Chapter 25: Piercing Concealment

As they strolled leisurely through the market, Songhua chattered away.

"Master, don't you have to go to the Ximen family?"

"You seem worried."

"Yes, I'm already worried that the Ximen family's eldest son will face a great ordeal, and my heart can't settle."

'What a good kid.'

Songhua, trying to lighten the mood, made a joke.

Despite his inner appreciation, Hou Gong snorted.

"Hmph, you seem to like that guy. With such low standards, where could you possibly use him?"

"Hehe, but Master, really, don't you have to go? Since you invited many people, nothing bad will happen, but I can already picture the humiliation."

"Stop talking nonsense and find a good restaurant. How long do you plan to keep me walking!"

"Yes, Master!"

Humiliation.

Hearing Songhua's words, Hou Gong suddenly thought of the Dugu family.

Even among prestigious families, there are places that deviate from human decency. Many of them hide and embellish to maintain their prestigious facade.

There are well-raised children like those of the Qingyue Sect, but among the offspring of prestigious families, there are also many ruffians. Raised on a pedestal from a young age and with the family's prestige, they unknowingly develop a condescending attitude and become ruffians.

When the desires of such grown ruffians exceed their abilities, problems arise. Over a decade ago, the Dugu family's second son, driven by the desire to succeed, secretly poisoned his elder brother and imprisoned his father, only to meet a terrible end when the plan went awry.

The Dugu family's incident was exposed, but the internal affairs of powerful families are never peaceful. Just a year ago, the Huangbao family had a succession struggle known as the "Prince's Rebellion." Beyond that, using their prestige to gain benefits and expand their influence through bloodshed was common.

"Master, this place is famous for Dongpo Pork, and that one is known for Youbao Duck."

"What do you want to eat?"

"Hmm... I want Youbao Duck."

"Alright, let's go for Dongpo Pork."

Songhua's mouth pouted.

As the group ascended to the restaurant, there were people watching them.

Two beggars from the Beggar Sect.

- Elder Brother, no matter how I look at it, the Tianhua Library's eldest son doesn't seem like a pushover.

- *Swallow*.

Instead of answering, the middle-aged beggar's Adam's apple bobbed.

- When someone talks, you should listen. What are you eating?

- I swallowed my saliva.

- It must be delicious. Then I will too. *Swallow*.

The middle-aged beggar and the young beggar swallowed their saliva in unison, but their eyes remained fixed on one spot.

- But why is he sitting by the window on this floor, tearing into Dongpo Pork? I envy him. How good it must be to be rich, eating whatever you want.

- That's true. Elder Brother is just a beggar's brat.

- Why do you subtly insult me?

- No, that's Elder Brother's inferiority complex.

The two beggars leaned against a wall.

About twenty paces away was the restaurant building, and the Tianhua Library's eldest son was seated by the window on this floor.

A perfect vantage point.

People passed in front of the two beggars, but no one paid them any attention. Or rather, they couldn't.

They were invisible.

Using the Beggar Sect's concealment technique, Qiongqian Xingxu Shu, they had blended into the surroundings.

Their conversation was through telepathy.

No one could hear their voices.

However, the smell was unavoidable, so people passing by would wrinkle their noses, wondering where the stench was coming from.

- If you insult me, you'll die by my hand. Even if you insult me indirectly, you'll still die.

- Our family motto is 'If you meet someone who says, "If you insult me, you'll die by my hand," kill them.' It's quite coincidental.

- You brat, your family motto has thousands of rules. I'll cut off your lineage today.

- Hehe, but is the Tianhua Library planning to act as if nothing happened?

- Then I would be very disappointed.

- What's there to be disappointed about? Even if the Qingyue Sect is out of it, the Ximen family remains. They are a formidable opponent for bookworms.

- Is the Tianhua Library just a bunch of bookworms? They are geniuses, smart people! They can do anything with their smart heads.

- ...

With no response, the middle-aged beggar frowned at his junior.

- What, this brat, when the venerable Elder Brother is speaking, you're daydreaming?

- Elder Brother, that's not it.

- What's not?

- Look over there.

- Huh?

- The Tianhua Library's eldest son is looking at us.

- What?

Thinking it was a joke, the branch leader's face turned blank.

"Uh..."

He wasn't just looking; the Tianhua Library's eldest son was grinning at them. They were so shocked that they momentarily forgot to use telepathy.

- What's with that? He's smiling.

- The bookworm is smiling.

They shouldn't be stared at like this. Concealment shouldn't be so easily penetrated.

The Beggar Sect is said to be everywhere and nowhere. They are skilled and advanced in concealment, and their pride is unmatched.

"Master, what are you smiling at?"

At that moment, Songhua, sitting opposite the window, looked out curiously at her master's expression.

But there was nothing where his gaze fell.

Songhua thought her master was just having a pleasant daydream and sat back down.

After finishing the meal,

"Songhua."

"Yes, Master."

"Have them buy the most expensive bottle of wine when we pay."

"Here?"

"Yes."

Songhua was puzzled. The library had rare and expensive wines stacked in layers. She couldn't understand why her master wanted to buy cheap wine here.

As Hou Gong and his guards left the restaurant, the beggars were in an uproar.

- Elder Brother, look at my arm. Wow, when the eldest son looked at us through the window just now, my skin was crawling. I'm covered in goosebumps. I'd be fried chicken if I jumped!

- I'm already a scrawny chicken.

- But that guy, wasn't he supposed to be severely depressed? Did he learn a secret technique to build his inner strength? Wow, the Tianhua Library's eldest son was practicing martial arts... If he can see through concealment, he could probably face me in a fight.

- Fool, that's not the important part.

The middle-aged beggar frowned as he watched the Tianhua Library's eldest son, who was now far away.

- Then what's important?

- Junior.

- What?

- Do you want to live your life without thinking? Your head is a drawer for eyes.

- So what's important, Elder Brother!

- Just follow me, you brat!

When Hou Gong left the outskirts and entered the foothills of the mountain,

"Stop right there!"

At the sudden shout, Songhua and the guards immediately surrounded Hou Gong. But upon seeing the two disheveled beggars, they relaxed.

Songhua stepped forward.

"Sir, what's the matter?"

"I have a question. If you call someone, you should speak. What do you think you're doing, just walking away!"

"Sir, you must have mistaken us. We are seeing you for the first time."

"Stay quiet. Fan Gongzi, speak up."

'Fan Gongzi?'

Songhua's eyes widened.

Her master had only recently started going out, yet the beggars seemed to know him well, which raised her guard.

Regardless, the branch leader, Chuiyun Gai, frowned at the Tianhua Library's eldest son and scratched his neck.

He didn't use his head as a drawer for eyes, so he fully understood the situation. It was surprising that the eldest son had learned martial arts, but more surprising was that he had revealed it to them.

This must mean he had something to say and wanted them to follow.

"Today, I wanted to familiarize myself with the two experts of the Beggar Sect. I might need your help soon, so I'll contact you again."

"Wow..."

The two beggars laughed nervously.

It was now clear.

While they thought they were observing, they were also being observed. Choosing Dongpo Pork over Youbao Duck was likely because of the good vantage point.

Songhua and the four guards were equally shocked.

From the conversation, it seemed they had already communicated, but they had no idea when or how. Moreover, how did the eldest son, who rarely went out, know these beggars?

"Are we old acquaintances? Even if the Tianhua Library has produced many geniuses, this is too much, isn't it?"

The branch leader, Chuiyun Gai, tilted his head.

Not only the circumstances but also the feeling that this bookworm knew him well was undeniable.

'Not exactly.'

Hou Gong smiled faintly.

Chuiyun Gai was a disciple of the Beggar Sect's leader, Kunao Xin Gai.

Hou Gong had seen him a couple of times when Kunao Xin Gai brought him along.

As the leader's top disciple, Chuiyun Gai was highly capable and skilled in martial arts.

At their first meeting at the Martial Arts Alliance, Chuiyun Gai, thinking Hou Gong's plump body made him seem weak, had suggested a race, which led to him nearly being killed by Kunao Xin Gai on the spot.

"Are we old acquaintances?"

At the Tianhua Library's eldest son's question, Chuiyun Gai was puzzled.

"No."

"Then we aren't."

"Hehe, indeed."

"Then until we meet again. I didn't want to send you off empty-handed, so I prepared a bottle of wine."

Songhua, holding the wine bottle, looked at it in surprise. Then, looking at her master, she nodded. Songhua put aside her doubts and quickly handed over the wine bottle.

Chuiyun Gai, holding the wine bottle, laughed heartily.

"You seem like a good friend. I'm Chuiyun Gai, the branch leader of the Beggar Sect."

The young beggar introduced himself too.

"Hey, I'm Yin Ang Gai. But why did you only buy one bottle of wine? You're rich, right?"

***

A faint, clear sandalwood fragrance filled the room.

Yun and Bu Meng were finishing wrapping the gift.

They carefully placed the gift in a sandalwood box and wrapped it in blue silk.

This was the gift their eldest brother would take to the Ximen family tomorrow.

Though they wondered what the gift was, they couldn't go empty-handed. It was a meeting between families and a chance to resolve issues. Other prestigious families' children would also bring small gifts, even if not grand.

"Brother, will it be alright?"

Bu Meng's face was full of worry as he looked at the silk wrapping.

Yun frowned.

"It will be fine. Do you think we need to offer a golden chest to the Ximen family?"

"That's not what I meant."

"Sandalwood is rare enough."

Bu Meng scratched his head.

They called a maid but hesitated for a moment.

Then, they dismissed her. The two brothers personally placed the gift in the carriage for tomorrow's departure.

Under the moonlight, they slowly walked.

Bitterness filled their hearts with each step.

Though he seemed composed, the night would be long for their eldest brother.

He had become a sturdy pillar supporting the family, beyond just shaking off the shadow of death. Though he didn't show it, he must have his worries. Adult worries are just hidden.

Bu Meng's eyes welled up.

Yun nudged him with his shoulder.

"Kid, everything will be fine, so don't be so gloomy. Hasn't our eldest brother always been extraordinary? And there's good news, isn't there?"

"Huh?"

"Have you forgotten the letter from Zhuyang?"

"Oh!"

Bu Meng recalled and smiled.

Zhuyang!

The only close friend of their eldest brother.

The second son of the Yinhua Trading Company, the richest man in northern Jiang, whose wealth could surpass Mount Tai. A straightforward and principled man, serious in everything, and not one for jokes.

Despite the dark days, his friendship with their eldest brother was deep, and he had been exchanging letters. The news that he would visit soon had arrived today.

"Will we keep it a secret from our eldest brother?"

The letter was sent to the second brother, not the eldest.

"Of course. Keep it to yourself. Didn't Zhuyang emphasize it in his letter? He wants to surprise him. Don't spoil it. What fun would that be?"

"Hmm, I will. I'm already looking forward to it."

Bu Meng's worries vanished, and he grinned.

If the Ximen family issue is resolved, a joyful day would soon follow.