The back courtyard was situated rather far from the main hall. Relying on his memories, Xuan Qing traversed three or four walkways and skirted around four or five corridors.
The main dining hall was spacious and brightly lit, flanked on both sides by clusters of vibrant red and green potted plants and floral arrangements.
As he finally reached the entrance of the dining hall, servants could be seen bustling in and out with platters, while waves of lively laughter drifted from within.
A group of people had gathered around a large round table. Huo Dehai occupied the seat of honor, with Concubine Liu seated beside him, attentively picking out choice morsels of food and placing them on his plate. The two of them exchanged affectionate, smiling glances from time to time.
Huo Xuanxing and the others sat upright. Huo Xuanyue maintained an elegant demeanor, occasionally lowering her head to exchange soft remarks with Huo Xuanya as the two giggled merrily, creating an atmosphere of the utmost warmth and harmony.
At that moment, Huo Dehai shifted his gaze toward Huo Xuanxing seated beside him. Looking at his second son, who had attained the eighth level of the Mortal Realm at such a tender age, a gratified smile bloomed across his face.
“Xing’er, your recent progress has been tremendous. Father is exceedingly pleased!” Huo Dehai praised, patting the young man’s shoulder.
Having received validation, a flash of smug triumph crossed Huo Xuanxing’s eyes, though outwardly he nodded with feigned modesty: “Thanks to Father’s daily guidance, this child has been able to progress with such speed.”
Flattered by the sycophancy, Huo Dehai beamed with delight.
Clutching her silk handkerchief, Concubine Liu chimed in with a wide smile: “Xing’er told me just the other day that he intends to redouble his cultivation efforts during this period. If he manages to catch the eye of the Profound Heaven Sect, it will bring glory both to you, Master, and to our Marquis Estate.”
Huo Dehai stroked his sheep-like beard and nodded approvingly: “Splendid. With Xing’er’s talent, entering the Profound Heaven Sect should pose no problem at all.”
The Profound Heaven Sect was the premier sect of the Black Tortoise Empire. If one could manage to be accepted into its fold. At this thought, a predatory gleam of absolute determination flashed in Huo Xuanxing’s eyes.
Seeing this, Huo Xuanmin hurriedly flattered with a ingratiating smile: “Your younger brother offers premature congratulations to Second Brother! Once Second Brother becomes a disciple of a major sect, please don’t forget this younger brother of yours.”
Faced with his third brother’s flattery, Huo Xuanxing felt inward scorn. He could easily read the underlying meaning of those words, yet he still maintained the requisite surface-level civility.
“Naturally. We are all family.”
Hearing him say this, Huo Xuanmin was filled with boundless excitement, bubbling over as he said: “Many thanks, Second Brother!”
Seeing the two brothers acting so fraternally affectionate, Huo Dehai was immensely gratified, and proceeded to drain another cup of wine.
Nearby, Huo Xuanya rolled her eyes as her thoughts spun. Tugger gently on Huo Xuanyu’s sleeve, she pouted and wheedled, “Elder Sister Xue, your talent is so exceptional that the Profound Heaven Sect will definitely accept you. When the time comes, you must take me along with you.”
At these words, Huo Xuanyue offered a light, gentle smile: “Little sister Ya’er, stop teasing me. Whether we can enter or not is not something for us alone to decide.”
Naturally, Huo Xuanyue yearned for the Profound Heaven Sect as well. Her talent ranked just a fraction behind Huo Xuanxing’s, and her cultivation had likewise reached the seventh level of the Mortal Realm.
As Huo Dehai appraised his poised and graceful eldest daughter, he mused inwardly: The Profound Heaven Sect is never short of gifted prodigies. If Xue’er can manage to secure a powerful, influential husband from a prestigious background, even the Emperor of the Kingdom of Xiao would have to show her three points of respect. The mere thought caused Huo Dehai’s heart to race with excitement.
At that moment, Huo Dehai’s gaze shifted to his fourth son, Huo Xuanying. Noticing that the boy sat in absolute silence with his head bowed, stuffing his face with relish, anger flared within his chest.
“Eat, eat, eat! All you know is how to eat!” Huo Dehai hissed through grates teeth. “Does the estate short you on food or clothing on ordinary days? You look like a starved ghost reincarnated!”
The dining hall fell into an abrupt, dead silence.
Huo Xuanying, who had been berated out of nowhere, lifted his head. His round, chubby face was piled with utter confusion: Why is everyone looking at me?
Huo Xuanmin, however, took malicious glee in his misfortune, chiming in: “Has Fourth Brother been starving himself for a few days?”
Even the slow-witted Huo Xuanying could sense that the atmosphere at the table had turned somewhat peculiar. Hastily laying down his chopsticks, he kept his gaze lowered and said nothing further.
He knew his own aptitude was poor, falling far short of Second Brother in cultivation; his temperament was dull, nor possessed he Third Brother Huo Xuanmin’s glib tongue capable of winning favor through flattery. Consequently, his father held him in low regard.
“Well, what a lively gathering!”
A voice from outside shattered the quiet.
Everyone involuntarily raised their heads. A figure was striding toward them with brisk, light steps, a cyan silhouette gradually drawing closer into view.
A closer look revealed it to be none other than Huo Xuanqing, who had caused such a massive uproar just days prior.
The youth’s complexion was rosy, and his brows radiated high spirits. Gone was the dejected decadence of recent days; instead, he wore an utterly jaunty, smiling expression.
Conducubine Liu gripped her silk handkerchief tightly, cursing inwardly: The damned little beast! How on earth did he recover so quickly?!
Disregarding the strange looks cast his way by everyone at the table, Xuan Qing pulled out a chair and sat down directly in the vacant seat beside Huo Xuanying without bothering to offer so much as a greeting.
“Eldest Brother!” Huo Xuanying greeted him happily.
Xuan Qing glanced sideways at the chubby little fellow the original owner’s fourth brother, Huo Xuanying, whose honest and simple-minded personality meant he had maintained a passable relationship with the original owner.
Stretching out his right hand, Xuan Qing pinched the boy’s chubby, baby-fat cheek, ignoring his struggles.
Mmm, the texture isn’t bad at all.
Their interaction immediately provoked Huo Dehai’s displeasure. Slamming his hand against the table, he barked a reprimand: “Insolent wretch! You haven’t even addressed your father after several days of absence?”
Before his seat was even warm, Xuan Qing was met with a fresh round of scolding.
Reluctantly releasing the soft, supple cheek, Xuan Qing casually picked up a spiritual fruit from the table to munch on, offering a slow, smiling taunt: “I wasn’t even aware I still had a father.”
“What kind of nonsense is this, you unfilial wretch?” Huo Dehai glared at him furiously.
Xuan Qing looked at the man’s oblivious expression, chuckling mockingly: “Can a biological father beat his son unconscious, dump him in a dilapidated hovel, and leave him to rot for days without a single inquiry?”
“Confining you to a broken house was meant to give you time for proper reflection. Besides, when were you ever denied food and drink during these past few days?”
“Heh, then did Father know how I spent those days?”
Sensing danger, Concubine Liu hurriedly jumped in to mediate: “Oh, Master, Xuanqing must still be harboring resentment toward this concubine. Since everyone has gathered so happily for a meal today, let’s not sour the atmosphere over this.”
Xuan Qing glanced at the woman sitting opposite him around forty years of age, exquisitely attired, completely devoid of wrinkles on her face, and radiating lingering charm with every gesture. No wonder she managed to captivate this old fossil.
With a beaming smile, Xuan Qing fixed his gaze upon her: “What has Second Aunt so nervous? An upright man fears no ghost knocking; could it be that you commit too many wicked deeds on ordinary days?”
Concubine Liu forced a smile: “What is this child saying?”
The silk handkerchief in her hand was practically torn to shreds.
“Huo Xuanqing! Show some respect to my mother!”
Huo Xuaning warned with eyes blazing with fury. Ever since childhood, Huo Xuanqing had always overshadowed him; even after managing to pull him down from his pedestal, the other boy still wore this arrogant, haughty expression that defied all mortals.
Huo Xuanyue shook her head in disappointment, sighing: “Eldest Brother, how can you show such utter disrespect toward your elders?”
Huo Xuanmin and Huo Xuanya chimed in as well, pointing fingers: “Eldest Brother is truly lacking in manners. It’s clear to us that you hold no regard for Father whatsoever.”
Amidst the heavy, suffocating crossfire of accusation, Huo Xuanying looked left and right, pressing his lips together in hesitation before stammering out in a tiny voice: “N-no… Eldest Brother is… is very, very good.”
Unfortunately, his voice was instantly drowned out.
“Enough!” Huo Dehai commanded in a deep, booming voice. “Squabbling and bickering what system is this?!”
The dining hall fell instantly quiet.
Xuan Qing dug into his ear lazily, his eyes lazy and relaxed as he asked: “Finished?”
The rest stared at him, uncomprehending.
With a cold, mocking sneer, Xuan Qing pronounced: “Legitimate is legitimate; concubine-born is concubine-born. Mountain pheasants always delude themselves into thinking that perching on a high branch transforms them into phoenixes.”
The words struck the entire gathering like a thunderclap.
“You—”
“What ‘you’? Did this young master strike a raw nerve?” Interrupting Huo Xuanxing before he could finish, Xuan Qing piled on the mockery: “What kind of thing are you, daring to point fingers and dictate to me?”