Mu Wansu immediately became irritable at the mention of Lin Xun’s name.
She took a long, slow breath and said, “It’s true, but that kid will get into trouble soon and our Stone Cauldron Alms will have to help clean up after him. He is so hateful.”
Shi Xuan was surprised by her response. “How can you say that?”
Mu Wansu didn’t conceal the matter that happened that day. She briefly recounted the events and afterwards, she smiled coldly. “First Young Master, don’t you think that kid is particularly hateful? He’s just a fox exploiting the tiger’s might!”
Shi Xuan appeared lost in thought, and it was only after a long moment that he clapped his hands and laughed aloud. “Lin Xun, nice one. I only thought he was a good seedling, but I seemed to have underestimated him. He’s only around thirteen to fourteen but he’s so shrewd and capable already. It’s hard to find someone like him!”
His voice was filled with admiration.
Mu Wansu almost thought that she had heard him wrong, and couldn’t help but ask, “First Young Master, that kid has no sense of shame. He’s so crafty and deceitful, why do you always blindly praise him?”
Shi Xuan’s smile faded from his lips and he sighed. “Let me ask you a question. Was it his first time in the Qingyang Tribe that day?”
Mu Wansu said, “Indeed.”
“Let me ask you again. Do you know why he killed Mad Dog Wu Jie and the others in public rather than keep a low profile when he just came to the Qingyang Tribe?”“We don’t need to make guesses. He must have long decided to force our Stone Cauldron Alms to stand up for him. This is why he dared to be so arrogant.” Mu Wansu sounded indignant.
Shi Xuan smiled. “Yes, but you made a mistake. I gifted him that badge. If he doesn't use it, what’s the value of the badge in his hands?”
Mu Wansu looked taken aback, but she immediately frowned and said, “But even if he wanted to ask the Stone Cauldron Alms to help him, he could have let us know first. Instead he took action before thinking about the consequences and made our Stone Cauldron Alms fall into a passive position. How ridiculous is that?”
After a pause, she hissed through gritted teeth. “The most hateful thing about him is that he didn’t try to humble himself when he came to the Stone Cauldron Alms. Instead he got into a huge fight and created a huge scene. If I wasn’t present, it would have turned into a huge mess.”
Shi Xuan sighed. “That was his intention.”
Mu Wansu’s frown deepened. She realized that no matter what she said, it didn’t change the first young master’s view of Lin Xun. Instead it made him admire Lin Xun even more.
Mu Wansu responded with an aggrieved tone. “I know he did it intentionally and his goal was to attract the attention of Manager Yan Zhen!”
Shi Xuan shook his head. “That’s only one of his goals. What’s more important for him was to tell everyone that he was in the Stone Cauldron Alms!”
Mu Wansu was utterly perplexed. “Why would he do that?”
Shi Xuan asked, “If Lin Xun had suddenly turned up and asked our Stone Cauldron Alms to deal with Wu Corporation for him, would you and Yan Zhen agree?”
Mu Wansu was hesitant to answer. She knew she wouldn’t agree, and she had to admit it. “I don’t think I would. He’s just a country boy. Even if he held your badge, it wouldn’t benefit the Stone Cauldron Alms to be on unfriendly terms with Wu Corporation just for him. We would have at most protected his life.”
Shi Xuan nodded. “Yan Zhen no doubt would have done the same as you. This was why Lin Xun played an unexpected move. His move drew the people from the Wu Corporation to the Stone Cauldron Alms and forced you to make that decision.”
“If the people of the Stone Cauldron Alms had retreated, we would have become the laughingstock of the Qingyang Tribe and that would tarnish the entire Stone Cauldron Alms’ reputation. If our Stone Cauldron Alms had chosen to quiet down the matter so as to avoid any trouble and protected only Lin Xun, we would appear weak. If people think our Stone Cauldron Alms are afraid of the Wu Corporation, it would be detrimental to our reputation.”
Shi Xuan couldn’t help but laugh. “You all saw the result. Wu Corporation was forced to admit defeat and Lin Xun became the final winner.”
Mu Wansu recalled Lin Xun's actions that night and she matched them up with Shi Xuan’s explanation. Inexplicably, a slither of terror crept to her heart. “First Young Master, would you have overestimated him?”
Shi Xuan said calmly, “I know you are biased against Lin Xun, but if you calm down and think about it, you won't think the same.”
Mu Wansu fell silent, but she couldn’t calm down for a good while. She quietly pondered over Lin Xun’s actions but she still found it difficult to approve of them.
“Don't forget that he’s just a kid from a remote mountain village. He’s only thirteen to fourteen years old yet he managed to cause a storm the first time he arrived at a place like the Qingyang Tribe. He achieved that by just relying on a useless badge that I gifted him,” Shi Xuan marveled, “He’s not ordinary.”
Mu Wansu clearly looked frustrated and unconvinced. “It’s a badge from you, First Young Master, how could it be useless? He would have been hacked into eight parts if he didn’t have your badge.”
Shi Xuan glanced at Mu Wansu, frowning. “If Lin Xun didn’t have that badge, he would have thought of another way given the ability and intelligence he had demonstrated. At least, he wouldn’t expose his identity to Wu Corporation so soon. Remember, never let your emotions affect your decisions. Otherwise it could lead to huge mistakes.”
A look of fear washed over Mu Wansu’s face. She nodded, saying, “I will remember First Young Master’s lesson.”
Shi Xuan thought for a moment and suddenly he asked, “Wansu, have you been to the Forbidden City?”
Mu Wansu shook her head. “That's the empire’s capital. I likely won’t ever have the chance to go there in my lifetime.”
Shi Xuan continued, “If you have the opportunity to enter the Forbidden City one day, but your enemies, who were much stronger than you, saw you enter the city and they want to kill you, what would you do then? ”
Mu Wansu pursed her lips. “Either run away or seek the help of others.”
“But if others don’t want to offend your enemies, what would you do?”
Mu Wansu’s expression changed dramatically.
She realized that Shi Xuan was comparing her with Lin Xun.
Indeed, the circumstances in which Lin Xun, who was from a remote mountain village, came to the Qingyang Tribe would be similar to Mu Wansu entering the Forbidden City from Donglin City. If she were to face a similar situation to that of Lin Xun, what would she do?
Understanding dawned on Mu Wansu’s face as she drew a deep breath. She then bowed respectfully, “Thank you, First Young Master, for your lesson.”
But in her heart, her prejudice towards Lin Xun remained. He had taken advantage of her too many times and had humiliated her time and time again. How could she forgive him completely?
Mu Wansu had come to a decision — First Young Master may admire Lin Xun, but if I run into Lin Xun again, I won’t give him the chance to take advantage of me!
Shi Xuan smiled while waving his hand. “This is just a small matter. Just pay more attention to it in the future. After all, Lin Xun is still very young and lacks experience. It will take a long time for him to rise to the top. If he could set foot into the Forbidden City someday, I might personally ask him to join Stone Cauldron Alms. As for now, we should maintain a good relationship with him. Whether he becomes a dragon or a snake will depend on him.”
Mu Wansu nodded repeatedly. “Quite right.”
Shi Xuan glanced at her and couldn’t help shaking his head. He knew that it would be difficult to resolve Mu Wansu’s prejudice towards Lin Xun so he didn’t try any more.
Suddenly, Shi Xuan remembered something and said ruminatively, “Now that Xie Yutang had slaughtered the golden flame beast and likely took the Origin Aeth Crystal, he will ask the elders of his family to help him construct a rune armament. If he succeeds, his strength will become even more terrifying. At that time, the ranking of the top thirty in the empire will no doubt change…”
Mu Wansu exclaimed, “A rune armament is that powerful?”
Shi Xuan nodded. “It’s the secret skill of the Xie Family from the Black Cloth Alley. A Rune Armament can produce unbelievable power with the Xie Family’s skill.”
He suddenly stood up and his face bore a look of determination. “I should make a trip home. Xie Yutang has found his opportunity, but I won’t just give up.”
Mu Wansu quickly asked. “First Young Master, what about the peerless treasure? Are we just going to give up like that?”
Shi Xuan shook his head. “There is no need to investigate anymore. If my speculation is correct, the treasure might not exist at all. Even if it does, it most likely has been taken already. Don’t forget that the peerless treasure was originally just a conjecture from the Heavenly Seer, the imperial stargazing platform. If it’s not true, it isn’t worth us wasting more energy.”
While speaking, he had already pushed open the door, and he then left.
On that day, not only Shi Xuan gave up the search, many top influential figures in the Great Three Thousand Mountains were also discouraged to have found nothing and left as a result.
This storm brought about by the peerless treasure silently came to an end after Xie Yutang killed the golden flame beast.
But the storm in the Great Three Thousand Mountain hadn’t ended because the huge waves brought about by Liu Yukun’s death had only just begun.
But for now, all of that seemed to have nothing to do with Lin Xun.
After traveling for around another day, Lin Xun finally saw the familiar outline of Feiyun Village in the evening. It was only then that he could completely relax.
Other than a few attacks from wild beasts along the way, he had encountered no more obstacles.
“Uncle Lin Xun is back!”
The children playing at the village entrance broke into cheers upon seeing Lin Xun’s figure, and a kid rushed into the village to spread the news.
Not long afterwards, Village Chief Xiao Tianren came out with a group of villagers. They all beamed with excitement and joy.
Lin Xun felt a warmth in his heart. Perhaps only in Feiyun Village would he feel such precious warmth.
Lin Xun somersaulted off his horse and introduced Gao Guiyong and Zhou Qian to Xiao Tianren. After a brief chat about the goods, he hurried home alone.
He didn’t see Xia Zhi among the villagers. Even though he was only gone for around four to five days, he was deeply worried about how the little girl was doing.
When he pushed open the courtyard door, he saw Xia Zhi eating alone at the stone table under the weeping willow tree.
The setting sun sprinkled onto the little girl’s body, bathing her in a tranquil and sacred glow.
When Xia Zhi saw Lin Xun, she got up and retrieved a pair of chopsticks from the kitchen. Then, she scooped Lin Xun a bowl of rice and set it on the opposite side of the table and said, “Let’s eat.”
There was no excitement and no cheering, and she didn’t even ask how he was doing.
However, Lin Xun smiled and warmth filled his heart. If he remembered correctly, it was the first time that Xia Zhi got him a bowl and served him food ever since she came into his life.
This was how Xia Zhi welcomed him, which was as unique as herself.