Free Web NovelChapter 65: Chapter 63: I Considered You a Brother, but You Went After My Daughter
Hurrying to keep up with Xi Yueyao, he soon arrived at the core courtyard of the manor, where the core members of the Xiyue Clan resided. freёwebnovel.com
Just as they entered the main gate, a black shadow zipped in front of them with a SWOOSH. Its vertical green eyes seemed to smile as it rested a paw on Feng Hao’s shoulder, as if greeting him.
"Well, if it isn’t Chief Black Cat. Long time no see." Feng Hao chuckled, casually tossing out a few Qi Recovery Pills.
Chief Black Cat swallowed the Qi Recovery Pills with satisfaction, then turned to lead the way, its gait light and elegant.
Xi Yueyao pouted, grumbling, "Stupid Miaomiao, you didn’t even say hi to me."
"With the way you always torment the cat, you’re lucky Chief Black Cat doesn’t bite you," Feng Hao teased. He slowed his pace to follow closely behind Chief Black Cat.
Before long, they arrived at the main hall. Xiyue Feng stood at the entrance to greet them, his expressionless face doing little to detract from his usual dashing and debonair appearance.
"You brat! You actually dare to show your face at my home?" Xiyue Feng demanded, his eyes full of heartache. "Do you have any idea how furious Xiaoshuang was after losing to you?"
"Ahem... Are you suggesting I should have lost to her on purpose?" Feng Hao retorted, pursing his lips. "Wouldn’t that have been an even bigger blow to her pride?"
"Enough with your twisted logic! Anyone who bullies my precious daughter is a bastard," Xiyue Feng fumed.
A dark line formed on Feng Hao’s forehead. ’Come to think of it, I never realized Xiyue Feng was this overprotective of his daughter.’
The atmosphere suddenly turned strange. Fortunately, Xi Yueyao was there. Seeing the two bickering, she rushed forward, wrapped her arms around Xiyue Feng’s, and wheedled, "Daddy, it’s his first time visiting our home. Can’t you be a little nicer?"
"First time? I wish it was his first time here!" Xiyue Feng said through gritted teeth, full of resentment.
Hearing this, Feng Hao’s heart leaped into his throat. ’It looks like Xiyue Feng suspected I was involved in that theft last time.’
Xi Yueyao blinked her eyes in surprise. "Feng Hao’s been to our house before? How come I didn’t know?"
"You’re always out fooling around. What would you know?" Xiyue Feng said, disappointed she wasn’t more perceptive.
Feng Hao stepped forward with a nervous laugh. "That whole business before was just a misunderstanding. There’s no need to be so petty, is there, Brother Xiyue?"
"Oh, really? So I’m not allowed to be angry when you bully my precious daughter, is that it?" Xiyue Feng’s eyes went wide as he glared.
"..." Feng Hao was speechless.
Just then, two graceful figures, one old and one young, emerged from the inner hall. It was West Moon Ridge and Xiyue Frost. A few months had passed, and Xiyue Frost seemed to have lost a lot of weight. Her entire being radiated an incomparably sharp aura.
"Xiaofeng, you are the head of the family now. Watch your words and actions." West Moon Ridge stepped forward and shot Xiyue Feng a glare.
Facing West Moon Ridge, Xiyue Feng instantly deflated like a lamb, muttering under his breath, "Sis, I was just trying to stand up for Xiaoshuang."
"Go stand aside." West Moon Ridge retorted irritably. Her gaze fell on Feng Hao, her dark brows knitting slightly. "I hear the Thief God Hall recently established a Jinzhou Branch Hall. It seems you’ve already joined the Thief God Hall, haven’t you?"
"That’s right." Feng Hao nodded honestly. Because West Moon Ridge had saved his life before, he was still very respectful towards her.
Hearing this, West Moon Ridge’s frown deepened. She paused for a moment before saying, "Since you are a guest brought by Yaoyao, my Xiyue Family will naturally host you. Come, let’s talk inside."
"Thank you, Senior." Feng Hao said his thanks softly and followed them into the hall.
Xi Yueyao beamed and rushed to West Moon Ridge’s side, saying sweetly, "Auntie is still the most reasonable one."
"You little rascal, when we’re talking later, don’t interrupt. Understand?" West Moon Ridge warned in a low voice.
"Got it." Xi Yueyao stuck out her tongue briefly, then skipped over to sit next to Xiyue Frost.
Xiyue Feng and West Moon Ridge sat on the left and right of the host’s seat, while Feng Hao sat in a side seat opposite the frosty-faced Xiyue Frost. Next to her, Xi Yueyao couldn’t stop happily making faces at him.
Feng Hao smiled wryly to himself. ’It looks like I’m about to be interrogated by the whole family, and this girl hasn’t noticed a thing.’
’Then again,’ he wondered, ’when did the Xiyue siblings realize something was up between me and Xi Yueyao? Have we been too obvious with our public displays of affection lately?’
"Brat, state your business for coming to my home," Xiyue Feng asked, his face stern.
"I’m heading to the Five States Academy for the assessment, aren’t I? I was hoping to catch a ride. We’re partners, after all. You wouldn’t say no, would you, Brother Xiyue?" Feng Hao said with a smile, suppressing the unease in his heart.
"Don’t call me ’Brother’ anymore. It’s annoying." Xiyue Feng waved his hand irritably, his expression screaming, ’I thought of you as a brother, but you went and seduced my daughter!’ He couldn’t have looked more displeased.
"So... about that ride?" Feng Hao asked, holding back a laugh.
"What else can I do? If I said no, wouldn’t Yao Girl raise all hell?" Xiyue Feng’s eyes were filled with helplessness; he looked one step away from bursting into tears.
Hearing this, Xi Yueyao couldn’t help but look smug, as if to say she carried a lot of weight in the family.
Feng Hao couldn’t be bothered with her and expressed his thanks to Xiyue Feng.
With the matter of the ride settled, the room suddenly fell silent. No one spoke. The atmosphere was exceptionally strange, making Feng Hao’s skin crawl. He had the distinct feeling that this was the calm before the storm.
After a long, oppressive silence, the usually taciturn Xiyue Frost was the first to speak. "You don’t have student status. How will you get into an Advanced Academy?"
"Oh, that? I’m applying for the Alchemy Department. I heard they don’t have a strict student status requirement," Feng Hao replied awkwardly. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
Xiyue Frost frowned and fell silent, saying no more.
From the main seat, West Moon Ridge couldn’t help but ask, "It’s true the Advanced Academy’s Alchemy Department doesn’t have a strict student status requirement. However, as far as I know, the minimum requirement for any academy’s Alchemy Department is to be a Level 4 Alchemist. Are you truly confident?"
"How about I refine a Tier Four Elixir for you right now, just for fun?" Feng Hao said with a confident smile.
"It seems I’ve underestimated you." West Moon Ridge paused, then nodded slightly. "If you can get into the Advanced Academy, then you’ll have passed the first test."
"Uh, what do you mean, ’the first test’?" Feng Hao asked, confused.
Xiyue Feng snapped irritably, "What do you think it means? My, Xiyue Feng’s, daughter is not someone you can just casually hit on!"
"Ahem..." Feng Hao nearly choked. ’Damn it,’ he thought. ’What’s coming has finally come.’
Beside them, Xi Yueyao finally realized the gravity of the situation. She shyly lowered her head and began fiddling with her fingers, both overjoyed and flustered.
Now that they were on the main topic, everyone present had a different expression. As the elders, Xiyue Feng and West Moon Ridge were naturally solemn about the matter. Xiyue Frost, however, remained as frosty as ever, her thoughts impossible to guess.
Only Chief Black Cat, lying guard outside the door, looked relaxed, occasionally casting a few appreciative glances at Feng Hao.
"May I ask what the second test is?" Since the topic was out in the open, Feng Hao saw no reason to beat around the bush and asked directly.
West Moon Ridge frowned. "The second test, of course, concerns your strength and your future. Before my return, your current strength would have been considered up to standard. But now that I am back, you are far from it."
"Although I don’t have a good impression of the Thief God Hall, in the Ancient Cang Realm, it is indeed a formidable power. If you can one day achieve the position of Palace Master or higher within the Thief God Hall, then you will have passed the second test," West Moon Ridge said, her brow deeply furrowed.
"This junior understands." Feng Hao nodded solemnly. For a man determined to reach the pinnacle, such a small goal was nothing at all.
"As for your strength, I’m not too worried. After all, a Mage who can awaken their bloodline at the first tier is bound to have a promising future." A rare hint of satisfaction appeared on West Moon Ridge’s face, and she smiled faintly. "As for the third test... never mind. We’ll talk about it when the time comes."
"..." Feng Hao was speechless once again.
’Holy hell, so it’s going to be one test after another! Aren’t they just vetting a potential son-in-law? Do they have to be so damn ruthless about it?’
