Chapter 334: When It Comes Down to It, We're All on the Same Side |
At this moment, Liu Xiaolou was worn out and drained. Most of his own true qi was gone, and the spiritual energy stored in the formation disk was nearly exhausted as well. It would take time to re-refine and restore it. The process had been a bit roundabout and not quite what he had originally planned, but in the end he had forced one of the Han family’s decision-makers to show himself. That meant his goal had been achieved.
As he worked to absorb the effects of the spiritual pill he’d just swallowed, he cupped his hands toward Fourth Master Han. “I’m ashamed to say this, but I wasn’t blocking your gate; it's all with good intentions.”
Fourth Master Han’s face darkened. “You blocked the entrance to my family’s mountain, and you call that good intentions?”
Liu Xiaolou smiled. “I came to thank the Han family.”
Fourth Master Han froze for a moment, then narrowed his eyes. “Thank us? For what?”
Liu Xiaolou explained earnestly, “Fourth Uncle already knows that Brother Jiutian and I are close friends. I came up the mountain this time to visit him, but unfortunately he isn’t here. Still, does Fourth Uncle know that besides being my good friend, Brother Jiutian has an even deeper connection to me... he's my brother-in-law!”
Fourth Master Han stared blankly. “Brother-in-law? You mean Green Pearl is your sister? Your real sister, or a cousin?”
Liu Xiaolou said, “She’s my sworn sister. Back then, when I was still a child, my master died early and left me on my own. I ended up wandering the streets. It was my sister who looked after me and cared for me. She may not be my blood sister, but to me she was even closer than one. From that time on, I swore that when I grew up, I would take care of her for the rest of her life. Later, Brother Jiutian came into her life. The two of them fell in love and became husband and wife, and he took over the responsibility of caring for her. Fourth Uncle, tell me, shouldn’t I come to thank Brother Jiutian and thank the Han family?”
“Oh?” Fourth Master Han was still squinting, studying Liu Xiaolou from head to toe, deep in thought. “No wonder… no wonder he refused to take a proper wife and was only willing to take a brothel girl as a concubine. Ah, forgive me.”
Fourth Master Han forced a smile. “That’s true.”
Liu Xiaolou went on, “So I thank the Han family for accepting my sworn sister and taking good care of her. After I went down the mountain yesterday, I gave it some thought. Even though Brother Jiutian isn’t here, thanks still need to be given. Otherwise, when I see Brother Jiutian and my sister again in the future, it would be awkward. After thinking it over, I decided to set up the grand formation I normally use in my own cultivation. Fourth Uncle, don’t be anxious. You should know this formation of mine is no ordinary one. It’s meant to nourish the body and strengthen health, balance yin and yang, fortify primordial essence, and restore the kidneys. The effects are nothing short of remarkable.”
Fourth Master Han was stunned. “Strengthen the kidneys? There’s really a formation like that in this world?”
Liu Xiaolou chuckled. “Just look at how so many members of the Han family rushed into it like moths to a flame, Fourth Uncle, and you’ll get the idea.”
Fourth Master Han thought it over for a moment, then asked to be sure, “So, young friend, you truly have no ill intent? You’re not here to block our gate?”
“Absolutely no ill intent,” Liu Xiaolou answered. “And absolutely no blocking the gate. The Han family is free to come and go.”
Fourth Master Han asked again, “You came from the South Sea?”
Liu Xiaolou looked slightly surprised, then smiled. “Sharp eyes, Fourth Uncle. Yes, I came from the South Sea.”
Fourth Master Han pressed on, “Then you and the Southern Sea Sword Sect…”
“We have some connections, yes,” said Liu Xiaolou.
Fourth Master Han nodded. “I thought so. In that case, would you please come back inside the mountain with me so we can talk?”
Liu Xiaolou smiled and waved it off politely. “There’s no need to go to all that trouble. I’ve more or less finished setting up the formation here, and the Han disciples have already gained some benefits from it. It’s about time for me to head out.. That said, if it’s convenient, I’d like my sworn sister to come out and see me. Just a few casual words would be enough. Would that be all right?”
Fourth Master Han thought for a moment. “In that case, please wait here for a bit.”
After returning to the estate, Fourth Master Han immediately went to see the clan head and at the same time summoned the heads of the other branches for an urgent discussion.
He told them, “The situation is pretty clear. That Liu fellow is Green Pearl’s sworn younger brother. By his own account, she looked after him and raised him. He must have heard about Green Pearl and come knocking. He speaks very politely, about thanking us and nourishing the bodies of Han disciples, but in reality he’s blocking our gate. That’s exactly how those sect and noble families from the South Sea operate. He even admitted himself that he has ties to the Southern Sea Sword Sect!”
Han Gao, the head of the second branch, asked, “What’s the deal with his formation? Does it really balance yin and yang? Can it actually strengthen the kidneys?”
Han Feng, the head of the third branch, snorted. “Don’t believe a word of it. Strengthen the kidneys? Are all our Han family disciples suffering from kidney weakness? Do they all need that?”
Fourth Master Han replied, “I already asked around. From any angle, it’s basically an illusion. Once you step inside, it feels totally immersive. It really caters to what young people like, so of course they’re flocking to it.”
Han Gao paused, thinking. “That kind of formation is pretty rare. I wonder who designed the formation disk.”
Clan Chief Han Daoyuan frowned. “Enough with the side talk. Let’s focus on how to deal with this. Fourth Brother already said it. He did this to stand up for Green Pearl. What do the other branches say? What does the Third Branch say? The one who got hurt was your Sixth Girl. You tell us.”
The head of the Third Branch, Han Feng, said, “This is an internal matter of the Han family. Since when does an outsider get to poke his nose into it? I’ll go meet him myself and see just how impressive his formation really is.”
Han Daoyuan turned to Han Gao, the head of the Second Branch. “Second Brother, what do you think?”
Han Gao shook his head. “Fourth Uncle just mentioned that Liu has close ties with the Southern Sea Sword Sect. I think this could actually be an opportunity for our family. We could use this to do them a favor and build goodwill with the Three Swords of Southern Sea.”
Han Feng let out a cold laugh. “If you want to go kiss up to the Three Swords of the Southern Sea, they’d actually have to give a damn about us first!”
Han Gao said, “Even if we’re not trying to curry favor, the least we can do is avoid making an enemies. That makes sense, doesn’t it?”
Han Daoyuan looked again at Fourth Master Han. “Fourth Brother, what’s your take?”
Fourth Master Han let out a sigh. “The Southern Sea Sword Sect is too far away. Let’s set that aside for now. The real issue is that Green Pearl now has a sworn younger brother who’s at Foundation Establishment. That makes a lot of things tricky. Since he’s her sworn brother, when you really get down to it, he’s practically one of us Hans. Third Brother, not just him, but also Qianli from the Second Branch. Are we really going to offend both of them over Sixth Girl and end up making them both turn cold toward the Han family? We need to think this through very, very carefully.”
Han Feng swept his sleeve and stormed out. “Since no one wants to listen to me, go ahead and think it over yourselves. Why drag me into it? I’m heading to the back mountain to get some peace and quiet.”
“Fourth Brother,” Clan Chief Han Daoyuan said, “go and release Green Pearl so she can see her sworn brother.”
Fourth Master Han added, “If we’re letting her go, we might as well do it properly and not leave her feeling wronged. This whole mess started because Third Lady and Sixth Lady were gossiping and stirring things up. Have the two of them apologize to her first. Once she’s calmed down and feels better about it, then arrange the meeting with that Liu fellow.”
Han Daoyuan nodded. “All right.”
Off to the side, Han Gao suddenly asked, “How is Sixth Lady's injury?”
“She’s pretty much recovered by now,” replied Fourth Master Han.
Han Gao said, “Then when it comes time for her to apologize, don’t let her be quite so ‘recovered.’”
Fourth Master Han nodded. “I know your second branch has already compromised quite a bit. If it comes to that, we can make Green Pearl the primary wife. It makes no sense for a woman with a Foundation Establishment brother to be kept as a concubine.”
Han Gao said lazily, “Making her a concubine was never my idea to begin with.”
Han Daoyuan waved a hand. “That’s how we’ll handle it. Fourth Brother, make sure our guest is treated well. Second Brother, you go too. I’m going into closed-door cultivation, so I won’t be showing my face.”