushed off with his legs, and pounced on the leader like a tiger. The speed, the momentum, and the strangeness of his posture were all unprecedented. The leader had never seen such an attack method before; it felt like he was attacking a ferocious wild beast.
Faced with such a chaotic, fast, and ferocious attack, the leader had no power to defend himself except to block. Yan Nange's strength was immense. The leader felt a sharp pain in his hands and forearms as he blocked. After blocking more than a hundred of Yan Nange's attacks in an instant, he suddenly felt a pain in his chest. He was shocked and thought to himself, "Am I finished?" Just then, Yan Nange suddenly stopped what he was doing, cupped his hands, and said, "You are indeed a formidable master. At most, I can only manage a draw."
The leader touched his chest; it turned out he had only suffered minor injuries. However, he understood that this was the other party giving him a way out, and that they had no intention of harming him. Otherwise, with the other party's immense strength, they could have killed him. Grateful, he smiled and said, "You flatter me. You can leave now, but I advise Young Master Luo not to associate with the Leng family anymore. We are the weakest; if we send out our true experts, Young Master, I'm afraid you will have little chance of winning. Let's go!"
With a wave of his hand, the group of men in black quickly disappeared into the shadows where the moonlight couldn't reach.
Yan Nange shook his head and smiled bitterly. He hadn't done anything yet, and he had already gotten himself into a lot of trouble. It seemed that his future days would be anything but peaceful. He sighed and slowly walked towards home.
It was late at night, and all was quiet.

Chapter Sixty: All Beasts
(October 21, 10:16:56, 2450 words)

Inside an incredibly luxurious room in the Lan family mansion on Xiangyue Street in Lantian City, amidst the sounds of silk and bamboo instruments, a group of beautiful women in light gauze robes sang and danced, their jade arms and pink legs displaying their seductive charm to the fullest extent. Lan Tianhen, son of Lan Xiaoyang, the mine owner of the Black Stone Mine, lay naked on a brocade couch, two beautiful women feeding him grapes and wine, occasionally groping him and eliciting lewd whispers.
Just as he was becoming aroused by the women beside him and was about to make his move, the maid Xiaoya approached Lan Tianhen and told him that Guard Li was waiting outside to report.
Lan Tianhen was somewhat annoyed, his face darkening. Xiaoya didn't look up, waiting for him to speak. After a long while, Lan Tianhen coldly called for Guard Li to come in.
Xiaoya responded with a "Yes," and breathed a sigh of relief. Everyone in the Lan family knows that the eldest young master is a ruthless killer, cruel and heartless, treating human life as worthless. If he dislikes someone, he'll either maim them or torture them to death. With Lan Tianhen aiding and abetting his evil deeds, who in the Lan family isn't living in constant fear?
It's said that dragons have nine sons, each different, and this is certainly true. The Lan family head has a son and a daughter. The eldest young master is as cruel and ruthless as a beast or a demon, while the eldest daughter is kind and compassionate, though unfortunately, she's in poor health. Thinking of this, the maid Xiaoya couldn't help but sigh at her misfortune. If only she could stay in the family, but instead, she was sent to this wretched place. Although she was originally a maidservant to the mistress, and the eldest young master wouldn't dare do anything to her, this life of constant anxiety was unbearable.
But Xiaoya had no choice. The eldest young master pretended to be gentle and refined in front of others, deeply favored by the head of the family and the mistress; otherwise, he wouldn't have given her such a large courtyard and so many servants. Although the madam's intention was for her to keep an eye on the young master, he was now threatening her with her family, telling her not to speak ill of him in front of the madam. How could she dare mention this place to the madam, let alone suggest leaving this awful place?
With a sigh, Xiaoya went out, telling the head guard Li to be careful, and then gracefully left. Although she was a maid, she actually held a certain status; in the outer residence of the Lan family, no one except Lan Tianhen could order her around. If it weren't for Lan Tianhen making her serve him from time to time, she wouldn't bother with this beast.
Li Huyuan, the leader of the masked men Yan Nange had just encountered, walked up to Lan Tianhen and bowed, saying, "Young Master."
Lan Tianhen didn't even look up, coldly asking, "Li Wu, how did things go?"
Li Huyuan clenched his fist, then relaxed it. Only elders dared to address him as "Li Wu," and Lan Tianhen's use of that term was clearly an insult, a self-proclaimed seniority. He was the fifth son in his family; his four older brothers had all died young on the battlefield, leaving him to support the dozen or so members of the Li family. If it weren't for the high wages here, enough to sustain his family, he would have long since distanced himself from these two beasts.
Lan Tianhen coldly glanced at Li Huyuan, impatiently asking, "Speak, how did things go?" He had always disliked Li Huyuan. Since childhood, when he was in the manor, Li Huyuan had often ruined his pranks on others, leading to reprimands from his father. Narrow-minded, he had always sought revenge on Li Huyuan, and finally, acquiring this mansion provided the opportunity.
For the past six months, Lan Tianhen had treated Li Huyuan like a dog, and Li Huyuan dared not utter a sound, as he relied on the Lan family's salary to support his family.
Lan Tianhen was no longer the young boy he once was; he wouldn't allow anyone in Lantian City to steal his limelight, nor would he allow anyone in his family to be more favored by his parents.
Li Huyuan suppressed his anger and respectfully said, "I'm sorry, young master, Yan Nange is very powerful; we servants cannot defeat him!"
Upon hearing this, Lan Tianhen flew into a rage, stood up, pointed at Li Huyuan's nose, and hysterically roared, "What? More than twenty people can't beat a little brat! You're a fucking piece of trash, get out, get out of here right now!"
Li Huyuan's eyes burned with fury, but he said nothing, clenched his fist, and left.
The singers and musicians in the hall were all frightened by Lan Tianhen's shouts and stopped, leaving the hall in silence.
Lan Tianhen's eyes flashed with a fierce light as he roared, "Continue!"
The singing and dancing immediately resumed, everyone's faces covered in cold sweat, fearing that a single misstep could lead to their deaths.
Lan Tianhen ripped off his pants, and the women's screams echoed throughout the hall, turning it into a den of demons!
While Lan Tianhen was brutally abusing the women like a beast, Yan Nange was fighting like a beast against a man.
Perhaps tonight was destined to be Yan Nange's unlucky night; he had barely turned two corners when he was surrounded by more than thirty people.
These thirty-odd men weren't dressed in black or masked; judging from their crooked noses and slanted eyes, they were clearly thugs. They all carried sticks and glared menacingly at Yan Nange.
One of the middle-aged men, with a face full of scars, squinted at Yan Nange and said, "Good lad, we've been waiting for you for ages. Just for making us wait so long, we're going to give you a good beating tonight. Oh, and before we beat you up, remember something! Young Master Huang of Wan Jin Qian Manor said you shouldn't be a toad trying to eat swan meat, and if you go back to the Leng family and bother Miss Leng, he'll kill you, you little brat! Also, I'm Zhou Ba, the Qing Tang Master of the Ba Dao Sect. Let me tell you straight, half of Lantian City is our Ba Dao Sect's territory. We have thousands of brothers, and our sect leader and Young Master Huang are sworn brothers. If you're not happy, you can come find us, but don't blame us if you die a horrible death! Brothers, let's do it!"

(Chapter 61: Wolf Among Sheep
, 10-21 10:16:57) This chapter contains 2991 words.

Zhou Ba waved his hand, and the group of thugs from the Badao Sect rushed towards Yan Nange, attacking with sticks, fists, and feet.
Yan Nange knew that there was no point in reasoning with these people; it was a matter of who was tougher and stronger. A smile suddenly appeared on his face, and his body tensed as he leaped nearly ten feet high like a leopard, his hands forming claws as he ferociously pounced on the crowd that had scrambled together after missing their target.
What is the situation when a wolf enters a flock of sheep? That was exactly what Yan Nange was experiencing when he fell into this crowd. After their initial attack failed, the thugs scrambled together, wondering where Yan Nange had gone, before being subjected to a frenzied and brutal attack. They were beaten to a pulp, and by the time they felt the pain in their bodies, they were all lying on the ground with broken arms and legs.
Zhou Ba had never witnessed such a terrifying scene, such a bizarre and ferocious fighting style. He only saw Yan Nange leap and bound through the crowd like a leopard, and in the blink of an eye, they were all lying on the ground. Zhou Ba trembled as he watched Yan Nange walk towards him with a smile, his legs shaking uncontrollably. A sudden heat rose in his legs, and he wet his pants in fear.
Yan Nange smiled at Zhou Ba, patted him on the shoulder, and the guy who had been so arrogant just moments before collapsed on the ground in his own bladder.
Turns out, a complete fool! Yan Nange utterly despised him.
Yan Nange, grabbing Zhou Ba's clothes, suddenly turned cold and said, "Zhou Ba, go back and tell your sect leader that I didn't want to hurt you this time. But if you piss me off, I'll make sure your Badao Sect disappears from Lantian City. And that Huang Dongliang, tell him not to think he's all that just because he has a few coins. He's not the only one with money and power. I'm not someone to be trifled with! If he pushes me too far, I'll make sure he suffers a fate worse than death! Get out!"
Yan Nange finished speaking and shoved Zhou Ba, sending the old man sprawling to the ground with a thud. He groaned in pain.
Yan Nange ignored the ruffians and quickly disappeared into the darkness.
By the time Zhou Ba and his group of comrades returned to the Badao Sect's main hall, it was already late at night.
Huang Dongliang and the Badao Sect leader, Wu Badao, were drinking and making merry with beautiful women by their side. While drinking, they said that these guys had probably beaten Yan Nange half to death, otherwise they would have returned to report long ago.
Zhou Ba is not yet thirty years old. In ten years, he rose from a local ruffian to the leader of the Badao Gang—one of the four major gangs in Lantian City—through his ruthless and vicious methods.
Actually, Zhou Ba was just boasting to Yan Nange. The Badao Gang was the weakest of the four gangs, controlling only a small area in the city center, less than one-fifth of the total territory. However, it was very lucrative, but still far inferior to the other three major gangs—the Buyi Society in the south, the Zhangyi Gang in the east and northeast, and the Renxin Society in the west and northwest.
Two years ago, Wu Badao met Huang Dongliang. The two hit it off and, seeing each other as potential threats, became sworn brothers. From then on, Huang Dongliang used the Badao Gang for his crimes, acting as his henchman, while Wu Badao used Huang Dongliang's money to expand his own power and the Badao Gang's size. They exploited each other very readily, their interactions frequent.
The two were chatting animatedly when Zhou Ba suddenly walked in with a mournful face, emitting a foul stench. Wu Badao immediately noticed the boy's wet pants—he'd wet himself! Something was wrong.
Wu Badao waved Zhou Ba away and asked, "What happened?" Zhou Ba
stammered out his story. After hearing it, Wu Badao and Huang Dongliang's faces darkened. They dared not underestimate Yan Nange again. Wu Badao and Huang Dongliang had
never suffered such humiliation. Even if Yan Nange was powerful, they couldn't let this insult go unpunished. They dismissed Zhou Ba, whispered amongst themselves, and then chuckled maliciously, undoubtedly plotting something to deal with Yan Nange.
Yan Nange knew that holding back from killing those hooligans tonight would stop Huang Dongliang and the Badao Sect; he simply didn't want to kill too many people and provoke them into a desperate act. Although their underhanded tactics were dangerous for him, he could handle them, and if things got really bad, he could run away. But if he angered them and they launched a full-scale attack, he feared he would have little hope of survival.
Yan Nange knew that his forbearance and restraint were merely expedient measures, but right now he had no power, no influence, and no money; he simply didn't have the strength to confront these enemies head-on.
Power and money were what Yan Nange desperately needed. With these, he could have the foundation to make Leng Ruqian and Zhu Ruoxi happy—in this dog-eat-dog world where everything depends on strength, wanting to enjoy a peaceful life with beautiful women required immense power as a backing!
Yan Nange tossed and turned in bed, constantly thinking about how to expand his power and acquire enormous wealth. There were essentially two paths to expanding his power: the white path and the black path.
The white path was the government, and the black path was the underworld. He found it difficult to intervene with the government now, as he had offended several of the most powerful young masters in Lantian City. He had also offended the Badao Sect, a powerful underworld organization.
Yan Nange hadn't wasted his time in Lantian City these past few months. He knew Zhou Ba was bluffing; the spheres of influence of the four major underworld organizations in Lantian City weren't a deeply hidden secret. He already knew that the Badao Sect was the weakest of the four.
Involvement in the underworld was a good option for Yan Nange. Although the underworld has connections with the government, its fundamental rule is that might makes right. As long as you're ruthless and strong enough, and have followers, you can carve out your own territory. With his skills and intelligence, he was confident he could achieve that.
Yan Nange decided to enter the underworld of Lantian City to fight his way up and establish his own power.
After making this decision, Yan Nange considered how to intervene. There were essentially two methods: joining a gang or establishing his own. The former was easier to join; with his strength, he could easily establish himself if he encountered a leader with a magnanimous heart. However, such a gang ultimately belonged to someone else, and he would have to be subservient to them if he wanted to leverage their power. Furthermore, making a living under someone else's nose wasn't easy. The latter was harder to establish, but once established, it would be his own power, allowing him to act as he pleased.
Comparing the two, Yan Nange naturally chose the latter. He possessed an iron will, the keenness and ferocity of a wild beast, and the patience to endure. Once he sees his target, his prey, he seizes every opportunity to acquire it, until victory or death! Therefore, he is never one to fear difficulties and dangers. Once he makes a decision and has a goal, he views the entire process as a form of training and enjoyment! Compared to ordinary people, his personality and thoughts are terrifying and unimaginable, but in this world, his personality is undoubtedly the most suitable for survival and development. Like a tiger or wolf among sheep!

Chapter 62 Development Goals
: 10-21 10:16:57 Words: 2447

Yan Nange chose the latter, deciding to establish his own gang. The next problem he needed to consider was manpower.
Although the underworld is an open secret, becoming a gang member requires courage. Yan Nange couldn't just go around asking who wanted to join him in the underworld. This was indeed a difficult problem! Zhang Pangzi's original group of men was already too small.
Yan Nange tossed and turned in bed, lost in thought. Suddenly, his memories of his recent experiences flooded back, and a sudden inspiration struck him: "That's it! I can find slaves who, like me, yearn for freedom and harbor a wild spirit, as well as those like Ruoxi who are homeless and wandering. If they're willing to follow me and build a career, I'll grant them freedom, sustenance, and much more. I'm sure there are many others who share my thoughts!
" The more Yan Nange thought about it, the more feasible his idea seemed. He had escaped from slavery and understood the lives and thoughts of slaves intimately. He believed those wandering the streets must share similar sentiments.
From what Yan Nange knew, the gangs in Lantian City were xenophobic, so most of their members were locals or from the surrounding areas. They probably hadn't considered the plight of homeless people and slaves, or perhaps they held them in contempt. This was perfect; no one would compete with him, allowing him to select and recruit as many people as possible.
Ten miles north of Lantian City lay Xinghua Town, famous for its apricot blossoms that bloomed year-round. Most people who come to Lantian will visit Xinghua Town, especially wealthy merchants, because it not only boasts beautiful apricot blossom forests and apricot blossom honey and wine, but also a famous slave market on the Jinshi Continent—the Xinghua Village Slave Market.
Xinghua Village is located in the heart of the apricot blossom forest, and the slave market, covering thousands of acres, is situated deep within it, with tens of thousands of slaves being sold daily. The Xinghua Village Slave Market is one of the top ten slave trading markets on the Jinshi Continent and one of the three major slave markets in China. Xinghua Town developed precisely because of this slave market.
The price of slaves is very low; an adult male slave without special skills costs only five taels of silver, and an ordinary adult female slave is even cheaper, costing only three taels of silver. However, beautiful female slaves and slaves with special skills are more expensive, and the best slaves are even more expensive.
Slaves are in high demand because humans almost universally possess a very strong desire for possession and control.
Yan Nange had only heard about the Xinghua Village Slave Market from others; he had never been there himself. Perhaps because he himself was born a slave, he couldn't bear to witness those tragic scenes again. He had no power to change the course of events, and only by avoiding them could he lessen the pain.
But now, he suddenly longed to go and see, because there were subordinates he needed there. The thought of using a small amount of silver to decide the fate of some people made him feel uneasy. But then he thought, when he had enough power, he could save many people who yearned for freedom and punish many scoundrels who deprived others of their freedom. His heart was no longer sad, but filled with anticipation!
Since he couldn't sleep, Yan Nange then considered starting a business.
Originally, Yan Nange wanted to open a restaurant with six or seven hundred taels of silver, but after tonight's events, he abandoned this idea. Given his current situation of having enemies all over Lantian, it wasn't suitable for him to do such a business. That could only be considered later.
Yan Nange had a second option. Based on his understanding of Lantian City over the past five months, he felt that he could start a business of jewelry maintenance, restoration, and repair.
In fact, this idea was formed after his long-term investigation and understanding. There are thousands of jewelry shops in Lantian City, ranging from large to small, but none specialize in jewelry maintenance, restoration, and repair. Some shops do this reluctantly and at exorbitant prices.
Yan Nange has a deep passion for jewelry, which explains his exceptional skills in gem cutting and jewelry crafting. Because of his love for the industry, he has studied it extensively, especially in jewelry maintenance, restoration, and repair. With nearly five months of experience and his previous accumulated knowledge, Yan Nange is confident he can make a name for himself in this new industry.
Last night, he offended many powerful young masters in Lantian City, and this area is the territory of the Badao Sect, making it difficult to find peace and quiet for him to open a shop here. However, opening a shop in another area is also unsuitable. The best option is to open a shop in Lengyuezhai.
Although Yan Nange didn't know what kind of power the Leng family had behind them, the fact that so many young men from prominent families were pursuing the Leng family's daughters suggested that while their beauty was certainly a factor, Yan Nange also suspected that the Leng family must possess some kind of power that they coveted. As for family wealth, each of those young men's families was far stronger than the Leng family's, unless the Leng family had some extraordinary wealth, in which case they might be after the Leng family's riches. However, Yan Nange felt the former possibility was more likely.
Regardless, it all pointed to one thing: no one dared to challenge the Leng family's power in Lantian City. His work in jewelry maintenance, restoration, and repair at Leng Yue Zhai was a win-win situation, mutually beneficial for both him and Leng Yue Zhai. He could work in the evenings, and if there was work, he could directly delegate it to his employees, with profits split 50/50.
The more Yan Nange thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. He decided to talk to Uncle Leng the next day, but he regretted it somewhat. Thinking about it now, he realized he could have done this business a month ago, wasting a whole month of precious time!
As Yan Nange pondered, drowsiness overcame him, and he fell asleep without realizing it. Moonlight shone on his sleeping face, revealing a happy smile.

(Chapter Sixty-Three: The Jewelry Competition)
October 21, 10:16:58 Word Count: 2689

Although he went to bed very late last night, Yan Nange was in a very good and excited mood, so he got up much earlier than usual.
After finishing his combat training, Yan Nange practiced jumping and pouncing for a long time—he noticed that his jumping ability was declining during last night's sparring, and he needed to practice more in the future.
After having breakfast in the dining hall of Leng Yue Zhai, Yan Nange chatted and laughed with his three masters as he entered the workshop. He hadn't worked for long when Leng Xuanwen entered their cubicle.
Yan Nange and the three masters, Li Gaoliu, all bowed and greeted Leng Xuanwen, wondering what had brought him here again. However, this was a good opportunity for Yan Nange; he could talk to him about the maintenance and renovation of jewelry later.
Leng Xuanwen looked at the four of them and said excitedly, "Masters, Nan Ge, next May there will be a grand jewelry competition in Anguo's Pan-Asia region. Contestants from Fengyun, Hanbing, Rehuo, Kuangsha, Jinshi, Cangcui, and the Mysterious Continent will participate. This is arguably the largest competition in the history of our Qiankun land, and a rare opportunity. Each contestant must submit one piece for the preliminary round. The preliminary results will be announced in a month and a half. The winners will then create two more pieces to participate in the semi-finals and finals at Pan-Asia. The prize for the champion of this competition is..." "The 'Art of Heavenly Craftsmanship' competition offers generous prizes and cash rewards to the top ten. Furthermore, those who make it into the top ten will directly enter the Ornament Guild of the Golden Stone Continent. The Golden Stone Continent Ornament Merchants Association, the Hua Kingdom Ornament Merchants Association, the Hua Kingdom Royal Family, our Northwest Province, and our Lantian City will all offer substantial rewards. In short, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I've already registered you. Now, hurry up and prepare your best work. Whatever materials you need, I'll provide them if I can get my hands on them! Tell me, what do you need?"
The four were stunned by this good news. The 'Art of Heavenly Craftsmanship'! It was a set of ornament-making tools crafted by Moyezi, the greatest blacksmith of the Seven Continents. Legend has it that this set of tools was forged from meteorite iron and ten-thousand-year-old ice mother using celestial fire. Not only was it incredibly hard, but it could withstand almost any high temperature. Its exquisite craftsmanship goes without saying; it was a treasure coveted by all ornament craftsmen! Just this prize alone would make ornament craftsmen from all over the world flock to it, not to mention all the benefits that followed!
After a moment's thought, the four immediately stated the materials they needed for the jewelry they had always dreamed of creating. The jewelry competition naturally involved jewelry, but it was by no means a competition where victory could be achieved solely through jewelry. The main focus was on each person's creativity and skill, so the materials they requested were all valuable, but not rare. They were nothing more than various precious gemstones and metals.
Yan Nange wanted cinnabar gold and red crystal, blue gold and blue crystal, and purple gold and amethyst. Jewelry made from the former would be used in the preliminary rounds, those from the middle in the semi-finals, and those from the latter in the finals. These three metals were extremely difficult to forge, demanding a very high level of skill from the craftsman, and were highly challenging, but a successful piece would undoubtedly be a sensation. This was precisely why Yan Nange chose these materials.
Seeing their beloved student's choices, the three masters, Li Gaoliu, couldn't help but admire the promising young talent. They had chosen easier-to-work metals, demonstrating their steady and reliable approach.
Leng Xuanwen instructed Lao Wu to purchase all the materials needed for the four of them. He then walked out of the workshop excitedly, only to be stopped by Yan Nange.
Yan Nange told Leng Xuanwen about his idea of setting up a counter in Lengyuezhai to offer jewelry maintenance, renovation, and repair services, and discussed the profit-sharing arrangement with Lengyuezhai. Leng Xuanwen looked at Yan Nange with a serious expression, his gaze strange, which made Yan Nange uneasy. She wondered to herself, "What's wrong with Uncle Leng?"
Just as he was wondering what was going on, Leng Xuanwen suddenly burst into laughter, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Nange, I thought I had seen through you, but it seems I still underestimated you. It seems you are not only a genius at crafting ornaments, but also have a knack for business! I agree, but we can skip the profit sharing; the business you've started is already more than enough for Lengyuezhai. I'll have someone add a counter and a sign for you today, and the staff will handle the business for you. But you must take care of your health and not work too late!" Leng Xuanwen's kind and caring expression warmed Yan Nange's heart.
Yan Nange thanked him and agreed. Leng Xuanwen encouraged him a few more times before happily leaving.
The materials the four of them needed arrived at noon. To give the three masters, Li Gaoliu, more time to create their competition pieces, Yan Nange took over all three of their work, allowing them to focus on crafting the ornaments for the competition.
This was the first time Yan Nange had displayed his astonishing crafting skills in front of his three masters. Tools flew, and exquisite ornaments appeared before them as if by miracle. They forgot about their own crafting, staring in disbelief at Yan Nange's performance.
When Yan Nange finished the work of the four men in an hour, the three masters, Li Gaoliu, were nearly stunned.
In the end, Master Li Gaoliu said nothing, only hugged him and wept. They knew they had made the right choice in taking him as their last disciple; he was a genius destined for amazing achievements!
That afternoon, the four began crafting their preliminary entries for the competition. Because they all had their own ideas and inspirations, the conceptualization process could be skipped; only the crafting process mattered.
Yan Nange's crafting took a little longer this time, completing only one set of red gold and red crystal ornaments in the afternoon. After seeing his work, the three masters, Li Gaoliu, were moved to tears, patting his shoulders repeatedly, but unable to utter a word. Later, he suddenly burst into tears, causing Old Wu and the other craftsmen to think something was wrong and rush over to check on him.
Listening to the three master craftsmen's tearful rambling as they held the set of vermilion, gold, and red crystal jewelry, everyone realized they were simply overwhelmed with emotion. However, they were immediately stunned by the exquisite craftsmanship, exclaiming in amazement and praise. This was the first time they had seen Yan Nange's work, and everyone unanimously agreed that Yan Nange was a unique genius!
Just as everyone was captivated by Yan Nange's creation, Leng Xuanwen entered the workshop. Knowing Yan Nange's talent, Leng Xuanwen was eager to see how his work was progressing. He
noticed the craftsmen were behaving like drunkards, and only then did he realize what they were looking at.

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