by Shian Jeen
From their conversation, Huwang Xiao got to know the name of this teacher that was in charge of handling new reporting students. His name was Lin Yang.
When Huwang Xiao and Chen Cheng stepped out from the great hall, Heartless Young Noble also happened to be walking up the stone stairs with a large group of people trailing behind him, which included Yanggang and Pang Yu.
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Though Huwang Xiao had never seen Yao Fei prior to this, the presence of Yanggang and Pang Yu behind him instantly gave Yao Fei’s identity away.
Huwang Xiao observed this new person in yellow embroidered clothing. He had handsome features, albeit leaning more towards a feminine charm. Huwang Xiao could not help but slow to a stop.
At the same time, Yanggang leaned closer to the front towards Yao Fei, saying: “Young Noble, it’s Huwang Xiao!”
Huwang Xiao!
Yao Fei tilted his head slightly, peering at the figure that exited the Wind Facing Hall.
Their stares collided in midair. An invisible energy fluctuation rippled, causing the air to explode in muffled blasts all of a sudden.
Some of the passing students and teachers of Duanren Institute were startled, retreating a wide berth away.
Huwang Xiao remained at the same spot like an immovable mountain. The two men faced each other.
After a momentary lapse of silence, Yao Fei suddenly spoke, “Huwang Xiao, it is still not too late if you submit to me now. As long as you kneel down and admit you’re wrong, I can forgive your prior wrongdoings.”
Kneel down and admit wrong!
Huwang Xiao was placid as he retorted, “Admit wrong? Yao Fei, you think too highly of yourself, I should be the one saying these words to you. If you kneel down now and admit your mistakes, I can overlook your previous fault as well as the mistake just now.”
When the surrounding audience heard Huwang Xiao words, everyone gasped in shock. Fingers began to point at them from many directions as whispered discussions sounded.
In the whole of Duanren Institute, there was actually someone who dared to call Heartless Young Noble Yao Fei by his name? Moreover, telling Heartless Young Noble to kneel down and apologize?!
Yanggang and Pang Yu were also stunned, wondering if Huwang Xiao’s brain was damaged somehow.
Yao Fei looked dumbfounded for a split second before laughing exaggeratedly with his hands moving in the air as if he had just heard the world’s funniest joke.
But those who were familiar with Yao Fei knewㄧYao Fei was truly angered! A faintly discernable murderous intent spread from Yao Fei’s body.
His laughter died down but the sharp coldness in his eyes soared, “Very good, you’re the first person that dared to tell me to kneel down and admit fault!”
“So what?” Huwang Xiao’s indifference persisted, ignoring the rising killing intent from Yao Fei.
Yao Fei looked at Huwang Xiao with a condescending eye, “I am really curious, is there a problem with your head or are you really so cocky that you aren’t even afraid of death? Do you believe I can take your life, right here right now? Don’t assume that just because you defeated Xie Puti you’re invincible in this world. Squashing you is as easy as snapping my fingers!”
“Really?” came Huwang Xiao’s tepid response.
Just when everyone around thought Yao Fei was going to attack, the killing intent around him vanished, totally converged, “But, killing you so easily is a little too dull. I’ll keep your doglife around so you can accompany me to play a little. Till the day comes when I’m tired of you that is. Then I’ll personally take your life!”
Throwing down his declaration, Yao Fei signaled the people behind him with a wave of his hands: “We’re leaving!” He brushed past Huwang Xiao, entering Wind Facing Hall. Yanggang, Pang Yu, and the rest hastened to catch up.
Passing by Huwang Xiao, Yanggang and Pang Yu looked at him as if they were looking at a dead person, even the surrounding students were looking at Huwang Xiao with pity.
“He is Huwang Xiao? This year’s Imperial City Battle first place participant? Too bad he offended Heartless Young Noble!”
“We just need to wait for a good show!”
Voices filled the area.
“Xiao, we…!” At this point, Chen Cheng spoke.
“Let’s leave here first.” Huwang Xiao shook his head.
Huwang Xiao and Chen Cheng proceeded forward, leaving behind trails of whispers.
After having left Wind Facing Hall, they came to an empty place. No longer able to maintain his silence, Chen Cheng asked, “Xiao, how did you come to provoke Heartless Young Noble?”
Huwang Xiao did not conceal the matter, recounting Yao Fei’s invitation and his refusal to Chen Cheng.
Listening to the end of Huwang Xiao’s story, Chen Cheng was worried, “Xiao, you don’t know Heartless Young Noble’s influence and power. It’s very troublesome offending him,” then he continued, “There are two people in Duanren Institute that you absolutely must not offend. The first one is Young Noble Wuhen, you should know who Young Noble Wuhen is, and the other is Heartless Young Noble!”
Huwang Xiao grinned, “Then I’ve already offended Yao Fei, what can I do?”
Seeing Huwang Xiao still have the heart to joke, Chen Cheng became even more anxious, “How about you… !”
“Impossible!” Huwang Xiao shook his head. He knew what Chen Cheng wanted to suggestㄧapologize to Yao Fei.
Chen Cheng wanted to say more, but Huwang Xiao interjected, “It will be fine. Don’t worry.”
With this, Chen Cheng could only give up.
Moving on from that, Huwang Xiao asked many questions about Duanren Institute. Entering the Institute eight years before him, Chen Cheng knew more than him.
According to Chen Cheng, there were five most influential Young Nobles in Duanren Empire. Amongst them, four of themㅡWuhen, Heartless, Cherish Petal, and Demon Sword were all Duanren Institute inner division disciples.
The four of them had accumulated quite a large force with Young Noble Wuhen and Heartless leading at the fore. Young Noble Cherish Petal and Demon Sword were slightly weaker.
Chen Cheng’s explanation helped Huwang Xiao understand the separation of power in Duanren Institute. A short while later, Chen Cheng brought Huwang Xiao to the new students’ dormitory.
The accommodations for students in Duanren Institute were courtyards. There were two rooms within each individual courtyard and two students shared a yard.
Huwang Xiao’s assigned yard number was in area ninety-eight, yard number one. However, when Huwang Xiao and Chen Cheng entered yard number one in area ninety-eight, someone was seen standing in the middle of the place with his back facing Huwang Xiao and Chen Cheng as they walked in.
Looking at this person’s back, Huwang Xiao was surprised: “Xie Puti!”
Xie Puti looked over his shoulder and smiled at Huwang Xiao: “Huwang Xiao!”
A thought flashed in Huwang Xiao’s mind and he blurted out, “Don’t tell me that we’re in the same yard?”
“That’s right,” Xie Puti laughed, “Why? Am I not welcome?”
Huwang Xiao approached with a boisterous laugh, “Welcome?! Of course you’re welcome!”
Both men clasped hands and laughter rang out in the yard.
Sharing the yard with Xie Puti was out of Huwang Xiao’s expectation, but it provided him with much delight. Both of them might not have spoken much, but after the Imperial City Battle each person mutually saw the other as a good friend.
“This is Chen Cheng, he is from the same Cosmic Star Academy as me in Luo Tong Kingdom.” Releasing his grip, Huwang Xiao pointed at Chen Cheng at the side.
Chen Cheng quickly greeted, “Hello, Young Noble Xie!”
Xie Puti waved his hand, “What Young Noble Xie? Just call me Puti, the same as Xiao would. Since you’re Xiao’s friend, you can also be considered my friend from now on.”
Hearing Xie Puti’s words, Chen Cheng was a little flattered. After all, Xie Puti was
one of the Xie Family’s core disciples, and according to the grapevine, he was highly valued and favored by Ancestor Xie Ke.
“I heard you told Yao Fei to kneel down and apologize to you earlier.” Xie Puti then turned to Huwang Xiao, his face revealed a wide smile as he gave Huwang Xiao a big thumbs up, “Admirable! I think that within the entire Duanren Institute’s student body, other than Duan Wuhen, you’re the only one who dares say those words to Yao Fei!”
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Huwang Xiao was amazed. Barely an hour had passed since the incident in front of Wind Facing Hall happened, yet the news had already reached Xie Puti? It seems the Xie Family’s influence in Duanren Institute was deeper than it looked on the surface.
“Anyhow, be on your guard when dealing with Yao Fei.” Xie Puti added some advice as an afterthought. Huwang Xiao nodded, he thought the same thing.
“Xiao, let’s go for a drink!” Xie Puti said in the next moment, changing the subject.
"Drink?” Huwang Xiao repeated blankly.
“You probably still don’t know right? Duanren Institute has its own amusement district. There’s a place called Sapidity Wine House that serves a kind of wine called Sapidity Wine, even more memorable than the Beauty Allure Wine from Unforgettable Intoxication Restaurant!” Xie Puti laughed with anticipation.
“For real?” Huwang Xiao grinned, “Then we really must go so I can experience it.”
After coming to this world, Huwang Xiao noticed he had a growing penchant for good wine. He didn’t have many other interests, wine could be considered his biggest vocation.
And so, the group of three led by Xie Puti headed to Duanren Institute’s amusement district. The so-called amusement district was not that far from Huwang Xiao’s new student courtyard dormitory. Thirty minutes later, they reached the destination.
Seeing the amusement district for himself, it was bigger and livelier than Huwang Xiao had imagined. Pedestrians moved up and down the streets akin to the scene one would find in a prosperous small town.
Within the amusement district area, shops lined along wide streets that were more spacious than some of the infrastructures within royal cities. Students wearing Duanren Institute’s gold-colored robes could be seen everywhere, and there were teachers too.
“Come, let’s go in!” Xie Puti guided Huwang Xiao and Chen Cheng through the amusement district streets.
As he walked, Huwang Xiao observed the external design of the surrounding shops.
The style of buildings here was vastly different from the grand structures of Duanren Institute. For instance; Wind Facing Hall exuded a vicissitude of ancient time whereas the buildings here in the amusement district emanated vigor, vibrancy, and progress.
“The shop fronts in the amusement district are mostly opened by the Duanren Empire’s big families. Whatever you can buy outside, you can get the same thing here, and what you cannot get outside, you can get them here.” Xie Puti explained to Huwang Xiao as they maneuvered through the crowd, “For example, a grade seven pellet that you can’t get on the outside, you can get here!”
“Grade seven pellet!” Huwang Xiao was a little dumbfounded.
Xie Puti nodded, “Yes, that’s right. There’s a place called Bright Radiance Exchange that is handled by the three biggest firms in the empire. If they were to hold an auction, they would likely be the group to offer a grade seven pellet, however it is not guaranteed. In general, a grade seven pellet only appears once every few years.”
Huwang Xiao nodded.
It was unexpected that the three biggest firms of the empire would cooperate and develop a trading market like Bright Radiance Exchange that was capable of auctioning a grade seven pellet.
Suddenly, Xie Puti who was leading in front stopped abruptly. One finger pointed at a certain tall building decorated in a variety of reds and pinks, he chuckled devilishly, “ time I’ll bring you there. There are many fun things inside.”
Huwang Xiao’s eyes trailed in the direction Xie Puti was pointing at and saw that the entrance of the building was quite vibrant. There were streams of people coming and going from the premises. After observing for a while, Huwang Xiao finally noticed what was wrongㅡall the customers were men.
A red house! The term flashed in Huwang Xiao’s mind; he never imagined Duanren Institute’s amusement district would have this kind of ‘facility!’
In other words, a red house was a brothel.
“Aren’t you curious why such a place exists within the Institute grounds?” Xie Puti continued without waiting for a reply, “In fact, there’s nothing strange. Of the tens of thousands of Duanren Institute’s students and teachers, eighty percent of them are men. Men right, all of us has physiological needs, thus a red house existing here is actually quite normal. Furthermore, it was allowed by Duanren Emperor.”
Duanren Emperor allowed for it!
Huwang Xiao shook his head inwardly.
“There are many beauties in this red house, and each one is an expert in that aspect.” At this point, Xie Puti suddenly suppressed his voice as he spoke to Huwang Xiao, “That Zhao Wuji is the big boss behind this red house!”
Huwang Xiao’s eyes widened in surprise.
Zhao Wuji!
“You couldn’t have guessed it, right?” Xie Puti quipped.
Indeed, this was also something Huwang Xiao did not expect.
Zhao Wuji was actually the person who controlled the red house behind the scene.
“What’s Zhao Wuji’s relation with Yao Fei?” Huwang Xiao suddenly asked.
Xie Puti blanked for a moment before answering in a solemn voice, “On the surface, there isn’t any connection between them other than business related benefits. The force behind Zhao Wuji is not weak. That little tramp is a thorned rose, just like that Yao Fei, both are not good characters. If you come across them, be careful.”
Business related benefits? Huwang Xiao nodded at Xie Puti.
Chen Cheng followed quietly behind the two of them, not uttering a sound.
He had visited the amusement district area a couple of times in the past. The expenses here were high, not something a student like him could afford.
Take the Sapidity Wine from the Sapidity Wine House Xie Puti mentioned; the price of one jug was ten thousand gold coins!
And it was a very small jug, one could barely taste ten sips and all was gone.
Moments later, the three of them arrived at Sapidity Wine House. Although they had yet to enter, an aromatic wine fragrance wafted out, rousing their intrigue.
Walking into the restaurant, they found a table near the window on the ground floor and sat down.
There were three floors to the restaurant. The ground floor was for ordinary students below Xiantian Third Order, the first floor catered to elite students of Xiantian Third, Fourth to Sixth Order, whereas the second floor was reserved for the Xiantian Seventh Order and above, usually the inner division Institute students.
Sitting down, Xie Puti called out to the restaurant’s waiter.
“How many jugs of Sapidity Wine left for today?” Xie Puti asked.
The waiter blanked for a while, and then answered, “There are one hundred twenty-three jugs remaining.” The daily sales of Sapidity Wine were limited to one thousand.
“Bring everything here.” Xie Puti ordered.
“Everything?!” The restaurant waiter was greatly shocked as he looked at Xie Puti suspiciously, wondering if he had heard wrongly. One jug of wine cost ten thousand gold coins, and one hundred twenty-three jugs meant one million two hundred and thirty thousand gold coins. Not even some of the big families’ younger generation could afford to throw out so much at one time.
At this time, Xie Puti withdrew a purple-gold card and threw it towards the restaurant waiter, “Go, bring the remaining wine here.”
The restaurant waiter was stunned as he looked at the purple-gold card. Moments later, he nodded quickly and said, “Please wait for a while Young Noble, I’ll go prepare everything and send up th
e remaining Sapidity Wine.” The restaurant waiter hurried off after he finished saying that.
But at this time, another two people walked in. Just as they sat down, one of them ordered crudely, “Lil’ waiter, go and bring all the remaining Sapidity Wine here!”
The restaurant waiter went over, smiling apologetically he said, “Apologies to the two Young Nobles, all the remaining Sapidity Wine for today has been taken by the Young Noble over there just now!” His eyes indicated Huwang Xiao’s table.
Both of the young men turned their heads to look.
“Xie Puti!” Both of them exclaimed the name in unison.
Xie Puti nodded at them both, saying in a laid-back tone, “Pardon, I’ve bought all the remaining Sapidity Wine for today.”
Evidently, Xie Puti knew them, but they were not close. However, for these two people to have the capability to reserve the remaining Sapidity Wine without so much as a blink, it showed their identities were not simple.
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Reserved all of it!
Both young men had an ugly expression on their face.
When one of them was about to speak, his companion held him back while shaking his head slightly. He then turned around with a faint smile towards Xie Puti, “Since Younger Brother Puti has reserved the remaining Sapidity Wine for today, then us brothers will visit another day!” He pulled his companion up and out from the restaurant in front of Huwang Xiao, Xie Puti, and Chen Cheng after ending his sentence.
Watching the two silhouettes leaving, Xie Puti spoke, directing his words at Huwang Xiao, “Those two have some relation to you.”
“Related to me?” Huwang Xiao was baffled.
Xie Puti nodded, “They are members of the Guo Family.”
Guo Family!
Huwang Xiao instantly understood that the Guo Family Xie Puti referred to was one and the same as Guo Tai’s Guo Family. Guo Family’s Million Treasure Firm was one of Duanren Empire’s three biggest firms, thus it was no wonder the two people acted like some parvenus the moment they entered the restaurant, reserving all of the Sapidity Wine before they were formally seated.
