Chapter 703: Xiu Xiang Returns Home

Li Yi led everyone back to the home of the merchant lord Xiu Xiang.

Although Xiu Xiang had not yet returned, Li Yi felt it was inappropriate to stay here long-term with so many people, so he decided to purchase a house within Beihuang City over the next two days as his base.

This way, whenever he crossed between worlds, he would no longer be without a fixed dwelling.

Soon.

He returned to his small courtyard, lit a bonfire, set up a large pot, took out fine wine, and began cooking the flesh of the strange beasts—this world's beast meat brimmed with vital essence, requiring no seasoning, just a pinch of salt to become exquisitely savory.

As dusk deepened.

Everyone sat around the bonfire, devouring meat and drinking wine in large gulps.

Especially Long Yu—he had been locked in a cage too long, and his slave master dared not feed him well, fearing he might regain strength, break free, and escape; thus, he was the hungriest, and before the meat was fully cooked, he eagerly seized a large piece and devoured it.

Beside him, the Grand Sacrificer Dou Kun, though ancient in years, had a voracious appetite like a strong young man, wolfing down meat and gulping wine, his aged face showing clear satisfaction.

"I haven't tasted meat this good or drunk wine this fine in ages," Dou Kun sighed. "I thought I'd die without ever feasting again, yet today my wish has come true."

Li Yi raised a bowl of wine and smiled. "Grand Sacrificer, from now on you'll drink fine wine and eat good meat every day—you'll never go hungry again. I promise you."

He now held nearly eighty thousand taels of silver, enough to speak with such confidence.

"Ha! You're truly different from other lords—no lord would make such a promise to a servant who never served him. You're the first." Dou Kun laughed, his aged voice now strong and full.

Li Yi said, "You are an elder, and in my tribe, caring for elders is normal."

"Lord, your tribe must be mighty and wealthy," Dou Kun said. "In most tribes, when food grows scarce, the elderly are the first to be sacrificed—they cannot hunt, cannot protect the tribe, and often fall ill, consuming precious herbs. Next come women and children; though they represent the future, if the tribe cannot survive now, there is no future."

Li Yi drained his bowl and smiled. "Grand Sacrificer, such a thing will never happen to me—I will never sacrifice elders or children."

"You are truly a benevolent lord," Dou Kun said, his face brightening. "Come, all of you—raise your bowls in honor of our benevolent lord!"

"Honor the lord," Long Yu rumbled, raising his scaled, muscular arm in sincere tribute.

"Honor the lord."

Shan Guo also raised her bowl, gazing at Li Yi by the bonfire with a dazed expression—only after letting go of her hatred had she realized he was truly worth following.

Beside him, E Ji and Su Ji sat close, smiling sweetly as they refilled his wine bowl.

Li Yi smiled again, raised his bowl, and drank with them.

"Lord, permit us to dance for you."

Then, the two beauties bowed respectfully, wishing to add joy to the feast and hoping their dance would please Li Yi.

"Good," Li Yi nodded.

As the two beauties danced beside the bonfire, Li Yi witnessed the dance of this world for the first time.

Ancient and elegant, like the ancestors of old performing rites to a great god, or a nimble maiden expressing her love—Li Yi did not understand dance, yet he felt its meaning.

In any world, no matter the language or movement, the essence of expression remains the same.

Li Yi watched the graceful dance, laughed heartily, drank, and ate meat—he felt something indescribable growing within him from staying too long in this wild world, as if chains had fallen away, and the most primal instincts of his bloodline were slowly emerging.

Perhaps this is the world's charm.

It has its good side, and its terrible side.

This simple feast lasted until late night, everyone full and drunk—several even passed out—but all were in high spirits, for they were no longer slaves to be bought and sold in the market, but had begun a new life, a new beginning.

Today was merely a simple meeting, yet their fates were now bound together; they would live side by side for a long time ahead.

Li Yi told everyone to rest; fortunately, the courtyard had enough rooms to accommodate them all.

He did not sleep, but summoned a cloud of auspicious mist, sat atop the roof, and practiced the Great Heaven-and-Earth Qi Absorption Method, gathering spiritual energy to continue his cultivation.

This realm had suffered no pollution or corruption.

The night sky sparkled brilliantly, countless stars blanketing the heavens, pouring down starlight; vast cosmic energy gathered, forming five-colored qi that enveloped Li Yi, his breath syncing with the pulse of this world.

Though extraordinary phenomena surged, his aura had vanished entirely, as if merged with nature itself.

Li Yi's cultivation continued until morning; though brief, it brought progress—he believed that with steady accumulation, he would soon complete his transformation, reaching the peak of the Five Qi Realm while filling sixty acupoints with divine blood.

But that day—

A furious voice suddenly erupted from the gate.

"Lord Lie, you bastard! While I was away, you insulted my honored guest—I'll kill you, hang your head at my gate, and wash your shame away with your blood!"

At that moment, the merchant lord Xiu Xiang returned to Beihuang City.

He had received word of what happened before arriving, but that did not lessen his rage.

Although Da Yi had been attacked and suffered no injury—indeed, had defeated the enemy's divine-blood warrior—another merchant lord had dared strike while Xiu Xiang was away, a direct and brutal humiliation.

If Xiu Xiang failed to seek revenge, he would be mocked henceforth as weak and incompetent, unable to protect even his honored guest—who would trade with such a man?

"Master, you've finally returned—thank heaven!"

"We greet our master."

Xiu Xiang's voice instantly drew servants, guards, and concubines rushing out—the very E Ji and Su Ji from Li Yi's chamber rose quickly and hurried from the courtyard.

After all, E Ji and Su Ji still belonged to Xiu Xiang; they must obey his rules.

Xiu Xiang surveyed the household, his gaze dark—many were missing.

One of his favorite concubines was dead, his loyal old servant gone, several guests vanished—he knew they had not fled or betrayed him, but died that night.

Though many had killed themselves out of shame for failing to protect the honored guest, the blame lay squarely with Lord Lie.

Yet Lord Lie's estate had become ruins, with no plans to rebuild; the entire family was gone, likely fled Beihuang City—or merely moved to a new residence.

Either way, Xiu Xiang swore he would find Lord Lie.

But as a competent merchant lord, Xiu Xiang quickly regained his composure after his brief rage—he saw two disheveled, half-dressed concubines rushing from the eastern courtyard.

He remembered them: his finest concubines, one named E, the other Su.

He had bought them long ago, never used them, reserving them for Da Yi—though he did not know when Da Yi would return to Beihuang City, as a merchant lord he must prepare fine gifts for honored guests.

So when Xiu Xiang saw E Ji and Su Ji emerging from Da Yi's courtyard, his mood lifted considerably.

For Da Yi had accepted the gift he had prepared, and had not left in anger after the attack.

This was good news.

Yet Xiu Xiang deliberately feigned anger: "E Ji, Su Ji—you should be tending your honored guest at this hour, not rushing out at the first sound. Have you forgotten my instructions?"

E Ji and Su Ji fell to their knees in terror, too frightened to speak.

But Xiu Xiang had no intention of punishing them—he turned and said, "To prevent this from happening again, from today, I give you to Da Yi—you will serve him for life; your lives now belong to Da Yi. Bow to him as your master."

He spoke as if dismissing unwanted trash.

E Ji and Su Ji, upon hearing this, felt their terror vanish—replaced by astonishment and joy.

Though Da Yi had said he would ask Xiu Xiang for them, when the moment arrived, they felt their fates shining with brilliance.

But then—

A steady footstep approached.

A young man strode forward, clad in crimson-feathered purple-gold armor, carrying a divine-wood greatbow, radiating the aura of Long Hu, wreathed in lightning and thunder.

He looked like a youthful god—though not yet grown, his divine potential was already evident.

Such extraordinary aura left even the merchant lord Xiu Xiang staring in awe.

Last year he had seen Da Yi—he was then merely an ordinary divine-blood warrior, his potential recognized only by the Earl of Nanshan; now, Xiu Xiang had to admit: the Earl of Nanshan had been right.

(End of Chapter)