Chapter 1375

The reason Xu Mubai revealed his identity to Hu Xiaotian was because he had guessed Hu Xiaotian's true identity; he smiled and said, "If I am not mistaken, Hu Cai Dong's fist technique just now was the God-Demon World-Exterminating Fist, a style created by our ancestor; Mubai had only heard of it, and today we finally have the fate to meet—truly overflowing with domineering aura, impossible to resist!"

Hu Xiaotian deliberately said, "What is Young Master Xu's ancestor's surname?" The Xu family name is Xu, and this entire family bears the surname Xu.

Xu Mubai smiled and said, "Hu Cai Dong, let's change the place to talk."

Hu Xiaotian nodded; Xu Fengwu stood beside him, neither able to leave nor stay, not knowing what to do.

Xu Mubai said, "Sixth Uncle, go prepare; today at noon I will give Hu Cai Dong a welcome feast—no guests are to be received at the Gold Lust Den." As a junior issuing such instructions to an elder, it shows how great the gap in their standing within the family still is.

Xu Fengwu stared at Hu Xiaotian, somewhat dazed; after all, Hu Xiaotian had not yet agreed to go to the Gold Lust Den for a meal, so why did Xu Mubai already have him make preparations?

Xu Mubai pointed to the stone pavilion ahead and said, "Let's talk there."

Zhao Wusheng now also understood; it was a case of the flood drowning the Dragon King's temple, relatives not recognizing each other. It turned out that these several Xu surnames were all from the Jinling Xu family, meaning they are relatives of Hu Xiaotian—cousins! Cousins once removed, in short, nothing else.

Hu Xiaotian and Xu Mubai entered the stone pavilion; standing here, they could just see the shimmering sea not far off, the cool sea breeze blowing in, bringing with it the sound of waves. Xu Mubai said, "Cousin! Even now, do you still not intend to acknowledge me as kin?"

Hu Xiaotian calmly gazed at Xu Mubai; his address of 'cousin' already indicated he had recognized Hu Xiaotian's identity. Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, "You know who I am, but I still don't know who you are."

Xu Mubai said, "I am Xu Mubai; your mother is my fifth paternal aunt, and my father is the youngest in the Xu family. That makes me your maternal uncle."

Hu Xiaotian slowly nodded and said, "You are indeed a member of the Jinling Xu family."

Xu Mubai reached out and grabbed his arm, saying, "Cousin, actually, the moment I saw you yesterday I felt an indescribable sense of closeness. You know, I have been following your news all these years; if it weren't for the strict family rules, I would have come to find you long ago!"

Hu Xiaotian secretly sneered. Why look for me? When the Hu family fell into misfortune, I never saw the Jinling Xu family lift a finger, not even a word of concern; you were only concerned with distancing yourselves, fearing involvement with the Xu family. I have achieved today without relying on the Xu family's help in the slightest—to say such things now is nothing but extreme hypocrisy, but Hu Xiaotian did not show it on his face. He smiled and said, "In that case, we are indeed cousins."

Xu Mubai showed considerable warmth, firmly shaking Hu Xiaotian's arm and saying, "I am a year older than you; we have actually met before. When I was eleven, I once stayed half a year at my maternal uncle's house in the capital. Do you still remember me?"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head and said, "How could I remember? Back then I was a deaf-mute idiot!" He was not lying.

Xu Mubai chuckled and said, "You must remember; cousin, who doesn't know you were then a case of great wisdom appearing as foolishness?"

Hu Xiaotian really felt both amused and exasperated; at that time he was truly stupid, not some 'great wisdom appearing as foolishness,' but absolutely a genuine blockhead.

Xu Mubai said, "Cousin, the Gold Lust Den is actually our family's property."

Hu Xiaotian, hearing him speak so earnestly, could not help but feel resentment—who says we are family? Now you treat me as family? If we are family, why did you earlier ignore us completely? And why did you cause my mother to suffer so miserably? But upon reflection, Xu Mubai is merely a peer of mine; he may not know the affairs of the previous one or two generations, and I need not blame him for everything. This time his appearance is actually a great opportunity for me to get close to the Xu family; he wants to see what kind of person the elderly matriarch Xu is, and just how cold-blooded she can be.

Hu Xiaotian said, "I have already investigated; otherwise I would not have shown mercy just now." By saying he had investigated rather than guessed, this shows Hu Xiaotian's scheming—he wants Xu Mubai to feel that he has eyes and ears everywhere, and these minor matters cannot be hidden from him.

Hu Xiaotian's words indeed gave Xu Mubai a misunderstanding; he thought Hu Xiaotian's visit to the Gold Lust Den yesterday was premeditated, and that he had deliberately provoked the dispute. Xu Mubai sighed and said, "Cousin, I know you feel wronged; some things cannot be explained in a moment, but we are blood-related, and in my heart I have always cared for you as this brother."

Hu Xiaotian secretly sighed at Xu Mubai's hypocrisy; although they are cousins, they previously had no emotional basis at all, let alone the word 'care.' But since he had said it, Hu Xiaotian could not openly expose him and lose face; he smiled and said, "I never expected us cousins to meet here; have you always been on South Jin Island?"

Xu Mubai said, "Not always there; I also just arrived yesterday. Why don't we go to the Gold Lust Den to have tea and chat?"

Hu Xiaotian deliberately showed a hesitant expression; Xu Mubai laughed and said, "You wouldn't still be angry with Sixth Uncle, would you? On South Jin Island there are officials, merchants, bandits—all kinds of people. For the Gold Lust Den to survive here, being neither ruthless nor dark is impossible; his behavior is also due to the environment, so don't blame him."

Hu Xiaotian deliberately asked, "What about the woman with the severed hand?"

Xu Mubai said, "Of course, it's entirely up to you, cousin, to decide."

Hu Xiaotian said, "In that case, I will take her away."

Xu Mubai laughed and said, "Don't worry about just her; even if you, cousin, were to take all the women of the Gold Lust Den away, I guarantee no one would dare to gossip."

Hu Xiaotian chuckled and said, "Rest assured, I won't seize the Xu family's property."

Xu Mubai gave a faint smile, feeling that Hu Xiaotian's words carried another meaning.

Hu Xiaotian accepted Xu Mubai's invitation, returned to the ship, and saw everyone busy loading supplies; according to the current progress, they could finish all provisions by noon.

Zhao Wusheng reported the progress to Hu Xiaotian, who nodded and said, "No rush; we have just recognized a relative, and at noon we will go to the Gold Lust Den to drink."

Zhao Wusheng, already somewhat aware of this, smiled and asked, "Is everyone going?"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head and said, "Leave twenty brothers on the ship to stand watch; Xia Zhangming also doesn't need to go; the rest will follow me to the Gold Lust Den for drinks."

Zhao Wusheng joked, "Do we have to pay for the drinks? With so many people, even the ship wouldn't be enough."

Hu Xiaotian laughed loudly, patted Zhao Wusheng's shoulder, and said, "Dare to ask me for money? Aren't you afraid I'll disregard even my closest kin?"

Hu Xiaotian entered the cabin to change Xiao Rou's medicine and, in passing, checked her condition; Xiao Rou was now fully awake, sitting silently on the bed without a word, her eyes faintly glistening with tears.

Hu Xiaotian also knew that she must have suffered great inner trauma from this incident, and likely could not recover quickly; after re-bandaging Xiao Rou's hand, he smiled and said, "It's fine; this hand should be able to heal completely. The Golden Trauma Medicine I gave you is a special formulation of the Divine Farmer's Society, so future scars will not be obvious."

Xia Zhangming, listening nearby, also felt greatly relieved; Xiao Rou bit her cherry lips, turned her face away, her shoulders trembling slightly, and soft sobs came from her back.

Hu Xiaotian said, "You also need not be afraid; I have already settled things with them, and the Gold Lust Den will no longer trouble you."

Xiao Rou choked out, "Thank you, Hu Cai Dong."

Hu Xiaotian said, "You need not thank me; in fact, you ended up like this entirely because of my responsibility. If I were not so competitive, this would not have happened."

Xiao Rou said, "It has nothing to do with Hu Cai Dong; it is entirely my own fate." After saying this she fell silent again; Hu Xiaotian also saw no need to speak further, turned and left the cabin, with Xia Zhangming following him out.

Hu Xiaotian quietly told Xia Zhangming that he had recognized a relative; Xia Zhangming listened, stunned, never expecting that after going around in circles, the Gold Lust Den turned out to be property of Hu Xiaotian's maternal grandmother's family. Although he knew Xu Fengwu was Hu Xiaotian's relative, Xia Zhangming could not conceal his dislike for him, and said in a low voice, "My lord, I will not accompany you to the Gold Lust Den at noon."

Hu Xiaotian laughed and said, "I never intended to invite you anyway; we need someone to stay behind here, and Xiao Rou also cannot be left without your care."

Xia Zhangming's face involuntarily reddened; Hu Xiaotian did not expose his fondness for Xiao Rou, and, feeling uneasy about Hu Xiaotian going to the Gold Lust Den, he cautioned, "My lord, you also need to stay vigilant and guard against their tricks."

Hu Xiaotian said, "After all, they are relatives; we ought to keep things civil on the surface—surely I can't be forced to choose righteousness over kin."

Xia Zhangming said, "In short, I feel the Gold Lust Den is no good place; my lord, please be on your guard."

Hu Xiaotian certainly would not let down his guard; last time he was schemed against by Qiqi and Ren Tianqing working together in Kangdu, but not everyone possesses Ren Tianqing's abilities. Although he himself cannot be called absolutely immune to all poisons, he is not far off—ordinary people's poison would not affect him. Moreover, he does not believe the other side would have the audacity to poison him openly.

When Hu Xiaotian and Zhao Wusheng led over eighty subordinates to the Gold Lust Den, the place had already cleared out its customers, merely awaiting their arrival. From afar they could see Xu Mubai standing outside the Gold Lust Den, waiting quietly for them.

Hu Xiaotian arrived at the gate, dismounted, and Xu Mubai greeted him with a smile, clasping his fists and saying, "Cousin, you've come!"

Hu Xiaotian smiled back; his address of 'cousin' sounded truly affectionate, as if he feared others would not know they were related. Yet he could not deny the fact of their kinship, and he said loudly, "Sorry to trouble you, cousin."

Xu Mubai warmly put his arm around his shoulders and said, "As family, there's no need for ceremony—hurry, please come in!"

To welcome Hu Xiaotian's party, the Gold Lust Den had set up ten tables in the hall, which were of course meant to entertain his subordinates; as for Hu Xiaotian and Zhao Wusheng, there were specially prepared places for them inside. (To be continued~^~)