Chapter 428: Chapter 367: Yuan, we must... must flourish in Martial Arts..._2

But when he was alone, he felt unmistakably that his life would not last much longer.

"Father."

A hurried cry came from behind Zhu Wushang.

A man who was almost a carbon copy of Zhu Wushang, but younger and more vibrant, strode past.

This was Zhu Wushang’s fifth son, Zhu Xuanwu!

Zhu Wushang heard the sound and turned to look.

Looking at the face of his son, Zhu Xuanwu, he felt a pang of melancholy for a moment.

"Father, what’s wrong?" Zhu Xuanwu wrapped Zhu Wushang in a cotton robe and asked gently.

Zhu Wushang’s aged face cracked a smile. "Nothing. Old Fifth, have you ever resented me for keeping you by my side, unlike your eldest and second brothers whom I let go?"

"Not at all, not at all. I know my own abilities. I am dull-witted compared to Big Brother and the others," Zhu Xuanwu said earnestly.

Zhu Wushang smiled and didn’t say much more, turning back to enter the courtyard.

With Hong Yuan as his support, Zhu Wushang’s family rapidly expanded within the Phoenix Creek Sect.

Among them, his nine sons each made their mark, and some people even referred to them jokingly as the Nine Dragons of the Zhu Family.

And Zhu Xuanwu was the child with whom Zhu Wushang felt most at ease.

Because Zhu Xuanwu was too much like Zhu Wushang himself.

In terms of both talent and temperament, and even the path of Artifact Refining, it was almost like a replica!

CREAK.

Zhu Wushang closed the door, took off his robe, and lay quietly on the bed, beginning to think.

He was contemplating his affairs after death.

He didn’t immediately think of his family but instead thought of Lin Yiru, Mo Yue’er, and Hong Yuan.

As thoughts crossed his mind, his lips unintentionally curled into a contented smile:

"With Yuan looking after them, Yiru and Yue’er won’t need my concern for the rest of their lives."

Because his master, Master Lin Daoyan, had such a long life span, he wasn’t able to provide timely guidance for the younger generation.

In a way, Zhu Wushang himself was more like the "head of the family" for the Rainbow Fire Peak Lineage.

He had watched Lin Yiru progress from toddling to independence and strength. He had seen Hong Yuan grow from a muddled novice disciple into one of the commanding figures among the nine great members of the Phoenix Creek Tutelage. He had observed Mo Yue’er learn to speak and blossom into a gracefully mature young woman...

After a long while, Zhu Wushang slowly brought his thoughts back to focus on his own family.

He had predicted the personality traits and future development of each of his nine sons, but in the end, he was still worried about his fifth son, Zhu Xuanwu.

"Alas, Xuanwu is like me. If there’s no one to support him, his life will be difficult."

"Go find Yuan. I hope Yuan will allow Xuanwu to take up the position of master at Workshop A06..."

Zhu Wushang sighed helplessly and, covering his face with his hand, felt a pang of guilt.

Workshop A06 had left him with many memories and was also the place where Hong Yuan had learned Artifact Refining as a youth.

If Hong Yuan agreed to let Zhu Xuanwu take the position as the master of Workshop A06, then no matter how down-and-out Xuanwu might become in the future, he wouldn’t be too badly off.

Because Hong Yuan had already taken notice of Zhu Xuanwu and given his approval.

In this way, others would certainly not dare to look down upon Zhu Xuanwu!

...

「A week later.」

Phoenix Creek Tavern.

Zhu Wushang and Zhu Xuanwu were seated in the top floor chamber, waiting for Hong Yuan’s arrival.

In front of them were many delicacies, with several maidservants attending.

The setting was of an incredibly high standard, equivalent to a Martial World version of the Manchu Han Imperial Feast.

"Father, how should I speak with Uncle Hong later?" Zhu Xuanwu seemed slightly embarrassed.

Although he was quite old, he was naive in social interactions, nowhere near as sophisticated as his eight other brothers.

"You?" Zhu Wushang stroked his graying beard, shook his head, and chuckled. "You needn’t be so formal. Just sit quietly by the side."

The very Hong Yuan they were thinking about was at that moment stepping out of the Peak Master Great Hall on Rainbow Fire Peak. Outside the Great Hall, snow was flying, and the weather was cold.

Hong Yuan wrapped himself in a dark dao robe and pondered:

"My Senior Brother wants to dine with me? It seems something is about to happen."

Hong Yuan frantically recalled various reports his subordinates had given him, yet he dismissed several possibilities. As a result, he decided not to think too much about it.

After all, his original body was always in retreat, cultivating in his cave, and the one going out to the meeting was just an assembly-line Water Tao incarnation.

"Let’s be off." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

True Essence flowed through Hong Yuan’s body. In a flash, he transformed into a mist-like swarm of worms, his figure dissipating as he hurried down the mountain.

BUZZ. BUZZ.

BUZZ. BUZZ. BUZZ.

In just the span of two breaths, a strange buzzing sound emerged in the top chamber of the Phoenix Creek Tavern.

Zhu Wushang and his son heard the sound, and joy appeared on both their faces.

A mist of azure water appeared out of thin air. Then, a swarm of worms emerged, casting a blue light screen.

A figure gradually materialized within the blue light.

Clad in a dark dao robe, accompanied by worms, with a warm smile on his face.

The newcomer was none other than Hong Yuan!

"Yuan."

"Uncle Yuan."

"Senior Brother, Xuanwu."

The three of them nodded to each other in greeting. Before Hong Yuan could react further, his senior brother Zhu Wushang came bustling over and pulled him to the table.

Hong Yuan knew in his heart that his Senior Brother inviting him to dine meant there must be something important to discuss.

However, he didn’t resist. Nowadays, the number of people he could have a conversation with was dwindling.

And his senior brother Zhu Wushang was one of them.

"Come, come, let’s eat," Zhu Wushang warmly invited.

"Senior Brother, there’s no need for such ceremony. Xuanwu, come over here," Hong Yuan quickly stopped Zhu Wushang, giving Zhu Xuanwu a meaningful glance.