A Chaotic World

"Hahaha! What a coincidence to have met you guys here!" Xuan Wen laughed. "Are you visiting the True Fire Tavern as well? I am here alone so why don't we go together then?"

"That would be great, wouldn't it, Young Master Xuan Hao?" Old Zheng asked.

"I suppose so..." Young Master Xuan Hao replied hesitantly.

He had always been on good terms with his elder brother Xuan Wen prior to this.

However, that was also partly because Young Master Xuan Hao never had the intention to vie for the position of the heir.

Now that his stance on the matter had changed, Young Master Xuan Hao could not help but feel awkward when facing this elder brother of his.

If at all possible, he would have preferred not to dine with Xuan Wen, but he simply could not find any rational excuse to reject the suggestion.

With that, the group followed Xuan Wen into the True Fire Tavern, where they were greeted promptly at the door and guided to a private chamber.

Lu Tianzi silently followed along while secretly sizing up this Xuan Wen.

Xuan Wen had a graceful demeanor, like a scholar who was learned about the arts. As a Ninth Cycle Origin Core realm martial artist, he was just a single step away from the Overlord realm. Of course, this one step was also a huge hurdle that had stopped countless martial artists in their tracks.

Lu Tianzi had no doubt that their encounter here with Xuan Wen was no mere coincidence.

No matter how he looked at it, it had to be Old Zheng pulling the strings. Lu Tianzi would not believe anything other than that.

But why?

If it was about recruiting him, Lu Tianzi could understand it if Old Zheng arranged for Xuan Wen to meet himself and Nanlan Qianxue.

However, Young Master Xuan Hao was here as well!

Wouldn't that defeat the purpose altogether?

Before long, the group found themselves seated around a table with sumptuous food laid out before them.

"So the group of you just arrived at Eternal Flame City. That explains why I haven't heard of your return," Xuan Wen nodded in understanding. "You did well choosing True Fire Tavern as your first stop, Hao. Good job. It will really allow your friends to relax and enjoy a glimpse of what Eternal Flame City has to offer."

"Yeah, that's what I thought too..." Young Master Xuan Hao replied softly.

"You are being awfully quiet today, Hao. Did something happen to you while you were away?" Xuan Wen narrowed his eyes.

"How could there be anything? Perhaps Brother Xuan Hao is just feeling tired from the long journey," Ruan Ling replied with a smile.

"Y-Yeah," Young Master Xuan Hao said before taking a sip of tea.

"That would be for the best. But feel free to let me know if you have encountered any problems. I will surely resolve them for you," Xuan Wen nodded before turning his attention towards Lu Tianzi and Nanlan Qianxue. "Manor Lord Lu and Lady Nanlan, is it? How are you liking the food here?"

"It is truly delightful," Lu Tianzi replied.

This was his honest opinion.

As Young Master Xuan Hao had mentioned, the food served here was not only delicious, but also contained faint traces of primordial Slaughter Essence that could help consolidate the cultivation of martial artists.

Each bite sent a faint wisp of Slaughter Essence energy into his body, making him feel better from the inside.

With food like this, just a meal alone could save him a few days worth of cultivation!

"Hahaha! That's good to hear!" Xuan Wen laughed. "Although Hao and I belong to different factions within the Timeless Flame Sect, he is still my beloved younger brother whom I have doted on since young. He can be a handful at times, so you have my thanks for accompanying him as his friends. It is not much, but this meal is on me as a show of my gratitude."

Hearing that, Young Master Xuan Hao finally could not take it anymore. He tightened his grip on his chopsticks as he steeled his resolve.

"Please don't say that, Elder Brother. You might not be aware, but I am no longer the same kid as before," Young Master Xuan Hao retorted. "I am now a man who can take care of my people instead."

"That's nice, Hao," Xuan Wen said patronisingly before turning to Old Zheng. "Old Zheng, do you have what I asked for?"

"Yes, Master," Old Zheng got up from his seat to personally pass a spatial ring over to Xuan Wen. "Here it is. Please check to see if everything is there."

"Mm, good work," Xuan Wen nodded after inspecting the contents of the spatial ring, then glanced over at Lu Tianzi and Nanlan Qianxue. "Right. Since you are friends of Hao, you are friends of mine as well. So let me show you something good here."

With a flick of his wrists, Xuan Wen drew out everything that was within the spatial ring.

"Woah!" Bo'er could not help but exclaim in awe at the sight before her.

Floating in the air was a full set of equipment, including the helm, armour, bracers, leg plates, and a spear to finish it off.

Just by hovering above them, they could feel a slight oppression from the set of equipment as they naturally exerted a pressure on the space around them.

Lu Tianzi's eyes lit up in surprise, and it was not just him either.

Nanlan Qianxue, Young Master Xuan Hao, and Ruan Ling all stared at the full set of equipment in shock.

It was a full set of Overlord rank equipment!

"Hahaha! I am the one who asked for it, but even I am surprised at the quality of the result!" Xuan Wen laughed heartily. "My friends, I hereby introduce to you the Lunar Orbit Battle Set!"

"The Lunar Orbit Battle Set!" Lu Tianzi recognised this name immediately.

It was the full set of equipment recently forged by Grandmaster Weiwo of Sacred Cliff City.

Back then before they left, it was with this set of equipment that Grandmaster Weiwo wanted to challenge Grandmaster Tiequan's Fallen Sun on the grounds that they were all made from the same Moonlight Metal Ore.

To think that the Lunar Orbit Battle Set actually ended up in the hands of Xuan Wen!

"It seems that Manor Lord Lu has heard of the Lunar Orbit Battle Set?" Xuan Wen smiled when he saw Lu Tianzi's expression.

"The Lunar Orbit Battle Set was forged at around the same time as Manor Lord Lu's sabre, so there were some ignorant busybodies who decided to compare the two," Old Zheng added.

"That explains," Xuan Wen nodded in understanding. "In any case, I am intending to give the Lunar Orbit Battle Set to Caixia as a gift. What do you think of that, Old Zheng?"

"Is there a special occasion?" Old Zheng asked.

"Why? Does it need to be a special occasion for me to give Caixia something she would like?" Xuan Wen asked in return. "With my wealth and connections accumulated over the years, it is only natural for me to give my people a corresponding level of benefits. Something like the Lunar Orbit Battle Set is nothing at all when it comes to someone of Caixia's talent."

"That is indeed true," Old Zheng bowed. "This is a splendid gift. I am sure Lady Linye would like it."

"That is good to hear," Xuan Wen smiled before turning his attention to Lu Tianzi. "I am just saying this, but if Manor Lord Lu and Lady Nanlan ever decides to join me and be one of my people as well, there will no longer be a need for you to source for your own sabre like what you did before."

Young Master Xuan Hao frowned.

He had nothing to say if Xuan Wen simply wanted to flaunt his wealth and connections, but was Xuan Wen actually trying to recruit Lu Tianzi in his presence right now?

How could he allow something like that?

He had to do something quick to salvage the situation!

But the question was... what can he do?

...wait, there's that!

"Elder Brother, have you heard any news of Senior Rongmeng? I wonder how he is doing right now," Young Master Xuan Hao interjected.

"Rongmeng?" Xuan Wen raised an eyebrow. "Why are you suddenly asking about him?"

"Oh? Who is this Senior Rongmeng? I have never heard of him before," Ruan Ling caught on immediately and asked.

"Senior Rongmeng was one of Elder Brother's subordinates, but fell out of favour after his cultivation base was destroyed by an enemy in battle," Young Master Xuan Hao explained. "I haven't heard anything about him since then, so I was just curious."

"His cultivation base was destroyed, so I sent him to a peaceful location to live out the rest of his life in safety," Xuan Wen explained briefly. "There is nothing interesting about it."

"That's true, that's probably better for his safety," Young Master Xuan Hao nodded. "Though he must feel bad to be sent away the moment he can't fight for you anymore."

Xuan Wen smirked.

How could he not understand that his younger brother was trying to insinuate that he tossed away his subordinates when their use had been expended?

It appeared that Old Zheng was right.

His younger brother had indeed become rather rebellious after his trip this time.

But did he really think this will work?

As expected of his younger brother... how childish.

"Hao, you need to remember this. We are not playing a kid's game here," Xuan Wen's tone turned solemn, as though he was giving a serious lecture. "With his cultivation base destroyed, forcefully keeping him by my side will only endanger his life. What happens if my enemies choose to target him? I can't possibly have him put under surveillance forever. Otherwise, not only will he be deprived of his freedom, it will also be taxing on my resources. In fact, even then will not ensure his absolute safety. Choosing to send him to a remote area to live out his life in freedom is the best solution for all of us. You might not understand this now, but I am sure you will come to understand this in time to come."

Young Master Xuan Hao's frown deepened.

Once again, his elder brother was putting him down in front of Lu Tianzi and Nanlan Qianxue, but he simply had no way to retort.

"How about it, Manor Lord Lu? Do you want to consider joining my side?" Xuan Wen asked.

This time he was no longer beating about the bush.

Young Master Xuan Hao glanced over at Lu Tianzi nervously, and so did Ruan Ling and Old Zheng.

Only Nanlan Qianxue kept her eyes on the cup in her hands and continued savouring the fragrant tea, looking as though she was completely oblivious to the conversation going on around her.

Of course, that was not the case.

She was so calm only because she had already expected what Lu Tianzi would say next.

"Hahaha! Young Master Xuan Wen is truly straightforward," Lu Tianzi laughed. "However, I am merely visiting as a guest this time, and know next to nothing about the internal affairs of the Timeless Flame Sect. I have to admit that I am flattered by the invitation, but it would be too presumptuous of me to join any influence without understanding more. That would be far too shallow and materialistic. Perhaps I could be allowed a little more time to look around before coming to a decision?"

Young Master Xuan Hao felt conflicted after hearing that.

By saying that, did it mean that his Brother Tianzi was wavering?

"I see, Manor Lord Lu's words make sense," Xuan Wen nodded. "Please feel free to take a look around. I can get Old Zheng to personally show you around if necessary. You can ask him about anything you want to know."

"I believe it would be best if I go with Brother Xuan Hao instead. After all, he is the one who invited me over. It will not reflect well if I do not do so," Lu Tianzi shook his head. "Brother Xuan Hao, if you don't mind, I shall continue to impose on you from now."

"O-Of course I don't mind!" there was a hint of relief in Young Master Xuan Hao's voice. "I will be glad to personally show you around!"

"Well then, I believe we are done here," Lu Tianzi stood up and clasped his fists towards Xuan Wen. "We shall bid farewell here. May we meet again soon."

"Farewell," Xuan Wen clasped his fists in return.

Both of them had a smile on their face as they bade each other farewell.

Young Master Xuan Hao immediately jumped at the opportunity, bidding farewell to his elder brother and Old Zheng before quickly bringing everyone away.

It did not take long before Xuan Wen and Old Zheng were the only ones left in the chamber.

"What do you think of him, Old Zheng?" Xuan Wen asked when calmly sipping his tea.

"He is quite careful when it comes to making decisions, that is a good attribute for a subordinate to possess," Old Zheng analysed.

"You think so?" Xuan Wen smiled. "From what I see, he has already determined that joining my side is the more beneficial option. Otherwise, he would not be calling the decision materialistic and shallow. Right now, he is simply playing hard to get, hoping that I will raise the amount of benefits for joining my side such that it would become worth betraying his friendship for. What a greedy young man."

"Master is wise to have seen through his thoughts," Old Zheng nodded. "What shall we do next then?"

"Continue observing him in secret," Xuan Wen instructed with a sneer. "Giving him benefits is fine with me. However, I need to first make sure that he is worth the investment. If he isn't worth investing in, then it might be a better choice to just get rid of him. Even if we don't want him in our ranks, we have to make sure that he won't be able to stand against us either!"

"Understood, Master."