NOVEL NEXT Chapter 36: Adding Tiger Bones
Chapter 36: Adding Tiger Bones
As soon as Pei Zhaoxi stepped out of the door, she felt a pang of panic. Pei Heng had arrived at the mining site on horseback, followed by a carriage. On the carriage was a white tiger with striking features, a large vat, and several jars of liquor. She had no idea what he was up to.
Pei Heng was equally surprised to see her and asked curiously, “Weren’t you going to Fengling Mountain to enjoy the snow? Why are you here at Brother Xu’s mine?”
Pei Zhaoxi adjusted her cloak slightly to hide the panic in her eyes and replied, “I remembered Father and Brother’s advice to maintain a good relationship with Manager Xu, so I decided to stop by and clear up the minor disagreement from yesterday. I didn’t want any misunderstanding to remain between us.”
Pei Heng looked pleased. “You have grown up, little sister. That’s very considerate of you. So, how did it go?”
Pei Zhaoxi blushed slightly and said in a soft voice, “Manager Xu is a kind man. We had a pleasant talk and became friends.”
Satisfied, Pei Heng nodded. “That’s good to hear. Now hurry to Fengling Mountain before the sun comes out and melts the snow.”
Pei Zhaoxi quickly climbed into her covered carriage and urged the driver, “Let’s go to Fengling Mountain.”
As the carriage departed, the guards she had brought with her followed closely behind.
“Unload the tiger, the barrel, and the liquor,” Pei Heng instructed the hunters accompanying him.
He glanced toward Pei Zhaoxi’s retreating carriage, a puzzled expression on his face. “From the Pei Manor to Fengling Mountain, you don’t go past Brother Xu’s mine. Why did she say that it was on the way?”
Shaking his head, he dismissed the thought. Perhaps after being severely scolded by their father yesterday, his sister genuinely felt remorse and took a detour to make amends with Xu Lian.
Pei Heng turned to the stone house and called out, “Brother Xu, come see what I’ve brought for you!”
Xu Lian stepped out, his eyes lighting up at the sight of the white tiger.
With these materials, the advancement of his cultivation would be within reach.
In this chaotic world filled with strange phenomena, there was nothing more important than strength. Each realm represented a significant leap in power: the Muscle Refining Stage could easily crush the Skin Refining Stage, and the Bone Refining Stage could dominate the Muscle Refining Stage. Each step forward was a qualitative change.
“Old liquor and a vat, I brought everything you need. Thoughtful, right?”
Pei Heng laughed and gestured to the hunters. “These men of mine are not only skilled hunters, but also excellent at deboning. I’ll have them carefully extract the tiger’s bones and tendons for you. We’ll soak them in the old liquor, and in time you’ll have a potent brew to enjoy.”
I don’t need any medicinal wine, I really don’t! Xu Lian screamed silently in his heart, but could only bow and thank him. “Brother Pei, you were truly considerate.”
Pei Heng laughed. “No need for formalities between us.”
Xu Lian thought to himself, Indeed, there’s no need to be polite – especially if we’re going to become in-laws someday. I wonder if Pei Zhaoxi has considered my proposal?
Pei Heng instructed the hunters to carefully extract the tiger’s bones and tendons, place them in the vat, and fill it with old liquor. They took the tub to the corner of Xu Lian’s stone house.
As noon approached, Xu Lian asked, “Brother Pei, how do you find the food here in the mine? Should I send someone into town to pick up some dishes from the restaurant?”
Pei Heng waved him off. “No need for such a fuss. I’m not that sensitive. I’ve eaten at Brother Han’s mine before.”
“Alright then, let me treat you to our chef’s cooking here at the mine.”
Xu Lian instructed the kitchen staff to prepare several dishes.
The head chef, delighted to showcase his skills, promised to bring out his best. However, it took nearly an hour for everything to be prepared. Finally, eight dishes were brought to Xu Lian’s stone house.
The liquor was already there, courtesy of Pei Heng.
The two men ate heartily, drinking and chatting with great camaraderie.
Perhaps emboldened by the alcohol, Pei Heng threw an arm around Xu Lian’s shoulders and laughed, “Brother Xu, our bond would be even stronger if we were closer.”
Xu Lian felt a shiver run through him, goosebumps rising as he gently pushed Pei Heng away. “Brother Pei, please control yourself. I’m not into this.”
Pei Heng laughed and shook his head. “What do you take me for? Don’t get me wrong – I’m not into that either. What I mean is, if we were relatives, wouldn’t our bond be even stronger?”
Xu Lian’s eyes flickered. He couldn’t tell if Pei Heng was really drunk or just testing him. One couldn’t underestimate a young master from a prominent family; their upbringing often made them far more shrewd than they appeared.
Feigning slight intoxication himself, Xu Lian asked, “What do you mean by that? Are you saying that the Pei family is considering marrying Miss Zhaoxi to me?”
Pei Heng’s expression stiffened momentarily before he shook his head. “That is impossible. Our family has planned a marriage alliance with the Fang family. She’s been engaged to their young master since childhood.”
“Besides, Zhaoxi’s personality is too headstrong and doesn’t match your steady nature. You two wouldn’t be a good match.”
“But besides Zhaoxi, the Pei family has several other sisters who are unmarried and quite attractive. You could choose one or even two if you like.”
Xu Lian sighed. “Concubines have little status. Even if I married one of the Pei family’s concubines, it wouldn’t bring us any closer together. Unfortunately, the Pei family only has Miss Zhaoxi as a legitimate daughter; the rest are all children of concubines.”
Pei Heng tried to convince him. “Daughters born to concubines have their own merits. They’re obedient, and if they’re not, you can discipline them as you see fit. But marrying a legitimate daughter is like marrying an ancestor. They have tempers and demands, and the household will never be peaceful. Look at my own wife. She constantly stirs up trouble, and I can’t do much about it because of her Su family connections”.
Xu Lian tactfully refused. “Actually, I think a little liveliness is good. A busy household feels more like a home. If all the women were as docile as maids, it would be rather dull.”
Sensing Xu Lian’s reluctance, Pei Heng dropped the subject. He raised his bowl with a laugh. “You find silence boring, while I find chaos exhausting. We each have our own problems. But at least we both agree on this fine wine.”
They clinked their bowls and moved on to other topics, leaving the matter of marriage behind.
Pei Heng didn’t leave until late in the afternoon, swaying drunkenly as he mounted his horse. But once he exited the mine, his posture straightened and he rode off at a gallop.
Back in the stone house, Xu Lian shed his drunken pretense as well. He ordered the kitchen to clean up and announced the end of the workday before heading back inside.
Standing before the vat, he opened it, reached out to touch the tiger bones, and silently chanted, “Add.”
In an instant, the tiger bones disintegrated into ash, turning the wine vat a deep, inky black.