Oliver Shangguan had no fondness whatsoever for his cousins.
“No need to trouble yourselves,” he said indifferently.
To him, these direct descendants of the Shangguan family were nothing but useless. Despite having access to abundant family resources, they had only managed to reach the Postnatal Realm. He couldn’t help but scoff at their incompetence.
Now that he had switched to practicing the Flood Dragon Devouring Technique, he was confident he could reach the Grandmaster Realm. Achieving that would be enough to support an entire family branch.
“Patriarch, according to our family rules, any outstanding descendant of the Shangguan family is allowed to establish a new branch. Now that His Majesty has conferred upon me the title of Viscount, I am qualified to establish my own branch,” Oliver Shangguan said calmly.
“You!!”
Ulysses Shangguan was momentarily speechless. Indeed, the Shangguan family had such a rule.
He had initially intended to win Oliver over, to mend their relationship, and to leverage the connection with Champion Marquis Oliver Sheng. This way, the younger members of the Shangguan family could join the military, earn merits, and secure titles.
Given that Oliver Shangguan had earned his title through merit, Ulysses thought that if Sawyer Shangguan and others joined the military, they too could earn titles and strengthen the Shangguan family.
However, Oliver Shangguan’s immediate intention to establish a new branch upon his return infuriated him.
But now, with Champion Marquis Oliver Sheng backing Oliver Shangguan, Ulysses found it difficult to control him.
“Patriarch, my son has been conferred the title of Viscount and is qualified to establish a new branch. As his father, I fully support this decision. It contributes to the growth and development of the Shangguan family,” said Oliver Shangguan’s father, who had initially been reluctant to leave the family residence.
He realized that staying in the family residence would only constrain his son. It was better to branch out.
“Fine, fine, since you’ve decided, do as you wish,” Ulysses said, his face darkening as he turned and left.
Oliver Shangguan was determined to establish his own branch, and Ulysses couldn’t stop him due to the family rules.
“Hmph, you think you can establish a new branch of the Shangguan family? Don’t come crying back, begging to have your name re-entered into the family register,” Sawyer Shangguan sneered.
Oliver Shangguan ignored him. Feeling it was pointless to argue, Sawyer and the others left.
Watching them leave, Oliver Shangguan smiled faintly.
“Son, if you establish a new branch, the Shangguan family might not support you,” Oliver Shangguan’s father said worriedly.
“No matter. His Majesty has rewarded me with a thousand gold pieces, and the General has given us a substantial amount of silver. I have enough money for now. Father, Mother, pack up. I’ll take you to stay at the General’s residence for a couple of days,” Oliver Shangguan said to his parents.
After defeating the Barbarians, they had looted a significant amount of gold and silver. Each person had received generous rewards, so money wasn’t an immediate concern for him.
“Alright, dear, go pack. We’ll go with our son,” Oliver Shangguan’s father said.
“I’ll pack right away,” Xu Huiru said, gathering clothes and the few dozen taels of silver they had saved over the years.
Then, the family of three left the Shangguan residence.
“You all will be confined for a month. No one is allowed to leave. Anyone who disobeys will have their legs broken,” Ulysses Shangguan ordered Sawyer and the others.
“Yes, Uncle!” They dared not disobey.
Ulysses Shangguan returned to his courtyard, his face grim. If he had sons instead of just a daughter, he would have driven these nephews out long ago.
“What’s wrong, Father?” Shangguan Haitang asked, seeing her father in a foul mood.
“Haitang, it’s your useless cousins. Do you think they can bear the responsibility of developing our family in the future?” Ulysses said, looking at his beloved daughter, feeling exhausted.
“Our cousins have indeed acted poorly,” Shangguan Haitang said, raising an eyebrow.
A family should support and love each other, but her cousins took pleasure in bullying their half-brothers.
Looking at his daughter, who had already reached the early Innate stage and had been training at Xuanjian Mountain for years, Ulysses thought he might consider grooming her as the family heir.
After all, the current Emperor of Great Wei was a woman. Who said a woman couldn’t be the head of the family?
…
Oliver Shangguan brought his parents to the Champion Marquis’ residence.
“Son, are we really going to stay here?” Xu Huiru asked, looking at the grand residence, which was even more luxurious than the Shangguan family residence.
Having been mistreated and unappreciated, the elderly couple felt a bit intimidated.
“Don’t worry. I’ve spoken to the General. He’s very kind and said we could stay here for a couple of days,” Oliver Shangguan said with a smile.
“Come on, it’s alright, Father, Mother!”
Oliver Shangguan led his parents into the residence.
“Hey, Brother Shangguan is back. These must be your parents!” Zane Wang greeted them with a smile.
“Father, Mother, this is my colleague, Colonel Zane Wang,” Oliver Shangguan introduced.
“Hello, hello,” his parents replied with smiles.
“Brother Shangguan, take your parents to find a room. The General said we might depart for River West tomorrow,” Zane Wang said.
“Alright, I’ll find a room for my parents first,” Oliver Shangguan nodded.
“Brother Shangguan, Uncle, Aunt,” Wang Zhan greeted them with a smile as they passed by.
Seeing how friendly Oliver Shangguan’s colleagues were, his parents felt reassured.
Oliver Sheng had gone to the palace and returned with an Imperial Edict.
The edict appointed him as the Military Governor, overseeing Ding Prefecture, Yong Prefecture, and the River West Protectorate.
With this edict, Oliver Sheng could rightfully control the military and political affairs of the three regions.
He wasn’t sure why the Empress had given him such unprecedented authority.
With the edict in hand, Oliver Sheng didn’t plan to stay long. River West still needed his presence.
“The General is back.”
“General!”
Oliver Sheng smiled and nodded.
“Commoners pay respects to the Marquis!” Oliver Shangguan’s parents quickly bowed.
Dressed in his Kylin Marquis Robe, Oliver Sheng looked incredibly dignified to them.
“General, these are my parents,” Oliver Shangguan quickly introduced.
“So these are Uncle and Aunt. No need for formalities, make yourselves at home,” Oliver Sheng said with a smile.
Despite his kindness, the elderly couple still felt a bit uneasy. After all, Oliver Sheng was a Marquis of Great Wei, a status even higher than the head of the Shangguan family.
“We depart for River West tomorrow. Be ready tonight,” Oliver Sheng instructed.
“Yes, General!”
The next day, Oliver Sheng set out with Oliver Shangguan, Zane Wang, and fifty personal guards.
“Marquis, His Majesty sent me to see you off,” Jade Han said at the gate of the residence.
“Thank you, Miss Jade,” Oliver Sheng replied with a smile.
Dressed in his black Kylin Marquis Robe, with a golden jade belt around his waist, Oliver Sheng looked imposing. Oliver Shangguan, Xiao Chuyi, Wang Zhan, and others followed on horseback.
The fifty personal guards, carrying battle flags, swords, and arrows, looked around with sharp eyes.
As they marched, the common people made way, admiring the majestic soldiers.
These guards had followed Oliver Sheng into countless battles, their presence exuding a natural aura of intimidation, also known as killing intent.
“Is Champion Marquis returning to River West?” people recognized Oliver Sheng and his entourage.
“The Marquis in the Kylin Robe looks so majestic and handsome!”
“That’s what a real man should be like!” someone said enviously.
“Marquis!”
“Farewell, Marquis!”
Someone shouted loudly.
Oliver Sheng responded with a smile and a nod.
“Farewell, Marquis!”
Amidst the cheers of the crowd, Oliver Sheng and his group left the city.
They hadn’t gone a hundred meters when Oliver Sheng suddenly sensed a sharp sword aura coming at him.
He raised his hand and shattered the sword aura with a single palm strike.
“Who dares to assassinate the Marquis!” Oliver Shangguan and the others immediately became alert.
They had just left Luo Capital, and someone had already made an attempt on Oliver Sheng’s life. How audacious!
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