Family Cultivation: My entire family are Villains-Chapter 88 - 074, The Countryman Couldn’t Help Being Frightened [Fourth Update!]

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The Supreme of the World

What this title meant and how heavy it was, Hou Yuxiao at this stage did not know, nor could he fully comprehend.

But what he could be certain of was that when he walked out of the Bai Mansion, he was floating on air, with a swagger in his step as if he were the king of Tongling County.

He had never dreamed that after two years in this world, he would somehow be associated with the title of The Supreme of the World.

No wonder... no wonder Sikong Yue always seemed so composed, as if she knew everything, even about the merits and karmic obstacles, she knew it all too well.

If I had a dad who was The Supreme of the World, I'd be the same...

Sikong Xingzhou, The Supreme of the World, tsk tsk!

While feeling astonished, Hou Yuxiao also vaguely understood why a small disturbance in Zhaoyang could move the Bailu Academy, the Wanjian Holy Sect, and the Great Jin Dynasty—the three holy lands.

Perhaps there were other reasons, but Sikong Xingzhou being The Supreme of the World was definitely a very important factor.

However, these matters had nothing to do with him at the moment. After all, he was just a small Family Head, running around trying to advance into the elite class, and of course, he wouldn't bother himself with these affairs.

Hou Yuxiao rode on the Black Cloud Colt, leaving the Bai Mansion behind, and headed toward the central area of Tongling County along the street.

With Bai Yunfan handling matters on Ding Buhai's side, what remained were only Fan Longhe and Ding Dian.

He carried the Hou Clan's petition letter and the name list with him. He would hand the name list to Ding Dian and the petition letter to Fan Longhe. They would sign it together, and finally, it would be sent to the Prefectural City for Prefectural Governor Peng Yuhu's approval. Only then would Hou Clan's promotion process into the elite class be entirely complete.

It took less than a quarter of an hour's ride before Hou Yuxiao saw three somewhat familiar buildings in front of him.

Like Zhaoyang County, the Prefectural Magistrate's Office, Shengxin Residence, and Prison Administration Office were all located in the most central area of the Prefectural City, with the Prefectural Magistrate's Office in the middle and the other two to each side.

The scale was clearly much larger than in Zhaoyang County. For instance, the Shengxin Residence here not only had a third floor, but when Hou Yuxiao looked up from downstairs, he noticed that there were quite a number of people on the second floor.

Although he was tempted to visit, pressing matters took precedence. Hou Yuxiao walked between the Prefectural Magistrate's Office and the Prison Administration Office, looked both ways, and without much deliberation, headed straight for the Prison Administration Office on the right.

"Excuse me, are you Mr. Hou Yuxiao, the Family Head of the Hou Clan of Zhaoyang?"

Hou Yuxiao had just approached when two gatekeepers from the Prison Administration Office came over. His identity being recognized so quickly startled him, but he calmly nodded and politely said, "Could you please inform him that Hou Yuxiao of Zhaoyang wishes to see Deputy Magistrate Ding?"

The servant, seeing Hou Yuxiao's politeness, was surprised for a moment and hastily waved his hands with an embarrassed smile, saying, "Family Head Hou need not be so formal. Magistrate Ding has already been informed of your visit today. He specifically ordered us to take you directly to see him without any announcement. Please, Family Head Hou, follow me."

Falling in behind the servant, Hou Yuxiao entered the Prison Administration Office and immediately sensed the presence of only five or six warriors of the Gang Qi Realm. He was inwardly on alert. But before he could relax, he felt a powerful aura probing him, causing the hairs on his body to stand on end.

He had sensed this powerful presence countless times in Zhaoyang County, coming from Sikong Yue and Gu Chenfeng.

The True Qi that only a warrior of the Grandmaster Realm would possess...

It was clear who was scrutinizing him now!

Hou Yuxiao was taken to a hall, and after he was led there, the servant gestured for him to stay and withdrew. Raising his head slightly, Hou Yuxiao saw an elderly man with graying hair and a thin face sitting upright in the superior seat of the hall.

Despite his aged appearance, his eyes were incredibly sharp. The cold gleam in his pupils was unsettling to anyone who saw it.

Not to mention that Hou Yuxiao was currently under his gaze. Although he knew that Ding Dian wouldn't act against him, facing that stare was still tremendously pressurizing.

"You've got quite some nerve to come to see me first!"

Ding Dian's voice was deep and powerful, full of authority, which seemed at odds with his severe and sharp appearance.

The question carried a hint of the Grandmaster's presence. As the top expert of the city, it was natural for Hou Yuxiao to feel apprehensive. However, he quickly grasped the meaning of Ding Dian's words.

He supposedly had animosity toward Cheng Yue and by extension should naturally clash with Ding Dian. The first person he should have visited in the city would have been County Magistrate Fan Longhe.

"My loyalty to the Holy Church and to the Holy Maiden is as discernible as daylight. Lord Fan and Magistrate Ding both serve the Holy Church, so there's no need to draw lines between us. I am aware of my misunderstandings with Brother Cheng, which is why I have come to see Deputy Magistrate Ding first, hoping for your understanding and forgiveness," Hou Yuxiao quickly interjected, inadvertently mentioning Sikong Yue in his first sentence.

His intention of not wanting to antagonize Ding Dian was genuine, as Ding Dian was different from Cheng Yue. Ding Dian was a true Master, and it would do the Hou Family no good to offend him. Choosing to see him first was indeed an attempt at peace.

Ding Dian seemed to understand his meaning, his sharp eyes softening slightly as he began to show a trace of appreciation for Hou Yuxiao.

This chapter is updated by freēwēbnovel.com.

"Indeed, you understand the bigger picture. No wonder the Holy Maiden said you could be of great use. My disciple has been with me since he was young, untouched by hardship. Compared to you, he is indeed a bit naive!"

Seeing Ding Dian's attitude soften, Hou Yuxiao quickly sought to seize the opportunity, "You overstate my abilities, Magistrate Ding. Brother Cheng's strength is evident to all. It is to my shame that had it not been for Brother Cheng engaging Tian Linong that day, I would have neither the ability nor the fortune to confront Tian Linong. The acclaim for defeating Tian Linong should rightly belong to Brother Cheng.

That day I was curious as to who could have taught such an outstanding disciple as Brother Cheng. After learning of your esteemed name, the Divine Illumination Law King, everything suddenly became clear to me, truly exemplifying the saying, 'A great teacher produces a great student!'"

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As he spoke these words, Ding Dian's gaze softened even more…

Flattery will get you everywhere!

"All right, with the Holy Maiden backing you, I won't make things difficult for you. Bring me the Hou Family's petition for sealing and the roster, and I'll sign it for you."

Hou Yuxiao's heart brimmed with joy at the success of his flattery. He hurriedly took out the documents and the roster from inside his robe, intending to hand them over to Ding Dian.

"Master, your disciple requests an audience!"

Seeing Ding Dian suddenly stop moving, Hou Yuxiao's heart sank, but he couldn't say anything. He retracted the documents and the roster.

Cheng Yue slowly walked in from behind him, looking at Hou Yuxiao with undisguised loathing.

"Master, didn't the Holy Maiden say Hou Yuxiao could be greatly useful? In my opinion, he is nothing but a lowly and shameless villain, who must have used some means to temporarily deceive the Holy Maiden,

I wish to challenge him to a fair contest. If I lose, then it proves that the Holy Maiden's judgment is correct. If he cannot even beat me, then this so-called promotion of the Hou Clan to the major clans is a joke, and I will certainly expose this vile villain's true face in front of the Holy Maiden!"

Called a vile villain again and again, Hou Yuxiao's expression remained unchanged, his gaze fixed on Ding Dian since Cheng Yue wasn't the one calling the shots.

Watching Ding Dian remain silent for a long time without a word, Hou Yuxiao's heart gradually sank.

In the end, he was still at someone else's mercy. Relying only on sweet talk seemed indeed unreliable.

He had flattered for so long, thinking Ding Dian had really taken it to heart, but Cheng Yue's words had silenced Ding Dian immediately. Seeing this, Hou Yuxiao realized that the two must have colluded beforehand, perhaps even putting on a performance right before his eyes.

Hou Yuxiao turned to look at Cheng Yue, anger welling up inside him, yet before his master, he could only swallow his fury.

"Brother Cheng, it's all just a misunderstanding. Why make it so ugly? Let me host a banquet at the Shengxin Residence as an apology to you, hoping you won't make it difficult for me. What do you say?"

This deference only increased the scorn in Cheng Yue's eyes as he mocked, "You were so tough and capable in Zhaoyang County, weren't you? How come you're so pathetic here in the prefectural city?"

Hou Yuxiao did not respond.

"How about this, you host a banquet at the Shengxin Residence and I'll invite some people over. If you'll crawl between my legs in front of everyone, I'll let you off the hook. What do you say?"

Hou Yuxiao still did not speak, even his complexion didn't change as he stared at Cheng Yue for longer than ten breaths. After a long while, he turned his head to glance at Ding Dian, his face revealing a hint of helplessness.

"Brother Cheng, there's no need to be like this. With Magistrate Ding here, even if I had some tricks, I wouldn't be able to fight you. Even if I won, I would…"

Hou Yuxiao's last words immediately made Cheng Yue laugh in anger.

"Hahahahaha, beat me…"

Hou Yuxiao was not irritated; he just watched him, waiting for his laughter to subside.

"If you dare to agree, I'll announce to the whole county that our duel will be absolutely fair. My master will not interfere. Life and death will be predestined; no one can blame the other!"

Hou Yuxiao looked at Ding Dian with a constrained glance and his face revealed the madness of a gambler, appearing eager to agree yet afraid, driving Cheng Yue beside him almost itching for an immediate acceptance.

"Don't worry, as long as both parties agree, I definitely won't intervene in your duel. Our Holy Church never forbids disciples from sparring with each other. Victory, defeat, life or death is all up to you!"

"In that case, Mr. Hou dares... to agree!"

Cheng Yue's pupils lit up as he immediately took out two life-and-death agreements from his bosom. The words "life and death" were starkly conspicuous, handed over to Hou Yuxiao directly.

Only then did Hou Yuxiao "realize" that Cheng Yue had come prepared. His face suddenly showed a panic, and he turned to look at Ding Dian, wearing an "incredulous" expression.

"This... this... please forgive me... I cannot agree..."

"As a man, you must keep your word, Master Hou... you'd better think it through!"

Before Hou Yuxiao could finish speaking, Ding Dian interrupted him, and his face instantly turned ashen, his legs trembling as if they had lost all strength.

After signing his name, the pale-faced Hou Yuxiao left the Prison Administration Office with a life-and-death agreement in his hand, his demeanor forlorn, leaving only his staggering silhouette behind.

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"Hahahahaha, Master, I told you, country folks can't withstand a scare. In front of you, he wouldn't dare to use any cunning tricks, and could only sign and await his fate obediently!"

Within the Prison Admin Department, Cheng Yue looked at the life-and-death agreement in his hand and spoke to Ding Dian, brimming with pride.

"Focus on the preparations. His cultivation is comparable to yours. Don't capsize in a ditch. With this life-and-death agreement, if you kill him, it'll prove your potential is higher than his, and the Holy Maiden will not only not blame you, but she will also take you into the New Moon Department."

"Your disciple obeys!"