Arrogant

Niu Yuanshan took full control of the rhythm the moment he entered the dungeon.

Liu Tianfeng was old enough to read between the lines.

The old man caught on instantly.

"This Old Niu really thinks of everything," he thought.

He'd injured the Sixth Elder's people—he had to make amends, didn't he?

If the blame fell on him, the consequences would be unthinkable!

In truth, even if Niu Yuanshan hadn't tipped him off, Liu Tianfeng would've come to his senses soon enough and brought gifts to apologize.

Since Old Niu had used secret telepathic message, only Liu Tianfeng could hear it. So his precious son and nephew were completely in the dark.

"Dad's just letting him go?"

"Why does Uncle look so grim?"

Niu Yuanshan was the least senior of the Nine Great Stewards—it shouldn't be that serious.

Then they heard Liu Tianfeng speak: "All a misunderstanding, good nephew, all a misunderstanding!"

His tone had shifted entirely.

"The fault is entirely ours."

"But everything today happened in haste, and I wasn't prepared."

"How about this: tomorrow I'll prepare generous gifts and come to your door to apologize."

"What do you say, good nephew?"

Where was the old man's earlier arrogance now?

Liu Chengqi and Liu Chenggong were left utterly dumbfounded.

Chu Huai Xu, however, accepted it calmly.

Damn right! He was filling in for a World Protagonist!

Niu Yuanshan listened from the side and decided it was time to step in.

More precisely, everything he'd done so far was just paving the way.

That honest-faced guy was sharp as a tack!

"I have a suggestion." A peacemaker's smile crept onto his face.

"Speak, Steward Niu!" Liu Tianfeng played along, his tone hearty, as if he'd agree to anything.

"Steward Liu, how about you give them each one of those Jade Token Fragments you got earlier?" Niu Yuanshan finally showed his hand.

The moment he said it, the old man's smile froze solid.

The atmosphere in the dungeon shifted instantly.

"This..." Liu Tianfeng was clearly reluctant.

Liu Chengqi panicked on the side: "Dad!"

This was my opportunity!

My damaged Blazing Fire Spiritual Embryo depended on it!

Liu Tianfeng, who'd had his only son late in life, always spoiled him—but even so, he couldn't help shooting him a glare.

"Shut your mouth!" he barked.

This whole mess was your fault. Why pick a fight with someone from the Sixth Elder's people?

At first, Liu Tianfeng felt embarrassed—a Six-Orifice cultivator losing to someone who'd only opened two. Now he just felt relieved: thank god he lost.

Faced with Niu Yuanshan's outrageous demand, he hesitated for a few seconds.

Chu Huai Xu watched him silently, thinking the old man gave off a vibe of being cunning but not quite pulling it off.

Finally, Liu Tianfeng waved his hand and produced two jade fragments from his Steward Token's storage space.

They looked like mutton-fat jade, etched with patterns, radiating a faint spiritual aura.

The Liu father and son could only console themselves: "There are ten Jade Token Fragments total. Giving them two is still acceptable."

The key was not to anger the Sixth Elder!

At the end of the day, it was Niu Yuanshan's long-established persona that did the trick.

"With Old Niu's honest nature, the more he demands, the more he's hinting that this kid has sky-high backing!"

Among all the Outer Sect stewards, this diligent ox had the sharpest instincts—he was thorough in everything, and everyone trusted him.

Liu Tianfeng waved his hand, and the two Jade Token Fragments floated over to Chu Huai Xu and Han Shuangjiang.

"Keep them safe," Niu Yuanshan said gently.

The two immediately stashed the fragments into their Storage Tokens.

In an instant, Chu Huai Xu heard a voice that only he could perceive.

"Ding! You have successfully completed the task—Liu Chengqi's Revenge."

"You have gained 1000 Experience Points."

"Congratulations, you have successfully unlocked the Hidden Dungeon—Pill King Token!"

Inside the dungeon, Chu Huai Xu felt a surge of joy.

Everything had gone far too smoothly.

The Class A task was completed without a hitch, and with Niu Yuanshan—someone in the know—helping him, he had unlocked the Hidden Dungeon.

But for an ordinary newbie player, this would have been virtually impossible. Class A was perfectly justified.

Those Liu family's three scoundrels could practically be considered the evil big bosses of the newbie village.

If Chu Huai Xu hadn't been riding on Xu Ziqing's World Protagonist halo, relying solely on Niu Yuanshan, he'd have at most completed the task—and likely faced a string of troubles afterward!

"So this is what it feels like to be a World Protagonist?" Chu Huai Xu mused to himself.

The Jade Token Fragment he'd just obtained, he figured, was the key to unlocking the dungeon.

"Pill King Token? I've never seen this Hidden Dungeon mentioned on the game forums."

"Guess it's something from before the Public Test."

But he had heard of the Pill King.

In the art of alchemy, the highest achievement undoubtedly belonged to the Dao Ancestor.

The Dao Ancestor had created the Aperture Opening Pill, ushering in an era of cultivation prosperity!

Next came the Pill King!

Chu Huai Xu still remembered the uproar when the Pill King Secret Realm appeared during his time playing "Borrowed Sword."

With the Pill King's legacy at stake, the entire Xuanhuang Realm had erupted, and major player guilds were sharpening their claws, eager for a piece of the pie.

"Could there be a connection between the Pill King Token and the Pill King Secret Realm?" he wondered.

For now, he couldn't be sure.

A Hidden Dungeon in the newbie village probably shouldn't be on that scale.

Today's haul was truly substantial.

Niu Yuanshan turned his head to look at Chu Huai Xu and Han Shuangjiang, asking, "Are you two satisfied with this outcome?"

Liu Tianfeng felt Old Niu was handling things well—this was essentially asking if they'd go tattle to the Sixth Elder, and whether this misunderstanding could be laid to rest.

The Old Man was aching inside, but he couldn't bring himself to ask those questions; Niu Yuanshan was the perfect fit.

After all, they'd just been gunning for Chu Huai Xu's life!

If this wasn't handled properly, it'd create a grudge with the Sixth Elder.

Han Shuangjiang heard this but said nothing, simply looking at Chu Huai Xu.

As if his opinion was hers.

Chu Huai Xu stepped forward a few paces, stopping before the Liu family trio.

"Steward, I have one more question to ask." He remained courteous and composed, cupping his hands in salute.

From start to finish, his manners were flawless.

Liu Tianfeng didn't dare act arrogantly now. Seeing Chu Huai Xu like this, he felt a bit relieved—it gave him a way out. He quickly reached out, intending to make a token gesture of support toward the bowing Chu Huai Xu.

But just as he extended his hand, Chu Huai Xu moved.

It happened so abruptly that Liu Tianfeng had no time to react.

A Third Realm cultivator, with Qi flow circulating through their body and sharpened Five Senses, is hard to ambush—they'd react instinctively.

The problem was, Chu Huai Xu wasn't targeting him.

When Liu Tianfeng belatedly caught on, a boulder-like surge of spiritual power blocked him.

It was Niu Yuanshan!

Chu Huai Xu's palm slammed into Liu Chengqi's chest, just like in the courtyard earlier today.

With his perfect control over his body, the strike landed precisely on the same spot.

The ribs that had just been reconnected with medicinal herbs snapped with a crisp crack!

Did I give you permission to reattach them?!

—Eight Wastelands Roaming Dragon!

Liu Chengqi let out a heart-rending scream. The familiar scene played out twice in one day, the searing pain in the same spot nearly knocking him unconscious!

After finishing, Chu Huai Xu slowly straightened up and withdrew his hand.

This tall, upright young man stood half a head above Liu Tianfeng.

He stared straight into the other's eyes and declared in a clear voice:

"Disciple just asked the Steward—which rule exactly did I break?"

"I beg Liu Steward to say it again!"

"Your disciple is all ears!"

(PS: Second update, Request monthly votes!)