Chapter 117: A Successor Emerges

Whether it was Gu Junwu from the Special Affairs Bureau or Ouyang Zheng from the City Lord’s Mansion, whenever they inquired about Xiao Nan, Xiong Bing would brush them off.

Ouyang Zheng was relatively easygoing, keeping his attention focused on Zhang Yi without pressing further.

But Gu Junwu, for reasons unknown, was relentless, fixating stubbornly on this matter.

He didn’t even bother to inform the subordinates of the Special Affairs Bureau, let alone tell his elder brother...

This baffled Xiong Bing, but Xiao Nan understood clearly.

That faint, inadvertently acquired divine essence had a peculiar function.

It subtly transformed the very nature of one’s soul and enhanced the physical body’s aptitude. Whoever possessed it would gain immense benefits.

Gu Junwu’s desire to monopolize it was understandable.

After all, in his eyes, Xiao Nan’s strength was weak. With his second-rank muscle refining cultivation, he could easily subdue him.

“Why doesn’t he just take action directly?” Xiao Nan wondered.

“He doesn’t dare make the first move. Unless he lures you to a specific location, he fears things might go wrong,” Xiong Bing replied with a smile.

Hearing Xiao Nan’s question, he continued, “I heard your father once had many acquaintances in Yuanjiang Prefecture and had even defeated various experts under his command. After the Empire’s expedition, those people vanished without a trace, but a few, due to special reasons, didn’t participate.

The Special Affairs Bureau has covertly targeted your family, but those operatives were probably eliminated somewhere, their bodies gone without a trace... Otherwise, he wouldn’t have resorted to such a desperate scheme to force me into a trap.”

“Is that so?” Xiao Nan’s heart tightened, recalling some strange occurrences.

When he was in his own courtyard, he always felt calm and never worried about danger.

At first, he thought it was because he lived in a peaceful environment and had lowered his guard.

He had secretly fretted for some time.

Now it seemed that feeling was actually because someone had been silently watching over his home all along.

But who could it be?

It was necessary to take a look around...

Yet, he felt it might be a futile effort.

The reason this guardian’s presence escaped his spiritual alertness was twofold: one, that person bore no ill will; two, naturally, their strength was formidable.

At least, their spiritual realm surpassed his own.

Only thus could they deceive his senses.

...

Xiong Bing casually moved Gu Junwu’s corpse into a low thicket for concealment, leaving his belongings untouched, then added, “Actually, today’s incident was just an excuse. Gu Junwu had long harbored intentions to kill me and silence me. You shouldn’t feel indebted to me.”

“How so?”

“It’s strange, really. Luckily, I was cautious and didn’t impulsively agree.” Xiong Bing’s face was full of hesitation, unsure whether to speak.

After pondering, he said, “Some time ago, Gu Junwu offered a high price for me to find the entrance to the school’s Crystalline Stone cultivation chamber... I only said I would think about it, but didn’t immediately investigate. Instead, I sent some friends to lurk in various taverns and nightclubs to gather information.”

The friends he referred to were naturally the orphans he had taken in over the years.

Though under Xiong Bing’s care, they were not idle.

They moved about, doing odd jobs and collecting intelligence from every corner.

They were young, easily hiding in any nook, ears pricked to gather news—truly impossible to guard against.

“Did they find anything useful?” Xiao Nan’s interest was piqued by Xiong Bing’s solemn expression.

“It was only a week ago that Lian Zhu received some news.

He overheard a few strange-bodied men with foul odors quietly discussing Crystalline Stones and Yuanjiang No.1 High School while cleaning toilets at the Tianxiang Pavilion...

He didn’t catch much else and nearly got caught that day.”

Cleaning toilets?

What kind of era is this? Xiao Nan couldn’t help but chuckle.

Xiong Bing explained, “The Tianxiang Pavilion is entirely antique—everything from architecture and furnishings to the women’s attire and hospitality ceremonies is quaint and old-fashioned. Even their toilets use bamboo strips... Yet their business is excellent.”

That was quite a flavorful topic.

Xiao Nan paid no mind to Tianxiang Pavilion’s success, focusing instead on Lian Zhu’s discovery.

“Strange physique and foul odor—you mean the Beast Barbarians?”

A cold light flashed through Xiao Nan’s eyes.

The last time he saw Xiong Man at the bookstore, he had asked Zhang Xiaorou...

Ordinary people couldn’t detect that peculiar scent; it seemed Lian Zhu was naturally sensitive.

This was serious.

Xiao Nan recalled Su Yuqing’s words—that the Crystalline Stone cultivation chamber helped him greatly.

Moreover, Li Shaohua of the Li family was determined to gain access.

At that time, although he didn’t explicitly agree, he simply didn’t want Aunt Su to gloat on the spot.

Deep down, he still wanted to be first in the trial.

Such an opportunity was rare and must be seized—there was no reason to let it slip.

Now, hearing that more than one group coveted the Crystalline Stone, including the Special Affairs Bureau and the Beast Barbarians...

Things had become complicated.

Could it be that the Crystalline Stone was not only useful for comprehension and cultivation but had some other unknown function?

...

Eventually, Xiong Bing left Yuanjiang Prefecture.

According to him, he was taking a dozen brothers with him to start anew in Yanghe Prefecture.

Xiao Nan didn’t stop him.

Gu Junwu’s death could not be concealed from the Special Affairs Bureau for long.

Though he might not speak of it openly, the Bureau was an official special department with formidable intelligence capabilities. Sooner or later, they would come looking for Xiong Bing.

Faced with the official power of the Special Affairs Bureau and possibly the City Lord’s Mansion’s personnel as well, Xiao Nan could no longer guarantee his own absolute safety, let alone protect Xiong Bing.

The only option was to flee.

Whether the Special Affairs Bureau would issue a wanted notice was uncertain—perhaps yes, perhaps no. After all, Gu Junwu’s mission was somewhat unsavory.

Even if such a notice were issued, it would only force Xiong Bing to change his identity and continue his escape.

Currently, city administrations operated with semi-autonomy and rarely conducted cross-regional investigations, so there was little need to worry about that.

With his sharp mind and a group of children collecting intelligence, Xiong Bing had accumulated some capital and could easily survive in another city.

Moreover, at only eighteen years old, he already had a Qi and Blood value of 4.6. Even if he moved to Yanghe Prefecture, he could enroll in the martial arts high school by transfer.

They agreed to meet again during the provincial entrance exam, sharing no more words.

...

Xiong Bing’s figure vanished around a corner on the long street. Xiao Nan waited a moment, watching the moon’s shadow tilt westward, then slipped into the forest.

Using the shadows of broken bricks and crumbling walls for cover, he passed through several alleys and returned to his courtyard.

This time, with deliberate spiritual sensing, he faintly perceived a pair of calm, peaceful eyes quietly watching over the place.

The feeling was so subtle that it vanished in an instant.

Xiao Nan couldn’t even discern the direction.

He smiled and let it go.

Inside, his mother and sister chatted idly as the electric kettle whistled...

The water was hot—the night had deepened, and it was time to wash up and rest.

...

At a corner across the street, a noodle shop quietly pulled down its shutters.

An old man with white hair and a face full of wrinkles hunched over, coughing violently until he gasped for breath.

He extinguished the lights inside and stood in the darkness for a while before picking up the wine jug on the table, pouring a thin line of liquor onto the ground, murmuring, “Brother Zhenjiang, you have a worthy successor—I can rest easy now.”

...

At dawn, just as the sky was growing light, Xiao Nan rose early and went to the market to buy breakfast.

As the college entrance exam drew closer day by day, the thought that he might soon be away from home for a long time stirred a faint melancholy within him.

He didn’t want to discern whether it was his original self’s sentimentality or genuine affection for the warmth of his family. He simply wished this peaceful, stable time could last just a little longer.

“Xiao Nan, I’m off to school—wait for me to come home for lunch and cook, okay? Remember to buy a big carp—Mom loves it,”

Xiao Bei was as energetic as ever, carrying a heavy backpack without complaint, always brimming with vitality.

You want to eat it, don’t you?

Xiao Nan didn’t even bother to tease her. The little girl was like a greedy cat, always complaining about the poor meals at school and thinking up ways to come home at noon.

She claimed it was to take care of her childish brother, but everyone on earth knew the truth.

Tan Qiuyi called cheerfully, “Walk slowly, don’t fall.”

Xiao Nan had passed the Qi and Blood test with excellent results, which brightened her mood.

After a night had passed, that excitement and satisfaction still lingered in her heart, even softening the wrinkles at her eyes.

...

Every day, the sun rose as usual. Tan Qiuyi continued to busy herself at the shop.

Xiao Nan, meanwhile, resumed the unfinished lessons from the day before.

Taking advantage of the morning dew, he went to a small grove not far from home to practice the Four Seasons Sword Technique.

He found that in this dense woodland, practicing the true meaning of the Spring phase of the Four Seasons Sword attracted a slightly greater amount of elemental energy.