Chapter 785: Hothorn Family
Monopeng City.
This is a district within the Main World continent, managed and influenced by the Wizard Extraordinary Academy.
Although there is no longer the concept of nations in the Main World, the existence of the Extraordinary Academy acts like a “main backbone,” deeply affecting various aspects of these areas.
From customs to architectural features, from clothing styles to cognitive concepts.
Monopeng City is a city located near the Wizard Academy, characterized by a long history and architectural style that carries the gloomy aesthetics of wizards.
The brown stone pavement reveals an irregular yet almost polished sense of age.
The city’s planning and road arrangements exude a rational sense of rules and order.
Moreover, in present times, Monopeng City has become a very unique presence, with many streets still retaining primitive modes of transportation like human-pulled carts and horse-drawn carriages, as modern vehicles are not allowed to operate here to avoid disturbing residents or damaging the historical remnants.
Of course, the main reason is that this city is where the Hothorn Family resides, and their decisions are the absolute rules here.
The family’s influence has long penetrated every aspect of this area, and the concept of the family should not be overcomplicated or regarded as aloof.
Even those who claim to be family members might just be running a long-established store on a certain street, dealing in commonplace goods—perhaps restaurants or newspaper offices, post offices…
However, through these, they subtly influence the city’s culinary culture, trending topics, and the transmission of important information, among others.
They are still ordinary residents living everyday lives, perhaps your neighbors or right across your door, yet they serve as the far-reaching tendrils beneath the family behemoth, sensing any subtle changes in the environment and affecting everyone’s daily lives.
And on a certain street in Monopeng City.
Two figures were joyfully walking on the brown stone pavement, feeling the subtle undulations of the ground with each step they took.
Even passersby had to stop for a second or two to watch this pair of young girls, feeling their incongruity with the surroundings.
And these two were naturally me and Sister Bai.
“Sister Bai, look at those people stopping to watch us!” I said with a light laugh, turning slightly to Sister Bai.
“Maybe it’s because Xiao Han is too charming?” Sister Bai joked, not being overly concerned.
In fact, most of those stopping were family members, as Monopeng City had already become the heartland of the Hothorn Family, roughly equivalent to a backyard.
Due to the cultural heritage of historical landmarks, this place often attracts tourists from afar.
However, some particular “tourists” can easily be singled out.
While I was leisurely wandering around with Sister Bai, we inadvertently absorbed a special type of pollen.
This pollen, of course, could not escape the perception of us with Five Senses Body Cultivation.
Combined with the Earth Vein Identification Technique, we realized that this pollen had a strong adhesive quality, was almost odorless, and was somewhat transparent, making it hard to detect.
Moreover, this pollen seemed to have been modified by special sorcery; even ordinary cleaning spells could not completely wipe off the pollen’s adherence.
Its main function is to serve as a distinguishing mark, allowing specially cultivated butterfly species to differentiate between different markings.
Thus, tourists arriving in Monopeng City might sometimes notice that some tourists are attracting beautiful butterflies, which is a result of having absorbed this pollen, and it has become a local feature of Monopeng City.
But essentially, this is a method of marking and tracking tourists.
And the cost is incredibly low.
At crucial moments, it can also quickly connect with extraordinary means for more precise tracking.
“What beautiful butterflies!” I gently extended a finger, and through my heart’s affinity, a dazzling butterfly landed on my fingertip.
If an insect aficionado were to softly call it, they could achieve similar results.
Yet regarding the perception of the affinity domain, my heart sense had already breached this special boundary.
I could resonate with non-human life, and as my understanding deepened, along with Sister Bai’s shared insights on the practical application of heart sense, I began to gradually tap into another function of heart sense.
That is the manipulation of sensory pathways beyond myself.
Through understanding heart sense, I could accomplish such manipulations by relying on my sense of time.
After all, the sense of time is not limited to temporal perception; time is merely a subjective sense. Its essence lies in the control aspect of body cultivation, much like how the heart sense perceives a heartbeat, which is merely surface-level—its essence is “understanding,” and it’s the same principle.
So, at this moment, as the butterfly settled on my hand, it thought it wanted to land on my fingertip. In reality, it was my shared perception that made it think it wished to rest there.
This is much more dominant than mere affinity.
But… is the so-called affinity not also a form of psychological manipulation? The difference is just between active and passive.
For simple beings like insects, I can manage it easily, but it becomes less effective with complex, conscious beings like humans; sometimes it may even backfire.
After all, humans are exceedingly complicated.
“Sister Bai—do you know how to destroy an unfamiliar family in one fell swoop?” I suddenly thought of something amusing while strolling down the street and asked.
“Um… I’m not sure. How would you do that?”
In response to this question, Sister Bai struggled to think of a method beyond obliterating the entire city along with that family.
But the family has another characteristic; as long as one member remains, they are the main family, the most legitimate bloodline. Even after the family’s genealogy is obliterated, they can start anew elsewhere, though it is indeed difficult, yet their existence lingers.
Because a family is never just a specific individual but rather the family itself. The inheritance of a family is accumulated over generations; their wealth, pride, honor, and status… are not pinpointed to just one person.
What they say, “No matter how extraordinary you are for a decade, it can’t compare to my family that spans thousands of years!” may sound cringeworthy, but it’s a fact—the comparison is not with an individual, but with a family.
“It’s actually quite simple—just killing a common family member is sufficient.”
“Really? What’s the rationale behind that?” Sister Bai seemed puzzled listening to my explanation.
“Because if I inexplicably k*ll a family member, then that person’s wife, child, parents, and relatives will harbor resentment toward me, seeking revenge. If they fail, they will use their connections; they’ll search for me, and I’ll keep killing. The more chaos I create, the more serious it becomes. Their network, tied by family, will lead right back to me, and I could wipe out that entire family.”
“This… is this a cold joke?” Sister Bai was bewildered by my logic… If seen purely from the perspective of a relational network, ignoring other factors… it almost makes one want to laugh.
But upon thinking… it’s indeed a possibility, yet families surely wouldn’t be foolish enough to risk their entire lineage.
At a certain point, how can a cricket avenge its father, when maintaining family continuity is more significant?
“It’s satire—those layers of relationships, protective umbrellas, and permeation into all aspects of society by family mutual protection… the society of the Main World has become a family dictatorship.”
This reminded me of those novels where the protagonist starts off offending some rich second generation, then rises from a small place to a big one, battling opponents through familial ties until they eventually obliterate that malignant tumor.
This trope is also quite common in the online literature scene of the Main World.
It’s somewhat of an indirect satire on the disgusting nature of familial relationships in the Main World…
“Does Xiao Han want to change the current situation?”
“Of course, but it’s quite difficult. Yet… when it comes down to it, it’s also quite simple. However, the extraordinary ones are unwilling to take action, and those who are willing will inevitably be corrupted by interests and power…”
One must not assume that extraordinary beings could never be swayed by ordinary affairs; there will always be extraordinary beings willing to indulge in these secular pleasures to soothe their spiritual satisfaction.
Who doesn’t want to be a local emperor?
Being extraordinary is merely a transformation in the tier of life, not a metamorphosis of one’s spiritual state or awakening.
“So Xiao Han, what are you willing to sacrifice for this?”
“Sacrifice what? Sacrifice my interests, my fun, and my patience. When I run out of these, it will be time for me to stop. Ultimately, it’s just a complaint born out of my discontent, but it’s not my life’s pursuit, nor is it my lifelong obsession.”
“I see~” Upon hearing my response, Sister Bai couldn’t help but smile happily.
She didn’t want Xiao Han to be bogged down by such matters, but clearly, Xiao Han was not that kind of person, allowing her to relax and support Xiao Han in doing what she loves.
As long as Xiao Han is happy, she would feel content.
With a flick of my finger, I released the butterfly, and a cleaning spell swiftly removed the pollen from me and Sister Bai.
Although ordinary cleaning spells couldn’t get rid of the pollen, the specialized cleaning spells I mastered certainly could.
As we strolled along the street, passing by people, it was as if we silently vanished from that street.
Yet we continued browsing, unnoticed by anyone.
“Hey—this guy who didn’t notice us actually instinctively avoided us?” After passing by a stranger, I remarked with some surprise.
I had thought that Sister Bai’s method of diminishing presence under the ordinary’s topic made us invisible, but it seems this technique might be even more sophisticated.
“What are you thinking? To them, we’re just ordinary people so ordinary they can’t even take notice of us. They won’t give us any extra attention, but it doesn’t mean they can’t see us. It feels like when you catch a glimpse of a stranger in your peripheral vision; maybe in the next moment, you’ll forget about them.”
“This is the ordinary topic, an application of the extraordinary level, isn’t it?” I sighed.
“Just a very shallow application, though~” Sister Bai patiently elaborated for me.
“Where to next? Continue enjoying a disturbance-free shopping spree, or directly seek out your fun?”
“Of course, we’re going to stroll around!” I pointed towards the enormous castle in the distance—this is where the Hothorn family’s main residence is, at least on the surface, that’s their nominal base.
Further ahead lies an area designated for tourists, yet these barriers can’t deter our steps.
The deeper we go, the more residential areas and villas appear increasingly desolate, and even the roads imply they are designated for only special vehicles.
There are also divisions between main roads and secondary roads, all connected to the massive castle, showcasing the direct delineation and expression of the family’s status.
The more historically established the family, the stricter the rules imposed. Alternatively, families don’t raise children but produce clearly defined family heirs, sequentially leading to various identities, including but not limited to students of the Extraordinary Academy, and heads managing family assets.
It’s as if children are treated as cogs within the family machine.
Ranging from behaviors to personality shaping, interactions, family etiquette, and ideological indoctrination, family supremacy…
Perhaps every family has its uniqueness, but they gradually converge under family management, varying only between strictness and looseness.
This brought to mind the experiences that Li Feiya shared with me… truly thought-provoking.
As Sister Bai and I walked along the desolate roads, we admired the scenes passing by.
We were on a secondary road, not the main one, so the Earth Vein Identification Technique retraced the history and images of those with lower standing in the family.
Yet ultimately, we were merely spectators; we were too indifferent to waste excessive sympathy or empathy on these people.
Don’t think about how they enjoy the benefits of the family; the pressures of life and family suppression, the discrepancies in status make each day feel like walking on a tightrope.
In short, why should I care? I’ve never experienced it and can’t empathize with such sorrow.
I only saw the rise and fall of the family and its superficial glory. No matter how much hardship they endure, they still look down upon those at the bottom like ants.
Enjoying the privileges bestowed by the family while resenting the shackles and oppression it brings.
It’s merely a difference in living styles.
Even I enjoy the confidence bestowed upon me by the extraordinary, defining those I deem foolish, either individuals or groups.
These are objective perspectives I resonate with, a way of viewing things I loved to employ in the past.
But people must be a bit selfish; I should focus more on myself now… selfish enough to not care too much about others’ criticism or feelings, ignoring those who drain me.
What truly matters is one’s own experience.
One can’t please everyone; it’s crucial to recognize one’s position and understand what is genuinely essential.
Just like I’ve arrived here now, to this place, I am the most terrifying time bomb!
So I am the villain…
Coming here to do what I wish to achieve, perhaps my actions will harm many interests, but that doesn’t matter; as long as I haven’t harmed myself, it will suffice.
“Xiao Han—by the way, the Aipuli you mentioned earlier, she is a member of this family, right? What will you do next? According to your words, she should be in a rather precarious situation now.”
