Chapter 16: As a brother, one always has to worry more
The cockfighting arena had a victor.
The lackeys of the Fugui Chamber of Commerce sighed in disappointment.
Liu Shirong patted his head and laughed, “We lost, we lost. Brother Ning’s Golden Winged Thunder Duke is indeed superior.”
Despite losing, he seemed happier than if he had won.
Ning Xuan said spiritedly, “Naturally.”
Liu Shirong clapped his hands, and servants went to put the “Iron Beaked General” back into its cage. He then turned and walked directly to Ning Xuan’s viewing pavilion without a second glance at the defeated rooster. He said, “Brother Ning, you can send someone to my Fugui Chamber of Commerce later. I, Liu Shirong, keep my word. Those two crates from the Western Regions are definitely yours.”
Ning Xuan asked, “Old Liu, what are you up to?”
Liu Shirong smiled, tilted his head, and said, “Let’s talk about it at the Drunken Flower Pavilion.”
He then added, “There are two new Courtesans at the Drunken Flower Pavilion. If you and I go today, they will naturally be promoted from Courtesans to fully-fledged courtesans. It is their fortune to give their first time to two distinguished young masters like us. Speaking of which, I don’t know when I’ll be arranged to get married. Once that happens, we brothers won’t have this freedom. Even if we want to go to the pleasure quarters, we’ll have to consider our main wife’s feelings. Ha, let’s go!”
Ning Xuan chuckled, “I’ve been to the Agarwood Pavilion in the prefectural city many times, but I found none as good as Xiaojie.”
Liu Shirong lamented, “Why don’t I have a Xiaojie as a maid?”
Ning Xuan said, “Old Liu, get to the point, what do you want?”
Liu Shirong gave a meaningful glance.
The lackeys understood and dispersed.
Ning Xuan also gave a signal, and his men quickly left.
Only the two of them remained.
Liu Shirong then said, “To be honest, brother, my father has given me a strict order: I must marry my sister to you. The dowry can be negotiated.”
Ning Xuan asked curiously, “With Yushu’s qualifications, shouldn’t many men be pursuing her? Besides, your Fugui Chamber of Commerce is a powerful entity in itself. Why would you rush to marry your eldest daughter to me?”
Liu Shirong gritted his teeth, “This is my father’s arrangement. I don’t know his old man’s exact intentions, especially since he’s still alive. Brother Ning, why don’t you give Yushu a try? That girl Yushu is very good.”
He then repeatedly slapped his own cheeks and said, “I’m begging you shamelessly, brother, please help me. Moreover, if you marry Yushu, there are at least two benefits. First, Yushu is very skilled at managing household affairs, so you won’t have any worries at home. Second, as I said earlier, after marriage, if you want to go to the pleasure quarters, you won’t have to worry about your main wife’s feelings. You don’t need to worry about Yushu’s feelings; go whenever you want. If she gets angry, I, as your brother-in-law, will handle her.”
Ning Xuan asked, “Saying that, are you being fair to your sister?”
Liu Shirong replied, “What’s unfair about it? As long as my sister is in your bed and takes care of things, even if she makes a mistake, it won’t be a big deal. As a brother, I have to worry about much more. I’m truly walking on thin ice. Alas… brother, although we are drinking and eating buddies, we have some genuine friendship. I’m really begging you. The old man gave me a death order. I must secure you as my brother-in-law.”
Ning Xuan responded, “Don’t beg, don’t be a scoundrel. That would be pointless.”
He thought for a moment, “How about this? When Father returns, I’ll mention it to him. If he doesn’t object, I’ll give it a try.”
Speaking of which, Liu Yushu had been quite attentive to him, and he had seen her appearance; she was quite attractive. As for her personality, she was virtuous and suitable to be a wife. Moreover, since she was eager to marry him, she wouldn’t restrict him after marriage and would prioritize him. The trade routes of the Fugui Chamber of Commerce could become an intelligence network for him, helping him gather information about many Demonic creatures, understand this world, and aid him in refining the Heavenly Demon Scroll. If he were to pursue marrying the daughter of a higher power, it might seem better on the surface, but it would bring many troubles after marriage.
Liu Shirong smiled, “With Brother Ning’s words, I can report back to the old man. Thank you.”
Ning Xuan was in no hurry to refine the Heavenly Demon Scroll of the “Ghost Shadow Horse Monkey.” He wanted to gather more information first. Even horses stumble, and people make mistakes. What if he failed? It would be over. If he could ensure success, why take risks?
He was also in no hurry to worship the “Mysterious Buddha Statue.” Even if he were to use such eccentric Demonic creature cultivation methods, he needed to understand them thoroughly before finding someone to test them and ensure his safety.
The injuries from the Ghost Shadow Horse Monkey’s blow were recovering quickly. In two to three days, he was basically healed.
Ning Xuan changed locations and resumed his “daily training.”
Long-distance running with weights, rock climbing, push-ups, sit-ups.
He underwent rigorous training day after day.
In the blink of an eye, another half a month passed.
The physical fitness of his main body had increased from 1.8 to 2.2, while the bonus provided by the “Mountain Crushing Bear Demon” Heavenly Demon Scroll had decreased from “2.3” to “2.1.” As for his height after summoning the bear scroll, it had decreased from eight feet to seven feet, becoming increasingly normal.
One day, he returned to the city and boarded the carriage waiting at the city gate.
Today, he had expected it to be like usual, with Xiaojie taking him back and some banquets being arranged in the evening.
But something was different. As soon as he got into the carriage, Xiaojie told him with a solemn expression, “Master is back.”
Master Ning had been away for nearly two months and had finally returned.
Ning Taiyi was a very gentle person. He had passed his fiftieth birthday the year before. Ning Xuan had calculated that his father must have been around thirty-five when he and his mother planned to have him. Initially, he thought his father was just a busy man, striving for success before the age of thirty-five. After that, he grew tired of the worldly life, came to a remote prefectural city, fell in love with his mother at first sight, and settled down there.
However, after meeting Han Ba and the yellow-robed Taoist priest who wielded golden snake chains suspended in mid-air, he changed his mind. His father had too many mysteries surrounding him. His father’s attitude towards him was also a bit strange. Ning Xuan had feelings for his father. Therefore, the more this was the case, the more he wished his father wouldn’t be so indifferent to him.
With a complex mix of emotions, Ning Xuan walked into the study.
In the study, a figure sat in meditation, eyes closed. Hearing footsteps, the figure opened its eyes.
Upon seeing his father, Ning Xuan was startled. His main body’s physical fitness had reached 2.2, and all his senses had become much sharper. He could hear conversations through two walls, so he could naturally perceive things he hadn’t noticed before. His father had aged. He had aged very rapidly. Although he appeared refined, elegant, and composed on the surface, his vitality was declining at an unbelievable rate. His hair was all black, but at a few roots, white could be seen. This indicated that he had used a “hair dyeing method of this world” to dye his hair black. In addition to this, there was an indescribable, mysterious aura of authority about his father. As he sat there, he exuded a vastness, a majesty, a void, and a sense of insignificance, as if he were rooted to the earth with the sky at his back. Looking at him was like looking at mountains and rivers. Ordinary people wouldn’t notice such details and would simply call him “Master Ning.” But at this moment, Ning Xuan saw clearly. As he looked at Ning Taiyi, Ning Taiyi was also looking at him.
Ning Taiyi smiled kindly, “Master Zhang said you were lazy, only practicing sporadically. I didn’t expect you to have secretly trained so diligently.”
Ning Xuan scratched his head.
Ning Taiyi continued, “Master Zhang probably can’t beat you anymore. I never expected my Xuan’er to be such a martial arts prodigy.”
Ning Xuan put on a guise of simple honesty after being praised by an elder and smiled, “I just suddenly came to my senses.”
Ning Taiyi clearly had not perceived his true level. After all, Ning Xuan’s “strength” was internal. As long as he didn’t deliberately display it, it was like a calm sea surface, appearing like a small river at first glance. Ning Taiyi’s ability to discern so much with just a glance already surpassed many people.
At this moment, Ning Taiyi rubbed his forehead and said, “Practicing martial arts is good for self-defense. However, martial artists have abundant vitality, are prone to anger and impulsiveness, and can easily get into trouble. Xuan’er, you should read more books. For martial arts, just aim for good health. Don’t learn any ‘killing techniques’ from the martial arts world.”
Ning Xuan keenly sensed his father’s disdain for “killing techniques” and understood his father’s intention. His father was afraid that he, with only superficial knowledge, would cause trouble and, thinking too highly of himself, end up in disaster.
“Your son understands.”
He responded and was about to mention the matter of “Liu Yushu” to ask for his father’s opinion.
At this moment, Ning Taiyi suddenly said, “On this trip out, I’ve arranged a marriage for you.”
Ning Xuan was stunned and asked, “With whom?”
Ning Taiyi replied, “Qin Jin’er, the illegitimate daughter of Great General Qin Shanjun, and the mistress of the Hanzhou Ranch. After you get married, you can… go to the Hanzhou Ranch too. You can ride horses freely from now on.”
Hanzhou Ranch? An illegitimate daughter? Ning Xuan was momentarily taken aback. Hanzhou was a distant place; he had never been there, nor did he intend to go.
“Father, are you marrying me off? Are you not expecting me to be filial to you and Mother in your old age?” Ning Xuan suddenly asked.
Ning Taiyi concisely replied with one word: “Yes.”
The air suddenly became quiet.
Ning Taiyi suddenly began to laugh. His laughter was as pleasant as a spring breeze, capable of dissipating all resentment.
“Xuan’er, Father knows you have many questions, but you must believe that this is already the best arrangement Father can make for you. You go back to your room first… Father is a bit tired. If you want to talk, we’ll have time later, son and father.”
Ning Xuan did not say more. Since his father had spoken this way, he could wait. He said, “Father, please rest well,” and then withdrew.
He left, but his sharp senses remained locked onto his father’s study. He moved far away, to a distance where even a martial arts master could not lock onto the study. Suddenly, he felt someone looking at him. Not nearby, but from afar. He suppressed the urge to turn his head, and the intrusive gaze suddenly disappeared.
Immediately after, he heard another voice from his father’s study.
“Do you really intend to send Xuan’er to Hanzhou?”
“He doesn’t understand, and you don’t either?”
“I understand. Xuan’er just needs to be your only descendant and enter into a marriage alliance. The more he is a wastrel, the more he doesn’t inherit any of your legacy, the more reassured the higher-ups will be. No matter what, it will only be a family dispute, or he might have had a few more women, but he won’t commit any major mistakes. As for me, as a brother, I have to worry about many things. I’m truly walking on thin ice, as if I’m on the verge of an abyss. Father, I really don’t know if you favor me or him.”
The figure let out a long sigh, then said, “With the Dragon Qi from the extermination of the Bear Demon tribe, I have taken another step forward in the Celestial Master realm.”
(End of Chapter)
