**Chapter 12**
**The next day.**
The Golden Crow (the sun) rose as usual.
The traps were also disassembled so no one would accidentally trigger them.
**In the yard.**
Xu Chuan and Xu Mingwei, father and son, practiced the *Minor Dragon Elephant Skill* together.
*Whoosh—whoosh—*
The sound of their movements constantly rang out, waking Bai Jing from her sleep.
She walked out in her dress, yawning. "Husband, Shitou—when did you get up?"
Xu Chuan laughed. "It's still early, my wife. You can go back to sleep."
"I won't be lazy. You gentlemen are both up—I should be up too. I don't have any clean clothes to change into. I'll wash them first."
"They're in the usual place."
Bai Jing nodded, went back to put on her clothes, and headed to the nearby square pond with a wooden basin.
"Dad, will Mother find out?" Xu Mingwei looked worriedly at Xu Chuan.
Xu Chuan smiled. "We handled it simply, not completely cleanly. But it doesn't matter if she finds out. Your mother is broad-minded. And besides, it wasn't me or you who started it."
"Yes." Xu Mingwei responded, then shouted, "Dad, watch out—look at my Fire Dragon Tail!"
He raised his right knee between his legs and swept it out like a whip of flame with his breath.
*Thus: The tail sweeps away a thousand evil spirits. The foot steps out of position to refine true fire.*
The two practiced for two or three hours. They were drenched in sweat, but their faces showed no sign of weakness.
One had inborn divine strength—more than enough to strengthen bones and muscles.
One had dragon spirit and tiger might—more than enough to prolong blood and energy.
*Crack.*
Xu Mingwei's body suddenly made an unusual sound. The next moment, his face lit up with joy. "Dad, I've opened another acupoint!"
"Youth is a good thing." Xu Chuan stopped his movements. "Do a few more rounds, then rest."
"Yes."
Xu Mingwei was young and full of energy. In less than two years, he would be able to stay up late with ease.
But Xu Chuan had not only [Dragon Spirit and Tiger Might]—he also had [Heavenly Wage].
The effect was astonishing.
The further others progressed, the slower they became, requiring the aid of Qi-Blood Pills to open acupoints.
But even without the help of Qi-Blood Pills, Xu Chuan's speed didn't slow—it only grew faster.
---
**Time passed, day by day.**
In recent days, more and more refugees had appeared.
Some flocked to Qingjiang County. Others simply stayed in Dongxi Village, begging for food.
The Chen Erzheng family had rented thirty acres of dry farmland. Together with the previous twenty acres, they used it all to grow the melons, fruits, and vegetables designated by Xu Chuan.
The thirty acres of Green Jade Pear trees in the mountain forest had all been removed and replaced with other fruit trees.
These workloads were substantial. They had also hired more than a dozen displaced people as temporary laborers.
"Mother, there's someone at the door." Xu Mingyuan's voice rang out.
Behind him, half-hidden, he timidly looked at the ragged man outside the gate.
The man also had a skinny little boy of three or four with him—sunken-eyed and hollow-cheeked.
Bai Jing came out to look at them. After a glance, she said to Xu Mingyuan, "Aiyuan, go get some water and some dry food for them."
"Yes, Mother."
"Bless you, merciful Buddha!"
The man knelt down and kowtowed, his head thudding against the ground. He pulled the little boy next to him down too.
"Please don't. Get up. The child is right here—you'll scare him."
"Yes."
The man answered and stopped kowtowing.
Soon, Xu Mingyuan came out with water and food.
After the man took it, he ate in huge mouthfuls—but didn't forget to let the little boy eat too.
Xu Minghu suddenly thought of something. He ran back inside and brought out some fine pastries.
They were little snacks Xu Chuan had made for him—sweet and soft.
"These are for you, little brother. My dad made them. They're delicious."
He handed the pastries to the little boy.
The boy took them hesitantly, looked at the man with dirt-caked eyes, saw him nod, and began to eat.
He took one bite, and suddenly a light appeared in his eyes.
Xu Chuan had taught him to learn to share. Xu Minghu hadn't thought much of it before, but after doing this, he felt especially happy.
He touched his own head with joy.
Under Xu Chuan's teaching, every child was very good—far beyond how most peasant children in Dongxi Village turned out.
When Bai Jing saw the man finish a large cake, she asked quietly, "Are you refugees too?"
"Yes. We came from Xishan County. There was a once-in-a-century flood there. Many people were swept away by the water. Houses were destroyed. Farmland was submerged. We had no home left. We could only uproot ourselves and head south."
"Now that you're here, what do you plan to do next?"
"I don't know." The man sighed. "On the road, my eldest daughter starved to death. His mother saved her dry food for us and starved herself."
He knelt down again and kowtowed once more, pleading. "I beg you, merciful bodhisattva, take in my father and son. We are willing to serve as slaves—just one meal a day."
"If not that, at least take pity on the child."
"He doesn't eat much."
Xu Minghu tugged at Bai Jing's clothes and said sympathetically, "Mother, they're so pitiful."
Bai Jing looked at him but didn't speak.
Taking them in was not her decision to make. Without their father's word, their mother couldn't be the master.
And with hundreds of thousands of refugees reportedly flooding the area—how could she help them all?
Bai Jing was a little flustered. She hesitated, then said, "Then wait by the door for now. I'm just a woman—I can't make this decision. I'll have to wait for my husband to return. He will decide."
"Understood. We're willing to wait. Even if you don't take us in, we'll understand."
---
**At noon.**
Xu Chuan and Xu Mingwei returned home. Seeing the refugees at the door, Xu Chuan asked in surprise, "Who are you?"
Bai Jing came over and briefly explained the situation to Xu Chuan.
Xu Chuan thought for a moment. "Wait until tomorrow for this matter. But you, father and son, can stay in the open space next to my house. This afternoon, I'll have my son bring you a simple tent."
"You'll get some food."
"Even if I don't keep you on, I'll give you some dry food and water to send you on your way."
"Thank you, master."
The Xu family had grown to where it was today. It was indeed time to develop slowly. Household guards and escorts should naturally come next.
But Xu Chuan didn't want just anyone.
---
**The second day.**
When Xu Chuan woke up, he began to use his talent.
**Today's hexagram: Auspicious.**
*[You will take in a father and son by the surname of Wang, from Xishan County. Both possess martial arts talent. The father, Wang Li, has one talent. The son has excellent talent and is expected to reach the innate realm.]*
"Wang?"
"That skinny little boy has the potential for the innate realm?"
*No wonder the hexagram is auspicious. Taking them in will benefit the Xu family's future.*
"But how could someone from the Wang family have fallen to such a state? Most refugees are ordinary peasants—unless this is about revenge."
He lay in bed, thinking it over.
Xishan County was thousands of miles away. They must have carried some fortune on them.
*"Since the hexagram says auspicious, I don't think there's any trouble behind this."*
*"To exert influence across several counties—that would probably require some of the great families in the county seat."*
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