Chapter Nine: Investigation

As soon as Yang Ze finished speaking, Yang Hongyi, standing nearby, couldn't help but laugh, a sound that made Yang Ze deeply uncomfortable.

"Patriarch, didn't I say this child is at least a promising talent? He hasn't acted rashly just because our Yang family is stronger than others; he still thinks things through. I believe it's viable to entrust him with this matter," Yang Hongyi said, and the other three, besides Yang Yuanzhen, all nodded in agreement, clearly supporting his words.

Seated in the place of honor, Yang Yuanzhen spoke again.

"Ze'er, here's the situation: the Ten Thousand Sharks Gang and the Surging Sea Gang have suddenly attacked us. Elder Hongyi suggested you handle this matter. After our discussion today, we think the suggestion is quite good, so we want to hear your thoughts."

Upon hearing this, Yang Ze felt a thousand times unwilling. He didn't know what kind of pitfall awaited him, but as long as it was Yang Hongyi's idea, he felt he'd better not go.

"Father, I don't think it's my place to handle this. With you and all the elders present, anyone would be better suited than I am. No matter how the Ten Thousand Sharks Gang and the Surging Sea Gang compare to our family, they're not something someone at my level can deal with," Yang Ze protested hastily.

"If we could go, we wouldn't send you. The City Lord has recently asked for our assistance, and the five of us cannot be spared for a while. Even after hearing of this, the City Lord only allowed us to return for a single morning. Therefore, this matter must fall to the younger generation," Yang Yuanzhen explained.

"Damn," Yang Ze cursed inwardly.

"Father, there are many in our clan with more experience and strength than me. It shouldn't be my responsibility. Not to mention others, even my eldest brother is stronger and more senior. Wouldn't it be better for him to handle this?" Yang Ze continued to argue.

"Nonsense! Your eldest brother is in seclusion, preparing for the Martial Academy's assessment in half a year. Your third brother is still too young. Except for you, who else is more suitable? You will eventually manage our family business outside, so I want you to start learning now.

"As for experience and strength, don't worry—I will issue orders: in my absence, your word is law in this matter. You will be given as many resources as possible. If you truly run into something you can't handle, send me a message and I'll have Elder Hong return as quickly as possible.

"Ze'er, this is the first major task your father entrusts to you. I want to see your resolve—don't let me down or waste my efforts in raising you! If you can't even handle this, I may have to reconsider my arrangements for you. That's enough for today. Go and think carefully," Yang Yuanzhen said, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.

Yang Ze had no choice but to accept.

After the meeting, Yang Ze walked out of the council hall in utter dejection, a complex tangle of emotions in his heart. Was he of so little importance to his father? Was his father truly so biased?

He and Yang Hai had only two months left before their contest. Yang Hai could focus on cultivation, but was he not allowed to train? Sent off to deal with such a dangerous matter, not only would his cultivation be delayed, but even his safety was in doubt.

In Yang Yuanzhen's eyes, he probably amounted to nothing. The Martial Academy's assessment had nothing to do with him. All the family's experts would be absent. If something happened to him, would his father even be saddened?

A cold smile curled on Yang Ze's lips as he walked away without looking back. All he felt toward this family was disappointment!

...

Back in his separate courtyard, Yang Ze quickly began to plan. Since the matter had already fallen to him, he had no choice but to deal with it for his own sake.

Meanwhile, before leaving, Yang Yuanzhen instructed everyone in the family to cooperate fully with Yang Ze's orders and help investigate the incident.

The first thing Yang Ze did was summon Old Xie. He had no other choice; in such a vast Yang family, Old Xie was the only one he could trust.

Once Old Xie arrived, Yang Ze explained everything to him. Even the ever-calm Old Xie couldn't keep his expression from changing.

Seeing this, Yang Ze asked, "What is it? Do you have any thoughts? Speak freely."

"How could an old servant like me have ideas? I'm just amazed at how clever the Ten Thousand Sharks Gang and the Surging Sea Gang have been with their timing and methods.

"First, the patriarch and four elders are all absent. If we confronted the gang directly, we'd no longer have the upper hand.

"Second, the two gangs attacked suddenly but didn't cause us serious losses. In other words, they chose a specific line to stop at. If the damage had been great, this matter wouldn't have fallen to you—the patriarch would have handled it himself," Old Xie analyzed.

"So, you're saying someone may have orchestrated this with the two gangs to harm me. Though I have no friends in the Yang family, there’s only one person with the motive and ability to deal with me," Yang Ze wasn't foolish. With that hint from Old Xie, he saw through the situation.

It made sense. Yang Hai could mobilize far more resources in the family, and with Yang Deyi able to call upon his grandfather, orchestrating this wasn't so difficult.

Still, Yang Ze hadn't expected Yang Hai to be bold enough to sacrifice the family's interests for his own plans. Was he not afraid of Yang Yuanzhen's wrath?

No matter, it was just speculation, and the chances were slim. For now, Yang Ze set the thought aside and asked, "Old Xie, how should we handle this? Do you have any ideas? Don't worry; if anything happens, I'll face it myself."

Finding himself in such a situation right from the start, Yang Ze didn't dare make decisions alone and let his subordinate think it through. Lest Old Xie be worried, he added reassurance.

"Given the circumstances, we should go see the situation firsthand. If we stay here, we won't even get first-hand information, let alone figure out how to resolve things.

"But, as this is your first time taking charge, Second Young Master, we must take enough men with us. There could be danger outside. When facing the two gangs, we need to show the bearing of an inner city family.

"Furthermore, you must not get into a conflict with them on the first meeting. Both gangs are based in the outer city and can't enter the inner city, so clashes with inner city families are common. But if a minor conflict escalates, it becomes a serious matter.

"The inner city families may look down on these gangs, but they have gathered many thugs and drifters under their banner with their ruthless ways, and some men of the martial world pledge allegiance to them. They are not easy to deal with.

"Both gangs have high-level Qi-Drawing experts. With the patriarch and elders gone, if a fight breaks out, I fear I won't be able to protect you," Old Xie warned.

Yang Ze, fully aware of these things, nodded and began mobilizing the household guard.

With Yang Yuanzhen's orders, this went smoothly. Yang Ze selected more than ten capable guards, four low-level Qi-Drawing martial artists, and three mid-level Qi-Drawing martial artists. Together with Old Xie and himself, more than twenty people set out for the outer city.

...

By the time Yang Ze and his group reached the site, it was already noon.

The Yang family property that had been attacked was a tavern on Ningu Street in the southern city. The originally three-story tavern had its doors and windows smashed, and even the signboard reading "Wanfu Tavern" had been split in two.

Inside, nothing remained intact—anything that hadn't been stolen had been destroyed, with bloodstains visible here and there.

Along the way, Yang Ze had learned some details. Ningu Street was unique; it wasn't dominated by any single faction. Several inner city families and some outer city gangs all had a stake. Each group had their own establishments here, and the Yang family owned only this one tavern on the street, which usually made a good profit, as Ningu Street was a bustling area.

Now, with the tavern wrecked, business would be hard to sustain, and the immediate loss was evident.

Outside the tavern, more than twenty men stood guard. They had already received word and, seeing Yang Ze arrive, greeted him respectfully.

"I am Yang Ze. Tell me everything that happened from start to finish—leave nothing out!" Yang Ze commanded sternly, cutting straight to the point.

At his words, the head steward stepped forward. "This is how it happened: last night, more than a hundred men from the Ten Thousand Sharks Gang and Surging Sea Gang stormed the tavern. They smashed and fought, and by the end, four of our staff were dead and five injured. All were people we hired to manage the tavern."

"Were there any warning signs before the attack?"

"None. According to those who escaped, everything happened so suddenly they barely got out alive. By the time we arrived, the tavern was already like this. As for how we know it was those two gangs—they left us a letter."

The steward produced an already opened letter and handed it to Yang Ze.