Chapter 567: Guests

“The Wenda Sect?”

Ming Nianwei was lost in thought.

The memories Li Chengxia had left in her mind were as vast as a sea of smoke. Finding a specific one would take some time.

However…

‘The Master’s Realm is profound and his Cultivation is extraordinary. He’s one of the greatest Cultivators in the world. Could it be he doesn’t know of the Wenda Sect?’

‘Or is he deliberately testing me?’

As her thoughts churned, the memories regarding the Wenda Sect were dredged up.

“Besides Divine Heaven, True Martial, and the Celestial Sects that are attached to the Court, the Wenda Sect is considered the strongest Sect.”

“This Sect believes in being prepared with ten thousand laws. The breadth of its inheritance is said to be the greatest in the world, and it even possesses many Secret Techniques forbidden by the Divine Dynasty.”

Ming Nianwei’s expression grew solemn.

“As you must know, Master, top-tier Cultivation Techniques can alter a person’s disposition. And the more obsessive a person is, the faster their Cultivation speed. That’s why most disciples of the Wenda Sect don’t restrain their desires—they let them run wild. As a result, every one of them has an eccentric personality.”

“The Wenda Sect has no shortage of cruel, bloodthirsty, lecherous, and drunken disciples. They aren’t very well-liked.”

“Hmm…”

Her eyes shifted slightly.

“However, for many matters the Divine Dynasty finds inconvenient to handle, they often commission people from the Wenda Sect to do the dirty work.”

“Even in the siege and assassination of Prince Yong’an, experts of the Upper Three Grades from the Wenda Sect participated.”

“A Demon Sect?” Zhu Ju nodded.

“No wonder.”

Whether it was Huang Ying, whom he had encountered before, or the two who came today, they were all arrogant and domineering types.

Their arrogant and domineering nature wasn’t just because of their Cultivation Technique, but also because of the backing they had.

Without a powerful backer, they probably would have been killed long ago.

“Young Master!”

Nursing Director Zhang, one side of his face swollen, walked in from outside, his voice laced with anger.

“The grain wasn’t sent to the front lines. It was sent to the Nie Family’s Rice Shop—no… it should be the Wenda Sect’s property now.”

“I heard from the people at the Rice Shop that they’re going to raise the grain prices and wait for the highest bidder.”

“They’re raising the price again?” Ming Nianwei frowned.

“There are already many people who can’t afford to eat.”

“Hah…” Nursing Director Zhang gave a bitter laugh.

“So this is a Martial Arts Grand Sect?”

“A bunch of bandits!”

“They’re worse than bandits. At least bandits know not to prey on women and children, but this group has no scruples at all.”

“That’s enough.” Zhu Ju waved his hand gently.

“What’s done is done. There’s no point in saying more. Nianwei, go to the rear courtyard and bring Zhenzhen over.”

“I have something to ask her.”

“Yes.” Ming Nianwei rose and said in a low voice,

“Miss Zhenzhen has had a mark placed on her. It must have been the work of that Zhang Fang from the Wenda Sect.”

“Mm.” Zhu Ju nodded.

Of course, he knew. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have summoned Zhu Zhenzhen.

…

「A few days later.」

As expected, the Zhu Mansion’s grain and rice were never shipped out.

The people from the Wenda Sect took control of the Prefecture City’s grain shops, raised the prices, and cracked down hard on private sales.

Under this series of measures, the already high price of grain doubled once more.

Forget the common folk.

Even middle-class families now had to grit their teeth to get by.

“Zhu Ju!”

Zhou Ruxuan’s voice came from outside the house. Before he could respond, the door was pushed open.

“Look who I brought.”

“Hmm…” Zhu Ju stood up, turned his head to look, and clasped his hands in greeting with a faint smile.

“Miss Nie.”

The visitor was none other than Nie Leyao, who had married and moved to Water City and whom he hadn’t seen in years.

Compared to the youthful, beautiful girl she once was, the current Nie Leyao was much more mature, with visible wrinkles between her brows.

She wore a well-washed white robe and held an infant in her arms, her face gaunt and haggard.

“Young Master Zhu.”

Nie Leyao curtsied, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

“It has been many years, yet the Young Master’s bearing is unchanged. It’s truly… enviable.”

Back then, she and Zhou Ruxuan were as close as sisters, and some people had privately called them the Prefecture City’s Twin Beauties.

Later, to avoid marrying someone from outside the city, she had competed with Zhou Ruxuan for Zhu Ju, but she had, of course, failed.

“The Demons are powerful. Water City has fallen, and my husband’s family…” After sitting down, Nie Leyao shook her head and said,

“Very few people escaped. Luckily, I hadn’t given up on my Martial Skills, so I was able to bring Cong’er back by blending in with the refugees.”

“Cong’er?” Zhou Ruxuan held the baby, gently cooing at him.

“Is that his pet name?”

“He doesn’t have a formal name yet.” Nie Leyao’s face was pale.

“He just turned one month old.”

Zhu Ju and Zhou Ruxuan exchanged a glance, their expressions darkening slightly.

Just one month old?

In other words, Nie Leyao had given birth during the turmoil in Water City, perhaps even while on the road as a refugee.

A woman who had just given birth, trekking a thousand miles as a refugee with her newborn—the hardship involved was unimaginable.

In Zhu Ju’s memory, Nie Leyao had always been a delicate, pampered daughter of a wealthy family. He never would have thought…

It was true what they said: motherhood gives a woman strength.

“The child is too young to be carried around like this.” Shaking off his stray thoughts, Zhu Ju spoke.

“Why didn’t you stay at the Nie Mansion?”

“…” Nie Leyao’s expression changed slightly, and she said in a low voice,

“There are disciples from the Wenda Sect at the Nie Mansion.”

“Zhu Ju,” Zhou Ruxuan began.

“Although the Wenda Sect is a Martial Arts Grand Sect, from what I’ve seen, the character of its disciples isn’t much to speak of.”

“There’s one named Zhang Fang who has a taste for beautiful married women and young girls. Yesterday, he tried to make a move on Le Yao.”

“Hmm?” Zhu Ju frowned.

“The Nie Mansion didn’t do anything?”

He had learned from Zhou Ruxuan that although the Zhou Family only had two Sixth-Grade Martial Artists on the surface,

they had a Fifth-Grade Expert frozen in the Profound Ice Cave who could be called upon when necessary.

The Nie Family.

They should have a similar hidden ace.

Although the Wenda Sect was strong, the ones in Taiyuan Prefecture were ultimately just some young people. A Fifth-Grade Expert would be enough to suppress them.

“The Nie Family?”

Nie Leyao gave a bitter smile.

“A married daughter is like spilled water. The only person I could turn to was Ru Xuan, and come to you.”

“Young Master Zhu, for the sake of our past friendship, I hope you can take me in.”

“Don’t worry!” Zhou Ruxuan said in a serious tone.

“You and I are like sisters. This is your home now. I’d like to see who dares to act presumptuously here!”

She had already made the decision for Zhu Ju.

“Staying here is no problem. I’ll have someone arrange a room for you in the rear courtyard, right next to Ru Xuan’s.”

Zhu Ju didn’t object.

“And we’ll find a wet nurse. You probably don’t have much experience taking care of a baby.”

“Newborns are extremely delicate. If their nutrition isn’t adequate, it could easily ruin their future.”

“…Thank you.” Nie Leyao’s voice choked with sobs. Her eyes were red as she bowed her head to hide her tears.

“Thank you.”

“It’s only right.” Zhu Ju stood up.

“These are women’s affairs, which are inconvenient for me to handle. Ru Xuan, you take care of it.”

“Don’t worry.” Zhou Ruxuan puffed out her chest.

“I’ll definitely take good care of Le Yao and her son.”

*

*

*

「Nie Mansion.」

Inside the spacious guest hall.

Several disciples of the Wenda Sect were sitting scattered around the room.

Some had women in their arms, fooling around noisily; others were gorging themselves on food and drink, stuffing their faces.

Still others were bobbing their heads, engrossed in the music of the Musician Courtesans and the figures of the dancers.

“The splendors of the mortal world truly make one reluctant to leave.”

Pang Fei tapped his porcelain chopsticks against a bowl, the sound faintly harmonizing with the notes of the music.

“The Sect…”

“…is too dull.”

“The reason the Sect chose a barren, desolate land is to use it to temper your minds.” At the head of the room sat a burly man. He took a large bite from a roasted leg of beef, swallowing nearly five pounds of cooked meat in a single gulp, then tossed the bone aside and said,

“Only then can you advance your Cultivation.”

“BURP!”

He let out a loud belch, patted his belly, and looked toward Zhang Fang.

“Junior Brother Zhang, yesterday Junior Brother Fang Zhuo passed by the Zhu Mansion and detected a faint trace of Demon Qi inside.”

“It seems you have some sort of dispute with the Zhu Mansion?”

“Yes!” Zhang Fang, who had been embracing women on either side, suddenly looked up, his face ecstatic.

“I do.”

“Senior Brother Wang, this matter can be left to me.”

Facing the burly man, his voice held a tone of respect and deference.

Wang Dian!

A True Disciple of the Wenda Sect, he had a Middle Fifth Grade Cultivation and was sure to reach the Upper Three Grades in time.

And he…

…was merely an Inner Sect Disciple.

“Fine.” Wang Dian nodded.

“You and Junior Brother Fang go take a look. Find out where that Demon Qi is coming from.”