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Zhaoyang County has four main streets, respectively named Changle, Feiyun, Dongkang, and Pingyang.
The territory of the Hou Clan is called Changle Street.
Twenty years ago, when Hou Tong moved to Zhaoyang with his five children, the county city had only three streets: Feiyun, Dongkang, and Pingyang. Changle Street was forged through his fists.
The fact that he could carve out his own territory amidst the squeeze of three local forces was testament to Hou Tong's capabilities.
Indeed, Hou Tong's extraordinary nature had long since been established in the hearts of the people of Zhaoyang County.
After opening Changle Street, Hou Tong's first action was to have his eldest son, Hou Yuxiao, acknowledge the County Lord Ren Feng as his godfather to curry favor with the county government.
Afterward, he convinced County Lord Ren Feng to join forces with the four major powers of Zhaoyang to jointly develop the iron mines of Nanling Mountain, amassing a fortune in just a few short years.
At the same time, he leveraged the rights to collect herbs from Nanling Mountain, inviting outsiders and displaced villagers to the city. As long as they had a household registration in the city, they could collect herbs in Nanling Mountain without paying taxes, a move that instantly drew people from nearby towns to the county city.
Thus, in less than ten years, Changle Street developed into a bustling thoroughfare with over two hundred shops and a population exceeding one hundred thousand.
Five years ago when Hou Tong ascended to the status of a Warrior of the Gang Qi Realm and was ranked 819th on the Righteous Path's Demon Extermination List, becoming the top expert of Zhaoyang County, Changle Street reached its most prosperous period. The population almost hit two hundred thousand, almost exceeding the combined population of the other three streets.
Unfortunately, all this prosperity came to an abrupt end two years ago with the death of Hou Tong.
Now, the population of Changle Street is less than one hundred thousand; although it remains the most flourishing street in Zhaoyang County, it is a shadow of its former self.
"This is all a result of the past two years of my efforts to boost trade. It's just a pity that we of the Hou Clan are not well-known or powerful enough, and with the constant opposition from the other three forces in Zhaoyang County, development is still difficult..."
As Hou Yuxiao walked down the street, he sighed lightly. The more prosperous Changle Street was, the higher the profits for its owners, the Hou Clan.
But after all, this world still valued martial prowess above all. No matter how clever his development strategies were, without sufficient strength to support them, it was futile.
"Second Elder is back!"
"I kneel before you, Second Elder."
"Second Elder..."
...
Hou Yuxiao did not reveal his true identity to the public; although the people lining the streets guessed his identity, they dared not confirm it, so they greeted Hou Yucheng instead.
Neither of them paid much attention and went straight back to Hou Mansion.
As the owners of Changle Street, Hou Mansion was located on the right side of the street's center, with an entrance gate about two zhang high, the tallest structure on the street. A large plaque hung high on the gate, bearing two bold and powerful characters:
"Hou Mansion"
The gates were not closed. The two servants guarding the gate, Zhao Si and Wang Wu, knew what was happening when they saw Hou Yucheng and hurried forward to meet the four, particularly excited upon seeing Hou Yuxiao.
"Family Head, we just received word that you had returned. We thought it might be false news!"
"Uncle Zhao, Uncle Wang!"
Hou Yuxiao's slender face showed a light smile. Zhao Si and Wang Wu, now in their forties, were both at the Six Levels of Body Unsealing in cultivation. They were taken in by the family back when Hou Tong was the Family Head and had served the Hou Mansion for over twenty years, making them old servants.
He was now just twenty-five, with the youngest sibling, Fifth Brother Hou Yuduan, only twenty years old. The five siblings could be said to have grown up under the care of Zhao Si and Wang Wu, forming a bond of affection between them.
With cultivation at the Six Levels of Body Unsealing, they were considered skilled in a small place like Zhaoyang County. Hou Yuxiao had long suggested that the two take up other positions in the clan, but both had repeatedly refused, citing an oath they made before Hou Tong to serve as gatekeepers for the Hou Clan for life. Hou Yuxiao could only let the matter rest.
Zhao Si, looking at Xiaohong who was following behind, suddenly opened his eyes wide in surprise. He reached forward and touched the fiery red mane, and after confirming, he uttered a word of admiration.
"Yi, a fiery mane horse... this is no ordinary beast. Family Head, you are truly fortunate to have acquired such a fine creature!"
Hou Yuxiao cracked a smile and said, "Uncle Zhao, go have someone take this fiery mane horse to the back courtyard. Also, take these two into custody in the west wing, have someone watch over them day and night; they must not escape!"
Agreeing, the two hurried to assign the tasks.
Hou Yuxiao, accompanied by Hou Yucheng, entered the Hou Mansion and proceeded to the main hall.
Hou Mansion occupied an area of approximately three hundred square meters, organized into five regions based on the cardinal directions, each belonging to a sibling. The east side's Xueyang Garden was home to the Fourth Elder Hou Yujie, the west side's Ya Xiang Courtyard belonged to Fifth Brother Hou Yuduan, Second Elder Hou Yucheng lived in the south's Cold Blade Garden, and the Joyful Union Pavilion in the north was inhabited by the only female among the Five Sons of the Hou Family, Third Elder Hou Yuling.
The central area, aside from being Hou Yuxiao's own residence, also fulfilled many of the clan's functions, such as the family hall, the grand council hall, the Hou Clan's main hall, and even the family treasure vault, all situated here.
As the two entered the family hall, Hou Yuxiao took the seat of honor. A black and a white light flickered in his pupils, and a twelve-petalled black-and-white lotus emerged at his brow. Bathed in the divine light, his body began to undergo a transformation.
The body that was under five feet tall stretched as if pulled by an unseen force, elongating until it reached about five and a half feet before gradually coming to a halt.
His slim frame began to fill out, and his gaunt face became fuller and normal-looking. In a moment, a handsome and chiseled countenance slowly revealed itself.
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