Chapter 9: A New Home, a Violent Encounter, and a Secret Request

Several days had passed in a blink since Hu Junan’s arrival in Tianmen Village.

He, along with Uncle Wu and Wǔ Xīyǔ, had moved into a dilapidated wooden cabin nestled by the woods.

The walls of the cabin were constructed from irregularly bound logs, while its roof was a mere collection of rotting thatch, devoid of even a single tile.

Inside, the conditions were even more appalling, with virtually no natural light and a pervasive, unpleasant smell of mildew hanging in the air.

Spiders, it seemed, had become the true occupants.

Yet, despite such an unimaginably harsh environment, the trio’s collective efforts had transformed the cabin from the inside out.

The original logs of the walls were replaced with sturdy planks, reinforced on the exterior with a layer of bricks.

The roof received a fresh covering of newly cut thatch, and a respectable courtyard, enclosed by a fence, now graced the front of the house.

The wooden cabin was hardly spacious, barely accommodating a few simple pieces of furniture.

Upon opening the door, a square wooden table immediately caught the eye, flanked by a wooden chair on either side.

To the right lay two beds, separated by a tall screen, while the left side housed a rudimentary stove.

A crudely made, low-legged stool rested to one side, a firewood basket huddled in a corner, and a large pile of thatch for kindling lay nearby.

The layout appeared exceedingly compact.

Nevertheless, this seemingly modest dwelling evoked an entirely different sensation in Hu Junan, much like… a home he had once possessed.

One day, an uninvited guest arrived at their home, laden with gifts in numerous bags and packages.

“Get out—!!!”

However, not long after, a roar erupted, and Yao Tian, along with all the gifts he had brought, was unceremoniously thrown out.

“Hiss—”

Staggering up from the mud, he brushed the dirt from his clothes, then resentfully gathered the scattered gifts.

“Ouch… I knew I shouldn’t have come; I’m just asking for trouble,” he muttered.

With that, he turned and began walking back towards Tianmen Village.

Perhaps it was fate, for he hadn’t gone far when he saw Wǔ Xīyǔ approaching, carrying a basket of wild mushrooms and chatting cheerfully with Hu Junan.

Witnessing this sight, a torrent of fury erupted within Yao Tian, like a savage dog breaking free from its cage.

Without a second thought, he lunged towards them, covering the distance in a few swift strides.

By the time he regained his senses, the unsuspecting Hu Junan had already been knocked to the ground by a single punch, utterly unable to react.

“Ugh…”

Hu Junan was stunned by the blow, remaining seated on the ground for a long moment, unable to recover, a metallic taste of rust filling his mouth.

“Xiao Tian, you’ve gone too far! Stop it now!”

Seeing this, Wǔ Xīyǔ quickly dropped her basket and unhesitatingly shielded Hu Junan.

Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, Hu Junan suppressed a wince of pain and struggled to his feet.

“You’re a big guy,” he challenged, “why resort to violence immediately? Do you dare to face me directly?”

Wǔ Xīyǔ interjected, “Junan, don’t say anything more…”

“Fine!” Yao Tian thumped his chest. “A direct confrontation, to the death! Are you in?”

“Xiao Tian, you shouldn’t say anything either!”

No sooner had the words left her lips than Yao Tian, his face contorted in a ferocious snarl, swung his fist.

He shoved the delicate Wǔ Xīyǔ aside and darted towards Hu Junan, looking as though he intended to beat him to death.

However, his punches, though powerful, lacked speed, allowing Hu Junan to dodge them one after another.

“Watch my ‘Crow Sits on a Plane’!” Hu Junan declared at that moment, executing a soaring move that instantly pinned the unstable Yao Tian to the ground.

Then, with lightning speed, he used a grappling technique to restrain Yao Tian’s arms.

“You, you, you, where did you learn such an evil martial art? What ‘something sits on a plane’?”

“From TV.”

“Let me go!”

“Do you take me for a fool? Let you go so you can keep hitting me?”

“I promise I won’t hit you! Just let me go quickly!”

Hu Junan replied coldly, “No.”

“Let me go!!!”

No matter how Yao Tian struggled, Hu Junan refused to release him, for he didn’t trust this hot-tempered giant to let him off easily.

“By the way, big guy, I advise you not to struggle so fiercely, or you might just permanently injure your arm if you exert too much force.”

“Let me go, you damn demon! I’ll tear you to shreds…”

Wǔ Xīyǔ quickly stepped forward to mediate. “Junan, stop fighting! Please let him go?”

“Alright.”

The moment she spoke, Hu Junan, without a word of negotiation, promptly released Yao Tian, then swiftly retreated several steps to put distance between them.

“Big guy, let’s consider this a friendly spar to get acquainted,” Hu Junan said. “Allow me to introduce myself: I am Hu Junan, from Donghua Kingdom.”

Yao Tian stumbled to his feet, rubbing his aching shoulder, and replied with a disgruntled expression, “My name is Yao Tian.”

“That’s better,” Wǔ Xīyǔ chimed in, seizing the opportunity to smooth things over. “None of us are bad people, so there’s no need to let things get so tense.”

Yao Tian said nothing further, simply picked up his scattered gifts, and turned to depart in the direction of Tianmen Village.

As he watched Yao Tian’s retreating back, a fleeting look of worry crossed Wǔ Xīyǔ’s face, while Hu Junan, conversely, wore an expression of relief.

He clutched his reddened cheek and muttered under his breath, “Hmph—jumping straight to violence, utterly devoid of any human decency.”

“He’s always been like this,” Wǔ Xīyǔ said, a hint of helplessness in her smile. “With his grandfather backing him, he never has to consider the consequences of his actions; he simply does as he pleases.”

“No wonder,” Hu Junan remarked, bending down to pick up the wild mushrooms from the ground. “It’s normal for someone like that, who’s been protected since childhood, to be so arrogant.”

“Shall I apply a cold compress for you when we get back?”

“Yes, please.”

Inadvertently, Hu Junan noticed Wǔ Língfēng leaning against the doorway, watching him with a rare, faint smile playing on his lips.

“You scoundrel,” Wǔ Língfēng chuckled, “with your thin arms and legs, I never would’ve thought you knew a thing or two about fighting.”

Hu Junan scratched the back of his head, offering an embarrassed smile. “I wouldn’t say I ‘trained’; I just picked things up haphazardly. I’m surprised it actually worked.”

***

Nightfall swiftly descended upon the small coastal village.

As each household lit its candles, wisps of cooking smoke gracefully ascended into the twilight.

Wǔ Xīyǔ coiled her beautiful hair, humming a tune by the stove as she arranged pots and pans.

While preparing the ingredients, her long braid swayed involuntarily, as if the act of cooking itself was a deeply enjoyable process for her.

Before Hu Junan could even take his seat at the dining table, the aroma of the meal already permeated every inch of the air.

Moreover, the intoxicating scent of wine diffused freely.

“Wow… Uncle Wu, your wine is quite pungent!”

“Amateur,” Wǔ Língfēng scoffed. “Naturally, the more mellow and fragrant the wine, the better. What’s the difference between a bland wine and plain water?”

As he spoke, Wǔ Língfēng took his seat at the table and, picking up the wine pot, poured a bowl for Hu Junan.

“You scoundrel, I recall you used to call me ‘Big Brother.’ Why the sudden change to ‘Uncle’ recently?”

Hu Junan’s expression turned awkward.

“Initially, I thought there wasn’t much difference in our ages,” he explained, “but I changed it to reflect proper seniority and etiquette.

I was afraid that if I kept calling you ‘Big Brother,’ it would confuse our relationship.”

“Hehehe…” Wǔ Língfēng raised an eyebrow. “I think you deliberately didn’t want to be addressed as brothers, which is why you suddenly changed your address, isn’t it?”

“No, no, no,” Hu Junan shook his head. “I just…”

Before he could finish, Wǔ Língfēng poured himself a bowl of wine and, smiling, said, “Have a bowl.”

“Alright, but I’m not much of a drinker, so one bowl should be fine…”

To avoid embarrassing himself, Hu Junan held his breath and drained the bowl of wine in one gulp.

As expected, a disgusting alcoholic aftertaste lingered on his tongue, his throat immediately burned as if scorched, and his stomach churned violently, leaving him utterly uncomfortable.

“Cough, cough, cough—”

“Slow down,” Wǔ Língfēng said, reaching out to pat his back. “This wine is potent; be careful not to black out.”

With a blink of his eyes, his head suddenly spun, feeling even more potent than a quick-acting pesticide.

“I need a moment to recover…”

“Here, have a couple bites of food to line your stomach,” Wǔ Língfēng offered, unhesitatingly grabbing a piece of boiled pork with his bare hand and holding it out to him. “Wouldn’t want you passing out before dinner.”

“It won’t come to that…”

Hu Junan said, though the objects before him were already blurring, and his reactions had slowed considerably.

“By the way,” Wǔ Língfēng continued, “you said you’re from Donghua Kingdom. Is it far from here?”

“Perhaps not far… or perhaps quite far, I’m not really sure.” Hu Junan found himself swaying his head involuntarily.

Wǔ Língfēng nodded upon hearing this. “Hmm, I suppose your hometown must indeed be quite distant, otherwise I wouldn’t have never even heard of it.”

“Alas—if only I could return home, I wouldn’t be causing you so much trouble…”

Wǔ Língfēng swirled the wine in his pot, silent for a moment, then asked, “Junan, if you ever find a way to return home, could you do me a favor?”

“Just say the word, Uncle Wu,” Hu Junan replied. “You saved my life; I’ll do my utmost for anything within my power!”

Having said this, the disoriented Hu Junan could no longer bear it and slumped down for a brief nap.

“I want to ask you a favor… Take Xiyu to live in Donghua Kingdom, and never return.”

“…”

“Junan?”

“…”

Hu Junan remained unresponsive, his entire face flushed crimson to the tips of his ears; it appeared he had completely blacked out.

“What are you two chatting about?”

Just then, Wǔ Xīyǔ finished her tasks and approached, carrying bowls and chopsticks.

“Nothing at all,” Wǔ Língfēng stammered, his body jolting as if he’d received an electric shock, spilling a significant amount of wine from his bowl.

“Just casual chatter, that’s all. Let’s eat, let’s eat!”

“Junan?” Wǔ Xīyǔ gently shook the unresponsive Hu Junan, only to find him rolling his eyes, his entire body reeking of potent alcohol.

“Junan… Junan!!!”

And just like that, Hu Junan completely blacked out, earning himself the title of ‘One-Bowl Wonder’.