Chapter 43: We Are a Loving, Close-Knit Family~

Amid intertwined interests and threats, Hongmei awkwardly reached a peculiar equilibrium with the three Wang uncles and nephews.

If he acts, the three will flee, and he’s done for.

If he doesn’t act, the three will report to Wang Xianmao, and he’s half-done for.

Ultimately, his cultivation was insufficient; tempted by Foundation Establishment, he took a risk—and failed.

Most importantly, at the very moment Hongmei revealed his killing intent, Yulou noticed it instantly.

Hongmei’s decisiveness allowed him to successfully plunder the Jin Guang Pavilion, but his later hesitation and indecision destroyed everything.

What he least expected was that all three Wangs possessed the Hundred Li Xiao Yao Escape Talisman.

After much deliberation, Hongmei still wanted to mend relations, for he was certain he couldn’t avoid facing Wang Xianmao.

Even if he achieved Foundation Establishment, he must account for this—he couldn’t deceive Yulou, couldn’t deceive Wang Xianmao, and dared not face the Foundation Establishment cultivator behind Jin Guang Pavilion!

Thinking of this, Hongmei spoke with visible pain.

“Yulou, come here—these two magic treasures are rewards for you; you performed excellently today!”

“Unflinching in crisis, calm before great matters—you two are good boys.”

He pulled two high-grade magic treasure flying swords from his storage pouch: one of agate jade, one of cold iron silver, and handed them to the two brothers.

Looking at the high-grade flying swords his master offered, Yulou shook his head slightly and said:

“We didn’t help at all today, Master. We shouldn’t accept such gifts.”

This old bastard Hongmei had intended to kill him.

Yulou believed two flying swords couldn’t sweep this matter under the rug.

When your enemy compromises, you must press the advantage and chase the fleeing foe.

Of course, Hongmei wasn’t Yulou’s enemy—he was Yulou’s master.

Yet at this moment, both sides were effectively locked in a confrontational game of strategy.

Hongmei hadn’t truly moved against them, and the Wangs had no absolute reason to kill Hongmei.

But Hongmei’s attitude had turned his plundering of Jin Guang Pavilion into leverage the Wangs could hold over him.

How valuable this leverage could be depended not on Yulou—he was merely a lowly cultivator, too frail to matter.

As for extracting potential, Wang Xianmao, who had cultivated for at least a century, was far more skilled.

If they accepted Hongmei’s flying swords as a bribe to win them over, the leverage’s utility would plummet.

This Yulou absolutely could not accept!

The Wangs had treated him well; he couldn’t think only of himself. To live better in Wunan, everyone must stick together!

“What exactly happened today, Yulou? Tell me everything.”

Wang Rongsheng spoke from afar; though he had guessed most of the truth, he now needed confirmation.

“Master killed the shopkeeper of Jin Guang Pavilion, and the clerks too, then took their storage pouches and magic treasures.”

“Then Master looted Jin Guang Pavilion’s vault, took the valuable items, and burned down the entire building along with the corpses.”

“Master is truly powerful, isn’t he, Cousin?”

Yulou’s calm reply left Hongmei drenched in cold sweat.

Jin Guang Pavilion’s backer was a Foundation Establishment cultivator serving the Immortal Alliance—Wang Yulou had calculated he’d crack under pressure!

Three sentences, mentioning Jin Guang Pavilion at least ten times—the threat was unmistakable.

In the past, Yulou wasn’t like this—he was devoted to Hongmei.

Now, things had turned out so unpredictably.

Yulou’s final words, “Master is truly powerful,” echoed like a curse in Hongmei’s mind.

He felt the killing intent rise again—this Wang clan meant to crush him to death!

No, more accurately—he meant to crush me to death!

Looking at Yulou’s calm expression, Hongmei smiled and said:

“Yes, I took many magic treasures, spirit stones, and spiritual materials. When we return to Qingxi Market, we’ll trade them for spirit stones.”

“I’ll reward each of you two hardworking boys with two thousand spirit stones!”

“Though Cousin Rongsheng arrived a bit late, I know you meant to help me—I’ll surely...”

Wang Rongsheng didn’t respond to Hongmei. Instead, he said:

“You’ve rested enough, Hongmei. Let’s keep moving.”

Sugar-coated bullets?

Useless!

Take him back to Qingxi Market first!

The distance from here to Wang Family Mountain is too great for a message talisman to reach—otherwise, Wang Rongsheng would’ve sent one already.

When my ancestor arrives, he’ll beat you into a pig’s head.

You audacious bastard!

Among the four, Hongmei had the highest cultivation, and he was piloting the flying cart carrying Yulou and the other.

Yet this return journey to Qingxi Market had become, unmistakably, an escort mission.

Of course, the one being escorted was Hongmei.

At this moment, Yulou first felt the benefit of the Immortal Alliance’s oversight.

With the Immortal Alliance above, Wunan’s world wasn’t as chaotic; cultivators still retained some reverence.

Without a powerful institution to restrain cultivators, what outrages would those wielding great power commit?

At that point, no outrage would be too extreme.

“Yuan, do you like your senior sister?”

Hongmei drove the cart, his heart in turmoil, yet still seeking some semblance of dignity.

Yulou held back his brother and answered for him.

“Yes, Yuan likes Senior Sister Ningyao.”

Hongmei still had some resilience; he began maneuvering with Yulou.

“You two are my good disciples, my first students—I gave each of you two magic treasures.”

“Of course, that’s merely what any master should do; on this trip, I also taught you secret cultivation methods—nothing more than duty.”

I’m a good master, you must admit that.

Yulou, don’t you agree?

“Yes, Master taught us how to burn down Jin Guang Pavilion—thank you for your verbal and embodied instruction.”

He agreed—but agreed too much.

Hongmei frowned and continued:

“Yulou, there may be minor misunderstandings between us, but I must say this plainly:

All along, Yuan—Yuan, listen well—I’ve been raising you as my son-in-law.”

“Ningyao is grown, you’re sixteen; she’s at Qi Refining Seventh Layer, and you’re at Fifth.”

“I’ll make the decision: if you break through Qi Refining, I’ll betroth Ningyao to you, Yuan—what do you say?”

Hongmei knew Yulou was a difficult brat—very difficult.

But Yuan was different—he was a pure fool.

Wasn’t this the opening?

Fortresses are always breached from within; Yuan’s own father, Rongwen, was a pillar of the Wang clan!

Yulou had preserved the value of his leverage; Hongmei now sought every possible way to undermine it.

“I follow my brother!”

Yuan’s heart was torn—he was genuinely tempted.

No one has become immortal yet; Hongmei’s greed, Yuan’s infatuation—normal.

But Yuan’s feet were off the ground on the flying cart; his mind still had some sense—he knew he must listen to his elder brother.

“Yulou, what do you think? Yuan is your own brother.”

Hongmei looked at Yulou—he had reached his limit, offering his daughter to his second disciple to secure Foundation Establishment.

He only begged the Wangs not to harass him!

Yulou understood—he couldn’t offend Yuan.

Matters of emotion—filial brotherhood and romantic love—have no absolute hierarchy, especially when Yuan was still immature; problems could easily arise.

What if this ruined their brotherhood?

Don’t say it’s impossible—everything is possible.

So, the burden of refusal couldn’t fall on Yulou.

Hongmei had thrown this problem at him; naturally, he wouldn’t take it.

“Master, you’re still my real master.”

“We are a loving, close-knit family.”

“So, Yuan’s marriage shall be decided by our clan elder.”

“Yuan says he follows me—I say I follow the clan elder!”

Yulou replied firmly.

Yulou answered with a resounding tone.