The Xiao family.

“Mother, I met the little fool today.” At the dinner table, Xiao Yuefeng suddenly said.

Zheng Pei’er was a little surprised “Where did you see him?”

“At the gambling ground. Mother, the little fool had gone stone gambling.” Xiao Yuefeng said.

Zheng Pei’er was stunned, Xiao Jingting used to like gambling when he had nothing to do. But after coming back home, Xiao Jingting didn’t gamble much. She didn’t expect that the little fool would start gambling. 

“Did he go alone?” Zheng Pei’er asked.

“No, second uncle accompanied him.” Xiao Yuefeng said.

When Xiao Qingyan heard this, he raised his head and looked at Xiao Yuefeng, somewhat suspicious. “Since ancient times, piles of silver can’t fill the gambling ground. In such a place, if you don’t have tens of thousands of taels of silver you don’t dare to enter easily. Does the little fool have so much money?”

“Little Fool had chosen a lot of stones and the final calculation was over eight thousand taels. Xiaofan only had three thousand tales. Xiao Xiaodong paid three thousand taels for him and two thousand taels were given to him by second uncle.” Xiao Yuefeng said.

“Eight thousand taels? Son, you must be mistaken, wasn’t it eight hundred taels!” Zheng Pei’er eyes widened involuntarily.

Eight thousand taels! How much was that?! The pocket money Xiao Qingyan gave her every month was just a few hundred taels of silver. Fortunately, her mother’s family would subsidize some money for her, otherwise, she wouldn’t even be able to afford to buy clothes and jewelry.

How old was Xiao Xiaofan?! He was so little but he still had three thousand taels of silver to dispose of.

Xiao Yuefeng shook his head and said “I haven’t! Quan San also saw it. Mother you can ask him if you don’t believe it! It’s indeed three thousand taels and the little fool bought a pile of worthless stones.”

Zheng Pei’er “…… ” Just what on earth was Xiao Jingting thinking giving so much money to such a small child? 

Xiao Qingyan squinted his eyes. He went to Xiao Jinfeng’s shop today and found that the business was really good. Moreover, he heard that because of the bad weather, the business was bad today. Xiao Qingyan always thought that the business in the shop mentioned in Zheng Peier’s letter was exaggerated. Only when he really went to see it, he found out how good the business was.

Previously, father and mother had intended to let him help second and third brother, but he didn’t take it to heart at that time. Now it was already too late to mention it again. Xiao Qingyan secretly regretted that he had been careless and missed this opportunity.

“Mother, didn’t you say that children don’t need to have a lot of pocket money? But, the little fool has three thousand taels.” Xiao Yuerong was dissatisfied.

Zheng Pei’er frowned and said “Don’t make trouble.”

Xiao Yuerong sullenly said “Mother, you are too stiny! Just look how generous third uncle is to this idiotic little fool. I wanted to buy a toy, you didn’t want to buy it for me.”

Xiao Yuerong didn’t mean to speak, but Xiao Qingyan intended to listen to it. Xiao Qingyan secretly thought: It’s really not good for him to mix with them. In the past, he always got the first share of everything at home. But now that his younger brother opened the beverage shop, he was much more generous than him.

 

…………

 

Xiao Jingting was so excited from what he got from Xiao Xiaofan’s gambling that he didn’t even eat the dinner.

Xiao Xiaofan originally wanted to call Xiao Jingting and Xu Muan for dinner, but Xiao Xiaodong stopped him.

Xiao Xiaodong felt that his two parents might be making love, and did not have time to come out for dinner. So he stopped Xiao Xiaofan and let him eat some steamed buns before going to bed. Although Xiao Xiaofan was a bit reluctant, he still reluctantly accepted it.

The next morning, the family gathered around for breakfast as usual.

“Son, that pile of stones you bought yesterday is nice.” Xiao Jingting rubbed Xiao Xiaofan’s head, full of admiration.

Xiao Xiaofan said excitedly “They are not bad. Those stones feel very comfortable! I knew that you would like them dad. My brother said that I was wasting money and my second uncle said it wouldn’t happen again.”

“Those stones are comfortable to the touch, how are they comfortable?” Xiao Jingting was a bit confused.

Xiaofan titled his head and said “I don’t know! They are just very comfortable!”

Xiao Xiaodong looked at Xiao Xiaofan somewhat strangely and didn’t say anything.

Xiao Xiaodong originally felt that it was a bit wasteful for his younger brother to buy stones, but, looking at his younger brother crying and screaming, he had no choice but to compromise seeing his posture of peeing pants in other people’s shop.

Just now, looking at his parents’ reaction, Xiao Xiaodong immediately thought that there must be something good in that pile of stones. Could his brother be like a blind cat who caught a dead mouse?

Xiao Jingting looked at Xiao Xiaodong and said “Xiaodong, the soft pillow you gave us was very good.”

Xiao Xiaodong smiled and said “Thank you, Dad.”

While the family was having dinner, Xiao Jingting received summons from Xiao Linfeng to return to Xiao house.

“What’s the matter?” Xu Muan asked.

Xiao Jingting frowned and said “I don’t know. My father asked to go back quickly.”

Xu Muan was confused. “Why did he suddenly ask you to go back?”

Xiao Jingting shook his head and said “I don’t know, it seems like there’s something urgent.”

“I know what it is.” Xiao Xiaofan raised his hand.

“You know what it is?!” Xu Muan looked at Xiao Xiaofan and asked.

“There must be something wrong with uncle after he took the drugs, so grandfather is in a hurry to call you over. Uncle is really ignorant, he is already so old but still takes drugs.” Xiao Xiaofan shook his head with a long sigh.

Xiao Jingting “…… ” How can his son be so obsessed with Xiao Qingyan’s drug addiction?

“Eat quickly.” Xiao Xiaodong put two pieces of meat into Xiao Xiaofan’s bowl, causing Xiao Xiaofan to be flattered.

 

…………

 

“You are all here!” Xiao Qingyan glanced at Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng.

Xiao Jingting nodded and said “Yes! Father, what do you want from us?”

With a calm face, Xiao Linfeng said “The order from the Marquis just came, asking us, the great families of Desert City, to participate in the Grand Competition organized by the Marquis.”

Xiao Jingting curiously asked “Father, what is the Grand Competition? Is there a reward?”

Xiao Linfeng glanced at Xiao Jingting and said “Of course there’s a reward for the Grand Competition! Moreover, the rewards are very generous, but there are only a few people who can survive this big competition. Most of the people who can get the reward are young people from the Marquis’s house.”

Xiao Jingting looked at Xiao Linfeng puzzled and said “Very few people can survive, why?”

“In order to ensure the absolute control of Marquis, the Marquis does not want too many geniuses to appear in the cities under his jurisdiction. Therefore this competition is actually a conspiracy to stimulate those who enter to kill each other with a high reward.”

Xiao Jingting “…… ” What a terrible world! However, there are only so many resources, so it was not surprising that they kill each other in a fight for them.

“In the Marquis’ residence, some people of your age are already at the seventh or eighth level of Qi Practice. You have no competitiveness compared to them.”

“Moreover, according to past practices, the competition uses a point system. At the beginning of the competition, the marquis will give each contestant a medal. That medal is worth points and stealing from other participants can raise the points.” Xiao Linfeng said.

Xiao Jingting “…… ” Isn’t the Marquis just forcing the participants to kill each other?

“Then if you encounter a tough opponent you can just give the medal directly.” Xiao Jingting said.

Xiao Qingyan glanced at Xiao Jingting with disdain, and said “So it’s all you have, surrender before even fighting.”

Xiao Jingting “……” It does not seem to be a disgrace to protect your own life if you encounter a difficult opponent. It would only be sad if he lost his life in vain trying to act as a hero. He really does not attach much importance to things like integrity. After all, he has already died once.

“Your choice is also right. It’s just that if you meet the first tough opponent, maybe the other party will let you off because you give him your iron medal but the second one won’t believe that you already lost your medal. So they will think you hid it, kill you and then search you.” Xiao Linfeng said coldly.

Xiao Jingting swallowed his saliva and felt his heart pounding. How could he mix in in this horrible world?!

“Father, can we not enter the competition?” Xiao Jingting asked.

“The tournament organized by the Marquis always had many deaths and injuries, and there was also a city that united and chose not to participate in the past.” Xiao Linfeng suddenly paused at this point.

Xiao Jingting eyes widened with curiosity. Xiao Linfeng gave Xiao Jingting a contemptuous glance and continued “As a result, the Marquis sent out two foundation stage cultivators to slaughter the big families in that city that were invited to participate but didn’t show up.”

Xiao Jingting took a deep breath. It was a shame that in this world, it was not against the law to kill others!

“This time the Marquis gave invitations to four great families of Desert City. All the cultivators from four families that are at the fourth level of Qi practice or above and are under the age of forty years old need to participate. All three of you are within the quota. There are 36 cities under the jurisdiction of the Marquis, and Desert city is third from the bottom. Sometimes you will only receive the invitation, but this time…” Xiao Linfeng’s voice was low, and there was a worry that couldn’t be dispersed between his brows.

“Father, don’t worry, I heard that the top ten in this competition will also have the Ice Heart Pill as a reward. I will definitely perform well and win glory for you.” Xiao Qingyan was full of confidence.

“Just do your best.” Xiao Linfeng said.

Xiao Jinfeng narrowed his eyes. Normally, the higher the reward, the more dangerous the competition would be. In order to win the reward, cultivators will ignore everything and looking at his father’s attitude, Xiao Jinfeng easily discovered that his father didn’t seem to be very optimistic about his big brother.

“Then go in and find a place to hide, right?” Xiao Jingting asked.

Xiao Linfeng nodded and said “Yes, but many of the participants are proficient in tracking, so it’s not that easy to hide.”

“Third Brother, why are you thinking of escaping all the time?” Xiao Qingyan asked.

Xiao Jingting smiled awkwardly and said “Father said that cultivators from seventh and eighth level will be participating.”

Xiao Qingyan was full of disdain “Even if that was the case, you shouldn’t just back off!”

“So should I deliver myself to be chopped down?” Xiao Jingting didn’t have a good temper.

“That’s enough. At a time like this, you don’t know how to calm down and help each other.” Xiao Linfeng didn’t have a good temper.

Xiao Jingting closed his mouth. As a 21st century teenager born under the red flag and raised in the new era, Xiao Jingting had obeyed the law since childhood. He never killed even a mouse, so he was shocked to suddenly hear that he had to fight to the death with a group of people, okay?

“Alright, in seven days, you will be on your way to the Martial Realm. Before that, prepare yourselves well.” Xiao Linfeng said.

“Seven days, what’s the rush?!” Xiao Jingting was puzzled.

“The Marquis house issued this decree suddenly, for the sole purpose of catching people off guard.” Xiao Linfeng said.

Xiao Jingting “…… ” The Marquis was really lacking in virtue! Xiao Jingting suddenly remembered that when he was in the Mound Village, it was the Marquis’ people who came to ask him for the fine.

“Jingting, you are very indulgent towards your two sons!” Xiao Qingyan suddenly said.

Xiao Jingting “… Big brother how can you say that?”

Xiao Qingyan smiled and said “You gave 8,000 taels of silver to your son who isn’t even tall enough to reach the stone gambling table. What is it? Third brother, even though you have money, you don’t know how to honor and respect your parents and give it to your son to be a loser. What were you thinking?”

Xiao Jingting “…” What did he think? He liked it.

Xiao Jingting smiled and said “Elder brother, you don’t understand. Gambling stones depend on luck. Children are lucky. In fact, when buying so many stones last time, after opening them we found some useful things. So, it was not a loss.”

Xiao Qingyan didn’t have a good temper. “Jingting, you really spoil this child. He spent 8000 taels on this kind of nonsense.”

Xiao Jingting “…… ” What he said was really not a lie, if nothing else, a spirit pearl alone was worth tens of thousands of silver taels.

“Why am I talking nonsense? Xiaofan bought expensive things byt has a high win rate!” Xiao Jingting didn’t have a good temper.

Xiao Linfeng looked at Xiao Jingting and said “Jingting, is it really true that your son started gambling with stones at such a young age?”

Xiao Jingting “…… ” How fashionable his son is?! “Xiaofan is not sensible but fortunately, he has a good fortune and has not suffered a loss.”

Xiao Linfeng was a little skeptical “Really?”

Xiao Jingting nodded and said “Father, how could I still lie to you? My money was not picked up.”

Xiao Linfeng nodded and said “It’s good that you have a sense of propierty.”

 

Edited by: Tetsu

Proofreader: Taalia

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