Heavy Snow

As night deepened, heavy snow blanketed every unnecessary color, but it could not cover the gloom in the hearts of the Huang Family.

Lu Ren's betrayal and the fact that the Third Miss's bones were not yet cold had dealt a heavy blow to this rising family. The laughter and cheer of days past had vanished.

As soon as night fell, every household grew quiet. Only the howling, bitter wind raged on.

Huang Jin trudged through the snow and pushed open the door. He shook the snow off himself, then strode inside and said to his second brother, Huang Ping, "Xu Yang is still unwilling to marry into the family, but he made it clear that if the Huang Family needs him, he can leave the Liu Family."

Anger flared in Huang Ping's eyes. "Our Huang Family is willing to marry a noble young lady into his family, and he dares to refuse again and again? Does he think our noble young ladies aren't good enough for him?"

He unconsciously ignored Huang Jin's point that Xu Yang could leave the Liu Family at any time to repay their kindness. He only thought that the Huang Family's willingness to marry a daughter to Xu Yang was an enormous favor.

Huang Jin furrowed his brows. Xu Yang didn't even want a daughter of the Liu Family; it wasn't that he looked down on the Huang Family's women. His second brother clearly thought that since the Huang Family had spoken, Xu Yang should obey, no matter what the matter was.

It was just as with Lu Ren before: using a kindness as leverage, forcing Lu Ren to accept something he didn't want, and thinking that if it came from the Huang Family, then Lu Ren had to accept it, even if he didn't like it.

Though Lu Ren had already been bent on betraying them, his second brother's way of doing things was still a problem.

In his second brother's eyes, Xu Yang and Lu Ren were still the same lackeys who could barely get enough to eat. He had never truly regarded them as martial artists who had grown into their own.

"Second Brother, he just doesn't want to marry. It's not that he looks down on the women of our Huang Family. I also don't think we have to bind him to us through marriage.

"Even if someone as ungrateful as Lu Ren marries into the family, what does that change? If we can't offer him enough benefits, he'll still abandon our Huang Family.

"I think Xu Yang is a man who knows gratitude and loyalty. We don't have to marry him into the family to cultivate him. We can simply support him. He'll remember the Huang Family's kindness and naturally draw closer to us..."

"Enough!"

Huang Ping cut Huang Jin off with a wave of his hand. "I never thought much of him to begin with. He's only got a Grade C Inferior Bone Structure. How much money would our Huang Family have to pour in to cultivate him? I only gave him a chance because you kept insisting he had potential.

"He doesn't know what's good for him. He'll regret it one day. If it weren't for the little favor from back then, I wouldn't give his talent a second glance."

"Second Brother..."

"Enough. Go on. Tomorrow, spread the word that our Huang Family will once again select promising talents to cultivate. This time, I'll personally oversee the selection."

Huang Jin still wanted to speak, but Huang Ping impatiently cut him off. He even blamed him for what had happened with Lu Ren, thinking he had made a mistake in choosing him.

Huang Jin opened his mouth, then finally left in resignation.

Even now, Second Brother still didn't understand that talent wasn't the most important thing. Lu Ren had talent, but in the end it had all come to nothing. He had failed to serve the Huang Family.

What the Huang Family needed wasn't a genius, but someone who remembered its kindness, remained loyal to it, and was willing to serve it.

Xu Yang had good Comprehension but poor Bone Root. If Huang Jin helped him now, he could surely win his loyalty.

But Huang Jin wasn't part of the main line. With Eldest Brother in seclusion, seeking a breakthrough in Marrow Cleansing, Huang Ping was the one who truly called the shots in the Huang Family.

No matter how many good qualities Huang Jin listed, it was no use if Huang Ping looked down on Xu Yang's Bone Root. Huang Ping hadn't learned from the lesson Lu Ren had brought; he still wanted to gamble big with little, spending a small amount to cultivate experts.

"Forget it!"

His second brother had decided Xu Yang would never amount to much. There was no use saying more.

After cupping his hands, he immediately turned and left.

Martial Dao Longevity Points: 42

The first thing Xu Yang did after opening his eyes was look at the Status Panel.

Yesterday, he had killed Bao Gang and received ten points. Added to the reward he'd gotten earlier for reaching Minor Success in Qi Gathering, his points had accumulated to over forty.

By his usual habit, he could have used these points to improve his Bone Root, but this time he left them untouched.

What had happened with Bao Gang yesterday taught him to keep some points in reserve. If something unexpected happened and he found himself outmatched, he could use the points to improve his martial arts on the spot.

If the one who had ambushed him yesterday hadn't been Bao Gang, but an expert at Minor Success in Qi Gathering, then even if Xu Yang could have killed his opponent, it wouldn't have been easy.

"Brother, breakfast is ready!"

After practicing the Turtle-Snake Great Stance for a while, while dawn still dimmed the sky, Xu Qing had already prepared breakfast.

Xu Yang pushed open the door and saw that the snow outside had already piled up to his calves.

"What a heavy snowfall. I'm afraid quite a few people will freeze to death this year."

This year's snow was heavier than in previous years. It was only the second day, and already it had piled up so high.

After breakfast, with the snow still falling, Xu Yang first cleared it from the roof to keep the weight from caving it in. Then he took a woodcutter's knife and a rope and headed into the mountains.

After half an hour, he returned carrying a load of firewood.

"Don't go outside. I'll buy food in the city and bring it back."

The snow was too deep, and he was worried Xu Qing might get frostbitten. After telling her to stay inside, he set off for the Liu Family.

Heaven and earth were one color, the whole wilderness a vast expanse of white.

The goose-feather snow fell without pause. Xu Yang's blood and qi were too vigorous; his whole body was like a furnace. After he'd walked a while, the snowflakes landing on him kept melting, and his clothes were already soaked through.

His furnace-like body gave off intense heat, and he was like a walking steamer, sending clouds of vapor billowing into the air.

"It's said that experts at Major Success in Qi Gathering can cover their bodies with true qi, forming a shield that water can't penetrate and flies can't land on. Too bad I haven't reached that level yet.

"Otherwise, I could walk through the snow for several hours, and not a single snowflake would land on me."

Although he didn't feel cold, constantly vibrating his blood and qi to evaporate the snowmelt from his body was no pleasant task.

When he reached the Liu Family, a group of servants and attendants were clearing away the snow.

Xu Yang went to the Retainer Courtyard. The snow there had already been cleared. Wu Yongfeng and the others weren't training either; they were gathered in a room around a charcoal brazier, each of them steaming with heat.

With snow falling so heavily, there probably wouldn't be much to do today.

He went over and found that, besides Bao Gang, Zhang Bo hadn't shown up either.

The others didn't think much of Bao Gang's absence, assuming the heavy snow had delayed him.

An hour later, Zhang Bo hurried in. "Did any of you see Bao Gang yesterday?"

???

Everyone wore puzzled expressions. They had all seen Bao Gang yesterday; he had even asked Xu Yang to lend him money.

Zhang Bo's expression was grave. "Bao Gang is missing. His family came looking for him. They said he hadn't come home all night, and they couldn't find him."

Wang Yun spoke up. "He's gotten hooked on gambling lately. He got paid yesterday. Could he still be at the Gambling House?"

Zhang Bo shook his head. "We already asked at the Gambling House. He left yesterday afternoon."

"Then we don't know. We haven't seen him since he left here yesterday."

The Gambling House, the martial arts school, and the Liu Family had all been ruled out. Everyone realized that something had probably happened to Bao Gang. The faces of the few people who had lent him money turned unpleasant.

If he was going to die, he should've paid them back first.

"He's probably met with trouble. Be careful. It might have been the Liu Family's enemies. I'll go ask the family head to send people to investigate."

Zhang Bo gave them a warning, then hurried away.

Everyone's faces changed again. It really could have been the Liu Family's enemies. They'd have to be careful.

"They shouldn't be able to trace it back to me, right?" Xu Yang wondered.

Bao Gang had tried to ambush and kill him for his money. He shouldn't have told anyone about it, and the heavy snow had covered every trace. Even if a master detective came, they'd be helpless.

"Good thing you didn't lend him money yesterday," Wang Yun said with a smile.

Xu Yang shook his head. "For a gambling addict like him, not lending him money was for his own good."

The others nodded in agreement. They soon forgot about Bao Gang and began chatting about interesting tales from the martial world.