Chapter 62

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Zhao Xinyu chuckled, "Old Master, it's just that the aged sandalwood is worth some money. I'm afraid my carving skills have wasted this fine piece of sandalwood."

"Your carving skills were also taught by your grandfather. How many years have you learned them?"

"Started learning at six, and kept carving whenever I had free time before college."

These words moved everyone present. They also knew from Old Master and Du Mengnan that Zhao Xinyu was knowledgeable in many areas, such as traditional Chinese medicine, cooking, and brewing, all of which he was proficient in.

Now, another skill in carving has emerged, just like cooking and traditional Chinese medicine, which he started learning from the age of five or six and continued for twelve years.

Everyone's learning stages are different, but creativity is generally developed before adulthood. The master carvers they know have all gone through years of experience, understanding the complexities of life, and integrating art into their carvings.

Although Zhao Xinyu is young, they can all feel that he has already integrated these elements. This is decades earlier than what people consider a master. Yet, he still says he is wasting art, which would make those masters wonder what to think.

"Zhao Xinyu, if you sell such a pendant on the market, it should be worth more than 80,000 yuan," Du Yongchang looked at Zhao Xinyu, wanting to see his reaction, to see if he is like the father and daughter described.

Zhao Xinyu just smiled faintly and shook his head, "Just the price of aged sandalwood."

"Do you know the price of sandalwood?"

"I know a bit. The last time I went into the mountains, I happened to see a hundred-year-old sandalwood tree, so I broke off a branch."

His words made Du Yongchang and others, who knew about sandalwood, exchange glances. A hundred-year-old sandalwood tree, a single branch is not worth just a few hundred or thousand yuan. The sandalwood used by Zhao Xinyu to carve the pendant could be valued in the hundreds of millions. Yet, knowing the value of sandalwood, Zhao Xinyu only took a branch, which shows that money is just a trivial matter to him.

Du Yongchang felt a bit bitter. He always thought that Zhao Xinyu was close to his daughter for some ulterior motive. Even when Zhao Xinyu gave the Du family valuable items like Zui Linglong and wine, he showed no reaction. But at this moment, Du Yongchang was moved. He felt that this young man was not like what he had imagined.

"Sister, let me see who is carved on your pendant," Du Mengyao played with the rabbit pendant in her hand, but her mind was still on the pendant that Du Mengnan had taken.

"They are all carved by the same person, with the same craftsmanship. You can look at yours," Du Mengnan said with a scowl.

Just then, a loud bird call came in. Du Mengnan's eyes lit up, and she looked at Zhao Xinyu, "It's Jinhen and Jinyu coming back."

Zhao Xinyu stood up and nodded at Du Gang, "Old Master, I'll go check it out."

"I'll also see the long-extinct Longpeng," Du Gang smiled and stood up.

When they all left the living room, they felt two hurricane-like gusts in the courtyard, followed by two large golden birds landing in the flower bed. Beside them were two wild boars weighing over a hundred pounds each, with blood still oozing from their heads, but no signs of life.

Seeing the two large birds standing over a meter tall and the dead wild boars beside them, even Du Gang couldn't help but draw a sharp breath.

They all knew how fierce wild boars were, and how they often rolled in pine needles, covering their bodies with a thick layer of pine resin and soil, making them almost invulnerable to ordinary weapons. Now, they had been killed by two large birds, which were terrifying beyond imagination. If they encountered such large birds, they might not even have a chance to escape.

The Du family watched Jinhen and Jinyu, and Jinhen and Jinyu also watched the Du family. Seeing Du Mengnan in the crowd, Jinhen and Jinyu chirped softly, clearly greeting her.

Zhao Xinyu shook his head. Jinhen and Jinyu had brought back two wild boars, so they would stay in the village for the New Year. He looked towards the kitchen and saw Zheng Min and others peering out the window.

"Min, who is the butcher in our village? Get him to come and help." As he spoke, he stepped into the flower bed, making the Du family's faces change. They were all worried that Jinhen and Jinyu might suddenly attack Zhao Xinyu.

At that moment, a large black shadow rushed in from the gate. Seeing Jinhen and Jinyu in the flower bed, Heifeng growled at them, and Jinhen and Jinyu chirped in response.

When Zhao Xinyu reached them, Jinhen and Jinyu spread their large wings and gently flapped them on his body. Zhao Xinyu also patted them, making Du Mengyao and the others feel a surge of excitement as they descended the steps and approached the flower bed.

Jinhen and Jinyu tilted their heads, looking at the five unfamiliar humans with puzzled eyes, clearly not recognizing Du Mengyao and the others.

"Mengyao, stop thinking. I've known Jinhen and Jinyu for over half a year, and they won't even let me get close. Only Zhao Xinyu can approach them."

At this moment, Jiang Pengxin and He Yuzhu, who were playing outside, also ran back. The two kids saw Jinhen and Jinyu, climbed over the flower bed, and went to their side.

What left Du Mengnan and the others speechless was that Jiang Pengxin and He Yuzhu could also touch their feathers, though they could see that Jinhen and Jinyu had some aversion to them.

Suddenly, Jinhen and Jinyu chirped a few times. Zhao Xinyu, who was flipping the wild boars, looked at Jiang Pengxin and He Yuzhu, "Peng, Yuzhu, they are leaving. Go out."

The two kids climbed out of the flower bed. Jinhen and Jinyu let out a long cry, and two gusts of wind rose again as the two large birds took off towards the east of the yard. Heifeng also growled and dashed out of the yard.

"Brother Xinyu, can you understand what they are saying?"

Zhao Xinyu chuckled and picked up the two wild boars, "After spending time with them, I understand their meaning. They have emotions like humans. Mengmeng, you stay here with them. I'll take the wild boars outside."

As Zhao Xinyu carried the wild boars out, he didn't notice that the Du family was staring at him in amazement, and the two strong men who came with Old Master had their eyes wide open.

One wild boar weighed over a hundred pounds, and two were over two hundred pounds. Yet, Zhao Xinyu carried them as if they were two chickens. The strength in his arms was immense, and no one could believe that a frail scholar could have such strength.

The two strong men protecting Du Gang were ancient martial arts practitioners, with strength far exceeding that of ordinary people. But even they would find it difficult to carry two wild boars out of the yard as easily as Zhao Xinyu did.

Du Gang's eyes flickered, "Liang Yongjun, Liu Fei, come with me to check it out."

Du Mengnan and the others seemed to understand something and followed out of the yard. Behind the large courtyard, Zhao Xinyu placed the wild boars on an open ground. When he turned around, he saw Du Gang and the others.

"Old Master Du, why did you come out?"

Du Gang chuckled, "Liang Yongjun, Liu Fei, try it out."

The two men nodded, and a faint force was released from their bodies. In the blink of an eye, they were in front of Zhao Xinyu, one on each side. They simultaneously attacked, two gusts of wind hitting Zhao Xinyu, and the air seemed to vibrate slightly.

Zhao Xinyu was slightly taken aback, but his body suddenly twisted into a position that a normal person could hardly achieve, dodging their attack. In the next moment, he moved his hands, and Liang Yongjun and Liu Fei both retreated, but a bit too slowly. Liang Yongjun's neck and Liu Fei's wrist were simultaneously grabbed by Zhao Xinyu.

A surge of excitement appeared in Zhao Xinyu's eyes. To be able to become Du Gang's bodyguards, these two must have considerable skills. Yet, in the situation where they attacked first, he was able to counter them, which was something Zhao Xinyu hadn't expected.

He released them and nodded at the two men, who were full of shock. Du Gang and the others all drew a deep breath, their faces filled with disbelief.

Liang Yongjun and Liu Fei were the main and deputy leaders responsible for protecting Old Master. They often saw them practicing, and one person could handle seven or eight other bodyguards. Yet, they were the first to attack and were countered by Zhao Xinyu, which meant that Zhao Xinyu was far stronger than they were.

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