Marquis General's Mansion

After two sunrises and sunsets, a village with wisps of cooking smoke could faintly be seen ahead. Believing the Qingguang Sect wouldn't find him, Yue Qianchou, panting, stopped and returned to the golden bead.

The large pile of Spirit Stone bags was still there. Looking at Shi Xiaotian, he sat there dejectedly, as if he had no hope of getting out. Yue Qianchou shook his head, walked through the woods, and strolled into the bamboo pavilion. He smiled wryly at the peerless beauty inside and said, "Sister, let him out! I'll take him out."

The white fox stopped playing the zither, glared at him slightly, said nothing, slowly stood up, and gracefully walked out of the bamboo pavilion. Her white robes fluttered as she walked towards the edge of the woods. Seeing the Spirit Stones scattered everywhere within the woods, her delicate brows couldn't help but furrow slightly.

Yue Qianchou followed closely behind. Her graceful figure ahead was still beautiful, but the feeling that once tempted him was gone. He couldn't explain why, but he no longer had any desire to be intimate with the white fox. Perhaps it was because he had gotten used to calling her "Sister," and subconsciously, he truly considered her his sister.

The two stood before Shi Xiaotian and watched him mutter to himself, ignoring the two people standing before him. Although they were so close, Shi Xiaotian could see nothing. Strangely, Yue Qianchou looked around but found no formations or anything similar. Why was Shi Xiaotian trapped? He sighed at the white fox beside him, "Is this 'drawing a circle to confine'? Sister, you have great skills. Teach me sometime!"

"You can't use it until you reach the Foundation Establishment stage," the white fox said softly. She formed a hand seal, and immediately, dozens of white lights shot out from the ground in various directions around Shi Xiaotian. Yue Qianchou looked closely and saw that what shot out were actually Spirit Stones. With a wave of his sister's arm, dozens of Spirit Stones clattered onto the pile of cloth bags beside them.

So, she had used the surrounding resources to trap Shi Xiaotian for two days. Yue Qianchou was speechless.

"From now on, don't bring unrelated people in to disturb my peace. Do you hear me?" the white fox reprimanded. Her words carried a tone of a sister scolding her younger brother. Yue Qianchou chuckled sheepishly, "Sister is right."

"Hmph!" The white fox snorted coldly, her figure flickered, and she disappeared. Yue Qianchou knew she had gone back to playing her infernal zither. He wondered if she ever got tired of playing it repeatedly and thought he should find her a boyfriend. Then he chuckled again; it probably wouldn't work. This cheap sister was a complete love-struck fool.

"Boss, where are you! Come save me! Did you really abandon Xiaotian and leave him..."

Shi Xiaotian, sitting on the ground, kept muttering. Hearing what he was saying, Yue Qianchou couldn't help but laugh. This guy picked the wrong person to offend, actually provoking a fox spirit who had cultivated for a thousand years and reached the late Tribulation stage. He walked over, kicked Shi Xiaotian's backside twice, and yelled, "What are you dreaming about? We're going back."

The boss's voice! Shi Xiaotian froze, jumped up, and turned around. The familiar face with a mischievous smile was right in front of him. He was so excited he was about to say something when he saw his boss reach out and pull him. Then his vision blurred. When he could see his surroundings clearly again, the scene had changed. Fortunately, his boss was still beside him.

"Boss!" Shi Xiaotian grabbed Yue Qianchou's arm, afraid he would run off again. Then, he chattered incessantly, pouring out all his miserable experiences.

Yue Qianchou looked at him coldly and said, "Are you done?" Shi Xiaotian blinked, nodded blankly, indicating he was finished. Then Yue Qianchou launched into a furious scolding, essentially saying, "Do you know who you provoked? That's my sister. If it weren't for my sake, she would have dug out those lecherous eyes of yours long ago."

Shi Xiaotian was a bit stunned by the scolding. After a moment of blankness, he stared at his boss's face suspiciously and then muttered, "How can two siblings look so different!" Fortunately, Yue Qianchou didn't hear him, or he would have been severely provoked.

"Boss! Where is this?" Shi Xiaotian asked, looking around.

Yue Qianchou smiled at him and let out a long sigh. "I don't know where this is either! But from today onwards, we two will no longer exist in the Qingguang Sect. We won't have to curry favor with the Qingguang Sect anymore."

What he said was true. When Lu Wanqian returned to the Qingguang Sect, many people asked about Yue Qianchou. The answer they received was that he had probably died at the hands of the Hundred Charm Demoness. This made all the Elders sigh with regret.

The capital of the Huaxia Dynasty was a lively and prosperous place. Carriages and horses bustled, and people came and went in an endless stream. On the smooth streets, wine shops and teahouses stood side by side, with all sorts of shops catering to every need. Walking on the street, the cries of vendors could be heard everywhere. Occasionally, one could see elegantly dressed beauties, in groups of three or five, trying to lure people on the street. Looking at the shop signs behind them, they were nothing more than places like 'Yihong Courtyard' or 'Hundred Flowers Tower.'

The girls from the brothels had long since developed a keen eye for money. They could tell at a glance who had money and who didn't. For example, the two people walking on the street now were people the girls avoided like the plague.

Yue Qianchou and Shi Xiaotian smiled wryly. Their appearances were indeed rather unkempt now. After a long journey, they finally arrived in the bustling capital, covered in dust.

Why did they come here? Because Shi Xiaotian missed home, and also because they had left the Qingguang Sect and couldn't think of anywhere else to go for the time being. Yue Qianchou also had the interest to see the capital.

"Marquisate of the Pillar State?" Far from the hustle and bustle of the city, in front of a magnificent gate, Yue Qianchou read the plaque and looked at Shi Xiaotian suspiciously, saying, "Are you sure this is your home? Are you sure you're not mistaken?"

It wasn't his fault for asking. The latter had led him the wrong way several times while looking for his home, resulting in much trouble. Now, he had led him to a place with such a daunting sign.

Shi Xiaotian shook his head silently, looking at the magnificent gate, tears welling up in his eyes.

Yue Qianchou glanced at him disdainfully. This unlucky kid cried at the drop of a hat, which was unbearable. However, from the looks of it, they hadn't mistaken the place. He didn't say anything else and waited with his arms crossed.

The two were silent for a moment. Just as Shi Xiaotian was about to knock on the door, "Thump, thump, thump..." hurried hoofbeats could be heard from a distance. The two turned their heads to look. Dozens of horsemen were rapidly approaching from afar and soon rushed up to them.

"Halt!" shouted a young general in dark silver armor, pulling hard on the reins. His sturdy horse reared up and neighed. The dozens of people behind him stopped their charging iron cavalry in the same manner. All of them dismounted, their iron armor clanking. Their imposing presence was truly extraordinary.

Good heavens! This was much cooler than in the movies. Yue Qianchou watched with admiration.

The gate of the 'Marquis General's Mansion' opened slowly with a dull thud. Servants came out and shouted, "Second Young Master is back!" They ran up to the young general with smiles and took the reins.

The Young General glanced at the two people at the door, his gaze pausing slightly on Shi Xiaotian, then he looked straight ahead and strode into the mansion.

"Second Brother!"

The Young General, who had just stepped onto the stairs, was startled by the voice and slowly turned his helmeted head. He looked at Shi Xiaotian in disbelief, examining him from head to toe, then turned around in surprise, "Third Brother? Is that you, Third Brother?"

"Second Brother! It's me, I'm Xiaotian!" Shi Xiaotian stumbled over.

"Third Brother, it really is you!" the Young General exclaimed. The two brothers ran towards each other and embraced. The servant holding the horse froze, then handed the reins to a soldier beside him and quickly ran into the mansion.

After hugging and saying a few words, the Young General suddenly pushed Shi Xiaotian away, holding his shoulders, and examined his brother from head to toe. "Third Brother, weren't you taken away by an Immortal to cultivate immortality? How did you end up like this? And who is this..." He asked the latter question looking at Yue Qianchou. The latter nodded and smiled at him.

Shi Xiaotian had too much to say. With tear stains on his face, he shook his head and choked out, "Are Father and Mother in good health?"

"Haha!" The Young General laughed heartily, patting his brother's shoulder. "Come, let's go inside and talk." Then he beckoned to Yue Qianchou beside him, "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. As soon as he entered the gate, he felt an overwhelming sense of nobility. Pavilions and towers, surrounded by flowers and plants, with servants shuttling back and forth, all displayed the extraordinary status of this family.

Before the three reached the main hall with its carved beams and painted pillars, a group of people rushed forward, surrounding a beautiful woman who called out from afar, "Third Son!" Shi Xiaotian broke free from his brother's arm and ran over, shouting, "Mother!"

The mother and son, who hadn't seen each other for a long time, embraced and wept. The latter even knelt down and refused to get up. Yue Qianchou couldn't bear to watch the crying scene, so he closed his eyes to rest. Shi Xiaotian's second brother glanced at him, his brow furrowing slightly.

"Mother, Third Brother, Eldest Brother is back," the Young General said with a smile. Then he turned and called out, "Eldest Brother, look who's here."

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

A young man dressed as a civil official walked in from outside with a smile. Upon hearing his second brother's words, he put away his smile and looked curiously at the person kneeling at his mother's feet. Upon seeing him clearly, he exclaimed, "Third Brother, why are you back? You... how did you end up like this?" He said, examining his brother's ragged clothes, his eyes filled with surprise.

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

"Haha! Third Brother is back! Good, good! It's a double celebration today!" Shi Xiaotian's eldest brother applauded and laughed. Everyone looked at him, somewhat bewildered. The second son, the general, blinked and asked, "Double celebration? Don't tell me Eldest Brother has taken a liking to some young lady? Since Third Brother is back, Eldest Brother, tell us."

The civil official, the eldest brother, glared at the second brother and ignored him. He walked up to Shi Xiaotian, patted his shoulder, and laughed, "Third Brother, we'll soon be fellow cultivators. Haha! It's quite a coincidence today. I was out on a tour with some colleagues and met an Immortal Master with profound magical powers. The Immortal Master saw my potential at a glance and has agreed to take me as his disciple soon. Third Brother, don't you think we'll be fellow cultivators from now on, haha!"

Seeing everyone's bewildered expressions, he laughed even more proudly. Suddenly, his gaze fell upon Yue Qianchou, who was also dressed in rags. His laughter stopped abruptly, replaced by an arrogant expression. He frowned and snorted, "Who is this person? When did the 'Marquisate of the Pillar State' become a place where anyone can enter freely?"