Translator: CinderTL
The moonlight was hazy, its pale glow reflected in the darkness. A night wind suddenly swept through the courtyard, rustling the ancient trees outside.
Soon, fine raindrops began to fall, gradually intensifying from a gentle drizzle to a torrential downpour, the incessant pitter-patter filling the air.
"Ah~"
A piercing cry tore through the night sky, immediately swallowed by the relentless rain.
Rainwater dripped from the eaves. Sometime during the storm, a small wildcat had appeared on the veranda outside. Its drawn-out meows seemed to accompany the rain, sometimes long and mournful, sometimes short and sharp, now slow, now urgent.
The cat's cries perfectly synchronized with the night wind, while inside, the bed frame creaked and groaned from years of neglect.
After a long while, the wind died down, the rain ceased, the wildcat vanished from the veranda, and the creaking stopped.
Looking into the courtyard, there was no trace of the rain. The ground was dry and cool, each grain of sand distinct and clear. Only the sound of Xu Sanyan's relaxed, contented voice drifted from inside the room:
"Throw out the bedsheets."
The girl responded with a muffled, "Mm..."
The next morning dawned.
Inhale... Exhale...
The young woman pushed open the window, taking a deep breath and slowly exhaling. Her breath condensed into a white mist that gradually dissipated.
The cool morning breeze dispersed the lingering scent of sex from the room. The woman stretched her petite frame, her skin visibly marked with kiss marks. Her once neatly arranged long hair was now disheveled, a testament to the night's passionate storm.
Smack!
"Ah!"
The young woman yelped as her buttocks were sharply slapped. She instinctively nestled into Xu Sanyan's arms, murmuring shyly, "Young Master, you're so... vigorous."
Xu Sanyan smirked, "Heh, this is nothing. I have a friend..."
The woman tilted her head. "More vigorous than you?"
"Far more perverse."
She gasped, covering her mouth in shock. "Ah! How perverse could he possibly be?!"
"...Huh?"
After dressing, the woman clung reluctantly to Xu Sanyan's sleeve. "Young Master, are you leaving already?"
"Mm-hmm."
Xu Sanyan playfully pinched her cheek, enjoying its soft, springy texture.
"When will Young Master return? I'll miss you so..." She hesitated, her lips moving as if she wanted to say something but was too embarrassed to voice it.
Xu Sanyan studied her for a moment, then chuckled. "Don't worry, I'll put in a good word for you."
That was all she wanted—a better life. For Xu Sanyan, it was a simple matter of instructing the Yang Family Patriarch.
The woman's face lit up with joy as she wrapped her arms tightly around his waist. "Thank you, Young Master."
Meanwhile, at the border between the Yang Family and Suspended Bitter Mountain, before a low hill, the two sides had been locked in a standoff for days, neither willing to yield.
Leading the Yang Family forces was Yang An, the eldest son of the family. The leader of the Suspended Bitter Mountain contingent, however, was a callow young man.
The youth appeared no older than his teens, with rosy lips and pearly white teeth, undeniably handsome. Yet his arrogant demeanor marred this natural beauty.
"Hmph!"
The young man snorted coldly, his voice surprisingly effeminate. With a flourish of his flamboyant white robes, he brandished the Dragon Head Sword, his eyes sweeping over the Yang Family group with disdain.
Suspended Bitter Mountain had sent only a small force; a minor ore vein hardly warranted a major investment. Yet even this modest presence exerted considerable pressure on the Yang Family.
Yang An clenched his fists, took a deep breath to suppress his rising anger, and turned away to sit cross-legged, finding solace in ignoring the situation.
His second younger brother had gone missing several days ago, and Yang An suspected Suspended Bitter Mountain was behind it. These treacherous schemers were notorious for their underhanded tactics.
"The Wang Family might have the upper hand, but some people can't see their place," the young man sneered. "They actually think they can shit on Suspended Bitter Mountain's head? How utterly delusional!"
Yang An remained silent, his anger simmering. The Yang Family had discovered this mineral vein first, but it happened to lie on the border between their territory and Suspended Bitter Mountain. When word leaked out, it triggered this entire conflict.
The Wang Family, despite receiving the news, had delayed sending reinforcements, only increasing the pressure on the Yang Family. If they waited much longer, the Yang Family might be forced to withdraw, surrendering their mining rights entirely.
The young man continued his taunts, "I heard Second Young Master Yang of the Yang Family went missing recently. I wonder which mountain demon or wild beast dragged him off?"
Someone nearby chimed in, "Senior Brother's right. With just a Foundation Establishment cultivation level, he dared to wander the Chaotic Cloud Mountains. He's probably rotting in some forgotten corner by now."
"Hahahaha..."
The Yang Family members clenched their fists, their knuckles white. Everyone knew Second Young Master Yang had been murdered by these very people, yet the killers stood before them, untouchable.
Suddenly, a clear voice rang out from the distance, "I don't know if Second Young Master Yang is dead or not, but I do know that you're likely to die here."
"Hmm? Who's there?!"
The young man in white raised his eyebrows and turned toward the voice. He saw a group of people approaching.
At the forefront strode a tall, imposing figure in a long black robe. His long hair flowed freely behind him, and a faint smile played on his lips.
"Who are you?!" the young man demanded in a deep voice.
Xu Sanyan ignored him, his gaze sweeping across the area before settling on the cave at the foot of the mountain.
"What kind of mine is this?" Xu Sanyan asked, turning to Yang An.
Yang An hesitated, glancing at his third brother, Yang Zhao, with a questioning look.
Yang Zhao stepped forward to explain. "This is Young Master Lin, who has taken the fourth elder's position and is now in charge of all matters here."
Yang An was startled. So young?
But he didn't dare show disrespect and quickly replied, "Young Master Lin, this is the White Stone Mine."
"White Stone Mine...?" Xu Sanyan pondered, but the name didn't ring a bell.
Wang Ying leaned in and whispered, "It's a common material used in crafting magic artifacts. It's not particularly valuable, usually used to enhance the durability of artifacts."
"Oh," Xu Sanyan nodded. No wonder he'd never heard of it—it was just cheap stuff.
He knew little about artifact crafting. Even the great halberd he nurtured, he didn't know what material it was forged from.
Xu Sanyan didn't rely on magic artifacts; they were essentially optional for him. With his current physical strength, his body was nearly as durable as an ordinary magic artifact.
Nearby, the white-robed young man heard Yang Zhao's words and fell into contemplation.
He had heard about the Wang Family's recent devastating losses—over a dozen Soul Refining Realm elders and guest elders had perished, leaving numerous vacant positions. Someone would inevitably fill those roles, but he hadn't expected such a young candidate.
Could it be that the Wang Family has run out of qualified candidates?
A companion whispered into the young man's ear, "Senior Brother, be cautious. I can't gauge this man's depth."
"Mm," the young man replied.
Xu Sanyan scanned the crowd, pausing briefly on the members of Suspended Bitter Mountain before his gaze settled on a woman in the crowd. He nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
He didn't recognize her, but she was quite attractive, and he always held a soft spot for beautiful women.
The woman pursed her lips, maintaining an impassive expression, seemingly uninterested in him.
The white-robed young man's tone shifted from casual to formal as he clasped his hands in a respectful bow. "I am Zhao Xunkong of Suspended Bitter Mountain. Greetings, Young Master Lin."
Xu Sanyan finally deigned to look at him, his eyelids flicking upward.
(End of the Chapter)
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