The next day Ikasa woke up with groans. The bruises had healed considerably. Even though movement troubled him, he was fit enough to walk home.
When he walked out, he saw a well-built man guiding Xin Ruo and the kids to exercise. Xin Ruo was relatively fine, but the kids were huffing and panting and yet no one complained.
As Ikasa hobbled out into the open, all the gazes turned towards him. He realized that the man must be the infamous Red Eye. His presence was fearsome and his reputation made him even more so.
All his attention was focused on Ikasa and it unnerved him. In his nervousness, he stumbled. Yan Xiao immediately dashed to his side and supported him. The presence of the kids helped Ikasa regain his composure.
He joined his palms together and bowed to the man and Xin Ruo.
"Thank you for taking care of me yesterday. I am a poor man and don't have any gold to repay your favor but I do have these Cultivation Manual and Battle techniques. Please take them as a token of my appreciation."
When Ikasa had entered the slums, he was prepared to lose all his belongings and his clothes. And yet no one had robbed him. Instead, he was even nursed to health. Except for the mischievous Qiqi, no one had even touched his belongings. So he offered his books to repay their debt of kindness.
Feng Yan received the books and glanced at the titles. He saw the title {Fast, Faster, Fastest} and his expression became weird. The next book in his hand was {Peek-a-Boo Defense}. His face soured. But the next title made him downright furious.
He flung the books on the ground and approached Ikasa.
Feng Yan took sedate but forceful steps toward Ikasa and held him by his collar. He gritted his teeth as he whispered,
"Dumb Belle's guide to strength?"
Ikasa cursed the printer again for its names. He was already intimidated by the man but now that he was acting so aggressively, Ikasa couldn't even gather his wits to talk his way out of his current predicament.
"I… I… I swear it is a genuine High-Grade Path Forging Manual!"
Ikasa blurted out loud. But this enraged the Red Eye further.
"Who are you trying to fool, kid?"
Xin Ruo couldn't bear to see her Father kill someone she had worked so hard to save. She was just about to step forward when a swoosh sound appeared and the wind began to gather around Hei Ying. Everyone's eyes turned toward this mysterious phenomenon. Even Feng Yan let Ikasa off.
As the wind subsided Hei Ying reappeared before everyone. A book was fading away from her hands. Xin Ruo immediately rushed forward and checked up on her. But Feng Yan could sense something was off.
"Hei Ying, Execute the Punching routine I taught you."
Hei Ying obeyed even though she was a little tired. She flawlessly performed the punch routine. But she couldn't believe it herself! Because performing the punch routine 3 times was her limit. And she was executing the punch routine for the fourth time now!
Eyes Shining, Feng Yan held her by her shoulders and smiled.
"How do you feel? Do you feel tired?"
Ikasa never imagined this fierce man would show anyone concern and care but he was proven wrong.
"I feel great Uncle! In fact, I feel I can execute the routine 2 more times!"
Hei Ying replied with her hands itching to test her theory.
"Hahaha! That's because you are now a Path Forging Realm Stage One Cultivator!"
Ikasa had guessed Hei Ying might've become a cultivator. Now that Feng Yan had confirmed his suspicions, he was overjoyed. He almost shouted 'My Gold Finger is not a fraud' but he restrained himself. That shout would've landed him in even bigger trouble.
Seeing Hei Ying was being showered with all attention and love, Luo Qiqi rushed to the books as well. She picked up a random book and opened it. But nothing happened. Frustrated, she threw the book and picked another one. But still, nothing happened.
"Aargh! Why are you not working you stupid book!"
She slammed the book and went to pick up another book. But this one turned out to be a dud too. She was almost in tears. She immediately found the culprit behind this mess.
"You! Why are your books not working?"
Luo Qiqi asked Ikasa while showing her pointed canines as if she would bite if he couldn't give her a satisfactory explanation.
Ikasa had a headache. 'How would I know why they are not working?'
But he still looked at the book in her hand. It was a battle technique {Nutcracker Kick}. He immediately remembered that the battle techniques could only be learned by the ones who could cultivate. No wonder Luo Qiqi failed to learn anything. There was only one cultivation manual here after all and it was used by Hei Ying.
"Um… Qiqi you need to be a cultivator to learn battle techniques."
"Then make me one!"
"You need a cultivation manual for that. I don't have one here but I will bring it to you later."
Luo Qiqi still looked at him suspiciously. She had been lied to many times. However happy she was here with Xin Ruo and others, she was, after all, living in a slum. Her trust in strangers was close to zero. And Ikasa was a stranger.
The other kids except Hei Ying had also come over.
"We want a cultivation manual as well."
Chu Qing demanded. His tone made Ikasa uncomfortable. He was already irritated by Luo Qiqi and now this. It was as if they took him for granted. If he didn't do something to put these kids in their place, they might run roughshod over him.
"Do you think Cultivation Manuals and Battle Techniques are dirt on the street? Every one of my Cultivation Manual can be sold for at least 1000 gold coins! Every battle technique of mine is worth 100 gold coins at the least! Tell me how are you going to afford them?"
Ikasa hissed coldly. The kids were cowed by his sudden display of dominance. They had never even seen a gold coin before. So hearing about hundreds and thousands of gold coins shut them up.
He had even attracted the attention of Feng Yan and Xin Ruo. Now that he had proved his Manual was genuine and eliminated the self-doubt, he was no longer on the back foot when dealing with Feng Yan.
"How ungrateful! We saved you! We even shared our bread with you!"
While all others were sensibly silent, only Luo Qiqi was defiant. Ikasa looked at her indifferently.
"It was not you who saved me; It was Xin Ruo and I am very grateful to her. As for bread; it is not even worth 1 copper coin. How can you ask for cultivation manuals worth thousands of gold in exchange for it?"
Even though Ikasa felt cruel saying these words, he still said them with a poker face. Even Xin Ruo who was in the distance felt shocked and even felt she had misjudged the person. The kids all had their heads down in shame. Only Feng Yan had a glint in his eyes.
Seeing the kids so downcast, Ikasa couldn't berate them anymore. The cold indifference on his face was gone and he was once again the amiable big brother.
"Look, I am not an ungrateful person. Since I have eaten your bread I will give you guys a chance to earn the Cultivation Manuals and Battle Techniques. It might even make you rich in the future. Do you want to hear about it?"
The despair in the kids' eyes was immediately replaced by hope. Although they were still suspicious, the dream of having a full meal every day tempted them.
"I will provide you with Cultivation manuals and Battle Techniques… I will even provide you with cultivation resources… But you will have to come with me to the city and work for me."
Ikasa's offer was so lucrative that all of the kids had stars in their eyes. They almost said yes immediately but one voice broke through their muddleheaded minds.
"But what about Sister Xin Ruo?"
Ikasa looked toward the source of the voice. It was Hei Ying who had broken through just now.
Her question instantly brought the kids back to reality. They looked conflicted but Pei Yuan looked up resolutely and met Ikasa's eyes.
"I am sorry Big Brother. But we can't abandon Sister Xin Ruo. Everything we have was given to us by her. We won't leave her side."
"Yes, we won't leave Sister Xin Ruo's side."
Ikasa was dismayed. He had finally found people who were aware of the authenticity of his cultivation manuals. He wanted to bring them out of slums and make them work as Advertisers for his manuals and Battle Techniques. But now they refused to leave with him.
'What a headache.' Sigh.
Just as Ikasa was trying to think of a way to make kids agree, he heard footsteps behind him. A hoarse voice spoke.
"What if your sister Xin Ruo accompanies you to the city?"
The Kids as well as Ikasa were taken aback. Ikasa looked joyously at Xin Ruo but she was also shocked.
Ikasa winced as Feng Yan held his throbbing shoulder in a firm grip and turned him towards himself.
"Kid, I have long wanted to send Xin Ruo and Kids to civilized society."
His face was full of loathing towards this 'civilized society' but anyone who knew his background understood him. Yet why did he want to send his own daughter and kids he has been raising to the place he loathed the most?
Feng Yan answered the question himself. He looked towards the person most deserving of his answer, his daughter.
"Ruo'er, I can provide for you as long as I am able while you are with me. But who will look after you when I am old? Slums will not present you an opportunity to improve yourself."
He caressed her head emotionally as he whispered,
"Go to the City and fly! Let these kids live better lives than their parents ever lived. Go live a life better than your dad can give you!"
Feng Yan turned his back away from her and hid his eyes behind his palm. Even Ikasa felt touched by Feng Yan's speech, let alone Xin Ruo and Kids.
"Dad…"
Xin Ruo hugged him from behind as she softly sobbed.
Feng Yan gave her a moment before he softly put away her hands. Then he resolutely walked away as Xin Ruo watched his disappearing figure.
"Go Pack up. We will leave after you are done."
Ikasa gently reminded Xin Ruo.
As soon as Xin Ruo and the kids had gone inside, someone grabbed Ikasa from behind and dragged him to a nearby alley. A hand covered his mouth while the other hand put his neck in a chokehold from behind.
"Hmm not bad… You are weak and rich. Xin Ruo will be able to bully you as she pleases. If possible I want to hold a wedding right now. But that girl wouldn't agree."
Feng Yan murmured under his breath.
"Kid, Do you know why I am sending my precious daughter with you?"
Then he answered the question himself without waiting for Ikasa to reply.
"That's because I don't want my baby girl to fall for some hooligan from slums. So you better keep an eye on her. Understand?"
Ikasa got a close view of the infamous swollen blood-red eyes of the Red Eye. He nodded his assent frantically while pointing to the hand that tightly covered his mouth.
"Damn bastards want to be the son in law of I, the Red Eye? They can dream on!"
Ikasa was struggling to breath so he started to flail in the man's grip. It drew his attention back to Ikasa. And he released him. Ikasa immediately bent over as he took in large gulps of air.
"You are too weak," Feng Yan whispered in disdain. "Become stronger or even the kids will bully you. Hahaha!"
And he once again walked away.
Ikasa was speechless as he watched this eccentric man walk away. When he was finally out of sight Ikasa regained his wits.
'Improve your life, my a$$! You don't want a son in law freeloading off you so you are sending your daughter to freeload off me!'