Chapter 566: Throwing Weight Around

Zhu Mansion.

“Young Master.”

Qian Shiyao came to report:

“Zhou Yuanshan of the Zhou Family has brought some people to see you.”

“Zhou Yuanshan?” Zhu Ju tilted his head. “Ru Xuan’s third uncle… what could he want? Show them in!”

“Yes.”

Qian Shiyao took her leave.

「A short while later.」

A group of several people entered the guest hall. Zhou Yuanshan was merely an escort; the true guests were two others.

Neither of the two was old, but their sharp auras made one subconsciously ignore everyone else.

Zhu Ju rose to greet them.

As his gaze swept over the group, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes, but it vanished in an instant.

“Elder Zhou, what brings you to my humble abode? A rare guest, indeed.”

“Haha…” Zhou Yuanshan laughed heartily. “Nephew Zhu, you are already married to Ru Xuan and have established your own family. You’re no outsider to me. Why the pleasantries?”

“Come!”

He gestured with his hand.

“These two are young talents from the Wenda Sect. They’ve come to the Zhu Mansion specifically to pay you a visit today.”

‘Wenda Sect?’

‘No wonder!’

‘Such young age, yet such high Cultivation. They must be from a Martial Arts Grand Sect.’

Zhu Ju’s heart stirred. He cupped his hands in a salute.

“Several years ago, I became acquainted with Miss Huang Ying of your esteemed Sect. I have always admired the Immortal Sect, and I never thought I would have such distinguished guests at my door today.”

“Please!”

“Please, both of you, come in.”

He gestured them in, but as his gaze fell on the person behind them, his expression couldn’t help but change slightly.

“Zhenzhen!”

“What are you doing here?”

There, behind the group, was Zhu Zhenzhen, curled up with her head lowered, a look of lingering fear on her face.

She was petite and had been deliberately hiding. Coupled with Zhu Ju’s surprise at his guests’ identities, he had completely failed to notice her.

“Haha…” Zhou Yuanshan stroked his beard and chuckled. “It’s quite a coincidence. On our way to the Zhu Mansion, we encountered some troublemakers in the streets. We happened to see Miss Zhenzhen leading the Zhu Mansion guards to punish the wicked, so we brought her back with us.”

“Nonsense!” Zhu Ju’s eyes darkened. “What does a young girl like you know? Get back to the rear courtyard and have your mother check if you’re hurt.”

“Brother!” Zhu Zhenzhen opened her mouth to speak, but a sudden gust of wind hit her face, freezing her in place.

“Brother Zhu, I must disagree with that statement.”

One of the men from the Wenda Sect waved a long sleeve and said:

“As they say, a heroic woman is no less than a man. If Senior Sister Huang heard you say that, I’m afraid she wouldn’t be pleased.”

“I am Zhang Fang!”

“This is my senior brother, Pang Fei.”

Zhang Fang and Pang Fei. The names were ordinary, but no one present dared to underestimate them in the slightest.

Not only did they represent the Wenda Sect, but their unrestrained auras also revealed their level of Cultivation.

Sixth Grade!

Sixth Grade cultivators in their early twenties!

In the entire history of Taiyuan Prefecture over the past century, there had probably only been one or two who could compare.

“My little sister is mischievous. I hope she hasn’t made a fool of herself in front of you all.” Zhu Ju retracted his gaze. “Please, sit and talk.”

“No need.” Pang Fei waved his hand dismissively, his voice cold. “You know Senior Sister Huang and have also recommended two people to join the Wenda Sect. That’s why we brothers are being polite and had you notified before coming.”

“We have come to Taiyuan Prefecture this time entrusted by the Divine Dynasty to slay Demons, and now we require your assistance.”

“Mm…” Zhu Ju’s expression remained unchanged. “The Mansion Master recently ordered the payment of a year’s worth of tax silver. I have already sent people to raise the funds.”

“I will definitely not delay matters!”

“That is your Mansion Master’s requirement,” Pang Fei snorted coldly. “Ours is a separate matter. The Divine Dynasty offers no reward, so we can only get it from you.”

He spoke of extorting money as if it were a matter of course.

“Oh!” Zhu Ju appeared thoughtful. “What do you two require?”

“From what I understand, the Zhu Mansion has recently acquired a large amount of grain, enough to feed several thousand people for over a month,” Pang Fei said.

“Hand that grain over first.”

“You can’t!” Nursing Director Zhang’s face changed drastically. “The price of grain changes three times a day! If you take our grain, what will the Zhu Mansion do? We won’t be able to buy any more, even if we want to.”

“Hm?”

Pang Fei turned his head, his brows furrowing slightly.

“Slap him!”

SLAP!

Zhang Fang’s figure blurred. Almost no one saw him move before Nursing Director Zhang was sent flying. When he landed, he spat out blood, one side of his face swelling up, his bloody spittle mixed with broken teeth.

“Uncle Zhang!”

Zhu Zhenzhen cried out and was about to rush over, but a hand suddenly clamped down on her shoulder.

“Don’t be afraid, beautiful,” Zhang Fang chuckled lowly. “Your brother knows Senior Sister Huang. We have to give her that much face. No one will die.”

“How old are you?”

Zhu Zhenzhen’s face was deathly pale, and her body trembled uncontrollably.

“What a fine Palm Technique!”

Zhu Ju’s voice was ice-cold.

“Truly worthy of someone from a Martial Arts Grand Sect. Utterly arrogant. I have seen it for myself.”

SHING…

Before his voice had even faded, the guards outside had already assembled, and an invisible pressure descended with a crash.

“A Battle Array!”

Pang Fei’s expression changed, his eyes narrowing.

“You dare to maintain a private army and train them in a Battle Array?”

“And why not?” Ming Nianwei’s voice rang out as she walked in from behind, dressed in white. The Fuyao Sword hovered beside her, level with her eyebrows. She swept a cold glance over the two men before bowing to Zhu Ju. “I was late. Please forgive me.”

“A Middle Grade Mage?” Pang Fei’s skin tightened. His gaze fell upon the Fuyao Sword, and his eyes twitched. “A Magical Treasure!”

The Wenda Sect naturally had Mages as well, and quite a few of them. They even had several Fourth Grade Mages.

But they were extremely rare outside the Sect.

A Middle Grade Mage with a Top-Grade Magical Treasure… a person like this would be considered impressive even in the Wenda Sect.

“What?”

Zhang Fang sneered, still gripping Zhu Zhenzhen’s shoulder.

“Are you trying to rebel?”

Even locked on by the Flying Sword’s Sword Intent and suppressed by the Battle Array’s Qi Blood, he remained fearless.

In fact, his expression grew even more frenzied.

“What is this? What’s going on?” Zhou Yuanshan looked panicked, his forehead breaking out in a nervous sweat. “Everyone, stop! Just stop!”

“Nephew Zhu, they need your grain for emergency relief for the soldiers fighting Demons on the front lines! It’s not for their private gain. These two young heroes from the Wenda Sect also have to report back to their elders. You absolutely cannot act rashly and mess things up.”

“Besides, they’ve also sent people to the Martial Arts Hall Association and the Sanhe Gang.”

Zhu Ju narrowed his eyes.

Zhou Yuanshan’s words were clear. It wasn’t just these two from the Wenda Sect who had come; there were others.

There might even be elders with even more profound Cultivation.

If they came to blows now, even if they gained the upper hand for a moment, greater trouble would surely follow.

“Nianwei.”

“I am here.”

“Lower the Flying Sword.”

“Yes.”

Ming Nianwei complied. With a gentle wave of her fair hand, the Fuyao Sword quietly vanished.

“Since it’s for emergency relief for the front lines, then of course, I have a duty to contribute.” Zhu Ju beckoned. “Someone!”

“Open the granary.”

“…” The hall fell silent. Then, Nursing Director Zhang nodded, his speech slurred.

“Yes.”

Zhu Ju stepped forward and pulled Zhu Zhenzhen over.

“Go back to the rear courtyard! To your mother!”

Zhang Fang froze, looking at his own hand with some surprise, then a disdainful sneer appeared on his face.

…

「On the street.」

Zhang Fang glanced back at the gate of the Zhu Mansion and said:

“Brother Pang, are we just letting it go like that?”

“Zhu Ju knows Senior Sister Huang, after all. And he saved the Huang Family’s brother and sister. It wouldn’t be good to completely tear face,” Pang Fei said indifferently. “Besides, you saw the situation just now. Just the two of us are no match for them.”

“Hmph!” Zhang Fang snorted coldly. “Not necessarily!”

“Don’t worry.” Pang Fei glanced back. “The Zhu Mansion…”

“For a mere cloth merchant in a Prefecture City to have such deep resources… We’ll investigate his background first before doing anything else.”

“That girl, Zhu Zhenzhen, won’t escape your grasp, Junior Brother.”

“Hehe…” Zhang Fang scratched his head and grinned. “I knew you understood me, Senior Brother.”

「Meanwhile.」

Back in the guest hall of the Zhu Mansion, Zhu Ju’s brows were tightly furrowed, while the others below him wore ugly expressions.

A servant had just reported that the Martial Arts Hall Association had suffered heavy casualties.

Over a simple disagreement, several Martial Arts Hall masters had been slain on the spot by the people from the Wenda Sect.

“The Wenda Sect…”

Zhu Ju turned his head to look at Ming Nianwei.

“Do you know anything about this Sect?”