Marquis General's Mansion

After two sunsets and sunrises, they could vaguely see a village ahead with wisps of cooking smoke rising. Once he believed Qingguang Sect would not find him, Yue Qianchou stopped, panting heavily, and returned to the golden pearl.

The huge pile of spirit-stone bundles was still there. Shi Xiaotian sat dejectedly with his head bowed, apparently having given up hope of getting out. Yue Qianchou shook his head at the sight, passed through the woods, and strolled into the bamboo pavilion. He gave the peerless beauty within a bitter smile. "Sister, let him out. I'll take him outside."

The white fox stopped playing her zither and glared at him slightly. Without saying a word, she slowly rose and gracefully stepped out of the bamboo pavilion, her white robes fluttering as she walked toward the edge of the woods. Seeing spirit stones scattered everywhere among the trees, her delicate brows could not help but furrow.

Yue Qianchou followed close behind her. The alluring figure before him was as beautiful as ever, yet the feeling of temptation she had once stirred in him had vanished without a trace. He could not explain why, but he no longer had any desire to taste her fragrance. Perhaps he had grown too accustomed to calling her Sister, and in his subconscious, he had truly come to regard her as his own sister.

The two stood before Shi Xiaotian, watching him mutter to himself. He paid no heed to the two people before him; though heaven was inches away, he could see nothing. Strangely, Yue Qianchou looked around and found no formation or anything similar. How, then, had Xiaotian been trapped? He looked at the white fox beside him and sighed. "Drawing a circle on the ground and making it a prison? Sister, what fine methods you have. Teach me sometime too!"

"It cannot be used before the Foundation Establishment Realm," the white fox said softly. Her slender fingers formed a hand seal, and immediately dozens of white lights sprang out of the ground in every direction around Shi Xiaotian. Yue Qianchou looked closely and discovered that the things that had popped out were actually spirit stones. Sister waved her jade-like arm, and dozens of spirit stones clattered down onto the piled bundles nearby.

So she had simply used materials at hand. That was enough to trap Shi Xiaotian for two days without escape. Yue Qianchou was speechless.

"Do not bring irrelevant people in to disturb my peace again. Do you hear me?" the white fox rebuked him. There was truly something of an elder sister scolding her younger brother in those words. Yue Qianchou gave an awkward laugh. "Sister's lesson is correct."

"Hmph!" The white fox snorted coldly, her figure flashing away and vanishing. Yue Qianchou knew she had gone back to play that lousy zither of hers. Doesn't she get tired of playing the same thing over and over? He wondered whether he ought to find her a boyfriend, then smiled again. It probably would not work. This bargain-bin Sister of his was a complete fool for love.

"Boss, where are you?! Come save me! Have you really abandoned Xiaotian..."

Shi Xiaotian sat on the ground, muttering the same words over and over. Once Yue Qianchou heard what he was saying, he could not help smiling. Of all people to provoke, this fellow had chosen a fox demon who had cultivated for a thousand years and reached the late Tribulation stage. He walked over, kicked him twice in the rear, and barked, "What dream are you having? Come back with me."

Boss's voice! Shi Xiaotian froze, then sprang up. He turned around and saw that familiar face wearing its wicked grin right before him. He was so excited that he was about to say something when his boss reached out and grabbed him. His vision blurred, and when he could see clearly again, the surroundings had already changed. Fortunately, his boss was still standing before him.

"Boss!" Shi Xiaotian seized Yue Qianchou's arm, afraid he would run off again. Then he rattled on without pause, pouring out his entire miserable experience.

Yue Qianchou looked at him coldly. "Are you finished?" Shi Xiaotian was startled and nodded dumbly, indicating that he was done. Yue Qianchou then launched into a torrent of abuse, cursing him from head to toe. The gist of it was: Do you know who you provoked? That was my Sister. If not for my sake, she would have dug out those lecherous eyes of yours long ago.

Shi Xiaotian was nearly dazed stupid by the scolding. After staring blankly for quite a while, he scrutinized his boss's face suspiciously and muttered, "How can siblings look so different?" Fortunately, Yue Qianchou did not hear him, or he would have been dealt a savage blow.

"Boss, where is this?" Shi Xiaotian asked as he looked around.

Yue Qianchou smiled at him and let out a long breath. "I don't know where this is either. But from today onward, Qingguang Sect will no longer have the two of us. And we will no longer need to watch Qingguang Sect's face."

What he said was true. When Lu Wanqian returned to Qingguang Sect, many people asked about Yue Qianchou. The answer they received was—he had probably already died at the hands of the Hundred Charm Demoness. This made the elders beat their chests and sigh in regret.

The capital of the Huaxia Dynasty was a bustling and prosperous place. Carriages and horses flowed like water, while people came and went in an endless stream. Taverns and teahouses lined both sides of the smooth streets, and every kind of shop could be found. Walking down the streets, one could hear vendors crying their wares everywhere. From time to time, beautifully dressed young women could be seen in groups of three or five, chirping and cooing as they solicited customers. The signs behind them were nothing more than places such as the "House of Red Delight" or the "Hundred Flowers Tower."

The girls of the pleasure houses had long trained eyes sharp enough to see through fire and gold. They could tell at a glance who had money and who did not. For example, upon seeing the two men walking down the street now, they feared them like the plague and avoided them at all costs.

Yue Qianchou and Shi Xiaotian smiled wryly. Their current appearance truly was not very presentable. After traveling ten thousand miles through dust and hardship, they had finally reached this flourishing capital.

Why had the two come here? Because Shi Xiaotian missed home. Also, after leaving Qingguang Sect, neither of them could think of anywhere else to go for the time being. Yue Qianchou himself was interested in seeing the capital as well.

"Marquisate of the Pillar State?" Far from the bustle of the marketplace, Yue Qianchou read the plaque above an imposing entrance. He looked at Shi Xiaotian suspiciously. "Are you sure this is your home? You haven't made a mistake, have you?"

One could not blame him for asking. Shi Xiaotian had taken him down the wrong road several times while looking for his home. After all that tossing about, he had now led him to a place with such a terrifying signboard.

Shi Xiaotian silently shook his head. As he gazed at the magnificent entrance, tears welled in his eyes.

Yue Qianchou gave him a disdainful glance. This unlucky kid burst into tears at the drop of a hat—truly unbearable. Still, judging from this, they had probably come to the right place. He said no more and waited with his arms folded.

The two remained silent for a while. Just as Shi Xiaotian was about to step forward and knock on the gate, "Clip-clop, clip-clop..." a burst of urgent hoofbeats came from afar. They turned to look. Several dozen riders galloped swiftly toward them, soon charging up before the pair.

"Stop!" The young general in dark silver armor at the head of the group raised a hand and shouted. He yanked hard on the reins, and his powerful steed reared up on its hind legs with a long neigh. The dozens behind him followed suit, bringing their charging warhorses to a halt. All of them leaped from their saddles together, their iron armor clattering. Their bearing was truly extraordinary.

Good heavens! This was far more impressive than in the movies. Yue Qianchou watched with intense envy.

The gates of the Marquis General's Mansion opened slowly with a heavy rumble. A servant came out and called, "Second Young Master has returned!" Smiling broadly, he ran up to the young general and took the reins.

The Young General swept his gaze over Yue Qianchou and Shi Xiaotian at the gate. His eyes paused briefly on Shi Xiaotian, then he looked ahead and strode into the mansion.

"Second brother!"

The Young General had just stepped onto the stairs when he heard the voice and shuddered violently. His helmeted head slowly turned back, and he looked at Shi Xiaotian in disbelief. After examining him from head to toe, he turned around in astonishment. "Third Brother? Is that you, Third Brother?"

"Second brother! It's me, I'm Xiaotian!" Shi Xiaotian staggered toward him.

"Third Brother, it really is you!" the Young General cried. The two brothers ran toward each other and embraced. The servant holding the horse was stunned, then handed the reins to a soldier beside him and hurried into the mansion.

After exchanging a few words in their embrace, the Young General suddenly held Shi Xiaotian by the shoulders and pushed him back, examining his younger brother from head to toe. "Third Brother, weren't you taken away by an immortal to cultivate? How did you end up like this? And this is..." His last question was directed at Yue Qianchou. The latter nodded and smiled at him.

Shi Xiaotian found it difficult to put into words. Tears still stained his face as he shook his head and choked out, "Are Father and Mother in good health?"

"Haha!" The Young General laughed heartily and patted his brother on the shoulder. "Come, let's talk inside." Then he beckoned to Yue Qianchou. "This brother must be my Third Brother's friend. Please, come in and have a seat."

Yue Qianchou cupped his hands in thanks and followed the two brothers into the General's Mansion. The moment he passed through the gate, he felt a wave of nobility pressing toward him. Pavilions and towers stood all around, flowers and greenery clustered in abundance, and servants moved back and forth between them, displaying the family's extraordinary eminence.

Before the three reached the grand hall with its carved beams and painted rafters, a group of people came hurrying toward them around a beautiful woman. From afar, she called, "My third son!" Shi Xiaotian broke free from his brother's arm and ran toward her, shouting, "Mother!"

The mother and son, long separated, embraced and wept bitterly. Shi Xiaotian even dropped to his knees and refused to rise. Yue Qianchou could not stand scenes of tearful sobbing, so he simply closed his eyes to rest. Shi Xiaotian's second brother glanced at him, his brows knitting slightly.

"Mother, Third Brother, Eldest Brother has returned," the Young General said with a smile. Then he turned and called, "Eldest Brother, look who has come home."

Yue Qianchou, who had been resting with his eyes closed, also heard someone approaching from behind. He opened his eyes and turned to look.

A young man dressed like a civil official strode in through the gate with a broad smile. Hearing his second brother's words, his smile vanished. He looked doubtfully toward the person kneeling at his mother's feet, then cried out upon seeing clearly, "Third Brother, why have you returned? You... how did you end up in this state?" As he spoke, he assessed his raggedly dressed younger brother, his eyes filled with astonishment.

Shi Xiaotian rose and shyly called out to the newcomer, "Eldest Brother!"

"Haha! Third Brother has returned! Good, good, good! Today truly brings double happiness to the door!" Shi Xiaotian's eldest brother clapped and laughed. Everyone was somewhat baffled by his words. The general, Second Brother, said blankly, "Double happiness? Could it be that Eldest Brother has taken a fancy to some family's young lady? Now that Third Brother has returned, tell us about it."

The eldest brother in civil official's robes glared at Second Brother and ignored him. He walked over to Shi Xiaotian, patted him on the shoulder, and laughed. "Third Brother, we will soon be fellow travelers on the same path. Haha! As it happens, today was quite a coincidence. While I was out touring with several colleagues, we encountered an Immortal Master of profound power. The Immortal Master saw at a glance that I possessed spiritual roots, and has already agreed to accept me as his disciple before long. Third Brother, wouldn't that make us fellow travelers on the same path in the future? Haha!"

The baffled expressions on everyone's faces fell into his eyes, making him laugh even more proudly. Then he suddenly noticed Yue Qianchou, who was likewise dressed in rags. His laughter came to an abrupt stop, replaced by an arrogant expression. Frowning, he snorted, "Who is this person? Since when has the Marquis General's Mansion become a place where anyone can come and go as they please?"

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