Chapter 31. Standing on the Night Air

It had been about an hour or so.

The three beggars, who had eaten enough to kill a cow, now patted their bellies.

"Ah, I'm full. The world looks incredibly beautiful. Hey, Fanhang, bring some wine now. What is this, Longzheng? You're such a miser. You're so stingy with your wine."

Yinangkai grumbled even after eating so much.

Songhua, who was about to clear the grill, glared at Yinangkai.

Being called a "kid" by the owner seemed to have touched a nerve. From the look of it, she was ready to bash his head with the grill.

The four guards standing around Fengyun Pavilion also had cold eyes. Yun and Fumeng, who had been invited to join, also showed their discomfort.

Yinangkai frowned as he looked around.

"What's with this atmosphere? Why is it so tense? You guys are looking at me like you want to kill me with your eyes. Your Young Master is indeed a miser. Last time, he only gave us one bottle of wine!"

Fumeng was the first to step forward.

"Show some respect. The eldest brother is the successor of this library. He represents the family, and you dare to be so rude here!"

Fumeng revealed the demeanor of a scholar and scolded him.

Yinangkai tilted his head.

"You're not afraid, huh? Do you know who I am to speak so loudly?"

"Whoever you are, you must show respect!"

"What if I don't? You young punk, you don't know the fear of the Beggar Sect. If you don't want to die, sit down and behave."

Fumeng stood up abruptly.

"Eldest brother, this won't do. I must teach this person some manners today. Please allow me."

"Alright, that's a good idea."

Hou Gong, who had been smiling inwardly, nodded readily.

A moment later, Fumeng ran off somewhere.

When he returned, he was holding a pair of nunchucks.

The result was as predictable as it could be.

As the rooster crowed, Fumeng beat up Yinangkai, who rolled around in a frenzy, claiming he was dying.

Seeing this, Xiaokai shouted.

"I don't know anything! I absolutely don't know anything!"

Regardless, Hou Gong was already walking with Qiuyunkai.

Qiuyunkai spoke.

"How did you know Ximen Xiong would be finished off?"

"Heaven's punishment?"

"Ha ha ha ha!"

Qiuyunkai burst out laughing.

After calming down, he spoke in a subtle tone.

"I know everything. There must be a great person behind Tianhua Library. Tell me, I'll keep it a secret. I'm Qiuyunkai, the secret-keeper. I haven't even told anyone about my master's peculiar habits. So, who is this person?"

"I don't understand what you mean by 'great person.' If there were someone so great that the branch leader would praise, why would I need to call the Beggar Sect? I could just ask that person to destroy the Ximen family."

"Hmm?"

Qiuyunkai seemed to agree and nodded repeatedly.

Then, his eyes narrowed as if he had figured something out.

"Come to think of it, that's right. Then, there's only one person left... Did you take care of Ximen Xiong?"

Qiuyunkai's eyes deepened for a moment.

His gaze became transparent and cold, emitting a sharp aura.

'Wugou Eye?'

Hou Gong frowned.

It was a technique of the Beggar Sect.

Wugou Eye, or 'No Dog Eye,' is a technique that can make dogs cower and whimper when a dog trainer opens his eyes. It means that when the eyes are opened, no dogs can be seen. It's a way of treating someone like a dog.

Each martial art in the Beggar Sect has a name that fits its nature. After all, the symbol of the Beggar Sect is a dog, as represented by the wooden cudgel.

The moment their gazes met,

Zzzz.

Qiuyunkai staggered.

He felt dizzy as his consciousness momentarily disconnected.

"What...?"

Qiuyunkai's eyes widened in shock.

It was a familiar aura.

Incredibly, his Wugou Eye had been deflected back at him.

He had attacked himself with his own technique.

'Rebound?'

This was one of Hou Gong's three protective techniques, Xu Yun, which naturally caused a rebound in response to external threats.

"Why are you doing this?"

Hou Gong raised one corner of his mouth.

Qiuyunkai, still dazed, suddenly grabbed Hou Gong's hand.

"It's you, isn't it?"

Qiuyunkai, who had already guessed the answer, smiled brightly.

"You're the one who finished off Ximen Xiong. So, you must have obtained a great secret. You must have found a secret manual. How many volumes did you get?"

He even asked how many volumes there were.

"How much have you mastered? The rumors about your suicide were just a cover, right?"

Hou Gong laughed and started walking.

"Follow me. I have something to show you."

"Can we have a match first?"

"No."

He firmly refused and headed for the chief.

The chief, who had been nodding, recounted the events to Qiuyunkai again. When they came out, Qiuyunkai's face was beaming. His curiosity about the new toy had taken over.

"Hehe, I knew it. I had a feeling we'd catch a big fish."

He knew it.

The tone was subtle. Hou Gong, feeling uneasy, asked.

"Did the branch leader investigate the Ximen family?"

"I tried, but couldn't. After the destruction of the escort agency, I suspected the Ximen family was involved. I saw a shadow but couldn't approach. If we can uncover this, it would be a bonus. So, what's your plan?"

"I plan to invite the Ximen family head to the main library tomorrow."

Qiuyunkai looked skeptical.

"Will the Ximen family head come if invited?"

Hou Gong smiled.

"He must come if invited."

"Is that so?"

"Don't worry about that. In the meantime, please invite some great people."

"I don't know many great people. The great ones are close to my master."

"No, the branch leader knows them well. Let me introduce them one by one."

***

Early in the morning, Yun and Fumeng finished preparing the cargo to be sent to the escort agency and came in.

They had heard from the eldest brother about what would happen next and what might occur, so Yun prepared the brush, and Fumeng prepared the ink.

The recipient of the letter was the Ximen family head.

"Speak, brother."

"Ximen Chui, listen."

Yun, who had been writing "Ximen," looked up.

"Brother, who is Ximen Chui?"

"The Ximen family head."

"Oh! The family head's name is..."

Yun was surprised that the eldest brother knew the family head's name but didn't ask and continued writing.

- I hear your eldest son, Ximen Xiong, has received retribution. This is because heaven does not tolerate your evil deeds. Therefore, the main library has decided to follow heaven's will. The chief will not be sent. If you want the chief, bring the treasures you stole from Tianhua Library. Then, the chief will be handed over. However, since we have a promise, we will send the head of the guard and the deputy head as a substitute. When you see them, even you, foolish as you are, will understand the meaning. This is the path for your son.

- Tianhua Library's Young Master.

**

The Ximen family was shrouded in gloom.

Until yesterday afternoon, such an atmosphere was unimaginable. Laughter had vanished, and the days felt like a hundred years.

As the sky darkened, Bai Lao found the family head.

"Family head, I have restored the torn pages of the book."

"Go on."

The family head's voice was sharp.

Bai Lao crouched.

"The three manuals taken from Tianhua Library. However, they contained no content."

"Did the Tianhua Library people play a trick?"

"It seems so. And just now, Tianhua Library sent a letter and a large box through Taiping Escort Agency."

"Box? The chief?"

"Before confirming. Please read the letter first."

Bai Lao respectfully handed over the letter.

As Ximen Chui read the letter line by line, his face turned red and he began to tremble.

"Tianhua Library, how dare they!"

He crumpled the letter.

His eyes turned red with anger, and flames began to rise from his hand.

Sanmei True Fire!

The letter burned to ashes.

Ximen Chui rushed out to check the box.

"Open it!"

The guards moved the box to the courtyard and tore off one side.

A strong smell of blood filled the air. Something inside was writhing.

The guards stepped back in shock.

Inside the box were two grotesque creatures.

They were writhing, clumped together, and emitting faint moans.

They were barely recognizable as human due to their facial features and glassy eyes.

Ximen Chui's face turned ashen.

'Such madness...'

The creatures in the box were unmistakably his son's appearance.

The words from the letter came to mind.

- When you see them, even you, foolish as you are, will understand the meaning.

'Could it be that the bastard did something at yesterday's banquet?'

Impossible. How could he have done it?

But that wasn't the important part.

The important part was that the recent series of events were a counterattack by Tianhua Library.

The rumors, the peace letter, the banquet, the ambush, the blank book as a gift, and now this.

Ximen Chui smiled.

Anyone could tell it wasn't a genuine smile.

"Tianhua Library will be gone by tonight."

**

Swish.

Ximen Chui's figure darted through the darkness toward Tianhua Library.

Behind him followed the Black Flame Extermination Squad of the Ximen family.

Thirty-two elite members.

The Black Flame Extermination Squad, rarely seen even in peacetime, consisted of killers who had led many family destructions. The rear members carried two large boxes shaped like coffins.

Known as Heitan.

It had been over a decade since the entire Black Flame Extermination Squad moved. This not only indicated their great anger but also their high regard for Tianhua Library.

Whoosh.

As they reached the cliff, a night breeze swept past Ximen Chui and the Black Flame Extermination Squad. All they could see was the night sky, the stars, and the moon, but they knew this was an illusion.

Ximen Chui shouted loudly.

"Is Tianhua Library ready to welcome the Ximen family?"

A response came as if they had been waiting.

- Have you arrived?

A strange, grating voice.

It started from behind, circled around, and ended in front. Then, a white mist formed in the air not far away. The mist gradually thinned, revealing a young man.

Ximen Chui recognized him immediately.

The Young Master of Tianhua Library.

Surprisingly, he was standing on the night air. A light cloud flowed around him.