Chapter 31: An Unwelcome Guest Arrives

Meng Changsheng was merely the first; soon, more would join. He intended to turn Spirit Sword Peak into the holy land of the Giant Spirit Sect.

"Senior brother, you're so thick-headed, you really make me angry!"

Watching Xiao Yang ascend the mountain, Zhou Yan stamped her feet in frustration, but after considering it, she still followed him. She had already made up her mind: no matter what happened today, she couldn’t let Second Uncle beat Xiao Yang. She would definitely ask Zhou Jingpeng to help stop him.

"Third brother! Where’s that brat Xiao Yang?"

Meng Haotian stormed out of his room, clearly unable to find Xiao Yang. Zhou Jingpeng raised his head slightly, offering a wry smile.

"I told you, second brother, Xiao Yang isn’t home, but you refused to believe me," he replied, taking a sip of tea.

"Hmph! You and your disciple are just alike—not good people!"

Meng Haotian snorted coldly, glaring at him in obvious displeasure.

"Second brother, that’s unfair. What did my disciple ever do to you to earn such resentment?"

Watching his brother throw a tantrum, Zhou Jingpeng finally couldn’t help but retort.

"Hmph!"

Meng Haotian didn’t waste words. He reached out and dragged Meng Changsheng, who’d been hiding nearby, over.

"Ask him yourself."

Zhou Jingpeng looked up, bemused. Eh? He saw his nephew’s face marked with two bright red handprints. He couldn’t help but wonder:

"Xiao Yang went too far—how could he slap someone on the face?"

He grumbled inwardly, thinking his disciple had been too ruthless. Look at how the child had been beaten—the handprints were hard to ignore.

"Xiao Yang really doesn’t know his own strength. When he gets back, I’ll certainly give him a stern lesson," Zhou Jingpeng promised aloud, planning to trick Meng Haotian into leaving. With his brother’s temper, if he met his disciple, he’d likely get violent. His disciple had just returned; he couldn’t let him be beaten.

"What nonsense! Those handprints are from me."

Meng Haotian paused, then realized upon seeing his son’s face. If it was just a beating, he wouldn’t have come. If his son lacked skill, getting beaten was expected. But as soon as he remembered his son had signed a contract of servitude, his chest tightened.

"Second brother, you’re out of line. Your son did it himself—what does it have to do with Xiao Yang?"

Zhou Jingpeng, now annoyed, spoke up. He’d thought his disciple was to blame and felt guilty, but upon learning the handprints were from Meng Haotian himself, he was no longer pleased. Did they think Spirit Sword Peak was empty? Did his position as Martial Marquis count for nothing?

"You dare to argue with me?"

Meng Haotian was momentarily stunned but quickly recovered.

"You dare? Do you know the things that brat Xiao Yang has done are far worse than this?" he roared. Meng Haotian’s voice echoed throughout Spirit Sword Peak.

"Heh! What could he possibly do, other than beat your son?"

Zhou Jingpeng replied indifferently. He truly couldn’t imagine anything more outrageous.

"Hmph!"

Meng Haotian snorted, feeling furious as Meng Changsheng stood there like a fool. He kicked him twice.

"You brat, tell your third uncle about the disgraceful thing you did."

Meng Changsheng felt wronged—why should he be beaten just because they were quarreling? But after meeting his father’s stare, he immediately cowered and hurried to explain.

"Third uncle, it’s like this... I signed a contract of servitude."

He recounted the events of the day. At first, Zhou Jingpeng didn’t pay much attention, but when he heard Xiao Yang had mastered a mid-tier Yellow-grade martial skill to perfection within an hour, he frowned, though said nothing. Yet when Meng Changsheng revealed he’d been forced to sign a contract of servitude, Zhou Jingpeng was dumbstruck. His heart could not settle, and regarding Xiao Yang, he could only think:

"Has that brat gone mad? He dares to take anyone’s contract of servitude?"

Meng Changsheng was no ordinary boy—the only son of the Giant Spirit Sect’s second elder. Despite the beatings, if it had been someone else, Meng Haotian would have stormed in long ago. That he was even speaking now was likely because Zhou Jingpeng was his junior.

"Ah... That boy really went too far," he coughed awkwardly, inwardly cursing Xiao Yang. Of all people, why force this brute’s son to sign a contract of servitude? He was just asking for trouble.

"Hmph! Don’t try to fool me. Let’s be clear, I will definitely give that brat a good beating!"

Meng Haotian was clearly furious, determined to punish Xiao Yang no matter what. But Zhou Jingpeng was not willing. He had only one disciple, just returned, and before he’d even warmed his seat, he was to be beaten? How could he, as the third elder, keep his dignity? Especially since he was preparing to become the sect master—face was paramount and could not be lost.

"Second brother, let’s talk this over. When he returns, I’ll make sure to educate him thoroughly. Why don’t you head back for now?"

"Heh! You’re always scheming, trying to trick me into leaving—no way!"

Meng Haotian, not content to merely argue, went inside, brought out a lounge chair, and set it beside Zhou Jingpeng. Then he lay down.

"Whatever you say, it’s useless. Today, I am determined to beat that brat!"

Zhou Jingpeng gave an awkward smile. He knew Xiao Yang had indeed gone too far this time—beating Meng Changsheng was one thing, but the consequences were far more severe. He stood to pour Meng Changsheng a cup of tea, offering it with a smile.

"Second brother, don’t be angry. Have some tea to cool off."

"Hmph!"

Meng Haotian grabbed the tea and drank it all at once. Seeing Zhou Jingpeng about to pour more, he glanced at his son, standing dumbly, and grew even more irritated.

"Get over here and pour your uncle some tea!"

Shouted at, Meng Changsheng dared not protest. Just then, two figures came up the path. He was about to pour tea when he glanced up and spotted two familiar silhouettes, one being their target.

"Father, father... He’s back!"

He shouted excitedly.

"Who?"

Meng Haotian looked up and saw two approaching, a young man and a young woman. He recognized the girl—his junior’s daughter. The boy looked familiar.

"Xiao Yang! Xiao Yang’s back!"

Meng Changsheng shouted. Zhou Jingpeng, too, came to his senses, cursing inwardly:

"This brat couldn’t have picked a worse time to return."

He watched anxiously. All he could do now was restrain Meng Haotian. Xiao Yang really had gone too far this time, and only he could come up with such a scheme—to make Meng Changsheng sell himself!

"Master! We’re back."

Xiao Yang, seeing Zhou Jingpeng drinking tea at the door, called out with a smile. At that moment, Zhou Jingpeng wished he could say:

"Get lost, as far as possible!"

But with his second brother right beside him, he could not. He merely nodded.

"Hmph! That brat is finally back."

Meng Haotian finally recognized him. He realized why Xiao Yang seemed familiar—he’d seen him often ten years ago, but since Xiao Yang went to the Outer Sect, he hadn’t seen him since. For a moment, he hadn’t recalled.

Watching Xiao Yang approach step by step, Zhou Jingpeng could not have been more anxious.