Chapter 21: The Shan Family's Only Child (Please add to favorites and follow for updates)

“If that is the case with the Martial Dao, then the methods of the Immortal Dao likely follow the same logic...”

Wei Tu thought of this.

Then, he cautioned himself: the cultivation of the Martial Dao was far from the end. Using martial arts to earn official titles and elevate one's status was acceptable, but he must remember to avoid conflict and strife to preserve his life.

He had a bright future ahead of him; there was no need to fight for life and death over trivial matters.

“However...”

“Even if the sword remains sheathed, it must exist. And since killing techniques are a means of protecting one's path, they must also be learned.”

...

Time flew by.

In the blink of an eye, it was the first day of the twenty-fourth year of Qing'an.

This day was the New Year festival.

Early in the morning.

After finishing his morning ablutions in his side room, Wei Tu put on his winter clothes. Carrying the festive gifts he had newly purchased in town a few days ago in both hands, he entered the inner residence under the guidance of a maidservant.

Rounding the corridor, he arrived at the living quarters of Martial Scholar Shan.

In the courtyard, a middle-aged Confucian scholar dressed in a *lanshan* robe was already standing. His appearance bore a seventy-percent resemblance to Martial Scholar Shan.

However, despite the similarity in looks, the middle-aged scholar's temperament was quite different from Shan's. He was thin and gaunt, possessing a very refined and elegant air.

“Brother Yengong,” Wei Tu stepped forward and bowed to the middle-aged scholar.

The man before him was none other than Shan Yengong, the only son of Martial Scholar Shan, who had long resided in the prefectural city.

Shan Yengong had been frail since birth; thus, he had not followed his father's profession of martial arts but instead pursued the imperial examinations. Over a decade ago, he had passed the *gui* exam, becoming a second-class *linsheng* (scholar) of Qingfeng Prefecture.

A month ago, Shan Yengong had returned to the Shan residence along with his biological mother, Madam Shan Min.

“Brother Wei.”

Hearing this, Shan Yengong turned his head. Seeing it was Wei Tu, a smile appeared on his face. He smoothed his sleeves and bowed back to Wei Tu.

A moment later.

The door opened.

Wei Tu followed behind Shan Yengong into the living quarters, joining him in kowtowing to pay respects to Martial Scholar Shan and Madam Shan Min.

“This child has brought gifts again; he is always so formal with us,” Madam Shan Min said with a chuckle, seeing that Wei Tu was still holding the festive gifts while paying his respects.

“This is your New Year's money.”

After a brief thought, the gray-haired Madam Shan Min rubbed her waist as she stood up, walked into the inner chamber, took out a stack of red envelopes, and handed one to Wei Tu.

“Thank you, Mistress.”

Wei Tu did not hesitate. He took the red envelope from Madam Shan Min's hand and offered his thanks.

Although he was already married and an adult, no longer belonging to the category of children who receive New Year's money, one did not dare refuse a gift from an elder. Besides, it wasn't much; he might as well accept it.

It was all a gesture of kindness from Madam Shan Min.

After paying their respects, Wei Tu and Shan Yengong stood on either side of the Shan couple, waiting for the rest of the female family members to pay their respects.

“Why hasn't the youngest daughter arrived yet?” After waiting a short while and seeing that the entrance remained empty, Martial Scholar Shan frowned and spoke with dissatisfaction.

“Perhaps she was tired yesterday and woke up late this morning,” Madam Shan Min said, her expression also displeased, though she offered a word of excuse.

Seeing this, Wei Tu also frowned inwardly, feeling dissatisfied with the impolite Miss Shan Fang. However, because he was an outsider, he suppressed these emotions deep within his heart.

Waking up early on New Year's Day to pay respects to one's elders was a matter of etiquette.

This world was not the modern era, but an ancient one that placed extreme importance on etiquette.

Especially in wealthy households, every word and action had to strictly adhere to ritual laws; one could not overstep.

Shan Fang's impoliteness could be interpreted in many ways. If they had encountered a pedantic old scholar, she would, at the very least, be charged with the sin of filial impiety.

The group waited a while longer.

A beautiful woman in red walked in from outside the door, followed half a step behind by a large man in brocade clothing.

The man in brocade held the hand of a boy of about seven or eight, whose hair was tied in a high topknot.

Upon seeing the boy, Madam Shan Min's expression softened slightly. She patted the boy's head and handed him one of the red envelopes she had taken out earlier.

“Why did you wake up so late today?” At this moment, Martial Scholar Shan slapped the tea table beside him and demanded angrily.

The people in the living quarters seemed long accustomed to this scene; including Wei Tu, no one showed any sign of surprise.

Martial Scholar Shan was polite to everyone. Even toward his laborers, he was quite generous and easygoing, never fussing over small gains or losses.

But only toward Shan Fang...

Since Shan Fang had returned to the Shan residence, Wei Tu had seen Martial Scholar Shan lose his temper six or seven times in the past month.

“Yi Wu was making a fuss last night, saying he wanted to ride horses. I... had to coax him for a long time to settle him down, telling him those horses are your treasures and cannot be touched...” Shan Fang said aggrievedly.

Hearing this, Martial Scholar Shan showed a look of impatience. Knowing his youngest daughter's temperament well, he knew she was plotting for his property again.

However, in this regard, it was difficult for him to scold her, so he spared her some face.

“Father, you don't ride those horses in your stable very often, and your health hasn't been great lately. Why not give one to Yi Wu?”

“Yi Wu and I argued about it for a long time.”

Seeing that Martial Scholar Shan's momentum had weakened, Shan Fang took a step forward. She lowered her head, squeezing a soft expression onto her face, and spoke in a hurried tone.

As she spoke, she saw Martial Scholar Shan purse his lips and grip the armrest of his straight-backed chair with his left hand, his body tensing up. Realizing this, she took another step forward, pressing against his left arm, and repeated what she had just said.

This time, her tone carried a few more degrees of entreaty.

“Yi Wu is still young; he can't ride horses... The old horse in the stable... you can take it with you when you leave.”

Martial Scholar Shan closed his eyes for a moment as if contemplating. After a few breaths, he spoke haltingly.

Once finished, he released the armrest, and his body slumped into the chair as if all his strength had been drained.

To a martial artist, a good horse was a second life.

Every horse in the stable was tended to by Martial Scholar Shan until their coats were shiny and their spirits were high.

But facing his daughter and grandson, Yi Wu...

Martial Scholar Shan still could not find the words to refuse.

“Yi Wu, did you hear that?”

“Your grandfather promised to give you a horse. When you go home, you'll have a horse to ride.”

Shan Fang did not thank Martial Scholar Shan for his generosity; instead, she held Shan Yi Wu and spoke these words in front of him.

“Little sister, that is going too far,” Shan Yengong, standing behind Madam Shan Min, said with a grim face, rebuking her.

“Big brother, we haven't even split the family assets yet, and you're already complaining that your sister is asking Father for a horse? This horse is for Yi Wu to ride, not me...”

Shan Fang curled her lip.

“Besides,” she added, “you are a scholar; you don't use blades, spears, or staves. Is it so wrong to yield to your nephew?”

She then added another sentence.

“Oh, right, Father.”

“Yi Wu is almost at the age to practice桩功 (post-standing功). I want his father to learn our family's traditional boxing as well...”

“With his father teaching him by example, Yi Wu will surely be able to pass the martial examinations and earn official titles when he grows up.”

Shan Fang first glanced at Wei Tu, then shifted her gaze back to Martial Scholar Shan, saying with a smile

“Of course, if Brother Wei agrees to teach Yi Wu martial arts in the future, it wouldn't matter even if we didn't keep the family techniques... it's all for Yi Wu's sake...”

Shan Fang smiled.

“This...” Hearing this, Martial Scholar Shan immediately fell silent. He gave a light cough and waited for Wei Tu's answer.