Chapter 278 - 276: Runic Artifacts
As the chests were opened one by one, they revealed an assortment of exquisitely crafted weapons.
Not only did each one gleam with a cold light, but they also varied in form. They were clearly high-end goods.
It was obvious Deng Ming had put a great deal of thought into this.
His interest piqued, Yang Shen stepped forward to take a closer look.
He picked up a Double-Headed Scythe. Its opposing blades were a full meter long, looking both ferocious and deadly.
The spine of the blades bore intricate patterns, while the edges were inscribed with runes that seemed subtly connected to the patterns, giving them a deceptive quality.
A button on the central connection point, when pressed, would separate the weapon for dual-wielding. The curved heads were also foldable, manufactured entirely according to Long Jiu’s user preferences.
And when Yang Shen injected his Spiritual Qi, the two blades exhibited completely different effects.
One side shimmered with a faint purple light, the other with a cyan glow.
Deng Ming came over and explained, "The purple side enhances sharpness, while the cyan side enhances durability. One came from the weapon rune fragments you captured, and the other from a piece of armor. It requires adaptability to maximize its effectiveness, so the skill requirement is very high."
"You can activate the runes directly? It seems you’re on the verge of reaching the True Gang realm. Even Martial Artists from Europe need an external power source to activate runes if they haven’t reached True Gang."
Yang Shen shook his head. "I am indeed at that threshold, but this is an effect of a Yang Family Secret Transmission."
"Oh... that’s quite good, too."
Breaking Realm to True Gang required dedicated training anyway, so it was perfectly normal for a Secret Transmission Cultivation Technique to allow someone to start practicing this aspect earlier. At worst, it would just be less efficient.
At least, that’s what Deng Ming thought.
Rune technology was one of Europe’s last remaining trump cards and was not permitted for export. Bringing it into Yanhua legally was also very troublesome.
However, this batch came through the "Harmony Island spoils of war" channel.
On Cyan Blue, Exotic Realm development held the highest priority. All rules had to make way for it. This even included Yang Shen’s "Curse Engraving," which, after one trip, became something he could use openly and legitimately.
The most numerous weapons in the chests were longswords; there were nine in total, each with different functions.
One of them was clearly more ornate and special than the other eight. It was also slightly narrower, seeming well-suited for a female Martial Artist.
Yang Shen knew what was up with a single glance. He picked it up and handed it to Xu Bamboo. "Take a look?"
Xu Bamboo took it and, with a SHING, drew the three-foot blade from its scabbard.
The scabbard was made from the hide of a Deep Sea Sea Beast, shimmering with an interwoven luster of deep blue and turquoise under the light.
The body of the blade was as clear as autumn water, yet its edge glinted with a cold, silver light. If one tilted it slightly, they could see fine specks of light on the blade’s surface, like stars.
Xu Bamboo fell in love with it at first sight. Even without considering the runes, it could be called a famous sword-class weapon.
And when she injected her "Source," a layer of white frost immediately coated the blade, causing the moisture in the air to swirl around it as mist.
This wasn’t some flashy, superficial "cold," but a Source-powered "Extreme Cold."
’Xu Bamboo can activate runes, too,’ Deng Ming raised an eyebrow. ’This means Yang Shen has also passed his clan’s Secret Technique to her.’
’As expected... The two of them are truly a match made in heaven.’
’It also means that what I was hoping for... has become even more difficult...’
Looking at the beautiful blade, Xu Bamboo would be lying if she said she didn’t like it.
With such craftsmanship and materials, even as an ordinary weapon, it would probably be worth millions, let alone with the runes.
As for the others, while they couldn’t compare to the one in her hand, they were definitely expensive.
A total of 14 Rune Weapons...
One Double-Headed Scythe, nine swords, two sabers, a pair of gauntlets, and one Dagger...
Deng Ming said, "All I can say is that fortunate encounters are crucial in Exotic Realm development. Even many Martial Arts Families with hundreds of years of history couldn’t produce so many Rune Weapons at once."
If they had any, they would typically be worn only by the Patriarch or high-ranking members, or simply kept as collectibles.
Yang Shen closed the chests and set aside these weapons, worth tens of millions.
This was a heavy gift indeed.
Although the greatest part of their value came from the "runes" that were so hard to get in Yanhua, Deng Ming had busied himself with this, and with such high efficiency, he must have spent several million at the very least.
As for how to distribute these weapons, they would naturally go to the core members of the family, but not right now.
Being a Patriarch also required understanding social etiquette. If he distributed them right here in front of Deng Ming, Deng Ming’s gesture of friendship would be diminished, and so would the Patriarch’s act of grace.
The group returned to the tea table. Yang Shen refilled his own cup but left Deng Ming’s empty.
He was leaving room to add alcohol.
"Thank you, Deng. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have known what to do with all those runes."
"It’s a small matter. The Dongying Remnant Island is chaotic and dilapidated, but it’s teeming with all sorts of people from every nation."
Yang Shen was actually... quite willing to build a good relationship with this man.
Because the Dongying Remnant Island was a special place.
It had many good things and valuable resources that were unavailable in Yanhua.
’In the future... if I can get some initial results, maybe I can persuade Uncle and Yiming to lie low there.’
The distance to the Yanhua mainland was neither too far nor too close, and the regulations there were much more relaxed.
It was more convenient than the Vast Sea Center.
Afterward, Yang Shen invited Deng Ming to stay for a meal. A table was set up in the inner courtyard, and he introduced his family members.
Deng Ming had originally thought Yang Shen’s family would be small, being the first generation of the "Jianghuai Yang Family." He hadn’t expected four younger siblings, eight disciples, and several core employees. It was already a considerable size.
The foundation of a Martial Arts Family had been laid, and it was solid.
Moreover, the atmosphere was more welcoming and cohesive than most of the Martial Arts Families he knew.
Little Lei Yi ran boisterously after his sister. Seeing his cheerful steps, Deng Ming wanted to tease him a bit and suddenly bent down, pretending to block his path.
But the seven-year-old boy simply swayed and bizarrely moved around him, glancing back at Deng Ming strangely as he continued on his way.
’This person is so weird! What is he doing?’
Deng Ming was a bit shocked. Although he was only teasing the child... that speed and movement technique...
If he had arrived at the stadium a little earlier that day, he might have realized that Lei Yi was using the same Cultivation Technique as Xu Bamboo.
Or rather... an Escape Technique.
The Yang Family’s little torpedo was still developing.
Waiting for the day he would deliver a big shock to the world.
Deng Ming rubbed his short, bristle-like hair. "This kid... his Martial Arts talent must be incredibly high..."
Yang Shen thought to himself, ’His Martial Arts talent is debatable, but his Cultivation Talent is certainly strong.’
’It’s no longer just a matter of the efficiency of a Single Spiritual Root, but... an Innocent Heart combined with excellent Comprehension.’
But among the four of their generation, Yang Mo and Yang Man weren’t the types to seek the spotlight; they preferred studying Arrays and doing arithmetic. Lei Yi was just a kid who loved to play. In the future, the one to bear the family’s banner in the outside world would still be Lei Lv.
Yang Shen had already officially bestowed the title of "Late Bloomer" upon him, and the boy had already earned a reputation as a genius at Purple Bamboo Middle School.
Because he hadn’t changed his surname yet, no one knew he was the younger brother of "Flame Fist." Otherwise, he would be another member of the Yang Family thrust into the spotlight.
The dinner was lively, and Deng Ming enjoyed himself thoroughly. Although he lived a carefree life on the Dongying Remnant Island, the raucous carousing there was completely different from the warmth he felt in this family home.
Even... the Deng Family didn’t have this kind of atmosphere.
Everything about the Yang Family was so vibrant and extraordinary. There was one young man who was even taller and more robust than him, who at a glance clearly had exceptional talent for Horizontal Training.
And since most male Martial Artists in the Deng Family followed the Horizontal Training Route, Deng Ming could tell right away.
After dinner, everyone dispersed. Yang Shen gave Deng Ming a tour, and they ended up lighting three incense sticks in the ancestral hall.
Deng Ming also showed sufficient respect, bowing as he offered incense to the Yang Clan’s ancestral tablets.
However, lighting the incense was just a formality. The real purpose was to let Deng Ming see the "Heart-Inquiry Stone Mirror."
Just as expected, the feedback Yang Shen received was that Deng Ming’s goodwill towards the Yang Family was very high.
Not to the level of one of their own, but he could certainly be called a close friend.
Or, in other words, "Clan Allies."
Besides having fought side-by-side, his "Kuigang Qi Gathering" Life Chart was also a reason.
He was a man who acted on his feelings.
The two sat in the inner courtyard, Deng Ming’s large frame perched on a small stool. He watched the Yang Family children playing in the distance, while Xu Bamboo was leading a group of little ones in a game of hide-and-seek.
The sound of their laughter was crisp and clear.
Deng Ming seemed lost in thought. "Have you told Xu Bamboo... about us old-timers?"
Yang Shen replied, "Of course I have. I never hide anything from her."
’Nothing is off-limits, except for the System.’
Deng Ming looked hopeful. "Then... then what does she think? Does she... does she want to... return to the Xu Family?"
"Don’t get me wrong, I know she’s part of the Yang Family now, but... a person can have their husband’s family and their own family, right? ...You know what I mean?"
Yang Shen sighed. "Deng, does this have any meaning for you?"
’Not a single member of the Xu Family is anxious about this, yet a Deng Family member is. How is that okay?’
Deng Ming froze, his burly frame suddenly looking somewhat weary...
"Yang, you don’t understand... If you were me, and in your youth you had a brother and dear friend who died saving your life... and then years later, you learn he has a bloodline left in this world, that feeling..."
It was like a man consumed by bone-deep guilt suddenly grabbing onto a chance for redemption...
"Back then, I ran off to the Dongying Remnant Island to cause trouble out of guilt. I didn’t even have the face to return when the Xu Family’s old matron passed away, because it was I who got her son killed. At the time, I even thought I would never return to Yanhua in my lifetime."
"Chen Beiwang told me Xu Bamboo was well-fed and clothed, but I always felt that, given that woman’s character, she definitely wouldn’t be a good mother. If I had known earlier, that Ye Qingyao would have been crushed by my own hands long ago!"
"That’s just hindsight, but it’s also a fact that the Xu Family kept it a secret, and I didn’t have the face to ask."
Deng Ming gave a bitter smile. "I know this is just wishful thinking on my part, and I’m not pleasing anyone. But in truth, the one I want to please isn’t the Xu Family, or Xu Bamboo, and certainly not you."
"I just want to please my good brother, Xu Cheng, and allow his bloodline to continue, even if only in name."
Yang Shen pondered for a moment before speaking slowly:
"I admit it’s hard to put myself in your shoes, and I don’t know what kind of charm Xu Bamboo’s father had... but why don’t I offer you a new perspective, Deng."
Deng Ming asked, "What do you mean?"
"If you were Xu Bamboo, with a father you’ve never met, a paranoid and selfish mother, and a paternal family that has remained hidden, and you finally regained your freedom and found a place where you belong, body and soul, what motivation would you have to affiliate yourself with the strange ’Xu Family’?"
"She hasn’t seen Xu Mo as many times as I have. She hasn’t heard Xu Cheng’s name as often as I have. Zhuzi just wants to live her own life, that’s all."
"A weaker person might need to affiliate with a family to survive, but Xu Bamboo is not weak."
"She hasn’t even touched that trust fund much since Ye Qingyao’s death. A huge amount of money is just sitting in the account, waiting for the Xu Family to reclaim it someday."
Yang Shen gestured at the courtyard. "This is her home. Her family, her friends, me... we’re all here."
Deng Ming’s tall frame seemed to shrink, little by little, almost imperceptibly.
Just then, a gust of night wind swept through, carrying a few fallen leaves from the backyard past Deng Ming’s feet.
Withered and brittle, they made a rustling, cracking sound.
"You’re right."
"The new bamboo in this courtyard was not planted by the one from the past..."
—
Author’s Note~