A Clash of Gods - Chapter 120

Chapter 120 The Tiger Came Back
Yang Ning knew that Gu Qinghan needed silver urgently now, so he was determined to get back all the tax silver next day.

But today the dowager’s attitude surprised Yang Ning. She told everybody in public that she would let him manage the mansion, which caught him off guard.

Although after Qi Jing died, the marquis’ mansion would be left to the heir sooner or later, it made Yang Ning feel curious as the dowager said that without hesitation.

After all, not long ago, the heir of the Marquis of Honor was almost an idiot in everybody’s eyes, and the dowager certainly knew that. Just in a few days, she told him to manage the mansion, and any normal person would be astonished.

But Yang Ning felt happy after breaking away from the Qi clan.

Those people fawned upon the rich and powerful people and had their own ulterior motives. If they were tangled all the time, Yang Ning would dislike the Qi clan more and more, but now they had broken away and only the marquis’s family was left. He felt relieved and had new feelings for the marquis’ mansion.

He came to this world for no reason and his soul was in the body of a guy named Ermine. Then he knew that it was almost impossible for him to come back to the world that he was familiar with. Since he was in this era, he needed to survive.

Because he saved Xiaodie, he became the heir of the Marquis of Honor. In the beginning, he just wanted to find Xiaodie depending on the power of the marquis’ mansion and always tried to find a chance to sneak away then. He never planned to stay in the mansion for long.

But after these days, Yang Ning sometimes even had a wrong feeling that he was a member of the marquis’ family. Especially after sensing Gu Qinghan’s concern about him, he had a warm feeling from time to time.

When the marquis’ mansion was in trouble, the third elder lord and the other members in the Qi clan had ulterior motives, and Qi Yu and his mother did something sneakily. Yang Ning believed that if he didn’t show up from nowhere, the real heir of the Marquis of Honor would hardly escape from the disaster and Gu Qinghan might end up miserable.

He didn’t have a strong sense of identity in the marquis’ mansion, but now he suddenly found that he seemed to have become the biggest pillar in this large and honorable mansion when he didn’t realize. If he left, this mansion would collapse at any time.

People were evil, and Yang Ning didn’t want Gu Qinghan and even the innocent people in the marquis’ mansion to be in a desperate situation.

Without the Qi clan’s disturbance, Yang Ning was still willing to stay in the marquis’ mansion and at least try his best to help the mansion out of the slump. Even if he couldn’t make his wish come true, he would take Gu Qinghan away at worst in the most difficult time.

Since he would survive in this world, he would rather start from this high position than go to another place.

Although he would be in danger when he was in this position, he understood that everywhere in life was full of challenges and crisis. He was an inconspicuous beggar in Huize as a start and was engaged in a fight. He would rather start his new life as the heir of the Marquis of Honor than struggle to live as a civilian.

When he was pondering, he heard a voice suddenly. “Ning, what’s wrong with you?”

Yang Ning came back to reality and found that Gu Qinghan was next to him. It was dark at night, and the moonlight fell on her tender cheeks. She was beautiful with a young woman’s charm.

“I called you for a long time, but you didn’t answer. What are you thinking about?” Gu Qinghan asked in a low voice.

Yang Ning laughed. “Aunt, you are tired after a trip of several days. You didn’t go to bed? I didn’t think about anything but just planned to take back the tax silver next morning.”

Gu Qinghan sighed gloomily. “In this situation, I have nothing to say. But in the future, we should be more careful. I am just worried that they won’t give up.”

“Aunt, you are wrong. We are the ones who won’t give up.” Yang Ning sneered. “That old man almost killed us, and I won’t let him go so easily.”

Gu Qinghan pondered for a while and finally stated, “The dowager seems to…feel pity for Qi Yu.”

“After all, he is also her grandson, but why did she agree to expel them from the mansion?”

Gu Qinghan responded, “You still don’t understand her effort? If I say that you are ignorant, you are quite smart sometimes, but if I say that you are clever, you are confused sometimes.” She raised her slender arm and put some black hair beside her cheek behind her ear, which looked fascinating. “The dowager wants to help you enhance your prestige. She told you in public to manage the mansion and allowed you to expel Qi Yu from the mansion. She just wanted to make every word of yours carry weight in the mansion.”

“I see.” Yang Ning sighed. “But I don’t know…if I can take the responsibility.”

Gu Qinghan blinked and asked playfully, “Didn’t you fear nothing? What? Are you afraid now?”

“I am not afraid.” Seeing this young and beautiful woman’s charming expression, Yang Ning was excited. “Anyway, you will help me, Aunt. If there is something wrong, with you around, I won’t be afraid of anything.”

“Now you have become oily-tongued?” Gu Qinghan showed a sweet smile and then frowned slightly. “But you can’t pretend that you didn’t hear the dowager’s words today.”

“Which words?”

“The dowager told Qi Yu that if he could correct his mistakes, he would have a chance to return to the mansion. She said that to Qi Yu and also to you.” Gu Qinghan lowered her voice. “No matter what wrong he did, he is your brother, and you can’t be too harsh on him.”

Yang Ning furrowed his brows. “Aunt, others don’t know that, but you are clear. If he succeeds, can he let me go? If I am too soft-hearted to such a man, I would be cruel to myself.”

“I know your intentions.” Gu Qinghan sighed. “But you can’t ignore the dowager’s feelings. Qi Yu lives an extravagant life since childhood and has never suffered. You kicked them out, and I am only worried…”

“You are just too soft-hearted.” Yang Ning sighed. “You look cold sometimes, but you are the kindest…”

Gu Qinghan wrinkled her brows and glared at Yang Ning. “What did you say? I look cold? Bloke, say it again.” She pretended to reach out her hand and try to grab his ear.

Yang Ning raised his hands to surrender. “It’s my fault. Aunt, don’t get angry.” Then he asked, “What do you plan to do?”

Gu Qinghan replied softly, “How about this? I send somebody to find a residence for them outside first, and we will leave them alone for some days and see if they would change. If they really want to correct themselves, we can tell somebody to find a job for Qi Yu. We can’t let them starve to death.”

“A leopard can’t change its spots.” Yang Ning shook his head. “Aunt, since you said that, just do it.”

At the moment, they heard the footsteps and then a voice. “Your Excellency, you are back.” The footsteps were hurried, and the two raised their heads to have a look, to see that Duan Canghai and Zhao Wushang came over one after the other.

Yang Ning found that Duan Canghai walked vigorously, but Zhao Wushang was feeble. They were contrary. Yang Ning’s brows spread, and he laughed. “Uncle Duan, you are back.”

Duan Canghai and Zhao Wushang stepped forward to salute him, and Yang Ning supported them. “Don’t need to. You suffered a lot these days.”

Duan Canghai chuckled. “I didn’t take it seriously and just went out to idle away for a few days.” He pointed at Zhao Wushang. “But this guy, Young Master didn’t kick him out of the mansion, but he followed me out and drank with me for several days.” He glared at Zhao Wushang. “Zhao, I paid for the liquor these days, but you drank more than me. I am not afraid of suffering losses, and you just give me half of the money.”

Zhao Wushang was expressionless and responded, “You can take my life, but I don’t have…money!”

Duan Canghai cursed, “Son of a bitch, you are extremely stingy. I am afraid that except me, a sitting duck, nobody is willing to make friends with you.”

Zhao Wushang glanced at Duan Canghai and expressed casually, “It’s enough to have one friend like you.”

After he said that, Duan Canghai was stunned and then stroked his beard. “Do you think that after saying that, you can avoid paying for the liquor? No way.”

Yang Ning felt happy to see the two and asked, “Did somebody look for you and tell you to come back?”

“No. We just drank in a tavern on the front street. If you came back to the mansion, you would pass there.” Duan Canghai giggled. “So we just patiently waited for you to come back. Others abandoned us, but I have the confidence that you will let us stay, Your Excellency.”

Yang Ning laughed loudly. “Uncle Duan, from now on, I will have to rely on you. I was expelled from the Qi clan, and the family of the Marquis of Honor will be alone in the future.”

Duan Canghai was astonished, and Yang Ning told him simply. Then Duan Canghai nodded slightly and stated, “Your Excellency, when we stayed in the marquis’ mansion, we were determined to be in front of the mansion even if we died.” He added seriously, “I will be loyal to you and won’t regret till death!” Then he knelt down on one knee.

Zhao Wushang also went down on one knee and was stingy to say more. “Won’t regret!”

Yang Ning rolled his eyes at Zhao Wushang and thought, “What do you mean by saying that? You didn’t say it clearly, and you have the right to explain.”

He walked forward quickly and was about to help them up, but he was fine when he didn’t move. After he took one step forward, he felt a stab of pain in his chest, which came all of a sudden. Yang Ning trembled and bent down, raising his hand to cover his chest.

“Ning…” Gu Qinghan screamed.

Duan Canghai found something wrong and looked up, to see that Yang Ning’s face turned ghastly pale in an instant and he looked miserable, going to fall. Then he rushed up and supported Yang Ning. He grabbed Yang Ning’s left hand and put his fingers on Yang Ning’s pulse. He just touched it, and his expression changed suddenly. Afterward, he said in a deep voice, “Help His Excellency lie down.”

Zhao Wushang stepped forward. The two men helped Yang Ning lie down. Duan Canghai tore off Yang Ning’s clothes before his chest, which was revealed. Then he patted Yang Ning’s chest.