SFS Chapter 11: Catching a Turtle in a Jar
Chapter 11: Catching a Turtle in a Jar
The following day, August 15th, was sunny.
Suitable action: To wage war!
Taboo: Marriage!
Today is the day to mourn Yang's father.
Most of the famous figures in the martial arts world of the Great Wei Dynasty received obituaries.
At Piaoxue Mountain Villa, the outer gate was opened, allowing people to enter the mountain to mourn Yang Xuan.
The number of people is not as high as it was eight years ago.
Eight years ago, when Grandpa Yang passed away, people came in droves to pay their respects.
Families of all sizes and celebrities came with their families to pay their respects, crowding the mountain path.
With Yang's father now dead from an attack, Snowdrift Manor is without a grandmaster and is showing signs of decline.
People in the martial arts world of the Great Wei had clearly sensed the danger and dared not come to offer condolences, fearing they would be drawn into the trouble.
Jiang Sheng, the owner of Yuehua Manor in Xuehu County, only brought a young man at the Master Realm to offer his condolences.
Jiang Sheng is over eighty years old, with a snow-white beard and age spots on his face.
Holding his cane, he arrived at the entrance of Waizhuang Village at the foot of the mountain. Looking up at the majestic Piaoxue Peak, his emotions were incredibly complex.
"Eight hundred years of wind and rain, nine thousand miles of mountains and rivers... The Yang family is like a majestic lion, perched in this towering snow city, and no one dares to challenge its royal might! I have witnessed him build tall buildings, entertain guests... and dominate this region... and now I must see him..."
"Alas!" Jiang Sheng stroked his beard and sighed deeply, a hint of sorrow in his eyes.
In the past, when he looked at these majestic mountains, his eyes were filled with reverence, and each visit was like a pilgrimage.
Devout and humble!
At this moment, however, I am filled with sorrow.
After a slight sigh, Jiang Sheng, supported by his junior Jiang Wei, walked to the gate of the outer manor.
Eight guards were checking and registering martial arts practitioners entering the manor at the outer gate.
In addition, there were six crossbows, each nine feet long, with arrows as long and thick as spears, mounted on the high walls of the outer village.
These crossbows, with a single strike, can pierce through iron armor only an inch thick, forcing even renowned experts to retreat.
Jiang Sheng glanced at the crossbow on the high wall and sighed slightly.
Only a power like Snowdrift Manor could forge such a weapon.
But then he saw several unfamiliar burly men in front of him, who displayed the obituary and walked into the manor.
Jiang Sheng stepped forward, showed the obituary he had received, and entered the manor.
The outer village is vast, resembling a small city.
A narrow, eighteen-foot-wide bluestone path leads straight to the mountaintop.
"Master, why have you been looking so worried ever since you arrived at Snowdrift Manor?" Guard Jiang Wei asked with a suspicious look on his face.
"Snowy Manor seems heavily guarded, but it's actually full of loopholes. These people came with obituaries, but they didn't really check their identities. If enemies have infiltrated, there will be chaos..." Jiang Sheng stroked his long beard and looked at the majestic mountain peak with concern.
"Since even the master can see such a flaw, how could Snowdrift Manor not know?" Guard Jiang Wei said with a look of surprise.
"How could Snowdrift Manor not know?" Jiang Sheng said.
"And they still let it go like this?" Jiang Wei's brows furrowed even deeper!
"Although there are fewer guests coming to pay their respects this time than eight years ago, they are still coming in droves, and they all come from all over the country. How can the guards at the foot of the mountain recognize everyone? It's inevitable that some people will sneak in!" Jiang Sheng turned around and looked at Jiang Wei beside him and said.
"If it couldn't be prevented... then why did he hold a memorial service?" Jiang Wei asked.
"When you're in the martial world, you're not in control of your own destiny... Let's go!" Jiang Sheng said, leaning on his cane as he continued to climb the steps.
These words seemed to be an answer to Jiang Wei, but also a reference to himself.
These small families all depended on Piaoxue Mountain Villa for their livelihood.
If this building collapses, will they be able to stay safe?
So even though he was afraid, Jiang Sheng still came to attend the memorial service. He wanted to see how the situation would develop after today.
There are many people like Jiang Sheng.
……
Snow-covered mountaintop.
The vermilion gate of the inner village was wide open.
One by one, the guests filed in and were led into the mourning hall set up in the inner side hall of the manor.
The mourning hall was spacious, with a height of twelve meters, a length of over ten zhang, and a width of six zhang, making it magnificent and grand.
At this moment, the mourning hall is already full of guests.
Yang Jiuli, dressed in white linen clothes and wearing a white silk veil on his head, stood to the right of his father's coffin. (Left side of the entrance)
Beside him were Yang Mu and Yang Lin, who was in a wheelchair.
In addition, there was an elderly man with white hair and beard named Yang Pao, who was in charge of hosting the funeral.
The woman, Wang Qiao, stood with her child and a few members of the Yang family at the back.
At this moment, many people have come to pay their respects.
Those who had finished paying their respects stood to the left and right of the mourning hall.
"Tang Family Fortress, Tang Yifan has arrived!" someone shouted from outside.
Then a young man dressed in refined manners, with his hair tied up and wearing a crown, entered the mourning hall accompanied by three guards.
The room was solemn and dignified.
The air was filled with the smell of burning incense and paper money.
The atmosphere suddenly changed the moment Tang Yifan stepped into the mourning hall.
Countless eyes turned to Tang Yifan.
It seemed that everyone was thinking: How dare the people from Tangjiabao come here?
"Has Tang Yuan arrived?" some people wondered to themselves, looking in the direction of the voice.
"Tang Xiao is only a half-step Grandmaster!"
"Could it be that Tangjiabao doesn't intend to make a move against Piaoxue Manor today?" Many people whispered to themselves, secretly relieved.
They were also afraid of getting involved in trouble.
Tang Yifan walked to the coffin and then bowed to Yang Jiuli, Yang Mu, and the others.
To Yang Jiuli's right, sword attendant Li Molan took three sticks of sandalwood from the table and handed them to Tang Yifan.
By this time, the incense on the table had already burned out.
One of the two bundles of new incense was also untied, and most of it was burned.
"Guests, please pay your respects!" Yang Pao called out.
Tang Yifan took the sandalwood incense, lit it on the candle beside him, and walked to the front of the coffin.
He clasped his hands together, held the sandalwood incense sticks above his head, and bowed deeply three times towards the coffin.
Then Tang Yifan placed incense in the incense burner in front of the coffin, clasped his hands together, and silently mourned for a few breaths in front of the coffin.
Only then did he straighten himself.
"The ceremony is complete!" Yang Pao shouted.
Tang Yifan turned around and came to Yang Jiuli's side.
"Family members, please return the greeting!" Yang Jiuli took a step forward, about to kneel down on one knee to pay his respects to Tang Yifan.
Tang Yifan reached out and held Yang Jiuli back, preventing him from actually kneeling down.
"Brother Jiu, please accept my condolences. Tang Family Fortress is with you!" Tang Yifan said, patting Yang Jiuli's hand as he helped him up.
Yang Jiuli nodded slightly.
"Please, guests, step aside to observe the ceremony!" Yang Pao gestured to Tang Yifan.
Tang Yifan understood and walked to the left side of the entrance to the mourning hall, standing to the side of the crowd.
The guests unconsciously stepped back, making room for them.
Tang Yifan didn't mind and stood to the side.
Funeral service...
Generally speaking, once all the guests have arrived, the host will hold a grand banquet.
The guests will stay until the deceased's funeral.
"Qin Zhixue from Mingjian Manor has arrived!" came the announcement from outside the mourning hall.
But then Qin Zhixue strode over.
Her skin was like jade, white as snow, dignified and elegant, beautiful and dashing, and she exuded a powerful aura as she walked.
As soon as she stepped into the mourning hall, she attracted the attention of countless people.
"Is this Qin Zhixue, the young master of Mingjian Manor?"
"She's only eighteen years old and has already reached the level of a renowned master; it's said she has the potential to become a grandmaster!"
Many people whispered among themselves, their tone filled with awe for Qin Zhixue.
Qin Zhixue had a cold expression on her face. She walked straight to Yang Jiuli and the others who were standing next to the coffin.
She bowed slightly in greeting, "Young Master Yang... Second Uncle Yang..."
Yang Mu, Yang Jiuli, and the others returned the greeting with clasped hands.
Then, Li Molan, the sword attendant beside her, handed over three sticks of incense.
Qin Zhixue took the incense and lit it on the candle next to her.
"Guests, pay your respects!" Yang Pao, with his white hair and beard, called out.
Qin Zhixue walked to the coffin and raised the incense and candles above her head in respect.
After the ceremony, she placed the incense stick into the incense burner and silently mourned for a few moments.
"The ceremony is complete!" Yang Pao shouted.
Qin Zhixue walked to Yang Jiuli's side.
"The family members return the greeting!" Yang Pao shouted.
Yang Jiuli returned the greeting, and Qin Zhixue helped him up. She looked at Yang Jiuli with a hint of sigh in her beautiful eyes.
"Take care!" Qin Zhixue said softly, her voice ethereal and melodious, like a clear spring in a valley, soothing to the ear.
Yang Jiuli nodded slightly.
Then Qin Zhixue retreated to the right side of the entrance to the mourning hall and stood opposite Tang Yifan.
"Jiang Sheng from Yuehua Manor has arrived!" another shout rang out.
It was Jiang Wei who helped Jiang Sheng arrive.
Everyone looked over.
"I'm sorry, I'm old and have difficulty walking, that's why I'm late!"
Jiang Sheng bowed slightly to the crowd, then went to Yang Jiuli's side and said.
"It's not too late!" Yang Mu said.
Afterwards, Jiang Sheng took incense and went to the coffin to offer incense to Yang's father, and silently mourned him.
After the ceremony, he stepped aside.
"Give Master Jiang a seat!" Yang Mu said.
A guard sat down for Jiang Sheng.
Jiang Sheng burst into tears.
By this time, it was nearly noon, and the people who were supposed to come had arrived.
The mourning period is now over.
Qin Zhixue and Tang Yifan were already at the villa.
The reason they arrived late was because of their special status, which made them one of the last to arrive to offer condolences.
"Gentlemen..." Yang Pao walked to the front, about to speak.
Just then, Yang Lin, who had been sitting in a wheelchair, slowly got up.
"Is everyone... here?" Yang Lin stood up, looked around at the guests in the hall, and a cold smile appeared on his lips.
He spoke in a cold, detached tone, his face devoid of any sickly appearance; his eyes held only a chilling, sinister glint.
"Master Yang's leg is healed?" The guests in the room looked at Yang Lin, who had stood up, with shocked expressions.
"What's going on?" Tang Yifan's eyes flashed as he looked at Yang Lin in front of the coffin.
At this moment, Yang Lin stood up, his hands behind his back, without supporting himself on the chair.
Clearly, he was supporting his body with the strength of his legs.
"Master Yang's aura seems a bit strange!" Qin Zhixue's gaze sharpened, and her heart skipped a beat when she looked at Yang Lin.
Her thoughts were racing, and she thought of many things.
Qin Jianhe, who was beside him, also looked wary.
"Fourth brother...you...your leg is healed?" Yang Mu asked, staring at Yang Lin on his right with a look of surprise.
"Yes, my leg is healed!" Yang Lin laughed heartily, his eyes darting around the mourning hall.
Just then, two Shadow Guards closed the gate at the entrance of the mourning hall.
As a dull thud sounded, the door slammed shut.
The guests in the mourning hall felt a jolt of fear.
"It's over!" Jiang Wei's heart skipped a beat as he stood by the chair, exclaiming that something was wrong.
"Yang Xu, what are you doing?"
Beside the coffin, Yang Qin, the commander of the secret guards, frowned and reprimanded the shadow guards who were closing the gate.
Eighteen shadow guards strode out from beside Yang Qin's pillars.
These Shadow Guards, twelve in number, armed with shields and spears, stood ready for battle.
Six others held medium-sized crossbows, their left hands supporting the crossbows and their right hands fastening the triggers, ready to fire.
"Of course, it's like catching a turtle in a jar!" Yang Lin turned around and said coldly to Yang Qin.
His eyes were sinister, and a ferocious smile appeared on his face.