Family Cultivation: My entire family are Villains

"The central areas of the nineteen counties in the Hexi Four Counties are only allowed to be inhabited by Martial Artists, except for their direct family and entourage, commoners are prohibited from entering. Furthermore, the number of servants Martial Artists are permitted to employ is regulated based on their level of Cultivation. This clearly creates a forced separation between Martial Artists and the common people by a hierarchy of rank and status. From now on, common people are considered inferior, and this Martial Registry system is bound to not last long,"

"That's right, the Hou Clan is only relying on their strong military power right now to intimidate us into submission. Everyone is too scared to speak out against it, but it's a fact that this Martial Registry system is unpopular. I've heard that many of the influential forces have already prepared to leave Hexi, and the number of Loose Cultivators who have left is even more countless. In the long run, when the Martial Artists of Hexi have all but disappeared, I'd like to see what the Hou Clan will do."

"The Martial Registry system sounds good in theory, but isn't it just undermining all the influential forces in the Hexi Four Counties? It's designed to siphon everything from them once their specifics are clear. On the surface, it grants privileges to Martial Artists, but it's full of countless restrictions. The most outrageous part is the Hexi Code of Laws, which is extremely harsh on Martial Artists. It's as if the Hou Clan doesn't intend for Hexi to prosper at all."

"Harsh? I have just arrived in Hexi, could you please elaborate?"

"I'll just mention three points, for example:

A brawl involving more than ten Martial Artists is considered armed combat, and anyone participating in such an incident is subject to a minimum sentence of ten years imprisonment, with the maximum penalty being death;

Except in special circumstances, it's strictly forbidden for Martial Artists to strike commoners. If such an act is reported to the Xuanting Bureau, the punishment ranges from eighty strokes of the cane to the death penalty;

Every Martial Artist who has reached five levels of body refinement is required to serve a three-year military service in the Hexi army. Anyone found evading this duty will be either exiled from Hexi at the least or executed at worst."

"The Hexi army?"

"Yep, you've just heard, right? This is something concocted by the Hou Clan. They claim it's an army formed to defend the lands of Hexi, which requires soldiers to come from Hexi. Anyone who has achieved body-opening five levels or above must serve. In just over two months, the Hexi army has grown to more than eighty thousand, the vast majority of whom were Sect Members from the nearly thirty influential forces that were previously present. Defending Hexi is just a pretext; it's clearly a private army for the Hou Clan. Hexi is still under the control of the Holy Church. I don't believe the Holy Church will just sit back and ignore this."

......

Xiao Renfeng and Gu Nianqiu entered the Golden Wind and Drizzle Building, listening to the diners' curses at the new policies of Hexi while following the Servant to a private room on the second floor. They held a summary scroll of the new policies of Hexi in their hands and multitasked without missing anything, their faces radiating excitement.

"Before I came in, I inquired about it. Your shopkeeper, Wan Xiaolou, is a disciple of Master Hou Hou Yuxiao, right? You just let these people criticize the new policies here; aren't you worried they have ulterior motives?"

The Servant had just brought the two men to the private room and was about to leave when he heard Xiao Renfeng's question. He immediately responded with a smile, "The gentlemen have just arrived and might not know this, but Fifth Master said that the new policy has both advantages and disadvantages and that continuous revision and improvement are needed. Allowing everyone to discuss freely can bring together a wide range of ideas. As long as the best way to govern Hexi is found, what's the harm in a few complaints? Of course, there are people with ulterior motives, but this place…"

At this point, the Servant paused confidently and said, "This is Hexi!"

Seeing the Servant's confident demeanor, Gu Nianqiu's gaze immediately showed a trace of disdain. The Servant had no Cultivation, and this confidence was clearly due to limited experience. The strength of the Hou Clan in Hexi was undoubtedly formidable, but who was he? The First Sword God of Wanjian Holy Sect of Xuzhou. Not to mention, there are at least dozens of forces stronger than the Hou Clan in Xuzhou alone.

Xiao Renfeng, however, was different. He didn't take the Servant's confidence to heart. Instead, he was continuously pondering the words he had just overheard. The new policy has advantages and disadvantages, needs constant correction, and should be discussed for the benefit of collective wisdom. His eyes grew brighter, and just as he was about to get up, he noticed someone coming in behind him and quickly turned around with Gu Nianqiu to look.

The visitor was dressed in a white Confucian robe, with a handsome face and a steady stride. Even under the gaze of Xiao Renfeng and Gu Nianqiu, his expression remained calm. As both of them sized him up, he too was evaluating them.

There was clearly no surprise in the eyes of the three men.

"Fifth Master Hou?"

Hou Yuduan, with a friendly face, first signaled for the Servant to leave. Then, he immediately bowed respectfully to both men and said, "The two Saint Heirs are too kind. I am close in age to the two of you. If it's not too presumptuous, let's address each other as brothers. Your visit to Hexi was without prior notice, and I have failed to welcome you from afar. I ask for your forgiveness!"

Xiao Renfeng, the First Holy Son of the Confucian Sect nominated by Bailu Academy in the Yang and Yan states!

Gu Nianqiu, the leader of the Nine Great Swordsmen from Wanjian Holy Sect of Xuzhou.

When Hou Yuduan in the clan received the news of these two entering the city, he immediately realized the severity of the issue. Using the Hou Clan's informants within the city, he learned that the two were staying at the Golden Wind and Drizzle Building and promptly rushed over.

One, a Martial Path Great Grandmaster of the celestial level, and the other, a Confucianism practitioner at the fifth level of Steady Heart. Although not significant enough to mobilize the Hou Clan's forces, considering the identities of the two, allowing any incident to happen in Hexi was unacceptable. Of course, what concerned Hou Yuduan the most was that these two might cause trouble in Hexi. If he didn't keep a close eye on them, it could be disastrous if they stirred up any major issues.

As Hou Yuduan watched the two, Xiao Renfeng and Gu Nianqiu were also directing their attention to him. Gu Nianqiu's expression carried a clear hostility, while Xiao Renfeng showed little animosity and was more curious.