Martial Saint with Passives

’He... he won’t hold a grudge against me, will he?!’

He felt his vision go dark, a sudden sense of suffocation washing over him. His eyes filled with terror for the future.

And so, with a heart full of apprehension and utterly bewildered, Jiang Dawu followed the steward. Amidst the envious, jealous, and confused gazes of his fellow workmen, he boarded a magnificent carriage that slowly set off toward Prince Zhao’s Mansion.

...

Before long, Jiang Dawu was led into a grand and imposing hall.

He looked up and saw the majestic King of Lin Yuan—a man he would normally not even dare to look at directly.

But now, the King was acting like a humble Young Servant, bowing and respectfully attending to a young man who had his back to him!

Jiang Dawu’s heart leaped in shock!

’What kind of person could make His Majesty act like this? Could it be... a person of great importance from the Capital City?’

Filled with apprehension and still utterly bewildered, he walked inside. He was just about to kneel and pay his respects as custom dictated.

Seeing this, Zhao Kang was scared out of his wits. He leaped forward and desperately held him back!

"Oh, sir! You mustn’t! You absolutely mustn’t!"

Jiang Dawu was even more confused, having no idea what was going on.

Just then, the young man with the tall, straight posture suddenly turned around.

When the young man saw Jiang Dawu’s weather-beaten face, his eyes instantly reddened, and two streams of tears rolled uncontrollably down his cheeks!

He rushed to Jiang Dawu’s side, seized his large, calloused hands, and with a voice choked with emotion, dropped to his knees!

"Dad!"

Jiang Dawu froze on the spot, as if struck by lightning!

Dad?

He looked at the young man before him. Though his face seemed somewhat unfamiliar, there was a hint of recognition in his features. In disbelief, he asked tentatively,

"You... Are you... Che’er?"

"Dad! It’s me!" Jiang Che could no longer suppress his emotions. "I’m your son, Jiang Che!"

Jiang Dawu reached out a trembling hand and gently caressed Jiang Che’s cheek.

He hadn’t recognized him at first.

Because Jiang Che had grown so much. He was no longer the sallow, skinny boy he once was.

Now, thanks to years of Cultivation and proper nourishment, he stood tall and straight, with handsome features and an unfathomable aura.

But the familiar contours of his face, the spirit deep within his eyes, gradually merged with the memory of his stubborn son.

’It’s Che’er... there’s no mistake... it really is Che’er!’

Tears instantly welled up in Jiang Dawu’s cloudy old eyes as well!

After so many years, father and son finally embraced tightly in the lavish hall, weeping with joy!

Watching this touching reunion from the side, Zhao Kang felt a storm raging in his heart!

’He... he’s actually... the son of a craftsman under my command?!’

’This top-tier expert of the True Master Realm, someone even Gu Song fears... is actually... the son of a craftsman I captured?!’

An icy chill shot up from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his skull!

Without another moment of hesitation, he dropped to the ground with a THUD and began kowtowing desperately to the two of them!

"True Master, spare my life! True Master, spare me! I was blind not to recognize your greatness! I beg you... please, be magnanimous and spare this lowly one!"

Jiang Dawu’s heart skipped a beat. He suddenly realized that from the very beginning, Zhao Kang had been utterly respectful to his son. And now, his desperate kowtowing and begging for mercy showed he was terrified to his core.

Just what... had his son become?

Jiang Che helped his father up and turned to look at Zhao Kang, who was still kowtowing desperately on the floor. His aura instantly turned deep and frigid.

"Seeing as you found my father, I will spare your pathetic life for now!"

"As for what comes next... that depends on you!"

"Yes, yes, yes!" Zhao Kang reacted as if he’d received a heavenly pardon, nodding his head repeatedly. "Thank you, True Master, for giving this lowly one a chance! This lowly one will do his utmost! I swear it!"

Jiang Dawu grew even more puzzled. He tugged on Jiang Che’s sleeve and asked in a low voice, "Che’er... a True Master? What does ’True Master’ mean?"

Jiang Che looked at his father and smiled. "Father, it’s a long story. I’ll explain it all to you later. By the way, where’s Mother? Why didn’t she come with you?"

At the mention of his wife, the joy on Jiang Dawu’s face vanished, replaced by worry. "Your mother... she’s still in the dormitory. Lately... she’s been sick..."

"What?! Sick?" Jiang Che was alarmed. "Quick! Take me to her!"

Seeing this, Zhao Kang didn’t dare delay for a second. He leaped to his feet and led the way.

"Sir! True Master! This way, please! This way!"

And so, the three of them hurried toward the craftsmen’s dormitories.

...

Mrs. Zhou lay in bed, a little worried.

Her husband had said he was going out to wash the bowls, but he hadn’t returned for a long time.

Outside, the faint sounds of a commotion drifted in, but she didn’t know what was happening.

She wanted to go out and see, but in her frail condition, she didn’t even have the strength to get out of bed.

’Dawu... he hasn’t gotten into some kind of trouble, has he...’

Just as her thoughts were running wild, a knock came at the door.

"Ma’am, it’s me, Foreman Wang."

Mrs. Zhou was startled and grew even more confused.

’Foreman Wang? What is he doing here?’

She struggled to sit up in bed and answered weakly, "The door’s unlocked. Come in."

The door was pushed open and Foreman Wang walked in, his chubby face, which was usually set in a stern expression, now wreathed in smiles.

"Ma’am, Brother Jiang and I had a bit of a misunderstanding earlier. When you see him... could you put in a good word for me?"

As he spoke, he placed the many gifts he was carrying, bag after bag, onto the worn-out wooden table.

"This is just a small token of my goodwill. You absolutely must accept it!"

Mrs. Zhou was even more bewildered. Looking at the fawning foreman before her, she was momentarily speechless.

’What... what’s gotten into him? Why has my husband’s boss had such a complete change of heart today?’

She shook her head and said weakly, "Foreman Wang, I can’t accept these gifts. Misunderstanding or not, we’re all neighbors here. It’s fine, I’ll talk to him later."

"Oh! Thank you so much!" Foreman Wang said, looking as if he’d been granted a great pardon. "Actually, it’s like this. You know how Brother Jiang borrowed some money from me before... that was all a misunderstanding! I remembered it wrong. He paid it all back long ago! Every last bit!"

"Borrowed money?" Mrs. Zhou paused, then glanced at the half-eaten chicken still in the pot. A sudden realization dawned on her.

Still, she couldn’t understand why Foreman Wang’s attitude had changed so drastically.

Foreman Wang had barely left when, unexpectedly, the chief steward of the craftsmen’s district arrived!

Mrs. Zhou’s heart was now in utter turmoil!

’Why has this important figure come here too?!’

The steward was also carrying various expensive gifts, and he inquired about her health with immense concern.

Then, he began to beat around the bush, trying to find out from Mrs. Zhou how exactly Jiang Dawu had managed to connect with His Majesty.

However, Mrs. Zhou herself was completely in the dark, so what could she possibly know?

Seeing that he couldn’t get any information out of her, the steward didn’t dare to disturb her any further for fear of causing offense. He quickly made an excuse and took his leave as well.

Just then!

Suddenly, an even greater commotion erupted outside!

It was followed by the rhythmic CLANG of soldiers’ Armor clashing together!

Since the door was still open, Mrs. Zhou subconsciously glanced outside.

With a single glance, she was completely frozen in shock!

She saw the King of Lin Yuan—that same majestic figure they normally wouldn’t even dare look at—bowing like a Young Servant, a fawning expression on his face, personally guiding two people in her direction!

One of them was, to her astonishment, her husband, Jiang Dawu!

And beside her husband was a young man with a tall, straight posture.

But the distance was too great for her to see his face clearly.

Yet for some reason, Mrs. Zhou felt that this person... seemed a little familiar!

What... what in the world was going on?!