SPMT : Chapter 66: Fox and Dog Friends

 

Xiao Xiaofan returned to his own courtyard with a bunch of toys, and Xiao Qingyan, seeing his son’s smiling face, couldn’t help but feel annoyed.

 

While his son was still lying in bed, Xiao Xiaofan was out enjoying delicacies with Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng. Xiao Jingting even said he would educate the little rascal, but it seemed this was the kind of education he provided—taking people out to eat well and buy toys.

 

Xiao Xiaofan saw Xiao Qingyan and immediately hid behind Xiao Jingting.

 

Although Xiao Xiaofan wasn’t very bright, he had the instinct to seek advantage and avoid harm. He knew Xiao Qingyan was not to be trifled with and became more alert.

 

Xiao Qingyan looked at Xiao Jingting and said with a grim expression, “Third Brother, you’re in such high spirits! Taking your family out for a day of fun. Didn’t you say you wanted to educate your son? Is this how you educate him?”

 

“I did educate him. I told my son that if he ever bullies others again, he won’t get to eat well or buy toys anymore. He was scared stiff. Look, he’s hiding,” Xiao Jingting replied.

 

Xiao Qingyan smiled insincerely. “Third Brother, you’re so thoughtful.”

 

“Well, well, educating children is truly exhausting,” Xiao Jingting sighed.

 

Xiao Qingyan’s face twisted with anger as he listened to Xiao Jingting’s words.

 

Having escaped from Xiao Qingyan, Xiao Jingting and Xu Mu’an returned to their own courtyard.

 

Xu Mu’an looked at the person sitting lazily on the bed rubbing his feet, feeling somewhat speechless.

 

“I saw a few major trading houses on the street today,” Xiao Jingting said.

 

Xu Mu’an nodded and said, “Yes, Mo City is different from the countryside. There are plenty of magical tools and spell records in those shops, but unfortunately… they’re too expensive.”

 

In the past, he couldn’t afford to go in and was too embarrassed to do so. Occasionally, he mustered the courage to enter, but the attendants, seeing his shabby appearance, had no desire to serve him. Some even drove him away, sarcastically saying that such places weren’t meant for people like him.

 

After a few times, Xu Mu’an only watched from outside the shops, yearning for the dazzling array of goods.

 

“I still have about thirty or forty thousand taels of silver on hand. Let’s go take a look,” Xiao Jingting said.

 

Xu Mu’an was somewhat puzzled. “Why not go today?”

 

Xiao Jingting felt a little embarrassed. “As you said, these major trading houses sell expensive items. If I go in and Xiao Xiaofan wants this and that, but I can’t afford it, it would be embarrassing.”

 

Xu Mu’an said, “… It’s because of this? Really…”

 

“You offended your eldest brother today,” Xu Mu’an said.

 

Xiao Jingting lazily replied, “What’s there to fear? I’ve offended him long ago. It’s strange that he used to often mention the academy, acting like he was the best there. But recently, he’s been mentioning it less.”

 

“Probably because he’s not doing well at the academy,” Xu Mu’an said.

 

Xiao Jingting nodded. In his heart, he thought: The Blue Peak Academy should be equivalent to a prestigious university in the past. Although prestigious universities had a great reputation and were prestigious, there were still plenty of struggles within. In the past, there were suicides among students at Tsinghua and Peking University.

 

“Do you know something?” Xiao Jingting asked.

 

“Your older brother was pursuing Miss Ouyang Jing from the Hou Family before. It seems Miss Ouyang Jing has gotten involved with a Qi cultivation expert at the academy now. She told that person that your brother was bothering her, so that cultivation expert, who is at the seventh level of Qi cultivation, took it upon himself to deal with your brother, making it difficult for him to move around at the academy.”

 

“Fortunately, the academy has its rules and regulations. Although your brother has been targeted by others, they haven’t dared to do anything too extreme. Once the situation dies down, everything will be fine.”

 

Xie Jingting rubbed his chin and said, “No wonder my brother hasn’t mentioned the academy much lately. It turns out he’s having a hard time there.”

 

Xie Jingting looked at Xu Mu’an, his eyes shining brightly, and said, “Alright, let’s not talk about him anymore. Let’s go to sleep.”

 

Xu Mu’an looked at Xie Jingting’s bright eyes and blushed.

 

…

 

“Young Master, there are visitors,” a servant announced as Xie Jingting just got out of bed.

 

“Who?” Xie Jingting asked.

 

“Sun Qi from the Sun Family and Zheng Liming from the Zheng Family,” the servant replied.

 

Xie Jingting’s face showed a hint of helplessness. It seems like his original host’s unreliable friends had arrived. It’s said that where there’s one troublemaker, there are usually two more. While one might expect help from friends in tough times, in reality, it’s often every man for himself.

 

Xu Mu’an shook his head and said, “As expected, they’ve come. They’re even later than I anticipated.”

 

In every large family, there are always a few who lack ambition and only know how to enjoy themselves. The original host, Sun Qi, and Zheng Liming were examples of such individuals. However, Xie Jingting, being from the main branch of the Xie family, had a higher status and treatment compared to Sun Qi and Zheng Liming, who were from collateral branches. When they went out to have fun, it was usually Xie Jingting who footed the bill.

 

When the original host fell on hard times, Xie Jingting had once swallowed his pride and sought help from these two, but he didn’t get much of a response.

 

Xie Jingting sighed and said disdainfully, “They were nowhere to be found when I needed help, and now they come running with open arms. How shameless.”

 

Xu Mu’an smiled. In this world, it’s common for people to praise and criticize others depending on their status.

 

“Do you want to see them?” Xu Mu’an asked.

 

Xie Jingting shrugged. “Since they’re here, I have to go out and send them away.”

 

Xie Jingting and Xu Mu’an went out. When Sun Qi saw Xie Jingting, he showed an excited expression. “Xie Xiong, it’s been a long time! I’ve missed you.”

 

Xie Jingting chuckled and replied, “Missed me? I haven’t seen you come to visit me at Tuqiu Village.”

 

Sun Qi smiled awkwardly. “My family has been strict with me recently, so I haven’t had any free time.”

 

Xie Jingting smirked and said sarcastically, “Is that so? Now that you have time, when I went to find you before, your servants said you were in seclusion and wouldn’t come out until you reached the fourth level of Qi cultivation. But judging by your current cultivation level…” Still at the third level of Qi cultivation, huh?

 

Sun Qi chuckled nervously. “I don’t have your talent, Xie Xiong. After secluding myself for a few months, I still haven’t made much progress. Xie Xiong, you’re doing well. You’ve already reached the fifth level of Qi cultivation at such a young age. I believe you’ll advance to the ninth level of Qi cultivation and dominate the area in the future.”

 

Xie Jingting waved his hand and said, “I don’t dare to expect to dominate the area. I’m just trying to make a living.”

 

Sun Qi looked at Xie Jingting’s indifferent expression and felt a bit embarrassed.

 

“Xie Xiong, since you’ve finally returned, our brothers are hosting a banquet at Cuiwei Pavilion for you,” Zheng Liming said.

 

Xie Jingting rubbed his temples. It was truly embarrassing to have a banquet at a brothel mentioned in front of his wife.

 

“Xu Mu’an looked at Sun Qi, his expression turning unpleasant. ‘Brothers, there’s no need to be so polite. Cuiwei Pavilion isn’t cheap. Please don’t trouble yourselves.'”

 

Zheng Liming frowned at Xu Mu’an, then shifted his gaze to Xie Jingting, clearly not taking Xu Mu’an seriously.

 

Xie Jingting glanced at Xu Mu’an and smiled. “Mu’an’s thoughts are my thoughts.”

 

Zheng Liming looked surprised. “Xie, are you planning to cultivate your moral character now? Jin Hong, the lady at Cuiwei Pavilion, even inquired about you. She was heartbroken for a long time after you left.”

 

Xie Jingting squinted. From his impression, Jin Hong seemed to be an older woman, dressed somewhat garishly. She seemed to have been famous before, but now she had lost her former glory.

 

That woman was tactful and good at pleasing people, but the original host, being simple-minded, was completely infatuated with her. After the original host left, lacking the financial backing of such a simple-minded patron, it was no wonder she had been heartbroken for so long…

 

Xie Jingting couldn’t understand what the original host saw in such a woman. Thinking back on the things the original host did, Xie Jingting felt a headache coming on. Damn it, why did he have to transmigrate into someone like this?

 

“Jin Hong has so many admirers, why would she remember me? Brother Zheng, you have a way with words,” Xie Jingting said.

 

“Jingting, you’re mistaken. Jin Hong treats you differently from others.”

 

Xu Mu’an snorted coldly. “She’s just a worn-out shoe who has slept with thousands of men. You two insist on pushing her onto Jingting. What are you trying to accomplish? If there’s nothing else, please leave.”

 

Sun Qi paused, looking surprised at Xu Mu’an, his gaze then focusing on Xie Jingting, as if he was trying to assert his dominance over Xu Mu’an’s attitude toward his wife.

 

Xie Jingting played with the ring on his finger, ignoring Sun Qi’s gaze. Sun Qi looked at Xu Mu’an with a strange expression, as if he was seeing Xu Mu’an in a new light.

 

“Your intentions align, and Jingting finds it difficult to bear. As for Jin Hong, you two should enjoy her company yourselves. Jingting’s cultivation is not very stable lately, and he needs to seclude himself. If there’s nothing else, please leave,” Xu Mu’an said sternly.

 

“Sister-in-law, why are you saying this?” Sun Qi objected.

 

“He’s right. I do need to seclude myself lately,” Xie Jingting said.

 

“Xie Shi, what nonsense are you spouting? Normally, cultivators at the eighth or ninth level of Qi cultivation need to seclude themselves,” Zheng Liming said.

 

“How am I speaking nonsense? Both of you at the third level of Qi cultivation can seclude yourselves, so why can’t I at the fifth level?” Xie Jingting retorted.

 

Sun Qi and Zheng Liming felt embarrassed. After exchanging a few more polite remarks, they left.

 

…

 

“What a joke, forgetting old friends after getting rich,” Sun Qi muttered once they left the Xie residence.

 

“Xie Jingting has become so submissive, and I don’t know what Xu Mu’an did to make that happen,” Zheng Liming remarked in surprise.

 

“This guy never paid any attention to Xu Mu’an before. Whenever Xu Mu’an was mentioned, he acted like he had stepped on something disgusting. Now, he’s become so submissive. These days, anything can happen,” another commented.

 

“I heard that after Xie Jingting was kicked out of the family, he could only rely on Xu Mu’an. Their relationship improved afterward.”

 

“Xu Mu’an is good at stepping on people’s toes. In the countryside where there aren’t many beauties, he managed to catch Xie Jingting’s eye. Wait until Xie Jingting returns to his senses. Xu Mu’an won’t have a place to cry.”

 

“That’s right. He’s just a lowly servant who thinks he’s somebody.”

 

“In the past, Xie Jingting, Sun Qi, and Zheng Liming often hung out together because Xie Jingting was the most favored and had the most resources. All three followed Xie Jingting’s lead.

 

On the surface, Sun Qi showed respect to Xie Jingting, but in reality, he was extremely jealous of him. When Xie Jingting’s parents had their accident and he was expelled from the Xie family, Sun Qi was secretly delighted, thinking that Xie Jingting, this jerk, had finally met his comeuppance.

 

Unexpectedly, things took a turn, and not only were Xie Jingting’s parents alive, but he also advanced to the fifth level of Qi cultivation.

 

“What a pity. I wonder how he managed to advance to the fifth level of Qi cultivation,” Zheng Liming said.

 

“I heard he got lucky and found a treasure in the mountains near Tuqiu Village, which helped him advance,” Sun Qi said.

 

“This wastrel has such good luck. How could something like that happen to him?” Zheng Liming said enviously.

 

“That’s right,” Sun Qi said, eyes reddening.

 

“To think that there are treasures in the mountains near Tuqiu Village. I should go take a look sometime,” Zheng Liming said.

 

Sun Qi smiled bitterly. “You’re not the only one who’s thought of that! The news that Xie Jingting advanced by consuming a treasure from heaven and earth couldn’t be hidden. The four major families have all sent people to the mountains near Tuqiu Village to seek opportunities, but they only found some ordinary spirit plants.”

 

After Sun Qi and Zheng Liming left, Xie Jingting secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He didn’t know what kind of person the original host was, befriending such a chaotic group of friends.

 

“Mu’an, you were really handsome just now,” Xie Jingting said to Xu Mu’an.

 

Xu Mu’an smiled helplessly. The world was unpredictable! He had never imagined that one day he would be able to righteously criticize Xie Jingting’s drinking buddies.

 

“You have quite a few friends,” Xu Mu’an remarked.

 

Xie Jingting scoffed lightly. “If these guys don’t come, it’s fine. If they do, I’ll kick them all out.” When the original host was in trouble, none of those guys lent a hand.

 

“Aren’t you afraid it will affect your reputation?” Xu Mu’an asked.

 

Xie Jingting shrugged. “Afraid of what? I never had much of a reputation to begin with.”

 

Xu Mu’an: “…” Well, that’s true!