Chapter 381 - Xuan Wen (1/2)

”Hahaha! What a coincidence to have met you guys here!” Xuan Wen laughed. ”Are you visiting the True Fire Tavern as well? I am here alone so why don't we go together then?”

”That would be great, wouldn't it, Young Master Xuan Hao?” Old Zheng asked.

”I suppose so...” Young Master Xuan Hao replied hesitantly.

He had always been on good terms with his elder brother Xuan Wen prior to this.

However, that was also partly because Young Master Xuan Hao never had the intention to vie for the position of the heir.

Now that his stance on the matter had changed, Young Master Xuan Hao could not help but feel awkward when facing this elder brother of his.

If at all possible, he would have preferred not to dine with Xuan Wen, but he simply could not find any rational excuse to reject the suggestion.

With that, the group followed Xuan Wen into the True Fire Tavern, where they were greeted promptly at the door and guided to a private chamber.

Lu Tianzi silently followed along while secretly sizing up this Xuan Wen.

Xuan Wen had a graceful demeanor, like a scholar who was learned about the arts. As a Ninth Cycle Origin Core realm martial artist, he was just a single step away from the Overlord realm. Of course, this one step was also a huge hurdle that had stopped countless martial artists in their tracks.

Lu Tianzi had no doubt that their encounter here with Xuan Wen was no mere coincidence.

No matter how he looked at it, it had to be Old Zheng pulling the strings. Lu Tianzi would not believe anything other than that.

But why?

If it was about recruiting him, Lu Tianzi could understand it if Old Zheng arranged for Xuan Wen to meet himself and Nanlan Qianxue.

However, Young Master Xuan Hao was here as well!

Wouldn't that defeat the purpose altogether?

Before long, the group found themselves seated around a table with sumptuous food laid out before them.

”So the group of you just arrived at Eternal Flame City. That explains why I haven't heard of your return,” Xuan Wen nodded in understanding. ”You did well choosing True Fire Tavern as your first stop, Hao. Good job. It will really allow your friends to relax and enjoy a glimpse of what Eternal Flame City has to offer.”

”Yeah, that's what I thought too...” Young Master Xuan Hao replied softly.

”You are being awfully quiet today, Hao. Did something happen to you while you were away?” Xuan Wen narrowed his eyes.

”How could there be anything? Perhaps Brother Xuan Hao is just feeling tired from the long journey,” Ruan Ling replied with a smile.

”Y-Yeah,” Young Master Xuan Hao said before taking a sip of tea.

”That would be for the best. But feel free to let me know if you have encountered any problems. I will surely resolve them for you,” Xuan Wen nodded before turning his attention towards Lu Tianzi and Nanlan Qianxue. ”Manor Lord Lu and Lady Nanlan, is it? How are you liking the food here?”

”It is truly delightful,” Lu Tianzi replied.

This was his honest opinion.

As Young Master Xuan Hao had mentioned, the food served here was not only delicious, but also contained faint traces of primordial Slaughter Essence that could help consolidate the cultivation of martial artists.

Each bite sent a faint wisp of Slaughter Essence energy into his body, making him feel better from the inside.

With food like this, just a meal alone could save him a few days worth of cultivation!

”Hahaha! That's good to hear!” Xuan Wen laughed. ”Although Hao and I share different mothers, he is still my beloved younger brother whom I have doted on since young. He can be a handful at times, so you have my thanks for accompanying him as his friends. It is not much, but this meal is on me as a show of my gratitude.”

Hearing that, Young Master Xuan Hao finally could not take it anymore. He tightened his grip on his chopsticks as he steeled his resolve.

”Please don't say that, Elder Brother. You might not be aware, but I am no longer the same kid as before,” Young Master Xuan Hao retorted. ”I am now a man who can take care of my people instead.”

”That's nice, Hao,” Xuan Wen said patronisingly before turning to Old Zheng. ”Old Zheng, do you have what I asked for?”

”Yes, Master,” Old Zheng got up from his seat to personally pass a spatial ring over to Xuan Wen. ”Here it is. Please check to see if everything is there.”

”Mm, good work,” Xuan Wen nodded after inspecting the contents of the spatial ring, then glanced over at Lu Tianzi and Nanlan Qianxue. ”Right. Since you are friends of Hao, you are friends of mine as well. So let me show you something good here.”

With a flick of his wrists, Xuan Wen drew out everything that was within the spatial ring.

”Woah!” Bo'er could not help but exclaim in awe at the sight before her.

Floating in the air was a full set of equipment, including the helm, armour, bracers, leg plates, and a spear to finish it off.

Just by hovering above them, they could feel a slight oppression from the set of equipment as they naturally exerted a pressure on the space around them.

Lu Tianzi's eyes lit up in surprise, and it was not just him either.

Nanlan Qianxue, Young Master Xuan Hao, and Ruan Ling all stared at the full set of equipment in shock.

It was a full set of Overlord rank equipment!

”Hahaha! I am the one who asked for it, but even I am surprised at the quality of the result!” Xuan Wen laughed heartily. ”My friends, I hereby introduce to you the Lunar Orbit Battle Set!”

”The Lunar Orbit Battle Set!” Lu Tianzi recognised this name immediately.

It was the full set of equipment recently forged by Grandmaster Weiwo of Sacred Cliff City.

Back then before they left, it was with this set of equipment that Grandmaster Weiwo wanted to challenge Grandmaster Tiequan's Fallen Sun on the grounds that they were all made from the same Moonlight Metal Ore.

To think that the Lunar Orbit Battle Set actually ended up in the hands of Xuan Wen!

”It seems that Manor Lord Lu has heard of the Lunar Orbit Battle Set?” Xuan Wen smiled when he saw Lu Tianzi's expression.

”The Lunar Orbit Battle Set was forged at around the same time as Manor Lord Lu's sabre, so there were some ignorant busybodies who decided to compare the two,” Old Zheng added.

”That explains,” Xuan Wen nodded in understanding. ”In any case, I am intending to give the Lunar Orbit Battle Set to Caixia as a gift. What do you think of that, Old Zheng?”