Blood Is Thicker Than Water

The study in the central courtyard of Xie Residence.

Xie Zhengtang, Xie Yu, and Uncle Shui sat around the stove, brewing tea.

Xie Zhengtang forcefully suppressed his fury. "Yu'er, was that beast targeting Mingxi?"

Xie Yu still held two Yin Cloth Dolls in her hand. "Mingxi is the Xie Household's only son. Killing him would cut off the Xie Household's lineage. They were targeting the Xie Household as well.

"I'm afraid we won't find the Monster Strain youth anytime soon. But from what Father just said, the root of Mingxi going to Li Family Village was Zhou Yun's report... Zhou Yun cannot be allowed to live. We must quickly dig out the person behind him."

Xie Zhengtang nodded. "I'll leave this matter to Yu'er. But you must be careful. Under no circumstances can anyone learn of your existence."

Xie Yu said, "I changed my skin. Ordinary people won't be able to see through my identity."

Xie Zhengtang let out a long sigh. "In the end, it is still because your father is incapable. Back then, I couldn't protect you, Yu'er. Now Mingxi has been targeted too..."

"Father, don't blame yourself. In Yu'er's heart, Father is the best father in the world."

Hearing those words, Xie Zhengtang was overcome with emotion, and tears streamed down his aged face.

Only after Xie Zhengtang recovered did Xie Yu speak. "Father, I want to bring Mingxi with me to handle this matter."

Xie Zhengtang froze. "But Mingxi is only sixteen..."

Xie Yu said, "I heard Uncle Shui describe how Mingxi handled the matter at Zhao Residence... Mingxi is already extremely seasoned in dealing with matters, and his thoughts are meticulous. More importantly, I can see that Mingxi's constitution is unusual. He has clearly only reached Full Muscle-Tendon Tempering, yet he possesses an ability similar to Dark Force experts—the ability to sense others' Vital Breath."

Even Uncle Shui was startled to hear that. "No wonder Mingxi reached Muscle-Tendon Tempering after practicing martial arts for barely more than a month. I just asked Li Dao about it and learned that Mingxi has also mastered Yongsheng Martial Arts Hall's Five Animal True Form Diagram. It is a martial art of artistic conception with no training method. Chen Lutang pondered over it for more than ten years and still couldn't make sense of it..."

Seeing that Xie Zhengtang was still hesitant, Xie Yu said, "Father's impression of Mingxi is still stuck in the past. In truth, Mingxi has already become outstanding. I do not have much time left, and I want to take Mingxi out to broaden his horizons."

Xie Zhengtang wiped at the corner of his eye. "Everything will be as you wish."

Xie Yu gave a soft "Mm."

Just then, Cai Xia knocked outside the door. "Master, the eldest young master has arrived."

Xie Zhengtang gathered his emotions. "Let him in."

Creak.

As the door opened, Xie An strode in and cupped his hands. "Father, Uncle Shui, Daoist Master Yusu."

Xie Zhengtang did his best to keep his voice calm. "Didn't I tell you to rest in the West Courtyard? Why have you come over so late... What is it?"

"Father, I just asked Qiu Lan. No outsider has ever entered my bedroom. Only when Zhou Yun came to report the Li Family Village tenants fleeing the village a month ago..." Xie An explained the situation in detail, then said, "The Yin Cloth Doll in my room was most likely planted by Zhou Yun. When Zhao Hu and I went to Li Family Village to investigate, that old fellow was the one who led us there."

Mingxi truly is meticulous... Xie Zhengtang nodded. "What do you intend to do?"

Xie An said, "Tomorrow, I will inspect the grain store on Father's behalf and casually tell Zhou Yun about the Yin Cloth Doll in my room."

Xie Zhengtang narrowed his eyes. "Aren't you afraid of startling the snake in the grass?"

Xie An said, "The point is to lure the snake from its hole. Once Zhou Yun hears it, he will surely panic and contact the person behind him. We can secretly send people after him, follow the vine to find the melon, drag out the person behind him, and catch them all in one net."

For the first time, Xie Zhengtang regarded his son with satisfaction and nodded repeatedly.

Uncle Shui spoke then. "Mingxi has considered everything thoroughly. Master, I believe it is feasible."

Xie Zhengtang nodded. "Just now, your... Daoist Master Yusu also praised you for handling matters meticulously. It seems Father has paid too little attention to you. I failed to realize that my Mingxi has grown up."

"It is all thanks to Father's teaching." Xie An flattered him. "If there is nothing else, I'll return now."

Xie An knew that his father had always treated him as a child.

Now that he had delivered the information and the plan, he figured the matters that followed would no longer involve him.

As for seeking guidance from Daoist Master Yusu, he would have to find a private moment to bring it up with his father.

Just as Xie An turned to leave, Xie Zhengtang suddenly called out to him. "Wait."

Xie An stopped and turned back. "Does Father have any other instructions?"

Xie Zhengtang's gaze shone brightly, as though he had made some decision. "When you learned of the Yin Cloth Doll today, were you afraid?"

Xie An answered truthfully. "I would not dare deceive Father. It would be a lie to say I was not afraid, but your son knows that fear cannot solve a problem. Only facing it bravely is the proper path."

Xie Zhengtang grew ever more satisfied with this son. "What plans do you have for the future?"

In Xie An's impression, his father was not a talkative man.

Yet today, his father had kept asking about his attitude. He was likely testing him, perhaps because he had some important arrangement in mind.

The only thing Xie An found somewhat strange was... shouldn't these father-son conversations be held in private?

Uncle Shui was not an outsider, so that was one thing.

But asking him such things in front of Daoist Master Yusu... wasn't that a little inappropriate?

Since his father had asked, Xie An spoke frankly. "From now on, your son will diligently practice martial arts and strive to break through to Dark Force as soon as possible, sharing Father's burdens and the household's burdens. Should I encounter the poisonous hand of ghosts and fiends along the way, then that too would be my own fate, and I would have to accept it!"

These were Xie An's true feelings.

Xie An did not actually like taking risks.

But born into such an age, where could there possibly be a foolproof plan?

The only thing he could do was temper himself and press onward, lay his plans with caution, roll up his sleeves, and charge ahead with all his might.

"Good, well said! As expected of Xie Zhengtang's son!"

Xie Zhengtang strode excitedly to Xie An and heavily slapped his shoulder. "Your father always felt he had wronged your mother. I couldn't bear to discipline you harshly. Never did I expect you to figure out such principles on your own. If your mother could see this from beneath the Nine Springs, she too would smile in comfort.

"From now on, whatever you need for martial arts—the silver in the residence treasury, the household's resources... you may use them as you please."

Xie An suddenly felt as though the hand pressing on his shoulder weighed a thousand jin, and he felt even more keenly the blazing affection between father and son, blood thicker than water.

Xie Zhengtang pulled Xie An over to Xie Yu. "Daoist Master Yusu is not only an expert, but also Father's friend through life and death. Just now, Daoist Master Yusu praised your intelligence and wishes to teach you martial arts for dealing with ghosts and fiends. Are you willing to properly study martial arts under Daoist Master Yusu?"

Joy surged through Xie An's heart.

Father truly knew his son best.

Before he could even speak, his father had already taken care of it.

"Your son is willing!"

Xie Zhengtang took Xie An and Xie Yu's hands and pressed them tightly together. "Daoist Master Yusu, from now on, I entrust Mingxi to you.

"Mingxi, Daoist Master Yusu is only a few years older than you. This time, she came secretly to the residence to help, and in order to conceal her identity... you will address Daoist Master Yusu as Elder Sister."

To learn martial arts for dealing with ghosts and fiends, let alone calling her elder sister... he could even call her father.

"Elder Sister."

Xie Yu gazed deeply at Xie An. "Calling me Elder Sister is too formal. Mingxi, simply call me Sis."

Experts truly had strange requirements... Xie An changed his form of address. "Sis."

Xie Yu's entire body shuddered, and two streams of clear tears slid down her cheeks.