Chapter 50 - 50 47 The Tian Family's Past

50: Chapter 47 The Tian Family’s Past 50: Chapter 47 The Tian Family’s Past The black cat spoke, issuing a threatening growl, but Xiao Jie was stunned. “King? Are you serious?” Why does this cat talk with a voice that’s husky from smoking, giving a vibe of a mob boss? He knew the voice was a figment of his imagination in this setting, but he still found it somewhat speechless. Hoarse-voiced, the black cat said, “That’s right, I am the king of this mountain, everything in these mountains is mine, squirrels fear me, pigeons dread me, even you big dumb cats dare not disrespect me, rushing to offer me tribute.” As it spoke, it pawed at the leftovers on the ground, fish jerky, starch sausages, probably snacks from someone’s overflowing kindness. “If you want to challenge my kingship, then we’ll have to battle it out!” Having said that, it arched its back, assuming a posture ready for a fight. Xiao Jie found it amusing, not expecting this cat to have such complex thoughts. “The mountain, you mean this little dirt mound behind you, hahahaha, you are too funny, little guy, don’t worry, I’m not interested in your territory, I’m just here for a jog, to exercise a bit, that’s all.” The black cat tilted its head, sizing up Xiao Jie, “Meow, alright, foreign big dumb cat, I believe you, but don’t pull any tricks, I’ve got my eye on you.” The black cat raised its paw, pointed at its own eyes, then at Xiao Jie. The movement was quite reminiscent of a mob boss. Xiao Jie couldn’t help but burst into laughter, turning to head home amidst the black cat’s annoyed and puzzled gaze. When he woke up the next morning, Xiao Jie felt his leg muscles aching. Damn, he had actually strained his muscles. Rubbing his thigh, he felt resigned; okay, looks like even with added attributes, he still needed to exercise in real life to get used to it. After breakfast, Xiao Jie logged in early. He was eager to go level up in the fields again, but before he left the village, there were two things he had to do: feed the dogs and enquire about the Old Tian Family Mansion with the NPCs. Feeding the dogs could wait, Xiao Jie decided to gather some information first. Xiao Jie headed straight to the fields near the west side of the village, where several farmers were busily driving oxen to till the land, the old cattle heaving and pulling the ploughs. Other farmers were harvesting ripe wheat. Farming in this game wasn’t as complicated as in real life; just till the soil once, spread the seeds, water them once, and then harvest to complete the job. A crop could be grown in just half a day. The task required no skill at all, but since the price of grain was very low, it was hardly worth selling, so Xiao Jie didn’t bother with it. That Tian NPC, one of the farmers, was named Tian Bao, and at that moment, he was helping to turn the soil with a hoe. “Brother, may I have a word with you? There’s important business to discuss.” Tian Bao sighed, “Don’t tease me, young man. What important business could a farmer like me have? I’ve still got work to do. If you want to ask something, just ask.” “Do you know anything about the Old Tian Family affairs? I’m talking about the abandoned farm in the east side of the valley.” A peculiar expression appeared on Tian Bao’s face, “What do you want to know that for?” “I want to find out how to get into the gate of the Tian Family Mansion.” “Hmph, I knew it, you must be eyeing the treasures in my family’s old mansion. Let me tell you, it’s all Tian family property, and despite the disaster, we left it there, waiting for someone to put this chaotic world in order someday, and then it will all be mine. Don’t think about coveting a single penny. Go away, scram, I don’t feel like talking to you.” A dialogue box popped up in front of Xiao Jie. [Option 1: Don’t get so worked up, brother. I have my reasons for wanting to enter the old mansion, hear me out (Persuade). Option 2: Why reject so hastily, brother? With demons and chaos, who knows how many years it will be before it ends. Instead of waiting for that elusive hope, why not take some money? I’ve got [ ] cents here, just tell me how to get into the mansion, and the money is yours (Bribe). Option 3: Kid, don’t push your luck; drink the wine or face the music. Tell me straight up how it is, or else—hmm… (Intimidate).] Huh, there really is a chance here. This Tian Bao is actually a descendant of the Old Tian Family. It seems this lad really does know something. Otherwise, this dialogue box wouldn’t have popped up. Xiao Jie swiftly pondered over the three options. Intimidation definitely won’t work. I can’t kill anyone in the village, and at most I can only beat him up a bit, which isn’t really a deterrent, plus it might cause more trouble and lower my reputation with the villagers. If it’s a matter of bribery, it seems I can fill in any amount, but I only have a few hundred coins to my name, and I need those for Equipment repairs and emergency supplies. I can’t afford to waste them. Persuasion it is, then. My silver tongue is quite powerful after all. Whether it’s through persuasion, bribery, or intimidation, I can play it by ear. Having given it some thought, Xiao Jie came up with his argument. He decisively chose 1. “Brother, don’t be so agitated. There’s a reason I need to get into that old house, just listen to my explanation. I’m actually doing this for your own good. That old house has been neglected for so long, battered by the wind and rain without anyone to care for it; it’s already in a state of disrepair. It’s possible that in a few more years, it will be completely ruined and by then, any wealth and property you might inherit will be gone. It might be better to let me open it; if there really is anything valuable inside, you’ll certainly get your share. In truth, I’m not a greedy person. I want to open the doors of that old house to investigate the truth behind some strange incidents. You must know that your ancestral home is surrounded by a torrent of demonic energy, and monsters run rampant. There’s definitely something amiss inside. If I don’t help you get rid of it, when the time comes for you to reclaim your inheritance, it’s going to be a huge hassle.” These words turned out to be quite effective. Tian Bao’s face twisted with conflict, but he had to admit that Xiao Jie made sense and begrudgingly nodded. “Young brother, you do make some good points. Alright, I’ll trust you this once. I’m not too clear on how you can enter my family’s ancestral home, but I can tell you about some events that happened to the Tian family back in the day. However, you must agree to do something for me. When my ancestors left the old house in a hurry, they didn’t take the deed with them. If we ever want to reclaim our property in the future, that could be a problem. If you enter the ancestral home, you must help me find the deed and return it to me. If you are willing to take a deadly oath, I’ll tell you everything.” [System Notification: You have triggered the quest [Find the Deed]. Help Tian Bao find the deed of the Tian Family Mansion and take the Oath of Divine Punishment. If you find the deed, you must return it to Tian Bao. Do you accept, Yes/No?] Xiao Jie naturally chose to accept. He had no use for the deed anyway; if he found it, he would just return it. If he couldn’t find it, there would be no breach of the oath anyway. “Alright, if I can find the deed, I will definitely bring it back to you, or may divine punishment befall me,” he declared. Tian Bao nodded, “That settles it then, young man. Listen carefully— The affairs of my Tian family date back to what my ancestors told me. At that time, the great disaster had occurred over a hundred years ago, with most of Ginkgo Valley devasted and uninhabitable. Many residents of the valley fled to settle down in Ginkgo Village, which was said to be protected by the Immortal Tree and ensured safety. My Tian family, however, had extensive property and the head of the family, Tian Youcai, was highly skilled in martial arts, with many servants and followers barely managing to hold onto our estate. But as the demons grew increasingly rampant, my great-great-grandfather Tian Youcai, despite being exhausted from trying to protect the family fortune, became more and more overburdened. Luckily, he happened upon a strange Taoist who provided him with a treasure. This treasure was said to be amazingly powerful, capable of summoning Heavenly Soldiers and Generals to descend and safeguard our family. With their protection, even a multitude of demons and ghosts posed no concern. What this treasure was, is now impossible to verify. However, according to my father, the treasure was incredibly potent; upon its use, it really did summon many Heavenly Soldiers and Generals. These Heavenly Soldiers and Generals, however, appeared somewhat frightening, and the ignorant servants of the Tian family all ran away at the sight, leaving only my Tian family and our close relatives. Our family consisted of five people at that time. My ancestor was Tian Youcai’s second son, Tian Erhu, and there was also an elder son named Tian Daniu, the family head Tian Youcai, the lady of the house, Tian Lishi, and an old master whose name I can’t remember. Originally, our family of five, together with the summoned Heavenly Soldiers and Generals, managed to get by, but for some reason, Tian Youcai went mad. He drove everyone out of the house, sealed the door, and hid inside the mansion alone. What happened afterward, I do not know. I only know that my ancestor later moved to Ginkgo Village, and since then, no word has been heard about the others. Whatever became of those remaining Tian family members is a mystery.” After hearing this story, Xiao Jie pondered quietly. The Tian family had a total of five members; aside from the second son who escaped to Ginkgo Village, there were four others. The Tian Lishi he killed yesterday must be one of them. The so-called Heavenly Soldiers and Generals probably weren’t real; could they be referring to those straw men? Regardless, the treasure must be something valuable, but it could also have some hidden dangers. Since Tian Lishi had become a demon, the other family members likely hadn’t escaped a similar fate; it might all be due to the effect of that treasure. The method to enter the mansion, it seems, lies with the remaining demons.