The Nine Cauldrons

Book 8 Chapter 37 Which One Should I Choose?

“Three stone inscriptions?” When Teng Qingshan heard this, his eyes involuntarily shone. Li Jun, who was at his side, also revealed a delighted expression.

It was a total of three stone inscriptions. As long as nothing unexpected happened, these three stone inscriptions would definitely allow Teng Qingshan to breakthrough the final threshold and step into the Emptiness Realm. The expression on Teng Qingshan’s face was a matter of worry to the Wu Clan, Tantai Clan, and Fu Clan, while Yan Baishou was secretly delighted.

The rumor about the legendary Most Powerful Martial Saint Teng Qingshan being fond of the stone inscriptions of the 《Thirty-six Splitting Mountain Forms》 was indeed true.

Suddenly—

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The earth trembled slightly. The group of people in the house turned and looked outside. The facial expression of the members of Tantai Clan, Wu Clan, and the other clans did not look good. It was obvious that more clans had arrived!

“Eh?” However, Fu Dao made a joyful expression.

The troop of cavalrymen was very well-behaved. The troop halted next to where the troops of Tantai Clan and Wu Clan were stationed. The two young men leading the troop leapt off their War Hous and ran over with speed. They had obviously seen the large group of people that had assembled inside the house. As soon as the two reached the door, they bowed and greeted respectfully.

“Fu Yunzhan and Fu Yufeng greet Mister Teng.”

The two young man bowed and said.

“Fu Yunzhan? Fu Yufeng?” Struck by a thought, Teng Qingshan said to himself, “Both surnamed Fu?”

At this moment, Fu Dao, who sat by the table, chortled and spoke, “Mister, Fu Yunzhan is the patriarch of Fu Clan while Fu Yufeng is the best amongst the youngest generation of the Fu Clan. I was worried that the other clans would succeed in inviting Mister before the Fu Clan, therefore, I travelled alone with haste. They were only slightly slower than me.”

Actually, Fu Dao had only arrived fifteen minutes earlier than the troop of Fu Clan.

However, top-notch War Hous could travel a distance of over a hundred Li within fifteen minutes.

“Haha. Now, The Wu Clan, Fu Clan, and Tantai Clan have arrived in groups, while I am the only one that came alone. Haha…” Yan Baishou burst out in laughter and commented.

“The number of people doesn’t matter. However, Brother Yan, amongst us, you are the one that came most prepared. A total of three stone inscriptions…Tsk, tsk. Brother Yan, you are truly capable. I honestly admire you.” Sitting beside the Martial Saintess, Wu Baiwei grinned as remarked. However, his words caused the other two clans to harbor hostility towards Yan Baishou.

Since Yan Baishou had the most cards.

“Everyone, please be seated.” Teng Qingshan smiled.

At this moment, the three members of Fu Clan, the two members of Tantai Clan, the member of Yan Clan, Teng Qingshan, and Li Jun all sat around the table.

“Mister Teng.” Tantai Qing looked at Teng Qingshan with a smile and said, “We, the Tantai Clan, came with utmost sincerity. We only have one stone inscription, but if there be any other conditions…please just tell us directly. I think the Tantai Clan will do anything to satisfy Mister’s conditions.” Usually, when being tenderly persuaded by a peerless beauty, other people would just half-wittedly nod in agreement.

Teng Qingshan didn’t even have the chance to speak.

As a “Walla—” sound rang, the curtains of the side door were drawn back and revealed Little Ping standing cutely in the doorway. She swept her gaze across the table and gawked at Fu Yufeng, one of the people sitting around it.

“Eh? Little Ping, come here.” Li Jun called with a smile.

In Li Jun’s heart, all these guests were outsiders while Little Ping was her sister, one that she had spent days and night with.

Little Ping still stared at Fu Yufeng. The stares bewildered the young man, causing him to stare back at Little Ping puzzledly. At this moment, Little Ping’s eyes reddened.

“Third Brother!” Little Ping shouted.

Whew!

Fu Yufeng, astounded, sprung up and stared at Little Ping. After a few moments of scrutinization, he said hesitantly, “You..you are Little Sister?”

Tears flowed down LIttle Ping’s face and dripped onto the ground. As she yelled “Third Brother,” she dashed towards Fu Yufeng and held Fu Yufeng tightly, crying out loudly.

“What’s going on?” The people on the scene were all confused.

Teng Qingshan and Li Jun were also shocked as they stared at the scene before them.

Fu Yufeng examined the little girl holding him tightly. As he scrutinized the little girl’s face….he realized that the appearance of this little girl before his sight matched the appearance of the smart little girl in his memory. Fu Yufeng suddenly rolled up Little Ping’s sleeves and as expected—there was a very light birthmark on Little Ping’s left wrist.

“Little Sister..You are really Little Sister. Little Sister, Third Brother finally found you.”Fu Yufeng held Little Ping tightly as tears flowed down his face.

“Third Brother!”

“Little Sister.”

The long-lost siblings reunited and at this moment, they held each other and sobbed deeply inside the house where the many great clans had issued invitations to Teng Qingshan.

“Yunzhan, what’s the relationship between this little girl and Yufeng?” Fu Dao asked in surprise.

Fu Yunzhan, who was by his side, answered softly, “This little girl should have the same background as Yufeng. She must be a survivor of the branch of Fu Clan located at Beihou. In the past, almost all members of the branch of Fu Clan located at Beihou were slaughtered. Some women and little girls were either sold to the brothel or became slaves. Almost all the men were killed. In the end, we only found Yufeng and the other two survivors. It’s out of our expectation that there’s actually one by Teng Qingshan’s side.

Fu Dao immediately understood and he nodded in response.

The Fu Clan was an extremely ancient clan with a long history. However, this ancient clan had suffered countless catastrophic attacks. The elders of the clan endeavored to prevent the destruction of the entire clan, therefore, they had scattered the several branches of the clan all across the surface of the continent. This way… even if a branch of the clan was annihilated, the other clans could still pass on their legacy.

As for the greater branches of the clan, they would secretly aid one another.

By the time the other branches were aware that the branch at Beihou had been annihilated, , it was already too late. In the end, they only found three survivors, and Fu Yufeng was one of the three.

“Third Brother..Third Brother.” Little Ping looked up at Fu Yufeng and hastily said, “Where are our parents? Where are Big Brother and Second Brother? What about Sister Lian and the others….”

“They all died.”

Fu Yufeng answered in a low voice.

Little Ping froze briefly and stood on the same spot in a stupefied manner.

When she was young, she was the most precious one in the family. She was smart and many older brothers and sisters were very fond of this little sister. It was a pitch-black night when the calamity descended. Little Ping only saw several clan guards die before she was caught and sold as a slave.

She didn’t know…how many members of her clan died on that night.

Although she knew that her clan was destroyed, it was still possible that some of the members had survived. At least she was still alive. Since she was alive and Third Brother appeared before her sight, she thought that there was a possibility that the other clan members had also survived.

However, the result was…

“They all died?” Little Ping made a pained expression.

Teng Qingshan and Li Jun both understood what had happened. It was obvious that Little Ping found a member of her family, while… the other family members all died. In truth, when Teng Qingshan and Li Jun first started caring for Little Ping, they had already realized that Little Ping’s background was not simple.

“All of you, please sit here for a while.” Teng Qingshan spoke.

The representatives of the different clans all grinned in response.

“Little Ping and this young brother, please come in here for a chat.” Teng Qingshan and Li Jun led Little Ping and Fu Yufeng away from where the representatives of the different clans had assembled and into an adjacent house.

Inside the house.

Little Ping and Fu Yufeng, the two siblings, stood to one side. Little Ping inquired about many things and Fu Yufeng answered these questions one after another as he lovingly stroked his little sister’s head. The disaster in the past had made Fu Yufeng much more mature. The calamitous incident had pushed him to be more diligent. He exerted more effort and acquired a higher status in the Fu Clan.

Yet the destruction in the past was always his worst nightmare and source of horrific pain in his heart.

Now, he finally met the adorable little sister. When he saw the scar on his little sister’s face, Fu Yufeng speculated that…his little sister had been sold as a slave. How much suffering had his little princess been through? As Fu Yufeng pondered, he just felt his heart ache.

“Uncle.” Little Ping regained her senses and looked apologetically towards Teng Qingshan.

“Uncle is happy for you.” Teng Qingshan said with a smile.

Li Jun also smiled as she looked at Little Ping.

Little Ping nodded and said, “Uncle, Elder Sister Jun, there are many things I didn’t tell you guys. Actually, the disaster in the past had always been my worst nightmare. I have always kept it a secret. Today, I will tell Elder Sister Jun and Uncle the truth. My real name is Fu Yuping. I was a member of a branch of Fu Clan located in Beihou Town. Elder Sister Jun, Uncle, I hope you won’t be mad at me for keeping this a secret from you two.

Beihou Town was one of the 108 common town in Duanmu Continent.

“Fu Yuping?” Li Jun pulled Little Ping over and held Little Ping in her arms. Li Jun’s eyes reddened. Her heart broke for Little Ping.

“Elder Sister won’t be angry. How can I be mad?” Li Jun’s heart was filled with sympathy. She knew clearly the pain one would feel if their entire family had been slaughtered. What Fu Yuping experienced was different from what Li Jun had experienced. Fu Yuping was just a child. To a child, the annihilation of the entire family was an absolute nightmare.

Little Ping probably didn’t even want to recall anything, let alone speak to anyone about it.

In addition, Little Ping also experienced being sold as a slave…and had suffered torture. It was easy to imagine why Fu Yuping, a little girl at age nine, would appear like a child of age six-to-seven. One could easily imagine the suffering she had experienced.

“Now, everything is good. Little Ping, you have found your Third Brother.” Teng Qingshan consoled.

……

In the house used to welcome guests.

The members of Wu Clan, Tantai Clan, Yan Clan, and Fu Clan, the four parties, all waited nervously. Everyone was anxious.

“Mister Fu Dao, Fu Clan is rather fortunate. A little girl from Fu Clan actually obtained the chance to follow Mister Teng.” Tantai Huayan chuckled and said, “Maybe Mister Teng will consider assisting Fu Clan because of that little girl.” Although Tantai Huayan said this, the others did not agree.

In their eyes, Fu Yuping was just Teng Qingshan’s maid.

Would a maid influence Teng Qingshan’s decision in a major event such as the discovery of the Fiery Gilt Steel Ore Deposits?

Walla—

When the door curtains opened, Teng Qingshan, Li Jun, Fu Yufeng, and Fu Yuping all walked out together.

“Everyone, please sit.” Teng Qingshan said as he smiled and took his seat, “I am quite happy today. Little Ping was able to find his biological brother. Let us continue…Oh, I didn’t get the chance to ask previously. Yan Baishou, what three forms did the Yan Clan prepare?”

Yan Baishou hastily answered, “The sixteenth form, the twenty-third form, and the twenty-fourth form.”

“Oh?” Teng Qingshan raised his brows.

The sixteenth form could be of some use to him, but it was already very difficult for him to analyze the four successive forms, the seventeenth to the twentieth forms, not to mention the twenty-third and the twenty-fourth forms.

“Yes.” Teng Qingshan nodded as he announced, “I have made my decision.”

The representatives of the four great clans all stared at Teng Qingshan. All of them had their hearts in their mouths.

“Mister Teng, which clan will you choose?” Tantai Qing said in a melodious voice as she cast a hopeful gaze towards Teng Qingshan.

Teng Qingshan grinned and replied, “The Fu Clan.”