Chapter Eight: Pushed Beyond Endurance

Inscribed upon the plaque of that residence were the characters “Yu Residence,” with Yu Yang’s signature alongside.
“This is Yu Yang’s home,” Xu Lan remarked.
Chu Feng’s mind was a jumble of emotions. Never did he expect that, by chance, he would find himself here. Was this a fateful encounter arranged by destiny?
Suddenly, chaos erupted on the street. Chu Feng turned and saw, not far away, six boys around fifteen or sixteen years old chasing another youth of similar age.
All seven wore identical silver robes, with the character “Xuan” embroidered on their chests.
Each was manifesting spiritual power—some with a spirit form as clear as water, some red as fire, some earthy in hue. For a moment, spiritual techniques flew about, and the onlookers, terrified, quickly retreated.
Chu Feng instantly understood: these were all trainees from the Xuan Division of the Spirit Warrior Pavilion.
On the path of cultivation, spiritual manifestation was only the foundation. Newcomers, after entering the novice division, had to awaken their spiritual attributes—metal, wood, earth, and so forth—before they could be called Spirit Warriors, specifically, First Rank Earth Spirit Warriors.
Upon becoming Spirit Warriors, trainees were sorted by talent and potential into four divisions—Heaven, Earth, Xuan, and Huang. The Heaven Division was for the elite; most could only continue their training in the Huang Division, which held the majority of Spirit Warriors.
The besieged youth was about sixteen, with a lean face and a resolute expression. He fought and retreated, but suffered repeated blows, his clothes stained with blood.
Finally, the boy was nearly backed against the wall of the Yu Residence. Though chaos raged around him, no one intervened—not even the patrolling soldiers, who stood by indifferent. Chu Feng realized that someone among the six attackers must have powerful backing.
Six against one—Chu Feng was indignant. If only he had the strength, he would have rushed to the boy’s aid.
At this moment, the middle-aged man at the Yu Residence gate was alarmed. He dashed out, his face ashen, wanting to intervene but not daring to approach. He could only cry out from the side, “Please, don’t hurt my young master! Please, stop!”
So the besieged youth was a scion of the Yu family!
Yet the six paid him no heed. Soon, the boy could retreat no further. Under their fierce assault, he could not withstand them. Blood spurted from his mouth, and he could no longer stand.
Among the six, a tall, somewhat stout youth pressed the Yu family boy’s head under his foot, spat on him, and sneered, “The Yu family? Hmph, so this is all you are!”
The other five laughed coldly, spat on the Yu youth as well, then strode off with disdain.
Only then did the middle-aged man rush over to help the boy up.
The youth was humiliated, fighting back tears—this was clearly not the first time he’d been bullied.
“One day, the Yu family will rise to glory again!” he shouted with all his might, but the six were already far away.
The crowd buzzed with discussion and sighs. Seated atop his horse, Chu Feng too seethed with anger. From their chatter, he learned that the tall, stout youth was from the Eastern King clan.
“The Eastern Kings are indeed arrogant and domineering—this is beyond bullying!” Chu Feng said coldly.
Xu Lan sighed, “The Yu family only moved to the Holy City later and have few members. I’ve heard it’s just Yu Yang and his younger brother. The family’s former glory was held up by Yu Yang alone, but their foundation was shallow. Now, Yu Yang has been missing for fifteen years, and the Yu family’s decline is inevitable. If not for the decree by the Human Elders forbidding anyone from harming the Yu family, they would not have lasted this long.”
Though the elders’ decree forbade taking the Yu family’s lives, other powers still suppressed them openly or covertly—especially the Eastern King clan, whose leader was himself a Saint Spirit Warrior. The Yu family, weak and few, stood no chance against them.

Chu Feng understood that the Yu family had suffered much over the years. Recalling the debt he owed Yu Yang, he felt powerless witnessing the humiliation of his kinsman.
He could not help but wonder, “Could it be that Senior Yu Yang is truly gone, and only by chance did his spirit attach itself to my little sword?”
Not until several people from the Yu Residence came out and carried the youth inside did Chu Feng sigh and spur his horse away.
Night fell gradually. The streets were ablaze with lights; everywhere was lively, with no sign of rest.
Chu Feng and Xu Lan rode for nearly another hour, finally passing through several winding alleys to reach their destination.
The Xu Residence was set in a relatively quiet area, yet the house itself was grand. The gates were closed, only a few lanterns glowing at the entrance.
The Xu family had been in the Holy City for generations, mainly engaged in commerce. Though not a great clan, their lives were prosperous. Through the years, only Xu Lan had shown exceptional talent, achieving much in cultivation, earning military merit in his youth, and later becoming a city lord.
The two dismounted. Xu Lan stepped forward and knocked. After a moment, the door half opened, and a young man emerged—a servant of the Xu household.
“May I ask who calls at this hour?” the servant asked respectfully, mindful that in the Holy City, one might at any moment encounter a person of rank.
“I am Xu Lan,” the old man declared.
The servant was momentarily stunned, then startled. Though he’d only served at the Xu Residence two years and never met Xu Lan, he’d heard the name—wasn’t the old master Xu Lan himself?
“You are the Old Master!” the young man exclaimed, visibly excited.
Xu Lan nodded. “Is Xu Hong at home?”
Xu Hong was his eldest son, now the head of the family.
The servant nodded repeatedly, “Yes, sir, the master is in the house. Please, Old Master, come in!”
“It’s been ten years,” Xu Lan sighed, a touch of sorrow in his voice, and led Chu Feng inside.
The entire Xu household was thrown into commotion; none could remain calm. News of the disaster at Gu Lin City had long spread, and the Xu family had been anxious for days. Now, with the old master safely returned, joy and tears broke out among them.
In the great hall, the Xu family gathered. Xu Lan, seeing his descendants—especially his grandchildren—was deeply moved.
Soon, fine food and wine were laid out, and all took their seats.
Xu Lan sat at the head, pulling Chu Feng to his right, with Xu Hong to his left.
This arrangement left many uncomfortable. Such a young boy, and already seated at the place of honor?
Yet, out of respect for Xu Lan, no one showed it on their faces; none wished to spoil the joyous mood.
In truth, Chu Feng had only learned a little etiquette from his time with Xu Lan; he had no idea that seating was arranged by age.
Xu Lan picked up his chopsticks, selected a chicken leg, and placed it in Chu Feng’s bowl. “After all that travel, you must be hungry—eat up!”

By now, Chu Feng was famished. He answered promptly, and, without using chopsticks, grabbed the chicken leg and devoured it.
Xu Lan smiled gently and began to eat as well.
As for the others, they were stunned by Chu Feng’s unrestrained manner. Inwardly, they all thought, “How crude!”
Noticing everyone looking at him and not eating, Chu Feng paused, glanced at Xu Lan, and asked, “Why isn’t anyone else eating?”
Xu Lan replied with a smile, “They’ve already had their dinner.”
“Oh,” Chu Feng said, then picked up a piece of stewed pork trotter with his chopsticks, and, grabbing it with his hand, ate with gusto, his actions utterly unrestrained.
Unable to draw upon the world’s spiritual energy to nourish himself, though blessed with a powerful physique, Chu Feng’s appetite far exceeded that of ordinary people. Coupled with his hunger, he devoured his food like a whirlwind.
The others at the table could barely conceal their contempt. They thought the boy utterly lacking in manners. What left them speechless was the old master’s loving gesture, serving him food—he’d never treated them so kindly before. Had the old man changed over the years?
Xu Hong and the others had already eaten, but had hoped to share a few cups with their long-absent father. Now, all desire for celebration was gone.
Among the grandchildren, all were dumbfounded, both scornful and envious—none had ever been treated so indulgently.
The eldest was a fourteen-year-old girl in a pink dress. Her lively eyes stared daggers at Chu Feng, wishing she could kill him with a glance—never had she seen such coarse table manners.
Sensing her gaze, Chu Feng gave her a small smile, then returned to his feast.
The girl in pink glared at him and muttered, “Barbarian!”
Though her voice was quiet, Chu Feng still heard it. Of course he understood her meaning. He’d already sensed the others’ disapproval of his eating, but having never been subject to restraint, and having done his best to learn proper manners of late, he saw no reason to deny himself even at mealtime.
Chu Feng smiled and said, “This is called being forthright. You should try it yourself—it’s quite enjoyable.” With that, he resumed eating.
The girl thought to herself, “I’m a young lady! If I ate like that, I’d be a savage!” She felt this was an insult, and her anger flared. Clenching her little fists, she rose and complained to Xu Lan, “Grandfather, who is this wild boy? He’s bullying me!”
“Yan’er, mind your manners,” Xu Hong, seated at Xu Lan’s left, said calmly—merely a show of propriety.
So, the girl in pink was named Xu Yan, Xu Hong’s daughter.
Though everyone present struggled to endure the scene, out of respect for Xu Lan, they kept their feelings to themselves. Xu Yan, spirited and outspoken, voiced what the others would not, saying, “But it’s true!”
As she spoke, she shot Chu Feng a fierce glare, clearly wishing she could strike him if not for the elders present.
“You child… sigh,” Xu Hong muttered and said nothing more, though his gaze lingered on Xu Lan.
Now, many at the table looked to the old master as well, hoping he would say something—though what they truly wanted to know was the mysterious youth’s identity.