Chapter 45 – I’m Passionate!

The Yang family won the right to rule Baiyang Town with just one Red-tailed Fox’s demonic core. This was a hot topic over dinner tables across town.

They all felt like they were in a dream.

If the kids from my family were allowed to participate in the Demon Hunting Tournament, as long as they avoided these two families, my family could have won.

Many people were thinking the same thing.

Although the Bai family already knew the results, their faces were still ashen when Lord Wolf formally announced the tournament results.

Bai Sheng left the stage without a word and returned to his family. He stared coldly at the Yang patriarch standing in front of Lord Wolf.

Lord Wolf announced, “The Yang family will receive the right to rule Baiyang Town and will be the mayors of Baiyang Town. Yang Cangqiong shall be Baiyang Town’s first mayor under the supervision of my family, the Lingwu family. They shall represent the Lingwu power; anyone who challenges the mayor will be challenging the Lingwu family!”

With the protection of the Lingwu family, the Yang family had absolute power.

Although Lord Wolf wore a hood, his cold gaze sent chills running up and down the spines of Bai Sheng and his family.

They knew that Lord Wolf was mostly speaking to Bai Sheng.

Is he warning me? But if the Bai family has two or three Divine Core Realm cultivators, this mayor will just be a puppet ruler! Also, if I killed Yang Cangqiong, would the Lingwu family even remember a small town like Baiyang Town?

It’s good that you guys know of the Ascension Fruit anyway. Come get it if you want. If you die in the Desolate Mountains, how will the Lingwu family know I killed you?

When he thought of this, Bai Sheng’s gaze sharpened with hatred. Bai Li stood next to him, smirking maliciously at the Yang patriarch.

Lord Wolf took a little dark-yellow fabric pouch. There was a blood-red rune radiating strange spiritual energy etched on the pouch.

The pupils of those watching constricted. Some spectators even had greedy looks on their faces. “It’s the Universe Pouch!”

Yang Qingxuan, who was next to Long Chen, looked equally shaken. When he saw Long Chen’s puzzled expression, he explained, “There’s a saying ‘a seed that can fit a mountain within’ that applies to the Universe Pouch. It may look small but it can fit a whole building inside; it’s a necessity for traveling warriors! All of the main assets of the Yang family can fit inside that pouch.”

Long Chen finally recalled the existence of such an object after Yang Qingxuan’s explanation.

Having a Universe Pouch would be so much more convenient while traveling. Long Chen remembered how inconvenient it was lugging around 500 spirit jade pieces the last time.

Everyone eyed the pouch greedily as Lord Wolf announced, “With the appointment of the Yang family as town mayor, these are the gifts of appreciation from the Lingwu family. If the Yang family can rule Baiyang Town with great success, the Lingwu family will reward you further!”

The Lingwu family was known for their generous gifts. Although many people accepted and supported the Yang family as town mayors, they were still jealous of the gifts. When Bai Sheng saw the Yang patriarch receiving a gift that should have belonged to him, he squeezed the wooden armrest on his chair so hard that it broke!

Now that the mayor had been announced and the reward given, Lord Wolf turned to the Yang patriarch and said, “Do your best and you will be rewarded well! I will come to Baiyang Town again in the future.”

When the Yang patriarch saw that Lord Wolf was about to leave, he bade hurriedly, “Farewell, Lord Wolf.”

Surprisingly, Lord Wolf’s gaze turned towards Long Chen and he said, “Follow me.”

Long Chen froze, then followed Lord Wolf to the back of the plaza into a small alley. The spectators stared stupidly at Long Chen, wondering what Lord Wolf wanted.

Did Lord Wolf want to bring him back to Yuanling City for further training after seeing how talented he was?

That was what most people thought.

Even the Yang patriarch thought the same. However, he was happy at the thought that Long Chen could get even better training.

Bai Sheng and Bai Li both looked at each other and frowned. “Second Brother, do you think Lord Wolf is going to take him away?”

Bai Li smirked and mocked him, “You’re thinking too much. A measly Seventh Draconic Stage is nothing in Yuanling City. There are many people his age who are at the Eighth or Ninth Draconic Stage there. Plus, Lord Wolf himself is a super genius in the Lingwu family. To Lord Wolf, Long Chen’s just a clown.”

After hearing Bai Li’s words, Bai Sheng sighed in relief. But he was still extremely bitter when he thought about how Lord Wolf had rewarded Yang Cangqiong and named him the mayor of Baiyang Town.

Since Lord Wolf hadn’t given the cue for them to leave, no one dared to move, and they all waited awkwardly.

When Lord Wolf reached the alley, he finally took off his hood to reveal his beautifully delicate face. As soon as the hood was off, his feigned sternness and solemness evaporated instantly and instead, he radiated an aura of youthfulness.

Long Chen struggled with his reaction to this abrupt change and his imagination ran wild. Now that he was more familiar with Lord Wolf, he didn’t hold back and joked, “Lord Wolf, may I ask why you brought a lowly peasant like me here? You haven't fallen in love with me, have you?”

Lord Wolf’s face froze and he laughed wryly, “Have you always been this unserious? Don’t call me ‘Lord Wolf.’ Everyone’s called me that for the past few days and it’s just been so awkward for me. I’m Mo Xiaolang. You can call me Xiaolang.”

Mo Xiaolang?

Long Chen repeated the name back to himself and felt a hundred times closer to Lord Wolf. Long Chen regarded the teenager for a while, then noticed that Xiaolang was also staring at himself and asked, “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Mo Xiaolang replied shyly, “I saw that you’ve become a Beast Warrior. I’m a little surprised you received the technique to cultivate the Beast Soul in a small place like Baiyang Town. However, this is your secret and I won’t press further. You’re very talented, rising from the Second to Seventh Draconic Stage in just over a month. That’s why I wanted to ask if you’re willing to come to the Lingwu family with me. I think your talents will be nurtured better there.”

Long Chen knew that Mo Xiaolang valued his talents, and he had been expecting Mo Xiaolang’s proposal.

Long Chen truly wanted to venture to better places to train but since there were unresolved matters in Baiyang Town so he could only apologize, “I’m grateful that you’re treating me so well but I still have matters to attend to in Baiyang Town so ...”

Mo Xiaolang pursed his lips and asked, “Is it because of the Ascension Fruit? It’s unfortunate that I need to rush back to Yuanling City to attend to urgent matters or I would’ve stayed to get you the fruit.”

Long Chen was stunned. The teenager was treating him too well. Was all of this because he once rescued a child or was this a person with ... strange preferences?

Goosebumps instantly rose on his skin, and he looked at Mo Xiaolang in a different manner.

Mo Xiaolang was baffled by Long Chen’s sudden change in expression. “Are you afraid I’ll steal your Ascension Fruit? The fruits are useless to me at this point so you don’t have to worry about it. But if you want to get the fruit first, you can always head to Yuanling City later. That fruit will indeed help you greatly.” When Long Chen met the teenager’s clear and pure eyes, he knew his mind was just too perverted.

In response to Mo Xiaolang’s kindness, Long Chen replied hurriedly, “I’ll likely come to Yuanling City if I can resolve the matters in Baiyang Town.”

Mo Xiaolang nodded, “That’s good too.” But then he frowned and said, “The two old men from the Bai family are strong enough that it would be inconvenient for me to harm them. You must be careful. Do your best to attain at least the Human Core Realm before coming to Yuanling City, it’ll be much better for you.”

To Long Chen’s surprise, Mo Xiaolang took out another Universe Pouch and said, “Consider this a small gift from me. It’s more convenient if you take this along when you travel.”

Long Chen was extremely touched by the teenager’s sincerity and the concern that accompanied his words.

Long Chen took the Universe Pouch and looked at Mo Xiaolang sincerely. “You’ve already given me so much. I wouldn’t be here today if you hadn’t given me the Constellation Body. Xiao Lang, thank you so much.”

Mo Xiaolang grinned shyly and replied, “That was a long time ago to me. You did right by it, utilizing it to its full potential. Alright, I’ll head back to Yuanling City first then. There’s my seal on the Universe Pouch. If you bring this to the Lingwu family, they’ll take you to me.”

Long Chen nodded.

Mo Xiaolang looked at him for a while. “I don’t know your name yet.”

Long Chen froze and said, “I’m Long Chen.”

“Why is your surname Long if you’re from the Yang family?”

“ ... My mother’s from the Yang family. My father’s surname is Long.”

Mo Xiaolang nodded. “I see.”

Long Chen was internally struggling. Why was Mo Xiaolang so nice to him? Seeing as Mo Xiaolang was about to go, he blurted, “You gave me the Constellation Body, then the Universe Pouch. Why are you so nice to me?”

As if he’d expected Long Chen to ask this question, Mo Xiaolang smiled and replied softly, “I don’t really know either but sometimes, you remind me of my older brother a lot with your stupid jokes. When we were very young, he used to convince me to get into all sorts of trouble like peeping at the handmaidens in the baths, lying to my father that he had been kidnapped ...”

A dreamy look came on Mo Xiaolang’s face as he spoke but he suddenly realized it was a little inappropriate to talk about these things and smiled awkwardly.

I see ...

Long Chen grinned. “You’re so powerful; your older brother’s probably very powerful too?”

Mo Xiaolang's face darkened and his eyes narrowed with hatred. He clenched his fist and shook his head. “He used to be better than me. But he’s dead, they’re all dead ...”

Long Chen froze. The sudden pain in Mo Xiaolang's eyes reminded Long Chen of himself when Long Qinglan passed away. Biting his lip, Long Chen sighed and said, “I’m sorry for bringing that up.”

“It’s fine, I’ve been useless; I still haven’t been able to avenge them till this day. Alright, I really need to head back to Yuanling City. Remember to come visit!”

“Definitely!”

As he watched Mo Xiaolang leave, Long Chen suddenly recalled the Yang patriarch’s words.

But I’ll give you a warning, kid, if you make a good friend when you’re out there on your own, you must know his heart well. You must know whether his heart is filled with poison or passion ...

Long Chen grinned. “I’m filled with passion. What about you, Xiaolang?”