Chapter 180

How come they suddenly want to hold a family grand ceremony? Chen Wuji asked.

Now it's neither a special day nor anything special; holding a family grand ceremony out of the blue is somewhat strange.

Chen Bushi smiled faintly and said, "Actually, there's nothing much. Since we settled in Xishan Village, the clan has never held a grand ceremony. Recently, several other branches suddenly contacted us, wanting to re-coalesce this bloodline; after discussing, we thought it was time to hold a grand ceremony."

"Why let me be the presider? This is somewhat unreasonable; I'm just a nobody in the village, with no say." Chen Wuji asked.

This old fogey, he actually wants to see how long this guy plans to keep hiding it.

If it weren't for meeting Chen Xingyuan last night, Chen Wuji might not have found out about this until who knows when; Chen Bushi really can act.

"Younger generation, you are the most outstanding; letting you preside over the grand ceremony is quite reasonable." Chen Bushi said, though he still hadn't told Chen Wuji the real reason.

Chen Wuji actually knew in his heart that letting him preside over the ceremony had nothing to do with ability or youth; it was solely because he was of the main line of the family head.

"Never mind that, were there any casualties last night?" Chen Wuji brushed aside the topic and asked.

Chen Bushi stared, "Casualties? What casualties? Last night everyone was sleeping soundly; where would any casualties come from? Did someone run into our dreams to hack us? Or did you dream we were hacked?"

Chen Wuji looked speechless, "I'm the one who let Chen Xingyuan go out; for such a big matter, you're pretending to be clueless with me here, even trying to hide this from me?"

He wanted to find a knife.

Seeing Chen Bushi like that, he felt suffocated inside unless he gave him a few hard cuts.

Chen Bushi's face showed astonishment, he opened his mouth, then suddenly said angrily, "I said it—I was wondering how Chen Xingyuan's brat suddenly got such gall and eloquence; those words couldn't have come from him, he simply doesn't have the brains."

"Any casualties?" Chen Wuji asked in a low voice.

From last night until now, this is what he's been most worried about.

As a result, that bastard Chen Bushi still wanted to keep it from him.

"A few people were hurt, but it's not a big problem, not serious." Chen Bushi said, "If Chen Xingyuan hadn't shown up in time, there might have been casualties."

Chen Wuji rubbed his gums, "What were you thinking, daring to launch a strong attack on Yunan City with just this handful of people? Although it's only a small town, the walls are high and thick, with only one gate—how could it be easily breached?"

In this matter he truly witnessed the madness and cohesion of the Chen family.

Usually they all seem like honest, simple farmers, occasionally having some friction and quarrels.

But once those in charge give an order, they instantly become soldiers.

Moreover, they go berserk.

Just to save him, these people actually dared to attack Yunan City.

Back then Li Yunlong did this, and he at least had tens of thousands under his command; what do the Chens have?

Speaking of this, Chen Bushi's face suddenly showed a hint of pride, "A mere Yunan City—I don't even take it seriously; what the Chen family excels at is gnawing hard bones. Yunan is just a speck; it wouldn't even make me break a sweat."

"Hearing this, it turns out I was worrying for nothing, right?" Chen Wuji said, somewhat surprised.

He was genuinely surprised.

Although Chen Bushi put on a bit of an act, he doesn't like to boast.

Even what he says, under normal circumstances he tends to exaggerate upward, without any arrogance; thus his being able to say this only proves one thing: the Chen family's combat strength is indeed fierce.

They have not discarded their ancestors' blood courage and heritage.

But frankly, no matter how Chen Wuji thinks, he really can't figure out how just a few dozen villagers could attack Yunan City, even treating it as a hard bone.

Unless...

They also have something like Shocking Heaven Thunder in their hands.

But, do they?

Chen Bushi smiled and said, "It can't be said you were worrying for nothing; at least your timely action lets our clansmen continue to dig for food in the fields peacefully, without having to go up the mountain to become bandits."

"Once the city falls, we'll have no retreat at all."

Chen Wuji nodded with a somewhat solemn expression, "You haven't been exposed, right?"

"No, how could I not think of such an obvious issue? Regardless of success or failure, we definitely need to leave ourselves several escape routes." Chen Bushi said.

Chen Wuji nodded, "Come with me later to have a look; the family recently prepared some smoked meat—should I bring the smoked meat or would silver be better?"

"Bring the meat; the Chen family has no habit of using silver to compensate the wounded!" Chen Bushi said, "This habit must not exist—troops fed with silver will lack bloodiness."

"They are our clansmen; what's there to compare with soldiers?" Chen Wuji said.

Chen Bushi looked toward the large pine outside the ancestral hall and said flatly, "But they are also soldiers; from the moment they were reborn bearing the Chen surname, these things were already destined."

Chen Wuji remained silent.

He is a member of the Chen clan, and indeed of the main line of the family head.

But actually, he seems still not to understand this clan even now.

Perhaps the Chen family's true foundation is not some material thing, but...

These people!

"Let's go, to your place to move the meat!" Chen Bushi suddenly said, "Today, we laborers will happily and righteously slaughter a big dog of a household."

Chen Wuji gave Chen Bushi a speechless glance, "My little bit of property probably has nothing comparable to yours, right?"

"I'm really poor; don't think I've hidden a lot of silver—I'm genuinely destitute." Chen Bushi shook his head and sighed, "Exhausting myself for the clan, when would I have a chance to hoard silver? My life is hard; being born into this Chen clan is truly a hard life."

Chen Wuji: ……

The household was still relatively peaceful, but the faces of Huo Sanniang and a few others looked somewhat fatigued, as if their souls had been sucked out.

Upon entering, Chen Wuji saw this scene and felt a tightness in his chest.

He now has a family and a home; his every move affects not just himself.

But also the safety and future of Huo Sanniang and her companions.

Yet some things he cannot avoid or dodge; he can only grit his teeth and face them.

"My dear, I've made you worry." Chen Wuji said gently.

Shen Youwei's eyes lit up; like a swallow returning to its nest, she flung herself into Chen Wuji's arms, "Husband, it's great to see you alive and back; I last night almost finished preparing mourning clothes."

Chen Wuji's mouth twitched slightly; truly his beloved kin and friend.

Chen Luozi kept thinking about preparing a coffin for him, Shen Youwei needed to prepare mourning clothes.

Truly, filial piety brings strength.

"You even have remarriage all figured out?" Chen Wuji asked, putting on a stern face.

Shen Youwei shook her head like a rattle drum, "That hasn't been considered yet; I can't think of that while your bones are still warm, that would make me seem wanton."

Chen Wuji: ……