Double Happiness

Come on, let the raging wind and rain strike harder. Loaded with cheats as I am, I will defy the heavens even in this damned society.

"Third Brother, time to eat!" Wen Hua called cheerfully, interrupting Wenlong's thoughts.

The New Year celebrations had made her happier than ever. Her mother had prepared beautiful clothes for her, and she got to eat her favorite snacks every day.

The gifts she had received over the past few days filled her little room. As the Clan Chief's daughter, she was sensible and adorable, the sort of child everyone loved. Everyone enjoyed teasing and playing with her.

At eleven, Wenlong felt that every day he lived for his Lineage, for his own little family, and for himself as well.

Still, although he was tired, his days were fulfilling. Every task he completed brought a change to the Lineage. That felt pretty good.

At last, the great day of the sect's founding ceremony arrived. Everyone in Wen territory attended the grand ceremony except the Security Squad members who had to patrol.

When Sect Master Wen Tiancheng pulled away the red cloth over the gate, the name "Huaxia Sect" gleamed brilliantly. The crowd cheered, and drums and music rang out.

Wen Tiancheng then unveiled the Coiling Dragon Pillar, and the people cheered again. Drums and music thundered skyward once more. They performed the Worship of the Heaven and Earth Deity and proclaimed the Huaxia Sect officially established.

Next came Sect Master Wen Tiancheng's speech. He reappointed Wen Tian'gang as First Elder, Wen Tianhe as Second Elder, and Wen Tianfu as Third Elder.

The celebratory banquet began, and everyone gathered together in high spirits. Just then, Xiao Tie hurried over and told Wen Tiancheng and Wenlong to go home. Wenlong's mother was about to give birth.

Wen Tiancheng instructed Wen Tian'gang to handle the remaining matters, then hurried home.

By then, the aunts of the Lineage had already arrived to help, and Linzi's mother was inside the room delivering the baby. Wenlong's father was so anxious that he had paced back and forth across the courtyard countless times.

Before long, a baby's wailing rang out, followed by delighted voices both inside and outside the room. "The baby's here! The baby's here!" the aunts cried joyfully.

A little later, Linzi's mother, who had delivered the baby, came out and offered repeated congratulations. "Brother Tiancheng, congratulations! You have another son!"

His father was also wild with joy and babbled, "Joy for all of us, joy for all of us! Hehe, let's hand out lucky money so everyone can share in the happiness."

He took out handful after handful of silver pieces and distributed them among the aunts. Wenlong was delighted too, and the heart that had been hanging in suspense finally settled.

Two blessings had truly arrived at their door. The Huaxia Sect had just been founded, and now he had another little brother. This was exactly what he had hoped for, and at last his wish had come true.

Wenlong entered the room and looked at his little brother in his swaddling clothes. The baby was wrinkled yet incredibly adorable, and tenderness filled Wenlong's face.

The little fellow kept his eyes tightly shut and his tiny fists clenched, crying loudly. Although his mother was exhausted, her face shone with a happy smile.

"Mother, thank you for all you've been through," Wenlong said softly. His mother smiled and nodded. Just then, Wen Tiancheng came in too, looking at his son with eyes full of love and pride.

A month later, the day of his little brother's one-month celebration arrived. Long'er's mother asked Wen Tiancheng what they should name the baby.

Wen Tiancheng chuckled. "Let's call him Gouer. A name like that will make him easier to raise." His mother agreed that it was a fine choice.

Seeing his parents focused on his little brother, oblivious to the dark lines already gathering over Wenlong's forehead, he deliberately coughed.

Only then did his parents look at him. "Long'er, isn't Gouer a good name for your little brother?" His mother finally realized that her third son had been neglected.

"Honestly, you two have even studied and learned to write, yet you're not as good as Fourth Brother and Fifth Sister," Wenlong replied, curling his lip.

Hearing their third brother praise them, Wen Tie and Wen Hua involuntarily puffed out their chests and straightened their backs.

"Well..." His parents were left speechless. Only after a while did they ask Wenlong to offer his opinion.

"I don't want a puppy for a little brother. Your lack of education is truly terrifying," Wenlong teased his parents again.

Wen Tie managed to cover his mouth as he laughed. Wen Hua, standing beside him, could not help doubling over with laughter.

"Little Sister, laughing like that-can't you show a little respect for our parents' feelings?" Wenlong said deliberately. At that, Wen Hua burst out laughing and ran out of the room.

Both his parents' faces darkened. "Since you're so clever, why don't you name your little brother?"

Seeing that his parents were losing face and had already become annoyed, Wenlong could only beg for mercy. "All right, all right, don't be angry. I was only joking."

"My little brother was born on the very day the sect was founded. It marked the beginning of both the Huaxia Sect and his life. With the primal cycle beginning anew, it's also the start of a new year. Let's call him Wen Yuan," he said with a smile.

This time, his parents considered it for a while, then both voiced their approval. From then on, his little brother would be called Wen Yuan.

The one-month banquet was lively too, with people from all over Wen territory coming to offer congratulations. The Wen had a new child. No matter which household welcomed a baby, everyone in the Lineage was happy. Children were the Lineage's hope.

Once the festivities were over, Wenlong established rules for the Huaxia Sect, giving its members standards to follow and laws to abide by so its administration would not descend into chaos.

He instructed his father to send people to Brightlight City to post notices announcing that the Huaxia Sect was recruiting disciples. They were not to reveal the Wen's involvement yet. If any members of the Kai came seeking instruction, they were to be detained immediately and sent to the Slave Camp.

Recruitment was open to youngsters aged seven to fifteen. Tuition and miscellaneous fees were waived, along with meal costs for the first six months. After that, they could earn an income within the sect. Anyone interested could visit to learn more, and a map showing the route to the Huaxia Sect was attached.

With everything arranged, Wenlong was also ready to cultivate in the Secret Passage. If an emergency arose, someone could go to the Ancestral Hall and trigger the alarm.

This was a mechanism Wenlong had installed in the Secret Passage so that he would not remain completely unaware if something happened outside.

After entering the Secret Passage, he still focused on practicing martial arts and studying medicine. Although he could not yet draw qi into his body, he had not abandoned the possibility of pursuing the martial path.

Once the Huaxia Sect's notices were posted in Brightlight City and the news became public, the entire city was stirred into a frenzy. Even people from nearby villages flocked to the Huaxia Sect for interviews.

The Wen had already sent people to separate all the slaves from the areas open to the public, preventing anyone from discovering the existence of the Kai slaves.

A sea of people had already gathered before the Huaxia Sect's mountain gate. The main attraction was six months of free food and lodging, along with the chance to learn many skills. To the poor, that appeal was irresistible.

Rows of fully armed Security Squad members stood before the mountain gate. Every one of them wore a face covering, lending them an air of mystery that inspired fear.

Only those who passed the preliminary test at the mountain gate could enter the square for the main selection. After being selected, they had to undergo a three-month probation before officially becoming members of the Huaxia Sect.

As Wenlong had said, character came first and talent second. A disciple with good character was therefore more important.

The original plan had been to recruit two hundred disciples. Elder Wen Tian'gang was too softhearted, however, and accepted all the remaining hundred and sixty-odd applicants.

Taking in more than three hundred and sixty people at once put considerable pressure on the Huaxia Sect. The very next day, the Security Squad was ordered to keep those seeking instruction from approaching the sect. Recruitment had already ended.

They did, however, uncover more than a dozen members of the Kai, whom the Security Squad secretly sent to the Slave Camp.

There had been more than seventy beggars in the original group they took in. Together with the youngsters from Huaxia Village and the newly recruited disciples, the Huaxia Sect's disciple count suddenly rose to over five hundred.

Under Shitou's leadership, they carried out several hunts to round up Kai farmers, and the number of slaves also increased to over six hundred.