Chapter 95: Without Foundation, Forever a Mere Ant
After finishing the roast duck, the young girl wiped her lips and stood up. “I have work to do,” she said, before turning away and leaving. Seeing her so cold, Yang Wenhao couldn’t help but smile wryly and shake his head—this was a mess of his own making.
Just as Yang Wenhao was about to return to his room to cultivate, Sanbao suddenly entered, shrouded in mystery.
“What’s the matter?” Yang Wenhao asked, noting Sanbao’s secretive demeanor.
“Sir, someone wishes to see you,” Sanbao replied.
“Who wants to see me?” Yang Wenhao asked.
Sanbao said, “Please come with me, sir, and you’ll find out.”
Seeing that Sanbao was unwilling to reveal more, Yang Wenhao didn’t press. He stood and followed Sanbao to a secluded chamber.
Inside, upon seeing the person before him, Yang Wenhao was momentarily stunned.
He had met this person before.
Not only was Yang Wenhao surprised, but the man seated there was equally taken aback upon seeing Yang Wenhao.
“Warrior of Lanchi!” the man exclaimed with delight.
He continued, “I’ve heard the proprietor of the Water Moon Pavilion is a master of martial arts. At first, I doubted it, but today, meeting you, I am convinced.”
This man was none other than a member of the merchant caravan that Yang Wenhao had rescued previously.
Yang Wenhao sat and said, “A pleasure.”
“My name is Li Si,” the man introduced himself. “It is a true surprise to encounter you here today.”
“Li Si?” Yang Wenhao responded, “Are you the Chancellor of the Great Qin?”
“Indeed.” Li Si nodded. “May I ask for your name, sir?”
“Yang Wenhao.”
“Oh,” Li Si said, “since you know my name, you must have guessed the true identity of the coachman beside me that day.”
Yang Wenhao replied, “His Majesty, Emperor of Qin.”
Li Si smiled, “Not only are you skilled in martial arts, Yang, but you are also astute.”
“You flatter me,” Yang Wenhao said. “I suspect your visit today is not for matters concerning Lanchi.”
Li Si paused, then nodded, “That’s true. Since you saved my life, I’ll dispense with pleasantries. May I ask how my daughter fares with you?”
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“Your daughter?” Yang Wenhao immediately understood. Previously, she kept saying her father would avenge her, even threatening to kill him. Judging by her bold claims, aside from the Princess of Qin, only the Chancellor’s precious daughter could fit.
Li Si said, “My servants mentioned this matter to me some days ago, but I thought she was too spoiled and needed to suffer some setbacks. I never expected you would persuade her to work at the tavern. Truly resourceful of you.”
Yang Wenhao smiled bitterly. If Li Si knew the real reason she was working, he wouldn’t say that.
“May I see my daughter now?” Li Si asked.
Without further words, Yang Wenhao instructed Sanbao to summon her.
The once arrogant and domineering girl now entered trembling, her pride considerably diminished.
At first, she spotted Yang Wenhao, thinking he had called her for something, but then a familiar voice reached her ears.
“Yun’er.”
Li Lingyun turned and saw her father. Instantly, she threw herself into Li Si’s arms and began to cry, “Father.”
“There now, don’t cry like this.” Li Si gently wiped the tears from her cheeks.
“Father, it’s him—he bullied me!” Li Lingyun said, rubbing her eyes and pointing at Yang Wenhao.
She had endured more hardship these past days than ever before in her life—how could she forget?
Yang Wenhao coughed awkwardly. Damn it, she had caused trouble outside his tavern herself; this hardly counted as his fault.
Though Li Si was seeing his daughter for the first time in a while, his spies had already reported everything.
Li Si smiled, “I’ve told you before, there would be someone who could handle you. Isn’t Yang Wenhao just that person?”
“Father.” Li Lingyun pouted, unhappy that her father scolded her instead of blaming Yang Wenhao, looking aggrieved.
Li Si acted as though he hadn’t noticed, cupping his hands to Yang Wenhao. “Yang Wenhao, I must now confer with His Majesty. Until we meet again.”
Yang Wenhao personally escorted Li Si out. As he departed, Li Lingyun fixed her beautiful eyes on Yang Wenhao, as if she meant to devour him.
Yang Wenhao pretended not to notice.
Afterward, Yang Wenhao went to see Yi Xiaochuan.
Yi Xiaochuan had miraculously returned from the palace, and was now chatting with Cui Wenzi.
Upon seeing Yang Wenhao enter, Yi Xiaochuan said, “I heard you captured a pretty girl—where is she?”
Yang Wenhao shot him a look. “She’s Li Si’s daughter. She just came to see me. What do you think?”
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“What? Li Si’s daughter?” Yi Xiaochuan was stunned. “Damn, Yang, you’re amazing—daring to cross Li Si’s daughter!”
Li Si, the foremost civil official of Qin, ranked just below the emperor.
“By the way, I’ll be occupied these next few days. You’ll manage the tavern,” Yang Wenhao told Yi Xiaochuan.
“Sure, don’t worry. With me here, there’ll be no trouble,” Yi Xiaochuan nodded, promising.
Yang Wenhao then returned to his room, instructing no one to disturb him as he prepared for seclusion.
This time, he intended to cross the Rainbow Bridge and reach the farther shore.
His accumulation in recent days had brought him to the peak, and he’d also sent people out to collect ginseng, polygonum, and other herbs, gathering a substantial amount.
Among them was a millennium-old wild ginseng.
Though wild ginseng was inferior to cultivated, reaching a thousand years made it extraordinary.
It should suffice for this breakthrough.
Yang Wenhao activated his cultivation technique, adjusting himself to the optimal state, ready to make the leap to Foundation Establishment.
The Spirit Gathering Array slowly operated, drawing spiritual energy from dozens of miles around into the tavern.
He had chosen Xianyang City precisely because, as previously noted, its underground dragon veins, thanks to Great Qin, brimmed with flourishing dragon energy—making this the ideal moment for a breakthrough.
Strands of dragon energy were drawn into Yang Wenhao’s body.
Cultivation is about following the natural order, and Yang Wenhao had always followed his heart.
He did whatever he desired.
After seven days in seclusion, Yang Wenhao successfully entered the Foundation Establishment stage.
It was only upon truly stepping into Foundation Establishment that Yang Wenhao understood the difference between immortals and mortals.
An ancient cultivator once said: “Without Foundation Establishment, one remains an ant.”
Yang Wenhao could clearly sense the strands of spiritual energy within his body.
(End of chapter)