Misleading appearance

"I don't know your mission for coming to the library or trying to get close to my family. If anything happens... consider yourself responsible," he said sternly.

Xiao Feng gasped, taken aback by the accusation. "Sir, I assure you, I mean no harm to your family. I simply want to learn and become stronger. I am not from this city, but a faraway place. If my approach was bad, please forgive me and teach me in the way of the sword."

Xiao Zhu's father let out a sigh, carefully observing Xiao Feng. He seemed genuine, but that didn't change the situation.

Placing his hands at his back, he began walking towards home. "You can stay tonight for dinner, but leave as early as possible tomorrow," he finally said.

Xiao Feng felt a pang of disappointment, but he quickly reminded himself that some things were meant to be. "Thank you for your kindness," he whispered softly to himself.

"Are you giving up already?" Xiao Zhu's voice rang out. "My father always said that the weakest are often the ones who strive the hardest."

Xiao Feng chuckled, feeling a renewed sense of determination. "Let's go then, your mother must be waiting."

The evening passed cheerfully, with laughter and warm conversation filling the air. But in Xiao Feng's heart, worries still lingered, and he found it hard to shake them off. As the night wore on, he continued cultivating until he dozed off, ready to start his daily routine anew in the morning.

When Xiao Feng woke up, there was a noticeable difference in the air. He greeted the day with a smile, sensing a positive change looming on the horizon. He entered the library as usual, placing his hands on the orb and ascending to the second floor. He was nearing completion on the second floor, eagerly preparing to tackle the manuals on the third floor, a sign of progress he was thrilled about.

But to his dismay, something unexpected happened – the library appeared to be getting robbed. Xiao Feng swiftly extended his Qi senses throughout the entire library premises, assessing the situation.

"Two Core Formation Realm masters and a Nascent Soul Realm master," he murmured to himself. "Xiao Zhu's father is a Core Formation Realm master. This is a bad situation."

Remaining concealed in his position, Xiao Feng focused on understanding the robbers' primary objective. The leader of the group menacingly confronted the library attendant.

"Hey, old man! Drop the divine manual quietly, or we'll make you regret it. Watch your son die before your eyes... Hehe."

"I don't have the divine manual of the archive. It went missing alongside the former attendant. There is nothing I can do," the library attendant replied with an undeniable hint of frustration in his voice.

"The divine manual again," Xiao Feng muttered, growing increasingly irritated.

Throughout his life, the divine manual had always been a driving force. Though weary of its constant presence, Xiao Feng understood that acquiring absolute strength was the only way to bring about any real change.

"Father, there's no need to negotiate with them. You take their leader, and I'll handle these two," Xiao Zhu called out, drawing his sword.

"Oh, look who we have here, a little kid who doesn't realize how powerless he and his father are in this situation. Now that I think about it, we'll kill both of you and search the entire archive," one of the robbers sneered.

Xiao Zhu's father swiftly launched an attack, striking the leader horizontally. But the leader effortlessly parried the blow with his spiritual energy, retaliating without making physical contact.

Xiao Feng observed the difference in Xiao Zhu's father's technique compared to what he had seen from Xiao Zhu. Each slash held its own power, yet no matter how hard he tried, the gap between a Nascent Soul Realm master and a Core Formation Realm master proved insurmountable.

Concerned about Xiao Zhu's safety, Xiao Feng paid closer attention to the battle. Despite being just a young child, Xiao Zhu held his ground against the two robbers. They attacked ferociously, but he managed to defend himself admirably.

Impressed by Xiao Zhu's resilience, the robbers pushed him back, preparing to strike a fatal blow. Xiao Feng, unable to stand idly by, used his Qi to take control over the sword, preventing it from harming Xiao Zhu.

"What's happening? I don't understand," the robber exclaimed, his voice trembling with confusion. No matter how much force he exerted, the sword remained immobilized.

Xiao Feng emerged from his hiding spot, walking towards them with an impressive grace that belied the power he held within. He exuded a majestic and grand presence that demanded attention.

The Nascent Soul cultivator burst into laughter. "Even a Foundation Establishment Realm bastard dares to speak with such confidence?"

Xiao Feng released the man from his Qi clutches, but unbeknownst to him, the man had intentions of stabbing Xiao Zhu and proceeded to do so.

With a single swift movement, Xiao Feng blocked the man's path and knocked him out. Everyone's eyes lit up as he did that—was a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator supposed to be that fast?

"Who are you?" the Nascent Soul cultivator asked.

"Your little God!"

Xiao Feng removed all the concealment placed on himself, and his Qi radiated out with heavenly power.

"What! A Supreme Realm cultivator?" Xiao Zhu's father gasped for breath.

"I feel more refreshed," he said as he yawned.

"Heaven secret movement."

Once again, he was already with their leader, his hand wrapped around his neck.

"So where did we stop... The search for the divine manual, right? How about we work together to get it? All I need is a copy. Oh! About your companion? So sorry I laid my hand on him, I just don't like to see blood."

Tears welled up in Xiao Zhu's eyes as he became confused. Xiao Feng was his first true friend, whom he trusted deeply, but now he felt betrayed that Xiao Feng was willing to deceive him for a manual. The library attendant gritted his teeth.

"Little Xiao, only the weak weep," he said as he walked closer to him.

He walked back towards the leader. "I cannot reciprocate."

He removed the divine sword from his spatial ring and swung it across the leader's head.

"I promise from now henceforth, I'll use my sword to kill only people that want to take the lives of my beloved."

"Oh! It seems there are some ants left," he sneered at them.

They both froze in fear as they began to soil themselves. Xiao Zhu laughed with relief upon realizing that Little Uncle Xiao had not actually betrayed him, but it was just a simple misunderstanding regarding a display.

Xiao Feng used his Qi to draw the two towards him. "I don't enjoy killing, but I'll do it. However, there might be an exception if you both are willing to tell me who sent you."

"Honestly, no one... no one sent us," the first one said.

"Yes, he is telling the truth. We only came since this place is huge, and it'll probably have a divine-grade manual."

"Splash!"

Xiao Feng killed them both thereafter.

Filled with joy, Xiao Zhu approached Xiao Feng, pleased to have had the opportunity to experience something new that he had never seen before.

"Little Uncle Xiao, 'Appearances are often misleading.' Now I understand your statement," he said.

Xiao Feng ran his hand through his hair. "Everything happens for a reason."

He went up to the library attendant, helping him up to his feet. They locked eyes for a moment before attempting to speak.

"You don't need to say anything. Everyone has their secrets," the archives attendant said. "Come over tonight." He walked away, preparing to clean the whole place.

Xiao Zhu felt happiness, believing that his father had finally come to accept Xiao Feng.

"I'm yet to consider accepting you."

"What!" Xiao Zhu shouted, grinning with his little face.

After cleaning the library and concealing all traces, they all headed straight home.

As they entered the house, the wife was surprised to see them back earlier than usual. She looked up from her book and noticed the tired faces of her husband, son, and Xiao Feng.

She got up from where she sat and walked towards them, asking if everything was alright. They assured her that everything was fine and that they had just finished some important work a little early.

She could see that they were exhausted but didn't pry further, sensing that they needed some rest. She offered to make them some tea, and after they had settled down, she immediately went to prepare the food, leaving them to discuss.