Yang Xuan readily agreed to Du Chengfeng's request.
This might provoke resistance from the clan members, but Yang Xuan had already prepared for it. After all, treating an outsider, especially one who had enmity with the Yang family, so generously was indeed bewildering, and might even lead people to think he had gone mad.
Yet, Yang Xuan himself knew that all of this was worthwhile.
Those who can harness the Evil Qi of weaponry are exceptional beings; those who achieve this are invariably resolute in their determination. Even if they don't achieve fame and fortune or dominate the world, they are entities that the small Yang Family Fort cannot afford to offend. And presently, that man named Du Chengfeng not only isn't causing trouble for the Yang family but even wishes for the Yang family to help him out.
Such a response is far more reassuring than merely laughing off past grievances, as mutual interests are the most stable form of collaboration. Now that the other party seeks help from the Yang family, doesn't that mean the Yang family has overcome the calamity?
"So, can you understand? This is, conversely, an opportunity for the Yang family."
In the Yang family's ancestral hall, Yang Xuan sat upright, earnestly explaining his intentions to the clan's younger members.
"If we can have this hero settle here, at Yang Family Fort, we will firstly have sufficient security. Besides, Jizhou is near the northern desert, known as a strategic place, where local customs are fierce, with countless heroes involved in fights day-to-day... Do you understand my point?"
"This..."
Upon hearing Yang Xuan talk about this, the gathered Yang clan members couldn't help but sit up straight.
They were familiar with the fighting heroes, as strictly speaking, Yang Sanlang from the clan could be counted as one such hero. Unlike Yang Sanlang, a local, there were other heroes with no roots, who, relying on their martial skills and weapons, wander around committing crimes, trying to make a living in this chaotic world.
The term "wander committing crimes" naturally arises because private conflicts are strictly prohibited in the Chen dynasty. Although some might find a secluded place to fight it out without interference, if detected, or if corpses are reported by passing people, the capturers responsible for maintaining order would step in to deal with it.
Thus, it means that the ferocious weapons held by those heroes are hard to find someone to help sharpen.
Most weapon-sharpening craftsmen belong to the court, with some serving in the army, sharpening weapons for soldiers, while others work with capturers, helping to eliminate Evil Qi from their weapons and inspecting murder weapons from criminal cases. If the wandering heroes killed someone, they naturally couldn't seek help from these two, doing so would be akin to walking into a trap and being killed for merit.
While there's a small number of craftsmen capable of sharpening weapons that are scattered among the populace, they are not affordable to these wandering heroes. As previously mentioned, those who can harness the Evil Qi of weaponry have iron resolve, and with such unwavering determination, they are able to pursue success in their chosen endeavors.
In plain terms, everyone has their own business to attend to; if it's relatives or friends, that might be different. But to a stranger, why would someone expend effort sharpening their weapons?
Of course, there might indeed be those who treat sharpening as a hobby, or simply do it for lack of better things to do, but such individuals are either extremely rare or charge exorbitantly. Yet even so, these heroes are still avidly drawn towards them, willing to pay high costs to have their swords and blades fully restored.
After all, for many martial artists, their favored personal sword or blade is as dear as kin.
And now, such a craftsman who can harness the Evil Qi of weaponry, yet is not part of the court, has appeared at Yang Family Fort.
Moreover, this individual is quite willing to sharpen blades.
"I heard about something a few days ago."
It was at this moment that a young Yang clan member recalled something and spoke up.
"Just a few days ago, the famed Swordsman Liu Qingyun from our Jizhou went down to the southern Yan Province to find a reclusive master craftsman to sharpen his blade. You all know his blade was crafted by a blacksmith in Jizhen; the total cost with labor was a thousand coins, just one string of cash... But do you know how much the sharpening cost?"
At this point, the Yang clan youth paused.
"Five hundred strings of cash, and this was said to be a discount price because the master felt sympathy for him."
"Oh..."
The other Yang clan members couldn't help but gasp, and even the older Yang Xuan nearly tugged his beard off.
They had heard of similar things; they knew how martial practitioners valued their weapons. But to spend five hundred strings of cash on sharpening a blade worth just one string, isn't that too...
Should it be called extravagant? Or wasteful?
"Maybe to him, that blade is as important as our Yang family's ancestral weapon."
Yang Xuan sighed, attempting to understand the situation.
But the other Yang clan members had their focus elsewhere.
They instinctively looked towards the direction of the dilapidated courtyard, envisioning a palace of gold.
Even without intermediary commissions, just by spreading word of this, with the influx of people, the Yang Family Fort could earn plenty!
"Uncle is right! We ought to let him stay! Treat him like an ancestor!"
Who knows which Yang clan member shouted first, but soon many others nodded in agreement.
At this moment, they felt they finally understood Yang Xuan's wisdom; indeed, having an elder is like possessing a treasure. It was through the relentless sacrifice of this clan uncle that a radiant avenue was opened for the Yang Clan of Jizhou.
But then, a voice of opposition suddenly rang out.
"No! Absolutely not!"
Yang Sanlang appeared at the door of the ancestral hall, dragging his heavily wounded body.
"My Yang Clan's ancestral weapon is still in his hands, which is an immense disgrace for our Yang family! How can you..."
"Ancestral weapon as significant deserves to be with a person of virtue!"
Upon hearing Yang Sanlang's words, a young Yang clan member immediately stood up.
"Since the sword landed in that hero's hands, it indicates he is virtuous, thus the sword should be his. Why are you protesting here?"
"I..."
Yang Sanlang wanted to say more but was escorted away by a few Yang clan members guarding the door, returned to his quarters, ostensibly for recovery.
Meanwhile, the rest of the Yang clan members began to discuss enthusiastically.
Although the ancestral weapon was in a stranger's hands, which was no small matter, they were already prepared to treat that person like an ancestor, so by extension, they were honoring the ancestral weapon as well. As long as they could keep that person at Yang Family Fort, it essentially made no difference. If necessary, they could even move the shrine, which was an acceptable course of action.
Moreover, as that individual previously mentioned, if the sword were returned to them, could they wield it?
It would be better to maintain the current situation; at least now the ancestral weapon had truly become a force defending Yang Family Fort, rather than merely being displayed on a shelf.
"If you can think this way, that would be the best."
At this point, Yang Xuan glanced towards the direction Yang Sanlang had been taken, issuing a barely detectable sigh.
Yet soon after, Yang Xuan recomposed himself, his expression turning solemn.
"Since we're all clear, let's start taking action."