Gaining Another Talent

"Your son understands."

Qin Jiu fell silent for a moment.

Then he left the hall and headed straight for the Hundred Beasts Garden.

Since the marriage alliance was already settled, he didn't dwell on it. With the Red Seal, he believed that as long as he practiced martial arts, he would inevitably make rapid progress. The Qin Family might not be swallowed up by the Han Family or some other faction after all.

For now, though, his body had only just recovered.

He still needed to replenish the qi and blood he'd lost earlier.

There was no need to rush into martial training.

After all, haste made waste. If he forced himself to train in his current condition, something might go wrong.

"A spirit beast that can nourish qi and blood..."

"I remember there's still a Golden-Backed Python in the garden. Its flesh and blood can nourish qi and blood and improve one's constitution. But a spirit beast like that could fetch at least a thousand taels of silver at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion. Wouldn't it be too wasteful to eat it myself?"

Qin Jiu was torn.

Even though he had a secret recipe for raising first-tier spirit beasts,

spirit beasts that could improve one's constitution weren't something he could raise whenever he pleased. Every one of them was precious, and they were highly sought after even in the Inner City.

If all he wanted was to replenish his qi and blood, he thought an ordinary spirit beast would do.

As he pondered,

Qin Jiu arrived at the Hundred Beasts Garden.

The garden was nothing like its usual noisy self. Every attendant remained silent, and the place was eerily quiet.

Even when they saw him, the young master, they merely bowed without a word.

Qin Jiu was puzzled.

But soon, his expression darkened.

He saw the attendant he'd questioned earlier. Head lowered, the man was washing tools beside a stone trough. The right side of his face was badly swollen, and dried blood stained the corner of his mouth.

"Has Qin Xiong returned?"

"Young, young master..."

When the man saw Qin Jiu approach, he froze for a moment, then bowed nervously.

Seeing that he was reluctant to say more, Qin Jiu said, "Go fetch Elder Wang. Quickly."

"Yes."

The man nodded and hurried out of the Hundred Beasts Garden.

Then,

Qin Jiu looked at the others. "Qiu the Third, take two attendants and bring me the Golden-Backed Python."

At that, the attendant's face filled with reluctance.

He looked as if he wanted to speak but couldn't.

He stood there without moving.

"Xiao Jiu, what brings you to the Hundred Beasts Garden?"

Suddenly,

a gruff voice rang out.

A broad, powerful figure emerged from somewhere. He stood seven feet tall, dressed in a black martial outfit. His arms hung past his knees, and a piercing gleam shone in his eyes. The gusts stirred by his steps seemed to press down on everything around him.

Qin Jiu remained calm.

The man's presence had no effect on him.

"Is even this vast Hundred Beasts Garden not enough to keep you here, Uncle Xiong?"

"What do you mean?"

Qin Xiong was in his prime. His voice rattled people's eardrums as he spoke. "Xiao Jiu, don't tell me you've been listening to the attendants' gossip. Don't let anyone drive a wedge between us, uncle and nephew."

"And besides, the garden is so dangerous. You shouldn't have come here."

"The beasts inside don't understand human speech."

"What if a spirit beast were to charge into you..."

"Uncle Xiong."

Qin Jiu cut him off and said coolly, "I came here only to butcher a Golden-Backed Python and nourish my body. We can reminisce later. Take those attendants and deal with it."

"The Golden-Backed Python?"

Qin Xiong's expression changed, and his brows drew tightly together.

"Xiao Jiu, with your frail constitution, you can't handle something that potent..."

"I can judge that for myself." Qin Jiu interrupted him again. "Just go."

Qin Xiong remained patient. "Even so, Golden-Backed Pythons are rare. The old master wouldn't even let us kill one for food when he was alive. Why not take another spirit beast instead?"

"Qiu the Third, go catch that Thorn Rat."

As he spoke, Qin Xiong turned to the attendant.

The man nodded in response.

Then he started to move.

Qin Jiu's expression turned dark. "I said I wanted the Golden-Backed Python."

"Ah, they're all spirit beasts. Any of them will replenish your qi and blood."

Qin Xiong spoke as though he hadn't noticed Qin Jiu's expression.

The attendant didn't even pause.

"When did you, Qin Xiong, become head of the Qin Family?"

At that moment,

a weak voice came from the doorway.

As it rang out,

a frail, elderly figure entered.

His hair was white, his back hunched, his eyelids half lowered. He ambled along at an unhurried pace, without a trace of aura showing.

Yet the instant Qin Xiong saw him,

a flicker of fear crossed his face.

"Elder Wang, what brings you here?"

"You seem reluctant to see me in the Hundred Beasts Garden."

The old steward kept walking as he spoke. "That makes sense. In this garden, your word carries more weight than the head of the family's orders. My presence must be getting in your way."

"How about this?"

"Why don't I prostrate myself before you and proclaim you head of the Qin Family?"

"Why would you say that, Elder Wang?"

Qin Xiong looked bewildered.

Elder Wang regarded him with an indifferent expression.

"You've been going back and forth to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion these past few days, and you haven't even bothered to hide it. Since you like that place so much, you can go guard it from now on."

"Wang Yue, what do you mean by that?!"

Qin Xiong was displeased.

But the old steward ignored him and bowed to Qin Jiu instead. "What does the head of the family think?"

"Do as you say."

Qin Jiu nodded.

Qin Xiong was a genuine Three Refinements martial master,

one of the Qin Family's few experts.

If the Qin Family had no one capable of keeping him in check, Qin Jiu would never have let him live. But given the family's current situation, they couldn't afford to lose a martial arts expert for now. Keeping him around would still serve a purpose.

If Qin Xiong continued to cause trouble after reaching the Drunken Immortal Pavilion,

then Elder Wang would have to deal with him.

As Qin Jiu pondered,

the old steward strode toward Qiu the Third.

"You can't even tell who your master is. You have no respect for your superiors. You deserve to be punished." As he spoke, he raised a hand and struck Qiu the Third on the crown of his head. The blow drove the man's head straight down into his chest.

At this sight,

the other attendants trembled.

Qin Xiong's expression turned ugly as well.

But he said nothing.

It was true that he was a Three Refinements martial master.

But this old steward was the only person in the Qin Mansion whose martial arts realm had risen above Three Refinements. He was the Qin Family's one top expert. Who wouldn't fear him?

Then,

the old steward looked at Qin Xiong again.

"What are you standing there for? Remember to take the body with you, and don't dirty the Hundred Beasts Garden's soil."

"Qin Xiong takes his leave."

With a wooden expression, Qin Xiong bowed to Qin Jiu.

Then he left the Hundred Beasts Garden without another word.

Qin Jiu watched him go, his eyes narrowing. In the end, he suppressed the impulse rising in his heart and instead had the other attendants bring him the Golden-Backed Python.

Then he took a sharp knife and swiftly swung it.

The Red Seal rumbled at once.

[Golden-Backed Python (First Tier)]

[Talent: Snake Waist Python Tendon (Blue)]

[Description: Reshapes the body and bones, adds a thousand jin of strength, lengthens the tendons by an inch, and extends the lifespan by ten years]

[Talent Status: Can be imprinted]

[Imprinting Condition: Ten taels of gold]