Xu Luo raised an eyebrow and said with a smile, "It can't be because of me."
The moment he said this, the group of brothers, including Huangfu Chongzhi, all looked at Xu Luo in disbelief.
Liu Feng pursed his lips. "Let's not talk about Young Master Feng for now, but Phoenix is definitely here for you!"
The others nodded in agreement. Sui Yan, who had been silent until now, said, "I think so too. Last time at Fengyue Building, Phoenix's attitude toward Third Brother was very different."
"Mhm, mhm." Liu Feng nodded emphatically. "I think that little chick might have taken a liking to our Third Brother!"
"Stop talking nonsense. I'm not Young Master Feng..."
Xu Luo pursed his lips, but he thought to himself, 'It's absolutely impossible she's taken a liking to me, but it's not impossible that she's here because of me. It seems my failed Star Festival and the sudden change in my constitution have attracted the attention of certain people, and now they suspect me. I'll have to keep a low profile for a while. Especially a Cultivation Technique like Breaking Army Seven Kills—it's best not to use it in front of others.'
"In any case, I don't think they have any malicious intent," Huangfu Chongzhi said thoughtfully.
Xu Jie and the others also nodded.
"By the way, Big Brother," Xu Luo suddenly asked after a moment of contemplation, "are you familiar with the medicinal herbs in the Black Forest?"
Huangfu Chongzhi was slightly taken aback. Looking at Xu Luo, he said, "Somewhat. What are you planning to do?"
"I want to go to the Black Forest to train and gather some medicinal herbs while I'm there. It's just that I don't recognize many herbs..." Xu Luo said with a smile.
"You're going to the Black Forest?" Upon hearing this, Xu Jie looked up at Xu Luo with a frown. "Third Brother, do you even know what kind of place that is?"
"That's right. That place is full of shady characters. Let's not even talk about how the Black Forest itself is fraught with danger—just look at the Adventurers and Lone Rangers. Not one of them is the friendly sort. Why would you suddenly think of going there to train?" Huangfu Chongzhi's voice was gentle, his expression filled with concern.
"Don't worry, I'm old enough. I can protect myself," Xu Luo said.
But his words failed to truly reassure Huangfu Chongzhi and the others. In their eyes, Xu Luo was like a naive young noble who thought that by dressing like an Adventurer and slinging a sword on his back, he could go out and train, completely oblivious to the dangers of the Jianghu...
"Third Brother, I suggest you don't go to a place like that. If you really want to train, didn't Aunt arrange for you to attend an academy? Once you're in, you can join the training activities organized by the academy. You'll get experience, and your safety will be guaranteed," Xu Jie suggested with a serious expression.
"That's right, you'd best not go somewhere like the Black Forest. Even though your constitution has changed and you can cultivate now, your current strength..." Huangfu Chongzhi didn't say more, but they all understood what he meant.
"Third Brother, to go to the Black Forest, you need the strength of a High-Tier Swordsman at the very least. And if you're alone, even a High-Tier Swordsman would have a slim chance of survival if they run into danger," Sui Yan said more directly, voicing what Huangfu Chongzhi had left unsaid.
Xu Luo was slightly touched. 'Only my truest brothers would speak to me like this. Anyone else would just think, 'What does his life or death have to do with me?''
"Heh, don't worry. I'm not going to the Black Forest alone this time. There are two very skilled Adventurers, and I'll be going with them." As Xu Luo spoke, the faces of the two people from the West Market appeared in his mind.
"Skilled Adventurers? Since when did you know people like that?" Liu Feng looked at Xu Luo, confused.
Xu Luo nodded and said, "Besides, you all understand that you can only truly grow by facing real life-and-death situations."
"This matter... Aunt didn't object?" Huangfu Chongzhi suddenly asked.
Xu Luo nodded. "My mother didn't object."
"Then... how about this." Huangfu Chongzhi took a scroll from his person and handed it to Xu Luo. "This is a handwritten copy of some insights I've gathered over the years. Take it."
"Big Brother..." Liu Feng, Sui Yan, and the others were still reluctant. They really weren't at ease with letting Xu Luo enter the Black Forest alone.
"Since Aunt has already agreed to this, I trust Third Brother," Xu Jie said from the side.
Although Liu Feng and Sui Yan didn't understand, seeing that the two eldest had agreed, they couldn't say much more, despite their reluctance.
Huangfu Chongzhi and Xu Jie gave Xu Luo a lot more advice about things to watch out for while training, and then they all left together.
...
"Big Brother, Second Brother, why were you so at ease with letting Third Brother go to the Black Forest? That kind of place is completely unsuitable for him!" Liu Feng couldn't help but ask as soon as they stepped out of the Xu Mansion gates.
"That's right. And Third Brother refused my offer to take leave and go with him. What if something happens..." Sui Yan said glumly.
"Don't worry, he'll be fine," Xu Jie said with a wave of his hand, his expression certain.
"If his mother could agree to it, then he should be fine," Huangfu Chongzhi said with a smile, though a flash of surprise crossed his eyes. 'Third Brother, the failed Star Festival... was it really because of you?' he thought to himself.
But this was the kind of thing that, once you thought of it, you kept to yourself. Even with those as close as brothers, you couldn't just say such things recklessly.
So, even though Sui Yan and Liu Feng were completely bewildered, neither Huangfu Chongzhi nor Xu Jie said anything more.
...
"Mother, Sister Lianyi, I'm leaving now. Don't worry, I'll be careful and protect myself." Xu Luo, dressed in smart martial attire, appeared full of heroic spirit.
"Mm, it's different out there than it is at home. You must be extra careful." Luo Xinlan's eyes were filled with reluctance to let him go, but she still smiled and patted her son's shoulder.
A mist formed in Lianyi's eyes as she whispered, "Protect yourself. Come back soon."
"Don't worry! I'm very strong!" Xu Luo chuckled. Wasting no more words, he turned and strode away, never looking back.
At the back gate of the Xu Mansion, Luo Xinlan and Lianyi watched with reluctance as Xu Luo's figure disappeared at the end of the long street.
...
「Imperial Capital.」
Wei Ziting sat alone in a private room inside an ordinary tavern, seeming to wait for someone. The table before him was laden with all kinds of delicacies and fine wine.
A moment later, two middle-aged men entered. They were powerfully built and radiated a murderous aura. Their confident, powerful gait made them seem extremely dangerous.
As soon as they entered the room, they casually sat down opposite Wei Ziting.
One of the men said indifferently, "Young Master Wei, you seemed to be in a hurry to summon us. What's the matter?"
Wei Ziting skillfully concealed the trace of disgust deep in his eyes and said with a smile, "It's been a long time. I missed you two, so I invited you over for a drink."
Hearing this, the man picked up the full cup of wine in front of him, drained it in one gulp, and then set it down. "I've had my drink. Now, talk."
Wei Ziting gave a dry laugh, then took a silver banknote from his robes and slowly pushed it across the table toward the two men.
The two men's gazes fell upon the silver banknote, and their breathing hitched for a moment before they both looked away.
The man who had just spoken narrowed his eyes and looked coldly at Wei Ziting. "Young Master Wei, what is this?"
"To kill someone. This is the deposit," Wei Ziting said with a calm smile, as if he hadn't noticed the sharp glares the two men were directing at him.
"This isn't our first time working together. Young Master Wei should be aware of our rules." After hearing that the silver banknote was merely a deposit, the man couldn't help but be a little surprised, and his attitude softened slightly.
"Of course. Why would I break your rules?" Wei Ziting smiled faintly. "You just need to follow him. If he leaves the Imperial Capital, I trust that with your skills, staging an accidental death won't be a problem."
"Who is the target?" the man asked slowly after exchanging a look with the person beside him.
"A young man," Wei Ziting smiled, then added, "A very weak young man, but one with a somewhat sensitive identity."
Both men frowned. The one who had been speaking to Wei Ziting placed his hand on the ten-thousand-tael silver banknote and was about to push it back, saying flatly, "We can't afford to kill someone with status!"
The other man also spoke up. "Also, Young Master Wei, I feel it's necessary to once again emphasize our rules to you..."
"The 'Three Don'ts', isn't it?" Wei Ziting chuckled, cutting the man off. "Don't kill in the Imperial Capital, don't kill the innocent, and don't kill women. However, don't you want to hear who the target is?"
Wei Ziting wasn't in a hurry. He smiled and said, "The second son of Xu Ji, Xu Luo!"
HISS!
The two middle-aged men were startled, and their gazes toward Wei Ziting filled with fury.
"Young Master Wei wants us to kill the son of the Grand General of National Guardian? This money... we can't earn it. As for today, we brothers were never here."
The man's voice turned icy. He pushed the silver banknote back, stood up, and made to leave.
Wei Ziting remained seated and said lightly, "That hatred from all those years ago... can you two really forget it? Your only biological brother, heh heh."
"You... You dare to investigate our background?" The man's eyes suddenly shot out two intense beams of killing intent as he stared daggers at Wei Ziting.
Wei Ziting laughed. "Your background... is it really that secret? There isn't a single secret under the heavens that I, Wei Ziting, cannot uncover. The reason I sought you out for this is to give you a chance for revenge. If you don't want to do it, then fine. Just pretend you were never here today."
The two men stared intently at Wei Ziting. Neither of them dared to take his words at face value.
After a long silence, the man who had yet to speak finally opened his mouth. His voice was hoarse and grating, like the sound of shattering glass. "Big Brother, we've waited years for this day. It's time we collected some interest from the Xu Family!"
"Second Brother, if we really do this, I'm afraid we'll never get another chance for revenge in this lifetime. And from now on, we'll be fugitives, forced to wander the world!" a bitter look appeared on the first man's face.
But the other man's eyes glinted with a crazed, hateful light. He sneered, "Big Brother, if we don't do this, do you really think we'll ever get a chance for revenge?"
Wei Ziting sat there, quietly watching the two brothers argue. Then, he took another silver banknote from his robes and said indifferently, "Forget it. Twenty thousand taels of silver in total. I'll trust you this one time. After you kill him, take the money and go live a peaceful life in another country. As for your great revenge... perhaps one day, I'll even settle it for you."
The two brothers froze in unison, staring at Wei Ziting.
Wei Ziting gave a faint smile. "Destroying the Xu Family isn't a desire held only by you two."
The first man hesitated for a moment, then finally couldn't resist turning back. He snatched the two high-value silver banknotes from the table and said through gritted teeth, "Give me the specific route, and a portrait of the target!"