Wayfarer

Chapter 678: Yuqing Cultivation

Atop Chiyang Peak, Xiao Nanfeng and Xia Lan were called in for questioning by Xia Xingchen's three wives.

Upon hearing what had happened within the Southeastern Aquatic Palace, the three women all sighed in relief. A huge burden had been lifted from them.

"Nanfeng, you've done very well. It's all thanks to you that Yu'er is safe," Han Bingdie said, smiling.

She was very satisfied with Xiao Nanfeng, and was more than happy for Yu'er to marry him.

Xia Lan shook his head from beside them. "Father was largely responsible. How else would Xiao Nanfeng have been able to handle the Southeastern Aquatic Palace otherwise?"

Xia Lan's mother tutted at him. "You're growing older, but you don't seem to be maturing at all. We're talking to Nanfeng—don't you know it's rude to interrupt?"

Xia Lan's face turned dour.

Betrayed, he glanced at his mother.

"Madam, Xia Lan was of significant assistance as well. Without him, we wouldn't have been able to carry out many stages of our plan," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"Don't bother speaking up for him. We're well aware of what Xia Lan's like. He's heartless and speaks without thinking. Don't mind him. Help him out, will you?" Xia Lan's mother asked.

Xia Lan's jaw dropped. Was the woman in front of him really his mother? What mother would speak of her own son in this manner?

"Don't worry, Madam. Xia Lan is Yu'er's third brother, and I'm naturally obliged to help him."

"Very good." Xia Lan's mother smiled. "As I said, Nanfeng's a good choice. Yu'er has discerning taste."

"Indeed," the other woman agreed, nodding approvingly.

All three of Xia Xingchen's wives were happy with Xiao Nanfeng, a significant relief. Xiao Nanfeng would only have to win Xia Xingchen over now.

"Nanfeng, what are you planning to do next?" Han Bingdie asked.

"For the moment, I'd like to stay by the foot of Chiyang Peak while I wait for Yu'er to emerge from the purple moon illusory realm. Would I be a hindrance?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

"Hardly! Treat this place like your own home. There's no need for you to stay by the foot of the mountain—just live up here with us!" one woman exclaimed.

"Right, it's hardly as if you're an outsider," the other added.

Xiao Nanfeng dipped his head. "I'm honored you think of me that way, Madams, but I think I had better stay at the foot of the mountain regardless. I have a few subordinates with me, and I intend to interact with the Yuqing disciples during my stay. I might cause a little commotion, and I wouldn't want to disturb you. What's more, while Mountain Lord Xia might not comment on my staying here without his permission, it won't give him a good impression. Better that I stay at the foot of the mountain; it would give me more freedom to act as well."

The three women eyed each other approvingly.

"Very well. If there's any issue, though, head up the mountain and let us know at any time," Han Bingdie said.

Xiao Nanfeng nodded.

"Xia Lan, prepare the best guest house at the foot of the mountain for Nanfeng. If he's mistreated in any way, I'm holding you accountable," Xia Lan's mother said.

Xia Lan suddenly felt as if he were an adopted son.

"There's no need," he said irritably. "The disciples at the foot of the mountain have already prepared everything."

"Oh?" The three women were surprised by the news.

"All the ordinary disciples adore Xiao Nanfeng. They were fighting to prepare his lodgings even without my saying anything. Not only that, they've even brought over all sorts of plants and cultivation aids for him. His guest house is probably even better furnished than mine is at this point."

The three women laughed.

"Even better," Han Bingdie said.

"You'd better learn from Nanfeng, you hear? I don't want to keep having to worry about you," Xia Lan's mother said.

Xia Lan's face twitched. It wasn't as if he had done anything wrong! Why was he the one being verbally abused here? Could he stay here much longer?

"Senior, Madams, I'll be heading down the mountain now," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"Go on." Han Bingdie nodded.

"Xia Lan, what are you doing there? Head on over with Nanfeng! Help him handle anything he's unfamiliar with," Xia Lan's mother chastised.

"Yes, Mother..."

He couldn't help but feel that his mother would rather have Nanfeng than her own son.

He followed Nanfeng down Chiyang Peak, where they found a group of Yuqing disciples busying themselves in his guest house and decorating it with whatever treasures they had on hand—stones of meditation, flowers that blossomed from a seed of natural law, and sacred figs. He had asked to borrow these treasures from his senior and junior brothers a number of times, but they refused to lend them to him. Now, however, they were presenting them to Xiao Nanfeng of their own accord.

"Senior Brother Xiao!" The Yuqing disciples greeted Xiao Nanfeng as they saw him heading down.

Xiao Nanfeng eyed the treasures all around him and smiled. "Senior Brothers, Junior Brothers, what are you doing?"

"Senior Brother Xiao, we'd just like to show our appreciation for your pointers," one Yuqing disciple said.

"That's right!" the other disciples shouted.

"I can't keep these treasures, but I'd be more than happy to have them here for us all to enjoy for a few days. Once I head back, please make sure to take your belongings with you. Don't lose them," Xiao Nanfeng warned.

"Senior Brother Xiao, these are tokens of our appreciation!" one disciple cried out.

"I appreciate the thoughts, but I won't keep these treasures," Xiao Nanfeng replied, shaking his head. "Or would you rather we not continue to have our little discussions?"

"I understand, Senior Brother Xiao," the cultivator replied, sighing.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Xiao!" everyone praised.

Xia Lan muttered to himself, "You think he's generous? You don't know anything at all. You didn't even see how Xiao Nanfeng stripped the Southeastern Aquatic Palace to its foundations. He didn't even give up on the stone slabs they used for flooring! If he's not accepting your treasures, it must mean he's seeking something else from you."

"Don't hold back, everyone. Our discussions and exchanges benefit us all. Come on, let's go speak by that plaza over there. I'm happy to hear your recent thoughts on cultivation," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"Yes, Senior Brother Xiao!" the Yuqing disciples exclaimed in delight.

The Mountain Lords of the Yuqing holy land didn't have much time for their disciples, whereas Xiao Nanfeng was a peerless expert in terms of cultivation theory. He knew no less than the Mountain Lords with regards to the various facets of cultivation, and he was kind, approachable, and patient. He was able to pinpoint and immediately resolve any disciple's confusion, and it was only natural that those same disciples would praise him to such an extent.

Very quickly, Xiao Nanfeng became surrounded by disciples.

Xia Lan watched on from afar, muttering to himself, "Xiao Nanfeng chose to lecture on cultivation last time in order to kidnap Yu'er, and he's doing so now to gain the gratitude of the masses. What is he planning? Why do I have an uneasy premonition? I can't tell what Xiao Nanfeng's thinking!"

Xiao Nanfeng's new guise as a lecturer began in earnest.

His last lecture had drawn the attention of many, and when word spread that he was about to do so anew, even more disciples came to listen.

There were disciples from all twelve peaks present, and Xiao Nanfeng dropped the pretense that this was largely a discussion. Rather, he began to orate, and everyone listened.

During the first two days, there were only a few hundred disciples present; after that, a few thousand; by the tenth day, almost ten thousand.

The sight was astounding. The plaza at which Xiao Nanfeng had first lectured was too small to host such an audience, so countless Yuqing disciples expanded the land overnight. The plaza grew larger day by day as Xia Lan watched on sourly.

Atop Chiyang Peak, Xia Xingchen's three wives were looking at the scene unfold from high above.

"Sister, how did your junior nephew cultivate? Did he really get this far within just ten years?"

"His understanding of scripture is truly remarkable. One of those disciples asked a truly obscure question about natural law, one that neither of us would have been able to explain offhand, but he did so with ease starting from fundamentals! It really is unbelievable."

The women shook their heads in amazement.

Han Bingdie frowned. "I wonder if he did all this for Yu'er."

One of the women sighed. "That would explain it, wouldn't it? He wants to marry Yu'er, and he wants every Yuqing disciple to give her well wishes. With disciples from all twelve peaks here, anyone who dares to criticize her or the wedding would surely gain a significant number of enemies immediately.

"Yu'er really is blessed," the other woman agreed.

Xia Lan shook his head. "I feel like Xiao Nanfeng has an ulterior motive."

All three women glared at Xia Lan. Xia Lan's mother shook her head. "What sort of nonsense are you talking about now? Why haven't you grown up yet?"

Xia Lan grimaced. He was just expressing his own opinion; why was he getting scolded again? Didn't he have any say in this household anymore?

"Xiao Nanfeng initially told me that he was worried the Mountain Lords would trouble you about Yu'er, so he was coming as support. But none of the Mountain Lords have bothered us at all! He's lying!" Xia Lan accused.

"Better to be prepared for something that didn't happen than not to be prepared for something that did. He's showing filial respect with his actions. What have you, my own son, done during this period of time?" Xia Lan's mother asked.

Xia Lan scowled. Fine! He'd stop talking before he got himself into more trouble.

Just as he was stewing, a shout came from down below.

"Xiao Nanfeng, how dare you come to the Yuqing holy land! You must want to die. I'll teach you a lesson today, haha!" The domineering voice of a child echoed about Chiyang Peak.

The three women frowned as they scanned the surroundings, as did countless Yuqing disciples at the foot of the mountain.

The Demon Child, glowing with red light, was flying through the air. He had dark circles around his eyes, as if he hadn't slept for quite some time. He was brimming with excitement and held the demon-subduing golden hoop in one hand.

"The Demon Child? What's he doing back here?" Han Bingdie frowned.

"That troublesome pest—he's back!" one of the other women exclaimed.

Afar, the Demon Child howled at the Yuqing disciples, "Scram, all of you! Why are you surrounding Xiao Nanfeng? I'm going to teach him a lesson. If any of you dare to stand in my way, I'll beat you up too!"

The Yuqing disciples glared at the Demon Child, infuriated.