SPMT : Chapter 54: Xiao Qingyan’s Visit

In the evening, Xiao Jinfeng and Mu Shuyu found an inn to rest. Unexpectedly, an unwelcome visitor arrived.

 

“Big brother,” Jinfeng was surprised to see Xiao Qingyan. Though he knew Xiao Qingyan might be in Fengcheng, seeing him suddenly was still unexpected.

 

“Don’t call me big brother. I don’t have a shameless brother like you,” Xiao Qingyan said impatiently.

 

Jinfeng’s expression darkened. “I thought you understood. I’m innocent,” he said.

 

“Whether you’re innocent or not, I don’t care. I’m just here to warn you. Leave Fengcheng quickly and don’t cause trouble for me,” Xiao Qingyan said coldly.

 

Jinfeng’s face twisted momentarily but quickly returned to normal.

 

“I understand. Don’t worry. You don’t want a brother who tarnishes your reputation, and I don’t want a heartless brother like you,” Jinfeng said coldly.

 

“You!” Xiao Qingyan was left speechless by Jinfeng’s words.

 

“What are you doing in Fengcheng?” Xiao Qingyan asked.

 

“Nothing much, just seeing if there’s any work available,” Jinfeng lied. He was worried Xiao Qingyan would ask for money. Jinfeng used to have some respect for Xiao Qingyan, but that was gone now.

 

“With your current reputation, it’s best not to show your face. You won’t find good work here. You might as well become a freelance hunter,” Xiao Qingyan said.

 

Jinfeng nodded. “I understand.”

 

“Who is he?” Xiao Qingyan glanced at Mu Shuyu.

 

“He’s my wife,” Jinfeng replied.

 

Xiao Qingyan was surprised to see Mu Shuyu was a Level 4 Qi Practitioner. He had assumed Jinfeng, with his tarnished reputation, wouldn’t find a good wife.

 

Xiao Qingyan had once courted Ouyang Jing, a lady from the Marquis’s family, and things were going well until his parents’ accident. Xiao Qingyan lost his parents’ support, and Ouyang Jing changed her attitude, mocking him for aiming too high. Xiao Qingyan couldn’t afford to offend the Marquis’s family and had to swallow his pride.

 

After saying a few cold words, Xiao Qingyan left, leaving Jinfeng unsettled.

 

Mu Shuyu patted Jinfeng’s shoulder. “Don’t be angry.”

 

Jinfeng smiled. “I’m not angry.”

 

Originally planning to stay longer in Fengcheng, Jinfeng’s encounter with Xiao Qingyan made him lose interest. After selling off the spirit liquor and purchasing some supplies, they returned to the Xiao family.

 

“Second brother, you’re back!” Xiao Jingting greeted them excitedly.

 

“This time’s earnings were good. We made a total of twelve thousand taels of silver. I exchanged thirty pieces of jade and bought some fourth-grade talismans and artifacts,” Jinfeng said.

 

Xiao Jingting nodded. “That’s great. These things are what we need most now.”

 

Jinfeng gave all the jade to Xiao Jingting. He couldn’t understand Xiao Jingting’s obsession with jade. “Why don’t you keep a few pieces for yourself?” Xiao Jingting asked.

 

“Give two more jars of liquor to second sister-in-law, and squeeze more grape juice for her,” Jinfeng said calmly.

 

Xiao Jingting agreed. “Okay.”

 

“Oh, by the way, I met big brother on my trip,” Jinfeng added.

 

Xiao Jingting looked up, thoughtful. “Big brother, he should be doing fine. Even though he lost the protection of his parents, he’s still a student of the Bifeng Academy, and Grandpa holds him in high regard. He shouldn’t be mistreated.”

 

“Except for the setback in pursuing the Marquis’s illegitimate daughter, he’s doing okay,” Xiao Jinfeng said. After the incident with their parents, Xiao Qingyan’s status in the academy declined significantly, but compared to Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng’s previous dire situation, he was much better off now.

 

“Big brother, doesn’t he already have a legitimate wife? He’s already married, yet he’s still pursuing the Marquis’s daughter?” Xiao Jingting asked.

 

Xiao Jinfeng nodded. “He does have one. I suppose big brother wants to enjoy the best of both worlds.”

 

Xiao Jingting rubbed his nose. Xiao Qingyan always advised the original owner not to be too arrogant in his actions, yet he himself was even more unreliable. Even if she was the Marquis’s illegitimate daughter, she wasn’t someone to be easily trifled with. Xiao Jingting vaguely remembered that Xiao Qingyan’s wife, Zheng Peier, was a fierce woman. She had given birth to two sons for Xiao Qingyan, and their parents, loving their own children, treated Zheng Peier well too. The two sons of Zheng Peier were highly regarded in the Xiao family. From what she recalled, the relationship between Zheng Peier’s two sons and their own two sons wasn’t very good. Zheng Peier’s younger son seemed to have pushed Xiao Xiaofan into the lake before, and Xiao Xiaodong had been in fights with the two of them, though it was more like Xiao Xiaodong was always on the receiving end.

 

After their parents’ accident, Zheng Peier took her two children back to her family.

 

“Second brother, did big brother say anything to you?” Xiao Jingting asked.

 

Xiao Jinfeng lowered his head, took a deep breath, clenched his fists, and said, “Big brother told me to leave quickly, feeling that I embarrass him and don’t want to be associated with me.”

 

“Big brother also thinks I’m worthless. Well, since big brother doesn’t want to bother with us, let’s not bother ourselves. Anyway, big brother is also at the fifth level of Qi Cultivation. He won’t starve,” Xiao Jingting said cheerfully.

 

Xiao Jinfeng nodded. “That’s right.”

 

“I hate Uncle.” Xiao Xiaofan puffed his cheeks and said sullenly.

 

Xiao Jinfeng looked at Xiao Xiaofan and asked, “Why do you hate Uncle?”

 

“He gave birth to two big bad guys who always bully Xiaofan and even brother. Grandpa is also bad. Clearly, it’s the bad guys’ fault, but he always scolds Xiaofan,” Xiao Xiaofan said, full of frustration.

 

Xiao Jingting rubbed Xiao Xiaofan’s head, feeling a twinge of pity. Xiao Qingyan had been groomed as the crown prince in the Xiao family, but his two sons had been spoiled rotten. At a young age, they were already arrogant. The original owner seemed to have encountered many instances where his sons were bullied by Xiao Qingyan’s two nephews, but he didn’t pay much attention to Xiao Dong and Xiao Fan. He naturally didn’t stand up for his own sons.

 

Thinking of the original owner’s actions, Xiao Jingting was filled with frustration. The original owner was truly despicable. He didn’t know how to protect his own children. “Xiao Fan, eat more and practice more. When you encounter those two bullies again, beat them to a pulp.”

 

Xiao Jinfeng couldn’t help but smile. He thought Xiao Jingting was going to advise Xiao Fan not to hold grudges, but it turned out differently…

 

Xiao Xiaofan seemed inspired, raising his fist. “I’ll grow up strong and defeat those two villains!”

 

“Idiot,” Xiao Xiaodong muttered gloomily.

 

Hearing Xiao Xiaodong’s words, Xiao Xiaofan looked somewhat dejected.

 

…

 

Xiao Jingting entered the room and took out five cups of water. “This one is from twenty days ago, this one from fifteen days ago, this one from five days ago, and this one is from today. Try them.”

 

Xu Mu’an took a sip from each cup. “The spiritual energy is getting stronger. It seems using jade to enhance the quality of the spiritual spring is indeed effective.” Originally, the spiritual spring water was only useful for cultivators at the third level of Qi Cultivation, but now it should also have a significant effect on those at the fourth level.

 

Xiao Jingting sighed softly. “It’s effective, but the cost of jade is too high.”

 

Xu Mu’an patted Xiao Jingting’s shoulder. “That’s true! However, as your strength increases, earning silver will become easier.”

 

Xiao Jingting nodded, his eyes bright. “Yes.”

 

Xu Mu’an looked at Xiao Jingting and thought to himself: This Xiao Jingting seems easy to please.

 

“I want to buy more land and connect the fields together,” Xiao Jingting said.

 

Xu Mu’an nodded. “That’s a good idea, but won’t it be tiring?”

 

“You and Second Brother can handle the miscellaneous tasks. I’ll just focus on farming; it’s not a big deal,” Xiao Jingting said.

 

Xu Mu’an nodded. “That’s fine, but don’t push yourself too hard if you feel tired.”

 

Xiao Jingting nodded. “I know.”

 

…

 

Xiao Jinfeng drank excitedly, his eyes full of admiration. “Jingting’s wine is so delicious. I’ve never had such mellow wine before. I used to enjoy the rough village wine, but now I can’t stand it anymore. My palate has been spoiled.”

 

“The wine brewed by Mu’an has many uses and is rich in spiritual energy. I always feel that there’s something special about the water used to brew spiritual wine,” Mu Shuyu said.

 

Xiao Jinfeng waved his hand. “Everyone has their secrets. Jingting is my brother. As long as he doesn’t harm me, I’ll do my best to help him.”

 

Mu Shuyu nodded. “I heard rumors before that your big brother was a hero, accomplished from a young age, while your younger brother only knew how to live frivolously and foolishly. But now that I’ve met you, I realize those rumors were false. Sun Miaomiao must be blind to let go of such an excellent partner, while your big brother…”

 

Being bullied by others and not being helped by them, but instead avoiding them at all costs, how could such a person be trusted?

 

“Isn’t it good now?” Xiao Jinfeng said.

 

Mu Shuyu nodded. “Indeed, it’s very good. The quality of this spiritual wine is excellent. If you continue to drink like this for three or four months, I believe you’ll advance to the fifth level of Qi Cultivation and catch up with your big brother. It’s time to find a method to conceal your aura. If you advance to the fifth level of Qi Cultivation, you’ll attract attention.”

 

Xiao Jinfeng nodded. “I know. I have that method.”

 

Mu Shuyu was somewhat surprised. “You have it? That’s great. It’ll save you some silver.”

 

Xiao Jinfeng smiled. In the Savage Continent, strength was paramount, and few people bothered to conceal their cultivation. The Concealment Technique was rarely practiced, and this technique happened to be suitable for them.