Chapter Nineteen: Encountering the Sun of Strength

"Here, this is a folk remedy. Remember it well..."
After that, the brothers fell silent. Autumn wind replaced conversation, and for a while, neither knew what to say.
Touching his forehead, Xu Xing pondered deeply. With his current cultivation level in the Qi Refining stage, he could not change the grand scheme of things.
Perhaps what that old man said was true: only those monster hunters who roam the world, or like the immortals in books who soar to the heavens, can command submission from others.
Though his heart was burdened with thoughts for the world, his strength did not permit him.
He was not a genius who could shake heaven and earth, nor did he possess the power to move mountains and seas, but he still planned carefully.
Beihai Academy was good, but Xu Hai was at Nanshan Academy. The two brothers each in their own place, unable to look after each other, always left a sense of emptiness somewhere.
After much deliberation, Xu Xing spoke: "Today, I will go to Beihai Academy and travel together with Hang Ri."
"Hang Ri?"
Xu Xing explained Hang Ri’s actions in detail. He knew Xu Hai harbored prejudice against Hang Ri, so he continued:
"Brother, rest assured, he’s not the kind of person you think. We’ve misunderstood him. He actually has a chivalrous heart. Otherwise, why would he have come alone to avenge me, spared my life, and helped me so much?"
After speaking, Xu Xing felt a sense of relief and took a long breath.
After hearing Xu Xing’s words, Xu Hai hesitated, then sighed and said, "Fine, but out in the world, you must remain cautious and careful."
Then, he took out an orange-red conch and handed it to Xu Xing.
Xu Xing recognized it instantly—it was a Sound Transmission Conch.
As its name implied, it could transmit messages.
Its function was to leave a single message on the conch, and since the conches were paired, they maintained a subtle connection. However, only one message could be sent per month.
Though rather impractical, its cost was exorbitant. Ordinary people could never afford one in their lifetime.
"This was bought for you by your sister-in-law. Don’t be fooled by her sharp tongue; she always has your best interests at heart. When she visited me yesterday, she kept asking about you."
When Xu Hai mentioned his sister-in-law, Xu Xing could never understand why, when his brother was in such trouble, she didn’t step forward to help.
Due to his incomplete memories, Xu Xing asked about it and learned that every family has its own troubles.
Haicheng was an isolated island. Though called a city, it was actually a fortress under the jurisdiction of Greater Shu.
In recent decades, the Greater Shu dynasty had clashed with neighboring states and reduced military support, which led to rampant sea monsters in Haicheng.
The common people suffered terribly, yet those with power never acted against the sea monsters, as if they had struck some secret accord.
This behavior alarmed the upper ranks of Greater Shu, so they sent the monster hunter Yi Ye Shisan to bring order.
His sister-in-law’s tavern thrived thanks to support from her mother’s family, the Su clan.

Recently, the Su clan suffered heavy losses from the demon clans, who even threatened that if his sister-in-law intervened, they would ensure the Su clan’s destruction.
Under the pressure of the demon clans, his sister-in-law chose to submit, but she still felt deeply troubled.
That night, she rushed over, disregarding the threat from the demon clans, and even produced the Resentment Extension Scroll to buy her husband a few extra days.
"Should I go visit my sister-in-law? I haven’t seen my foster sister in so long. I miss them dearly and wonder how they’re doing."
"How’s that mischievous foster sister? I haven’t seen her in ages..."
Xu Xing sighed, gazing at the long-leafed cedar, his eyes filled with longing.
"Your foster sister left yesterday, chosen by a powerful master to cultivate in the Central Plains. Her prospects are better than ours; you don’t need to worry about her."
"As for your sister-in-law, she’s too busy every day. Next time you return, I’ll have her personally measure you for a new, well-fitted garment."
"Go now, chase the wind, and step onto this path."
Xu Hai saw what was in Xu Xing’s heart and, with a heavy tone, spoke.
Xu Xing sat there, reluctant to leave, not knowing when he would see his brother again.
The moon waxes and wanes; people part and reunite, joy and sorrow intertwined.
"Don’t dawdle. When my wounds heal in a couple days, I’ll embark on my own cultivation journey. But the two of us might only see each other a handful of times a year."
As he spoke, Xu Hai choked up, tears glittering in his eyes as he tightly embraced Xu Xing.
The autumn wind rose, stirring the unresolved emotions.
Parting words are always tinged with sadness, and who knows how long they talked, until Xu Hai was summoned by the physician to return for treatment. Xu Xing watched his brother’s figure disappear among autumn leaves swept up by the wind.
Then, he set off toward Hang Ri’s home.
Xu Xing’s face was covered with gauze, tightly wrapped to avoid being recognized outside Hang’s residence, lest trouble arise.
Arriving at Hang’s mansion, it was visibly more luxurious than the Xu family’s estate, extravagant in every sense.
The stone lions outside the gate were lifelike, and two soldiers stood guard by the red-and-white mahogany doors, a stark contrast to the thin servants at his own home.
From within the mansion came coquettish voices: "Oh, stop it, I can’t eat anymore, young master, I can’t take it."
Lewd words echoed out; it had to be Hang Ri. Xu Xing stepped forward, only to be stopped by the guards.
"Who goes there? State your name."
"Ruofeng."
The guards were startled, eyes wide, and quickly opened the gate, running inside to report:
"Young master, your esteemed guest has arrived!"

The voices inside were interrupted, and after a brief wait, seven young women emerged one after another. Xu Xing inwardly scoffed at Hang Ri’s lack of discipline in his private life.
Just as he was complaining, Hang Ri appeared, wasted no words, and led Xu Xing into the mansion.
Inside, the scenery was delightful, pleasing to the eye and mind.
"Come, come, I’ve been waiting for you," Hang Ri said.
He led Xu Xing to his usual quarters, where the floor was made of marble, and even featured a hot spring, emerald bamboo, and fragrant blossoms.
"You’re really wealthy."
"This is nothing, small change... If I don’t spend for half a month, I save this much."
Hang Ri’s words were truly rambling.
The seasons inside the mansion were entirely different from the outside. Within, it was perpetually spring, with no fallen flowers, only vibrant greenery.
Entering a room, they found it spacious and elegantly arranged, incense burning.
"When do you plan to leave? You’ve received the summons from Beihai Academy too, haven’t you?" Xu Xing asked, sitting in a mahogany chair.
"What? You also got the summons from Beihai Academy? Was it the monster hunter who gave it to you? Is that what last time’s message was about?" Hang Ri said in surprise.
Xu Xing nodded.
"In that case, anytime is fine. To Beihai Academy, it only takes a few minutes."
A few minutes? Xu Xing’s heart trembled—was this an exaggeration?
Even the strongest coachman would need two days to reach Beihai Academy; how could it be a matter of minutes? Wasn’t this nonsense?
Seeing Xu Xing’s doubt, Hang Ri explained:
"My family has a teleportation array, connecting directly to the secret realm outside Beihai Academy. And let me tell you, the girls inside are all stunning beauties. If we win over a couple, life will be worth it."
Xu Xing was accustomed to Hang Ri’s frivolity, perhaps just a product of his unrestrained nature.
Thinking of this, he wondered why Hang Ri competed with him for Mo Xi, though he didn’t pry into matters of the heart. Instead, he grew curious about the teleportation array and asked:
"What teleportation array? Such things aren’t easily obtained."
Hang Ri led Xu Xing to the study, where he selected a dusty book and opened it.
At that moment, golden light flooded the room, the brilliance from the book dazzling and magnificent, a majestic ancient aura unfolding and filling the space.