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"Crystal coin mine!" Miao Yi exclaimed, and the excitement on his face was visibly apparent. He hastily got to his feet and thanked him. "Big Brother, you’ve done so much for me and treated me like I was your biological brother. I don’t know how I can repay you, so I will simply offer you my thanks for now. I will definitely return the favor someday!"

However, deep down, he grumbled, ’You sure know how to put it nicely. I risked my life in the Sea of Constellations to earn this reward. And now it’s become a ’favor’ from you? Do you think I need to come look for you to find a profitable area to take up post?’ Miao Yi felt conflicted deep down, as he was already planning on standing Wu Menglan up, and now he had to deal with Huo Lingxiao as well.

Huo Lingxiao smiled and pulled Miao Yi down to his seat, saying, "It’s all my fault. It’s because I didn’t want anyone to find out about our relationship and say that I’m biased towards you. To think this decision has almost cost me dearly. From now on, your Big Brother won’t worry about keeping this a secret any longer. So what if the others find out about our relationship? Little Brother, just relax and stay within the Traversing Moon Palace. It doesn’t matter if you stay in Suppressing Second Hall or not. I can still put in a few good words in front of the Palace Lord for you. I know all the other Hall Masters as well. I believe that they’ll be willing to do me this favor and make sure you’re safe."

"Little Brother is eternally grateful!" Miao Yi cupped his fists repeatedly, seeming as though he didn’t know how to express his thanks to Huo Lingxiao. He added, "I hope that Big Brother will take care of me in the future then."

’Easily settled!’ Huo Lingxiao was secretly relieved. He waved his hand and said, "We’re a family. You don’t have to speak so formally. It’ll feel too distant between us if you continue to be like this. From now on, there is no need for such formalities between us brothers!"

"I’m relieved to hear you say that, Big Brother. I had originally come here to visit the Hall Master to complain about a problem, but I was worried about how to explain it. Now that I know Big Brother is the Hall Master of Suppressing Second Hall, I might have to trouble you to help me get payback!" Miao Yi said angrily.

"Get payback?" Huo Lingxiao was taken aback.

Without another word, Miao Yi immediately placed a bunch of jade archives on the teapoy. He then said, "You’ll know once you read through all of this. These people have simply pushed me too far!"

Huo Lingxiao sternly took up one of the jade archives and examined it.

He examined jade archive after jade archive. And as he read through each one, his expression gradually darkened. Once he was done looking through all of them, he slammed down on the teapoy and stood up furiously, saying, "This is outrageous! The three major sects have gone too far!"

’Don’t try to avoid the main agenda by saying pointless things. I’m here precisely to make Shen Fenghua pay!’ Miao Yi thought. He then stood up and said, "Calm yourself, Big Brother. The three major sects aren’t worth mentioning. I’ve already killed all their members stationed in Mount Calming Sea. We do not need to hold a grudge against a bunch of dead men!"

"..." Huo Lingxiao stared at Miao Yi in shock. His expression was all over the place as he thought, ’That useless Fan Zizhang. Why didn’t he mention this to me just now?’ He then asked, "You killed all the members of the three major sects under you? How many died?"

Miao Yi replied, "Not too many. Just around ninety of them."

Beside them, Tian Yu was dumbfounded. ’That’s still not too many?’

Huo Lingxiao’s face instantly turned gloomy as he said, "Little Brother, are you kidding me? I was also a Mountain Chieftain once. How many people do you think there are in a single Mountain? And now you’ve killed so many of your own subordinates in a single stroke. Almost everyone is dead, and you still think that’s not a lot? Do you know what the consequences will be if you push the three major sects this far?"

Surprised by Huo Lingxiao’s response, Miao Yi asked, "Big Brother! Are you saying that I can’t kill those who have committed insubordination, plotted conspiracies, as well as defied a superior’s orders? Are you telling me that I was wrong to kill them?"

Huo Lingxiao sighed. "I’m not saying you’re wrong in killing them. I’m just telling you to think things through before doing them. The forces of the three major sects can be found all over the Fifth Earthly Branch. Not to mention, their respective Sect Masters are the Overlord’s frequent guests and highly distinguished ones at that. What you did will affect your future badly."

Huo Lingxiao was beside himself with regret. ’If I’d known you would do something like this, I would have never told you my true identity. If people find out we’re sworn brothers after this, the three major sects will surely think that I was backing you up. How else could someone be bold enough to do such a thing...’

"Don’t worry, Big Brother. I will take responsibility for my own actions. I already have the solution to my dispute with the three major sects. I have here all their written testimonies. I doubt they’ll be able to refute anything on this incident." Miao Yi was prepared to put this sworn brotherhood of theirs to good use. Why shouldn’t he strike while the iron was hot? He quickly cupped his fists and said, "Let me ask you this, Big Brother. If someone were to barge into my territory and boss my people around demanding for bribes and even go so far as to bully my women, will you help me get justice?"

Huo Lingxiao knew nothing good could come from revealing his identity to Miao Yi, which was why he’d kept it a secret all this time. And indeed, the moment he told Miao Yi the truth, trouble came knocking on his door! Huo Lingxiao’s face couldn’t help twisting in dismay as he asked curiously, "You’re talking about Shen Fenghua? What do you intend to do with him?"

Huo Lingxiao soon realized that he was asking a dumb question. This bastard had even killed over ninety of his own subordinates. What else could he have come here to do?

Miao Yi immediately pointed to Tian Yu and said angrily, "Dare I ask you, Big Brother, if Shen Fenghua were to drag along Tian Yu and Liu Xing for a drink, and not only treated them disrespectfully but even desired to take them to bed, how would you punish him then?"

’Damn it, do you think you can compare yourself to me? How could Shen Fenghua possibly dare to touch my women!’ Huo Lingxiao was incredibly irritated, but he could only keep such thoughts to himself and not say them out loud. The other party was his own sworn brother. If he were to voice out his feelings, he would be no better than an animal!

The evidence was solid as steel! With so many written testimonies, what else could he possibly do? Huo Lingxiao slowly sat down, then said grimly, "Have Shen Fenghua come and see me!"

"Understood!" Tian Yu acknowledged the order and left.

"Don’t be angry, Big Brother. It’s not worth getting agitated over a person like this!" Miao Yi extended his arm and said, "Have some tea!"

Musing quietly to himself, Huo Lingxiao gave a simple "Oh." in reply. As he lifted the cup of tea, he felt a little off somehow. Who was the master of the house again? Casting a sidelong glance at Miao Yi gulping down the tea unreservedly, Huo Lingxiao was completely speechless. ’Do you really think of yourself as my actual brother?’

Soon, the chubby Shen Fenghua was sauntering along obediently behind Tian Yu.

As he waited in the courtyard to be granted entry, Shen Fenghua felt a little restless somehow. He felt that he treated Tian Yu quite well on a normal basis, but for some reason, her face today was completely tense when looking at him. He had tried asking why the Hall Master was looking for him, but it was to no avail either. Instead, she simply gave him a couple of snide remarks. This was clearly not normal, and it had Shen Fenghua’s nerves completely on edge.

"Master, Shen Fenghua is already waiting outside!" Tian Yu came in and reported.

"Hmph!" Huo Lingxiao huffed as he stood up, then walked towards the door.

Tian Yu watched as Miao Yi also stood up and arrogantly followed behind the Hall Master with hands behind his back, and she couldn’t help grumbling a little deep down.

Huo Lingxiao wore a solemn expression as he stood at the top of the steps facing the gate, casting an icy gaze at Shen Fenghua down below.

Truth be told, he didn’t want anything bad to happen to Shen Fenghua—the man would always have a way to gain his favor and would always do exactly as he was told. Huo Lingxiao couldn’t find a more obedient subordinate than him. It wasn’t as though Shen Fenghua was a capable individual. It’s just that during the times when Huo Lingxiao had to humble himself in front of his superiors, he took respite in knowing that he too had a dog of a servant beneath him that followed his every bidding. This made Huo Lingxiao feel like he was still a person somehow, and that his life wasn’t completely meaningless. This was why he liked Shen Fenghua!

"Hall Master!" Shen Fenghua’s fat stature wobbled about as he nodded and bowed in a servile manner. He then stepped forward in a sycophantic manner and asked, "What would you ask of this subordinate?"

Huo Lingxiao was about to answer, but he was too late. Someone behind him had already replied on his behalf, "Deacon Shen, long time no see. You’re looking much better than I last saw you. Do you still remember who I am?"

Miao Yi circled around from behind Huo Lingxiao and stood next to him with hands behind his back. Huo Lingxiao was a little lost for words as he tilted his head to look at him.

Startled, Shen Fenghua felt the person before him seemed very familiar somehow. He quickly remembered, pointing to Miao Yi in surprise as he asked, "You’re Mount Calming Sea’s Mountain Chieftain Miao Yi? Why are you here?"

The commotion outside as well as the sound of Miao Yi’s voice had also drawn the attention of the people waiting in the side hall. They walked on over to the gates, watching in astonishment.

"And here I thought someone as well-esteemed as Deacon Shen would have forgotten all about me!" Miao Yi raised his thumb and pointed to Huo Lingxiao as he brazenly announced, "The Hall Master of Suppressing Second Hall is my sworn older brother. And you ask why I’m here?"

"AH!" Shen Fenghua exclaimed in shock. He couldn’t believe his own ears.

At the gate to the side hall, Fan Zizhang, Yan Xiu, Qian’Er, and Xue’Er were also shocked by the revelation—their suspicions had finally been confirmed.

Huo Lingxiao’s expression briefly twisted in dismay, and behind him, Tian Yu was rolling her eyes in disdain. She could finally understand why her Master had been so reluctant to reveal this sworn brother of his to the public.

"Deacon Shen, back then when you tried to get bribes from my Mount Calming Sea, I didn’t make things difficult for you out of respect for my Big Brother. I didn’t expect you would still dare to aggravate your actions even further afterward. You’re truly audacious indeed. Did you think that by hiding yourself in Suppressing Second Hall that I couldn’t do anything to you?" Miao Yi laughed coldly.

’Out of respect for me, you say. Did you even know who I was back then?’ Huo Lingxiao found Miao Yi a little insufferable. He tilted his head to look at the latter and felt a strong urge to ask him to shut up!

Shen Fenghua finally understood why the Hall Master seemed so upset. He immediately dropped down to his knees and pleaded, "Hall Master! Hall Master! This subordinate didn’t know that Master Miao was your sworn brother! I really didn’t know!"

"Do you think that you’re allowed to do as you please if he wasn’t my sworn brother then?! How would you have the rest of Suppressing Second Hall see me?!" As Huo Lingxiao swept his arm back, the pile of jade archives on the teapoy immediately shot out from the hall and dropped right in front of Shen Fenghua. Huo Lingxiao pointed at them and said, "Take a look for yourself and see if you’re being wrongly accused or not!"

As he knelt on the ground, Shen Fenghua lifted up the jade archives with his trembling hands and began looking through every one of them. The further he read, the paler his face grew, and the more his body quivered. He didn’t even finish reading half of them before he tossed them aside and completely gave up on reading any further. With tears streaming down his cheeks, he bawled, "Hall Master! This subordinate didn’t mean to do it! If I had known better, I wouldn’t dare offend Master Miao even if I was any bolder!"

Huo Lingxiao said sternly, "I asked if you admit to your crimes!"

"This subordinate wouldn’t dare make any excuses before the Hall Master. I admit to my crimes. I have always been a loyal vassal to Hall Master. I—"

Before Shen Fenghua could even finish his sentence, Miao Yi was already scoffing, "It’s good that you admit to your crimes! This saves me the trouble of having to explain myself in case you said that I accused you wrongly!" He then shot over, arms spread out before he viciously swung them down from left to right.

A series of crisp slapping sounds resounded, accompanied by Shen Fenghua’s painful wails.

In front of Huo Lingxiao, this Shen Fenghua was quite the obedient one indeed, as though he was a mouse before a cat. Miao Yi was hoping he would dodge or even retaliate a little. That way, he could use that as an excuse to terminate his life completely. However, the damned fatso didn’t budge an inch and just knelt firmly in place. He didn’t even activate his transcendence energy and simply allowed Miao Yi to violently slap him back and forth, again and again.

Shen Fenghua was completely beaten to a bloody pulp, blood running down his nose and splattering the floor with every slap. Even after his teeth were broken, he was still mumbling loudly about how loyal he was to the Hall Master.

Huo Lingxiao closed his eyes silently, ignoring what was happening before him.

As one of his most trusted aides, Tian Yu knew him all too well. She could tell from a single glance that Huo Lingxiao wasn’t being cold to Shen Fenghua, but was actually trying to protect him. His silence indicated that he was allowing Miao Yi to vent his frustration, and the more severe Miao Yi’s punishment was, the easier it would be for him to speak up on Shen Fenghua’s behalf later on.