Zhengtong County Town was a bustling city. Though it couldn't compare in sheer size or the magnificence of its city walls to Wufeng City in the Fire Crow Kingdom, it was undeniably many times more prosperous than the county seat of Taicang.
Since the night of the Yuan family banquet, where the two Yuan Zheyun brothers had finally bared their claws at each other, their relationship had plummeted to an absolute freeze.
Yuan Zeyu then acted without hesitation, ordering the main branch expelled from the Yuan Family Estate and reclaiming the management rights to all city shops.
It was generally expected that the Fan family would immediately step in to support Yuan Zeyuan under these circumstances, but surprisingly, after five full days, the Fan family remained utterly silent. Even Yuan Zeyuan and his faction had vacated the Yuan Family Estate, their whereabouts unknown, as if they had vanished completely.
This bizarre silence only served to make Yuan Zeyu increasingly suspicious and paranoid.
However, after several days residing at the Yuan residence, He Yiming and his brother began to feel restless and proposed a trip to the county town. Yuan Zeyu naturally raised no objections to this request; instead, he assigned a sharp-witted younger member of the household to accompany them.
As for He Quanxin, the great master of the Tenth Level of Inner Strength, he naturally remained to guard the Yuan estate.
Accompanied by Yuan Lixuan of the Yuan residence, He Yiming and the others arrived outside the county town. They were no country bumpkins; both He Yiming and He Yitian had prior experience being away from Taicang County, having at least seen cities comparable in scale to this one.
Nevertheless, the sheer vibrancy of the county town still exceeded their imagination somewhat.
Especially in front of the main city gates, neat rows of stalls were set up. The vendors hawking their wares along the street shouted loudly, flashing eager smiles as they solicitously courted customers.
Although these vendors called out their sales pitches, they adhered strictly to regulations; even those positioned further away did not impede the flow of merchants and pedestrians entering or exiting the gates.
This level of organization was nowhere to be seen in Taicang County Town, and surprisingly, not even outside Wufeng City possessed such measures.
This clearly demonstrated the considerable effort invested by the city’s administrators.
“Big Brother Yitian, the county town is just ahead,” Yuan Lixuan said respectfully. “There are many enjoyable places and famous landmarks within the city. Wherever you two wish to go, just give the word, and I will ensure we get you there.”
During these past few days, He Yitian had spent time with the younger generation of the Yuan family. Being young men, clashes of prowess were inevitable.
The others dared not provoke He Quanxin, who was rumored to possess the Tenth Level of Inner Strength, but they were less hesitant to test the true master, He Quanxin’s biological son.
However, although He Yitian was only twenty-four, he was a genuine expert who had reached the Fifth Level of Inner Strength five years ago. Furthermore, after being spurred on by the freakish talent of He Yiming three years prior, his dedication to cultivation had surpassed anything seen before.
Among all the Yuan family disciples under thirty, there was no expert at the Fifth Level of Inner Strength. Thus, challenging He Yitian had only one possible outcome.
Once He Yitian had subdued everyone in succession, the younger generation of the Yuan family became completely convinced of his strength, and their attitude shifted to one of deep respect.
As for He Yiming, he never made a move; everyone’s gaze was fixed on He Yitian. As for Yuan Zeyu and his son, the only ones who had any inkling of He Yiming’s true foundation, they remained utterly silent, feigning ignorance.
After merging with the crowds and entering the city, He Yitian did not designate a specific destination, leaving the choice entirely up to Yuan Lixuan.
Led by this young man, who was reportedly born in the county town and knew the name of every single street, the two brothers enjoyed an exceptionally full day.
The street dedicated to specialty snacks and the general goods market, in particular, captivated them for hours.
He Yitian even purchased several items from the general goods street, claiming they were gifts for their various elders and siblings back home.
Prompted by his reminder, He Yiming felt a pang of shame internally; on his last visit home, he hadn't even considered such gestures, truly letting his family down.
Yet, he failed to recall that on that last trip, he had single-handedly presented five Limit Golden Elixirs.
The value of those five elixirs far surpassed any meager gifts. Especially for a prominent family, such a treasure was tantamount to a guarantee of long-term prosperity.
After browsing for the better part of the day, the three of them had accumulated quite a few items, yet the actual expenditure hadn't been substantial.
On Yuan Lixuan’s suggestion, they temporarily stored their purchases at the Yuan family’s shop within the county town, emerging empty-handed once more.
Just as they approached the entrance of a bustling, well-patronized restaurant, they heard a commotion emanating from not far away.
Noticing their attention drawn to the noise, Yuan Lixuan quickly explained, “That direction leads to the County Town’s Life-and-Death Arena. People fight there every evening, though the bouts aren't always battles to the death.”
He Yitian nodded slightly. “Let’s go take a look.”
Yuan Lixuan naturally offered no objection and led them forward.
He Yiming subtly tugged his elder brother’s sleeve and murmured, “Big Brother, why are you interested in watching this kind of ring fight? Surely you know that true masters rarely deign to compete here.”
This was based on his experience; once a martial artist reached the Eighth Level of Inner Strength, they generally avoided public duels in an arena setting.
He Yitian turned and replied in a voice even softer than He Yiming’s, “Yiming, when you arrive in an unfamiliar city, if you wish to gauge the average martial power, the best method is to watch several rounds at the Life-and-Death Arena.”
He Yiming paused briefly. “Is that truly effective?”
“Absolutely effective,” He Yitian confirmed seriously, nodding once.
Moments later, the three of them stood before the arena.
Currently, two individuals were locked in a passionate struggle on the raised platform. Their skills were quite respectable, both possessing about the Sixth Level of Inner Strength.
Watching the crowd below cheering and shouting encouragement, He Yiming genuinely felt a sense of returning to the days of the county town arena fights.
That particular battle had been his first official engagement outside the He Family Estate against outsiders, his debut moment; it was unforgettable.
Although the fighting on the stage was intense, to the eyes of the He brothers, it was riddled with flaws.
However, given that the fighters on the platform were all Sixth Level Inner Strength masters, it implied that the quality of the Life-and-Death Arena here far surpassed that of Taicang County Town.
After observing a few more matches, He Yiming realized that those qualified to ascend this stage were predominantly experts above the Fifth Level of Inner Strength. Such individuals could secure respectable retainer positions even within major aristocratic families. Moreover, according to Yuan Lixuan's introduction, a significant portion of these fighters were retainers who had fallen out of favor with their respective great houses.
After a long while, He Yiming sighed softly. “Big Brother, you were right. The general strength of the cultivators in a city can indeed be accurately judged through the Life-and-Death Arena.”
He Yitian offered a wry smile and then turned to leave. Although Yuan Lixuan seemed reluctant, the moment He Yitian expressed his decision, he immediately hurried along.
After a casual meal, Yuan Lixuan led them through a labyrinth of turns onto a wide avenue.
There were fewer people on this avenue, but the shops lining both sides were decorated with a deliberately archaic aesthetic, lending the atmosphere a profound weight.
“What is this place?” He Yitian asked with surprise.
“This is the county town’s most famous Antique Street,” Yuan Lixuan stated proudly. “Every shop here boasts a history of at least a hundred years. The genuine treasures within are countless, but you must rely on your own patient searching. If luck is against you, you might leave empty-handed. But with good fortune, becoming rich overnight is quite common.”
He Yiming nodded slightly; he held little personal interest in such objects and didn't dwell on it. However, He Yitian was clearly showing significant curiosity.
Following Yuan Lixuan’s introduction, they headed toward a shop rumored to hold fine pieces.
He Yiming gently pulled his brother’s sleeve. “Brother Yuan, is there a shop belonging to your esteemed family here?”
Yuan Lixuan’s face flushed slightly. “I regret to say, no. Our Yuan family does not trade in antiques.”
He Yitian took out a gold ingot weighing a full ten taels from his person. “Yiming, I’m going inside to look. If you don't wish to follow, feel free to explore on your own. We’ll meet back here in an hour.”
He Yiming pondered for a moment. “Very well.”
However, he did not take the gold ingot his brother offered. Instead, with a casual flip of his hand, he produced not one, but two such ingots simultaneously.
He pressed one into He Yitian’s hand, gave a light laugh, and then strode alone toward the deeper parts of the street.
Watching his younger brother depart, He Yitian marveled internally, truly wondering how someone so young could possess such wealth.
He did not know that He Yiming had only displayed the spoils taken from Hu Bin. Most of the gifts presented by the Four Great Families of the Fire Crow Kingdom had been left at the Xie family residence. If those items were brought forth, He Yitian would likely be utterly stunned into silence.
He Yiming held no genuine interest in the antique shops along this street. He couldn't comprehend why objects that could neither be eaten nor drunk were so highly coveted—even his own father was somewhat obsessed with them.
Perhaps, for He Yiming at this moment, only the path of martial arts represented his true pursuit.
Especially after ascending to the Xiantian Realm, every time he absorbed the external Xiantian Qi, he faintly sensed that he had not truly reached the peak. It was like cresting a small hill only to suddenly realize that the hill was merely the gateway to a towering, cloud-piercing colossal mountain.
This reminded him of the rear mountain of the He Family Estate—a mountain rich in resources, capable of causing most people to lose their way. In reality, that was merely a small entrance; only by venturing deeper within did one find the true, boundless mountain range stretching tens of thousands of miles, spanning the entire Northwest region.
He Yiming’s footsteps were light and silent as he leisurely walked toward the edge of the street. Yet, just as he was about to exit, he suddenly made a sharp turn and walked back inside. His movement was as smooth as flowing water, completely natural, attracting no attention.
Just a moment ago, he had spotted someone. If his memory served him correctly, it was Fan Haoyue, whom he had encountered returning from the Fire Crow Kingdom. Upon seeing him, He Yiming immediately thought of the Fan family, though he couldn't be sure if there was any actual connection between them and the current situation.
Fan Haoyue was accompanied by two retainers; the three hurried forward, arriving before a shop where they immediately entered without hesitation.
He Yiming swept his gaze across the surroundings, then silently circled widely before slipping unseen into the establishment.
With his strength as a Xiantian master, attempting such petty espionage, even in broad daylight, would be virtually impossible to detect.
Behind this shop lay a courtyard extending dozens of meters, housing more than ten separate rooms.
He Yiming concentrated his True Qi and immediately detected that the security here was stringent, guarded by ten cultivators, one of whom was a true master at the Eighth Level of Inner Strength.
To find such a high-level expert stationed in a mere shop was incredibly surprising. His mind stirred; could some secret be hidden here?
Not long after, Fan Haoyue entered one of the rooms, accompanied by a middle-aged man. He Yiming immediately focused his attention there.
His True Qi exchanged energy with the mysterious external forces, and although he could not see directly, his senses provided a relatively accurate feedback of the movements and voices of the people inside.
“Second Young Master, why isn't the Eldest Young Master here this time?” the middle-aged man’s voice sounded softly. Simultaneously, an image flashed into He Yiming’s mind: the middle-aged man cautiously questioning in a probing manner, and He Yiming eerily understood the man’s current emotion—a display of distrust toward Fan Haoyue, yet feeling utterly powerless to challenge him.
Vaguely, He Yiming inferred that the Second Young Master's reputation within this family was clearly not good, while the Eldest Young Master was highly regarded by everyone.
Fan Haoyue let out a cold snort. “What, you think only my elder brother is the master of the Fan family? Am I not as well?”
His voice was low, carrying a chilling severity, like a dragon whose inverse scale had been touched.
The middle-aged man’s voice immediately replied, filled with terror, “Second Young Master, by the heavens above, this old servant has never harbored such a thought!”
“Hmph, it’s good that you haven’t. If you had, see how I deal with you.”
“Yes, yes,” the middle-aged man responded with extreme caution. At this moment, even if his head were forfeit, he wouldn't dare show a single flicker of disbelief toward the other party.
“Enough. What treasure have you obtained? Hurry up and bring it out,” Fan Haoyue demanded impatiently.
Although the middle-aged man was reluctant, he dared not delay further. This Second Young Master, though born of the same mother as Eldest Young Master Fan Haori, differed from him incomparably in both martial skill and conduct.
But regardless, this was a master of the Fan family; a managing servant like himself could not resist.
A moment later, the middle-aged man carefully produced a package from a chest. But then, Fan Haoyue’s angry voice followed: “What is this? A stone? I think you’ve gone mad, making me rush over for a mere rock.”
The middle-aged man felt deeply wronged, thinking to himself that he had hoped the Eldest Young Master would come, not this spoiled scion who only knew how to indulge and bully others with his status.
Yet, though he harbored secret resentment, his outward deference only increased. “Second Young Master, this item was personally delivered by the Gold-Tapping Mouse!”
“Gold-Tapping Mouse? What nonsense is that?”
The middle-aged man’s expression stiffened, his embarrassment evident. “The Gold-Tapping Mouse is a nickname. He is the most notorious tomb robber in Jinlin.”
Fan Haoyue’s eyes widened. “You mean this was stolen from a grave?” He waved his hand violently, flinging the stone away, shaking his arms hard, his face full of disgust.
The middle-aged man leaped, catching the stone steadily before it hit the ground. However, his face was faintly greenish; anyone facing such a master would likely feel the same urge to go mad.
“Second Young Master, although the Gold-Tapping Mouse is just a grave robber, his craft has been passed down through three generations, and he often trades in fine items.”
Fan Haoyue snorted coldly. “Is that so? Then tell me, what good thing is this?”
The middle-aged man smiled bitterly. “Second Young Master, my knowledge is shallow; I truly cannot identify it. But this time, the Gold-Tapping Mouse himself claimed that he infiltrated a great cavern, endured nine deaths to one life, and found this item atop the coffin. It is said to be the sole burial artifact in the tomb.”
Fan Haoyue frowned. “So what?”
The middle-aged man offered a conciliatory smile, helpless. “Under normal circumstances, this item should be the most valuable object in the entire tomb.”
Fan Haoyue sneered for a moment. “The most valuable? If that Gold-Tapping Mouse merely robbed a commoner’s mound, then of course this would be the most valuable thing.”
Although the middle-aged man privately disagreed, he remained cautious. “Second Young Master, the Gold-Tapping Mouse has been engaged in this business for over twenty years; he is a recognized golden brand in this trade. Unless he intends to destroy his own reputation, he would never commit such a deception.”
Fan Haoyue hesitated briefly. “Fine. Wrap the thing up. I’ll take it back and have someone examine it properly. If it turns out to be a real treasure, you will certainly be rewarded. But if it’s just a broken stone, then watch your skin.”
The middle-aged man repeatedly agreed, sighing inwardly about the disparity between the two young masters who shared the same mother.
A moment later, Fan Haoyue called out, and the two retainers who had accompanied him entered.
Fan Haoyue pointed to one of them, instructing him to carry the small bundle, before leading them out of the shop.
This Second Young Master of the Fan family was clearly unwilling to even touch the object himself.
The three exited the shop. Unlike their arrival, they now carried a seemingly unremarkable small package.
He Yiming hesitated for a moment, shook his head slightly, and prepared to leave.
However, he suddenly recalled that during their previous encounter, this Fan Haoyue had attempted to seize his Crimson Silk Horse. Although he had already received minor retribution, since they had met again now, adding a little extra payment seemed appropriate.
Ps: Another chapter in two minutes ^_^