Seclusion

Qin Yu and Xiong Tatian did not go to the Qin Family. Instead, they found an inn and settled in. Before doing so, Qin Yu secretly had someone deliver a letter to Qin Manor, telling Qin Xue not to worry.

This was also to protect the Qin Family. At the very least, only Zi Xun'er knew that he was Qin Yu now. Fortunately, Xiong Tatian had always called him Big Brother without adding the surname Qin. Otherwise, people would surely have connected the dots.

"Big Brother, why did you stop me?" The moment they entered the room, Xiong Tatian asked dejectedly. In his eyes, Qin Yu simply did not trust him.

"What would it matter even if you could defeat him? Could you kill him? Even if you had the strength to kill him, someone would stop you. There was no need for this battle, and if it continued, both sides would surely be left battered and broken," Qin Yu said slowly. It was not that Qin Yu did not trust Xiong Tatian, but the difference in their cultivation was too great. Moreover, Xiong Tatian's intelligence had yet to fully develop, and his mind was not particularly sharp. He would be at a severe disadvantage.

"Big Brother, you don't trust me? He dared insult you, so I wanted to beat him to death." Xiong Tatian glared, sounding displeased.

Qin Yu was speechless. After saying so much, Xiong Tatian had only picked out what was in his heart. Yet Xiong Tatian's intentions moved him, and he said calmly, "I just don't want you to get hurt."

Hearing Qin Yu's words, warmth filled Xiong Tatian's heart. He grinned and said, "Hehe, Big Brother, you underestimate me, Xiong Tatian, too much. This little injury is nothing. You don't know how miserable it was when that old man used to chase me around and beat me. Think about it—I was once beaten so badly by the old man that I couldn't get out of bed for a whole year. Do you know what that felt like? Look at me now. Aren't I still full of life and vigor?"

Qin Yu did not know whether to laugh or cry. Still, Xiong Tatian's words truly put him at ease. After all, Xiong Tatian was covered in blood and looked severely injured.

"By the way, Xiong Tatian, how many members does your Mad Bear Clan have now?" Qin Yu asked. This grudge had been forged, and he worried that Tong Yunfei might make a move against Xiong Tatian.

Xiong Tatian scratched his head awkwardly, then awkwardly raised his fan-sized right hand and folded down his thumb.

"Four?"

Xiong Tatian thought for a moment, then folded down his pinky as well.

"Three?" Qin Yu's eyes widened.

After thinking again, Xiong Tatian straightened his pinky back out.

Xiong Tatian had thoroughly confused Qin Yu. "How many are there, exactly?"

Xiong Tatian smiled sheepishly. "Three, but also four." Seeing Qin Yu's stunned expression, Xiong Tatian said somewhat embarrassedly, "There are only my father, the old man, and me at home now. But the old man said there was also a Big Old Man who disappeared. He probably isn't dead... so Big Old Man should count as one too, right?"

Qin Yu sighed inwardly. By now, the Mad Bear Clan had withered to such a state. Still, it was understandable. Even at its peak, it had numbered no more than a hundred...

"Alright. Sit down and recover first. Don't run around this month. I need to cultivate for a while."

Qin Yu did not ask further about the Mad Bear Clan. According to Xiong Tatian, although the clan had only four members, at least two were Dao Realm experts. Furthermore, the Big Old Man Xiong Tatian spoke of was likely even more extraordinary. After all, an adult member of the Mad Bear Clan was already at the Dao Realm. If Tong Yunfei wanted to move against Xiong Tatian, he would have to weigh the matter carefully.

"Ah, Big Brother, are you really going to fight him? He's very strong. You can't fight him. If he comes looking for trouble then, I'll fight him again. If you push my temper too far, I... I..." Xiong Tatian said furiously, his eyes gleaming with vicious light by the end.

"Enough! If he suppresses his cultivation, I'm confident I can defeat him. Have you forgotten what happened when you suppressed your cultivation and fought me back then?" Qin Yu interrupted in a low voice.

Xiong Tatian thought for a moment. "That's true. Back then, you could fight me when I was using fifty percent of my strength. You probably won't suffer against him. But... your body might not be able to withstand him."

"I know what I'm doing. Alright, Xiong Tatian, stay here. I'll cultivate in the next room. Once you've recovered, remember not to cause trouble if you want to go out. Understand?" Qin Yu instructed. Within a month, he needed to break through to the Gangqi Realm and practice several battle skills. Only then would he be confident of defeating Tong Yunfei.

"Alright!" Xiong Tatian nodded heavily and agreed with utmost seriousness.

Seeing this, Qin Yu slowly rose to leave, but then he heard Xiong Tatian say, "Oh, right, Big Brother, come take a look at this... What is this thing?"

Qin Yu turned around in confusion and saw Xiong Tatian take out a black gauntlet caked with mud. He did not know what material it was forged from, but it shone with a metallic luster. What was strange was that it seemed to be more than just a gauntlet. It extended into many parts, and there was even an iron plate at the wrist that looked like a shield.

"Where did this come from?" Qin Yu asked.

"You don't know. When the Land of Beast Burial exploded back then, this thing hit me. It hit me so hard I vomited blood. I originally wanted to smash it to pieces, but no matter how I hit it, I couldn't break it." Xiong Tatian spoke indignantly. Back then, he and Li Tianji had been on the outskirts of the Land of Beast Burial when this battle gauntlet struck them.

Qin Yu took the gauntlet. He did not know what material it was made of, but it was exceptionally heavy. Qin Yu estimated that it weighed a thousand catties. After wiping off the mud, he examined the battle gauntlet closely and found that aside from its strange appearance, there was nothing special about it.

"Tell me in detail what happened at the Land of Beast Burial," Qin Yu said quietly. He vaguely guessed that this battle gauntlet might have come from that space.

"After we separated from you, Li Tianji and I stayed on the outskirts of the Land of Beast Burial. Li Tianji said you would definitely come out, so we waited there and waited..." Xiong Tatian raised his head, carefully recalling the scene from back then as he slowly began to recount it.

"You're saying there was a huge explosion at the Land of Beast Burial? Then many experts entered afterward? And this battle gauntlet flew out from there?" Qin Yu asked in surprise. From Xiong Tatian's account, he could vaguely imagine what had happened.

That explosion must have been caused by the collapse of the small tower protecting the Demon Blood. But what happened after so many experts entered the Land of Beast Burial was something Qin Yu very much wanted to know. Yet Xiong Tatian had no idea at all... He rambled on for ages without ever getting to the point.

"Alright. This battle gauntlet is quite extraordinary. Put it on and study it first. I'll take another look at it later," Qin Yu said slowly. As for what had truly happened at the Land of Beast Burial, he could only inquire about it in the future.

"Mm!" Xiong Tatian nodded.

Afterward, Qin Yu set up a soundproofing formation in Xiong Tatian's room and began his seclusion.

Half a month later.

At the gates of Tianwu Main City.

A massive sword carrying nine young men and women descended outside Tianwu Main City.

"Senior Brother Wang, fellow Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters, this is Tianwu Main City." After everyone stepped down from the giant sword, a black-clad young man bent slightly at the waist and spoke excitedly.

The leading young man wore purple robes. His appearance was ordinary, with a hooked nose and thin lips, while his half-narrowed eyes gave off a cold, sinister air. He swept his gaze over Tianwu Main City, frowned at the densely packed crowds around him, and asked, "You said Alchemist Zi, Zi Xun'er, is in this city?"

"Absolutely true. If Senior Brother Wang does not believe me, I can take you to see her right now." The black-clad youth smiled ingratiatingly. This young man was none other than Cui Shuo of the Cui Family!

The leading youth nodded faintly, and the group of nine entered Tianwu Main City.

By the time they arrived outside the Myriad Phenomena Pill Shop, the traces of the great battle from half a month earlier had vanished. On the bustling avenue, a white-clad youth stood outside the pill shop, looking left and right as though searching for something.

"Move!" Cui Shuo shoved aside the white-clad youth blocking his way. Then he respectfully said to the purple-clad youth, "Senior Brother Wang, this is where I saw Alchemist Zi. How about I..."

Before Cui Shuo could finish, a cold voice rang out. "What are you doing?" The speaker was the white-clad youth.

The white-clad youth was handsome, with an aloof bearing. His cold eyes stared directly at Cui Shuo.

Cui Shuo abruptly turned around, vicious light flashing in his eyes. This was Tianwu Main City, the Cui Family's territory. If he could not even handle a youth, how could he hold his head high before his Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters? He immediately opened his mouth to berate him, only to hear the white-clad youth say, "Forget it. It's nothing."

Cui Shuo froze. Seeing the white-clad youth turn and leave, he assumed the youth had recognized his identity and backed down. Secret delight filled his heart. Just as he was about to call the youth back and scold him to display his standing in Tianwu Main City, the leading youth asked, "Who was that? Do you know him?"

"Just someone who knows how to read the situation. Come, Senior Brother Wang, let's go inside." Cui Shuo hurriedly suppressed his thoughts. This was not the time to show off. He then gestured for the leading youth to enter the pill shop.

The leading youth looked strangely at the white-clad youth's retreating back, a trace of doubt between his brows. Yet he did not think much of it and entered the pill shop.

As the white-clad youth walked into the crowd, he muttered to himself, "Why get worked up with a man who is already dead? I wonder whether the fool who fought here half a month ago was that big oaf..."