A trade convoy set out from Willow Ash Town before dawn had fully broken, heading east.

Inside the central horse carriage, Xu Jingfeng sat leaning against the wall, his body swaying gently with the carriage’s motion. His eyes were half-closed, as if he was resting. Sitting opposite him were his two maidservants. They both looked exhausted, and they couldn’t stop nodding off from time to time.

Their master had kept them up all night. As if that wasn’t enough, he had dragged them onto this carriage before the sky had fully brightened yet. He claimed that he was taking them to Hanyang Pass for a bit of fun before heading back. Regardless of his reasons, they were merely ordinary Body-tempering stage cultivators and nowhere close to Xu Jingfeng’s level. Naturally, they were very tired.

The journey ahead was long, and they were bound to be put through the paces multiple times along the way. They would need every bit of rest they could get.

Xu Jingfeng’s breaths went in deep and came out shallow. His palms were slightly sweaty as he gripped his unsheathed flying sword.

The convoy pressed on, and mid-noon soon arrived. Up ahead, a dense forest came into view. It was a well-traveled route, and the captain of the convoy had already sent two men to scout the woods in advance. It was at this moment a column of blue smoke rose from the forest, signaling that the area was safe.

The convoy maintained its speed, ready to pass through the forest. Just then, a hail of arrows rained down from the woods, instantly riddling the coachman, the guards, and even the horses of the lead caravan with holes!

Shocked and enraged, the guard captain shouted, “Who is so blind as to dare ambush the Xu Clan’s convoy?”

Another arrow flew out of the woods, instantly piercing the guard captain’s throat!

Xu Jingfeng stepped out of his carriage but showed no signs of panic. His eyes were narrowed slightly, and his gaze were deep and pensive. It was impossible to say what he was thinking at this moment.

A burst of laughter rang out from the woods, and Xu Jingzhe stepped out. He said, “Big Brother, oh, Big Brother. I was really going to let you off the hook, you know. Just why did you have to take on this job? You’re really putting me in a tough spot!”

Most of the guards wore bewildered looks when they saw that it was Xu Jingzhe who had emerged from the woods. A few shrewd ones, though, turned pale and quietly began looking for an escape route. At the same time, they ripped off the Xu Clan insignia from their shirts.

Xu Jingzhe suddenly let loose two arrows in quick succession and killed two guards who were trying to slip away. He then laughed, saying, “No manners whatsoever! You think you can run from this young master?”

Xu Jingfeng took a deep breath and said, “I have only one question.”

“Ask away. You are my older brother. I would prefer to see you off with a clear conscience. A shame about your two girls though.”

Xu Jingfeng said slowly, enunciating each word. “Does Father know?”

Xu Jingzhe gave a scornful laugh. “Is there anything in our family that the old man doesn’t know? Is there any matter that isn’t arranged by him?”

The last glimmer of light in Xu Jingfeng’s eyes faded. “Very well. Let’s begin.”

Xu Jingzhe paused for a second as he tried to figure out Xu Jingfeng’s meaning. Then, he let out a derisive laugh as realization struck him. “You wish to fight me? Why struggle? If you can block three moves from me, then I’ll spare your life!”

Xu Jingfeng’s heart sank. He knew his younger brother was no slouch, but he hadn’t expected him to have reached such a level of mastery. Still, he pointed his finger and shot a flying sword at him.

“Fine. I’ll play along.” Xu Jingzhe sighed and pointed a finger as well. A flying sword shot out like lightning and intercepted the incoming blade. He was planning to sever Xu Jingfeng’s sword first before piercing his body.

The flying sword had just left his hand when suddenly, the light of a saber appeared out of seemingly nowhere. It gently struck the flying sword, and like an insect that was caught in a spider’s web, the flying sword instantly lost all momentum and became stuck to the saber’s edge. With nothing to block its way, Xu Jingfeng’s flying sword punched into Xu Jingzhe’s chest and out of his back without resistance!

Xu Jingzhe clutched his chest wound—so stunned he could barely compose himself—and stared fixedly at the girl who had suddenly appeared before him. She had to turn her blade and extend her arm to full length before she finally managed to pluck the flying sword stuck to her eight-chi-long saber.

“Who... who are you...?”

The girl paid him no mind. She simply gripped the tip of the flying sword and snapped it off with a sharp crack. She kept going until the blade had been broken into many pieces before scattering the fragments across the ground.

The flying sword was linked to Xu Jingzhe’s primordial spirit. Thus, his face grew paler with every break. He even coughed out a few mouthfuls of fresh blood in the end there!

Shock and disbelief surged through Xu Jingzhe like a tidal wave. He simply couldn’t fathom how his life-bound flying sword—an upper grade mystic artifact—could possibly be broken by mere physical strength, and with such ease!

The girl gave him no chance to ask another question. Her eight-chi-long saber sailed through the air, and Xu Jingzhe’s head flew off.

Xu Jingfeng himself hadn’t expected his younger brother—who had claimed that he wouldn’t be able to withstand even three of his moves—to be killed so easily, as if it was child’s play.

Moreover, he had never seen this girl before. She might as well had fallen out of the sky for all he knew. Wei Yuan could have slain Xu Jingzhe personally, and he wouldn’t be nearly as shocked as he was now. From his perspective, it felt like a random underling of Wei Yuan’s had taken out the nemesis who had been such a thorn in his side.

The saber would dance through the woods for a while longer, flashing from time to time. It wasn’t long before the dense forest had fallen completely silent, and the girl emerged back to the clearing covered in blood. She then bowed to the space behind Xu Jingfeng and vanished just like that.

Xu Jingfeng spun around to find a figure in black robes standing behind him. He hadn’t noticed when the person had arrived. Though the figure’s face was hidden, he instinctively knew that it was Wei Yuan. He hurriedly bowed and said, “Master.” It was only after the word left his mouth that he realized his voice had gone completely hoarse.

After bowing, Xu Jingfeng asked, “Where are we to transport the goods?”

To his surprise, Wei Yuan said, “I have no interest in what you’re transporting.”

Xu Jingfeng’s first reaction was disbelief. This was the tribute convoy that the Xu Clan of Ningxi Commandery dispatched to the main family every six months to deliver tribute. It could be said that all their profits from the past half-year were loaded onto these carts. This included the entire harvest of Ningxi and was worth at least two hundred thousand taels of immortal silver—a colossal amount of wealth even by his standards.

Wei Yuan said calmly, “Open the carts and see for yourself.”

A sense of foreboding overcame Xu Jingfeng as he walked over to a nearby cart. Gritting his teeth, he ripped open the talisman sealing the cargo compartment. The talisman could not be restored once broken so that the people would know that the compartment had been opened. According to the Xu Clan’s rules, anyone who opened a seal without authorization would be executed. If a seal was damaged, then the commander would be executed, and the guards would be severely punished.

Inside the compartment were four ebony chests, each sealed with a talisman as well. He had already tore one seal; what was four more? So, Xu Jingfeng tore off all of them, lifted the lids, and found that the chests were filled with nothing but stones.

Suffice to say, Xu Jingfeng could not believe his eyes. He opened the rest of the chests and found that they were also packed with stones. He ran over to a different cart and checked the compartments, and still the result was the same.

Two hundred guards, a dozen carts, and five chariots—all just to transport stones?

Xu Jingfeng’s mind had become much sharper after receiving Wei Yuan’s fortune. Unfortunately, his foundation was just too weak. Although his head was buzzing with a million thoughts, he was still a step short of fully grasping the situation.

He gave up trying to figure it out on his own and asked, “What’s going on here, Master?”

Wei Yuan replied indifferently, “Your household’s accounts don’t balance—There’s a severe shortfall. As for where that money went, your father and younger brother should know full well. You can also search your father’s secret vault; you’ll likely find the answer there. In any case, how does one make up for such a massive deficit? The best solution is a tribute convoy that will never reach the main family.”

Xu Jingfeng glanced around. The guards had also spotted the stones in the chests and were currently wearing expressions of shock and fury.

It went without saying that this was no laughing matter, and no one must ever find out about it. Had things continued along its expected course, Xu Jingfeng and every guard would have been silenced. In fact, not a single soul who took part in this delivery would have lived to see another day.

Xu Jingfeng suddenly asked, “When you asked me to request this assignment from Father, did you already know it would turn out this way?”

“More or less.”

Xu Jingfeng’s voice grew low and heavy. “I understand.”

Xu Residence, Willow Ash Town.

In a small courtyard tucked away in a corner, the sound of rapid, heavy breathing could be heard.

The courtyard looked abandoned with moss covering both the walls and the ground. An ancient lost tree stood in the corner, its canopy casting a dense shadow over nearly the entire space. It was just past noon, yet the courtyard remained dim and gloomy.

In the central building stood a large rosewood bed with its corners worn to a sheen. It seemed that it had been in use for many years. A young man was lying face-down on the bed and clutching the quilt and pillow, heaving and groaning. He was acting like was pressing down on a peerless beauty, but there was nothing there.

Seated by the window was a woman in red with rather alluring features. She was currently reading a novel by the light streaming through the window. She seemed oblivious to the young man on the bed, and he, in turn, appeared not to notice her.

Though they shared the same room, they seemed to inhabit two different worlds.

A chilling breeze swept through, and the courtyard gate swung open halfway. Just then, a young man appeared outside the courtyard. When he walked past the courtyard gate, he paused briefly and glanced inside, unwittingly revealing a handsome, resolute face. It belonged to none other than Xu Jingzhe. He paused only for a brief moment before continuing on his way.

Suddenly, a human face slowly emerged from the trunk of the old tree in the courtyard. The face bore the natural grain of the bark, but even more marks left by the passage of time. Judging by his features, he was an old man—a very, very old man. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

The face on the tree was gazing in the direction Xu Jingzhe had departed. He was wearing a puzzled expression and furrowing his eyebrows.

Meanwhile, inside the central building, the young man let out waves of deeply satisfied low groans before collapsing onto the bed. After catching his breath a few times, he got up to his feet and dressed. He said to the empty bed, “I’ve got to go check in[1] now! Just keep hiding here and don’t wander off, Yuanjin. If the elders at home find you, you’re dead meat. Got it?”

He paused for a brief moment before a look of delight spread across his face. “I knew you’d understand! You really are the most obedient of them all. I’ll come see you again after dinner. Wait for me.”

With that, he hurried out of the room and left the courtyard.

Study, rear wing, the main residence.

A maidservant carrying a bowl of ginseng soup walked gracefully toward the study door. Just as she was about to enter, a pair of hands reached out from the side and took the tray from her. When she recognized the man’s face, she quickly bowed her head and called out softly, “Second Young Master.” As she curtsied, she pulled her shirt down forcefully and nearly caused everything inside to spill out.

Xu Jingzhe, though, seemed disinterested. He simply cast her a cursory glance before looking away. He then strode back into the study and closed the door behind him.

Inside the study, Xu Zhiyuan was practicing calligraphy. It was only after he finished the three large characters “Virtue Bears All” that he raised his head and asked, “You’re back sooner than expected. Have you taken care of everything?”

“Perfectly.” Xu Jingzhe placed the tray on the desk and said, “Your Wood Origin Spirit Nurturing Soup. It’ll lose potency if it turns cold.”

Xu Zhiyuan picked up the bowl and lifted it to his mouth. He didn’t drink it, though. He stared at Xu Jingzhe and said slowly, “Are you certain?”

1. 点卯, a morning roll call. Usually happens during the Mao Hour (5 to 7 am), so this guy is like, 6 hours late. But of course, privileged people get to enjoy privileges. ☜