The Prodigies War

Xiao Tianren’s timing was terrible.

This was Lin Xun’s first thought. When he subsequently saw the crowd of villagers behind Xiao Tianren, Lin Xun could not help but feel a little nervous.

Every villager was carrying a large sack on their back. There was no need to guess. The sacks obviously contained the Feiyun Fire Copper ore they had mined.

In addition, two young kids had followed along, each holding a fiery-red Feiyun Fire Copper ore. There was basically no way to hide it now.

Various thoughts flashed in Lin Xun’s head as he moved forward to meet the group with a smile, “Uncle Xiao, leave the items here.”

Xiao Tianren dazedly nodded his head and quickly set about the task, ignoring the two strangers in the yard.

The other villagers could also sense that something was amiss. Although they were puzzled, no one asked any further questions. Even the two kids were tightly hugged by the adults to prevent them from saying something wrong.

In the end, Lin Xun gave Xiao Tianren a look. The latter quickly understood and hurriedly departed with the group of villagers.

“Feiyun Fire Copper ore?” Mu Wansu finally spoke after silently watching the entire process. “Wasn’t that small copper vein already mined out?”

Lin Xun did not hide anything and calmly explained, “Big sister might not know this but I stumbled into the abandoned mine a few days ago and discovered a yet to be mined vein deep in the mine.”

“That’s quite a fortune you’ve discovered.” Mu Wansu shot a meaningful glance at Lin Xun.

The first young master was likewise rather surprised. “Aeth fields, savage beasts and Feiyun Fire Copper ore. Your village is quite a money-earner.”

Lin Xun shrugged with a bitter smile, “Young master, Feiyun Village is located deep in the Three Thousand Great Mountains, and even the ‘nearest’ Qingyang Tribe is more than two thousand miles. Although we have some ore, aeth grain, and hunting grounds, it is honestly not easy for us to exchange them for money.”

The first young master chuckled. He could tell in a single glance that Lin Xun was worried they would have designs on these riches. However, the first young master did not expose Lin Xun’s thoughts. “That is quite a problem indeed.”

Lin Xun sighed, “Exactly.”

The first young master revealed a thoughtful look. He retrieved a token and casually tossed it to Lin Xun. “There’s a merchant group in the Qingyang Tribe called Stone Cauldron Alms. If you’re looking to exchange your produce, you can try heading there with this token.”

“First Young Master, you absolutely cannot!” Alarmed, Mu Wansu said, “This token is your personal artifact, and is too valuable and important. How can you give it away so easily?”

Lin Xun had originally intended to decline, but could not help but change his mind upon seeing this scene. His fingers tightly clutched the token.

“It serves no purpose to me anyway, so why not give it away? Moreover, how can something that I, Shi Xuan, give away be taken back?” The first young master calmly said with a hint of pride.

Mu Wansu was still deeply worried, “But this…”

The first young master waved his hand, “It’s settled, so don’t say anything more.”

He turned his head towards Lin Xun, “Young brother, I believe fate has brought us together. If you ever come to the Forbidden City, feel free to seek me out at Stone Cauldron Alms. Farewell.”

After speaking, he turned around and left.

Mu Wansu reluctantly glanced at the token in Lin Xun’s hand before venomously glaring at him, hoping to intimidate him into voluntarily giving the token up.

However, Lin Xun acted oblivious and ignored her. He turned his head and solemnly said to the departing first young master, “I will repay the young master’s kindness in the future.”

Upon seeing this, Mu Wansu knew that the shameless youngster was determined to keep the token. She gnashed her teeth and said in a low voice, “Brat, I’ll settle this debt next time!”

Lin Xun immediately displayed a terrified expression as he intentionally said in a loud voice, “Big sister, what debt are you referring to? Are you resenting me because I wasn’t a good enough host?”

At these words, Mu Wansu cursed inside.

Sure enough, the first young master’s voice soon sounded from afar, “Hahaha, don’t be angry young brother, Mu Wansu was only joking with you. Wansu, come quickly. We’re leaving.”

Mu Wansu felt vexed and angry. She had not expected the youngster to be so shameless.

Despite this, she maintained a lovely smile on her face. Her beautiful eyes seemed to swirl in thought as she sweetly said, “Little brother, big sister has suddenly recalled that the Qingyang Tribe is quite close to Donglin City. We’ll definitely be meeting again if there’s a chance.”

After which, she left with a twirl of her black dress.

Grinning, Lin Xun replied in a loud voice, “Don’t worry big sister, I will definitely come to visit you in Donglin City if there’s a chance. When that time comes, I hope that you will help stand up for me if I get bullied!”

Mu Wansu’s figure paused for a moment at the doorstep. She could not help but feel annoyed when she recalled Lin Xun’s shamelessness and crafty appearance.

Brat, since you dare to call me big sister, I’ll make sure to let you have a taste of your big sister’s methods in the future!

Mu Wansu silently cursed as she quickened her footsteps. If she stayed a second longer, she was worried that she would not be able to hold herself back from beating up the repulsive brat.

Mu Wansu was not being petty. In fact, she clearly understood the weight of the first young master Shi Xuan’s token. It not only represented him but also possessed an unimaginable authority!

How could Mu Wansu not feel anxious when such a token was so casually thrown to a backwater village youngster?

However, spilled water was difficult to recollect and Mu Wansu had no choice but to concede on this matter.

……

After sending the two guests away with his eyes, Lin Xun silently stood on the spot for a long time. Only after seeing a streak of light soar into the sky did he let out a long, drawn-out breath as he collapsed into the chair.

The earlier events might have seemed smooth-sailing on the surface, but to Lin Xun, it had felt more exhausting than a desperate battle.

Both the first young master Shi Xuan and the woman called Wansu were extremely formidable characters. This not only described their cultivation but also their intelligence and cunning.

Although Lin Xun had seemed composed while sitting with them, he was extremely tense throughout, not daring to show the slightest bit of carelessness.

Although everything was now over, Lin Xun still had a few questions.

First young master Shi Xuan was likely an expert with high status and his goal for coming here was easy to guess: the exceptional treasure he had mentioned.

This was the key. If Lin Xun’s guess was not wrong, the strange phenomenon Shi Xuan talked about had coincidentally occurred three months ago when he unraveled the secret of the Omega Secret-Realm!

Was there some relation between these two events?

Lin Xun did not dare to speak carelessly and would never tell anyone what he knew.

However, it puzzled him that someone like Shi Xuan would bring out such a precious wine to entertain Lin Xun and ask a few completely unnecessary questions. Moreover, Shi Xuan had given his token to Lin Xun right before their farewell!

Why had he done this?

Lin Xun did not believe there was such a thing as a free meal in this world. Even if there was, it would never happen to him.

However, he could not decipher Shi Xuan’s thoughts no matter how long he mulled over the various possibilities. In the end, he could only put the matter aside. It was enough that the other party did not display any ill intent.

There was still a cup of wine on the table; the Four Seasons Brew’s ‘winter cup’. Lin Xun picked up the cup and downed it in a single gulp. Bone-piercing cold stabbed its way down his throat, turning into countless tiny cold flows which spread throughout his body and made him shiver uncontrollably.

This wine was amazing.

A single pot of wine yet four distinct flavors. Additionally, there was even an extremely terrifying amount of aeth power concealed within. At Lin Xun’s current cultivation, he could only assimilate twenty percent of its power. As for the rest, most of it was firmly suppressed and stored in his body.

A rapid increase in power might not always be a good thing. If a cultivator advanced too quickly, he could very easily end up with an unstable foundation which would in turn affect his future cultivation.

Lin Xun pursued a state known as ‘flawless perfection akin to water overflowing from a full cup’. He was extremely serious about building a solid foundation.

He did not seek rapid cultivation level advancement because it would instead make his future path increasingly narrow. That would be akin to climbing a tree to search for fish, a completely fruitless endeavor.

Meanwhile, on a flying carpet that was whizzing about among the clouds.

Since there were no longer any outsiders around, Mu Wansu could finally ask the question that had been plaguing her heart, “First Young Master, why did you do that earlier?”

“I knew you would not be able to resist.”

Shi Xuan stood with his hands behind his back, his mighty figure akin to an unmovable mountain. “Would you believe me if I said it was merely on impulse?”

Mu Wansu was taken aback. She soon shook her head.

“But I do believe in fate.”

Shi Xuan nonchalantly said, “The boy should be of similar age to my third brother. It’s rare to find someone without any trace of the pride that should accompany a person of his age. That’s not all; his boldness, intelligence, and adaptability are very remarkable. A person like him will never be content to stay in a tiny place like Feiyun Village.”

Mu Wansu sneered, “To me, he looks like a shameless and crafty little thief. He’s nowhere near as outstanding as you make him out to be.”

Shi Xuan chuckled as he calmly gazed at the distant mountains and rivers. “You don’t understand. There’s a type of person in this world who will shine gloriously the moment he’s given a chance. Although it’s still too early to say anything about the boy, we’ll know whether he’s a dragon or a snake in the future.”

Mu Wansu never imagined that the first young master would view a country bumpkin so highly. The revelation made her expression subconsciously turn serious.

When she thought about it more closely, the mannerisms and speech Lin Xun had displayed since their sudden entry were indeed not something a youngster from a backwater village should possess.

However, the crafty appearance Lin Xun had shown right before she left made it very difficult for her to view him as an outstanding individual with amazing potential.

Mu Wansu sighed, “I’m only worried that he does not understand your kind intentions. There are far too many ingrates in this world.”

A carefree smile rose from the corners of Shi Xuan’s mouth, “It’s just some wine and token which has little use. How much can they be worth? It doesn’t matter even if he forgets me in the future. Do you think that I would obsess over a youngster’s gratitude?”

Mu Wansu answered without hesitation, “Of course not!”

What a joke, who did they think Shi Xuan was?

He was the first-born of Stone Cauldron Alms’ boss, Fortune God Shi, and a top-tier shining star even among the Forbidden City’s younger generation!

Most importantly, Shi Xuan was a Spirit Sea expert who could go toe to toe with the Little Sword Lord Xie Yutang!

It might perhaps be as Shi Xuan had said. Everything he had done was merely akin to an inconsequential passing glance.

There were all kinds of strange and bizarre things in this world. Truth and lies, reality and illusion. Some truths were actually simple and not as complicated as one would imagine.