On a sunny noon day, on the main large road leading to the Yang manor, troops moved admired by the gazes of those by the pass way.
The Yang cavalry had gone to battle leaving defeat to the foes bringing home.
The soldiers marched directly straight forward, and although some soldiers even had relatives among the crowd they refrained from leaving the troop procession at most sending knowing glances to their people.
According to their ranks, from the foot soldiers to the squad leaders, to the captains, from the the captains to the upper echelons of the army.
At the inconspicuous middle back point of the march at the captain section, from the captain to above, they rode on horse backs.
A young man stood interestingly amongst, clearly of the captain rank as the armor, the Yang clan sun at his armor's left hand, and although he also had a horse he didn't ride horseback, instead dragging the horse with the reins along.
The horse tall and robust, with clear strong muscles and vigor wasn't also empty handed, carrying a two peculiar twin halberds and a tall wide guardian shield on it's back.
The young man looked up, the bright overhead scorching reflecting in his eyes.
One hand drawing the horse, the other holding a flask he took a gulp, his eyes reddening, a clear sign of excited blood qi before it rescinded back.
His eyes clear back normal, the excited blood qi subdued.
Although he walked with foot, he didn't lag behind his other captain peers, his steep neither fast or unhurried but still in sync with the captains and procession at large.
On the side ways various gazes landed on this figure, some with peculiar expressions.
" The First Young Master of the Yang clan, Yang Xuanhong "
" With every battle and passing he's certainly steadyly becoming more and more enigmatic "
The young man feeling the stares of people around him turned around and smiled warmly a bit, before his face become restrained, his gaze serene and stoic, his focus on the march to the manor, only at times drinking from the flask as he moved.
After a while the procession came a large walled manor estate, akin a small city itself, the Yang clan family grounds.
The soldiers atop the city gate on seeing their forces opened the gate and the army entered.
A great clan, the Yang clan manor was partitioned to the segments, the outer area, the inner and core.
Seldomly did anyone even those of the clan, unless they were of the close main Yang family get to enter the core area unauthorized, but the army had to go pay their respects to the Clan head first, followed by a feast, this was the custom of the Yang clan.
Inside the manor, as they passed through the outer area, through the inner area, into the core, the gaits of all the soldiers straightened.
All hint of their former weariness vanishing as they approached the Sun spirit martial ground where the clan gathered for military banquets and display.
All except Yang Xuanhong, his gait was always already straight.
Entering the open wide stretch of walled grounds with a fixed sun disk shinning bright above, below this sun disk was an elevated platform where the Yang clan head together with the lady, the main Young, the Young ladies and other top members of the Yang clan.
Unlike the procession where it proceeded from the lowest ranks in front, the gathering was different, with the higher ranks in front.
Arranging themselves the entire fourth battalion saluted and knelt on a knee in greeting, their voice in unison.
" We greet the clan head, we greet the lady, we greet the main Young master, we greet the Young ladies ".
All even including Yang Xuanhong, the only thing showing a change was that he stood at the front , beyond the standing of the captains, only behind the commander, yet even to the Commander's right to signify a his position, yet even he knelt.
After the greeting, the commander proceeded forward to give reports, whilst various maids entered the grounds carrying futons and made sitting arrangement for the soldiers.
The Sun spirit martial ground was wide, wide enough for all the Yang army battalions to sit without an issue, so it wasn't difficult to create seating arrangements for all the fourth battalion soldiers.
A maid approached Yang Xuanhong speaking, " First Young master ", beckoning Yang Xuanhong to a futton, at the top front right corner, just below the elevated platform.
Yang Xuanhong smile and he followed.
After the futons, small tables were carried into the grounds and placed in front of every soldier, with food and wine atop.
The Yang clan treated it's vasssals and froces well, the food and drinks was nothing to scoff at, and although the fourth battalion wasn't as presitgious as the first three, it was still esteemed.
But nobody ate yet, there was an order, the commander would give reports, state important significant contributions, only then would the feast begin.
Yang Ding, commander of the fourth pavillion held a parchment in hand and spoke, silence filling the grounds at his reports.
" Clan head we have repelled the rebels, subduing the Jin mountain tribes into more tighter control "
" Two tribe chiefs of the three tribes were killed and replaced with more loyal candidates "
Yang clan head Yang Weipin swirled his wine cup and drank, nodding his head.
His mannerism deep, his thoughts unreadable, the figure that proppped the Yang clan.
After the reports was significant contributions, Yang Weipin's nod Yang Ding knew it was signal to continue, and still holding the parchment he did.
The Yang clan took reward and punishments seriously and rightly, both were paid their appropriate due, although all were paid, only the significant ones were announced in the gatherings.
All couldn't be.
Yang Ding kept normal, but a strange expression flashed through his eyes.
At the contributions about to be announced, several gazes amongst the fourth batallion landed on the figure at the front right corner.
Those on the elevated platfrom seeing this glances could discern.
The eyes of the Yang lady furrowed, interstingly Yang Ding noticed this furrow and wanted to somewhat avoid "that" contibution announcement.
Mao Tin, left luetenant, slaugtered chief of the bull Jin moutain tribe, Tan Linfen right injured chief of the wolf Jin mountain tribe, and Yang Ding commander of fourth batallion slaughtered chief of the bear Jin mountain tribe.
After that Yang Ding went on to list other officers with significant kills.
And after a while he paused, clearly hinting that he had finished.
Yang Weipin rubbed his hand on his beards, speaking " is that all "
The soldiers were clearly suprised that the commander had omitted someone, but all refrained from showing any sign, after an initial surprise.
Yang Xuanhong wasn't surprised, neither did he mind, he could somewhat think of why the commander did so.
Yang Ding wanted to respond that it was so, " but seeing a stern face on Yang Weipin's face, cold sweat flowed down his face.
The clan leader wanted him to speak.
Correcting himself immediately he continued, " captain Yang Xuanhong, killed a hundred rebels of the sixth martial realm and below, 13 of the seventh realm, ambushed by two eight realm vice chiefs of the Jin bull and wolf tribe, parried blows with them for an half incense worth of time, being injured and inflicting injuries.
Yang Ding was certain that this display of prowess was bound to astound not just the Yang clan, but the Yang state and beyond.
Although the mountain tribes lived a wild life and might not have as much comprehensive and profound legacy as those of the mainlands, they lived with their lives on the edge, struggling daily for survival, their battle awareness, instinct wasn't a thing to scoff at.
In this rugged enviroments where life was tough and resources especially for martial pratice was very plentiful, only the best of best could reach the vice chief or chief strength.
Striving hard to that level.
To trade blows with 2 eight realm martial artists.
Yang Weipin looked away from Yang Ding towards Yang Xuanhong.
" Have you reached the seventh martial artist realm "
This was the first direct glance Yang Weipin had given him since their arrival.
Yang Xuanhong stood up and bowed lightly then shaking his head, " No Father "
" Come forward let me take a look at you "
Xuanhong would have wanted to not be the center of attention, but he obeyed.
Leaving his futon he walked to towards the platform.
There was no helping it.