Chapter 22

Zhen Yao, holding his stomach, gritted his teeth and got up from the ground. Looking at Yuan Fang's indifferent and cold expression, he was both shocked and angry.

"How is this possible? This bastard's martial arts are clearly much worse than mine. How could he knock me down with just two punches?"

Zhen Yao was confused and ashamed, standing there panting, feeling awkward and at a loss.

"Hmph, this is the consequence of looking down on me. You brought it upon yourself." A hint of sarcasm flashed in Yuan Fang's eyes.

Of course, they wouldn't know that Yuan Fang's body possessed an extraordinary recovery ability. Relying on this ability, Yuan Fang had trained in martial arts day and night, almost to the point of self-mutilation.

After a month of intense training, Yuan Fang's martial arts had advanced by leaps and bounds. Combined with the experience gained from the battle in Gannan, he had reached the initial stage of the Sinew Contraction technique.

Yuan Fang's strength and reflexes had reached a new level. Dealing with someone like Zhen Yao, who was a level below him, was naturally no problem.

Amidst the astonished gazes, Yuan Fang turned around and stared directly at Zhen Yi with a sharp gaze.

The calm demeanor was gone, and a fierce and deadly aura was surging out of Yuan Fang's body.

Zhen Yi suddenly felt a chill run down his back, unable to meet Yuan Fang's gaze, and a layer of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

After a long stare, Yuan Fang bowed and said coldly, "Uncle Zhen, thank you for your hospitality. I will take my leave now. The day I come to propose will be the day I lead my troops to marry your daughter."

With that, Yuan Fang turned and walked out, his sleeves fluttering.

The Zhen family servants, who were on either side, all bowed their heads and retreated, unable to get out of his way fast enough.

Even Zhen Yao, who was blocking the hall, subconsciously took a step back, not daring to block Yuan Fang's path.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Yuan Fang walked away with his head held high.

The hall was silent, as if everyone had been frozen by Yuan Fang's aura.

After a while, Guo Jia came to his senses and hurriedly followed out.

The suffocating atmosphere finally eased.

Everyone secretly let out a sigh. The Zhen family father and son looked at each other, their expressions awkward and shocked, as if they had tasted a bitter pill.

Outside the window, Zhen Mi, hiding in the shadows, watched Yuan Fang's retreating back and nodded slightly, her bright eyes filled with a hint of satisfaction.

Only after Yuan Fang disappeared from sight did Zhen Mi let out a light breath. Suddenly, as if remembering something, she turned and hurried away.

Yuan Fang had left with the words "I will lead my troops to propose," which sounded almost like a threat.

Guo Jia hurriedly followed behind, panting and catching up, and asked curiously, "I didn't expect the Second Young Master's martial arts to have advanced so quickly. I was worried for a moment just now."

"Thank you for your concern, Fengxiao. Let's go to Quliang City. I'll treat you to a good drink," Yuan Fang laughed heartily, in high spirits.

The Zhen family father and son had looked down on him, but Yuan Fang's display of power had given him a great sense of satisfaction, and his mood was naturally very good.

Leaving the Zhen family, Yuan Fang and his group turned onto the main road and continued toward Quliang City.

They hadn't gone far when a rider suddenly galloped up from behind. The rider was a woman, calling out, "Second Young Master, please wait."

Yuan Fang stopped and looked curiously at the woman as she approached.

Riding up, the woman didn't dare get too close, and from a few steps away, she asked, "Which one of you is the Second Young Master Yuan?"

"I am." Yuan Fang spurred his horse forward and asked, "Who are you?"

The young man's handsome face made the woman blush, and she lowered her head, saying, "I am Xiaocui, Miss Mi's personal maid."

Miss Mi? Zhen Mi?

Yuan Fang looked at her with a puzzled expression and asked, "What do you want with me?"

Xiaocui then remembered and hurriedly spurred her horse forward, handing something to Yuan Fang and smiling, "My lady has a gift for you, please accept it."

Yuan Fang subconsciously took it and was about to ask when Xiaocui giggled and galloped away.

"Strange..."

Yuan Fang shook his head and looked down, seeing that the item in his hand was a delicate sachet.

A faint fragrance wafted up, pleasant and inviting.

"Zhen Mi sent a maid to give me a sachet from so far away. Could it be that..." Yuan Fang vaguely guessed the meaning but wasn't quite sure.

He even guessed that Zhen Mi was the servant who had dressed as a man in the Yuan family that day, and the one who had secretly sent him a letter to rob the Zhen family of the one million coins they were sending to Yuan Xi, was also Zhen Mi.

If his guess was correct, Zhen Mi seemed to have feelings for him.

"If Zhen Mi has feelings for us, this illegitimate son without status, then she is truly an extraordinary woman..."

Yuan Fang looked at the sachet in his hand, lost in thought.

"Secretly giving a sachet, congratulations, Second Young Master. It seems Miss Zhen Mi has feelings for you."

Yuan Fang was startled and turned to see that Guo Jia had ridden up on a donkey and was smiling at the sachet in his hand.

Yuan Fang smiled faintly, "So what if she does? Without strength, everything is just talk."

With that, Yuan Fang put the sachet away and spurred his horse forward, head held high.

Guo Jia turned his donkey and looked at the young, composed back, his face flushed with alcohol, and a meaningful expression appeared on his face. He muttered, "This Yuan Fang has the makings of a hero. Guo Jia, do you still need to rush to Yanzhou?"

Muttering to himself, Guo Jia also urged his donkey and followed.

After entering Quliang and then Handan, two days later, Yuan Fang and his group arrived in Ye City.

Together, they entered Ye City. Yuan Fang was heading to the Yuan family residence in Zhengyang, while Guo Jia was returning to his own residence. They were about to part ways.

"Fengxiao, it seems we must part here. Do you still need to rush back to your hometown in Yingchuan?" Yuan Fang asked with a smile.

Guo Jia hesitated for a moment, shook his wine gourd, and said with a smile, "Although my hometown is nice, the wine here seems better. I plan to stay in Ji Province for a few more days and enjoy the wine to my heart's content."

Guo Jia's plans had changed, and Yuan Fang guessed that he was already considering his invitation.

Yuan Fang was secretly pleased and said, "If so, I still have good wine in my camp. If you are interested, you can come anytime, and we can drink to our heart's content."

"Thank you, Young Master. Take care, and farewell." Guo Jia bowed and slowly rode away on his donkey.

Watching Guo Jia ride away, Yuan Fang said softly, "Yuan Gui, send a few people to keep an eye on Guo Fengxiao. If you see any signs of him crossing the Yellow River to the south, bring him to me by force."

"I understand, Young Master." Yuan Gui hurriedly made the arrangements.

Although Guo Jia was interested in Yuan Fang's invitation, Yuan Fang couldn't be sure that he would definitely come to join him.

Such a talented person, Yuan Fang couldn't let him fall into Cao Cao's hands. He had to have a backup plan, and if necessary, he would have to use force.

After seeing Guo Jia off, Yuan Fang spurred his horse and headed straight for the Chariot General's residence.

In the garden of the military residence, Yuan Shang was accompanying his birth mother, Lady Liu, enjoying the spring scenery.

Lady Liu turned and gave a subtle signal, and the maidservants tactfully stepped back, following at a distance.

Lady Liu then said, "Shang'er, I heard that Xianyi, under the pretext of pacifying the Black Mountain Army, has again requested your father to increase his troops. Is this true?"

"It is true," Yuan Shang nodded.

Lady Liu's brows furrowed slightly, and she murmured, "Xianyi and Xiansi are gaining more and more troops. This is not a good thing for you."

"Mother is right. I have been worried about this recently, but I have no strategy to deal with it," Yuan Shang sighed.

Just then, a trusted servant hurried over and bowed, saying, "Madam and Young Master, the Second Young Master has returned to the residence and requests to see the Young Master."

Hearing this, Lady Liu and Yuan Shang exchanged a glance, their expressions subtly changing.