After the banquet concluded, Yang Feilong did not return. Many young people felt an inexplicable sense of relief, as his presence had always put them under immense pressure.
During Yang Feilong's presence, Tang Ya and Xiao Jingwen were locked in a silent rivalry. However, once he was gone, their competition ceased. After all, who were they competing for? Instead, they found themselves conversing quite well, even becoming friends. Xiao Jingwen didn't mind gaining another sister, considering she already had so many. Tang Ya, on the other hand, hoped that by befriending Xiao Jingwen, who was Yang Feilong's woman, she might gain some favor. After all, her relationship with Yang Feilong was currently just that of friends, and she wished for more.
Later, Yang Pingtian returned. Both women looked past him, expecting to see Yang Feilong, but he wasn't with him. They wondered if Yang Feilong was intentionally avoiding them, which left them feeling a bit wistful. Yang Pingtian then approached them to explain that Feilong had something important to attend to and might not be able to come today.
This news disappointed the two women, though they didn't show it, as he was their future father-in-law. They smiled and said it was alright, that his matters were important.
Some cultivators at the peak of the Venerable Martial Realm were most eager for Yang Pingtian and Xiao Xuhong to share techniques for breaking through to the Innate Realm. Both of them did speak, but their words were of little use to the aspiring cultivators, as they largely reiterated what they already knew.
Xiao Xuhong and Yang Pingtian, having been instructed by Yang Feilong, did not mention his exceptional medical skills. If word got out, Yang Feilong would become a highly sought-after individual. If it even reached the Spirit Realm, he might be captured, as such an extraordinarily skilled divine physician was rare even there.
Tang Ya didn't wish to leave. She had barely spoken to Yang Feilong today and was unwilling to depart so soon. However, staying would be even more inappropriate, as she had no official status, and it would look bad if word spread. Furthermore, Yang Feilong had promised to visit the Tang family after the new year, and with the holiday fast approaching, she eventually left with her father and the others.
Xiao Jingwen could have stayed. She was, after all, Yang Feilong's publicly acknowledged woman. However, she couldn't even see Yang Feilong, and it seemed improper for her to stay at the Yang family residence before they were married. After much consideration, she also left with the Xiao family. Before departing, she asked Yang Pingtian to convey a message: she couldn't visit before the new year, but she would visit the Xiao family after the holiday. Yang Pingtian readily agreed.
Other families also began to depart successively. However, families with good relations with the Yang family, such as the Luo family, did not leave immediately. This was because one of their top-tier combatants, Luo Xiangning, a Venerable Martial Realm expert, had not returned since going out with Yang Pingtian that afternoon. Yang Pingtian had returned shortly after, but Luo Xiangning had not reappeared. Although they knew Yang Pingtian's character, and Luo Xiangning had sent a text message midway, the Luo family's experts remained worried.
Indeed, the Luo family had three cultivators at the Venerable Martial Realm, one more than the Yang family. The current patriarch of the Luo family was also at the Venerable Martial Realm, albeit at the initial stage, having broken through last year. Yang Pingyu was also close to a breakthrough; it could take anywhere from six months to five years, or even longer.
While the others could be explained, Luo Xiangning's absence was harder to account for. Yang Pingtian, however, had a ready excuse. Smiling, he said, "Didn't Xiangning lose to my son Feilong earlier? She wanted to discuss cultivation matters with my son! As you know, when cultivators exchange martial arts insights, there's no concept of time."
"Is that so?" The others were appeased by Yang Pingtian's explanation.
"Why don't you all stay until tomorrow?" Yang Pingtian suggested with a smile.
"No need, we'll head back first," the Luo family patriarch replied, shaking his head. Luo Xiangning was no stranger to the Yang family and often stayed for extended periods. They understood her intentions and couldn't prevent them. They naturally wished for Luo Xiangning to find someone to marry into their family, but she had always refused. They were also afraid of angering her, as she was the most likely person in the Luo family to break through to the Innate Realm, more so than him or the elder Luo. If they angered her and she left, would they imprison her? What would be the point of keeping her then? They could only let her be. They hoped that even if she married out one day, she wouldn't forget the Luo family's kindness. Of course, she wasn't an ungrateful person and was very filial.
As everyone else left, Yang Kaitai spoke, "Ping Tian, why don't you go and call Feilong and Xiangning? After all, they can discuss martial arts anytime. Our family hasn't had a proper talk with Feilong yet, and at least we can clear up any misunderstandings. It's not good to leave things unresolved, is it?" As the former patriarch, though not the strongest, he had been the pillar of the Yang family for many years, possessing an aura of authority that only Yang Pingtian had surpassed. His dignity remained.
"Tomorrow," Yang Pingtian said after a moment's thought. He suspected that since Luo Xiangning hadn't emerged and Yang Feilong hadn't either, they might have genuinely taken a liking to each other. As a father, he couldn't allow anyone to disturb them. Not even the elder. Of course, he had no idea that their interaction was more than just a budding romance; they were truly engaged in a fierce spar. It was a case of dry tinder meeting a raging fire.
"We need to give Feilong some time to adapt. If we call him out and he decides to leave, we should at least keep him in the Yang family for one more day," Yang Pingtian reasoned. His explanation was sound, and no one could find fault with it.
"That makes sense," Yang Kaitai nodded in agreement.
"Um, Third Brother," Yang Pingyu said at this moment, looking at his third brother with some embarrassment. Yang Pingyu naturally understood the reason for his elder brother's awkwardness.
Yang Pingtian deliberated for a moment and said, "My son and I have already discussed this. It's normal for him to have some resentment towards you all. Of course, although he had his grievances, he has vented them today. I believe he won't dwell on this matter anymore. Just don't bring it up again."
"I understand!" Yang Pingyu nodded repeatedly, relieved that his third brother wasn't blaming him. Although he was the head of the family, in a family like theirs, strength determined authority. The previous generation had favored Yang Pingtian to be the patriarch, but he had refused because he had sustained a minor injury at the time and couldn't lead the Yang family. Moreover, he didn't want to be bothered by trivial family matters.
Yang Pingtian thought for a moment, worried that some family members might still hold grudges against his son. He then said to Yang Kaitai, "Grandfather, whether you can break through to the Innate Realm is of crucial importance to Feilong!"
"What?" At these words, not only Yang Kaitai but all the core family members present were stunned.
"You mean, the Xiao family's old man breaking through to Innate was Feilong's doing?" Yang Kaitai asked, his eyes wide.
"Yes, it should be the core reason," Yang Pingtian said in a low voice. He didn't want to reveal his son's medical skills yet, but making the Yang family understand the importance of his son to their clan might change the attitudes of some who were clinging to their biases.
"This..." Yang Kaitai's eyes immediately reddened. The others gasped, wondering how he had achieved such a feat. How could he help someone at the peak of the Venerable Martial Realm break through to the Innate Realm?