Family Cultivation: My entire family are Villains

The occasional glimpses of enchanting beauty were already enough to make one's blood surge. Looking further down, a pair of delicate jade-like feet were unexpectedly bare, their seductive charm reaching the extreme.

If one were to say that these boldly revealing clothes only added a touch of enchantment to the girl, then her stunningly beautiful face was the very definition of captivating charm.

Her phoenix hairdo left temples exposed, light makeup accentuated her lovely eyebrows and eyes brimmed with spring, her skin was soft and smooth like warm jade, and her lips, a natural cherry red, were irresistibly alluring. Two strands of hair by her cheeks fluttered softly in the wind, adding a tempting allure to her demeanor.

Had Hou Yuxiao not known her well, he truly would not have believed that the Hou Yuling before him was only twenty-three years old. It wasn't that she looked old, but rather that the allure exuded by the young girl with every move seemed too mature for her age.

Let's be honest, one could tell just by looking at the appearances of the five Hou siblings that the genetics of Hou Tong, or the Hou clan, were beyond reproach. Hou Yuxiao and his four brothers need not be mentioned; the present Hou Yuling was the best proof of this.

Generally speaking, daughters tend to resemble their fathers, and when Hou Yuxiao had come to Xuzhou two years ago, he had seen the late Hou Tong. Hou Yuling indeed inherited her father's stunning looks.

Even though he knew that Hou Yuling had always dressed this way, Hou Yuxiao couldn't help wanting to advise her upon seeing her. But the words died on his lips when he saw her almost-smiling expression, seemingly guessing what he was about to say, and he immediately dismissed the thought.

This was a conversation better left to Old Fifth!

"Third Sister, how are things at the county office?"

Hou Yuling was the third eldest in the Hou family and her childhood name was Madam Hou San. After their father Hou Tong passed away two years ago, only her elder brothers Hou Yuxiao and Hou Yucheng could still address her by that name. The Fourth and Fifth usually had to call her Third Sister.

When Hou Yuxiao used this name, it meant that he was about to discuss serious matters. Hou Yuling put away the smile on her face and replied earnestly, "It's confirmed now. Cheng Yue will be the new protector of Zhaoyang, and he's likely to take office by the end of this month."

After her response, Hou Yuling couldn't help but show a hint of admiration as she curiously asked, "Big Brother, how did you guess that the newly appointed protector of Zhaoyang in the county office would be Cheng Yue, and even instructed me to send over that batch of fierce manes beforehand?"

Hou Yuxiao showed a faint smile at the corners of his mouth, and did not hide anything from his sister, saying, "In the past year, I had Hou Cun lead half of his Zishu Faction to stay in Tongling County, spending so much money. If we couldn't get any useful information, all that money would have been wasted, wouldn't it?"

With sudden realization, Hou Yuling knew the source of Hou Yuxiao's information and continued to listen to what he said.

"Before I left Zhaoyang for Tianling County, Hou Cun sent word back. The Deputy Magistrate of the Prison Admin Department of Tongling County, Ding Dian, intended to establish a protector for Zhaoyang. Of Ding Dian's three top disciples who are currently without positions, only Cheng Yue was left unappointed—otherwise, who could it be?"

Upon mentioning the name Ding Dian, a look of wariness immediately appeared in Hou Yuxiao's eyes.

The Prison Admin Department and the county administration belong to two different systems, each having no jurisdiction over the other.

Positions like the protector of a place like Zhaoyang County are directly appointed by the Deputy Magistrate of the Prison Admin Department in the county, and Ding Dian was the Religious Protector King of Tongling County.

The Religious Protector King not only serves as the Deputy Magistrate of a county's Prison Admin Department, bearing the authority to supervise all officials within the county, but also has the role of capturing those who disrespect the Holy Church. Within the county, the only other person on par with him is the County Magistrate, someone of extreme influence and power.

Thus, those who can serve as Religious Protector Kings are exclusively True Disciples of the Rakshasa Holy Sect, and generally among the very best of them.

Across the entire Yongzhou region, which consists of three routes and eight prefectures, there are only sixty-two counties in total, meaning there are only sixty-two Religious Protector Kings. Aside from the immense authority these Religious Protector Kings wield over the prisons of their respective counties, just their status as True Disciples of the Holy Church means that even individuals from heavenly or earth-level major forces must show them due respect.

Hou Yuxiao had been in this world for only two years, and the highest-ranking individual he knew of so far was Ding Dian. He had never even seen him in person, let alone knew of his cultivation realm or any other details.

However, this did not diminish his wariness of Ding Dian. After all, an unyielding heart was the key to Hou Yuxiao's constant drive to progress.

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"Big brother, something is fishy. Zhaoyang County hasn't had a protector for over twenty years. Why the sudden change of heart to assign one now?"

Hearing Hou Yuling's query, Hou Yuxiao's pupils instantly flashed with a sharp glint.

"What do you think is the reason that the county didn't send a protector before?"

"What else could it be? First, Zhaoyang County is too weak, without any oil or water, and there weren't any blasphemies against the Holy Church to warrant the presence of the Prison Admin Department. Second, the Mountain Sword Sect in neighboring Tianling County has never caused us any trouble, so there was even less need for the Prison Admin Department. So the position of protector was never established."

"The problem lies with the second point!"

After contemplating for a moment, Hou Yuling quickly realized and said, "Right, big brother, you just came back from Tianling County. Is there some activity from the Mountain Sword Sect?"

"I'm not sure about the details, but I saw many new faces in Tianling County, and I also heard some rumors!"

"What rumors?"

"The Tianding Sect of Wanyang County must have lost something. Last year, they searched the entire Wanyang County, and at the beginning of this year, there was word that the item had surfaced in Tianling County. So now it's not just the people from Tianding Sect, many of The Righteous Path's figures from all over Wanyang County have gathered in Tianling County..."

Hou Yuling's expression immediately became grave. Their Zhaoyang County was under the jurisdiction of Yongzhou's Tongling County, while the neighboring Tianling County was under the jurisdiction of Xuzhou's Wanyang County. The Tianding Sect was a second-rate power in Wanyang County.

Never underestimate any significant force in the martial world; this was a saying that their father, Hou Tong, often had on his lips.

This saying had long been deeply etched in the hearts of the five Hou siblings.

With Zhaoyang County not having even a third-rate force, let alone the second-rate Tianding Sect, Hou Yuling's eyes grew even more somber as she speculated, "With a large number of people gathering in Tianling County, big brother, you mean the county is worried about their hidden intentions, so they sent a protector over first..."

"Hmph, these idiots!"

Hou Yuxiao sneered, but the seriousness in his eyes was no less than his sister's. After a pause, he spoke, "What could have been lost that would unite The Righteous Path's figures across the entire county? Even if something truly was lost, they should be searching in secret. With so many people looking together, isn't it too chaotic, needlessly complicating things?

Either the search is a farce, or the item has already made its way into Tongling County.

Whichever it is, they are clearly planning a big move, and the county has only sent a protector. I wonder if those people are really foolish or just pretending to be!"

A tinge of worry immediately rose in Hou Yuling's heart. The passing of The Righteous Path's figures was not a good thing for their small Demon Path force. After all, no power under the Demon Path had a clean reputation, and their Hou Clan was no exception.

Exterminating demons, eradicating evil, enacting heaven's will – these were the slogans most fervently chanted by those on The Righteous Path.

And the most representative action of The Righteous Path's adherence to these ideals was the slaying of people like them from the Demon Path.

Just as Hou Yuling was about to speak, she noticed Hou Yuxiao suddenly pause, his expression showing a trace of ecstasy. Before she could understand, Hou Yuxiao quickly exited her Joyful Union Pavilion and hurried towards the main hall.

"Madam Hou San, Old Fifth will be back soon. Send someone to notify Fourth Elder to return as well. I have something to explain to you all."

"Yes, big brother!"

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