Nameless District Arc Chapter 34: Stewed

When Zhou Xuanhong returned to the mountain gate, the number of disciples in Xingyan Sect had once again doubled. Some disciples recognized him, which drew many sideways glances and murmurs, but few paid much attention to Zhou Xuanhong's identity.

After all, these were cultivators, not fools. They at least knew Zhou Xuanhong lacked the talent and power befitting his supposed status. In this world where strength ruled, no disciple held him in high regard.

Zhou Xuanhong was indifferent to their odd looks, responding courteously where appropriate and ignoring others. As he walked back to the Sect Master's peak, he observed the disciples' allegiances: the Sect Master's faction, the Grand Elder's faction, and a small, inconsequential neutral group.

Once back at Sect Master's peak, Zhou Xuanhong entered his cabin and took out the young Blue-scaled Eagle. Gazing into its eyes, his thoughts churned, and the eagle's gaze gradually turned fearful under his scrutiny.

"Something isn't right!"

Zhou Xuanhong pondered his journey to Free City. Everything had gone too smoothly—acquiring the spirit beast, obtaining the soul-protecting treasure, even retrieving the Xingyan Sect disciple's corpse from Old Ghost Daoist. It was all too easy. Though not inherently bad, Zhou Xuanhong, ever the schemer, believed that such smoothness hid secrets yet undiscovered.

"Old Ghost Daoist is a sly fox. He wouldn't act according to my plans; he surely has contingencies to maximize his gains. But before he destroys Xingyan Sect or his own soul lamp is extinguished, he won't do anything to me. So, besides the unknown danger posed by Xu Yuqi, only the mysterious young lord of Ancient Hazel remains."

To preserve all beast bloodlines is a grand ambition for the demon race. Yet this fellow surely has designs on me. Is it only to use me to obtain the Small World of Spirit Herbs? That seems insufficient—he must want more.

What could it be?

Zhou Xuanhong had no prophetic powers; his thoughts were mere conjecture. Caution is essential, malice inevitable—his guiding principle. He must preempt Ancient Hazel's schemes, lest he be utterly consumed when the time comes.

"Ancient Hazel, from what Old Ghost Daoist said, seems to hail from an exceedingly distant place, honing himself in the Nameless Region. For us, it's a life-and-death chess game, but for him, perhaps just a pastime. But I, Zhou Xuanhong, won't let you have your way. The two gifts you gave me must be riddled with tricks—I don't believe otherwise."

If you want to experience trials, you must immerse yourself in the chessboard. I doubt I and Old Ghost Daoist can drag you in, but what about Xu Yuqi?

His mind began to unravel new intrigues, piecing together a fresh plan, and a sly smile crept onto Zhou Xuanhong's lips.

He looked again at the Blue-scaled Eagle hatchling, his smile turning increasingly wicked, making the eagle shudder.

It was already dusk. Zhou Xuanhong took the Blue-scaled Eagle and left Sect Master's peak, heading to the usual spot for dinner.

By the riverside, Kong Xiaori and Kong Xiaoyue had just arrived. They greeted Zhou Xuanhong and began preparing tonight's spirit dishes.

"Why hasn't Xu Biao come?" Zhou Xuanhong noticed Xu Biao was late, prompting some uneasy speculation.

Kong Xiaori answered casually, "He was injured by someone sent by Wang Li. He's focusing on recovery now, hoping to attend tomorrow's selection."

Zhou Xuanhong had expected this. As long as Xu Biao wasn't crippled or dead, it was fine. He had no allies in the Sect Master's faction, so Xu Biao being injured by the Grand Elder's people was only logical.

"Wang Li is too impatient. Letting Xu Biao enter the Small World of Spirit Herbs means he could be killed inside—hurting him is far less satisfying than killing."

Tonight's meat was a late-stage Qi-training Gale Wolf. Kong Xiaori had collected it from the task hall—Zhou Xuanhong had posted a daily task there for fresh beast carcasses, often brought back by inner disciples on their expeditions.

For inner disciples, this was an easy side job—earn extra by hunting beasts while completing main tasks.

Kong Xiaori sighed, "The task hall lowered your task's rank; now only outer disciples can take it. Some inner seniors found out about your task and, after returning from missions, would hunt several beasts, then rush to submit the task. They said this sharply reduced beast numbers, so now only outer disciples can take your task unless you change the target to Foundation Establishment beasts."

Zhou Xuanhong shrugged indifferently, "Let them lower it. It's useless—inner disciples can just ask outer disciples to grab the task and hand in the beast carcasses. But the hall's changes do help cut unnecessary beast losses."

He then pulled the Blue-scaled Eagle from his collar, "Let's add something to the menu tonight. Shouldn't this hatchling make a good stew?"

Kong Xiaori took the eagle, grasped its wings, and examined it, his expression odd. "A Blue-scaled Eagle hatchling? These go for hundreds of spirit stones apiece in the market. You'd stew it just like that? Such extravagance?"

Zhou Xuanhong shook his head, pointing to the eagle's bare chest, "Its racial talent is depleted. I can't be bothered to raise it—let's stew it."

Kong Xiaori scoffed, "So what if its talent's depleted? If you won't raise it, I will!"

Zhou Xuanhong shook his head, sending a mental message, "Don't mess around, there's something odd about it."

Outwardly, he said casually, "Fine, you keep it—I want nothing to do with it."

Kong Xiaori sensed something off and promptly took up a knife, slicing the eagle's neck open. Blood gushed from the wound.

The eagle let out shrill, anguished cries, sensing its life slipping away, its vertical pupils fixed on Zhou Xuanhong, full of terror and pleas for help.

Zhou Xuanhong's gaze was icy, as if the contract between him and the eagle was not a master-servant pact, but merely a livestock contract. It was not the death of a spirit beast hatchling, but the slaughter of a common animal.

Regardless of whether there was any mystery about the eagle, Zhou Xuanhong would have killed it. Its existence risked exposing him.

He had obtained the beast in Free City, and with his sensitive status, it would be easy for Xingyan Sect members to suspect his purpose there.

Despite altering his appearance at the time, many were present, including a second-generation cultivator from Five Spirit Pill Valley. If his guess was right, that cultivator would participate in the opening of the Small World of Spirit Herbs. The Blue-scaled Eagle was too distinctive a pet—exposure was inevitable.

Thus, Zhou Xuanhong would never keep the hatchling around, nor reveal it publicly. As the main culprit behind Xingyan Sect's losses, he could not afford any association with the Fierce Ghost Sect.

Zhou Xuanhong was not the archetypal protagonist from novels, rising from mediocrity and taking other "useless" companions to the peak. For instance, using his eagle hatchling to defeat his own brother's beast inside the Small World, proving that even without racial talent one could rise.

Such notions were unrealistic for Zhou Xuanhong. He preferred lurking in the shadows—that was survival. So far, no one in Xingyan Sect had tried to assassinate him. If he were a typical protagonist, after showing promise in the sect, he'd be suppressed by the Grand Elder's faction and stifled by the Sect Master's faction.

"The aroma is incredible—Blue-scaled Eagle is truly a high-grade beast, the flavor is extraordinary. Xiaori, your cooking has improved again!"

Zhou Xuanhong drank the stew made from the eagle, praising its taste without a hint of guilt. To him, it was merely a feathered animal—since it posed a risk, better to kill it now and enjoy a good meal.

As for the master-servant contract, Zhou Xuanhong had already dissolved it. As the master, he had the right to break the contract at will—otherwise, the death of a pet would cause him some minor harm.

After the meal, Zhou Xuanhong handed Kong Xiaori a jade bottle containing a black "pill."

"When you enter the Small World of Spirit Herbs, find a spot alone and open this bottle."

Kong Xiaori asked curiously, "What is it?"

Zhou Xuanhong replied briefly, "It's for contacting you. Don't ask—when the time comes, you'll know."

Leaving the riverside, Zhou Xuanhong flew toward the outer disciples' quarters; he needed to discuss plans with Xu Biao.

Meanwhile, in the Beast Pavilion of Free City, Ancient Hazel, who was cultivating, suddenly grunted, frowning.

"What happened?" The white fox, transformed into human form, asked hurriedly.

Ancient Hazel's gaze was dark. "Zhou Xuanhong stewed the Blue-scaled Eagle hatchling!"

The charming fox maiden gaped in surprise, "Did he discover the secret of the eagle?"

Ancient Hazel shook his head, "I don't think so."

Just as Ancient Hazel puzzled over this, a transmission jade flew in. After receiving its contents, his expression soured.

"Five Spirit Pill Valley, Yin Corpse Sect, and Song Mountain Sword Pavilion are pressing Xingyan Sect to open the Small World of Spirit Herbs. I recall that arrogant youth was the young lord of Five Spirit Pill Valley. With Zhou Xuanhong's caution, he absolutely won't display the eagle. If Xingyan Sect's elders learn Zhou Xuanhong went to Free City, exposure becomes likely. Thus, his killing the eagle is understandable."

The fox maiden asked, "What now? He's out of our surveillance—your plan might fail."

Ancient Hazel exhaled slowly, "No rush. The other Blue-scaled Eagle still bears my secret spell. As long as that hatchling ends up with him by accident, I doubt he'll resist. More importantly, he's only escaped my surveillance, not my control. My fake Green Lotus isn't so easy to obtain!"