Volume 1,Chapter 37: Fellow Disciples of Cang Feng

After leaving the palace, Xingtian Dafeng and his brothers were completely drunk, shouting and singing loudly as they staggered through the streets of Anyi, causing the townsfolk to quickly move out of their way. Xiahou, feeling helpless, had initially wanted to ask where Shang Tang and his entourage were staying in Anyi, but there was no way to approach them. Instead, he had Bai carry his Sun-shooting Bow, while he supported the stumbling Xingtian Dafeng and Xingtian Xuanjie. Several Heiyan Army soldiers carried the other drunken brothers, and they hurried back to the Xingtian mansion.

As they approached the gates of the Xingtian residence, they saw a large carriage speeding out of a side gate. When the carriage slowed down upon seeing Xiahou and his group, he noticed a pretty face glaring at him from the open window. The woman's eyes were filled with extreme resentment and malice as she stared daggers at Xiahou.

Recognizing her as the daughter of the Anyi Magistrate, whom he had insulted into unconsciousness on the street a few days ago, Xiahou chuckled to himself. "This girl isn't giving up, huh?" He thought. Previously, he might have feared her retaliation, but after today's banquet, his status had significantly risen. He was now a favored figure in the Summer King's court, someone the Anyi Magistrate couldn't easily touch. The feat of defeating 851 Atlantean soldiers alone was enough to grant him several promotions, as promised by the Summer King. Even if she wanted to retaliate, there wasn't much she could do to him now.

Mimicking the arrogant manner of the Atlantean soldiers, Xiahou huffed dismissively through his nose at the girl. Her face turned pale with rage, and she screamed, "Worthless slave, get out of the way!" A beam of green light shot from the carriage door, striking the driver. The driver, writhing in pain, whipped the strange beast pulling the carriage and sped away.

Xiahou, his facial muscles twitching with anger, muttered, "Little harlot." For the first time in his life, he found himself truly hating someone.

Xingtian Pan, still laughing foolishly, turned and asked Xiahou, "A harlot? Where's the harlot? Bring her to my room."

The Heiyan Army officers exchanged glances, sighed, and hurriedly escorted the drunken brothers back to their rooms. They knew it was better for them to cause trouble inside the estate rather than in public.

Servants from the Xingtian family quickly appeared, skillfully supporting the drunken brothers and leading them to their quarters. Xiahou, after dismissing the Heiyan Army officers, stood at the gate for a moment before heading towards his own quarters to check if the cart of money and goods promised to him had arrived.

As he approached his quarters, Xiahou was stopped by Xingtian Huaying, draped in black, her long hair flowing, surrounded by a dark aura like a specter. Holding a bouquet of strange black flowers, Huaying, with her head lowered, asked coldly, "Savage, were you the one who insulted Pan Hua on the street?"

Bai, silently slipping through the gate, fixated his blood-red eyes on Huaying's back, his sharp claws slowly emerging, ready to strike.

Xiahou laughed, "Not long ago, I did insult an unreasonable woman on the street. Huaying, are you friends with that woman?"

Huaying's face turned pale with anger, "Savage! How dare you speak so rudely? Pan Hua is the daughter of the Anyi Magistrate and my childhood friend. Insulting her is insulting me. Today, I'll teach you a lesson so you know the rules of the Xingtian family!"

Xiahou's eyes glinted dangerously as he retorted, "Miss, you are mistaken. I did nothing wrong that day. Just because someone is from a noble family, does that give them the right to trample on others? You, Huaying, are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, but your inability to distinguish right from wrong makes you no better than a common woman."

Huaying, her eyes filled with rage, shouted, "Did you just call me a common woman?"

Xiahou raised his head disdainfully, "Even common women understand respect and morality. But you, Huaying, stand up for your friend without discerning the facts. You are worse than a common woman! As the saying goes, 'Women and petty people are hard to deal with.' How true!"

Huaying, seeing stars from anger, nearly fainted like Pan Hua did. Raised in nobility, adored and protected by all, who dared speak harshly to her? Xiahou's words drove her to the brink of madness.

Raising her right hand, a swirl of black energy formed, and without hesitation, she shot it straight at Xiahou's heart.

With a beastly roar, Bai dropped the Sun-shooting Bow, his claws extending like sharp blades, aiming for Huaying's back. The White Tiger energy Xiahou had taught him shot forth, extending a foot from his claws with a piercing sound, closing in on Huaying.

Although Huaying was a powerful two-cauldron sorcerer, she focused on spiritual power rather than physical training. Her delicate body couldn't withstand Bai's deadly attack. Hearing the whoosh behind her, she turned pale, the image of Bai's terrifying beast face flashing in her mind, making her scream in terror.

A figure flashed. Bai was pushed back by a dense force, and the black energy aimed at Xiahou was caught by a white-flamed hand and crushed. A powerful, rough voice boomed, "Huaying, you've gone too far. Do you not know that Xingtian Baolong is your elder brother's friend? How dare you attack him so viciously? If you could kill him, that would be one thing. But to be almost hurt by a mere beast, what use are you?"

Xingtian Shisan stood before Xiahou, eyes flashing angrily at Huaying, "Pan Hua is just another of your playthings, spoiled and useless. You harm a valuable guest of your brother's for a plaything? What sense is that? Go to your room and reflect for six months. No arguments."

Huaying, stunned, yelled, "Third Uncle, why are you siding with an outsider?"

Shisan's eyebrows shot up, his face twisted with fury as he slapped Huaying so hard she flew several feet away, rolling on the ground. "Outsider? Insider? You were wrong! I won't argue who was right, but harming a valuable guest for a plaything is wrong! Today, it's a guest; tomorrow, will you harm your own family for others? Get to your room and reflect for six months. If I find you mingling with those people and breaking our family's rules, I'll personally kill the Ninth Prince before he becomes king! Our family members are not to collude with the princes until one is crowned. This is the rule. Do you want to die?"

Xiahou took a step back, observing as Xingtian Shisan sternly reprimanded the pale-faced Xingtian Huaying. He nodded to himself, thinking, "It seems Huaying has crossed the line. The elders of the Xingtian family must have been dissatisfied with her for some time, and today they found an excuse to act. Xingtian Shisan certainly didn't hold back. Such a delicate girl, and he slapped her so hard her face swelled up like a pig's head. What a pity."

Huaying, now truly frightened, scrambled to her feet, bowed to Xingtian Shisan, and hurried away. Xingtian Shisan snorted coldly, "I warned you last time, yet you remain incorrigible. Rather than letting you disgrace our family further, it's better to deal with you now."

With a chilling tone, Xingtian Shisan continued, "Remember this, Huaying. Our Xingtian family has over 79,000 direct descendants and more than 100,000 collateral ones. Your elder brother is the eldest grandson, chosen to serve in Anyi, and unless he makes a major mistake, he will become the head of the family. But you? If you err, you can easily be replaced by one of your sisters."

Huaying, trembling, nodded quickly and, without looking back, turned into a cloud of black mist and fled.

Xingtian Shisan's expression softened as he patted Bai's head. He seemed genuinely impressed, praising, "What a fine creature. You almost managed to take down a two-cauldron sorcerer with a sneak attack. Is she that foolish, or is this little one that formidable?"

Turning to Xiahou, Xingtian Shisan examined him thoroughly before nodding in satisfaction, "Savage, your words to Huaying were well-spoken. Our Xingtian family, as the foremost of the four great sorcerer families, values reason. You were in the right, so Huaying deserved punishment. Your extraordinary talents mean you should assist Dafeng diligently."

Xiahou quickly bowed, "It's my duty. Xingtian Dafeng is my friend, and I will assist him with all my strength."

Xingtian Shisan nodded and smiled, "The elders are pleased with Dafeng. Despite the setbacks in recent years, they've been intentionally testing him and his brothers. Our family has many rules that may seem unreasonable, but they're necessary. We have many descendants, and only a few are chosen to serve in Anyi, based on established rules.

"You, as a valued guest, have earned the head of the family's favor because of your abilities. This is also a rule. Unlike the useless people Dafeng previously recruited, you have talent and thus deserve preferential treatment. This is why I could punish Huaying on your behalf. She lacks your potential; this is our rule."

Xingtian Shisan continued, "Our family's dominance over the Nine Provinces is due to our strength and our adherence to merit. You, Chihu Baolong, have ability and talent. Serve Dafeng well, and the elders will handle any problems."

His eyes gleamed as he handed Xiahou a small white jade bottle, emitting wisps of smoke. Tossing it to Xiahou, he said, "Inside are nine Poison Dragon Pills. Take them over thirty-six days, and your sorcery power will significantly increase. With the war against the Atlanteans approaching, you'll need the strength to survive and earn military merits. Aim to become a one-cauldron great sorcerer. With the Wind-Breaking Arrow and Mountain-Splitting Arrow techniques, it'll be hard for you to die on the battlefield."

Xiahou weighed the heavy bottle in his hand and asked, "Why such generosity to a savage?"

Xingtian Shisan turned back, surprised, "You have the Sun-Shooting Technique, don't you? That's a rare fortune. Naturally, we must support you and win your loyalty. If a Sun-Shooting Arrow sorcerer emerges from our Xingtian family, it's a great boon. No one in Anyi wants to learn the Eastern barbarian sorcery, even if it's divine. But you have the technique and the willingness to learn it. Your strength and talent make you valuable, and we will protect you accordingly."

Xiahou blinked and looked back at Xingtian Shisan, who poked Xiahou's chest a few times with his finger, laughing heartily. "You savage really hit the jackpot, stumbling upon the Sun-Shooting Technique. Do you think the family head would bestow a Poison Dragon Pill worth over a hundred pieces of prime jade on a talentless fool? Dream on! Focus on enhancing your sorcery power, and after mastering the Sun-Shooting Technique, serve our Xingtian family well."

Xingtian Shisan continued confidently, "Now the entire sorcerer world knows that Chihu Baolong is part of the Xingtian family. We don't use violence to force loyalty; we prefer to win people over with sentiment. I've said my piece; I, Xingtian Shisan, don't do hypocritical acts. Train hard."

With a loud whooshing sound, Xingtian Shisan disappeared from sight.

Xiahou glanced at the Poison Dragon Pill in his hand and casually tossed it into his pouch, muttering, "The Xingtian family's approach might be blunt, but I like it. Sure, if you want me to risk my life, you better pay me well. But claiming a single pill is worth over a hundred pieces of prime jade? That's absurd! Equivalent to swallowing ten small cities whole?"

Entering his courtyard, Xiahou was taken aback. The sorcery of the Xingtian family truly had transformative power. What was once a small courtyard had expanded tenfold. The modest residence had become an elegant complex, with seven interconnected pavilions nestled among tall bamboo, exuding tranquility and elegance.

Besides the two boys assigned to him, there were now a dozen additional servants, all beautiful young girls. As Xiahou walked in, they knelt and greeted him in sweet, delicate voices, "Master."

Startled, Xiahou quickly shouted, "Everyone, stand up. From now on, no kneeling in this courtyard. Anyone who disobeys will be sent away." Not being from this era, Xiahou found such customs difficult to accept.

The maids, evidently well-trained, immediately stood up, bowing their heads in obedience.

The two boys, named Qing Tai and Mo Zao, hurried over, bowing repeatedly with cheerful smiles. "Sir, you've returned! Someone delivered three carts of money and goods earlier. We didn't dare make decisions on our own, so we placed everything in front of your residence for you to inspect."

Xiahou was stunned. In just one day, the promised reward had tripled. He couldn't fathom why the Xingtian family suddenly valued him so highly.

Was it because of the Sun-Shooting Technique? It's just a top-tier sorcery technique, right? The ancestral techniques of the four great sorcerer families are supposedly of the same caliber. What's the big deal? From Xiahou's understanding of this era's sorcerer families, they never act without expecting something in return. As Xingtian Shisan bluntly stated, they must see immense value in him to offer such generous treatment. Yet, Xiahou couldn't pinpoint what made him so valuable to them.

While pondering this, a sudden whirlwind rose, and a dozen figures in high crowns and long robes appeared within two yards of Xiahou.

Startled, Xiahou wondered who could bypass the sorcerous defenses of the Xingtian family's estate.

Bai leaped forward, ready to strike, when Cang Feng's voice rang out, "Bai, don't attack. My body can't withstand your claws. Brother Zhi Hu, come meet my uncle-master, Wu Guang Zhenren. Compared to him, my powers are negligible."

An elderly Taoist with a gaunt face, clad in a white robe and wearing a genial smile, stepped forward and bowed to Xiahou. "Chi Hu Jushi, I am Wu Guang. Greetings."

Recognizing the familiar aura of Taoist magic emanating from Wu Guang, Xiahou felt a surge of warmth and quickly returned the bow. "Junior Zhi Hu Baolong greets Wu Guang Zhenren." Truly, by seniority, Wu Guang was many generations ahead of him.

Without any barriers, Xiahou and the group of Taoists quickly became acquainted, sharing laughs and conversation. Wu Guang Zhenren was particularly delighted, sensing the Taoist essence in Xiahou's speech, and invited him into the residence. The elder and junior Taoists drank fragrant tea and chatted throughout the night.

Xiahou felt an overwhelming sense of excitement. He remembered Wu Guang Zhenren's name from his previous life, a renowned and powerful figure. Because of his past life's experiences, Xiahou felt a deep sense of belonging. He had finally found his community.