Chapter 332: Second Uncle (Three-in-One)

"Oh, I see," Xu Yuan replied indifferently.

Lang Xiao Ba was stunned, glanced at my lord, and Xu Yuan countered, "Is there anything else?"

"N-no, nothing. This subordinate takes his leave."

Xu Yuan's reaction indeed exceeded Lang Xiao Ba's expectations.

Anyone who had gone to Yu Well Village with Lord Xu could guess that the relationship between the lord and that jiao was profound.

So upon hearing relevant news, Lang Xiao Ba came to report to the lord immediately.

Who would have thought the lord would act as if it had nothing to do with him.

Could it be that we all guessed wrong?

It was not that they guessed wrong, but that Lord Xu had his own idea.

Lord Xu had sought out the jiao before, but it did not show itself—it was hiding from him... there must be a reason for that.

The foundation of the relationship between Xu Yuan and the jiao lay in Xu Yuan's appreciation for the jiao.

In a world teeming with malevolent spirits, such a "righteous jiao" was especially rare.

That is why Xu Yuan chose it to partner in business.

As long as they spoke up, Lord Xu would certainly provide all the help within his power.

But if the jiao "failed to preserve its integrity in its later years," then the "friendship" between them would end right there.

Lord Xu would even, without hesitation, fulfill his duty as an inspector of the Evil-Dispelling Bureau.

The jiao falling into the Grand Canal severely injured was, in fact, a very disastrous outcome.

The Grand Canal is that one's territory.

That one very detests anything in this world that seeks to transform into a dragon.

Except for practitioners of the Dragon-Transformation Method passed down by that one.

The jiao understood this clearly, so it never approached the Grand Canal.

Xu Yuan, at this moment, was not in a hurry instead. You deliberately hid from me; what now?

If you have the ability, keep hiding and rely on your own power to survive this calamity!

Xu Yuan, holding the "evidence," having not yet received the "buyer" from the Grand Canal Office, called Seeing Fu Jingyu to accompany him out; Song Lu naturally followed along as well.

Lord Xu's target was the Shanhe Bureau.

Behind Miao Yu was approving a pile of official documents.

On the desk before him, various Juan Sect files were piled three feet high.

Behind Miao Yu was already in a headache; the moment he saw Xu Yuan arrive, he immediately pushed the things aside: "Deal with these things later."

He was just worrying about lacking an excuse to slack off.

"Brother Xu seeking me must mean something very important." He pulled Xu Yuan: "Come, let us go drink tea."

Zhu Zhanmei stood aside and could not help rolling Old Baiyan.

The valiant and spirited female inspector rarely showed a touch of coquettishness.

"These official duties, no matter how long you hide, must still be done." Zhu Zhanmei said: "I am waiting for these documents of yours to close the case of Wang Shen and return to Luocheng."

Zhu Zhanmei suddenly gave a mischievous smile and said: "I am watching you in Zhan City, so you and the little brother cannot go to White Moon Hall. Better finish these documents quickly and send me away, hehehe."

Behind Miao Yu's old face burned hot, stammering: "This official did not go very often... The Shanhe Bureau handling ghost cases is under great pressure; one must always relax... Even if I went, I only drank wine and chatted; every time this official drank too much and never did anything improper..."

Xu Yuan chuckled secretly: "I helped you solve the matter of Wang Shen; what about the clue you promised me?"

Behind Miao Yu pulled him to a side hall on the other side; Inspector Zhang came to serve.

Xu Yuan could not help asking: "Do you really have no one else among your subordinates?"

Behind Miao Yu scratched his head.

He did not know how it happened that he had become a lone ruler in Zhan City?

This official, in other places, was clearly very capable of "recruiting talents."

He recalled that when he arrived in Zhan City, the first target he wanted to "subdue" was... Xu Yuan!

At that time, he was full of confidence.

After suffering a setback, he instead looked down even more on these oddballs and misfits within the Shanhe Bureau.

This resulted in him now having no one available to use.

"Sigh—" Behind Miao Yu let out a long sigh, unwilling to discuss this matter further, and instead said: "My merchant caravan recently, by chance, learned of something: beneath the Pig-Screaming Rock in Ghost Wushan, a special Mating Joy Tree has grown.

It bloomed half a year ago and bore a tree full of fruit three months ago—among them there might be one True Seed."

"True Seed" was originally a concept of the Daoist Sect.

Two hundred years ago, Daoist Qi Cultivators used "a pearl the size of a millet grain" to describe the True Seed.

First comes the "True Seed," then the Inner Dan.

It is formed through one's own realization and condensation.

However, Rank Dan Xiu in this era differ from the Daoist Sect.

Rank Dan Xiu form the Inner Dan first.

And True Seeds are mostly "external objects."

Nor must they necessarily be some kind of "seed"; they can be a certain kind of "treasure," or fine material produced from a malevolent spirit.

But there is one requirement: it must be "pure."

And it must not have "contamination."

Some high-level Rank Dan Xiu, preparing True Seeds for their students or offspring, if forged from a certain "material," must find a way to clean out the contamination within it.

And naturally occurring True Seeds—like the malevolent spirit Mating Joy Tree fruit mentioned by Behind Miao Yu—are natural True Seeds—extremely precious, and their effect is the best.

Xu Yuan knew Pig-Screaming Rock; that place was right next to Guanghuo Street!

If not for that, that Ganhuan Tree would have been cut down long ago.

Miao Yu continued: "I learned of this news five days ago, when the Ganhuan Tree was still there. Whether anything has changed in these past few days, I cannot guarantee."

So if you want to obtain that True Seed, you must act quickly."

Xu Yuan nodded, mentally calculating.

Zhu Zhanmei asked curiously: "Are you preparing to ascend to Fifth Flow Dan Xiu? My lord… you don't just cultivate Dan Xiu, do you?"

Xu Yuan nodded: "I also study Commercial Law—both are Sixth Flow."

Zhu Zhanmei nodded and said: "Young and accomplished."

Xu Yuan smiled: "You speak like that, Inspector Zhu—you sound ancient, and it only makes you look older."

Nearby, Zhu Zhanlei remarked offhandedly: "My third sister is much older than you."

Zhu Zhanmei glared fiercely at her younger brother and awkwardly explained to Xu Yuan: "I… I'm not that much older."

Xu Yuan smiled, unwilling to dwell on the topic.

Fu Jingyu asked: "Why are you certain a True Seed might be on that tree?"

Xu Yuan brought him along precisely because he was a scion of a prominent clan, well-traveled and knowledgeable, to offer advice.

Miao Yu said: "Someone saw from afar a five-colored thin cloud gathering above the canopy, like gauze yet lingering for days without dispersing."

"And beneath the tree, strange flowers and rare herbs have grown in vast patches."

Fu Jingyu nodded: "This is an omen—it truly may indicate a True Seed forming."

Song Lu couldn't help saying: "I fear… this True Seed may have been cultivated by some great evil in the mountains."

Fu Jingyu said: "Highly likely. In the wild lands, natural True Seeds are almost always cultivated by evil entities."

"In contrast, even our Seven Great Sects still haven't figured out how to cultivate True Seeds at all."

Xu Yuan knew obtaining this True Seed would be difficult.

If not for the extreme difficulty after Sixth Flow, Dan Xiu of the Middle Three Flows wouldn't be so rare.

The number of Lower Huang Huang Sanliu Dan Xiu is enormous, yet the number of Middle Huang Huang Sanliu Dan Xiu has plummeted drastically.

"Alright," Xu Yuan rose to take his leave: "I'll return now. You carry on with your duties."

"Stay a bit longer…" Miao Yu rose to urge him to stay—he truly didn't want to deal with those documents—but Zhu Zhanmei pressed him down.

Xu Yuan chuckled quietly and left.

Back at the Nancheng Patrol Station, Lang Xiao Ba reported: "My lord, someone came looking for you just now. Though dressed in civilian clothes, he carried considerable bearing and refused to reveal his identity."

Lang Xiao Ba added in a whisper: "But Aunt Wang recognized him and invited him in for a long talk."

"Where is he now?" Xu Yuan asked.

"He just left."

Xu Yuan was puzzled—did Aunt Wang have old acquaintances outside?

"Aunt Wang?" Xu Yuan knocked on the door. Aunt Wang pulled it open with one hand.

Aunt Wang sat in a master's chair, her expression dazed.

"It's your second uncle," she said bluntly. "Your second uncle has returned from the Demon-Slaying Army."

Xu Yuan immediately thought of Zheng Rongkui.

"He came to see you but wouldn't tell me why," Aunt Wang sighed. "I watched this child grow up. He's been away for twenty years—his nature… has changed."

Aunt Wang was only slightly younger than Shen the Elder.

By age alone, Xu Yuan should call her grandmother.

But according to the alley's generational hierarchy, Aunt Wang is only one generation above Xu Yuan—she belongs to Xu Huanyang's generation.

Hence, he has always called her Aunt Wang.

Xu Yuan had already guessed why his second uncle had returned.

"The Demon-Slaying Army's nose is sharp," Xu Yuan thought silently, but upon further reflection, something felt off.

His second uncle must have arrived in Luocheng long ago.

Otherwise, with only these past two days' rumors spreading, he couldn't have returned from Xianluo so quickly.

"He came to Luocheng but didn't even visit home—now he shows up only because he wants to buy this evidence. Hmph."

Even if he had no affection for his nephew or Lin Wanmo, his "sister-in-law," Aunt Wang still said she watched you grow up.

What about Shen the Elder and Uncle Mao Si? Aren't they worth a visit?

Aunt Wang said: "I told him you'd return tonight. He said he'd come for dinner."

Xu Yuan nodded: "Aunt Wang, rest assured—I'll handle it."

"Ah—" Aunt Wang sighed deeply. "All these years alone outside—he must have suffered greatly."

Indeed, she still cared for the child she had watched grow up.

Xu Yuan gave his assurance: "Don't worry—I know why he's returned. I… won't make things too hard for him."

I can sell it to the Demon-Slaying Army, but the price can't leave me at a disadvantage.

Out of respect for Aunt Wang, you may offer slightly less than the River Authority—but not by much.

Xu Yuan felt his "Commercial Law" stirring.

If this deal goes through, I might ascend to Fifth Flow!

But it's only "maybe"—no guarantee.

Thinking of this, Xu Yuan grew angry at the Jiao and Tian Jing.

Without the Commercial Law cultivation from Guanghuo Street, Xu Yuan's "Law Cultivation" has stagnated.

Otherwise, with this deal added, ascending to Fifth Flow would be certain!

Aunt Wang clearly favored Xu Yuan—she specifically warned: "Don't let yourself be pushed too far. If he goes too far, tell me—I'll throw him out!"

Xu Yuan laughed, quickly kneading Aunt Wang's shoulders and pounding her back to show his filial piety: "I knew you were the best, Aunt. You care for me more than Elder Shen does."

"Of course!" At the mention of that old deadbeat, Aunt Wang immediately narrowed her eyes, feeling he had never treated the child well.

But Aunt Wang was not easily fooled; suddenly she asked, "You wouldn't say the same in front of that old man Shen, would you?"

Although Xu Yuan had never done so, for some reason he felt guilty and shouted, "Absolutely impossible!"

Aunt Wang smiled, and Xu Yuan told her about the True Seed.

After listening, Aunt Wang said cautiously: "First, try to get your hands on it. Come back and let me see; some True Seeds may not suit you."

"Alright, you must definitely help me vet it."

Aunt Wang started nagging: "When will you bring a wife home for me to vet? Then I can close my eyes! Even if I enter that box, I will have an account to settle with my ancestors."

"Uh..." Xu Yuan froze.

Before dinner, that bronze-skinned, burly middle-aged man appeared once again at the door of the Nancheng patrol station.

Lang Xiao Ba carefully ushered him in: "My lord is waiting for you."

The middle-aged man snorted: "That brat has a huge ego!"

Lang Xiao Ba's ears twitched, then he pretended not to hear.

Xu Yuan waited inside Aunt Wang's room.

Outside, a chef from Wumei Lou, two assistants, and two waiters were waiting.

A stove was temporarily set up in the courtyard, with all ingredients prepared.

Second Uncle entered; Aunt Wang showed a smile: "A-Yuan, this is your Second Uncle."

"Second Brother, this is your nephew, your eldest brother's own flesh and blood."

This was the first time the uncle and nephew had met.

When Second Uncle left, Xu Huanyang had only recently married.

Xu Yuan had not yet been born.

Xu Yuan performed the junior's salute, bowed, and said, "Second Uncle, please take your seat."

Xu Yuan then instructed those outside: "Begin the feast."

The chef immediately started cooking.

Not long after, eight cold dishes and eight hot dishes were prepared and served.

Xu Yuan opened a small jar of thirty-year-old vintage from the Lotus Wine Workshop.

"Second Uncle, I toast you."

After three cups, Xu Yuan set down his wine glass: "Second Uncle, eat some food."

When eating and drinking were nearly finished, Second Uncle put down his chopsticks first and carefully examined Xu Yuan.

There was some appreciation in his eyes.

"Not bad. You can keep your cool."

Xu Yuan smiled slightly: "Thank you, Second Uncle, for the praise. However, some things must be clarified first." Xu Yuan tapped the table with his finger and said, "Zheng Rongkui."

Second Uncle nodded readily: "I know him. We completed two missions together."

"Originally, we were comrades who had risked our lives for each other, so I know his background clearly. I also told him about my family's affairs."

"Later..."

"We were no longer on the same path. The two lords we each followed were rivals within the Demon-Extermination Army."

"I only learned of his arrival in Shanhe County after he died."

Xu Yuan nodded, chose to believe him, and did not pursue the matter further.

"Did you return for this?" Xu Yuan took out that piece of material.

Second Uncle nodded: "Name your price."

Xu Yuan said, "I must wait for the offer from the Canal Office."

Second Uncle did not reproach him; he drank a cup of wine himself before saying, "I know you harbor resentment."

"I hold no resentment toward you, Second Uncle," Xu Yuan shook his head. "It is just that after so many years, you refused to return home to visit the elders; I merely find your character somewhat contemptible."

Second Uncle snorted: "Why I did not return, your father knows perfectly well!"

Xu Yuan frowned, not understanding what Second Uncle meant.

Aunt Wang sighed and said, "Second Brother, those are just your suspicions. Your eldest brother never thought that way."

Second Uncle served Aunt Wang a chopstick of food before saying, "Sister-in-law, you need not speak for him. When I left, my sister-in-law had just become pregnant with A-Yuan. Your eldest brother's true intentions could no longer be hidden."

Aunt Wang tried to speak again, but Second Uncle raised his hand to stop her and added, "I won't say anything else. When he suddenly married his own disciple, I knew I had not wronged him back then!"

Aunt Wang opened her mouth, but finally let out a long sigh; she pitied Lin Wanmo and did not want to defend Xu Huanyang.

Second Uncle looked at Xu Yuan and found the other man's face blank with confusion.

"Sister-in-law, does A-Yuan know nothing yet?"

Aunt Wang said gloomily, "Xiao Mo won't let us tell him."

Second Uncle drank another cup: "That girl is loyal and righteous; your eldest brother has caused her great suffering."

Xu Yuan's face darkened: "Second Uncle, speak plainly."

"Why are there only criminals in River Work Alley? Because they rebelled when the canal was opened back then!" Second Uncle had some words in his heart, suppressed for many years: "But why did the court not exterminate them completely? Why did they allow our Laozu Sect to leave descendants, who have lived in River Work Alley ever since?"

"Because the court needs us to suffer punishment generation after generation!"

"This punishment must be borne by our Xu family's descendants. At least one person from each generation must take up this responsibility."

"While alive, the suffering is unbearable; after death... one cannot even enter reincarnation."

"But it does not necessarily have to be a direct descendant of the Xu family; any close relative will suffice."

"Your eldest brother didn't want his own son, that is, you, Xu Yuan, to continue suffering this hardship. So after your sister-in-law became pregnant with you, he set his sights on me."

"After I left, he married Lin Wanmo on his deathbed."

"A husband and wife relationship can also bear this responsibility!"

"Do you understand? Your eldest brother saved Lin Wanmo back then, buried her family, and owed her a debt of gratitude as heavy as a mountain, all for the purpose of leveraging that favor to demand repayment!"

"To let you live a normal life! The responsibility you should have borne, he forced onto Lin Wanmo."

Xu Yuan's face sank like water, yet he was not very surprised.

"Regarding the family matters, although no one told him about them for so many years, people always slip up eventually."

"Every time he heard a few scattered words, piecing them together gave him a vague concept."

"And since Lin Wanmo stubbornly refused to tell him, it must be to protect him."

"She feared that if he knew, he would feel guilty in his heart and refuse to accept his father's arrangement."

The second uncle caught his breath and said again, "Before your eldest brother died, I dared not return."

"When he was buried, I also dared not return, fearing he might have some arrangement at his deathbed to trap me!"

This time, Xu Yuan did not fully believe the second uncle. He turned to Aunt Wang and asked, "Auntie, is what he said true?"

Aunt Wang sat with her head down, motionless.

Xu Yuan did not urge her; suppressing the intense emotions within, he waited patiently.

The second uncle said, "Auntie, Lin Wanmo was also raised under your watch! She has no father and no mother; isn't she pitiable?"

Aunt Wang finally slowly lifted her head: "I am not protecting Xu Huanyang. He agreed to let Xiao Mo take over this matter, and I, an old woman, have strong objections to him."

"I hesitated because of some other matters; I originally did not want to say them."

Aunt Wang looked at the second uncle: "You do not bear the surname Xu; you bear the surname Liang. You and Xu Huanyang are not biological brothers, so you cannot possibly take up the Xu family's burden."

"No matter what your reason was back then for thinking Xu Huanyang had such intentions, you misunderstood."

The second uncle was stunned and blurted out, "Aunt Wang, do not fabricate..."

Aunt Wang waved her hand and ignored him: "Xiao Mo taking up the Xu family's burden was Xiao Mo's own proposal. Xu Huanyang firmly opposed it at first, but later gradually accepted it."

"I, an old woman, saw from the very beginning that Xu Huanyang's refusal was not sincere enough, and later he half-heartedly accepted it."

There were some things Aunt Wang could not make any clearer.

Xu Huanyang pitied his disciple, but between his disciple and his son, he still chose his son.

From the time Xu Huanyang died until now, he has not been able to walk out of the "Yellow Springs Road"; walking into that box was due to the guilt in his heart.

Aunt Wang guessed he might never walk out, remaining trapped on the Yellow Springs Road forever.

There were other matters, such as the cause and process of the river workers' rebellion back then, the "Heavenly Gambit" between the Xu ancestor and the court, and the things the Xu family secretly needed to do for the court; Aunt Wang did not want to say them yet.

Let Xiao Mo tell Xu Yuan personally in the future.

If said now, Xu Yuan would strive in that direction, which would surely affect his development.

If Aunt Wang said it, Xiao Mo would blame her.

The second uncle's brows knitted deeply together: "Why didn't he tell me directly?"

Aunt Wang said coldly, "The failure of the river workers' uprising back then was because your Liang ancestor betrayed everyone. Do you still want me, an old woman, to go on?"

The second uncle fell silent.

Aunt Wang shook her head gently. The Liang family was wealthy for a time, but in the end, they met no good fate.

A few decades later, the family was destroyed and scattered.

By the time it reached the second uncle's generation, only he, an orphan, remained.

His mother was plagued by a severe illness and near death; she shamelessly placed him, still in swaddling clothes, at the entrance of the River Workers' Alley.

Silence fell over the room for a moment.

After a while, Xu Yuan suddenly grabbed his chopsticks, eating the dishes in large mouthfuls and drinking the wine in large gulps.

Like wind sweeping away clouds.

The second uncle stood up, his figure swaying slightly: "I... am staying at the inn within the city. Regarding that item, no matter how much money the Canal Office offers, our price will definitely be higher."

"Mm." Xu Yuan kept eating, only emitting a sound from his nose.

The second uncle left, his steps heavy, far from the dragon-walking tiger-stride he had when he arrived.

Xu Yuan did not see him off; as if starving, he ate all the dishes on the table and drank all the wine in one go.

Aunt Wang sat silently to the side, watching the child with a heart full of pain.

"Someone!" Xu Yuan called out: "Clear it away."

The people of Wumei Tower immediately entered, skillfully clearing away the bowls and plates and wiping the tables clean.

Xu Yuan told Aunt Wang, "Auntie, I'm going back to sleep," then turned and left.

Aunt Wang sat alone in the room and let out a faint sigh.

By midnight, Xu Yuan suddenly rolled over and sat up from the bed, painfully rubbing his stomach, which was bloated and uncomfortable.

He activated the "Five Cauldrons Cooking" to refine the food in his belly.

Xu Yuan sat dazed; his father and stepmother had shouldered everything for him.

They were all his closest kin; although Xu Yuan felt a bit of guilt in his heart, there was even more gratitude.

He would not be rebellious and ungrateful, thinking they "arranged" his entire life and would make him live in guilt and so on.

"The Commerce Law is almost reaching the Fifth Grade."

"There is no problem in this world that the Top Three Grades cannot solve!"

"I am sixteen years old this year; I have at least several decades of time left. I don't believe I cannot reach the Top Three Grades!"

Xu Yuan suddenly flopped down, pulled the quilt over himself: "Sleep. Tomorrow I must use that material to thoroughly fleece the Demon-Subduing Army!"

"What the hell of a Second Uncle, always slandering my father!"

"Failed to judge people correctly, leaked our family's situation to Zheng Rongkui, nearly causing my death."

"You are a member of the Liang family!"

"I do not expect you to repay our Xu family for raising you, but a deal is a deal; we follow the market and trade fairly."

(End of this chapter)