Heaven or a Cesspit

As he spoke, his gaze swept around and found a cave beneath the stone wall near the edge of the herb field.

Wild beasts lay dormant at the cave entrance.

"That is... a broken-open entrance. Was it the Xiao Household or the Murong Household?"

Ouyang Zhentian's voice turned grim and murderous.

Master Huang also noticed the unusual spot, his brows knitting slightly in thought.

"Household Head, your Ouyang Household has acted rather covertly during this time. How did you let another Lineage pluck the peaches?"

Ouyang Zhentian said bitterly:

"It seems the ambush on Qin Yueyao last time left traces. I had intended to use it as a cover, but never expected it to cause trouble instead."

Master Huang nodded.

"The Qin Household was destroyed too quickly. You acted too hastily."

"Hm! Something's happening."

The two immediately shifted their gazes to the cave entrance.

The wild beasts suddenly grew restless and active, surging backward toward it like a fountain flowing in reverse.

Sounds of "sha, sha" and "whoosh, whoosh" rang out from there—the tearing of air and the clash of blows.

The two exchanged a glance, then moved beneath them. Within only a few breaths, they had reached the cave entrance.

The sound of flowing water came from below, along with a woman's delicate cry.

"It's Ci'er!" Ouyang Zhentian instantly identified who was below.

His body suddenly straightened, and as he circulated his qi and blood, invisible force shot out in all directions. The beasts were affected as well, pausing slightly.

In less than half a breath, he had already drilled into the cave entrance and seen Nianci surrounded and assailed from all sides, in peril at every turn.

Bang! Bang!

Ouyang Zhentian struck out with several palms, sending the beasts flying and shaking them to death.

With one grab, he seized Nianci. Then, with another leap, he returned through the original passage and re-entered the mine tunnel.

"Ci'er, are you all right?" Ouyang Zhentian asked anxiously.

"I'm fine." Ouyang Nianci pressed a hand over her injuries, and Lin Xiaotian inevitably came to mind.

She had reached Blood Tempering. Why had that man passed through here unharmed, while she had been injured the moment she reached this cave entrance? Had her father not come to fetch her, even if she managed to return, she would likely have suffered grievous injuries.

The gap between people was truly immense. And she had no idea how he was now... A faint ache rose in her heart.

"What happened inside the cave? Ci'er, tell your father."

Ouyang Nianci glanced at Master Huang.

Ouyang Zhentian spoke directly.

"It's all right. Master Huang has already reached an understanding with my Ouyang Household. We can be considered half-allies. He also wishes to know what happened to his disciple."

Ouyang Nianci immediately recounted everything that had happened in full detail. Aside from her affair with Lin Xiaotian, which she did not mention, she told them all the rest.

"Household Head Ouyang, how should we handle this?" Master Huang asked.

"We'll leave the cave first. Since the Xiao Household dared to come, even if we pursue them, we will surely find nothing. We must consider this matter carefully in the long term."

"Hmph, this Xiao Household is truly hateful. I underestimated them. They have likely guessed something about my illness as well."

"It seems my Ouyang Household has been somewhat too conservative in our conduct lately. They truly think something has gone wrong with me."

"I'll meet with the Xiao Household and see whether that old bastard has truly made great progress in strength."

Ouyang Zhentian said hatefully.

Master Huang said nothing further and followed them back toward the outside of the mine tunnel.

Ouyang Zhentian wore a dark expression as he walked out. Suddenly, he noticed that his daughter's manner of walking was strange—not entirely due to her injuries.

His brow furrowed slightly, and he grabbed his daughter.

"Father!" Ouyang Nianci grew somewhat flustered and looked at him.

Ouyang Zhentian said nothing. His hand moved, and with a ripping sound, her sleeve tore apart.

Ouyang Zhentian looked over and his expression changed drastically. Then he looked at his daughter.

"Who was it?"

Ouyang Nianci gritted her teeth, her voice hoarse.

"It was Xiaotian!"

Ouyang Zhentian let out a slight breath, though the veins on his face still throbbed unceasingly.

"This Xiao Household is truly detestable! Lin Xiaotian is no good either, taking advantage of someone in danger."

Tears welled in Ouyang Nianci's eyes, and her voice was weak.

"You can't blame Xiaotian entirely. He... was forced too."

Ouyang Zhentian raised his brows.

The moment her father had grabbed Nianci, Master Huang had already strode far away. He had seen much in life; how could he fail to distinguish another family's private affairs?

Though he had walked far away, those intermittent words still reached his ears, making him sigh inwardly.

That young disciple of his was quite capable. He had taken another's body, and even taken her heart along with it.

Ouyang Nianci covered her sleeve again. Her Virginity Gauze had fallen away, leaving behind a faint trailing mark, as though recounting the beauty that had once been.

By then, Xiao Jingli had already brought Lin Xiaotian to the Xiao Household's territory.

This was a passage at the foot of a mountain, with a large hole carved into the stone wall for pedestrians to pass through.

"Hehe, little brother, we've arrived. This is my Xiao Household's mine tunnel."

Lin Xiaotian jumped down from the boat and looked around.

"Brother Jingli, why aren't there beasts coming and going around here like on the Ouyang Household's side?"

Xiao Jingli smiled.

"Little brother, I don't know about that. The Ouyang Household is simply fortunate. The beasts move between the mine tunnels, feeding on mining slag, and their droppings happen to be excellent nourishment for that herb field."

"But we have no such blessing here. Without the beasts' migration, we can't cultivate such an herb field."

"As for herb fields suitable for planting, we have some. But they are nowhere near as precious as the Ouyang Household's, merely ordinary. They are not much better than those planted above ground, so our Xiao Household does not bother with it."

Lin Xiaotian nodded, understanding at last. Still, he found it rather strange. They were both mine tunnels and not that far apart, so how could the difference be so great?

There was no need to ask further. It was not something he needed to worry about.

"All right, there's nothing much to see inside this mine tunnel. It's only ore. There are also some unusual medicinal herbs, but they are scattered at random, and precious ones are exceedingly rare."

"Other than what we use ourselves, a large portion of the ore from the mine tunnel is transported to the county town and exchanged for resources, much like the Ouyang Household."

"However, because the Ouyang Household possesses rare and precious medicinal herbs, the resources they obtain are more abundant and of better quality."

Lin Xiaotian looked curiously at the talkative Xiao Jingli.

"Brother Jingli, why are you telling me all this?"

"Hahaha!" Xiao Jingli laughed loudly. "Little brother, even if I didn't tell you, you would ask later. Since you'll be staying with my Xiao Household from now on, you would learn sooner or later."

"Why shouldn't I earn your goodwill in advance?"

Lin Xiaotian smiled. This big brother was truly clever to the extreme.

"Mm, Brother Jingli, since you've told me so much, is this the reason you are targeting the Ouyang Household?"

"Hm?" Xiao Jingli asked curiously. "Little brother, you figured that out too?"

"Mm. Brother Jingli, you mention the Ouyang Household in every other sentence. If I still couldn't catch the scent of it, then there would truly be something wrong with me."

Xiao Jingli gave a foolish grin.

"Mm, the Ouyang Household Head is stronger than our Xiao Household Head. In the past, we did not dare touch the Ouyang Household. But these past years have been rather strange. By all reason, their Household has gained more and better resources..."

"They should have come to bully us long ago. Even if they did not bully us, they should have tested us at least once or twice. Yet everything they did was superficial, never going too far. That made people curious."

"So after careful observation, we reached a conclusion. There may be something wrong with the Ouyang Household Head."

Lin Xiaotian's eyelid twitched.

"Is the struggle between Lineages really so intense? Just because they haven't caused you trouble, you can tell something is wrong?"

"Little brother, the struggle between Lineages is far more brutal than you imagine. No Household wants to fight, but a whole family needs to be fed. If you do not grow stronger and do not bully others, resources will never fall into your hands."

"Whether our Lineages have ambition or not, when pushed to the end, we have no choice but to fight."

"All right, we've left the cave. Once we take a carriage to the Xiao Household, it likely won't be more than a few days before every person in the clan with some status, those wishing to marry off their daughters, comes to test you."

Lin Xiaotian's face reddened, and his voice turned soft and hesitant.

"Brother Jingli, are you really going to choose several for me?"

"Hahaha!" Xiao Jingli burst into laughter. "You were so free and easy and clever inside the cave, even devouring that eldest miss of the Ouyang Household cleanly and decisively."

"What is this? If we truly choose beauties for you, you're unwilling instead? You even sound like some creamy little pretty boy."

"The women of our Xiao Household do not like such timid temperaments. Of course, you will still need to be tested. Otherwise, how could we possibly let you have everything your way?"

"Hmph, little brother, this test may very well involve elders with External Force deliberately making things difficult for you."

"You'd best prepare yourself. If you fail to pass, forget marrying a woman of my Xiao Household—you may even lose your life."

Lin Xiaotian's eyes widened slightly.

This Xiao Household was truly realistic. If you were talented, they gave you beauties and resources; otherwise, they would stomp you into a cesspit with one foot.