Chapter 492: and translation of chapter title

Just as dawn broke, when I returned to the Yang manor, Yang Shouren was already seated in the main hall, his face wearing a gloomy expression like an overcast sky before rain. Beside him sat a middle‑aged man in a white suit; the moment I stepped inside and saw him, I mistook him for Shen Yuaning.

He really is that similar; he also wears a pair of glasses on his face, bearing that refined, scholarly air, just like Shen Yuaning. The only difference is that Shen Yuaning's demeanor is light and carefree, gentle and elegant, whereas this middle‑aged man, besides having a scholarly air, also carries a melancholy vibe, looking burdened with worries.

Those suffering from spiritual depletion and melancholy generally show four signs. The first is the horizontal longevity line, located right in the center of the forehead, abruptly showing a few wrinkles. This physiognomy indicates that the person's undertakings will succeed only one out of ten times, everything goes poorly, and there is a tendency to waste resources, making suicide likely when life feels hopeless.

The second is a dark, speckled Yintang (the area between the eyebrows); a person with such a mark finds it hard to control their emotions, is emotionally fragile, and easily loses control under pressure.

The third is crow's‑feet lines at the corners of the eyes; a person who develops them tends to be pessimistic and anxious, putting pressure on themselves, which leads to stagnant spirit and depleted qi.

The fourth is the developed frown muscle: several vertical wrinkles appear between the brows, indicating a well‑developed frown muscle. Those with a pronounced frown muscle are under great inner stress, feeling melancholy, and tend to keep their worries to themselves rather than vent them to others.

The middle‑aged man I see now belongs to the fourth type. His pronounced frown muscle makes it seem he is constantly furrowing his brows, adding a note of melancholy to his otherwise refined, scholarly bearing. This physiognomy is not a temporary mood; it has been his nature since childhood, so it is deeply etched into his face.

"Master Wang, have you caught the villain who desecrated our family's ancestral tomb?" Yang Shouren, seated in the main hall, hurried forward the moment he saw QingSongShu return.

Only then did I realize: Yang Shouren had known about this all along.

QingSongShu shook his head with a bitter smile and said, "I thought my actions were extremely secretive; even when I sent my son and nephew to guard the Yang ancestral grave, I was meticulous and cautious. Yet this thief is incredibly resourceful—somehow he got wind of it and lured my son and nephew away with a 'move the tiger away from the mountain' ploy."

Upon hearing this, Yang Shouren panicked, but QingSongShu added at the end, "Fortunately my nephew realized something was amiss in time and turned back, thereby thwarting the thief's plot." Only then did Yang Shouren's worried heart settle, and he thanked me profusely.

At this moment, the middle‑aged man standing beside Yang Shouren spoke.

"I've already investigated that iron plate found in the ancestral tomb; it's Yunnan witchcraft, seemingly something from the Plowshare Witch Sect…" The middle‑aged man trailed off into a fit of coughing.

Yang Shouren then introduced us to each other, and we learned that this middle‑aged man was his younger brother, Yang Shouyi.

"After digging up that iron plate, I called Shouyi to investigate covertly. I never expected the hidden culprit to be so deeply concealed, using many connections; after a long inquiry we still have not a single clue." Yang Shouren leaned on his cane and let out a heavy sigh.

Actually, it's obvious without thinking: the Plowshare Witch Sect has been secretly passed down among the folk for years, its secrecy rivaling that of the various folk sects. If a single iron plate could pinpoint the person who cast the curse, that would truly be strange!

Yang Shouyi, standing beside him, comforted Yang Shouren: "Elder brother, you needn't worry so much; as long as we're willing to investigate, we'll eventually find a clue. Anyone who wishes to harm our Yang family's century‑long foundation will not come to a good end." Yang Shouyi slammed his hand heavily on the table, his expression flashing with anger.

Yang Shouren rose slowly, gazing at Yang Shouyi and sighed: "I'm old now; I may not have many days left. From today on, all external affairs will be in your hands—please look after them with extra care."

"Elder brother… I…" Upon hearing this, Yang Shouyi became agitated, but before he could finish, Yang Shouren waved a hand to cut him off.

"I know your nature—you dislike intrigue and just want to be a quiet teacher. But Rui'er is still young, and in this generation of the Yang family, only you remain. If you don't stand guard, who will? Would you have me, after a hundred years, see the blood and sweat of our ancestors go to waste?" Yang Shouren stomped his cane firmly and declared decisively: "This matter is settled as such."

Seeing his elder brother's anger, Yang Shouyi could only grudgingly shut his mouth.

These two brothers are truly strange. The elder's gaze toward the younger is constantly filled with guilt, while the younger himself has no love for money; he only enjoys quietly teaching and living as a recluse detached from worldly power.

After the brothers had measured each other up, Yang Shouren again consulted QingSongShu about the Yang ancestral grave. For safety's sake, more people must be stationed to guard the tomb for now, and only when the subterranean spiritual essence regains its vigor can the guards be withdrawn.

But just as the conversation was halfway through, a black‑clad man rushed into the room, whispered a few words into Yang Shouyi's ear, and, accompanied by Yang Shouyi's furrowed brow, the atmosphere in the room instantly turned solemn.

Anyone could see that at this moment Yang Shouyi's mood was extremely heavy.

"Ah Yi, what's happened?" Yang Shouren turned his head to ask Yang Shouyi.

Yang Shouyi nodded solemnly and said, "My people have uncovered news about the witch clan: there is a direct‑line inheritor of the Plowshare Witch Sect near Yichang, and this person has previously had a conflict with our Yang family."

Yang Shouyi's words drew startled glances from everyone. First, the four words "Plowshare Witch Sect" are highly sensitive; second, Yang Shouyi said this person had once clashed with the Yang family, which makes it highly likely that he is the mastermind behind the harm to the Yangs. But what exactly happened between them? With such hatred, would he really want to exterminate the Yang line and leave no descendants?

Yang Shouren urged, "Which family is it? Speak quickly!"

Yang Shouyi replied, "It's the Yao family; they are the hereditary lineage of the White Witchcraft. Moreover, the Yao family's heir has also come to Yichang."

As soon as Yang Shouyi spoke, the others in the room had not yet reacted; my heart leapt violently and I almost jumped up.

The inheritor of the Plowshare Witch Sect bears the Yao surname and has just arrived in Yichang. Could the Yao family's heir that Yang Shouyi mentioned be Yao Wenju?

I was about to follow up with a question, but as soon as I rose, Pangzi beside me pressed me down hard, using his eyes to signal me not to act rashly.

Indeed, if I now asked him whether he was Yao Wenju, the Yang brothers would surely wonder why I know someone from the Yao family, possibly taking offense; my doing so would be pointless. All I can do now is stay quiet and listen, hoping to catch some clues from Yang Shouyi's words.

After Yang Shouyi finished speaking, he stepped forward and said, "My men found that the Yang family seems to have, one night, secretly sent people to the Yang village town. Brother, could it be that because of the previous gambling‑house profit dispute, we secretly harmed the Yao family and seized control of the gambling house, leaving the Yangs holding a grudge, which is why they sent people…"

Yang Shouyi's refined face showed a solemn expression, and his words left a lingering question for Yang Shouren. At this point I became even more certain that the Yao family person he spoke of was Yao Wenju. Besides Yao Wenju, who else could be linked to the Plowshare Witch Sect, the Yao heir, and the sensitive matter of the gambling house?

After hearing his brother's inquiry, Yang Shouren furrowed his brows, slowly closed his eyes, pondered for a few minutes, then opened them with an expression neither sad nor joyful, and said, "Shouyi, keep sending people to investigate. Report any findings to me promptly. If it isn't the Yao family, all the better; if it truly is the Yao family…"

Yang Shouren abruptly halted, his murky eyes suddenly flashing with a sharp gleam; a cold snort made my heart tremble. This seemingly elderly man appears to be a ruthless figure as well—his aura is like that of a hundred‑year‑old veteran fresh from the battlefield.

"If it really is the Yao family, then even if I must exhaust my century‑long foundation, I will make the Yao family lose all descendants and leave no poultry or dog at peace." Yang Shouren uttered the harsh words slowly, each syllable deliberate.

His tone was level, neither sad nor happy, yet the immense killing intent within it made listeners feel a chill run down their spines, as if encountering frost in midsummer, their whole bodies turning cold.