Soul of the Revered Banner
Chapter 68: Father and Son

“Master, he’s standing again!”

“He’s standing again!”

The old Marquis instantly flew into a rage.

He wasn’t some cripple.

“Your Master is just fine. You old rascal, are you cursing me or what?”

But right after, his eyes widened, his voice trembling as he asked, “Standing again?”

“To disturb Father’s rest is a grave offense.”

Before the man arrived, his voice had already come.

A tall, handsome figure stepped through the doorway. Backlit by the sunlight, he seemed to shine with brilliance.

The old Marquis instantly stood up, quickly stepping forward to grasp Wen Yue’s shoulders, tears streaming down his aged cheeks. “My son!”

“Quick, let your father see your leg.”

Wen Yue rolled up his pant leg. The wound on his calf had already healed, though the bone was still somewhat misaligned.

But that was already more than enough for the old Marquis, it was the best news he could hope for.

His son had stood up again. That alone was enough.

“Hahaha!”

“My son stands again!”

The old Marquis laughed heartily, overcome with emotion.

At last, he let out a long breath of relief.

His previously stooped figure now stood taller, and his face glowed with vitality.

Wen Yue nodded.

He knew that, in truth, what his father was happy about was that the Marquis household once again had a successor.

There would be no crippled heir. They no longer needed to wait in uncertainty.

But at least in this moment, the Jing'an Marquis was truly happy for him and that was enough.

Whether it was for appearances or from the heart, everyone in the household would be glad. All past grievances would be swept away.

No one would ever again mention that second branch of the family that once dared to compete with Wen Yue.

As if the second branch truly had died from a sudden illness.

“My son, now that you’re standing again, what about the marriage engagement?”

The Jing'an Marquis lowered his voice.

The moment he saw his once-brilliant son fully recovered, his heart began to scheme.

He now felt that marrying the daughter of the Annan Marquis was beneath their status.

Though the Annan Marquis had some background, it was still far inferior to the Marquis household.

As for breaking off the engagement, no matter how resentful the other party might be, they would still have to swallow that bitter pill in silence.

Tu Shanjun, hiding within the Soul Banner, watched the entire exchange like a play.

He thought Wen Yue was a decent man but Wen Yue’s father was truly a snob.

The moment he turned around, he was ready to scheme against the very in-laws they had made an engagement with.

His only redeeming quality was that he still respected Wen Yue’s opinion.

In truth, the Jing'an Marquis did feel guilt and remorse deep down.

He was just a second-generation scion, who had inherited the title from Wen Yue’s grandfather, without much of a backbone and he was especially indecisive in critical matters.

Were it not for his first-rate martial prowess, he might’ve long been played to death by others.

Wen Yue had long understood his father’s temperament.

He shook his head and said, “Father, there’s no need to persuade me. The Annan Marquis extended a helping hand when your son was at his lowest. I don’t want to betray their family.”

“Well, so be it then.”

Though reluctant, the old Marquis no longer cared too much.

So what if others laughed at them for marrying a blind girl, as long as the heir had no problems, he was satisfied.

“There is one more matter I need Father’s help with.”

“Speak.”

“I know that in tomorrow’s court session, there will be accountability regarding the Luo River campaign. New generals will be selected, and an army reassembled.”

“I want to be named the vanguard of this expedition.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, the smile on the Marquis’s face froze.

He immediately bristled, eyes glaring as he roared, “Absolutely not!”

“There’s a saying ‘A fall into the pit, a gain in your wit.’ You’ve just recovered from your injuries and now you’re rushing off to die again?”

“I won’t allow it. No matter what you say, I won’t allow it.”

This reaction was entirely within Wen Yue’s expectations. He calmly said, “Father, do you know who the vanguard post will fall to if I don’t take it?”

“Who cares? It’s not like it’ll be me.”

The Marquis waved his hand and sat back down, lifting his tea bowl to drink.

“You guessed it.”

The Marquis’s body suddenly stiffened.

He stared at his son in disbelief. “Truly? Is the information accurate?”

Wen Yue opened his palm, then pressed it back down. “Came from the one inside the palace.”

“Word is, His Majesty and the three Grand Councilors have already decided.”

“Father, come tomorrow, you’ll be donning armor and heading to war.”

“Well then, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be going back now.”

Wen Yue turned around with a smile, muttering under his breath:

“One.”

“Two,”

“Three…”

“Wait!”

The Jing'an Marquis heaved a long sigh and stepped forward to face Wen Yue with a faint smile.

Wen Yue also smiled.

There was no doubt about it,

This timid father of his would definitely stop him.

The Marquis wore a complicated expression as he patted Wen Yue on the shoulder. “You’ve grown up.”

“I still remember how, when you were little, you insisted on training in martial arts. Then you got so tired that you mixed your own piss and mud and got it all over yourself.”

“I had to carry you to the river to wash it off.”

“In the blink of an eye, you’ve grown this big.”

“With the Marquis household in your hands, I’m at ease.”

Wen Yue went from sly confidence to stunned bewilderment.

As his father reminisced about his childhood, he did feel touched.

But by the end, he was in utter disbelief.

This was nothing like what he had imagined. Where had that cowardly, indecisive, blood-fainting dandy of a Marquis gone?

Why did this now sound like he was ready to hand over the entire household?

No matter whether for filial piety or the sake of his own plans, Wen Yue could not allow this change.

Originally full of confidence, Wen Yue now grew anxious. “Father, with your current condition, going to the battlefield is no different than marching to your death!”

So what if he was a top-tier expert?

The Marquis had squandered his body in youth. Were it not for his rank as a Organ-Refining martial artist, he’d have died in a woman’s bed long ago.

And then he’d been struck by Xiang Hu who had become an Immortal Master and coughed blood from a single blow. His wounds hadn’t even healed yet.

With that body, he wouldn’t survive a battlefield.

“Heh!”

“Your father’s lived a coward’s life.”

“At this old age, dying for Great Liang might make me half a hero.”

The Marquis looked toward the door.

The rivers and mountains were lovely. The world’s smoke and fire, beautiful.

Truly hard to leave behind.

“No! I won’t allow it!”

Now it was Wen Yue’s turn to stomp and shout.

Don’t be fooled by his father’s reputation as a dandy, he was still the pillar of the family. If he fell, who knew what chaos might erupt?

Besides, Wen Yue’s current strength far exceeded ordinary men. If he didn’t sweep the northern lands clean, he’d feel ashamed before Xiang Hu.

And there was the matter of gathering malicious spirits for the teacher within the Soul Banner.

If he were stuck in Liang City, only dealing with minor demons and ghosts, when would he ever rise above?

Tu Shanjun had been watching the drama with folded arms, but now he fell silent.

It wasn’t because his plans were disrupted.

He had simply not expected that this Marquis, who usually only cared for petty gain, would accept this news so calmly, even with dignity.

In that moment, Tu Shanjun suddenly understood where Wen Yue’s frankness and courage had come from.

From the man before him.

The old Marquis tucked his hands into his sleeves and tilted his head slightly, teasing, “What’s this, are you going to defy your father?”

Wen Yue steadied his heart and resumed his usual expression.

“Wrong.”

“It is precisely because of my deep filial piety that I must stop you.”

“Moreover, with my strength as a Grandmaster, who on the battlefield can stand against me?”

“You, Father, would do better to enjoy retirement in peace.”

The Marquis had expected Wen Yue to argue with a whole mess of reasoning.

He had prepared a full belly of lectures, ready to scold his son the moment he opened his mouth.

It would be a good chance to show the stern authority of a father.

But who would’ve thought Wen Yue would use sheer strength as his argument?

That truly stunned him.

He blinked in disbelief. “Grandmaster?”

(Chapter End)