"What a wonderful display of skills. The youths of the Armed Ape Tower are truly brimming with talent!" Elder Feng praised as the exhibition came to an end.
"Haha! Elder Feng is too kind. The kids still have a long way to go," Sect Master Kui Tui laughed it off, though he definitely looked pleased. "If Elder Feng can give some advice to them, I'm sure they will be ecstatic."
"With such amazing teachers here, there really isn't much else that I have to say," Elder Feng Wanjia said. "Why don't I just give a word or two to everyone?"
"That would be more than what we could ever wish for," Elder Xiong Yan chimed in. "In the meantime, why don't we have the disciples arrange your accommodations?"
As he said that, a few attendants stepped forward to await instructions.
"Gan Luozhi, Zhao Yunxiao, go with them to handle the arrangements for accommodations," Fei Weng instructed.
"Yes, Senior Fei."
Heeding his instructions, the two outer disciples promptly stepped forward to follow the lead of the attendants.
"Wait a minute," Xiong Yekong spoke up again at this moment. "I would like to have a chat with Brother Zhao. Would you be able to handle this matter alone, Brother Gan?"
Hua Shui frowned in response, but did not openly object this time. After all, he had already said his piece earlier. If Elder Feng Wanjia did not say anything to stop this, it would only seem petty of him to keep insisting otherwise.
"Y-Yes, of course! Leave it to me!" Gan Luozhi assured.
Under such circumstances, what else could he say?
He found it extremely strange that Xiong Yekong was so insistent on speaking to Zhao Yunxiao. But now that Xiong Yekong was also addressing him by name, he had to admit that it felt rather good.
When he returned to Purple Plum Mountain, he could tell everyone that Xiong Yekong now addressed him as 'Brother Gan'!
On the other hand, Zhao Yunxiao froze for a moment.
This guy still had not given up?
Just what exactly did he want?
"Oh? Do you know this little brother, Yekong?" Sect Master Kui Tui asked out of curiosity.
Elder Feng Wanjia was about to give some pointers to the other core disciples, yet Xiong Yekong suddenly asked to leave. It was rather uncharacteristic of him to act so tactlessly.
"I don't know him personally, but I have always wanted to speak to him," Xiong Yekong answered frankly.
Zhao Yunxiao: "..."
And why exactly was that?
"I see. Would that be all right with you, Elder Feng?" Sect Master Kui Tui asked cautiously.
In a way, Xiong Yekong's actions could easily give off the impression that he had zero interest in what Elder Feng Wanjia had to offer in advice. That would be rather offensive considering Elder Feng Wanjia's status.
If handled improperly, this could create tension between the two. And that would only be detrimental to Xiong Yekong's future.
"It is a good thing for the young ones to get better acquainted as well," Elder Feng Wanjia nodded.
"Thank you for understanding, Elder Feng," Xiong Yekong clasped his fists towards Elder Feng Wanjia before turning to Zhao Yunxiao. "In that case, shall we go?"
"Sure, Sir Xiong..." Zhao Yunxiao answered reluctantly. "After you."
Just like that, Gan Luozhi and Zhao Yunxiao left the wooden mansion on separate paths.
Following the attendants, Gan Luozhi proceeded to arrange the accommodations for the Black Tortoise Sect entourage.
As for Zhao Yunxiao, he could only follow Xiong Yekong without a clue as to where they were headed.
"May I know what Sir Xiong wishes to speak about?" Zhao Yunxiao asked as they walked along.
"You must have been surprised by my sudden request. But don't worry; this is nothing serious. I only wish to seek your advice on picking out a suitable gift for the Black Tortoise Sect entourage," Xiong Yekong explained.
"If that's the case, I will certainly do my best to help," Zhao Yunxiao nodded, though he could not help but feel that there was more to it than Xiong Yekong was letting on about.
The duo eventually arrived at another wooden house. By now, Zhao Yunxiao had realised that wood appeared to be the material of choice for most of the Armed Ape Tower's architecture.
This wooden house was smaller than the mansion that they had just left, but not by much. At the same time, the number of guards stationed outside the wooden house made it rather obvious that it held a greater importance.
There was a small sentry hut just outside the wooden house, with a large window from which five disciples carefully watched the entrance.
"Open the door," Xiong Yekong instructed upon getting near.
"Yes, Senior Martial Brother Xiong!" one of the guards rushed out to unlock the door without question, though he did shoot a curious gaze towards Zhao Yunxiao.
Zhao Yunxiao followed Xiong Yekong into the house, and the door promptly closed behind him. At the same time, a wonderful scene unfolded before Zhao Yunxiao's eyes.
A huge chamber with row after row of shelves, each filled with treasures of all sorts.
One wall was completely blocked out by sets of shining armour, while another held spears of all lengths and grades.
One shelf filled with various swords, and another covered with sabres.
Accessories, weapons, equipment, scrolls, talismans, and even spirit stones – all of them were laid out before his very eyes.
"Welcome to our treasury," Xiong Yekong said proudly.
"I see," Zhao Yunxiao nodded, consciously suppressing the impulse to scan the entire room with his spiritual sense.
After all, he was not a member of the Armed Ape Tower. It would not be appropriate to look around without restraint.
Xiong Yekong smirked. He had been paying attention to Zhao Yunxiao's expression, and could not help but notice how unfazed he was.
This was not the natural response of an outer disciple.
As far as he knew, outer disciples of the Black Tortoise Sect were not allowed to enter the sect's treasury.
Yes, the Armed Ape Tower's treasury might not be as impressive as that of the Black Tortoise Sect, and this was also just the common treasury that did not hold the core treasures of the sect. However, an ordinary outer disciple should still have felt some level of astonishment upon entering.
Looking at how calm Zhao Yunxiao was, perhaps there was a good reason why Tidal Fairy Chen Pingxi had been showing such interest in this person!
Unlike what most people thought, Xiong Yekong did not fancy Chen Pingxi in the romantic sense. Qie Xing's actions were also done entirely of his own accord, having nothing to do with Xiong Yekong's actual intentions.
Of course, that was not because he did not find her attractive either. In fact, it was quite the opposite. Just about every normal male would find Chen Pingxi attractive, and Xiong Yekong was no exception.
However, the current him was solely focused on improving himself. As for things like finding a cultivation partner, that could be left till when he had fully established himself as a cultivator.
But while he had not thought of Chen Pingxi as a potential cultivation partner, he still respected the latter as a peer. So, after hearing that Chen Pingxi had been paying close attention to this Zhao Yunxiao, Xiong Yekong could not help but become curious as well.
Just what was so special about this outer disciple that warranted so much attention from Chen Pingxi?
Thus, when he realised that Zhao Yunxiao would be coming along to the Armed Ape Tower this time, he decided that this would be the perfect opportunity to sound him out.
Bringing him to the treasury was the first test – if he was easily impressed by these treasures, that would say a lot about his horizons. And what sort of greatness could be expected from someone with narrow horizons?
That said, Zhao Yunxiao had just passed this test with flying colours!
Unbeknownst to Xiong Yekong, the result would have been completely different had this happened just two months ago.
Compared to back then, the current Zhao Yunxiao already had the experience of witnessing a sect's treasury back at the Origin Lake Sect, so the psychological impact was naturally a lot more muted this time.
After all, what he had entered back then was not just a common treasury like where he was right now, but the very core that contained treasures belonging to ancestors and even the progenitor of the Origin Lake Sect!
Having witnessed treasures of such level, Zhao Yunxiao could hardly be astonished by the lesser treasures laid out in front of him.
It was not that he did not find these treasures valuable, but the psychological impact from just seeing them was no longer as prominent.
"What do you think, Brother Zhao? What do you think would be suitable as a gift for Elder Feng and the others?" Xiong Yekong asked as he casually strolled into the large chamber.
This was the second test – to test his ability to see through both items and people alike. To do this, he would have to know what kind of items suited those from the Black Tortoise Sect entourage, be able to see through the items here with a mere glance, as well as gauge the approximate value of the items so that it would not end up looking like a robbery of the Armed Ape Tower's treasury.
"I am rather unfamiliar with this, so I would have to leave it to Sir Xiong to make a wise decision," Zhao Yunxiao answered in a deferential manner.
"Don't worry too much. Since Elder Feng is here personally, there is nothing here that we are unwilling to offer. Please go ahead and choose a few suitable ones," Xiong Yekong insisted. "That said, I am just hearing out your opinion. Ultimately, I will still be the one making the decision on which items to select as gifts, so you don't have to feel too pressured."
"In that case, please excuse me..." Zhao Yunxiao stepped forward and swept his spiritual sense across the entire chamber.
He might not be an expert assessor, but as a smith, he still had a certain degree of confidence when it came to assessing items.
One by one, he scanned through the items that were on display, trying to match them to the members of the Black Tortoise Sect entourage. After a few moments, Zhao Yunxiao promptly started pointing to the items on display.
"What does Sir Xiong think about these?" he asked.
A painting for Elder Feng Wanjia, which could be easily gifted out as she pleased.
A hairpin for Sect Protector Shan Lihui, to add a touch to her usual hair bun.
A fortune figurine for Fei Weng, to herald greater business performance for his Yellowshell Mine.
A sword for Hua Shui, to add to his collection of blades.
He believed that as long as Xiong Yekong agreed to all these, the seniors from the Black Tortoise Sect would definitely be satisfied with the gifts.
However, Xiong Yekong only took a quick look at the four items before turning back to him. "These are pretty good choices. But why only four items? Aren't you still missing two?"
"Missing two?" Zhao Yunxiao repeated the question in confusion.
"That's right. For you and that other outer disciple," Xiong Yekong elaborated.
"There will be a gift for me too?" Zhao Yunxiao's eyes lit up in surprise. After all, it was rare for outer disciples like them to receive welcome gifts as well.
"Well, this is not the usual practice. But as the prime disciple, I can make an exception this time," Xiong Yekong smirked. "On just one condition."
"There's a condition?" Zhao Yunxiao's hope mellowed out instantly. "May I ask what this condition is?"
At the same time, he felt his chances of obtaining a new treasure deflating in an instant.
In the end, was it just as Senior Martial Brother Hua Shui had predicted? Was Xiong Yekong truly doing this with the aim of digging some sect secrets out of him?
As much as he would love to get his hands on some new treasures, he would never betray his sect for it!
Just as Zhao Yunxiao thought that he had made up his mind on how to answer Xiong Yekong's request, his thoughts were once again thrown into disarray with the next few words that came from the latter.
"My condition is simple," Xiong Yekong turned to face him squarely. "Hit me with the hardest strike you can muster. If you are able to push me back a single step, you can pick any treasure that you see here for yourself."
Zhao Yunxiao: "???"
His condition was to... hit him?
People often say that all geniuses had an eccentric side to them, and this Xiong Yekong truly seemed to be trying his best to prove this statement right!