Chapter 56: Four Rebellious Sons

"What?" Hao Wenlong thought he had misheard.

"Uncle Hao, we're here to see Chicken King."

What? Is that really someone's name?

Hao Wenlong nearly lost his temper.

"You four are messing with me. If you keep this up, I'll have to teach you a lesson."

The Four Young Masters of Northern Desert quickly waved their hands.

"No, Uncle Hao, we wouldn't dare! We're truly here to see Chicken King."

Their expressions made it clear they weren't lying.

Hao Wenlong nodded. "Stay here and behave. I'll go call him for you."

With that, he walked into the Treasure Gathering Pavilion, where Xiao Yang was busy cooking.

He approached cautiously.

"What's the matter, Wenlong?" Xiao Yang asked, puzzled.

"Young Master, someone outside wants to see Chicken King," Hao Wenlong replied awkwardly. The name felt odd in his mouth, and he was curious what this Chicken King looked like.

"Oh! They're here for Chicken King," Xiao Yang nodded and shouted upstairs, "Chicken King!"

While Hao Wenlong was still dazed, a figure darted down from above.

"Cluck, cluck, cluck!" It looked at Xiao Yang in confusion, as if asking, "Why did you call me?"

"Someone's looking for you," Xiao Yang said, not even glancing up, absorbed in his cooking.

Hao Wenlong stared at Chicken King in astonishment. His mind was struggling to catch up—why would the Four Young Masters of Northern Desert want to see a chicken?

"Cluck, cluck, cluck!" Chicken King sized up Hao Wenlong, thinking he was the one who had called for him. After pondering for a while, he realized he hadn't seen this man before.

"Ahem, it’s not me looking for you. The ones you’re looking for are outside," Hao Wenlong said, catching Chicken King’s meaning.

Almost simultaneously, Chicken King rushed out, clucking loudly, eager to see who was seeking him.

"Cluck, cluck, cluck!" Seeing Chicken King emerge, the four young men brightened and hurried over.

Chicken King, noticing their mischievous grins, didn't hesitate. He delivered a swift kick to each, knocking them all to the ground.

When Chicken King looked ready for another round, Jin Ying quickly called out, "Brother Chicken, we're here to see your master!"

Chicken King stopped, then scampered back into the Pavilion, bumping right into Hao Wenlong.

"Uh! Finished already?" Hao Wenlong muttered, puzzled, then stepped outside.

He immediately saw the Four Young Masters sprawled on the ground.

"What happened to you four?" he asked kindly.

Jin Ying quickly waved his hand. "It's nothing, Uncle Hao. We just slipped."

"Uh!" Hao Wenlong was even more confused. How did all four brothers manage to fall at once? What? Kicked by a chicken? Impossible.

Though they weren't the strongest, they should easily handle a chicken.

He said nothing more, returning to his post as gatekeeper.

Chicken King darted into the room and bit Xiao Yang's pant leg.

"What the hell are you doing!" Xiao Yang exclaimed, dropping a few pieces of meat as he was yanked.

"Cluck, cluck, cluck!" Chicken King grumbled in protest.

In the end, Xiao Yang had no choice but to follow him outside.

"Young Master!" Hao Wenlong greeted respectfully.

Xiao Yang nodded, spotting the Four Young Masters.

"What are you doing here?"

Instantly, the four felt wronged. They had only come to watch the cockfights, but not only were they blocked at the entrance, they ended up getting kicked by a chicken.

Hao Wenlong was stunned. "Young Master, you know them?"

"I do," Xiao Yang replied calmly.

That caught not only Hao Wenlong off guard, but the Four Young Masters as well. Their faces were full of questions. A bold idea crept into their minds: Could this man be their father's honored guest?

Though Xiao Yang was skilled at training chickens, it was hardly enough to become the City Lord’s esteemed guest.

Yet faced with undeniable evidence, they had to believe it.

Xiao Yang truly was their father’s distinguished guest.

At that moment, two figures hurried toward them, accompanied by a thunderous shout.

"You four unfilial sons!"

Jin Buhuan rushed over in a panic, and before anyone could react, he started hitting his sons.

"You ungrateful brats!" he shouted as he struck them.

Jin Buhuan had just been about to have breakfast when he saw Hao Huahu return. He intended to invite him to eat together, but a single sentence from Hao Huahu made him shudder.

"Lord City Master, bad news! Your four sons have gone to the Treasure Gathering Pavilion to stir up trouble."

On hearing this, Jin Buhuan rushed out without delay, swearing that even when he’d been down and fleeing for his life, he hadn’t moved so desperately.

He arrived in the shortest possible time.

"I see you’re tired of living well—do you want to be driven out of Northern Desert City?"

Just then, Hao Huahu sidled over and whispered to his elder brother, "Big Brother, mission accomplished. I’ve brought the City Lord."

He looked rather proud of himself.

Hao Wenlong stared blankly at his brother, wanting to scold him, but reflecting on his own mistakes, he held back.

"Ah!" "Father! Why are you hitting us?" "Yeah, it hurts! Why are you hitting us?"

The Four Young Masters had finally snapped out of it—getting beaten for no reason was something nobody could tolerate.

Jin Buhuan sneered. "Why am I hitting you...."

He was about to make them accept their punishment.

"You four dared to harass my honored guest—don’t you deserve a beating?"

Whack!

He landed a heavy blow on Jin Ying.

Hearing this, the four were stunned for a moment, but quickly came to their senses. They hadn’t done anything, yet not only had they been blocked from entering, they’d been attacked by a chicken—and now their own father had run several miles just to beat them.

In a word: injustice!

Hao Wenlong realized what was happening and hurried over to intervene.

"Lord City Master, it’s a misunderstanding. The four young masters didn’t come to cause trouble."

He grabbed Jin Buhuan.

Jin Buhuan paused, eyeing Hao Wenlong in puzzlement.

"They didn’t come to cause trouble?"

He nearly said, "Weren’t you the ones who tipped me off, and now you’re telling me this?"

"Yes, yes, the four young masters know Master Xiao," Hao Wenlong said, exasperated by the confusion.

"Uh!" Jin Buhuan was stunned. He glanced at Xiao Yang.

"We do know each other, and quite well," Xiao Yang said, unwilling to see the four continue to suffer, helping them out.

"So it was a misunderstanding," Jin Buhuan said awkwardly, letting go of Jin Xiong, who promptly toppled to the ground.

"Father! You..."

The Four Young Masters were deeply aggrieved. They had been beaten senseless for no reason.

But when Jin Buhuan saw their pitiful faces, his expression changed.

"What? Can’t I beat you?"

With that glare, the four immediately cowered, grinning sheepishly.

"A father beating his sons is only right. We deserve it."

"Hmph!" Jin Buhuan snorted, then turned to Xiao Yang, his face instantly breaking into a smile.

If an outsider had witnessed this, they’d surely think Xiao Yang was the City Lord’s son, and Jin Ying and his brothers were the outsiders.

"My young friend, have you eaten yet? If not, allow me to host you at the First Chef Under Heaven."

"No need, I’ve already prepared breakfast," Xiao Yang replied, then returned to the Treasure Gathering Pavilion.

Leaving Jin Buhuan standing there, feeling at a loss.

Cook for himself?

His heart skipped a beat, and he turned to glare fiercely at the Hao brothers.