Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather Chapter 1310 - 849: Twin Disciple
Previously on Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather...
The plateau of Spiritual Spring Mountain.
Within the hall, Yang Zhenshan occupied the main seat, his gaze fixed on the two young girls standing before him.
Appearing roughly seven or eight years old, the pair shared nearly identical features, unmistakably twins.
Hands lowered demurely at their sides, they possessed smooth oval faces, brows resembling distant peaks, noses like polished jade, and chubby pink cheeks irresistible to pinch.
Attired in soft pink high-waisted ru skirts, the bodices bore entwined peach blossom embroidery, cuffs trimmed with moon-white gauze, skirts cascading to their feet with hems of delicate butterflies pursuing blooms. Goose-yellow silk sashes cinched their waists, dangling petite white jade pendants shaped as twin fish. They evoked tiny fairy maidens emerged from a masterfully inked portrait of elegant ladies, radiating innate purity and charm.
Though many years had elapsed since Yang Zhenshan last nurtured children, the vision of these enchanting, guileless little ones inevitably summoned his grandfatherly warmth.
"What little fairies are these!" Yang Zhenshan fondled his beard, eyes brimming with affection.
"Answering granduncle, these are daughters of Fuhai's Li family—Li Janning and Li Jianan, both eight years old, both trained in Green Wood Skill!"
Yang Chengyi at his side replied.
Yang Chengyi, son to Yang Mingzhen, once filled governmental posts on Divine Wood Island, then served in the Foreign Affairs Hall. Of late, he oversaw Da’an Dynasty garrisons and hunted Spiritual Acupoints across its territories.
He came back this time after unearthing these two girls with spiritual apertures.
"Jianning, Jianan—haha, splendid names! Fuhai Li family?" Yang Zhenshan chuckled heartily.
"The Fuhai Li family's forebears included Grand Secretary Li Siyuan of the Da Rong Cabinet!" Yang Chengyi elaborated.
Beard in hand, Yang Zhenshan pondered, summoning from memory's depths that elder's face and qualities.
Li Siyuan officiated forty years, Cabinet tenure exceeding twenty, Grand Secretary over a decade—the foremost upright minister under Emperor Chengping.
"Descendants of Grand Secretary Li, eh!"
No dealings had linked him to Li Siyuan, thus no familiarity.
Besides, Li Siyuan perished over fifty years back. Retiring to hometown in Yanping's first year, he died soon after. Yang Zhenshan then dwelt in Chongshan Town.
Still, those facts paled; vital was the twins' spiritual apertures.
"Good, will you take me as master?"
Five disciples he already claimed; these two would perfect seven.
"Disciple pays respects to Master!" Gracefully the girls knelt and kowtowed, voices soft and delightful.
Someone had clearly prepped them beforehand.
"Rise now!" Yang Zhenshan flicked his sleeves softly; gentle mana hoisted the pair aloft.
The lifting power materialized from nowhere, filling the girls with awe as they beheld Yang Zhenshan, eyes gleaming like obsidian gems.
"Where are your parents?" Yang Zhenshan rose, unable to hold back, and tenderly patted their hair buns.
"All twelve family members fetched back, now residing in West Pavilion Mountain's courtyard!" Yang Chengyi answered.
Yang Zhenshan inclined his head faintly. "Assign them homes and land by the rules!"
Spirit Source Land rarely took in outsiders anymore, except spiritual aperture holders and families.
Arrivals to Spirit Source Land received houses, land, plus twenty-year stipends amply covering necessities.
No vast fortunes awaited, yet comfort was guaranteed.
Future fortunes rested on their own labors.
Dwelling in Spirit Source Land posed no hardships; earnest toil secured food and garb, while rich resources simplified cultivation.
Twenty years sufficed for fifteen- or sixteen-year-olds to reach Innate Martial Artist and claim cultivation salary.
Yang Zhenshan's disciples, the girls merited lowest-tier cultivation salary too.
"Understood!"
Yang Chengyi affirmed.
Yang Zhenshan regarded the twins once more, benevolence deepening on his face, and grinned. "Head home for now—return to the mountain for cultivation after settling your family!"
"Master, do we keep practicing Green Wood Skill?" one little girl queried.
Yang Zhenshan glanced between them, unclear if Li Jianan or Li Janning had spoken.
"No—when you arrive, senior brother will lead you to pick a cultivation technique!" Yang Zhenshan smiled warmly.
Spiritual apertures permitted skill inheritance at the ancient array's Transmission Hall right upon sensing Qi, sparing Martial Artists' need for Heavenly Gang Stage.
Green Wood Skill formed merely the primer of Qingmu Longevity Scripture, perhaps ill-suited for these girls; wiser to inherit first, then cultivate.
Cultivation demanded prior foundations too—literacy essential, unavoidable.
"Oh, then which cultivation technique?"
"Read and study first! Hmm, how many characters do you know?"
"Ah, must we read and learn?"
"Naturally—how comprehend cultivation techniques without recognizing characters?" Yang Zhenshan patiently enlightened the girl.
"But disciple dislikes reading!" The little girl wore a faintly wronged look.
"Oh? What books have you read?"
"The Three Character Classic, Thousand Character Classic, Young Learners’ Treasury, Standards for Being a Good Student, Poems of a Thousand Masters, Anthology of Ancient Prose—I've read loads of books!" The girl ticked them off on her fingers.