Castle of Black Iron

Bai Suxian was sitting next to Zhang Tie and making spirit for him attentively. After hearing Zhang Tie's words, Bai Suxian revealed a faint smile as she threw an amorous look at Zhang Tie by her beautiful eyes silently.

Bai Suxian became silent. The boatman said generously at the stern while paddling, "Childe Cui, you might not know that. There are many major clans in Xuanyuan Hill. However, commoners like me accounted for most of the people here. Of course, commoners have to survive themselves by making money. Most of the commoners don't feel like leaving Xuanyuan Hill; however, they don't have crafts; therefore, they could only provide recreational services and the basic needs for the travelers. Take this Old Zhou as an instance, I have to survive on this boat in Xuanyuan Hill!"

As a boatman, Old Zhou survived on this boat on the Golden Water River. Zhang Tie and Bai Suxian rented his boat for enjoying the scenery on the Golden Water River. By the way, they hired Old Zhou to paddle the boat. Zhan Tie and Bai Suxian didn't tell Old Zhou about their identities. When they caught sight of Old Zhou in a wharf in common clothes, Zhang Tie immediately found that Old Zhou was special with a strong figure; additionally, the boatman was a LV 8 fighter with a kind look. After inquiring Old Zhou about the rent, Zhang Tie immediately determined to use Old Zhou's boat. They only told Old Zhou their surnames. Therefore, Old Zhou called Zhang Tie Childe Cui and Bai Suxian Miss Bai.

"Hoho, Old Zhou, what do you mean by saying that you do not feel like leaving Xuanyuan Hill? Does it mean that someone dared force you to leave in the public?" Zhang Tie asked out of curiosity. Others might be not interested in these trivial affairs after reaching Zhang Tie's position and cultivation base; however, Zhang Tie was especially interested in these trivial affairs as he also lived an average life before.

After visiting some places of interest in Xuanyuan Hill, Zhang Tie felt a bit bored of those legends and allusions about heroes and influential figures. Although those high buildings and decorated archways were magnificent, Zhang Tie didn't have any feelings about them. Not until Zhang Tie watched those cruises coming and going on the Golden Water River, smelled the fragrance of spirit on the riverside and heard the sounds of hawking did the image of Xuanyuan Hill gradually become vivid in his mind.

"Not being forced by anyone!" Old Zhou explained while paddling the boat flexibly in the Golden Water River. At the same time, they passed by a two-storey gaily-painted pleasure-ship while the music and the elegant song of a female drifted out of there. When those men on the second storey of the ship passed by the boat, they widely opened their mouth at the sight of Bai Suxian who was smiling full of tenderness. Even though they were moving far away, they still turned around and watched Bai Suxian.

After hearing the song "The Beloved Ones" from the ship, Bai Suxian revealed a smile at Zhang Tie while blinking her eyes.

As an artificial canal, the Golden Water River linked the three lakes and Xuanyuan Hill. Although this river was wide, it didn't have any strong wind and big waves. The boat could move steadily on the Golden Water River like walking upon the flat ground as long as the boatman had proficient paddling skills.

After hearing Old Zhou's words, Zhang Tie became more curious, "Not being forced by anyone? As long as one settles down here, will he leave?"

"It's said that Xuanyuan Hill is the most prosperous place among all the human cities. If I could live a graceful life in Xuanyuan Hill, of course, I would not feel like leaving such a treasure land. But I have to leave!" Old Zhou paddled the boat as he let out a sigh, "I have to make money to survive my family members!"

"Right, living affairs are trivial. Although money is not almighty, people could not survive in Xuanyuan Hill without money!" Zhang Tie laughed before saying.

"Yup! It's difficult to survive in Xuanyuan Hill..." Old Zhou clapped his hands out of excitement, causing a clear and crisp sound, "All the real estates in Xuanyuan Hill were gifted by the imperial households of Taixia Country. According to the regulation, we could not sell them. If nobody could inherit the real estates, they would be confiscated by the imperial households. I mean that if I could leave Xuanyuan Hill and let out my manor in Xuanyuan Hill, I could have a profitable income per year. With this rent, my family members would live a wealthy life even in the 9 immortal provinces; instead of having to work hard here every day. So many business groups would like to strive for a residence in Xuanyuan Hill. The rents of houses in Xuanyuan Hill rank top among all the human cities; the rent of a room covering 10 square meters at a remote place would cost over 1,000 gold coins a year. Even so, it's still very hard to rent one house here!"

"Take my home as an instance, my ancestor was the chief of the capital guard in Xuanyuan Hill. With the meritorious service, he was awarded a small manor in Xuanyuan Hill. Our Zhou family was also dignified at that time. According to my grandpa, when our ancestor returned to Xunzhou Province for sacrificing our predecessors, even the Xunzhou Provincial Governor had held a banquet for welcoming him. After our ancestor passed away, with his protection, our Zhou family became prosperous for another dozen years. Nobody among the descendants could match my ancestor. Since the generation of my grandpa, our Zhou family started to decline. When it comes to my generation, I have three brothers. I'm the eldest one. We inherited the ancestral manor in Xuanyuan Hill. It's just a small courtyard. Other two brothers of mine have left Xuanyuan Hill to seek a livelihood!"

"Previously, a nobleman from subcontinent wanted to rent that ancestral manor about 20 years ago at the price of 20,000 gold coins a year. He wanted to renovate it and live inside all the year round. Our Zhou family were in trouble economically at that moment; with 20,000 gold coins a year, our family could improve our living standard right away. However, my father didn't agree with it. Before passing away, my father even warned us to safeguard the undertakings of Zhou family in Xuanyuan Hill!"

Zhang Tie's curiosity was aroused once again, "Sorry, sorry, I've not imagined that you're a descendant of a guard chief. 20,000 gold coins a year was not a small amount of money, why didn't your father agree with it at that moment?"

Old Zhou revealed a smile as he said unlike a boatman at all, "It's very easy for me to survive myself after leaving Xuanyuan Hill; however, after leaving here, it would be impossible for my descendants to be outstanding in Xuanyuan Hill. As long as I stayed here, there would be a hope for my family. If one of my descendants could become an official in Xuanyuan Hill, my family would be glorious and prosperous at once. Hehehe, although 20,000 gold coins sound like a good reward, nowhere else could have as many powerhouses as that in Xuanyuan Hill!"

"There're the best human schools, the most powerful knights and most opportunities for people to be outstanding in Xuanyuan Hill. As long as I stayed here, if someone among my descendants could become an official here, the relationship paved by my ancestor would become active at once. By contrast, the bit of money is nothing at all! As a common family, if we want to create chances for the juniors to be officials in Xuanyuan Hill, I have to find a way to survive my family members. Actually, the peach flower spirit that you drank was made by my wife at home using the peach flowers in our courtyard every year..."

Zhang Tie didn't deride Old Zhou and his wife; instead, he respected them pretty much. What this old couple did was almost as same as what Zhang Tie's parents did in Blackhot City. Hua parents could sacrifice everything for the sake of their children. From the point of view of Old Zhou, his courtyard in Xuanyuan Hill was almost like a school district housing, which could provide a chance for the descendants of his clan to be gradually influenced by the atmosphere in Xuanyuan Hill. So many parents across Xuanyuan Hill like Old Zhou gave up their opportunities to be rich parents in other places; instead, they just stuck to do humble works in Xuanyuan Hill until their children became outstanding and glorified their ancestors.

Of course, not all the parents could behave like Old Zhou. Each family had their own situation. However, given the scale and population of Xuanyuan Hill, there must be a lot of families like that of Old Zhou. Actually, most of them should be like that of Old Zhou. Few ancestors' meritorious services could last over 100 years. Xuanyuan Hill had been founded for over 800 years. Few clans in Xuanyuan Hill could enjoy their ancestors' meritorious services for over 800 years.

These clans' ancestors were once glorious and brilliant; otherwise, they would not stay in Xuanyuan Hill. Therefore, many clans dreamed about having their descendants become outstanding in Xuanyuan Hill so as to glorify their ancestors.

"Old Zhou, how many kids do you have?"

Speaking of his kids, Old Zhou's face turned a bit glimmer as he unconsciously raised his voice, "I have 8 kids, 3 daughters and 5 sons. 3 of my sons are average; 2 of them are a bit talented. My 6th son excels at making instruments; he's working as an apprentice in the Humans Rune Instruments Craftsman Union Headquarters and could learn a lot of knowledge. My eldest son is good at fighting. I pulled a few strings that were established by my ancestor. Therefore, he became a leader of a military unit in the imperial guard and has already known about sending money to my home!"

Through several generations' efforts, Zhou family finally got their return in Old Zhou's next generation. People could not easily enter the Humans Rune Instruments Craftsman Union Headquarters and the imperial guard of Xuanyuan Hill in other places.

"According to you, those families whose real estates have been taken back must suffer a great loss..."

"Hehehe, regulations are made by humans. How could living people be suffocated by urine? Childe Cui, as you've just been to Xuanyuan Hill, you might not know that. You can inquire about it casually. Whose real estates in Xuanyuan Hill have been taken back over the past hundreds of years?" Old Zhou smirked...