Chapter 1986 — Breakfast Storm

At times Feng Tianhu even wondered whether the founder of the Hidden Families Arbitration Association had already kicked the bucket. Otherwise, why had there been no word from him for all these years? And not only that—even the Grand Elder had vanished without a trace.

He shook his head and set aside such idle thoughts for the time being. Picking up the phone, he said, "Sanku, what is it?"

"Boss, word just came from over there. Xu Shilan is going to Donghai City on her own for a private event. Feng Sanhuang won't be following her—she'll be alone!" Feng Sanku said.

"Good, I've got it. Your information was timely and excellent!" Feng Tianhu gave a cold laugh and hung up. In his heart, he thought: Second Brother, ah, Second Brother, this time I'll let you taste what it means to lose your own flesh and blood. Heh heh heh—if I tell Second Sister-in-Law about this, do you think she'll send someone to kill that little girl?

Like Feng Sanku, Feng Sanhuang, who stayed at Xu Shilan's side, was an outstanding third-generation disciple of the ancient Feng family, with strength at the late-stage peak of the Xuan rank. But he was one of Feng Tianlin's people—Feng Tianlin being the current heir to the young family head. And Xu Shilan was none other than Feng Tianlin's illegitimate daughter, born outside his marriage.

With the support of Feng Tianlin, the first in line to succeed as young family head of an ancient aristocratic family, it was only natural that Xu Shilan had enjoyed smooth sailing all the way in her path to stardom. An ancient aristocratic family was an existence that even the hidden families did not dare offend.

Yet Feng Tianlin had always believed he had been very discreet, and that no one knew Xu Shilan was his illegitimate daughter. What he did not realize was that Feng Tianhu had already investigated the whole affair and knew it in full detail. And it wasn't only Feng Tianhu who knew—Feng Tianlin's wife knew too.

The reason Feng Tianlin's wife had not made a move was, on the one hand, because Xu Shilan was a girl and posed no threat to her son inheriting the position of the third family head; on the other hand, it was because Feng Sanhuang, as her personal guard, was always by Xu Shilan's side.

It wasn't as if an ancient aristocratic family could not send an Earth-rank expert into the mundane world, but the hidden families had made an agreement back then, and she had no desire to violate that agreement over a mere Xu Shilan. Besides, Feng Sanhuang was a disciple of the Feng family—who among the Feng clan did he not know?

If the person she sent were to kill Xu Shilan but fail to kill Feng Sanhuang, Feng Sanhuang was certain to report it back to Feng Tianlin. Even Feng Tianlin's wife would not dare go too far.

This time, however, was a rather good opportunity. Feng Tianhu did not mind causing a bit of trouble for Feng Tianlin, and at the same time dealing him a blow that would leave him grieving for a while, with no energy to contend over the position of family head.

With that in mind, Feng Tianhu rose and walked in the direction of the second brother's residence.

Cultivating the second layer of the Xuanyuan Dragon-Taming Art was not like improving one's strength. It was a plain and unremarkable process of true qi accumulation; only through the ceaseless accumulation of true qi could one reach a higher level. Still, there was no barrier of the sort found in rank advancement. Perhaps this was only because the first two layers were comparatively easy—whether the ones that followed would be just as easy, no one could say.

At any rate, every morning, when Wei Zhao came out of the jade pendant's space, he could sense his own progress. Before he knew it, he had already cultivated about one-fifth of the second layer of the Xuanyuan Dragon-Taming Art—that is, twenty percent.

Wei Zhao was already quite satisfied with this progress. He had only been cultivating for such a short while, and yet he had already made it a fifth of the way. Though cultivation speed could hardly be uniform and would only get slower further along, it was still much easier than when he had first cultivated the first layer.

Wei Zhao splashed water on his face, then went into the kitchen. Most of the time, he was still the one who made breakfast. Even though Granny Sun was there, Wei Zhao had grown used to making breakfast for the young lady and Xiaoshu. It was a habit he had brought with him from Songshan City—one he couldn't change even if he wanted to.

Sometimes, when Granny Sun saw Wei Zhao busy in the kitchen, she would leave him to it.

Once breakfast was ready, the young lady and Xiaoshu had gotten up as well. Seeing that Wei Zhao had been the one to cook today, Shen Yushu was obviously delighted. "Wow, it's been ages since I've eaten Brother Jianpai's cooking! And today there's some to be had—this is just great!"

"Ahem... Xiaoshu!" Gu Mengyao kicked Shen Yushu. Why did this girl have to talk so suggestively? 'Haven't eaten Brother Jianpai's in ages'—what exactly did she want to eat? Gu Mengyao was reminded of that "Big Cock Roast" thing An Jianwen had come up with before.

"I... I like it too. Hurry up and eat!" Gu Mengyao couldn't be bothered to explain. She sat down, picked up her chopsticks, and began to eat.

"How strange. Sister Yaoyao is acting all crazy first thing in the morning. Could her period be here? No, that's not right—her dates are about the same as mine; we're in sync... Mine still hasn't come..." Shen Yushu murmured to herself.

"Xiaoshu, if you're not going to eat, go play somewhere else!" Hearing Shen Yushu's words, Gu Mengyao nearly blew her top.

"Uh... I'll eat." Shen Yushu thought to herself: This really is a sign that her period is coming. But why is it so early? Could it be because Sister Yaoyao secretly slept with Brother Jianpai and then took birth-control pills, and that caused it? Shen Yushu thought wickedly.

After breakfast, the three of them got ready for school. He hadn't originally planned to call Han Jingyi and Han Xiaochao, but when he glanced into their villa courtyard and saw that their X5M still hadn't been driven back, Wei Zhao knocked on the courtyard fence anyway, certain that Han Jingyi would hear it.

Sure enough, Han Jingyi soon emerged from the villa with Han Xiaochao. Only, Han Jingyi's eyes were red-rimmed, as if she hadn't slept at all during the night. This came as something of a surprise to Wei Zhao.

"Jingjing, what's wrong? Didn't you sleep well?" Gu Mengyao had also noticed Han Jingyi's condition and asked in some puzzlement.

"Mm... I was studying alchemy last night. The more I studied, the more I lost track of time, and before I knew it, it was already light outside." Han Jingyi said, looking a little embarrassed.

"Huh? You studied all night? So did you figure anything out?" Gu Mengyao asked, rather astonished. She hadn't expected Han Jingyi—a girl, no less—to be so devoted to the art of alchemy.

"I didn't figure anything out." Han Jingyi grew even more embarrassed as she said this.

"Er..." Gu Mengyao was taken aback and didn't know what to say.

Wei Zhao, for his part, shook his head with a wry smile. It looked as if this Han Jingyi was also something of a dabbler—chasing whatever whim happened to pop into her head.

They drove to school and parted ways in the parking lot. Wei Zhao and Han Jingyi walked toward the biology department's teaching building.

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