Chapter 56 - 55: Changing Hearts, Promised the Position of Marshal

Through Xu Guang blocking the road the day before, Cheng Lian’Er only learned that Xu Guang felt apologetic toward the Cheng Family and thus wanted to help her. However, she didn’t quite believe it, considering Xu Guang’s past indifference and his transactional view of favors. He had always shown that the size of the favor determined the magnitude of the task he would undertake. The Cheng Family’s favor to him was clearly not enough to make him risk his life to kill a Refining Viscera Strange Man.

Cheng Lian’Er thought for a long time but ultimately couldn’t figure out Xu Guang’s deeper intentions. Moreover, was Qian Cheng really killed by Xu Guang? That would be too earth-shattering. However, she had some ideas in mind regarding how to use Qian Cheng’s severed head. Originally, she had already prepared herself to become a pawn, marrying into another family to protect the Cheng Family. Now, it seemed that would no longer be necessary.

A smile appeared at the corners of her mouth as she thought, "I imagine that after tomorrow, no one in Feiyun City will come to the Cheng Family to collect debts anymore."

***

"Husband, you’re back. What about Brother Song and the others..." Ji Xiaolu, wearing a Mandarin Duck Red Baby’s Bib, looked at Xu Guang with a gentle face.

"They are dead. Tomorrow morning, I’ll go ask Mr. Cui for help, and invite the neighbors to help arrange the funeral," Xu Guang said softly.

Song Yue’s funeral was organized by the neighborhood together. Xu Guang didn’t put himself in the spotlight; instead, he asked the old man guarding the shantytown to step forward and lead everyone in burying Song Yue and his wife. The funeral was not lavish, and Xu Guang maintained a low profile throughout it.

He didn’t worry about attracting Han Po’s attention. Because Song Yue and his wife died in their own home, Han Po would only assume that Qu Sanlin’s people accidentally killed the couple at the Song family home and then fled out of fear of punishment.

Sure enough, the next day, the news spread. The Three Guards Department issued a wanted poster for Qu Sanlin, though they might never find the man again. Of course, this news didn’t cause even the slightest splash in Feiyun City.

What was more crucial was an earth-shattering piece of news. The severed head of the Jade Elephant Seat Master Qian Cheng had been hung on the city gate tower in the middle of the night! Following the confirmation from across the river and the Jade Elephant going mad, this news was verified. The Jade Elephant Canon Seat was dead! He had died across the river. After the assassin killed the Jade Elephant Seat Master Qian Cheng, they drifted away without a trace.

Everyone began speculating about the assassin who could kill Qian Cheng under the protection of an Expert in Refining Viscera Martial Arts and the Jade Elephant. Some said Li Zongkang of the Feiyun Guard personally took action. Others said the City Guard’s Mansion found a master from a nearby large city to teach the Yellow Heaven Sect a lesson. Still, others claimed it was the Cheng Family’s hidden trump card... In short, no matter how they guessed, the news of the Jade Elephant Canon Seat being assassinated was confirmed to be true.

Thus, busybodies—not knowing who the assassin was but knowing they had vented a grievance for Feiyun City by killing the incredibly arrogant Yellow Heaven Sect Canon Seat—dubbed the assassin the Righteous Monarch Feiyun! And along with the death of the Jade Elephant Canon Seat, the place with the most rumors was none other than the Cheng Family.

"Miss Lian’Er, my Patriarch heard that your esteemed family is recently under your control. Having heard of your reputation for talent, my Patriarch is willing to continue purchasing according to the previous quota. This is the deposit." A middle-aged man stood respectfully in front of Cheng Lian’Er, handing over a wooden box with both hands. It was filled with golden leaves.

Cheng Lian’Er wore a cold expression, seemingly unsurprised by all this, as if she had anticipated it all along.

"Miss Lian’Er, this is the deposit from the Song Family..."

"Miss Lian’Er, this is..."

A few days ago, their doorway had been completely deserted, but today, the courtyard was as bustling as a marketplace. Cheng Lian’Er also saw her father and second uncle standing in the distance, looking somewhat at a loss, wanting to approach but not quite daring to. A smile suddenly curled on her lips. The rising winds and falling clouds fully revealed the true nature of the world and the human heart. Just these few days had caused Cheng Lian’Er to discard some unrealistic illusions that shouldn’t have existed in her heart. No one could be relied upon.

***

THUD THUD THUD!

Xu Guang exerted strength in his arms, lifting a perfectly round boulder. Like a freestyle basketball, the boulder continuously rolled along the curves of his body. This was the Force-Relieving Fist Technique inherent in his current Cultivation Technique, the Beidou Skill. It was the Beidou Fist Technique, a Magic Door completely different from the Gale Fist Technique. It was somewhat similar to Star Shifting in the novels, but without the reflection effect; instead, it enhanced his force-relieving capabilities.

Xu Guang felt he wouldn’t be able to advance to Refining Viscera in the short term. Because this Fist Technique was of a higher level, it was highly likely to give him the Combat Power to exchange blows with a Refining Viscera Power Master. After practicing it, Xu Guang became very fond of it. Since his initiation into the Beidou Skill and completing Skin Polishing in three days, aside from practicing the Bone Forging Chapter of the Beidou Skill, he spent his days training in this Fist Technique.

THUD!

The boulder fell to the ground, smashing a large pit in the earth.

Ji Xiaolu stood to the side, secretly clicking her tongue in amazement. Her husband’s strength was becoming increasingly formidable.

"Husband, look at Hai. It seems he has been sleeping for two days now, and he barely eats what I feed him."

Xu Guang glanced at Hai, unable to help but show a bit of embarrassment on his face. It was his first time obtaining the Blood of Transformation, and he might have accidentally fed him too much at once. "It’s fine. I fed him some good stuff, so he’s probably just digesting it," Xu Guang said, feigning composure.

"Is that so?" Ji Xiaolu was half-believing and half-doubting. She had always been the one feeding Hai, so naturally, she was more attentive than Xu Guang.

Xu Guang squatted down and carefully observed Hai’s condition. There were no changes to his body size, though his fur looked a bit shinier. Besides that, it seemed his paws had become wider? Unable to figure out the reason, Xu Guang gave up. He would wait and see after feeding him for a few more days.

Days passed in quietness. Regarding the death of the Jade Elephant Seat Master Qian Cheng, Xu Guang originally thought the Yellow Heaven Sect would quickly make a fuss. Unexpectedly, ten days passed, and there was still no movement from the Yellow Heaven Sect. A bad feeling continuously arose in Xu Guang’s heart. If the Yellow Heaven Sect could tolerate even the death of a Refining Viscera Strange Man, he couldn’t imagine what exactly they were after. Could it be that they really wanted to coexist peacefully with Feiyun City? Or perhaps they were wary of Feiyun City?

Xu Guang couldn’t figure it out, nor could he get any news. He had no choice but to suppress his impatience and painstakingly undergo Cultivation at home every day. From time to time, he would go drink with his brother-in-law, or go to the Immortal Institute to listen to Master Zhao’s teachings.

As time went by, Xu Guang’s identity as an Abnormal Person gradually spread throughout the Immortal Institute. All the disciples in the courtyard looked at him with a bit of peculiarity, and the expressions of Susu and Han Juan when looking at him were the most complex. This was especially true for Susu. She had noticed Xu Guang a long time ago, but back then, she focused more on Xu Sanduo’s goodwill towards him. Now it seemed Xu Sanduo had a sharp eye for talent, while she was the real clown. Thinking back to their blind date at the Cang Mang Tower in the past, if she had been willing to get close to Xu Guang then, if she had married him... Her circumstances now would definitely be vastly different.

Didn’t she see how Xu Sanduo now boasted to everyone he met that he had "three manys": many friends, many connections, and much money? This even led to a change in the older disciples’ attitudes towards the new disciples in the Immortal Institute. It was a pity that Xu Guang had already taken a wife, and it was said she was a refugee woman from across the river.

She wasn’t the only one who regretted it. At least that female cousin of Wang Ming’s had expressed her regret to Wang Ming several times. However, Wang Ming didn’t promise her anything. Even if Wang Ming were soft-hearted enough to agree, Xu Chun would not be willing. Snobbery and loving wealth were human nature, but since it was human nature, there was no need to bring up matters of regret anymore.

Xu Guang’s face was calm and solemn. He stood respectfully in front of Zhao Fu as always, not acting arrogantly just because he had become an Abnormal Person. Zhao Fu was very satisfied with Xu Guang’s attitude. Holding his tea to his lips, he took a gentle sip. "I didn’t expect your Bloodline Power to be so strong. It actually forcefully fed back into your Realm, raising it to the Realm of Great Bone Forging Perfection. Tsk, tsk..." He sighed as he spoke.

"I merely received the blessing of my ancestors," Xu Guang said in a low voice.

Zhao Fu looked at Xu Guang, hesitated for a moment, and then said softly, "Guang, all these years I originally thought Jiang Wu would be my most successful disciple. I never expected you to suddenly rise to prominence and become my most outstanding disciple.

"I want to ask you, what are your plans for the future? Regarding the Feiyun Guard..."

Xu Guang understood his meaning; he mostly wanted to act as a persuader for the City Guard’s Mansion.

"What are your thoughts, Master?"

Zhao Fu nodded. "Good, good. Before the new year, I had even asked the Cheng Family to look after you a bit. Thinking about it now, I was a bit short-sighted. A few days ago, I went to the City Guard’s Mansion. Marshal Li had heard of your reputation as the Jade-faced Silver Spear and asked me to tell you: the Feiyun Guard has a total of five marshals. If you can achieve Refining Viscera within three years, he will give you a chance to become the Sixth Marshal."

As Zhao Fu spoke, he carried a hint of envy. A Marshal of the Feiyun Guard! How majestic that was! If it were possible, Zhao Fu would be ten thousand times willing to be this marshal.

Xu Guang was slightly taken aback. The one who had previously invited him to join the Feiyun Guard was a female marshal named Nie Yu. He hadn’t even really met this Marshal Li.

"I’m honored that Marshal Li thinks highly of me. Does Master think I should formally join the Feiyun Guard?"

Zhao Fu shook his head. "I am only your teaching master; it’s not a particularly intimate relationship. You must think through everything yourself. However, Marshal Li thinks highly of you; otherwise, your family likely wouldn’t have known any peace."

Xu Guang nodded, understanding that this was the case. He had wondered about this before. Feiyun City placed great importance on Abnormal People. Generally speaking, when an Abnormal Person appeared, they would be courted by all major factions. But for him, from beginning to end, it seemed only people from the Feiyun Guard had ever visited his home. No one had even come to inquire about his specific Bloodline Power. Thinking about it, it must have been Marshal Li who had given the word.

He wondered why this Marshal Li was a bit dishonest. Since Marshal Li thought highly of him, why didn’t he provide any resources and instead left him entirely alone? It was truly strange. He wondered if this was the typical Sea King tactic of casting a wide net. If he really were to become a Marshal of the Feiyun Guard... Xu Guang hesitated a bit, unable to make up his mind. Then, finding it somewhat amusing, he shook his head. He wasn’t even at Refining Viscera yet; there was no need to think about this.

Seemingly because Li Zongkang valued him, Zhao Fu also taught Xu Guang the Refining Viscera essentials of the Golden Willow Skill, which included insights from his own Cultivation. As far as Xu Guang knew, over the years, the only person who had been able to receive these teachings was Senior Brother Jiang Wu, who had followed Zhao Fu all the way from You State.

A bit of emotion couldn’t help but rise in his heart. Acknowledging Zhao Fu as his master was, strictly speaking, a transaction, but the two of them got along extremely well. It was just like a teacher and student in his past life. Although it wasn’t up to the level of a true personal disciple, it was still far superior to that of an ordinary disciple.