Hu Xun and Xu Hao exchanged a glance upon hearing the words. The former nodded: "In that case, it should be those two without a doubt. What a coincidence! Auntie has a compassionate heart — an ordinary person might not have been willing to bring an injured person home to recuperate!"
Xu Hao smiled: "My mother has always been like this."
Hu Xun looked toward Xu Liangcai: "Uncle, since those two are also in your home, would it be possible to invite them out for a meeting? The reason our sect mission was completed so smoothly this time is thanks to them. I'd like to thank them in person."
Xu Liangcai looked troubled: "To be honest, nephew, that may not be convenient. According to the servant who brought those two back, the young woman was severely injured and is still unconscious."
Hu Xun rose immediately: "Then I should go see her all the more. I have healing medicines on me — perhaps I can be of some help."
Seeing his persistence, Xu Liangcai couldn't very well refuse, so he nodded: "Then please wait a moment, nephew. I'll go make arrangements."
Hu Xun cupped his fists: "Much appreciated, Uncle!"
Xu Liangcai went into the inner courtyard and had a maid pass along the message. Before long, Zhao Yebai hurried out, cupping his fists and bowing: "Zhao Yebai greets the Village Head."
"It's you?" Xu Liangcai stared at Zhao Yebai in surprise. He had only known that his wife had brought two people back and hadn't realized that the people she brought home were actually the two he had seen earlier that day. Now, upon seeing Zhao Yebai, recognition dawned on him.
Xu Liangcai's expression turned somewhat unnatural. His attitude toward the pair earlier that day hadn't been particularly friendly.
He cleared his throat and explained Hu Xun and the others' background as well as the proposal that had come up during dinner. Upon hearing this, Zhao Yebai frowned slightly: "Xiao Ya is still unconscious. I've already administered healing medicine to her. I appreciate Senior Brother Hu's kind intentions, but it really isn't convenient at the moment."
Xu Liangcai said solemnly: "Nephew Zhao, I don't mean to pull rank, but Senior Brother Hu is a distinguished disciple of the Spirit Sea Hall with profound cultivation. He has come specifically to express his gratitude, and his sincerity is genuine — it would be improper to deflect. Moreover, the medicine you have may not be as effective as his. Letting him take a look can't hurt your sister."
Zhao Yebai did not want anyone disturbing Xiao Ya's rest, but since the host himself had put it so directly, it was truly difficult to refuse.
After a moment's thought, Zhao Yebai nodded: "Then I'll thank Senior Brother Hu in advance."
Xu Liangcai smiled and patted him on the shoulder: "Wait here for a moment. I'll go invite them over."
Saying this, he turned and left.
A short while later, Xu Liangcai returned with two young men. After his introduction, Zhao Yebai learned that the slightly older one was the distinguished Spirit Sea Hall disciple Hu Xun he had mentioned earlier, and the younger one was his son — the one who had joined the Spirit Sea Hall for cultivation, Xu Hao.
The two sides exchanged greetings. Though Hu Xun's words were courteous enough, there was a trace of subtle arrogance in his bearing. Zhao Yebai's cultivation was too low to gauge Hu Xun's depth, but Hu Xun could tell at a glance that Zhao Yebai was merely at the Qi Movement Realm.
He felt somewhat suspicious. With such low cultivation, how strong could this man's companion be? Had those two really been the ones to kill that bandit?
"Where does Brother Zhao study?" Hu Xun asked, casually but deliberately.
Zhao Yebai scratched his head: "I haven't joined any sect."
Understanding flashed across Hu Xun's face. He surmised that this man must have poor aptitude — no sect had been willing to accept him — which explained why he had only reached the Qi Movement Realm at such an age.
"And what is your sister's cultivation level?"
Zhao Yebai made no attempt to hide it: "Xiao Ya is already at the ninth layer of the Zhenyuan Realm."
"The ninth layer of the Zhenyuan Realm!" Hu Xun's eyebrows shot up. With that level of strength, it was indeed possible that she had killed that bandit. After all, his group had already severely wounded the man beforehand, and it wouldn't be unreasonable for someone else to have finished him off.
"I hear your sister was gravely wounded in her battle with that man. As it happens, I have with me a special healing medicine prepared by my sect — it has remarkable effects. Would you allow me to go in and assess her condition?"
"Please, Senior Brother Hu!" Zhao Yebai gestured invitingly.
Before the group could enter, the sound of footsteps came once more. Everyone turned to look, and Zhen Xuemei's figure appeared around the corner. She seemed to have rushed over the entire way and was slightly out of breath.
"What are you doing here?" Xu Liangcai furrowed his brow.
Zhen Xuemei said nervously: "The servants said you were all gathered here. I didn't know what had happened, so I came to see."
Xu Liangcai said: "It's nothing. Senior Nephew Hu wants to check on the young woman's injuries."
Only then did Zhen Xuemei breathe a sigh of relief.
Over by their side, Xu Hao whispered something in Hu Xun's ear. Hu Xun stepped forward promptly: "Hu Xun of the Spirit Sea Hall greets Auntie."
Zhen Xuemei smiled and nodded: "No need to be so formal, nephew. Hao'er has mentioned you many times in his letters home, saying how well you've looked after him at the sect. We as his parents should be the ones thanking you."
Hu Xun replied with measured politeness: "Auntie is too kind. Junior Brother Xu has outstanding talent and has earned the Master's great regard. As his senior brother, I am merely a few years older — looking after him is only natural and well within my duty."
After a few pleasantries, everyone filed inside.
In the side room, a faint trace of blood lingered in the air. On the bed, Zhao Ya lay with her eyes closed, her complexion somewhat pale.
Zhao Yebai led everyone to the bedside. Zhen Xuemei looked down, and her eyes reddened instantly, her eyelashes trembling ever so slightly.
Xu Hao and the others, however, were all stunned. Their gazes locked onto the figure on the bed without shifting. They had certainly seen beautiful women before, but compared to the young woman lying before them now, those they had seen previously were simply incomparable. Zhao Ya's beauty could aptly be described as a city-toppling, peerless wonder. When Zhao Yebai had traveled with her before, her appearance alone had stirred up no small amount of trouble.