Chapter 116: The Elders

At the entrance stood a man in the prime of his life, slightly taller than Wei Po Tian, with a heroic appearance. He wore a plain robe without any adornments, exuding an authoritative presence that commanded respect, clearly someone accustomed to a position of power.

Wei Po Tian immediately jumped up, startled, “Father, why are you here?”

The visitor was none other than the current head of the Wei family from the Far East, Duke Boxiang, Wei Dong Ming, and also Wei Po Tian’s father. If there were people in the world whom Wei Po Tian feared, Wei Dong Ming was undoubtedly one of them.

Wei Dong Ming walked around the office, glancing around, and finally swept his gaze over the mountain of documents on the desk several times before nodding slightly, “This looks somewhat decent! But since you were a child, I have told you more than once that when facing major events, one must first calm their mind. No matter what situation you encounter, you must remain composed…”

Wei Po Tian knew that once his father started lecturing, it would be endless. So he hurriedly said, “Father, did you come to Eternity yourself because something important is about to happen?”

Wei Dong Ming gave Wei Po Tian a stern look, “Besides your affairs, what other major events would require my presence?”

Wei Po Tian rubbed his head and chuckled, “Father, don’t you think I did pretty well this time? At least I managed to secure two cities for our family, even though they are a bit poor…”

“A bit poor?” Wei Dong Ming fixed him with a sharp gaze.

Wei Po Tian hesitated, “Well, even though it cost us something, we still gained something, right?”

Wei Dong Ming snorted, “Qiyang, do you not understand the significance of being a border guardian of the Wei family of the Far East? Not to mention the loss of your guards and Elder Chen, what benefit does this third-tier defense zone bring to our Wei family?”

Wei Po Tian scratched his head, at a loss for words.

Although the highest title of the Wei family was just a hereditary marquis, it was a vassal who ruled the border territories, almost equivalent to royalty within the province. Blackstream City, located at the front line of the Eternity region, fell under the jurisdiction of the Expeditionary Army. In the eyes of others, the Wei family’s reach was too long. Moreover, the war in Eternity was almost constant, and maintaining this territory would come at a high cost.

After a few days of handling official matters, even the slow-witted Wei Po Tian understood this. Qian Ye had seen this earlier and decided to form a mercenary group to help relieve some of the pressure.

Just as Wei Po Tian was about to lose heart and prepare for a harsh scolding, Wei Dong Ming’s tone suddenly shifted, “But all things considered, you did indeed capture the territory of two cities, albeit at a high cost. Expanding our territory and pulling teeth from the Expeditionary Army is never easy. Overall, you handled this matter quite efficiently, without leaving any loose ends. This is quite commendable.”

Wei Po Tian was both surprised and delighted. His father, the Duke Boxiang, was a model of strictness, rarely giving praise. This was a rare compliment.

Wei Dong Ming walked to the window, gazing at the panorama of Blackstream City, and approvingly said, “You handled this matter quite well. You focused on your duties afterward, even if you are still a bit impulsive. But at least you are diligent. Qiyang, you have finally grown up.”

Wei Po Tian could only chuckle stupidly, not knowing how to respond. The duke was a serious and strict man, especially with his son, and rarely gave such lengthy encouragement.

Wei Dong Ming picked up a document from the desk and flipped through it, suddenly exclaiming, “Though the evidence listed here is not much, it hits the key points and is tightly interlinked. This single piece of evidence alone can firmly convict Wu Zhengnan, leaving those in the Expeditionary Army speechless. Qi Sicheng is quite capable!”

Wei Po Tian peered over and said, “This guy is the logistics chief under Wu Zhengnan, handling most of Wu’s transactions. It’s natural he would have the critical information.” He sneered, “He’s just trying to save himself by pinning the blame on Wu Zhengnan.”

Wei Dong Ming did not comment, only asking, “Where is this person now?”

“He’s been secured.”

“How so?”

Wei Po Tian chuckled, “In the lowest level of the black prison, where it’s truly safe.”

Wei Dong Ming nodded, “You have indeed grown up.”

Hearing this, Wei Po Tian suddenly felt a sense of foreboding. His intuition was usually accurate.

Sure enough, Wei Dong Ming continued, “Now that you can handle things on your own, I can rest half my worries. However, there is one last step here. If you really want to take control of this war zone, you need someone to hold the fort. Even within the Wei family, there are few who can shoulder this responsibility and are available. Your Uncle Bai Nian is one of them. He came with me, but how to convince him is up to you.”

Pausing, Wei Dong Ming added, “You’re not young anymore, but your character needs more refinement. I and the elders have discussed that once this is settled, you will return with me to arrange a marriage.”

“Wha… What… marriage!” Wei Po Tian was truly shocked.

Wei Dong Ming smiled, “There are many excellent girls in the friendly families of our generation, very suitable for you. A few of them have already been seen and liked by the elders. When you return, you can choose one you like.”

Wei Po Tian stammered, “I, this, isn’t it a bit too early…?”

Wei Dong Ming patted Wei Po Tian’s shoulder, laughing, “Too early? Many people your age already have children. In two months, you will turn twenty, and after your coming-of-age ceremony, you will take on true responsibilities. The elders have been looking forward to making it a grand event. Many girls from the families will be there, so don’t miss this opportunity.”

“I’m very open-minded about this. Look, you still have the choice. Back in my day, I had to marry whomever the family chose for me.”

Wei Po Tian couldn’t remember how he managed to see his father off to his lodgings. As he watched Wei Dong Ming and his entourage settle in and was about to take his leave, he suddenly remembered, “What about Uncle Bai Nian?” Convincing Wei Bai Nian to stay in Blackstream City would be the final test. Better to get it over with sooner rather than later.

Seeing that Wei Po Tian was still thinking about the important matters, Wei Dong Ming’s smile was almost gentle, “Isn’t there a friend of yours in the city? Bai Nian went to see him and invited him to dinner tonight. I’ll meet your friend too.”

Wei Po Tian suddenly felt a chill, his mind clearing, and his face changed.

Wei Bai Nian, although not well-known, even in the Wei family, was one of the most trusted brothers of his father. That such a person was chosen to oversee the Seventh Division’s defense area was already shocking. Why would he visit Qian Ye as soon as he arrived in Blackstream City? Even if Qian Ye was a good friend, it was not customary for an elder to visit a younger person.

Wei Dong Ming, ignoring Wei Po Tian’s change in expression, said, “By the way, I brought Shiqing along. The elders seem to have packed a whole box of things for you. You should go see her now.” Shiqing was a maidservant who had been with Wei Po Tian since childhood.

Wei Po Tian, suppressing his annoyance, respectfully replied and then took his leave. Hesitating at the courtyard gate, he decided to follow his father’s instructions and go see Shiqing first. He could also ask about recent family matters. Qian Ye had probably already met Wei Bai Nian, and the elders were shrewd. If he acted too rashly, it might be worse.

While Wei Po Tian was feeling anxious, Qian Ye had not yet met Wei Bai Nian. He was following Song Hu to inspect the future headquarters of the mercenary group.

Song Hu was indeed a capable man. In just an afternoon, he found a vacant area in the west of Blackstream City. It was an abandoned factory, its grand framework still intact. With a little cleaning and some simple structures, it could be habitable. The factory covered a large area, sufficient to accommodate thousands of mercenaries if the group expanded.

Currently, the factory housed some homeless wanderers. Song Hu had already gone to the city lord’s administrative hall and completed the necessary procedures, paying fifty gold coins symbolically to obtain a five-year lease. If Qian Ye was interested, he could pay five hundred gold coins to gain ownership.

As Qian Ye entered the alley, he sensed something and looked up, seeing a small group of guards gathered at the entrance. Their attire bore no obvious insignia, but each exuded a steady, restrained aura, standing in a well-trained formation.

Song Hu’s grip on the long box tightened, his pace slowing, and he slightly shifted direction to form a pincer angle with Qian Ye.

Qian Ye, however, remained calm, maintaining his original pace, passing the guards without incident. He stopped at the open gate, where a figure stood with its back to the door, turning at the sound of footsteps.

It was a tall, lean man whose face betrayed no age. At first glance, he seemed young, but upon closer inspection, the marks of time were evident. Dressed in ancient garb, his demeanor was refined and noble, clearly of a prominent lineage.

“I am Wei Bai Nian. Are you Qian Ye, the friend of Young Master Qiyang?”

Hearing the name, Qian Ye’s expression changed slightly. When he read Song Zining’s letter, he had suspected an elder from Wei Po Tian’s family, but he hadn’t expected to meet the person directly.

Song Hu approached Qian Ye and whispered a few words.

Qian Ye nodded and formally greeted Wei Bai Nian, “So you are Uncle Bai Nian.”

Song Hu’s introduction was brief but sufficient to convey the man’s exceptional status. Wei Bai Nian, not yet fifty, had served in the imperial army for over thirty years. Born into the main branch of the Wei family, he had enlisted as a soldier, rising to the rank of general through military achievements. With the constant wars in the empire, anyone who served for a decade and survived unscathed had undoubtedly shed much blood.

Wei Bai Nian had noticed the slight change in Qian Ye’s expression and now observed Song Hu, smiling, “I didn’t expect to find someone here who recognizes me, a man of no great fame.”

Even after Wei Bai Nian’s departure, Qian Ye was still unsure of his purpose. Despite his lack of social acumen, he knew it was unusual for an elder of Wei Po Tian’s family to come to his residence just to invite him to a family dinner.