"Marry?" Teng Qingshan connected, "Father, Mother, this is far too soon to discuss. I have no intention of marrying for the time being." "What kind of talk is that." Teng Yongfan frowned, putting down his chopsticks to reprimand, "Qingshan, of the three unfilial acts, having no heir is the greatest!

Marriage isn't about whether you want to or not, it's something you must do! Even if you don't think of yourself, you must think of your mother and me.

We're waiting to hold our grandchildren." Qingyu, standing nearby, covered her mouth to stifle a giggle. Teng Qingshan felt bitterness well up inside.

The thinking in this ancient era was completely different from the modern age. In modern society, people valued having children highly, let alone this ancient time where the continuation of the family line was more important than life itself!

If Teng Yongfan had dared to say he never wanted to marry today, even with how much he loved his son, his father Teng Yongfan might have angrily picked up his iron spear and struck him. "Brother Fan, Qingshan only just turned adult a few days ago, why are you in such a hurry?" His mother, Yuan Lan, reached over to tug at Teng Yongfan, "Didn't you only have a son when you were twenty-eight?" "Precisely because I was late, Qingshan needs to be earlier." Teng Yongfan was still quite annoyed, "Marry early, have children early!" Having a son at twenty-eight was truly considered late by their standards.

Take his Uncle Teng Yongxiang, only two years older than Teng Yongfan, but Teng Yongxiang's son, 'Teng Qinghao,' was already twenty-seven, turning twenty-eight after the New Year rites. He was a full twelve years older than Teng Qingshan.

He even had three children already. How could Teng Yongfan not be anxious?

Since he himself started late, naturally, he wanted his son to start sooner. "Father, getting married isn't something where earlier is always better," Teng Qingshan tried to explain.

"I'm not saying I won't marry, just that I'm not rushing to marry." The previous life was the previous life; this life was this life. Having been enveloped in profound familial affection these years in Teng Family Village, Teng Qingshan was long past being the cold-blooded assassin of his former life.

He didn't want to remain unmarried for his entire life in this present existence because of past matters. Even considering his parents, he absolutely had to take a wife someday.

However... it was impossible for Teng Qingshan to simply marry someone just because she was pretty or pleasing to the eye.

That was highly improbable. "Father, when finding a wife, I need to find someone whose heart aligns with mine," Teng Qingshan joked with a smile.

"Hmm." Teng Yongfan finally felt a bit more mollified. "Qingshan," Teng Yongfan continued, "How many wives do you plan on marrying in the future?" "Pfft." Qingyu, who was eating, spurted out rice grains, glaring at her father in displeasure, "Father, you and your uncles, don't most of them only have one wife?

Why are you bringing this up?" Teng Qingshan was left speechless with a wry smile. "What do you know, child," Teng Yongfan said sternly.

"Look at your maternal grandfather; he had three wives. Your Third Uncle, who lives on the west end, also has two wives.

The more capable a man is, the more wives he should marry! Go look in the city; which of those big merchants doesn't have a whole bevy of wives?" Teng Qingshan covered his head.

What a headache! If he hadn't carried the memories of his past life, he might have become accustomed to it, but Teng Qingshan truly wasn't comfortable with this notion.

Teng Qingshan knew about those merchants. The main wife, the equal-ranking wife, and then a horde of concubines, resulting in a large brood of children.

Among the common folk, since many couldn't even support themselves, they naturally married only one wife. Those with a bit of means taking two or three wives was also normal.

"Brother Fan, why don't you take another wife?" Mother Yuan Lan asked Teng Yongfan from the side. Teng Yongfan smiled: "A'Lan, having you is enough for me." He reached out and took Yuan Lan's hand, "But Qingshan is more capable than me, he should marry a few more.

A man's prowess is judged first by his bravery and martial skill, and second by how many children he has! The more children, the better for passing down the family enterprise in the future." "Father!" Teng Qingshan hesitated, but decided he had to broach this matter first.

"What, unhappy?" Teng Yongfan retorted, questioning Teng Qingshan. "No, there is something I must tell you," Teng Qingshan said with a measure of seriousness.

"Speak." Teng Yongfan listened attentively as well. "Father, two years ago when I fought the second-in-command of the Iron Mountain Gang, you already know that I possess the strength of ten thousand jin.

And now, compared to then, my strength has slightly improved. By external standards, I should be considered a First-Rate Martial Artist," Teng Qingshan stated.

"Mm." The couple, Teng Yongfan and Yuan Lan, listened closely to their son's account. Teng Qingshan continued, "I sense that the conflict between the White Horse Gang and the Iron Mountain Gang is growing increasingly fierce, and there will likely be a result soon.

I intend... once these two gangs have settled their score and Yicheng returns to peace, and Teng Family Village settles down.

I plan to leave Teng Family Village and join the Guiyuan Sect!" "Leave Teng Family Village?" Qingyu cried out in surprise from the side. Conversely, Teng Yongfan and Yuan Lan showed no surprise; they exchanged a glance.

From the moment Teng Qingshan was born into this world, he had harbored the desire to venture out into the world and witness the experts of this realm. Otherwise, what was the point of his non-stop, grueling cultivation every day?

Forcing him to remain confined to the land of Teng Family Village his entire life, Teng Qingshan likely couldn't bear it. "Qingshan," Teng Yongfan smiled, patting Teng Qingshan's shoulder, "Your mother and I actually anticipated that one day you would bring this up." "When you were six," Teng Yongfan chuckled, "Your maternal grandfather and the others insisted you enter the Guiyuan Sect.

They even forced you, locking you in the woodshed. But you didn't want to leave then...

Your mother and I have always known that a genius son like you, our small village couldn't hold for long." Yuan Lan beside him also smiled, "Qingshan, Mother is happy. A man's ambition lies in traveling far.

Which famous heroes in Yicheng haven't ventured out into the world to carve out their reputations?" "Mother," Teng Qingshan noticed his mother's eyes were reddening. "Qingshan, with your strength, joining the Azure Lake Island would be effortlessly accomplished.

You should also know that Azure Lake Island is one of the Eight Great Sects of the Nine Provinces. It is much stronger than the Guiyuan Sect," Teng Yongfan said.

Indeed, among the Nine Provinces of Yangzhou, the foremost sect, 'Azure Lake Island,' was one of the Eight Great Sects of the Nine Provinces. As for the Guiyuan Sect, although it was considered second only to the 'Iron Cloth Gate' in Yangzhou, on the vast lands of the Nine Provinces, it ranked dozens of places lower.

"Father," Teng Qingshan smiled, "After all, the Guiyuan Sect controls our Jiangning Prefecture, so after I join, I will still be within the territory of Jiangning Prefecture. Moreover, I can often come back to see you!

With my strength as a First-Rate Martial Artist, joining the Guiyuan Sect, I believe it won't be hard to rise up. Then, I can also help our Teng Family Village." Teng Yongfan's eyes lit up, and he clapped Teng Qingshan's shoulder: "Worthy of being Teng Yongfan's good son!" "Mm, Qingshan, it makes me happy if you visit your mother once a year," Yuan Lan's eyes were rimmed with red.

"The rest of the time, work hard on your future; your own affairs are more important." "Father, Mother, I haven't left yet. I won't be able to settle down and go to the Guiyuan Sect until the chaos in Yicheng is quelled," Teng Qingshan explained.

"Mm." Teng Yongfan nodded, then looked at his wife, "A'Lan, since Qingshan has decided to go to the Guiyuan Sect in the future. Then...

don't agree to any of those matchmakers. My son's future achievements will far surpass those of the three leaders of the Iron Mountain Gang or Fourth Master Hong of the White Horse Gang.

The wife he marries in the future will be a young lady from a scholarly family, skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting." Teng Qingshan couldn't help but smile. He understood the mindset of the people of Teng Family Village; marrying a young lady skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, in their eyes, was an act that brought glory to their ancestors.

* The news that Teng Qingshan was preparing to leave Teng Family Village did not spread; only the clan leader and a select few others knew. Everyone strongly supported Teng Qingshan's decision.

A man's ambition lies in traversing the world! Only those with capability could go out and make their mark.

At the same time, they were pleased that Teng Qingshan was choosing to join the Guiyuan Sect rather than the Azure Lake Island. Once Teng Qingshan held a high position within the Guiyuan Sect, the Teng Family Village would benefit.

... A few days later, on the thirtieth day of the twelfth lunar month, the day of the New Year Rites.

This day was very lively in Teng Family Village; everyone gathered to feast and drink, quite joyfully. In the early evening, a batch of youths from Teng Family Village officially came of age.

Among them was Teng Qingshan. In the evening, torches lit up the surroundings of the martial arts field, and many clansmen gathered around tables to eat and drink.

"Qingshan! Congratulations on coming of age, now you can marry and have children, haha...

Come, my brother and I will have a toast." Teng Qinghao approached, holding a large bowl. Teng Qingshan smiled and raised his own large bowl: "Come, bottoms up!" The two bumped bowls, then tilted their heads back and downed the contents completely.

"Brothers," a sturdy man wearing a black leather coat next to them looked at Teng Qingshan and the others, smiling, "I have something to announce." "Qinghu, what good news is it?" The youths of the Teng Clan all looked at Teng Qinghu. Teng Qinghu smiled: "Barring any accidents, I will be getting married next year." "You rascal Qinghu, we've been urging you for ages, and you're finally getting married," Teng Qinghao couldn't help but laugh and curse.

After all, once the New Year Rites passed, Teng Qinghu would be a full twenty-two years old. A twenty-two-year-old man in Teng Family Village was almost always married.

"Cousin." Teng Qingshan grabbed Teng Qinghu's arm and pulled him aside, lowering his voice, "Cousin, what are you thinking? Didn't you say you planned to join the Guiyuan Sect with me after the chaos in Yicheng settled?

How come you're getting married so suddenly?" "Qingshan," Teng Qinghu smiled, "A true man certainly must venture out into the world. But marrying a wife and then joining the Guiyuan Sect is fine too.

Anyway, when I have established myself in the Guiyuan Sect, I will bring my wife over! Before this, I didn't marry because I hadn't found the right one, but this one...

Qingshan, I fell for your future cousin-in-law at first sight."