Chapter 372

Song jailer, why aren't you speaking? Do you look down on my Heng De?

Song jailer, why aren't you speaking? Do you look down on my Heng De?

Thus: "Song Laotou, why aren't you speaking? Do you look down on my Heng De?"

No! Elder Heng De, don't speak now, let's talk outside!

No! Elder Heng De, don't speak now, let's talk outside!

What does it matter where we talk? You brat, you indulge in eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling—what are you pretending to be pure for?

What does it matter where we talk? You brat, you indulge in eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling—what are you pretending to be pure for?

Heh heh, nothing...

Translation: "Hehe, nothing……"

Two voices grew closer, and then a thin and a fat figure appeared outside the water prison's gate.

Translation: "The two voices grew closer, and immediately, a thin and a fat figure appeared outside the water prison's gate."

The thin man lowered his head and stood humbly to the side.

Translation: "The thin man lowered his head and stood humbly to one side."

The fat man glanced at the dense crowd before the gate and froze.

Translation: "The fat man scanned the dense crowd before the gate and froze instantly."

Who else could it be but Heng De?

Translation: "Who else could it be but Heng De?"

Greetings, Elder Heng!

Translation: "Greetings, Elder Heng!"

The Song family patriarch, Song Nantian, and the ladies, lords, misses, and elders of the twenty-one cities' families all respectfully bowed.

Translation: "The Song Clan Ancestor, Song Nantian, and the wives, young masters, misses, and elders of the various families of the Twenty-One Cities all performed respectful salutations."

Although Heng De isn't old, Heng Xian here is a Yuan Dan expert whose strength is too great, so everyone present must show respect to him as a senior.

Translation: "Although Heng De's age isn't considered old, here Heng Xian compares himself—Heng Xian is a Primordial Dan Realm expert, his strength is too great, so everyone present must address him as senior."

But need to keep meaning: "Although Heng De's age isn't old, Heng Xian, who is a Primordial Dan Realm expert with tremendous strength, is present, so everyone must call him senior." Let's translate: "Although Heng De isn't old, Heng Xian is a Primordial Dan Realm expert whose strength is overwhelming; everyone present must address him as senior."

If not calling him Elder, what else could you call the senior's father?

Translation: "If he's a senior, what else should his father be called but Elder?"

Heng De was stunned again by being called that.

Translation: "Heng De was dazed again by being called that."

Still, Heng Ruoyu couldn't bear it and exclaimed: "Second brother! Xian'er has come to fetch you!"

Translation: "Or Heng Yue Ruo couldn't stand it and complained, 'Second Brother! Xian'er has come to fetch you!'"

Then Heng De spotted Heng Xian in the crowd, his eyes lit up, he rushed over, eyes red, and exclaimed: "My son, my son, truly the material of a great emperor!"

Translation: "Then Heng De spotted Heng Xian in the crowd, his eyes lit up, and he rushed over, eyes red: 'My son, my son, you truly have the makings of a great emperor!'"

Everyone present was stunned; Heng Xian is indeed strong, but for a father to say his son has the material of a great emperor—isn't that a bit over the top?

Translation: "Everyone present was stunned; Heng Xian is indeed strong, but for a father to say his son has the makings of a great emperor—isn't that a bit over the top?"

Heng Xian originally had a stern face, but seeing the eager, plump man's emotions overflowing, his heart warmed, he stepped back and performed a respectful bow, saying: "Child, I greet my father!"

Translation: "Heng Xian originally had a stern face, but seeing the plump man before him overflowing with excited emotion, his heart warmed; he stepped back and performed a respectful salute: 'Child, I greet my father!'"

We must give him face.

Translation: "We must give him face."

Heng De blinked: "What's wrong with my son? You weren't like this before—did a ghost possess you?"

Translation: "Heng De blinked: 'What's wrong with my son? You weren't like this before—has a ghost possessed you?'"

Heng Xian's mouth twitched, and he glanced at the surrounding crowd.

Translation: "Heng Xian's mouth twitched, and his gaze swept over the surrounding crowd."

Heng De understood and immediately coughed: "My son, no need for formalities!"

Translation: "Heng De understood immediately and coughed: 'My son, no need for formalities!'"

The acting was extremely fake.

Translation: "The acting was extremely fake."

Heng Xian straightened up, glanced at everyone from the Song family and the twenty-one cities' alliance, and coldly said: "From now on, my father's business will not lack your offerings; I'll discuss the details with the Song family tonight; whoever dares to scheme again, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

Translation: "Heng Xian straightened up, glanced at everyone from the Song Clan and the Twenty-One Cities Alliance, and said coldly: 'From now on, my father's business will not lack your offerings; specifics I'll discuss with the Song Clan tonight, and if anyone dares to scheme again, don't blame me for being ruthless!'"

"We don't dare!" a large group panicked and bowed again.

Translation: "'We wouldn't dare!' a large crowd panicked and bowed again."

"Get out!" Heng Xian waved his hand.

Translation: "'Get out!' Heng Xian waved his hand."

The crowd, as if pardoned in a dream, dispersed; the Song family patriarch ran away the fastest.

Translation: "The crowd scattered as if pardoned in a dream, with the Song Clan Ancestor running the fastest."

…… (ellipsis) We need to output translation of ellipsis. Usually we keep as "……" or "...". We'll output "……". The line is just "……". So translation: "……"

Night fell.

Translation: "Night fell."

The Song family mansion.

Translation: "The Song Clan manor."

A spacious, luxurious guest courtyard, with an opulent master bedroom.

Translation: "A spacious, luxurious guest courtyard, an opulent master bedroom."

Heng De and Heng Xian sat facing each other, staring wide-eyed at one another.

Translation: "Heng De and Heng Xian, father and son, sat facing each other, staring."

After a while, Heng De chuckled and said: "I heard my son today was overwhelmingly domineering, crushing the entire twenty-one cities' alliance, with no one able to oppose him?"

Translation: "After a while, Heng De chuckled: 'I heard my son was overwhelmingly domineering today, crushing the entire Twenty-One Cities Alliance—no one could oppose him?'"

Heng Xian nodded: "More or less, this backwater has no experts!"

Translation: "Heng Xian nodded: 'More or less, this backwater has no experts!'"

"Yuan Dan?" Heng De sized him up, trying to ask.

Translation: "'Have you reached Primordial Dan Realm?' Heng De sized him up, trying to ask."

Heng Xian laughed: "Yuan Dan!"

Translation: "Heng Xian laughed: 'Primordial Dan Realm!'"

Heng De sprang up, excitedly gesturing: "You were born on July 4th, and you'll only be twenty-one next July 4th—you're already at Yuan Dan at twenty; won't you soon reach Yuan Ying? Hahaha, my son, you truly have the material of a great emperor! My Heng family will rise!"

Translation: "Heng De sprang up with a 'whoop', waving his arms excitedly: 'You were born on the fourth day of the seventh month; you won't turn twenty-one until next year's fourth of the seventh month—you're twenty and already in the Primordial Dan Realm; won't you soon reach Nascent Soul? Ahaha, my son, you truly have the makings of a great emperor! My Heng Clan has risen!'"

"Keep it low-key!" Heng Xian rubbed his nose.

Translation: "'Keep it low-key!' Heng Xian rubbed his nose."

"Can't stay low-key!"

Translation: "'Can't stay low-key!'"

Heng De paced back and forth, the more he thought, the more excited he became: "Hahaha, look at those Song people, initially so vicious, but when my son arrived, they didn't even hesitate to fetch me; I never expected my offhand remark to come true—this is fantastic!"

Translation: "Heng De paced back and forth, growing more excited: 'Hahaha, look at those Song people—initially they were ruthless, but when my son arrived, they didn't even hesitate to fetch me out; I never expected my offhand remark to come true—this is fantastic!'"

Heng Xian reclined sideways, legs crossed, and said: "Does it matter whether I come or not? Dad suffered no injustice in prison, and he even studied with the jailer the art of visiting brothels—second to none!"

Translation: "Heng Xian lay back, crossing his legs: 'Whether I come or not makes no difference—Father suffered no injustice in prison, and he and the jailer studied the flair of visiting brothels, unmatched!'"

Heng De's old face flushed red: "Boasting aside, they mainly play with sisters; even if I went to a brothel, I'd just drink and fool around—I have feelings for your mother, your mother..."

Translation: "Heng De's old face flushed red: 'Boasting aside, they mainly played with sisters; even if I went to a brothel, I'd just drink and fool around—I have feelings for your mother, your mother...'"

"Don't insult people!" Heng Xian reminded.

Translation: "'Don't insult people!' Heng Xian reminded."

"Oh, I wasn't insulting!" Heng De said embarrassedly: "My true feelings for your mother—heaven and earth can attest—I will never do anything wrong to her!"

Translation: "'Oh, I'm not insulting anyone!' Heng De said embarrassedly: 'My sincere feelings for your mother—heaven and earth can attest—I will never do anything wrong to her!'"

"What a good man!" Heng Xian snorted.

Translation: "'What a good man!' Heng Xian curled his lip."

Heng De smirked arrogantly: "Of course! By the way, have you seen your mother these past few years?"

Translation: "Heng De smirked proudly: 'Of course! By the way, have you seen your mother these past few years?'"

Heng Xian shook his head: "If you don't mention it, I forget she even exists—has she not come back these past few years?"

Translation: "Heng Xian shook his head: 'If you don't mention her, I forget she exists—hasn't she come back these past few years?'"

Heng De shook his head: "No! But we got two letters in between—first expressing longing for me, then caring about your affairs—but overall, it's still longing for me!"

Translation: "Heng De shook his head: 'No! But we did receive two letters in between—first expressing longing for me, then concerning your affairs; all things considered, it's still longing for me!'"

Having said that, he wore a self-satisfied grin.

Translation: "Having said that, his face was full of self-satisfaction."

Heng Xian sighed, looked at his fat, round, unsightly father, and wondered: "How on earth did my mother fall for you?"

Translation: "Heng Xian let out a breath, looking at his father's fat, round, unimpressive appearance, and wondered: 'How on earth did my mother fall for you?'"

Heng De narrowed his eyes slightly: "Moved by my sincerity, simplicity, and kindness!"

Translation: "Heng De narrowed his eyes slightly: 'Moved by my sincerity, simplicity, and kindness!'"

"Her intelligence... is it okay?" Heng Xian pointed at his head.

Translation: "'Her intelligence… is it okay?' Heng Xian pointed at his head."

Heng De snapped: "How can you say that about your mother? She's brilliantly quick-witted, quick to grasp things!"

Translation: "Heng De grew angry: 'How can you say that about your mother? She's brilliantly quick-witted, learns one thing and applies it to many!'"

Heng Xian rubbed his nose: "Then maybe she's not good-looking!"

Translation: "Heng Xian rubbed his nose: 'Then maybe she's not good-looking!'"

Heng De spat: "Look in the mirror at your own appearance—children take after their mother; if you didn't take after her, you couldn't be this handsome. Take after me, and you wouldn't even find a wife!"

Translation: "Heng De spat: 'Look in the mirror at your own appearance—children take after their mother; if you didn't take after her, could you be this handsome? Take after me, and you couldn't even find a wife!'"

The old man still has some self-awareness, and Heng Xian rubbed his nose: "Me too!"

Translation: "The father still had some self-awareness, and Heng Xian rubbed his nose: 'Indeed!'"

Just then, footsteps sounded outside—it was Aunt Heng Ruoyu bringing Steward Xu and a few maids hurrying over.

Translation: "Just then, footsteps sounded outside—Aunt Heng Yue Ruo, accompanied by Steward Xu and several maids, came rushing over."

After entering, without waiting for Heng Xian and his father to react, he immediately sat down, drank a cup of tea, and then said: "The negotiations with the Song family and the twenty-one cities' alliance are over!"

Translation: "After entering, without waiting for Heng Xian and his father to react, she immediately sat down, drank a bowl of tea in one gulp, and said: 'The negotiations with the Song Clan and the Twenty-One Cities Alliance are over!'"

"How so?" Upon mentioning business, Heng De's face turned serious.

Translation: "'How so?' Upon mentioning business, Heng De's expression turned serious."

Heng Ruoyu said: "The Song family and the twenty-one cities' alliance agree to Second Brother's business, to be fully rolled out in the twenty-one cities! We also promise, their tributes will not be less!"

But they were afraid of Xian'er and didn't want to take it; I, following Xian'er's words, still agreed to them and will keep giving as usual!

Heng De looked at Heng Xian: "Xian'er, what are you planning?"

"This is why I didn't hurt them today!"

Heng Xian said: "Now the Heng family's direct line is too few, still unable to attack and occupy other cities and territories; we can only focus on doing business, accumulating resources for development, so we keep them, give them some benefits, continuously earn resources from each city, this is more cost-effective than killing them, which would cause turmoil in the surrounding areas."

Not only them, the Huai Water Four Cities to the west of Donglan City and the River Center and Black Water Four Cities to the north have been crippled by me; they will struggle to recover their vitality in a short time, Father's business must advance quickly.

As for the eastern cities, I'll leave them for the Heng family to practice on!

As for the Heng family ancestral home, we will reward reproduction; whichever household has more male offspring will receive double the rewards.

As long as no monsters appear nearby to change the situation, in a few decades our Heng family will become a super great clan, dominating a radius of a thousand li.

"Wonderful! Really wonderful! This tactic is called 'boiling frog in warm water': internally I profit from resources, externally my son deters; within a few decades our Heng family can truly dominate one side, even founding a state poses no problem!" Heng De slapped his hands excitedly.

Heng Xian tapped the table and said leisurely: "If a talented youngster appears in the family, Father should still not be stingy in nurturing them; I have recently taken in HengWuQue and Heng Xun'er, my peers, whose talent is not bad, their future achievements may exceed the Qi Hai Realm—Father can accept them as disciples."

Heng De nodded: "Good!"

Heng Xian thought again and said: "Father has plenty of resources; remember to collect slaves—the more ruthless and talented the slave, the better, more reliable than those retainers!"

"That's absolutely right!" Heng De nodded, "That fat girl and the eight big horse girls in the mansion—I've used them all since you left; they help me with the business, one is worth two!"

Heng Yue Ruo, listening nearby, felt embarrassed: "You two elders are planning a rebellion! Your words are so scary!"

Only then did the two elders realize Heng Yue Ruo was there, and they couldn't help but laugh embarrassedly.

(End of chapter)