Chapter 84

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Chapter 84: Brother and Sister

Looking at the lively scene in the conference hall, Ou Peng felt an immense sense of satisfaction. After all, isn’t a man’s life goal to establish a stable and prosperous domain? It seemed he had achieved just that.

While Ou Peng was immersed in his thoughts, he noticed a graceful figure entering the hall. Ou Peng’s eyes lit up, and his smile widened. It was none other than his only blood-related sister, Ou Yan.

Ou Peng had a tragic childhood, losing both parents at an early age. He and his sister depended on each other for survival. When Ou Peng was accepted as a disciple by the sect master of the Piaomiao Sect, his sister naturally followed him. However, instead of becoming a disciple, she was raised in Huanxi Villa under the care of Ou Peng’s master’s wife. Ou Peng’s master had no children, and when he retired, he carefully chose Ou Peng as the sect master of the Piaomiao Sect. Meanwhile, Huanxi Villa was directly handed over to Ou Yan by the master’s wife. This meant that even if Ou Peng was not the head of the Piaomiao Sect, Huanxi Villa would still belong to Ou Yan. Her control over Huanxi Villa was not simply because she was Ou Peng’s sister.

According to the relationship between Huanxi Villa and the Piaomiao Sect, many believed that it should be managed by Ou Peng’s wife. However, reality often defies conventional logic.

From the perspective of the Piaomiao Six Tigers, the situation was clear. They remembered the little girl who had accompanied Ou Peng when he first arrived. They viewed Ou Yan as their own child or sister. They didn’t care about others’ opinions. Huanxi Villa was their sanctuary, and they felt comfortable entrusting it to one of their own. Even though the sect master’s wife shared Ou Peng’s bed, she was not the same as the previous master’s wife, who had built Huanxi Villa. No matter how virtuous and wise the current leader’s wife was, she was still an outsider, how could she be compared to Ou Yan, who had been specifically designated by the previous master’s wife?

Therefore, Ou Yan held a somewhat detached position within the Piaomiao Sect.

Ou Peng watched his sister enter the meeting hall, his eyes flashing with warmth and affection. He was very pleased to see her slowly walk in front of him, just like looking at his own child. At that moment, Ou Pen was no longer a person, he was embodying the universal fatherly pride of seeing his beautiful and accomplished child stand before him.

Ou Yan felt the same deep connection. To her, her brother was almost indistinguishable from her father. Ever since she could remember, she had grown up under her brother’s care, feeling his love and protection. The paternal warmth she read about in books was mirrored in the image of her brother. It’s just that the Jianghu was too cruel, you couldn’t help yourself when you were in it. Before Ou Peng was the sect master and frequently ventured into dangerous battles, Ou Yan was terrified and always prayed silently for his safety, fearing the loss of her only family. After Ou Peng became the sect master he became busy with the affairs of the sect and had fewer opportunities to go out in person. Ou Yan understood the burdens her brother bore and wanted to help him as much as she could. Thus, she dedicated herself to managing Huanxi Villa, alleviating the Piaomiao Sect’s logistical and medicinal needs to aid its growth. Even last time, when they needed a family member of Ou Peng to act as a hostage due to a treasure-related conflict, Ou Yan volunteered without hesitation, willing to make any sacrifice for her brother.

However, Ou Peng’s latest endeavor was too shocking. He completely annexed an entire rival faction with strength almost equal to their own, and did so in unfamiliar waters. Despite knowing her brother’s fortuitous encounters and the power-boosting elixirs he had consumed, Ou Yan was acutely aware that martial prowess alone was not enough. The martial world was full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers, and there were always people beyond people. The Luo River Gang could have undisclosed strengths. During the time Ou Peng was away, Ou Yan had many sleepless nights, dreading the possibility of bad news.

Yesterday, upon hearing of her brother’s victorious return, Ou Yan immediately wanted to greet Ou Peng as soon as possible. But she understood that her brother, as the leader of the sect, was no longer just her brother. He was the idol of countless sect disciples, with numerous responsibilities to attend to. Thus, she waited until the celebration to make her appearance.

Ou Yan walked up to Ou Peng, bowed, and said: “Elder Brother, congratulations on your great contribution to the foundation of the Piaomiao Sect.”

Looking at his sister’s slightly thin face, Ou Peng felt a pang of heartache. He said: “Yan’er, how many times have I told you not to worry about me? With my current skills, if I encounter any danger, I can always escape. I won’t lose my life. Just look at you, we haven’t seen each other for a few days, and you’ve already become so thin. Aren’t you making me feel bad too?”

Ou Yan smiled and said: “Unfortunately, I’m not a man, otherwise, I could go out and fight in your place. These worries are nothing now.”

Ou Peng, looking at his sister with kindness, noticed how much she resembled their mother. He felt an urge to playfully tug her ear as he used to, but knowing they were in the formal setting of the council hall and not their home, he merely waved his hand and said: “Brother will naturally handle the sect’s affairs. Yan’er, you don’t need to be so anxious. Even if you were a younger brother, I wouldn’t let you take unnecessary risks. I will always pave the way for you.”

Ou Yan nodded with a smile and said: “I knew that long ago. You’ve always been at the forefront since we were kids.”

Then, she asked: “Elder Brother, how was the situation during the battle with the Luo River Gang?”

Ou Peng, seeing his sister’s curiosity, pointed to a nearby chair and said: “Yan’er, sit down first. I’ll explain it to you slowly.”

When Ou Yan was seated, Ou Peng began to recount his journey from leaving the Piaomiao Sect to infiltrating the core of the Luo River Gang and capturing their leader, Shui Yupeng. Ou Peng tried to keep the story brief, glossing over the dangerous parts, but even so, the thrilling moments made Ou Yan break into a cold sweat. Though her brother was sitting unharmed before her, her heart still raced with anxiety.

Once Ou Peng finished his account, Ou Yan let out a long sigh of relief and earnestly said: “Elder Brother, it truly sounds incredibly perilous. If it weren’t for you and the other brothers’ significant increase in martial prowess, the Luo River Gang might have indeed been a treacherous place.”

Ou Peng nodded thoughtfully and replied: “Indeed, if it weren’t for our substantial improvement in skills, we wouldn’t have even thought of annexing the Luo River Gang. This sudden surge in power can lead one to make decisions beyond their usual expectations.”

Ou Yan agreed: “Yes, elder brother. The consequences or expected outcomes of such actions are often beyond one’s control because one hasn’t yet adapted to the newfound power. So they would not have a good understanding of the outcomes, easily leading to catastrophic results.”

Ou Peng smiled and said: “Yan’er, is right. It’s like a farmer who suddenly becomes rich overnight, so he has other things on his mind and wants to do things he didn’t dare to do before, like gambling. Previously, he might have avoided the gambling dens, or if he visited, he would have known his thin wallet couldn’t afford big bets. Now, feeling wealthy, he can afford to squander it, so he places large bets confidently. If he wins, the farmer is lucky. But if the game gets out of hand, he could lose everything, even his life. In hindsight, it’s better for him not to have become rich overnight, as he could then lead a peaceful life, growing old in contentment.”

Ou Yan smiled at her brother without speaking further. Ou Peng, filled with affection, said: “Yan’er, Brother understands your concerns. This attack on the Luo River Gang was indeed risky, driven by the sudden surge in power. I’ve learned many lessons from this bloody experience. From now on, my brothers and I will be more cautious. Don’t worry, your brother is no simple farmer who got rich overnight.”

Ou Yan, smiling sweetly, responded softly: “I know, elder brother.”

Ou Peng then asked: “Yan’er, how is the situation with the medicine fields at the villa?”

Ou Yan frowned slightly and said: “The situation is still the same. There’s been no progress. After the seeds were planted, they didn’t show any signs of sprouting. We don’t know why.”

Ou Peng grew concerned and said: “Could it be that the disciples we sent don’t know how to plant them properly? Or perhaps the planting method is wrong? Why don’t we ask Hall Master Bai or Elder He to send another one of their proud disciples to take a look?”

Ou Yan nodded and said: “Maybe. The seeds were planted following the usual methods for planting medicinal herbs, and the disciples responsible for the fields were sent by the Medicine Hall. They have extensive experience in cultivating medicinal herbs, but for some reason, these seeds haven’t sprouted. Given that you were preoccupied with the Luo River Gang recently, the Medicine Hall probably didn’t have the resources to investigate. Now I guess that Hall Master would have time, it’s a good idea to let them take another look. I’ll also check the ancient texts for any helpful methods.”

Ou Peng nodded in agreement and said: “Yan’er, take care of yourself, and don’t overexert yourself with the research. If the herbs can be cultivated, that would be ideal. If not, it’s okay. I don’t want you to exhaust yourself over this minor herb.”

Ou Yan laughed and said: “I understand, elder brother. Although I can’t cultivate advanced internal martial arts, I still have some basic skills. They’re enough to keep me strong and healthy. Don’t worry about me.”

Ou Peng also laughed and said: “Indeed, if you had mastered the profound internal arts of the Piaomiao Sect, coupled with your knack for research, I would have to give up my position as the sect master to you. I still remember the regretful look on Master’s face when he realized you couldn’t cultivate. He must have been lamenting that you couldn’t take over the Piaomiao Sect.”

Ou Yan playfully retorted: “Big Brother, don’t say that. I’m not interested in the sect master’s position. The daily trivial matters are endless and would drive me mad. I’d rather stay at Hunaxi Villa, where there’s hardly any trouble throughout the year. I can enjoy watching the moon and flowers and occasionally practice some martial arts. Isn’t that wonderful?”

Ou Peng sighed enviously: “Yes, Master and Mistress’s love for you was evident when they entrusted you with Huanxi Villa. I often think about living a life like yours. Unfortunately…”

Ou Yan smiled and continued: “Unfortunately, being in the Jianghu means you’re not free to do as you please? It’s not that bad, everyone has their own life. Look at Big Brother, you are the center of attention, holding great power over the sect, and managing the livelihood of countless sect members. Isn’t that the kind of life many people envy?”