[Fantasy] The New Smiling Proud Wanderer (Complete) - Episodes 25-27 (End)

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Chapter 28 Insatiable Greed

In the side hall of the Wu Mansion in Suzhou,

Shen Yanlin, dressed in plain clothes, knelt on a prayer mat, silently gazing at the clay Buddha statue on the incense table, lost in thought.

A few footsteps sounded behind her. Just as she was about to rise, she heard someone call out, "Mother!"

Turning around, she saw Wu Hongxiu and her entourage. Shen Yanlin's expression didn't change much, but the smile in her eyes revealed her joy at seeing her daughter.

Before Shen Yanlin could even stand properly, Wu Hongxiu rushed into her arms, her eyes reddening as she hugged her, saying, "Mother, your daughter is unfilial..."

Shen Yanlin lovingly stroked her hair, whispering, "It's good you're back, it's good you're back..."

He Ruoxue, seeing the mother and daughter reunited, didn't want to linger. She exchanged a glance with Shen Yanlin, both understanding what the other wanted to say.

He Ruoxue's eyes held a casual warning, as if saying: I don't care about your misdeeds in the Wu Mansion, but don't mess with me.

Shen Yanlin's eyes were unrestrained and playful: We'll see.

He Ruoxue withdrew her gaze and said to Wu Hongxiu, "Hongxiu, your second aunt is going back first. Now that you're back, come find me at Penglai Residence when you have time."

With that, she flicked her sleeve and drifted away. Only then did Han Yi realize that He Ruoxue walked without making a sound, and he could vaguely see her fair skin. Could she be barefoot?

Wu Hongxiu turned back and said, "Second aunt, Hongxiu came to see you tonight. Han Yi, you can go out now."

Seeing the mother and daughter reunited, Han Yi naturally wanted to have some private words, so he also left the side hall to avoid making a fool of himself. Only

the mother and daughter remained in the hall.

Wu Hongxiu wiped her eyes, helped Shen Yanlin sit down, and asked, "Mother, have Father's funeral arrangements been completed?"

Shen Yanlin took a sip of tea and said, "Don't worry, Wu Gui is taking care of things at home. But you, you're already the head of the inn, why did you only bring one guard? Judging from his appearance and weapon, he must be Han Yi, known in the martial arts world as the Lu Bu of Xiliang."

Wu Hongxiu nodded and explained, "I sent someone to tell Mother some time ago that of the four guards in the inn, only Han Yi is skilled in horsemanship, so I only brought him back."

Shen Yanlin gave a noncommittal reply and then asked, "Hongxiu, Mother has something to discuss with you."

Wu Hongxiu smiled and said, "Mother, there's no need to be so polite."

"Although Feng'er is currently in the capital with Yu Qian, he only has two maids with him and no guards. You know Feng'er doesn't know martial arts, so if he encounters danger on the road, it's hard to guarantee that Yu Qian won't be able to protect him. Therefore, I'd like to ask you for two guards to protect Feng'er,"

Shen Yanlin said.

Yu Qian is the Junior Guardian of the court, a favorite of the emperor, with many supporters under his wing, but also many political enemies

. Many people in the Jiang Chong faction, who recently fell from power, wish they could tear him apart. Even a centipede doesn't die easily; although Jiang Chong's faction is not as powerful as the previous dynasty's, it still has many high-ranking officials and generals. If these people are determined to assassinate Yu Qian, it will be a considerable problem.

Although Yu Qian has one of the seven great masters, "Red Jade" Emerald, even the strongest can't fight against many. Besides, Emerald only cares about Yu Qian's safety; she may not care about Wu Feng's life or death.

Shen Yanlin, unwilling to prematurely reveal her hidden talents, decided to borrow people from Wu Hongxiu.

Most of the martial arts masters in the Jianghu (martial arts world) had already entered officialdom; the martial arts of outlaw heroes could not possibly defeat the state apparatus of the army. For people to learn martial arts, they first needed a sect or master; secondly, martial arts were a way to strengthen the body, requiring precious herbs and medicines. Therefore, among the seven masters, four came from the four great families, Jade was a princess from the Western Regions, Tianying was in the palace, and only "Shallow Snow Without Trace" remained the most mysterious.

Wu Hongxiu naturally understood these principles. Although somewhat reluctant, she had always doted on her two younger brothers, Wu Feng and Wu Yu, so she agreed, "Of course, that's fine. But I wonder which two people Mother would like to borrow?"

Shen Yanlin smiled and said, "You probably don't want to lend Han Yi outside. He's known as the Lu Bu of Xiliang, comes from a military background, and is an excellent horseman. You can keep him. As for the other three, you might as well choose two yourself."

Wu Hongxiu thought for a moment and said, "Lu Guzhan is my master's scholar-

general. We rely on him for advice and strategies, so he really can't leave. Then let's send Li Tieshan and Shi Gang to Xiao Feng's side." "Li Tieshan, whose sword shakes the south, and Shi Gang, whose spirit soars in the north, are both renowned figures in the martial arts world. As long as Feng'er doesn't encounter the Seven Great Masters, he should be fine."

Shen Yanlin nodded and said with pleasure.

Having agreed on the matter, Shen Yanlin turned to Wu Hongxiu and asked, "Hongxiu, when do you plan to get married?"

Wu Hongxiu blushed, looking incredibly shy, and said coquettishly, "Mother, please don't rush me. Let me choose someone first."

Shen Yanlin wasn't in a hurry and teased, "My young lady's standards are truly exceptional. She doesn't look down on a mere warrior, nor on a weak scholar, but insists on a first-rate person who is both scholarly and martial. Fine, Mother won't rush you anymore."

Wu Hongxiu bit her lip but didn't say what she wanted to say. She would talk to her second mother later that evening.

The mother and daughter were chatting happily when Wu Gui's voice came from outside the door: "Madam, officials have arrived."

"Officials?"

Wu Hongxiu asked curiously.

"No need to be surprised. Your father is a big shot in Suzhou and a good friend of Jiang Min, the governor of Yingtian. Naturally, he would send someone over,"

Shen Yanlin said calmly.

The two then got up and went to the hall to greet the visitors.

The mother and daughter followed Wu Gui into the hall, where they saw a middle-aged man dressed as a constable, wearing a leather glove on his left hand, with a square face and a rather righteous air.

Upon seeing Shen Yanlin, the man guessed she must be the mistress of the Wu family. He was initially captivated by the mother and daughter's beauty, but then regained his composure and said in a deep voice, " Greetings, Madam. I am Wu Dingyuan, the head constable of the Yingtian Circuit Inspectorate. I have come on the orders of Lord Jiang to pay my respects to Master Wu. Please accept my condolences, Madam."

Shen Yanlin thought to herself: What a burly man, yet he's just a lowly head constable. She replied, "Officer Wu, you're too kind. Wu Gui, please take Officer Wu to the side room to rest."

Before Wu Gui could answer, Wu Dingyuan clasped his hands in thanks, saying, "No need. I rushed here from Jinling, but I didn't expect to be a step too late. Master Wu's seven-day mourning period has already passed, so I won't bother you any longer."

Shen Yanlin didn't stand on ceremony to keep him, saying, "In that case, Officer Wu, please go back and thank Lord Jiang for me. Tell him that I will visit him again another day."

Wu Dingyuan quickly agreed, bowed slightly, and left.

It was already noon. Shen Yanlin stretched and said to Wu Hongxiu, "Hongxiu, I know you're close to Second Mother, so go and talk to her. I'm a little tired and want to go back to my room to rest."

Wu Hongxiu nodded and said, "Yes, Mother, please rest well. Han Yi and I will go to Penglai Residence. Uncle Gui, please take Mother back."

After saying that, she called Han Yi and headed towards Penglai Residence.

Seeing Wu Hongxiu walk away, Wu Gui leered and whispered, "Madam, let me escort you back." Shen

Yanlin glared at him and scolded, "You rascal..."

The two then hurried towards their room, one after the other.

**************** ...

On the bed, Shen Yanlin straightened her slender waist, her pair of jade-like breasts standing proudly, her fragrant buttocks swaying like a millstone, making the large bed creak.

"So deep, old ghost, have you gotten thicker again... How, so comfortable..."

Shen Yanlin intertwined her fingers with Wu Gui's with one hand, while kneading her own snowy breasts with the other, moaning loudly.

"Hoo... Madam has gotten tighter, so good..."

Wu Gui panted heavily. Since Wu Lingwen's death, the two had been indulging in revelry almost every night, and even Wu Gui's strong penis was almost unable to withstand Shen Yanlin's seductive charm.

In addition, when Shen Yanlin sat in a riding position, her breasts swayed, and her expression was wanton, the dual enjoyment of sight and body made Wu Gui feel the urge to ejaculate every time.

Shen Yanlin suddenly bent down, holding Wu Gui's head with both hands, her voluptuous breasts rubbing against his chest, and Wu Gui felt a faint urge to ejaculate again.

"It's coming, thrust into me, shove me, fuck me... Ahhhh, harder, thicker, so thick..."

Shen Yanlin cried out, biting Wu Gui's nose. Her lower body stopped grinding and instead thrust forcefully up and down. Her bright red labia were also penetrated until the tender flesh turned outwards, and rings of white foam kept gushing out.

"Madam, I'm going to cum too..."

Wu Gui said with a tense face, holding her buttocks and thrusting upwards hard.

"Okay, cum inside..."

Shen Yanlin kissed his face haphazardly, and unknowingly reached her climax.

"Oh... Oh..."

Wu Gui roared, pinching Shen Yanlin's tender flesh with both hands, preventing her from moving, and thrusting his penis deep into the deepest part, ejaculating thick semen.

"Mmm... This is a reward for you..."

Shen Yanlin was quite satisfied, sticking out her tongue to kiss him deeply, and said with a seductive smile.

"You old geezer, did you see He Ruoxue today? Otherwise, how come it's become so thick?"

Shen Yanlin said shockingly.

Knowing she had seen through him, Wu Gui chuckled awkwardly, "Madam is very perceptive, but you promised me back then..."

Shen Yanlin patted his chest and scolded, "Promised what? I said that if you had the ability, I wouldn't mind helping you win over He Ruoxue. But the question is, do you have that ability? Don't say I didn't warn you, judging from He Ruoxue's appearance, she's probably a seductive woman. Don't let things go wrong."

Wu Gui thought of He Ruoxue's ethereal and otherworldly demeanor and felt somewhat deflated. He then began to fondle Shen Yanlin's ample breasts. He pleaded, "Please teach me, Madam..."

Shen Yanlin rolled her eyes at him, but then thrust out her ample bosom to make him feel even better. She said, "Don't say I didn't give you a heads-up. For some reason, He Ruoxue is extremely averse to people from the Imperial Household Department, and seems to have some reservations about the Emperor. You should visit Penglai Residence more often, try persuasion first, then force. If that doesn't work, use this matter as leverage. Let me tell you, her breasts are even bigger than mine..."

Wu Gui shuddered at her words. The First Madam's breasts were already considered weapons of mass destruction; could the Second Madam's be even more formidable? He couldn't help but recall the time when the Second Madam had used her scheme to intimidate him, that fleeting touch, so firm and soft—he regretted not having had the chance to feast his eyes on them.

"Why does the First Madam so want me to take down the Second Madam?"

Wu Gui suddenly asked.

Shen Yanlin sneered, "Hmph, I just want to see if that self-righteous He Ruoxue, who thinks she's a fairy, can still be so aloof when she's being defiled by a servant. Besides, I'll drag her to bed too, so she can be my good sister again..."

Wu Gui imagined the scene of the First Madam and the Second Madam kneeling on the bed, their buttocks raised as he thrust into them, and his penis once again became hard against his will.

He turned Shen Yanlin over and positioned her in a kneeling position, saying, "Miss went to the Second Madam's place, and will probably come back to sleep with the First Madam tonight. This old servant must hurry up and do it again..."

Shen Yanlin didn't mind, stretching out her small foot to tease his penis, teasing, "Come on, or you're a coward..."

Wu Gui's eyes reddened, and he was about to insert.

But Shen Yanlin suddenly dodged, biting her lip, "Not here..."

Wu Gui was stunned, then instantly understood, pressing Shen Yanlin's fragrant buttocks even lower, and thrusting hard into her pink anus.

"Oh, so full..."

A wanton moan echoed once more from within the room.

Chapter 29.

That night, while Wu Gui was making love to Shen Yanlin in her room, whispers could be heard in the quietest part of the Wu mansion, Penglai Residence.

On the second floor of Penglai Residence, He Ruoxue sat on the edge of the bed, her clothes thin, revealing large expanses of her snow-white skin. Half-reclining on the bed, Wu Hongxiu looked enviously at He Ruoxue's perfect figure, her face slightly flushed. She whispered, "Second Aunt, I know Penglai Residence never receives outsiders. Can I really sleep with you tonight?"

He Ruoxue affectionately tapped her delicate nose and smiled, "Silly girl, you're like my daughter. What's wrong with us sharing a bed?"

Wu Hongxiu nodded happily, "Then why don't you come up, Second Aunt?"

He Ruoxue adjusted her clothes, covering her breasts, and said, "Second Aunt isn't a little girl anymore. The night is long; it's not so easy to fall asleep."

Wu Hongxiu crawled out from under the covers, wearing only an undergarment. Her shoulders were as smooth as chiseled mountains, her breasts as soft and bouncy as fresh fruit, and her skin was only slightly less fair than He Ruoxue's. She took He Ruoxue's arm and said, "Then I'll keep Second Aunt company."

"You want to have a heart-to-heart talk with me, otherwise why would you come to my Penglai Residence?"

He Ruoxue bluntly exposed her thoughts.

Wu Hongxiu stuck out her tongue slightly and said, "It can't escape Second Aunt's discerning eye..."

"Speak, what's bothering you?"

He Ruoxue shook her head and smiled.

Wu Hongxiu was silent for a moment, then said shyly, "Second Aunt, I have someone I like."

"Oh? Little Hongxiu's heart is fluttering. Who is he? A figure from the martial arts world or an official?"

He Ruoxue asked directly.

Wu Hongxiu breathed a sigh of relief, as if she had made a decision, and said, "My beloved is Xiaoyu."

"Yu'er? No wonder..."

He Ruoxue wasn't surprised, but rather seemed to have expected it.

"Second Aunt, aren't you angry?"

Wu Hongxiu asked curiously.

"What's there to be angry about? Your ideal husband must be both scholarly and martial, handsome, and witty. Yu'er possesses all of these qualities. Besides, you know that Yu'er is not your father's biological son, so you and Yu'er have no blood relation and nothing to worry about."

He Ruoxue's views have always been different from those of the world.

Wu Hongxiu said helplessly, "Even if Second Mother doesn't object, Mother definitely won't agree, not to mention Liu'er... and I don't even know if Xiaoyu will like me..."

He Ruoxue sneered, "Little girl, you're thinking so far ahead. Don't worry about Liu'er and Yu'er, Second Mother is here. It's just that your mother will be the first hurdle. If she finds out you like Yu'er, she'll skin you alive."

Wu Hongxiu shrank back and chuckled, "Mother loves me so much, she won't skin me alive. It's just that Xiaoyu is in Jinling now, having joined the Cangqiong Sect. Seeing him won't be as easy as before."

He Ruoxue slowly took off her outer garment, revealing half of her jade-like body, and sat on the bed next to Wu Hongxiu, saying, "Second Mother will give you a way. First, find Liu'er, then take her to find Yu'er. Then, if there are any plans later, it will be easier for the two of them to talk."

Wu Hongxiu embraced He Ruoxue's soft body, a sight that would make many men envious. She pressed her face against He Ruoxue's chest and said coquettishly, "Second Mother loves me the most. Tonight, Hongxiu will lull Second Mother to sleep."

He Ruoxue giggled, then hugged Hongxiu back, and they slowly drifted off to sleep together.

************ Since the day Shen Yanlin gave Wu Gui the idea, he had been going to Penglai Residence every few days. Hongxiu, who was originally there to stand guard, had been summoned by Shen Yanlin to watch over the mourning hall. Penglai Residence had become quiet again, which was convenient for Wu Gui to do his work.

He Ruoxue naturally knew that Wu Gui was acting under Shen Yanlin's orders, but she wasn't angry. She was known for her refined nature; when Wu Gui came, she treated him politely, but when it was time to see him off, she was equally ruthless. Wu Gui came several times, but couldn't find a way to get what he wanted.

Today, Wu Gui suddenly remembered the Da Hong Pao tea he had drunk at Penglai Residence, and so he came running over again.

On the first floor of the small building, He Ruoxue, dressed neatly, walked with the grace of a cat. She leaned lazily against an eight-immortal chair and looked at Wu Gui with a smile, asking, "Uncle Gui, you come to my Penglai Residence every day, don't you find it tiring?"

Now that Wu Lingwen was dead, Wu Gui had become much bolder and replied with a fawning smile, "I used to feel tired, but seeing the Second Madam makes me feel like I'm bathed in a spring breeze, and I feel even more energetic."

He Ruoxue chuckled, exuding charm that left Wu Gui dumbfounded. With a flushed face, she said in a tone that was neither praise nor sarcasm, "You speak much more politely now. So, what brings you here today?"

Wu Gui rubbed his hands, revealing his unmistakable old servant air, and said, "Remembering the Da Hong Pao tea I drank at the Second Madam's place that day, its aftertaste was unforgettable, so I came to ask for a bowl."

He Ruoxue's smile was slightly faint, and she said softly, "That day, you told Uncle Gui to choose his own place, but in the end, you still went to the First Madam's side. Why do you still want to drink that tea today?"

Wu Gui, with his thick skin, didn't feel embarrassed at all, and replied, "That day, when I heard the Second Madam explain the original intention of the Da Hong Pao tea, I thought that Young Master Feng had studied in a private school for several years. If he could pass that special examination, he might be able to become a Jinshi (a successful candidate

in the highest imperial examination)." He Ruoxue saw that Wu Gui's words were suggestive, so she asked, "So what if you pass the Jinshi examination?"

Wu Gui seized the opportunity and used the words he had prepared beforehand, saying: "That's incredible. Second Madam has also met Yu Qian. His bearing...tsk tsk, if Young Master Feng were to become a high-ranking official, he would surely be escorted back to our Wu residence by soldiers."

A cold glint flashed in He Ruoxue's eyes as she stared at Wu Gui and said, "Are you threatening me with soldiers?"

Wu Gui hadn't expected He Ruoxue to be so direct, and he felt a little timid as he said, "How dare this old servant..."

But then He Ruoxue suddenly stood up and walked towards the tea table, saying, "Hmph, is there anything you wouldn't dare to do? Your courage is greater than a human life. If you want tea, come over here yourself..."

Hearing the word "human life," Wu Gui's heart skipped a beat, and his back was covered in cold sweat. But when he heard the words "tea," most of his fear subsided. He followed behind He Ruoxue, looking at her swaying little buttocks, which resembled those of an unmarried young woman, tight and shapely, trembling adorably.

Seemingly sensing the gaze behind her, He Ruoxue turned around and glared at Wu Gui, but said nothing, turning back with a half-smile and continuing on her way.

The two sat down at the tea table, just like last time. He Ruoxue took out the tea set, cut the tea leaves, and lit a small stove to boil water. Her movements were extremely elegant and practiced, her nimble fingers dancing gracefully. Wu Gui couldn't help but sigh inwardly: In terms of alluring charm, no one could match the First Madam; in terms of noble elegance, the Second Madam was not only the best in the world, but would probably make even the fairies in heaven feel ashamed.

This time, He Ruoxue didn't touch Wu Gui with her jade-like feet, but simply brewed tea seriously. Her tranquility made even Wu Gui, sitting opposite her, not find her too offensive. Da Hong Pao tea, combining the fragrance of green tea and the mellowness of black tea, was a top-grade oolong tea. Even Wu Gui, a commoner, had come to appreciate its nuances and even began to discuss tea with He Ruoxue.

The two drank for a while when Wu Gui suddenly felt an urgent need to urinate, and the urge was quite forceful. He quickly stood up and said, "Everyone has to relieve themselves sometimes. Second Madam, is there a latrine here?" As

he stood up, he accidentally bumped the table. The small stove, which was already placed to one side, had gone out and cooled down, but the ashes inside were scattered all over the floor, half of them landing on He Ruoxue's white dress, creating a mess.

Wu Gui was startled. He knew He Ruoxue was a clean freak, and now the floor and her dress were filthy. This was intolerable! He immediately bowed and hurriedly apologized, "This old servant deserves to die, truly deserves to die! I've made this peaceful place full of dust. This old servant will clean it up right away, right away..."

He Ruoxue saw that his expression didn't seem fake, and knew that he hadn't intentionally knocked over the stove. Although she frowned slightly, she didn't get angry. She had rarely been angry in her life. Seeing Wu Gui's comical movements and flustered expression, as if the ashes on the ground were not furnace ash but cremated remains, she couldn't help but find it amusing. She calmly comforted him, "Uncle Gui, don't be nervous. It's just some dust. You can wash it off with water later."

Wu Gui had already bent down to clean up the ashes. He glanced at the stains on He Ruoxue's skirt, and below that, he saw a perfectly shaped, flowing, snow-white jade-like foot that even emitted a faint fragrance. He was momentarily stunned.

He Ruoxue noticed Wu Gui staring at her feet, and felt a slight blush. Just as she was about to pull her hand away, Wu Gui suddenly stretched out his large, old hand, like several thick, aged branches, and placed it on her feet, saying, "Second Madam's feet are dirty, this old servant will clean them..."

Hearing the words "clean them," He Ruoxue felt inexplicably embarrassed and angry, and scolded, "You dead man, are you Wu Lingwen's father? How dare you clean my feet... Bah! What am I saying? Get away, don't touch me..."

Wu Gui's large hand touched He Ruoxue's small feet, feeling their softness and smoothness, like warm jade. Before she knew it, his hand had slipped away, and he lewdly put his fingers to his nose and smelled them. Sure enough, his hand still had a lingering fragrance.

He Ruoxue, seeing his actions, didn't know whether to be angry or amused. She glanced at the teapot on the table, picked it up, and smashed it on the ground, scattering tea leaves and boiling water everywhere, making a mess.

"Go find your outhouse, I'll clean up here!"

He Ruoxue shouted.

Wu Gui, however, seemed possessed, crawling straight towards He Ruoxue's jade-like feet, grabbing them once more, burying his face in them, and eagerly beginning to lick them.

He Ruoxue suddenly felt the wet heat on the back of her foot, let out a soft moan, and jumped back in fright, grabbing a cup of tea and splashing it on her foot to wash it. Seeing Wu Gui trying to get closer, her almond-shaped eyes narrowed, a cold glint appearing in them, but she quickly concealed it, feigning surprise, "Ah! Don't come any closer..."

She then threw everything she could on the table, all of it hitting Wu Gui's back.

The pain in his back startled Wu Gui awake, his hard-won courage shrinking back, and he hurriedly fled the house, running to the path outside. Looking back with difficulty, he saw some blood on his back and couldn't help but secretly breathe a sigh of relief.

Seeing him leave the room, He Ruoxue quickly locked the door, went back upstairs to fetch water to wash her feet.

Downstairs, Wu Gui, regaining his senses, recalled the jade-like feet he had just touched, as sweet and unforgettable as licking a sugar cake. His genitals, already throbbing with the urge to urinate, swelled to an enormous size, his trousers bulging dramatically.

Overwhelmed with lust, he called up to the second floor, "Second Madam, this old servant comes to see you every day, admiring you greatly. Could you grant me some soup to drink?"

He Ruoxue, on the second floor, chuckled at this inappropriate declaration, which sounded like a compliment yet also like a shameless flirtation. Generous by nature, she quickly suppressed her anger. Besides, she was well aware of her charm; a vulgar man like Wu Gui had only focused on kissing her feet, without attempting to rape her—that was already considered "proper conduct." Any seasoned lecher would have already undressed and forced themselves on her.

He Ruoxue didn't go to the window; her tone was ambiguous, a mix of reproach and scolding, as she said in a coquettish voice, "Nonsense! Get back inside right now..."

Seeing that she wasn't particularly angry, Wu Gui felt relieved and shamelessly continued rambling downstairs, spouting nonsense, crude jokes, and flirtatious remarks. His unrestrained and ridiculous chatter made He Ruoxue laugh uncontrollably, half-asleep and half-angry, and her mood brightened. After

a while, seeing no response from the second floor, Wu Gui grew bored and his mouth went dry, so he turned to leave. Suddenly, a white cloth flew out of the second-floor window, landing on Wu Gui's head and obscuring his eyes. A voice, feigning embarrassment and anger, came from behind: "Take it and get out of here!"

Wu Gui tore off the white cloth, unfolded it, and saw that it was an undergarment; no wonder it smelled so fragrant earlier. The undergarment was thin and alluring; if it were worn by the Second Madam… Wu Gui's lust grew stronger with each thought. He turned to break down the door, pleading, "Second Madam, please, open the door! This old servant is burning to death…"

He Ruoxue, still embarrassed by her earlier astonishing act, scoffed, "Go find your mistress…"

The wooden door downstairs banged loudly. He Ruoxue sneered to herself, "You think you can break down a door made of black ironwood? Do you think you're the mistress of the house…"

Wu Gui's mistress was, of course, Tang Danyue. Black ironwood was an extremely rare type of wood. It took a hundred years to sprout, a hundred years to mature, a hundred years to flourish, and three hundred years before it could be harvested.

Obtaining this wood required profound internal strength and the use of refined iron weapons. Black ironwood was as light as wood, as hard as refined steel, and extremely expensive. He Ruoxue's extravagant use of it for doors and windows was truly unprecedented.

After much effort, Wu Gui, seeing that the door remained unmoved, had no choice but to stuff the undergarment inside his clothes, placing it close to his body. Undeterred, he pleaded upstairs, "Since you've given me the top, please give me the bottom one too..."

After a long while, he heard a soft, ethereal voice say, "That's something only proper women and virgins wear. I don't wear that..."

Hearing this, Wu Gui's lust burned even brighter. He hadn't expected the Second Madam to be such a repressed and alluring woman. He quickly hurried towards Shen Yanlin's room.

At dusk, in Shen Yanlin's room.

That day, Wu Gui returned from Penglai Residence at noon, displaying his prowess. He had been recklessly engaging Shen Yanlin in a passionate lovemaking session, thrusting back and forth, for two hours straight.

Shen Yanlin, however, was quite formidable, reciprocating to the very end. Each time Wu Gui ejaculated, Shen Yanlin would use her mouth and tongue to finish him off, and he would be as hard as iron again in a moment. They tried almost every position, and the bed was covered with their fluids, saliva, vaginal fluid, and semen mixed together, filling the room with a lewd smell.

Standing in front of the dressing table, she let Wu Gui lick her anus and vagina from behind before thrusting in hard, shaking the table and scattering rouge and powder all over it. She

stretched out her legs, her jade feet stepping on his face, letting Wu Gui lie beneath her, her round buttocks twisting and undulating as if trying to swallow his glans into her flower core. She

was half-suspended from the beam with a long brocade, like sitting on a swing, her jade legs spread open, floating in the air, letting Wu Gui's penis be pulled out completely and then inserted to the hilt, thrusting straight to her heart.

The two sat in the bathtub, every inch of their skin pressed tightly together, motionless, only letting her penis soak in her secret hole full of vaginal fluid, sticking out her fragrant tongue to kiss him for half an hour.

At this moment, the two were exhausted and lay on the messy bed. Shen Yanlin's breasts were covered with red marks, while Wu Gui was covered with lip prints, even his thighs and buttocks were not spared. Shen Yanlin nestled in Wu Gui's arms, her full breasts pressed into round discs, and lazily asked, "You must have been driven crazy by He Ruoxue today. It's just a tattered garment, look how you've been teased..."

Wu Gui felt a slight ache in his groin and chuckled, "This undergarment wasn't easy to come by; the Second Madam even beat my back until it bled..."

Shen Yanlin, however, said with some confusion, "Now I don't understand at all. She knew I sent you to test her. Since she gave you the undergarment, it means she's indeed wary of the government. But she has no reason to let me confirm that. Since she's clearly stating she doesn't want to deal with the government, shouldn't she have used ordinary methods when dealing with you? Wouldn't it have been simpler to just use force? She's deliberately creating a smokescreen, forcing me to be suspicious. What a clever tactic..."

Wu Gui listened to this long explanation, but his head was spinning, and he was too exhausted to think. He simply held Shen Yanlin and fell asleep contentedly.

Chapter 30 Heroes Gather (with brief character introductions)

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A whole chapter as a transition, the next chapter will be a 10,000-word update!

A temporary farewell to Green Garden, updating Jade Dynasty. When I return, it will be the climax!

Please give me a little more time and a little more gentleness… Character

Introductions : He Ruoxue: First female lead, 36 years old, measurements 33E-24-35, height 172cm, martial arts level unknown. Shen Yanlin: First female supporting character, 38 years old, measurements 36D-28-37, height 165cm, descendant of Shen Wansan. Wu Hongxiu: Second female lead, 20 years old, measurements 34C-25-33, height 168cm, owner of the Suzhou Inn. Liu'er: 27 years old, measurements 34B-23-30, height 163cm, Wu Yu's only legal wife. Yuqin: 26 years old, measurements 33D-26-34, height 166cm, owner of the Azure Phoenix. Third manager of Mingyue Tower. Tang Danyue: 42 years old, measurements 34D-27-36, height 170cm, a Domain Realm cultivator, nearing the Breakthrough Realm. Yuexia Haitang. Si Mingyue: Second female supporting character, 33 years old, measurements 36C-24-32, height 167cm, a Domain Realm cultivator. Head manager of Mingyue Tower, sixth leader of Cangqiong Sect. Feicui: 32 years old, measurements 34C-22-32, height 164cm, princess of the Western Regions, one of the "Seven People," Hongyan Yu, a sect leader. Yan Rou: 30 years old, measurements 32C-25-33, height 171cm, second manager of Mingyue Tower. Second leader of the Outer Five Sects. Yue Rong: 19 years old, measurements 34A-22-30, height 159cm, Wu Feng's head maid. Yun Xin: 18 years old, measurements 30B-23-31, height 160cm, Wu Feng's maid. Male. Wu Yu: First male protagonist, 17 years old, height 178cm, Qi user, nearing the Domain Realm. Grand Master of the five outer sects of the Cangqiong Sect. Possessor of the Jiao Chi. Wu Feng: Second male protagonist, 17 years old, height 177cm, martial arts realm unknown. Wu Gui: First male supporting character, 49 years old, height 175cm, possessor of the Xuanwu. Zhou Qianlong: Second male supporting character, 42 years old, height 180cm, second-in-command of the Cangqiong Sect, strategist. One of the "Seven People," a sect leader. Tang Shen: 60 years old, height 183cm, Grand Master of the Cangqiong Sect, Cang Wang, a Breakthrough Realm user. Song Chi: 31 years old, height 176cm, third-in-command of the Cangqiong Sect, wielding the Bloodthirsty Blade, a Domain Realm user, nearing the Breakthrough Realm. Zhu Kai: 50 years old, 175 cm tall, fifth leader of the Cangqiong Sect, Yan Wang, martial arts level unknown. Tang Xiao : 19 years old, 182 cm tall, a member of the Tang family , one of the four great families. A Qi cultivator. **************** ...

Fortunately, Wu Gui had always treated his servants very well, using a combination of kindness and strictness. Therefore, none of the servants objected to Wu Gui becoming the de facto head of the household. With the help of the First Madam, Wu Gui suppressed his arrogance and calmly arranged all the household affairs, winning everyone's favor.

Today is the beginning of autumn, and the weather has suddenly cooled down a bit. The cicadas' chirping has subsided considerably. The entire Wu family is in the main hall, taking care of everything for Wu Hongxiu.

He Ruoxue, rarely seen emerging from Penglai Residence, wore a white silk dress embroidered with plum blossoms and a pale yellow polka-dot vest. Her expression was somewhat aloof, but her eyes held a tender affection as she looked at Wu Hongxiu, saying, "When you go to Jinling, you must take good care of yourself. I reckon things won't be peaceful in Jinling for the next month or so; something is bound to happen. Have Han Yi stay with you and make sure he doesn't hurt himself."

Since her long talk with He Ruoxue that night, Wu Hongxiu had been planning to go to Jinling to find Liu'er and reunite with Wu Yu. She had also spent a few more days at home with Shen Yanlin before deciding to leave.

At this moment, Wu Hongxiu wore a plain, crimson-purple jumpsuit and leggings, giving her a rather chivalrous air. She smiled and nodded, saying, "Second Aunt is too kind. Hongxiu has been out there for years and has some skills."

He Ruoxue tapped her nose and spat, "Little girl, you think you're so capable?"

As the two were talking, Shen Yanlin emerged from the corridor, wearing a light blue silk robe, a sky-blue floral skirt, and a pair of butterfly-embroidered shoes. Her demeanor was elegant, her steps light, and she held a letter in her hand. Behind her, Wu Gui, dressed in brocade, looked rather noble.

He Ruoxue silently stepped aside, nodded to Wu Hongxiu, and returned to Penglai Residence. Wu Gui secretly glanced at her back before turning back to chat with Wu Hongxiu.

Shen Yanlin said, "Hongxiu, you've been away for so long, I can't take care of you anymore. This is a letter I wrote to Feng'er. Please ask Li Tieshan and Shi Gang to deliver it to him."

Wu Hongxiu nodded, somewhat emotionally, and said, "Mother, I'll come back to be with you after I've settled things at the guild."

Hearing this, Shen Yanlin's eyes also reddened. She hugged Wu Hongxiu and said, "My dear daughter, I only wish for your safety. In the future, Feng'er can take care of us when he's in court. You're a young lady, so please don't wander around the martial world too much."

Wu Hongxiu nodded, secretly wiping away her tears, and said to Wu Gui, "Uncle Gui, I'll leave the family to you."

To this day, Wu Hongxiu still didn't know about Wu Gui's affair with her mother, so she still respected Wu Gui very much.

Wu Gui smiled and said, "Don't worry, Miss, I understand. It's getting late. Although Jinling isn't far, Miss

, you should set off soon." Wu Hongxiu then discussed things with Shen Yanlin for a while before calling Han Yi and riding away on the two Ferghana horses and the Black Dragon Horse. Shen Yanlin stood in front of the mansion gate, gazing at it for a long time before turning back into the house.

The Wu family became even more deserted, while several other places suddenly became lively.

********** Jinling.

A group of people stood at the city gate, surrounding a sedan chair. Besides the sedan chair bearers, two men led the way.

One was dressed in a blue robe, like a scholar, holding a copper fan. He was about forty years old, with slightly graying temples, a handsome face, a neat short mustache, and a bit of stubble on his chin. Even though he was over forty, he still had extraordinary charm, handsome appearance, and stood out from the crowd. A faint smile graced his face, yet he exuded an aura of absolute dominance.

The other man, dressed in black with a blood-red belt and a thin-bladed knife tucked into his back, possessed a cold expression. His age was indeterminate, perhaps in his twenties or thirties. His brows were sharp as swords, his lips thin, his cheeks gaunt, and his face utterly ruthless.

He stood coldly behind the middle-aged man, seemingly merging with his own shadow, appearing extremely somber.

The sedan chair was ordinary in appearance, and the four porters, sweating profusely, huddled together chatting idly.

The middle-aged man addressed the person in the sedan chair, "Madam, we have arrived in Jinling."

A gentle, elegant female voice came from within, softly and timidly saying, "Please make the arrangements, Mr. Zhou. I am quite unfamiliar with the outside world; I would be very grateful for your help."

The middle-aged man replied politely, "You flatter me, Madam. Let's find a place to rest first."

The lady said, "I've heard that Sister Fang owns a brothel in Jinling. Would you like to take a look?"

The middle-aged man smiled, "Madam, you mean Xuefang Pavilion. Then, as you wish."

He beckoned, and several sedan chair bearers hurriedly came over. The man took out a gold ingot from his pouch, tossed it to the bearers, said "Xuefang Pavilion," and then fanned himself and left. The bearers, having carefully placed the gold, were overjoyed and lifted the sedan chair even more diligently, secretly thinking they had encountered a very wealthy and powerful family.

The young man behind him followed and whispered, "The chief sent a message saying that the commanders of the five outer gates are on business in Jinling. Would you like to see them, teacher?"

It turned out that the young man was the middle-aged man's student.

The middle-aged man chuckled, "Our Sect Leader Wu is so young, his skills are still a bit clumsy. How could I not offer him some pointers?"

"What do you mean, Master?"

"Tang Xi was beaten half to death by the Chief. Do you think the Tang family head won't investigate this thoroughly? A thorough investigation will naturally lead back to Wu Yu. Adding to the grudges from over a decade ago, Jinling is likely to be in for some trouble."

The middle-aged man shook his head and continued, "I may not intervene this time. I'll probably just see how much trouble this son of my old friend can cause. He's a very interesting young man; you might soon have another junior brother."

The young man's lips curled slightly, and he said, "This student is currently lacking an opponent to practice with. I hope Master can find me a junior brother quickly."

The middle-aged man laughed loudly, "Haha, you Bloodthirsty Blade Maniac! Very well, after we settle our esteemed guest behind us, let's go to the Bright Moon Pavilion."

"Bloodthirsty Blade!" It turned out this young man was none other than the third leader of the Azure Sky Sect, "Bloodthirsty Blade" Song Chi! The middle-aged man in front, whom he addressed as "Teacher," and the lady in the sedan chair who had called him "Mr. Zhou," clearly indicated that this middle-aged man was Zhou Qianlong, the "Strategist" whose wisdom and martial arts were unparalleled in the heavens.

Given that these two important figures were needed to escort him, who was actually in the sedan chair behind? Jinling might truly be in for some trouble.

********** Shandong, Jinan Prefecture.

Outside an official residence, another sedan chair stood guard, with eight Kunlun slaves quietly surrounding it. Inside the residence, a powerful official was resting, and the guards dared not relax their vigilance.

Inside the residence, two men and a woman were dining at a marble table adorned with brocade. One man, with a rugged and handsome face, stubble on his lip, and a slight smile in his narrowed eyes, was none other than Yu Qian, the Junior Guardian of the court. The other man, dashing and elegant, with phoenix eyes and leafy eyebrows, wore a jade belt on his head and wore a humble expression; he was Wu Feng, the second young master of the Wu family.

The woman's hair was fine and flowing like tassels, with a faint yellow tinge. Her eyes were eerie, green with a hint of gold, her nose was high and straight, her features were distinct, and her beauty was indescribable. She was none other than Yu Qian's concubine, "Red Jade" Emerald, one of the seven greatest martial arts masters in the world. Yu

Qian chewed on his rice as he asked, "The other day I asked you why I so casually took you as my advisor. Do you have an answer now?"

Wu Feng frowned and said, "When I first met you, sir, you knew nothing about me. This must be because of my parents. However, my mother and you also do not know each other. Could it be... because of my father?"

Wu Feng did not know who his father was. Although Shen Yanlin said she had forgotten, Wu Feng believed it was simply because she was unwilling to say it. Yu Qian

nodded in satisfaction and said, "Indeed, you are no ordinary person. Your deduction is well-founded. Do you know who your father is?"

Wu Feng bowed and replied, "This subordinate does not know. I hope you will enlighten me, sir."

Yu Qian narrowed his eyes, thought for a moment, and then gave a strange smile, saying, "Since you don't know... things get interesting. Let's leave it to fate. When the time is right, you'll naturally find out."

Wu Feng didn't press the matter like most people would, but simply nodded and continued eating.

Emerald suddenly chuckled beside him, "This child is so cute. He pretends not to care, but his breathing and heartbeat are already a bit erratic. Hmm? He calmed down so quickly..."

Yu Qian looked at his beloved concubine and asked, "I'm considering having Wu Feng learn martial arts from you. What do you say?"

Emerald narrowed her almond-shaped eyes, looking extremely alluring, and gazed at Wu Feng with a somewhat ambiguous look in her eyes. Strangely, Yu Qian didn't seem to care. Emerald extended her slender, jade-like finger, lifting Wu Feng's chin, and asked, "Handsome young man, would you be willing to become my disciple?" Wu Feng's expression remained unchanged . He gently removed

her fingertip, stood up, and bowed,

saying, "I would be honored to receive your guidance!" Emerald, as if eyeing some kind of prey, nodded repeatedly , saying, "Good, interesting...hehe, it will be even more interesting in the future..." The room was filled with Emerald's laughter, instantly brightening the atmosphere of the official residence. ********** ... Si Mingyue, with her skillful social skills and extensive network of connections, further fueled Wu Yu's fascination with the martial world. At this moment, Si Mingyue acted like a private tutor, patiently instructing Wu Yu. The two sat on the third floor of Mingyue Tower, in the same room where they had previously tested Feng Yue. The tea had long since cooled, but Wu Yu had no appetite for it. Si Mingyue said, "Last time I mentioned the seven great masters to you, so let me ask you, if the seven great masters were to spar with each other, who would win?" Wu Yu replied matter-of-factly, "Since they are called the seven great masters, wouldn't it be a draw? Could there be a difference in their skill levels?" Si Mingyue smiled slightly and said, "People hear the rumors about the seven masters and assume they are all grandmasters, with no clear winner. But that's not the case. I taught you before how many levels of martial arts a practitioner has." Wu Yu quickly replied, "Of course I remember. Martial arts has four levels: Qi, Domain Formation, Breakthrough, and Sect Formation. A little progress allows one to circulate Qi throughout the body, which is Qi; releasing internal energy to form a domain is Domain Formation; seeing through the domain and returning to simplicity is Breakthrough; and achieving great mastery in one area is the pinnacle of martial arts." "Zhi, is Xingzong." Si Mingyue covered her mouth and said, "You recited it quite well. But you yourself, due to your Qi, have been slow to form a domain. Although you have some tricks up your sleeve, you haven't really made a name for yourself yet." Wu Yu chuckled dryly, "Sixth Master is right, but I'm only seventeen years old now. No rush, no rush... hehe..." Si Mingyue smiled faintly, then glared at him helplessly and said, "Among those seven people, the lowest level is Xingzong. The world is vast, and there's nowhere they can't go. However, above the fourth level, there is another level. There's an ancient saying: 'One who is not partisan is called Tianfang.' This realm is called Tianfang. As the name suggests, those who are banished by Heaven are still in a higher realm than anyone else in this world." Wu Yu's eyes gleamed, and he silently recited, "One who is not partisan is called Tianfang... What a wonderful Tianfang." "Who is Tian Fang among those seven?" Si Mingyue took a sip of tea and continued, "I don't know either. I only heard the Second Master say that when he infiltrated the palace, he was a Breakthrough Realm cultivator. Tian Ying chased him for a thousand miles but couldn't kill him, so he must be a Xingzong. Yu Qian's concubine, Emerald, is probably also a Xingzong. The four people from the four major families should also be within that category. Only the most mysterious, Qianxue Wuhen, is most likely Tian Fang." Wu Yu frowned and said, "Since there is a layer above the fourth level, someone must have reached it before. Who was that person?" Si Mingyue gave him an appreciative look and said, "You figured it out so quickly. You are indeed quite clever! According to the Second Master, about forty years ago, there were no such seven people in the world. At that time, it was still considered..." At the peak of his power, Song Dao, the white-haired swordsman from Shandong, had just reached the Breakthrough Realm and was seeking challenges everywhere. Back then, most martial arts masters were hidden from the world, just like they are today, so Song Dao was undefeated in every battle. Until he met a woman. According to Song Dao, she showed mercy, yet still managed to make him vomit blood within three moves, after which he stopped acting so arrogantly. Wu Yu immediately applauded, saying enviously, "This woman is so fierce, she must be a fairy-like figure." Si Mingyue said, "That's hard to say. Let's stop here for today. I imagine Sister Yuqin is getting impatient; why don't you go and keep her company?" Wu Yu sighed, "My beloved wife, Liu'er, is still missing. How can I have the mood to flirt with Sister Yuqin?" Si Mingyue looked at Wu Yu and smiled without speaking, seemingly aware of something. At this moment, they were still unaware that the world was stirring with unrest. At the same time, Wu Hongxiu was traveling from Suzhou to Jinling. Elsewhere, two fast horses were heading towards Jinan, Shandong. Meanwhile, Wu Yu's beloved wife, Liu'er, and Tang Xiao were stranded in a small inn in Jinling City, repeatedly missing the Mingyue Tower. Life is like a game of chess; during the Jingtai reign, dark clouds gathered, and a change in the world was imminent. Chapter 31: Rain in Jinling. Jinling City, beneath the Mingyue Tower. After Zhou Qianlong and Song Chi escorted the nobleman in the sedan chair to Xuefang Pavilion, they went straight to the Mingyue Tower, but for some reason, they didn't go in. Zhou Qianlong, now dressed in white, fanned himself with a copper fan and asked, "Third Brother, what do you think of this tower?" Song Chi was the third leader of the Cangqiong Sect, so Zhou Qianlong called him "Third Brother," and only Zhou Qianlong dared to address him that way. Song Chi pursed his lips and said, "Quite impressive." Zhou Qianlong shook his head and laughed, "Heh, quite impressive? I think it's nothing but ignorance, utterly vulnerable!" With that, his eyes narrowed, his aura suddenly changed, and a powerful aura instantly enveloped the entire Mingyue Tower. Behind him, Song Chi quickly focused his mind and carefully sensed the aura released by Zhou Qianlong, even attempting to simulate it to improve his own cultivation. It was only within the Mingyue Tower that the patrons, gamblers, waiters, and other idlers without cultivation could not sense Zhou Qianlong's power. However, Wu Yu, Si Mingyue, Yan Rou, and the others felt their bodies bound, their internal energy unable to circulate. Si Mingyue had already formed a domain, but now her domain was also sealed off. Wu Yu, who had been playing with Yuqin, had already drawn her soft sword from her sleeve and joined Si Mingyue. Seeing Wu Yu's alarmed reaction, Si Mingyue couldn't help but find it amusing, yet also somewhat disappointed. She said, "Why are you so nervous, even with your hidden sword drawn? You don't even know who the other person is. Have I been teaching you for nothing these past two weeks?" Wu Yu, knowing Si Mingyue thought he was overreacting, quickly explained with a smile, "Not at all! To be able to release one's inner power so freely, the newcomer must undoubtedly be a Xingzong cultivator. Since they are a Xingzong cultivator, they must be one of those seven. However, those seven must know that Mingyue Tower is the territory of my Cangqiong Sect, and they would certainly not openly oppose us. Therefore, the person outside..." "There can only be one person leading the sect, the Second Leader whom I've always wanted to meet. I know the Second Leader and Third Leader are always inseparable, so I have no choice but to pretend I don't know them and spar with that Third Leader , Song Chi." Si Mingyue nodded slightly, somewhat surprised that Wu Yu could analyze things so clearly in such a short time, but she couldn't help but laugh and scold, "You brat, you don't know your place. Third Brother is known as the Bloodthirsty Blade, the sect's number one assassin. He never shows mercy. Your anger hasn't subsided yet; do you want to die?" Wu Yu just smiled, ignoring Si Mingyue, and jumped out of the window, shouting, "Who is this esteemed master who has graced us with their presence?"

Si Mingyue was momentarily stunned. She didn't grab Wu Yu, nor did she fly out the window with him, wanting to see how he would spar with Song Chi.

Outside, the three were already facing each other.

Zhou Qianlong remained motionless, fanning himself while scrutinizing Wu Yu.

Wu Yu struggled to withstand the pressure from Zhou Qianlong, his soft sword already concealed in his sleeve. He cupped his hands and asked, "May I ask who you are, and why you attacked my Mingyue Tower?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qianlong turned and transmitted his voice to Song Chi, "Look at this fool. He already guessed my identity, yet he's pretending to be crazy. It seems he wants to spar with us."

Zhou Qianlong had seen through Wu Yu's thoughts at a glance; truly worthy of being the strategist of the Azure Sky.

Song Chi didn't speak, nodded, and took a step forward. Zhou Qianlong also dissipated his powerful aura, simply watching the show with a smile.

Song Chi said, "Please!"

Wu Yu knew that the person before him was the leader of the Cangqiong Sect's assassin group, and his methods must be extremely terrifying, so he dared not act rashly and replied, "You go first!"

Song Chi's face was cold and stern. Without saying a word, he raised his hand, drew the thin-bladed knife from behind him,

and disappeared! Wu Yu was first startled. The person in front of him suddenly disappeared. Then he heard extremely fast footsteps and the sound of wind. He realized that Song Chi had appeared to his right at some point. Before he could draw his sword, a white light was already at his throat.

Wu Yu ducked, dodging the fatal blow. Several strands of hair fell from his head. He cursed inwardly: "Damn it, he's actually going for it!" He moved forward several feet with a lightness, and the sword in his sleeve swung towards Song Chi like a rope.

Song Chi's eyes lit up. He said, "Good lightness skill!"

He ignored the soft sword that swept across his waist and instead aimed the blade at Wu Yu's heart. This was a mutually destructive fighting style.

Wu Yu dared not fight desperately, so he withdrew his soft sword to defend. Unexpectedly, his movements froze, as if bound, his defenses wide open, ready to be slaughtered. He realized, "A Domain?"

This was Song Chi's strength—releasing his aura to form a killing intent domain, distracting his opponent and rendering him unable to move for a short time.

Just as Song Chi's speed was extremely fast, the tip of his blade about to pierce Wu Yu's heart, suddenly, the bright blade veered to the side. Wu Yu's body followed suit, barely dodging the fatal blow, only his clothes were torn.

To onlookers, it seemed that Song Chi had shown mercy, even Si Mingyue, who was watching from inside the building, thought so. Only Song Chi, who was present, and Zhou Qianlong, who was at the Xingzong realm, knew that in that instant, it was Wu Yu's Domain.

Wu Yu jumped back several steps, touching the cut on his chest, and chuckled, "That was close! Luckily, I secretly pierced that thin membrane a few days ago, reaching the Domain Formation stage, otherwise that attack would have killed me."

Song Chi brandished his sword and said, "Just reaching the Domain Formation stage, your realm is unstable. You only managed to deflect my blade by a few inches, yet you're still smug about it. You're utterly ignorant!"

Wu Yu was about to retort when Song Chi was already in front of him in the blink of an eye, the sharp tip of his sword pressed against his throat, perfectly precise, making Wu Yu not dare to tremble even slightly.

This was Song Chi's true strength. He had deliberately held back a bit, only using half his strength, to see how many tricks Wu Yu had up his sleeve. Song Chi had already vaguely grasped the threshold of breaking through, just waiting for a slight enlightenment before breaking through the barrier. Once he broke through, he would be extraordinary.

At this moment, Si Mingyue leaped down from the upper floor, laughing as she said, "Third Brother, you actually bully a seventeen-year-old boy because of your cultivation level. Aren't you ashamed?"

Song Chi smiled and put down his knife, saying, "I dare not underestimate this young man."

Wu Yucai, panting heavily, stood next to Si Mingyue and bowed slightly, saying, "Greetings, Strategist and Third Master. I was rude earlier, please forgive me."

Si Mingyue also said, "Strategist, you have some free time, yet you come to my dilapidated building to play tricks on us."

Zhou Qianlong heard that Si Mingyue had needles in her mouth and said helplessly, "Sixth Sister is still as cold as a hawk. Back then, you argued with the sect leader and came to Jinling to set up this building. Haven't you had enough of your mischief yet?"

Si Mingyue's eyes flickered slightly, but she didn't speak. She just stubbornly looked at her two brothers in front of her.

Zhou Qianlong could only shake his head, patted Song Chi on the shoulder, signaling him to put away his weapon, and then said to Wu Yu, "You're quite promising at such a young age, already having reached the Domain level. However, your realm is precarious; if you don't stabilize it, you'll fall back to mere Qi in a few days. Let's go, let's talk inside."

At this moment, Si Mingyue realized that Wu Yu had actually reached the Domain level, and couldn't help but give him a reproachful look before leading Zhou Qianlong and Song Chi into Mingyue Tower. After they were

seated and tea was served,

Zhou Qianlong looked at Wu Yu with great interest, seemingly trying to discern some clue from his features. Wu Yu felt extremely uncomfortable under that gaze.

Suddenly, Zhou Qianlong asked, "Is your mother at home?"

Wu Yu was taken aback and said, "The strategist knows my mother?"

Zhou Qianlong smiled and said, "Otherwise, why do you think the leader recruited you into the Azure Sky Sect? Your mother and I were old acquaintances, so I had the leader keep an eye on your Wu family long ago."

Wu Yu countered, "Then how come he didn't know that Sister Dan Yue was in the Wu family?"

Si Mingyue, who was standing nearby, said, "Even tigers don't eat their cubs. Although I don't like the leader's scoundrel personality, back then, when the leader was pursuing Yuexia Haitang, he only wanted to bring her to the Azure Sky Sect, not kill her."

Wu Yu understood and nodded, "I see."

Zhou Qianlong took out a bronze fan from his robes and pointed at it on the table, saying, "Let's not talk about these old matters. There are a few questions about your battle with San'er just now."

Wu Yu quickly sat up straight and said, "Please enlighten me!"

"First, when Third Brother asked you to make a move, you should have acted decisively and struck before his aura was fully formed, catching him off guard. Second, once you've formed your domain, you should have immediately sealed off his killing intent, otherwise you would be powerless to retaliate. Third, while the hidden sword technique is unpredictable, it's ultimately a minor trick and unlikely to achieve great things,"

Zhou Qianlong said confidently.

Wu Yu bowed his head in acceptance, somewhat dejected, and said, "Third Brother has been in his domain for a long time; naturally, I am no match for him."

"What a joke! Sixth Sister's domain has only been formed for a short time, and you think you can withstand a single blow from her? Those who form domains have different circumstances, and the form of their domains varies. You must not underestimate yourself, nor should you be arrogant. You need to focus on consolidating and improving your cultivation,"

Song Chi shouted from the side.

At this moment, apart from Wu Yu, the other three people in the room were all leaders of the Azure Sky Sect, and Wu Yu could only listen respectfully. Seeing his reaction, Si Mingyue guessed he was somewhat unconvinced and smiled, saying, "It seems you're not convinced by your sister. How about I let you try my domain?"

Wu Yu nodded, "Alright!"

Zhou Qianlong and Song Chi exchanged a glance, secretly amused; this kid was going to suffer.

Si Mingyue's eyes narrowed, her lips moved slightly, as if chanting incantations. Wu Yu immediately felt a series of demonic sounds assaulting his ears, relentlessly pounding his brain, his eardrums feeling as if they were about to burst. He clutched his ears in pain and crouched down, utterly powerless to resist.

Zhou Qianlong snorted, "Hey! Release your domain now!"

Amidst the chaos in his mind, Wu Yu gained a sliver of clarity from Zhou Qianlong and quickly gathered his strength to fight against Si Mingyue. The demonic sounds in his ears lessened considerably, allowing him to stand up and meet Si Mingyue's gaze.

Si Mingyue suddenly dispelled her domain, closing in on Wu Yu; taking his life would now be as easy as taking candy from a baby.

05-17
Chapter 32 Everyone Has Their Own Fate

Wu Yu looked at Si Mingyue with a pale face and said blankly, "I thought I had achieved some success and was ready to enter the inner circle, but I didn't expect that I was still so vulnerable."

Zhou Qianlong sighed, "Those who study martial arts, though their paths differ, all arrive at the same destination. Everyone has their own path of self-cultivation. Sixth Sister's early life was full of hardships, but she gained much insight, so her domain is extremely profound, one in a hundred. You are so young, yet you have already achieved a domain, which inevitably makes you a bit frivolous. I am trying to dampen your spirits today not to discourage you, but to make you recognize yourself and comprehend your own path of martial arts. You cannot follow in the footsteps of your predecessors; blindly imitating others will only lead to failure."

Wu Yu understood immediately upon hearing this and quickly bowed and thanked him, saying, "I am willing to follow the strategist in cultivation. Please accept me as your disciple!"

Zhou Qianlong laughed, "Haha, striking while the iron is hot, you little rascal. Third Brother, it seems you will have another good junior brother from now on."

Si Mingyue had spent more than a month with Wu Yu and had already grown very fond of him, treating him as her own younger brother. Hearing Zhou Qianlong's words, she quickly gestured for Wu Yu to kneel down and smiled, "Congratulations to the strategist on accepting your beloved disciple."

Song Chi also smiled silently from the side.

Wu Yu readily knelt down to formally become his disciple, overjoyed. Zhou Qianlong had been famous for many years, and among the seven, besides the two women, he was the youngest and had improved his cultivation the fastest. Becoming his disciple now would save him from many detours in his future martial arts training. Even better, if he were ever bullied, with a master and a senior brother—both formidable figures—who would dare provoke him?

Wu Yu's scheming was quickly noticed by Zhou Qianlong, who tapped him on the head with his copper fan, saying, "Don't think about things that don't require effort. I can only guide your cultivation, not teach you any martial arts, much less act as your henchman. Go find your senior brother if you need anything."

Song Chi added, "I'll only teach you assassination techniques. The best way is for me to assassinate you at any time. Junior brother, be careful."

Wu Yu could only smile wryly at this.

Zhou Qianlong shook his head and sat down, smiling, "Now that you've joined the sect, I have important matters to attend to and cannot linger in Jinling for too long. Today, I'll teach you some secrets unknown to the world."

Si Mingyue frowned upon hearing this, "The important matters the strategist speaks of... could it be..."

"Sixth Sister!"

Song Chi stopped Si Mingyue, afraid she might reveal something.

Si Mingyue glanced at her two brothers and immediately understood what this "important matter" was. Her pink cheeks flushed with anger, and she stomped her foot, saying, "I've tried to dissuade you many times, but you insist on doing this. Then I won't care anymore!"

With that, she stormed out.

Wu Yu was completely bewildered. Zhou Qianlong said, "You don't need to worry about that. Third Brother, go check on your Sixth Sister."

Song Chi obeyed and left, leaving only Zhou Qianlong and Wu Yu in the room.

Zhou Qianlong pondered for a moment and asked, "Have you ever heard of the four ancient divine beasts?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Yu couldn't help but think of Yuqin's Azure Phoenix Cave, and blushed as he replied, "Yes, I have."

Seeing his expression, Zhou Qianlong had already guessed seven-tenths of what was going on, but didn't point it out, laughing, "That's all you've got! I'm afraid you've only heard of them, but don't know the details."

Wu Yu quickly became serious and said, "I'd like to hear more!"

Zhou Qianlong pointed to the teapot, and Wu Yu hurriedly poured him a cup of tea. Zhou Qianlong drank half a cup and began to speak in detail: "I won't go into the details of those ancient legends. You only need to know that the four divine beasts are the guardians of the nation. If something happens to the divine beasts, the country will be in turmoil. Now that the world is at peace, various factions are restless, which suggests that a divine beast is about to be born."

"The Azure Dragon is primarily offensive, often leading the charge, while the Black Tortoise is primarily defensive, often adapting to circumstances. Therefore, the Azure Dragon is exceptionally gifted, always one step ahead in everything, and if it were to learn martial arts, it would improve day and night. In my opinion, you are undoubtedly a Jiao Chi."

Wu Yu asked curiously, "Why not guess the Azure Dragon?"

Zhou Qianlong smiled and said, "Because I know who the Azure Dragon is, and each of the Four Divine Beasts, Four Mythical Beasts, and Four Ferocious Beasts can only have one person."

Wu Yu was even more surprised upon hearing this, saying, "I only know that the Four Divine Beasts are the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird,..." "The four mythical beasts are the Jiao Chi, the Snow Leopard, the Azure Phoenix, and the Bi Xi, but I've never heard of the four ferocious beasts."

Zhou Qianlong said, "Don't be impatient, let me finish. As the saying goes, evil cannot prevail over good. Divine beasts and mythical beasts are not necessarily evil villains; many even possess worldly wisdom. Ferocious beasts, on the other hand, are bound to be heroes in times of chaos. I know that the world is in turmoil right now, and I am aware of who is stirring up trouble. You will inevitably grow into an Azure Dragon in the future, so you must diligently study with me to ensure your survival in this chaotic world."

Wu Yu nodded in agreement.

Zhou Qianlong continued, "The four ferocious beasts are Taotie, Hundun, Taowu, and Qiongqi. Some of them have already been born, but you are not yet able to deal with them, so I cannot tell you. As for the others, you already know that Yuqin is a Qingluan, but do you know that Sixth Sister is a Zhuque?"

Wu Yu's eyes widened, and she said somewhat embarrassedly, "Sister Si's appearance... is quite ordinary, how could she be a Zhuque?"

Zhou Qianlong laughed loudly, "Be careful that Sixth Sister doesn't hear you, or she'll cut off your tongue! Sixth Sister is beautiful and charming inside, not so easily revealed to the world. You will know her extraordinary qualities in the future."

"Speaking of these divine beasts, your Wu family is quite remarkable, actually hiding several people who possess divine objects. Your brother Wu Feng is one of them, and even that steward Wu Gui is a Xuanwu. That's what you call not judging a book by its cover."

"You possess the power of a dragon, and your martial arts progress is rapid, but you must not be greedy or impatient. You must stabilize your mind. Like rowing against the current, if you don't advance, you fall behind; your martial arts cultivation will also regress. You've just reached the realm of completion; don't be complacent, understand?"

Wu Yu was startled, realizing that realms could indeed regress. No wonder Sister Dan Yue seemed weaker than when she was under the moonlit begonia.

"You will understand these secrets in the future. Time is running out today, so I'll remind you of one last thing: in the martial world, there are some people you cannot afford to offend,"

Zhou Qianlong said solemnly.

Wu Yu knew this was the key point of the day, and quickly focused her attention, listening attentively.

Zhou Qianlong lightly waved his fan and said, "Don't believe those rumors from the martial arts world. In reality, most true masters work for the imperial court. People from all walks of life, if they want to reach the pinnacle of martial arts, they inevitably need a powerful background and support. Therefore, apart from the imperial court, only behemoths like the four great families and my Cangqiong Sect have such figures."

"The current Junior Guardian Yu Qian has two disciples. Now he has also taken your brother Wu Feng under his wing, making him his third disciple. The leader is named Lin Chi, a cultivator who has broken through to the next realm. He is extremely ruthless, killing and dismembering people at will, and he particularly enjoys executing Lin Chi. This man is from Pinghu in Jiangnan. His family members are missing. He doesn't care about money or women, and he has almost no weaknesses. This is the person you should be most careful of."

"Grand Commander Liu Guanhai of the Northern Expedition, I can't see through him. He's corrupt, abuses his power, and forms cliques—he's capable of anything. Yet, he strongly supports policies that benefit the country and its people. He served three emperors and even brought down the Crown Prince's tutor, Jiang Chong. He's truly unfathomable. His military tactics are also incredibly ingenious. Only Grand Commander Tang Yunyuan of the White Dragon Army can compare to him. You must be careful of

him in the future." Wu Yu asked, "Lin Chi was somewhat reasonable, but Liu Guanhai holds a high position in the court. How could I possibly cross him? Why should I be careful?"

Zhou Qianlong smiled mysteriously, "I have my reasons for this. Just remember them."

"Yes."

"In that case, I won't linger any longer. Before the winter solstice, everyone must return to the Azure Sky Gate for a meeting. I hope to see a complete Jinling City by then. Do you understand?"

Zhou Qianlong said firmly.

"Yes,"

Wu Yu replied confidently.

Finally, Zhou Qianlong glanced at him and added, "Don't try to provoke these seven. If any of them looks at you, you're dead."

With that, he vanished in the blink of an eye.

Wu Yu thought to himself: I couldn't even see through his movement technique. One of the "seven" really does have a special ability.

Now that Zhou Qianlong was gone, Song Chi was presumably gone as well. Remembering Si Mingyue's unusual behavior, Wu Yu hurried to find her, hoping to discuss a plan to seize Xuefang Pavilion and Liufeng Residence. But let's leave that aside for now.

******************** Jinan Prefecture.

Inside an official residence, a female voice could be heard saying, "If you encounter these seven, run away immediately, or you'll be dead if they even glance at you."

This female voice naturally belonged to one of the "seven," "Red Jade" Emerald, and standing opposite her was Wu Yu's so-called brother, Wu Feng.

Ever since Yu Qian had Wu Feng learn martial arts from Emerald, he had suffered greatly. Wu Feng had no martial arts foundation whatsoever, and at seventeen, he was past his prime, so Emerald didn't intend for him to follow the path of Qi cultivation and body training, but rather to follow her own lineage.

First, she had Wu Feng stare at an unlit incense stick, trying to light it with his eyes. For several days, Wu Feng stared at a tall incense stick until he was almost blinded, his eyes glazed over. Everything else he saw seemed to multiply, yet he still couldn't light the incense. To Wu Feng, this was utterly illogical; how could one light an incense stick with just their eyes?

Today, seeing that Wu Feng's patience had run out, Emerald summoned him to the backyard. Standing beside him, she stared at a large tree, and within moments, the tree burst into flames. The fire grew larger and larger, eventually reducing the entire tree to ashes.

This left Wu Feng looking dazed, and Emerald swaying away.

Only then did Wu Feng realize how terrifying Emerald was. He suppressed his previous resentment and humbly asked for guidance.

Emerald also knew that forcing Wu Feng to learn her strange arts was somewhat futile, so she told him that he didn't need to practice today, but instead would first explain the principles of cultivation to him.

"Yesterday I told you about the four realms of martial arts. Of course, above the four realms is the Heavenly Release, but very few people reach it, and you'll probably never encounter one. Today I'll tell you that the seven of us are all above the Xingzong level."

Wu Feng asked, "What exactly is different about those at the Xingzong level?"

Emerald smiled slightly, exuding charm, and two dimples appeared at the corners of her mouth. She said, "I knew you'd ask that. There's a saying in your Central Plains martial arts world: 'Breaking through a realm makes one extraordinary.' Once a martial artist reaches a breakthrough, they've already touched upon the secrets of heaven, seeing through the true essence of the flow of qi in their meridians. Those at the Xingzong level, on the other hand, have reached the pinnacle of a particular martial art."

"That old fellow Song Dao from the Song family in Shandong has reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship. His sword energy is controlled with complete freedom. One glance from him is equivalent to a strike from a cultivator who has broken through to the next realm. Similarly, your Tang family from Suzhou, headed by Tang Ziwu, is a master of spear techniques, having already nurtured a spear spirit within his dantian. As for Qianxue Wuhen, whom I fought... rumors say she is a Heavenly Releaser, but I don't think so. Perhaps I'm mistaken."

"As for your master, I have reached the pinnacle of illusion techniques in our Western Regions. Every move I make can be fatal. You are already seventeen years old, so it's impossible for you to start building a foundation now. Therefore, I plan to have you cultivate illusion techniques with me, without needing to cultivate qi or body."

Wu Feng nodded and said, "I understand."

Emerald rolled her eyes at him and said charmingly, "How arrogant! If you understand this so easily, then all my years of cultivation have been wasted. You Central Plains people never understand that some people in this world can forge their own path and don't need to follow others."

"I've mastered illusion magic from the divination techniques of our Western Region priests and the sorcery of the Southern Frontier shamans. I'm the only one in the world who knows it, and now you're the second. You must learn it well and not embarrass me."

Wu Feng smiled and nodded, "Master is extraordinary, transcending worldly people, and your disciple naturally wouldn't dare to tarnish your reputation."

Emerald wrinkled her nose and said mischievously, "That's more like it. Besides, you're so handsome. After you master illusion magic, won't you charm all those young girls? Hehe, I want to see if you can do what your husband can't."

Wu Feng was about to ask a question when Emerald turned and left, saying, "Continue lighting incense. Only by strengthening your mind can you succeed."

Wu Feng sat down as if he understood, took out an incense stick, and continued to gaze intently. Outside the door, Yu Qian's figure disappeared, nodding repeatedly.

Jade, standing beside him, said coquettishly, "Husband, it's rare for me to take on a disciple like this. Do you really want to send him to that place?"

Yu Qian said helplessly, "You said it yourself, I can't succeed in that matter, and neither can Lin Chi. It's all up to Wu Feng. Although that place is somewhat gloomy and depraved, it is also a noble forbidden area. If Wu Feng can accomplish that, his future will be limitless."

Jade was just saying it casually. In fact, she also wanted to know what Wu Feng would do there, so she asked Yu Qian, "Do you think he can surpass Lin Chi in the future?"

Yu Qian replied, "Lin Chi is a stubborn and ruthless child. Once he sets his mind on a path, he will go all the way. His unwavering killing intent is rare. It will be difficult for Wu Feng to catch up with him. However, since he has you as his master, I am very confident."

Jade hugged Yu Qian's arm with satisfaction and said, "That's more like it. I'll reward you tonight."

Apart from the Emperor, probably only Jade would say the word "reward" to Yu Qian.

Yu Qian, feigning ignorance, jokingly asked, "What's the reward?"

Emerald, without the slightest hesitation, displayed her characteristically bold Western Region style, coquettishly replying, "It's that position you mentioned the other day. Let's try it tonight."

Even with Yu Qian's composed demeanor, he couldn't help but feel a surge of desire. The two continued their banter, letting Wu Feng continue burning incense in the room.

************ Outside Jinling City.

Wu Hongxiu and Han Yi, having ridden swiftly from Suzhou, arrived outside Jinling City in a single day. At this time, Zhou Qianlong and Song Chi had just left Mingyue Tower.

Wu Hongxiu was dressed in a sandalwood-colored robe, a scarlet vest over her shoulders, a rouge-colored jade belt around her waist, and phoenix-patterned boots—a truly charming and spirited young woman. Behind her followed Han Yi, riding the Red Hare, carrying a halberd, exuding a heroic air.

Just as the two were about to enter the city, Han Yi asked, "Master, should we go to Mingyue Tower or look for Miss Liu'er first?"

Wu Hongxiu replied, "Let's go to the Jinling branch first. Tang Xiao and Liu'er are easy to recognize; someone in the guild must have already seen them."

So, the two rode straight to the Jinling branch of the Suzhou guild. In a short while, they arrived at a large mansion in the west of the city.

The gatekeeper had already spotted Wu Hongxiu and Han Yi and quickly announced to the mansion, "Master and Guard Han have arrived."

Wu Hongxiu dismounted lightly, handed the two horses to the grooms with Han Yi, and went straight inside. The branch manager came forward and asked, "Welcome, Master. May I ask what brings you to Jinling?"

Wu Hongxiu asked, "I've sent people to find two people in Jinling, a man and a woman. They wield a powerful spear, are burly, and are around twenty years old." The woman was twenty-seven years old, with a quiet and beautiful appearance.

Upon hearing this, the steward said, "What a coincidence! The two people the master mentioned came just two days ago, also looking for the master."

Wu Hongxiu turned to Han Yi and smiled, "I knew Sister Liu'er was so thoughtful, knowing to come to the inn to find me."

Turning to the steward, she asked, "Did they leave an address?"

The steward replied, "Yes, they did. They are currently staying at the Chunxue Inn."

Wu Hongxiu didn't linger and, with Han Yi, headed towards the Chunxue Inn.

Just as they arrived, they saw Liu'er and Tang Xiao coming downstairs, seemingly about to leave the inn.

Wu Hongxiu called out, "Sister Liu'er!"

As for Liu'er, she had been traveling around Jinling City with Tang Xiao these past few days, completely unaware that Wu Yu was at the Mingyue Tower. At night, the two rested in the inn, occasionally sparring in martial arts. Liu'er was incredibly intelligent and quick-witted. In a short time, she had mastered excellent light-body skills, and her "Flower-Piercing Hand" technique was even more refined. However, her internal energy was weak, so she only possessed the moves.

Having spent so much time together, this was Liu'er's first time living with a man outside the Wu family. Tang Xiao often chatted with her, sharing many interesting tales of the martial world, which greatly excited her. Although she missed Wu Yu, she had unknowingly developed a dependence on Tang Xiao.

Tang Xiao, young and impetuous, needless to say, had already secretly fallen for Liu'er. However, Liu'er's heart was with her husband, and he, being upright and magnanimous, diligently searched for Wu Yu for her, though he couldn't help but hope that the search would take a few more days.

Today, the two were about to search various parts of Jinling City when, unexpectedly, Wu Hongxiu found them first.

Liu'er looked towards the sound and saw a figure in sandalwood rushing towards her. Tang Xiao, unaware of friend or foe, simply shielded Liu'er behind him and was about to attack. Han Yi, having already seen through the situation, preemptively exchanged a palm strike with Tang Xiao before Wu Hongxiu could react.

The two women each took a few steps back, watching each other warily. Liu'er quickly said, "Stop! This is my young lady!"

Wu Hongxiu also turned around and glared at Han Yi, then turned to Liu'er and said, "Good sister, it's been so long..."

Liu'er's eyes reddened, and tears fell as she sighed, "The young lady was so close to me back then, but she ran away from home without even telling me, making me cry so many times..."

Wu Hongxiu had been close to He Ruoxue since childhood, and naturally knew Liu'er well, addressing her as a sister. Seeing Liu'er like this, she couldn't help but have tears well up in her eyes as well, saying, "It's Hongxiu's fault. Now that you're stranded in Jinling, you must have suffered a lot. Come back to the inn with me quickly. Xiaoyu is at Mingyue Tower now. I'll go with you to find him at noon."

Liu'er was surprised to learn that Wu Yu was at Mingyue Tower. She turned around and asked Tang Xiao, and seeing that he didn't object, she went back to her room to pack some valuables.

At this moment, Han Yi approached Tang Xiao and said, "We've become acquainted through this fight. The Tang family's scions are indeed quite skilled."

Tang Xiao also clasped his hands and said, "I am Tang Xiao. You must be the legendary Lu Bu of Xiliang, Han Yi. Your Fangtian Halberd is no less powerful than our Overlord Spear."

Han Yi laughed loudly, "How dare I! The Overlord Spear is as famous as the Shandong Heavenly Saber. How could a nobody like me compare? Why don't we go back to the inn and have another spar to prove ourselves to each other?"

Tang Xiao said, "I had the same idea."

After saying that, Tang Xiao went upstairs to pack his belongings and left the Chunxue Inn with Wu Hongxiu. Next to the Chunxue Inn was the Xuefang Pavilion. As the four of them went out, they saw Song Chi walking out of the Xuefang Pavilion and heading towards the city gate.

Song Chi's movements were too fast. The four of them couldn't even see his figure before he disappeared.

Han Yi and Tang Xiao exchanged a glance and said in unison, "Cheng Yu!"

Although Wu Hongxiu's cultivation was not high, her insight was good, and she also noticed it. She thought to herself that with such a powerful expert arriving in Jinling City at this time, something might be about to happen.

Song Chi had already left, and there was no point in the four of them thinking about it any further, so they headed towards the inn.

Along the way, Wu Hongxiu took Liu'er's hand and asked, "Sister Liu'er, how have you been in Jinling City these past few days?"

Liu'er glanced at Tang Xiao unintentionally and said, "I've been searching for my husband in Jinling for half a month, but I can't find him. When I was bored, I learned some self-defense martial arts from Tang Xiao."

Wu Hongxiu had sharp eyes and noticed something unusual between Liu'er and Tang Xiao. She thought to herself: Sister Liu'er has always been well-behaved since childhood, so she probably wouldn't do anything unfaithful. However, she and Tang Xiao have shared joys and sorrows this month, so it's inevitable that feelings might develop over time. Since that's the case, Sister Liu'er has no excuse not to help me.

Wu Hongxiu had feelings for Wu Yu but didn't know how to make a move. Now, discovering the secret between Liu'er and Tang Xiao, she thought she should be frank with her. Given their close relationship, Liu'er wouldn't abandon her.

Han Yi and Tang Xiao, behind them, were also observing Wu Hongxiu and Liu'er. Han Yi said to Tang Xiao, "Look, a married woman and a young maiden are quite different. Our leader is decisive and efficient, with a steady and agile gait, quite like a female general. On the other hand, Miss Liu'er is graceful and charming, her hips swaying, revealing the allure of a young woman. Brother Tang, with your youthful passion, do you have any thoughts?"

Tang Xiao, as if his thoughts had been read, blushed slightly and said, "Brother Han, please don't talk nonsense..."

Han Yi teased, "We're all men, we understand each other. I won't expose you. Everyone has their own secrets, right, Brother Tang?"

Tang Xiao was speechless and could only bury his head and walk away, feeling a sense of disappointment. Now that Wu Yu had found her, Liu'er naturally wanted to return to his embrace, leaving her alone once again.

Suddenly, Wu Hongxiu turned around and said, "Look at me, I actually forgot about Brother Tang. Your father, Tang Xi, was injured by Tang Shen, but he has returned to the Tang family in Suzhou and is fine. You don't need to worry."

The Suzhou branch was well-informed, and Wu Hongxiu naturally knew a lot about the affairs of the martial world.

Tang Xiao quickly nodded his thanks, and the four of them walked until they reached the west of the city. Before them was a branch of the Suzhou branch.

Wu Hongxiu said to Liu'er, "Let's go, let's have lunch first, and then we'll go to Mingyue Tower to find Xiao Yu this afternoon. I also have some things to tell Sister Liu'er."

Liu'er was easygoing by nature and naturally let Wu Hongxiu make the arrangements. Thinking about seeing Wu Yu and remembering her feelings for Tang Xiao, she couldn't help but feel a little uneasy, but mostly joyful. Her mind wandered as she followed Wu Hongxiu towards the branch.

Jinan Prefecture, Shandong.

Yu Qian and his entourage had been staying there for quite some time, so Yun Xin and Yue Rong had arrived at the official residence several days earlier, following Wu Feng. Shi Gang and Li Tieshan, sent by Wu Hongxiu, also arrived in Jinan today, significantly increasing Wu Feng's entourage.

At this time, Fei Cui, already familiar with the Yun Xin and Yue Rong sisters, was serving her a meal, while Wu Feng practiced his martial arts in the backyard. Fei Cui looked out from inside the gate and smiled at Yun Xin and Yue Rong, saying, "Your young master is indeed a promising talent. In just one month, he has already mastered the illusion techniques I taught him. His appearance and comprehension are both excellent. Not bad, not bad..."

Yue Rong, as the elder sister, replied with a smile, "My sister and I have always believed that the second young master will surely achieve great things in the future, which is why we have followed him wholeheartedly."

Fei Cui said with a half-smile, "Oh? Great things... then what about your eldest young master?" "So, what do you think?"

This time, Yunxin replied, "The eldest young master's personality is similar to that of the second madam; he is gentle and polite. Even if he doesn't achieve anything earth-shattering in the future, he will still be a good man of integrity."

Emerald nodded, her eyes filled with deep meaning, and

said, "The

Wu family of Suzhou, truly remarkable. I hope my husband hasn't misjudged you this time. Future success or failure will all depend on my good disciple." Yunxin asked curiously, "What did you say, Master's wife?" The two were Wu Feng's maids, and Wu Feng had them address Emerald as Master's wife

. Emerald waved her hand and said , "Nothing, you may leave. I'm a little tired and want to rest." ********** ... Wu Gui leered, "Madam is tired, I'll give you a massage." He reached out to grope Shen Yanlin's firm breasts. Shen Yanlin slightly opened her eyes, her eyes flashing with cold light. She raised her hand and slapped Wu Gui across the face. "Smack!" A sharp, resounding crack echoed, leaving a bright red handprint on Wu Gui's face. He saw stars and was momentarily stunned. His hand, still in the groping position, froze in mid-air, unsure what to do. "Hmph!" Shen Yanlin snorted, sneering, "Looks like you've really gotten carried away, daring to try and force yourself on me?"

Upon hearing Shen Yanlin's icy voice, Wu Gui's servile nature resurfaced. Lacking any semblance of a lord, he knelt, bowing low, and cried, "This old servant deserves to die! This old servant deserves to die!"

Shen Yanlin, having cultivated her authority for years, now adopted the airs of a matriarch. Half-sitting on the bed, her bare shoulders exposed, her face devoid of any allure, her almond-shaped eyes wide, she sternly rebuked, "Wu Gui! Don't think that just because I'm willing to let you defile me, I've become your woman. Look at yourself! Do you even deserve it?! My lewd words in bed are nothing but..." "You actually believe me? Let me tell you, our affair is just a mutually beneficial arrangement. I can have you whenever I want, but I'm not in the mood today, so get the hell out of here! I'm not your whore, know your place, hmph!"

Wu Gui, after being berated by Shen Yanlin, had long lost his temper and hurriedly stammered, "Yes...yes, this old servant understands, this old servant takes his leave..."

After saying that, Wu Gui didn't dare to look at Shen Yanlin once, and scrambled away in a panic.

After the door closed, Shen Yanlin sat blankly on the bed, her face no longer filled with anger, but suddenly she chuckled, her face full of smug arrogance, and muttered to herself, "You old lecher, you really think I'm a whore who sleeps with anyone and has three thousand male concubines? You got what you wanted and now you want to play innocent? There's no such thing as a free lunch."

She lifted the thin quilt, revealing that she was only wearing a thin gauze, her figure graceful, her breasts round like newly opened peonies, trembling and blooming. Long, shapely legs crossed and rested on the edge of the bed, jade feet slightly bent, teasing the bed curtains.

A picture of a beautiful woman sleeping in spring was painted, yet no one appreciated it.

Shen Yanlin's face was filled with ruthlessness and hatred as she said to herself, "You surnamed Zhu, the two women you most desire but cannot have, I will make the lowest of stewards play with them. You are infatuated with my seductive charm, infatuated with He Ruoxue's aloofness, aren't you? What you cannot have, I will make the lowest of men have. Your women are like that, and so is your empire. What you surnamed Zhu owe our Shen family, I will collect it all, one by one." "

Speaking of which, when I decided to give myself to Wu Gui, I never expected him to be Xuanwu. The taste of that penis was truly intoxicating. I imagine He Ruoxue would have liked it too...hehe..."

Shen Yanlin covered her mouth and laughed, her face full of schadenfreude.

********** ...

Still quiet and deserted, He Ruoxue, with her unassuming nature and ability to endure loneliness, couldn't bear the daily idleness and always sought ways to pass the time. Today, however, she was in the small building, wielding her brush and ink.

"The east wind blew again last night in the small building," she wrote, her snow-white jade hand moving nimbly across a sheet of fine Xuan paper, wolf-hair brush and Huizhou ink flowing freely. He Ruoxue's face was filled with a leisurely expression, utterly elegant.

After a brief pause, He Ruoxue held a cup of tea, sipping as she said, "The east wind rises again, the tree desires stillness, but the wind will not cease. Shen Yanlin, you seek revenge for the Shen family, what does that have to do with me? Why must you let this wind blow against me?"

He Ruoxue was exceptionally intelligent and had long understood Shen Yanlin's motives for murdering Wu Lingwen and persuading Wu Gui to harass her. Although the Wu family's business was small, its relationship with the He family was intricately intertwined. The He family harbors a secret that affects the entire world. Shen Yanlin chose to marry Wu Lingwen instead of entering the He family, fearing that doing so would alert them and disrupt her plans.

Setting down her teacup, He Ruoxue said sarcastically, "Besides Yu'er, I have no one else I care about. I only reluctantly agreed to play this game with you here to avoid being discovered by those in court. If you become unforgiving, don't blame me for being ruthless." She muttered to herself

, then recalled the day she boldly threw her undergarments to Wu Gui. Besides feeling ashamed and helpless, she also felt a faint…excitement? Or perhaps even more wantonness. In her youthful prime, at seventeen, she had secretly pledged her life to someone and conceived Wu Yu, which led to her being married into the Wu family as a concubine by the head of the He family. Now, after seventeen years of self-cultivation, she was cold as ice, only occasionally reminiscing about her girlish infatuation.

She was never one to judge solely by appearances. Despite Wu Gui's aged appearance and his ingrained servility, she still saw some redeeming qualities in him. Wu Gui was incredibly patient and resilient; if he had ambition, he would surely succeed. He was inherently kind; if not for being manipulated by Shen Yanlin, he would have served Wu Lingwen for life. How could he have been so easily swayed by her wicked intentions? More importantly, after Tang Danyue married Wu Gui, the two got along well without much conflict. Given Tang Danyue's proud nature, her tolerance of Wu Gui showed that he wasn't as worthless as he appeared.

However, none of these factors led He Ruoxue to her bold actions. The only reason was that Wu Gui was Xuanwu, one of the Four Divine Beasts, possessing a divine beast without realizing it. His Xuanwu hadn't fully awakened, but once awakened, he would undoubtedly be one of the forces that stirred up the world. Therefore, He Ruoxue maintained a distant relationship with Wu Gui, as if holding him by a thread, neither getting too close nor letting go.

He Ruoxue knew that Wu Yu was a Jiao Chi (a type of dragon-like creature), and if he grew into a Azure Dragon in the future, he would be unable to escape worldly affairs and would have to participate in them. Therefore, as his mother, she had to plan for Wu Yu's future, as Wu Gui might

become a great help to him. Just then, a lonely figure suddenly appeared outside the small

courtyard

of Penglai Residence , half old and half robust. He Ruoxue's lips curled into a faint, enigmatic smile. She said, "You

've been turned away for half a month, but you're still not tired of it. Fine, I'll let you in today." ********** ... Upon seeing that the visitor was Tang Xiao, Liu'er blushed for some reason, feeling somewhat embarrassed. They had spent over a month together, but the arrival of Wu Hongxiu, an outsider, had disrupted their already ambiguous and delicate relationship. "Did you need something?" Liu'er, being older, quickly regained her composure. Tang Xiao felt a lump in his throat, but hesitated, stammering without uttering a single word. Seeing his shifty eyes, Liu'er sighed inwardly and said, "Why are you being so vague? Just say what you want to say." She was already married and shouldn't be so close to Tang Xiao, but during her honeymoon, she had been stranded in the mountains due to a charity issue, and only thanks to Tang Xiao's care did she return to Jinling, barely escaping death. This month-long experience in the martial world was something she could never have experienced in the Wu family mansion. The peaceful life in the Wu family mansion in Suzhou had led Liu'er to believe she would marry and have children like an ordinary person. Under He Ruoxue's arrangement, Liu'er, before even understanding her own feelings for Wu Yu, reluctantly married him. She believed she would likely never meet another man and would spend her life in the Wu household. Now, Liu'er is twenty-seven. Besides Wu Lingwen and his two sons, she has had the most contact with Wu Gui, and has never met a chivalrous man like Tang Xiao. He is imposing, strong, and full of passion, a stark contrast to the scholarly air of Wu Yu and Wu Feng. Liu'er has discovered that she prefers this exciting life; compared to her previous needlework and embroidery, practicing martial arts and light-footed skills is much more interesting. Although she feels guilty towards Wu Yu, she doesn't feel much shame. In the world of chivalry, she can no longer return to the Wu household; what need is there for propriety and shame? However, Tang Xiao hesitates to express his feelings, and how can she swallow her pride and speak first? Tang Xiao saw the hope in Liu'er's eyes and almost blurted out, but thinking of her status as a married woman and the rules of his own home, he could only stammer, "I...I wanted to say..." Liu'er glared at him resentfully, tears welling up in her eyes. Her pretty face, like a pear blossom in the rain, was pitiful. She stamped her foot and said, "Why are you always like this..."

Seeing Liu'er's tears, Tang Xiao could no longer contain his burning passion. A surge of heat rushed to his head, and he leaned in, pulling Liu'er into his arms and pressing his lips to hers.

Liu'er was startled at first, then instinctively tried to push Tang Xiao away, but he only held her tighter. Liu'er was already dizzy from the overwhelming masculine scent, and her small hands, which had been pushing her away, rested on Tang Xiao's shoulders, allowing him to take liberties.

Seeing that Liu'er didn't resist, Tang Xiao was delighted, and his tongue awkwardly entered her mouth. At only twenty years old, Tang Xiao was kissing a woman for the first time, completely inexperienced. His tongue darted around in Liu'er's mouth, but unexpectedly, a slippery object swam inside, guiding him in various tender movements.

Liu'er didn't know why she had willingly engaged his tongue with hers; she only knew that the man before her was so inexperienced. She found it amusing, gently using her own tongue to tease his, their tongues intertwining, even offering her own tongue and saliva into his mouth.

After a long pause, Tang Xiao blurted out, "Sister Liu'er, I like you...you, I...please be with me."

Liu'er felt a huge weight lifted from her shoulders upon hearing his confession. She finally uttered the words she had prepared, "But I am already married, and my husband is still alive. How can I be with you in this illicit affair..."

Tang Xiao quickly said, "No, no...I think Young Master Wu Yu is a righteous man. Just from his orders at the escort agency that day, I know he must be a man of great things. He'll inevitably have multiple wives and concubines in the future. Why not...why not let him grant us our wish? Is that alright?" Liu'er

pouted, "Do you mean you want my husband to divorce me...then wouldn't I be branded a discarded wife?"

Tang Xiao said, "Anyway, Sister Liu'er, you and Young Master Wu Yu have only pledged yourselves to each other privately, without any formal marriage ceremony. In a sense, you are still his maid, so there's no question of divorce."

Liu'er thought to herself, "This guy isn't stupid after all." She said, "Alright, then you go and talk to him yourself. I can't bring myself to say it..."

Tang Xiao nodded repeatedly and said, "Alright, alright, as long as Sister Liu agrees, I'll say it..."

Liu'er patted his chest with her jade hand and scolded, "Look at you, so silly... But your family is the Tang family, one of the four great families. I'm older than you and not a virgin. Will your elders let me in?"

Tang Xiao said seriously, "Don't worry about that. Our Tang family are all martial arts practitioners. We're not the kind of rigid and demanding people. As long as a woman is virtuous and kind, she can enter our Tang family and serve our Tang family." "Human."

Liu'er spat at him, "Pah! Who wants to be a member of your Tang family..."

Tang Xiao chuckled, "Could it be that Sister Liu'er likes to have an affair with me..."

Liu'er leaped out of his embrace and cursed, "If you talk nonsense again, I'll get angry..."

Tang Xiao chased after her, but his lightness skill was no match for Liu'er's, who had been practicing martial arts for a month. He could only say, "So what if you get angry?"

Liu'er's pretty face flushed red. As if she had thought of something, she burst out laughing, turned around, put her hands on her hips, and pointed at Tang Xiao,

saying, "If you're angry, I won't consummate our marriage!" Upon hearing this, Tang Xiao felt a surge of desire in his lower abdomen and said, "Then I'll take you now!"

"You dare!"

Liu'er also raised her delicate eyebrows and said coquettishly, "I'm calling for help... Miss, Miss..."

Tang Xiao chuckled, "You can shout until you're hoarse, but no one will pay attention to you..."

Unexpectedly, Wu Hongxiu's voice suddenly rang out from outside the door, "Sister Liu'er, did you call me? How did you know I was here?"

Liu'er and Tang Xiao were immediately at a loss and stood there dumbfounded.

In fact, Wu Hongxiu had already followed Tang Xiao and eavesdropped on their conversation. She was secretly pleased that the two had already done what she wanted before she even made a move. Hearing their increasingly audacious conversation, she blushed and had to interrupt them.

Tang Xiao's eyes lit up when he saw Wu Hongxiu enter and stand with Liu'er.

Wu Hongxiu was dressed in a tight-fitting, dark-colored outfit that clung to her curvaceous figure. Her breasts were firm and pert, her legs long and strong, and she stood straight, wearing ochre boots. Her face was unadorned, and her hair was simply tied back like a mandarin duck's hairpin. Her eyebrows were somewhat sharp, and her lips were thin, resembling Shen Yanlin, but without her seductive charm. Her dashing and heroic bearing, like a female knight-errant, was more like a young Tang Danyue.

Liu'er stood obediently half a foot behind Wu Hongxiu, her face slightly flushed from the chase. She wore a light green silk dress, an autumn-colored summer skirt, and a pair of light green brocade shoes, revealing the gaps between her toes, making her quite adorable. Her breasts, like pigeons, were perfectly proportioned, exactly the size Tang Xiao preferred. Her waist was slender, like a girl next door, yet possessing the shyness and charm of a young woman in her prime.

Tang Xiao dared not look at the two beauties before him for long, only nodding to Wu Hongxiu and saying

, "Since the master is here, I will return to my room first, so as not to disturb the master and Sister Liu'er's conversation." Wu Hongxiu nodded slightly, and after Tang Xiao left, she turned to Liu'er and said, "What an unfaithful Sister Liu'er!"

********** ... Wu Yu sat in his chair, sipping his tea, and said slowly, "What does it matter? Sister Liu'er was only married to me because of my mother's wishes. Back then, I was just a rich young master who knew nothing of the world. Now I am the commander of the five outer gates of the Azure Sky Gate. How can we generalize? Even if Liu'er really likes another man, I will only be happy for her and will not blame her." Yu Qin said in surprise, "Oh? Young Master is really generous. Indeed, a wife is like clothes. No wonder you don't mind my past lewdness with Wu Gui." Wu Yu sneered, "Could it be that Sister Yu Qin despises me and misses Wu Gui a little?" Yu Qin deliberately said, "Yes, Wu Gui's big penis made me feel like I was dying of pleasure, but Young Master can only have me..." "Evenly matched, the difference in skill is obvious..." Wu Yu suddenly stood up and pounced on Yu Qin, saying fiercely, "Then I'll show you what I'm capable of now." Yu Qin quickly dodged and laughed, "Hehehe, don't be silly... Sister Mingyue is still waiting for your decision, how exactly do we deal with Liufengju?" Seeing that she brought up serious matters, Wu Yu's lust subsided by half. However, Yu Qin was twisting her body and her face was full of lust. Wu Yu knew that she was deliberately teasing him. He unzipped his pants and said, "Young Master is burning with lust right now. How can I think about those things? Let me cool down first!" Yu Qin glared at him but did not refuse. She let Wu Yu sit on the bed, and then she knelt down next to his thigh and opened her mouth to take his thick and hard penis into her mouth. Wu Yu let out a soft sigh and began, "I'm going to turn Jinling into a sea of blood." Yu Qin, while using her hand to pull back his foreskin and her tongue swirling around his glans, asked, "How do you plan to turn it into a sea of blood?" Wu Yu, holding the back of Yu Qin's head, explained, "Mingyue Tower, Liufeng Residence, Xuefang Pavilion—they all run businesses selling food, drink, and women. And whether it's eating, drinking, gambling, or whoring, alcohol is essential for enjoyment. Therefore, alcohol is the most important and indispensable thing." "Oh, Sister Yu Qin, slow down..." Yu Qin laughed lewdly, "You can't even handle this? The real show is yet to come, keep going." With that, Yu Qin lifted his clothes, slipped under his shirt, pressed against his lower abdomen, and slid her tongue from his navel to his chest, sucking on his nipple. Her jade hands didn't rest either, gripping his penis and stroking it incessantly, even grinding the glans with her palm.

Wu Yu, embracing Yuqin, retaliated by plunging into her ample breasts and shapely buttocks, saying, "Now I have disaster relief funds in my hands. This sum of money is enough for us to buy all the wine in Jinling. Xuefang Pavilion has the support of the imperial court, so they are not afraid of running out of wine and can remain uninvolved. As for Liufengju, if they cannot buy wine in Jinling, they will have to purchase it outside the city. By the time their wine is transported into the city, they will have already been utterly defeated. Moreover, with my Cangqiong disciples here, how can they transport wine smoothly?"

Yuqin emerged from his clothes, delighted, "Indeed, a sea of blood, a good plan. Lie down, and I'll reward you with sweet soup."

Wu Yu obediently lay down, his penis still erect. Yuqin flicked it lightly with her fingers, then tore open her skirt, flipped over, and sat on his penis, the dragon being tightly captured by the Azure Phoenix and taken into its lair.

"Sister Yuqin, it's so tight..."

"It's gotten thicker again, so big, it goes in so deep..."

Yuqin sat on Wu Yu's lap, slowly swaying her round buttocks, her penis pounding against his clitoris, splashing out a spray of fluid, their clothes soaked through.

At this moment, Yuqin suddenly smiled mysteriously and said, "Today I'll let you taste something different..."

With that, she tore the slit in her skirt even wider, extending it all the way to her buttocks, and moved her thighs forward slightly, pressing her penis into her cleft. Her full buttocks completely submerged her penis, clamping it between her thighs, and she began to move it back and forth.

Wu Yu hugged her slender waist, gasped, and exclaimed, "Sister Yuqin's buttocks are so tender, so smooth..."

"Feeling good, huh... Ah, your penis is rubbing against my anus... Do you want to come in..."

Yuqin reached behind her and played with Wu Yu's testicles.

"Hiss... I've never been to the dry passage before, please lead the way, Sister Yuqin..."

Wu Yu's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this, and he said expectantly.

Yuqin chuckled, "Not today, I still have work to do later, unless... unless you put Mingyue's dry hole in first..."

Wu Yu couldn't help but think of Si Mingyue's perfect body. Although she wasn't particularly beautiful, her allure was undeniable.

A slender, jade-like finger tapped Wu Yu's forehead, and Yuqin scolded, "Look at you, you lecherous face, I'll sit on you until you're dead, hmph..."

With that, she thrust her slender waist fiercely, relentlessly stroking her penis.

The rolling foreskin constantly stimulated the glans, making Wu Yu gradually feel the urge to ejaculate. He propped himself up, wanting to hug Yuqin, but she pushed him back onto the bed, then pressed a pair of snowy breasts against his chest.

"I'm coming, kiss me quickly..."

Yuqin stuck out her tongue, licking Wu Yu's lips.

Wu Yu opened his mouth and took that slippery, fragrant tongue into his mouth, mumbling indistinctly, "Ugh, I'm going to... cum..."

Yu Qin trembled even more violently, letting out a groan through her nose, her snowy back trembling incessantly, clearly having reached her climax.

Wu Yu beneath her also thrust his penis upwards, veins bulging on his forehead, a stream of hot semen shooting onto Yu Qin's anus, the milky white blooming on her plump buttocks.

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊ "A bloodbath? That's a feasible plan, but it might result in heavy losses on both sides."

Si Mingyue walked around the second floor of Mingyue Tower, accompanied by Wu Yu and Yan Rou.

Yan Rou said, "We've thought of this method before, but we couldn't afford to invest heavily back then. Now that we have a windfall, we shouldn't waste it."

Wu Yu nodded in agreement.

Si Mingyue nodded, a fierce glint in her eyes, and said, "Yes, let's do it this way. This time, we'll cripple Liufengju! Yu'er, you're now the commander of the outer five gates, so you and Yanrou will handle this matter. Continue, what about after the Blood Sea?"

Wu Yu continued, "Once we buy all the wine from Jinling, we'll only sell twenty-three jugs a day. Anyone who wants to drink will have to come to my Mingyue Tower early to grab it. In that case, how can Liufengju still have any customers?"

Upon hearing this, Si Mingyue and Yanrou exclaimed in unison, "Excellent plan! In this way, wine will become a scarce commodity, not only will Liufengju be deserted, but the threshold of my Mingyue Tower will also be crowded. We shouldn't delay, Yanrou, you and Yu'er go and collect the donations tomorrow!"

"Yes!"

Wu Yu and Yanrou replied in unison.

With the plan finalized, Wu Yu suddenly asked, "Sister Mingyue, about the important matter Master mentioned last time..."

Si Mingyue glared at Wu Yu and said, "You shouldn't know about this for now, and don't mention it again!"

With that, she turned and left.

Yan Rou, standing nearby, gloated, "Commander Wu is indeed incredibly audacious, daring to provoke Sister Mingyue."

Wu Yu smiled ingratiatingly at Yan Rou, "Judging from your tone, Sister Yan Rou, it seems you know the inside story?"

Yan Rou pouted, "I'm just the second-in-command of the Outer Five Sects; I don't know much."

Wu Yu tugged at Yan Rou's sleeve and led her to a corner, saying, "Please teach me, sister..."

Yan Rou sighed, "This matter is nothing more than the future of the Cangqiong Sect. Now the Cangqiong Sect is powerful. After the Tumu Crisis, bandits rose up everywhere, but none could match the scale of our Cangqiong Sect. They even seem to be showing signs of becoming independent kingdoms. The imperial court doesn't want to face internal and external troubles at this time, so they sent someone to offer amnesty, hoping to make the Cangqiong Sect a righteous army of the imperial court to fight against the Oirat Mongols in the north."

"But none of the sect leaders were willing. Needless to say, the King of Cang hates being controlled the most. The strategist and the third sect leader are also proud and arrogant. The strategist even once entered the palace to assassinate the emperor of the previous dynasty. The fifth sect leader, Zhu Kai, was originally a member of the royal family. He joined our Cangqiong Sect because he was dissatisfied with the court. Only the fourth sect leader, Pang Zheng, and Sister Mingyue supported the offer of amnesty. In the end, the matter had to be dropped."

"I never imagined that the Cang King's ambitions went beyond that. Seeing that the court was too busy to suppress us, he actually harbored thoughts of rebellion. He secretly colluded with nobles in the court, plotting a rebellion. After Sister Mingyue learned of this, she strongly opposed it, but the Cang King wouldn't listen. That's why Sister Mingyue left Chaohu and came to Jinling to open a restaurant called Mingyue Tower."

Wu Yu suddenly realized, "I see. I didn't expect Sister Mingyue to be so fierce. She still doesn't want to return to Chaohu."

Yan Rou said, "Now that you know the cause and effect, don't start any more trouble in the future, otherwise, when Sister Mingyue gets angry, we will all suffer."

Wu Yu smiled and said, "Don't worry, I won't mention it again."

But in his heart, he began to make some calculations.

Suddenly, a waiter ran towards them and said, "Second Manager, there are two men and two women outside requesting an audience."

Yan Rou asked, "Oh? Are you sure they're requesting an audience and not guests of Mingyue Tower?"

The waiter wasn't from the Cangqiong Sect; he was just a commoner doing odd jobs, so he didn't recognize Wu Yu. He honestly replied, "They specifically asked to see Wu Yu. I told them there was no such person here, so they said they wanted to see the manager. I didn't know what was going on, so I informed the Second Manager."

Yan Rou and Wu Yu exchanged a glance, neither of them knowing who the people outside were. Wu Yu, however, reacted faster and said, "Could it be Sister Liu'er?"

Yan Rou didn't speculate and simply said, "We'll know once we see them. Go and take them to the back hall on the third floor."

The waiter quickly turned and ran off.

Wu Yu smiled and said, "This person is quite clever."

Yan Rou said, "Oh, then I'll send him to you."

Wu Yu nodded his thanks, and the two headed towards the back hall on the third floor.

As soon as Wu Yu entered, he saw Liu'er's familiar figure and was about to speak with great joy when he heard another woman say, "You rascal, it's been so long! You've grown into such a handsome young man!"

Wu Yu turned her head and saw that the woman's face was filled with joy, excitement, and shyness, and her brows held a very familiar strength and pride. She exclaimed in surprise, "Sister?" Chapter 33

Each Displays Their Unique Abilities

**************** ... Before Wu Hongxiu and her entourage could even set off for Mingyue Tower, Tang Xiao had just sheepishly emerged from Liu'er's room, only to be met by the mischievous Han Yi, who grabbed him and led him off to prepare the horses while they chatted. Inside Liu'er's room, Liu'er was terrified by Wu Hongxiu's words, breaking out in a cold sweat. "You unfaithful Liu'er!" Wu Hongxiu said, a half-smile playing on her lips, her tone righteous and indignant. Liu'er was struck dumb, half her body sinking into a chill. She forced a smile, trying to appear calm, and asked, "What...what did Miss say?" Wu Hongxiu was the eldest daughter of the Wu family. Although Wu Lingwen's death had rendered her a figurehead, Wu Hongxiu was still Liu'er's elder sister and a close friend of He Ruoxue, making her both a member of Liu'er's husband's and maternal family. Having her affair with Tang Xiao discovered by Wu Hongxiu, Liu'er was naturally at a loss, unsure of what to do. Wu Hongxiu knew Liu'er was putting on a brave face, and couldn't help but find it amusing. Her intention wasn't to catch Wu Yu in the act, but rather to help Liu'er achieve her goal. So she smiled and said, "Sister Liu'er, don't panic. Hongxiu was just trying to scare you. I heard everything about your relationship with Tang Xiao." Liu'er calmed down a bit and realized that Wu Hongxiu had been listening outside the door for quite some time. She stamped her foot helplessly and said, "Then, Miss, are you planning to tell my husband? I...I...Oh dear, what should I do..." Wu Hongxiu chuckled and said mysteriously, "No, no, I..." Not only will she not tell Xiaoyu, she will also help Sister Liu escape Xiaoyu's clutches! Liu'er retorted, "What clutches? My husband is deeply devoted to me. He must have been worried sick during the month I was missing, but I… alas, I have no face to see my husband…" Wu Hongxiu smiled and comforted her, "Sister Liu and Young Master Tang are truly in love. I believe Xiaoyu won't blame you. Now that Xiaoyu has joined the Cangqiong Sect, in the eyes of outsiders, he's become a bandit. Besides, he's in charge of the Mingyue Tower, so he's bound to have some romantic encounters. If Sister Liu follows Xiaoyu, who knows how many resentments she'll experience." Liu'er… After a moment's thought, she said, "My husband is both scholarly and martial, brave and resourceful. He will surely achieve great things in the future. I am just a maid, and marrying you was not my wish. But I was the one who failed in my duties as a wife, and that is unacceptable no matter what..." Wu Hongxiu stepped forward and took Liu'er's hand, gently stroking it, "Don't worry, I will speak up for you in Xiaoyu's ear. He is always magnanimous and won't hold it against you. But you, Liu'er, if you really want to spend your life with Tang Xiao, you should think it over carefully." Liu'er's eyes gradually hardened as she looked at Wu Hongxiu and said, "If my husband doesn't blame me..." "I, and I am willing to grant my wish. I will repay my husband with my life. As for Tang Xiao, after spending this month together, I am already certain that he is the one I want. My life in the Wu family was uneventful before, and I thought that was how my life would be. But this month of escape, though difficult, was extremely exciting. I realized that I like this life of adventure on the edge of a knife. In the future, I want to be a female knight-errant like Sister Dan Yue." Wu Hongxiu did not expect that Liu'er, who looked petite and weak, was so resilient. Once she made up her mind, she was like a moth drawn to a flame, without hesitation. Since Liu'er had already pledged her life to Tang Xiao, her plan was one step closer. The most urgent thing was to go to Mingyue Tower to meet Wu Yu, which led to the scene of the siblings meeting. "Sister, it's been two years since we last met, hasn't it?" In Mingyue Tower, Wu Yu was still overjoyed to see Wu Hongxiu and had not yet spoken to Liu'er. Wu Hongxiu stepped aside, smiling, and said, "You can catch up with your sister anytime. First, meet your good wife." Wu Yu then realized what was happening, walked to Liu'er's side, and took her hand, saying, "Sister Liu'er, you've suffered..." "Husband..." Liu'er's eyes reddened, but her words were filled with joy as she looked at Wu Yu. Yan Rou interjected, "Master, let's take them to the third floor to rest." Hearing this, Wu Yu quickly nodded, "Yes, yes, sister, please come with me." Saying this, he took Liu'er's hand and led her upstairs without further ado. Liu'er looked back at Tang Xiao, shook her head at him, and followed Wu Yu upstairs. Tang Xiao could only suppress his jealousy and helplessness, and under Han Yi's teasing gaze, followed. On the third floor of Mingyue Tower, the group sat down, and tea was served. Wu Yu held Liu'er's hand gently and asked, "Sister Liu'er, how have you been this month? I've been sending people to search for you around Jinling City, but we haven't found you." Liu'er's eyes reddened, and she recounted the events from the day Tang Shen ambushed her, all the way to her exile in Jinling City. "This month, if it weren't for Tang Xiao, I would have met my demise in the desolate mountains and forests long ago, and I wouldn't have been able to see my husband in Jinling City." Wu Yu was exceptionally intelligent; how could he not hear the hidden meaning in Liu'er's words? His heart was filled with mixed emotions, feeling both gratitude and jealousy towards Tang Xiao. Liu'er and he had spent a month alone together, and he and Liu'er were newlyweds; in reality, there wasn't much deep affection between them, only a master-servant relationship. Tang Xiao was handsome and imposing, exactly the type of young woman like Liu'er would like. Wu Yu simply couldn't believe there wasn't something fishy going on between them. He turned to Tang Xiao and said, "Brother Tang, you've worked hard. If Sister Dan Yue hadn't been discovered by the Cangqiong Sect, this escort mission wouldn't have been so disorganized, and I wouldn't have ended up in the Cangqiong Sect by mistake. Everyone has worked hard, so please rest first. We can talk about everything tomorrow." Tang Xiao quickly clasped his hands in a fist salute, but his face was somewhat embarrassed. He said, "Young Master Wu, you're too kind. Sister Liu'er is a woman, so it's only right that I take care of her." Everyone present knew about the affair between Liu'er and Tang Xiao, but no one said anything. Wu Hongxiu was anxious and pulled Wu Yu's hand, saying, "Xiao Yu, we haven't seen each other for a long time. You can't rest. You have to chat with me tonight. Sister Liu'er is now..." "She's already a female knight-errant. She's been learning martial arts from Young Master Tang this month, so you don't need to worry about her." Wu Yu's face didn't change at all; she still smiled and said, "Elder sister is the greatest, and with her here, how could I, Xiao Yu, dare disobey..." Upon hearing this, Wu Hongxiu raised her pink fist and said, "Oh, you're laughing at me for being old, aren't you? I'll beat you up..." Wu Yu ran away laughing, "Injustice! How could I dare laugh at my sister for being old? My sister is forever young and will live a long and healthy life!" Wu Hongxiu's pretty face flushed, and she feigned anger, saying, "You still dare to say that!" For a moment, everyone laughed. Liu'er and Tang Xiao exchanged a glance, only to see each other's helpless expressions. It seemed that the time wasn't yet right to reveal their private feelings. So, everyone followed Yan Rou's arrangement and temporarily settled in Mingyue Tower. The sky gradually darkened. Like Jinling, Suzhou, two hundred miles away, was somewhat cool, yet still carried a sweltering atmosphere. 05-17 Chapter 34 Bedtime Talk ********** ...

Wu Gui lingered under the apricot tree in the front courtyard of Penglai Residence, not daring to make a sound, yet reluctant to leave. He just stood there dumbfounded, unsure of what to do.

He Ruoxue, watching from upstairs, found it amusing, gently shook her head, and went downstairs to open the door.

In the front courtyard, Wu Gui was at a loss when the wooden door suddenly creaked open, revealing He Ruoxue's exquisite face. Wu Gui stared at He Ruoxue's figure with fascination, but then heard He Ruoxue hum, "What are you standing there for? Come in!"

Wu Gui was flattered and rushed into the building.

A month had passed since he last entered the house, after receiving He Ruoxue's undergarments. The room was still spotless, and He Ruoxue was still wearing her snow-white long dress, her bare feet faintly visible.

This time, He Ruoxue didn't make tea; instead, she went upstairs without a word. Wu Gui was unsure whether to stand or sit, wondering why He Ruoxue had welcomed him in.

Suddenly, He Ruoxue stopped swaying her hips, turned around and glared at Wu Gui, saying, "Are you coming or

not ?"

Wu Gui seemed to understand the unspoken meaning, but dared not imagine it too much. This woman before him was cunning; every time she aroused him, she would throw him out. If Tang Danyue were still alive, it would be fine, but now that Tang Danyue was gone, and the First Madam disliked him, if he were burning with lust, he didn't know where to extinguish it.

He was now the acting head of the Wu family, a man of status. He couldn't go to brothels, and he couldn't touch the maids in his own home. He used to have a First Madam, with whom he was evenly matched, but now he was all alone, and he couldn't risk getting into trouble.

However, looking at He Ruoxue's porcelain-like, perfectly undulating body, he couldn't help but think too much, and quickly nodded, "Come, come!"

"Hmph!"

He Ruoxue snorted lightly, ignored him, and turned to go upstairs.

Wu Gui followed behind her, his heavy footsteps clattering on the floorboards. He Ruoxue scolded from ahead, "Walk lighter, you're going to break the floorboards!"

Wu Gui only responded, "Yes, yes..."

but his eyes kept glancing at the Second Madam's feet, occasionally peeking out as she tugged at her skirt. The soles of her small feet were slightly rosy, with fine, shallow wrinkles like the paw pads of a cat. Her ankles were slender, barely a handful, and her jewel-like toes curled up as she lifted her foot, lightly touching the stairs—indescribably adorable.

As they walked, their movements became synchronized. Wu Gui followed He Ruoxue's steps, stepping where she had stepped. When He Ruoxue lifted her leg, he lifted his; when she put her foot down, he put his down. Inside the small building, the same footsteps echoed, perfectly coordinated.

They reached the second floor, where a small corridor led to two rooms. One room was He Ruoxue's boudoir, and the other was a guest room where Wu Yu and Wu Lingwen occasionally stayed at Penglai Residence.

He Ruoxue pushed open the door to her room and said to Wu Gui behind her, "This way."

Wu Gui obediently followed her in; this was only his second time here. The last time he came was when He Ruoxue had tricked him into pretending to fall down the stairs, accusing him of assaulting the Second Madam.

Last time, he only caught a quick glance and didn't see the room's furnishings clearly. This time, however, he found only a bed, a desk, and a chair in the room. A few potted plants were planted nearby; it was extremely simple and elegant.

Wu Gui stammered, "Second Madam, this... this, shall I stand?"

He Ruoxue looked at Wu Gui's tearful face, chuckled, walked to the bed and sat down, pointing to the chair, "Sit there."

Wu Gui felt like he had been granted a pardon and ran to the chair, but he felt like he was sitting on a nail, unsure of what to do with his hands and feet.

He Ruoxue asked, "What? Did Shen Yanlin kick you out?"

Seeing He Ruoxue chatting with him, Wu Gui relaxed and awkwardly smiled, "How did Second Madam know?"

He Ruoxue's face suddenly flushed slightly, and she said, "Last time... last time I gave you that thing, she couldn't figure out my intentions. Rather than guessing, she decided to let things take their course. So she kicked you out. Since you couldn't go to her place, you naturally came to me. Now, seeing my reaction, she understands everything and has gained the upper hand."

Wu Gui seemed to have become smarter than before, actually understanding He Ruoxue's words, and said, "That's why Second Madam doesn't want to stay on the first floor, because there must be someone watching."

He Ruoxue didn't speak, which was tacit agreement.

Wu Gui suddenly said, "Second Madam, that thing from last time... is already dirty. Could you give me another one..."

Hearing this, He Ruoxue bit her lip, her face flushed with embarrassment, and angrily said, "Who told you to use that thing for such dirty things? There's only that one, there's no more!"

Seeing He Ruoxue's anger, Wu Gui dared not speak. The room fell silent. He Ruoxue spoke first, "It's getting late. I'll have the servants prepare some dishes and bring them over. You can rest in the next room tonight."

Wu Gui said with delight, "Second Madam, this...

" He Ruoxue sneered, "Didn't she want you to spy on me? I'll make her even more clueless about my thoughts. You're not allowed to think about those messy things anymore. Now get downstairs and tell the servants to cook!"

Wu Gui hung his head dejectedly again, but had no choice but to obediently go downstairs.

However , tonight, besides Wu Lingwen and Wu Yu,

he was the third man to stay at Penglai Residence. The night was long, and there were still important things to do. ********** ...

One man carried a large iron sword on his back, four feet long and over a foot wide, looking more like a huge piece of iron, yet he carried it with remarkable ease. This man was around forty years old, with a thick beard like a tiger's; he was none other than Li Tieshan, known as the Sword That Shakes the South. Another man held a Guan Dao (a type of halberd), gripping the reins. He had a long beard reaching his chest, a face full of fierce features, and an aura of a soldier. Riding his horse, he seemed even more robust than the steed itself; he was none other than Shi Gang, the bandit whose spirit soared to the north.

The last man rode beside the carriage, dressed in a blue robe, like a scholar, holding two small silver balls in his hands.

His long hair was not bound, but tied back, and his face was as cold and handsome as if carved by a knife, with starry eyes and sword-like eyebrows; he was none other than Wu Feng, the second young master of the Wu family of Suzhou.

Judging from these three, this group was Yu Qian and his entourage returning to the capital after their inspection tour. They had stayed in Jinan Prefecture, Shandong Province for nearly a month, and the deadline for their return to the capital to meet the emperor was approaching, so they set off at full speed towards the capital region.

In the past twenty-odd days, Wu Feng's illusion magic had improved by leaps and bounds. Half a month ago, he was still staring blankly at a candle, but now he could induce brief illusions in Yue Rong and Yun Xin, rendering them powerless to resist. Even Emerald was greatly shocked; only she and her master knew this illusion magic. Wu Feng not only learned quickly but could also apply his knowledge to other situations, deducing the witchcraft of the Southern Frontier and the priestly arts of the Western Regions from the illusions.

Li Tieshan and Shi Gang had also been there for ten days, and Wu Feng frequently sought their guidance on swordsmanship and military tactics. This young man was exceptionally intelligent, diligent, and, more importantly, extremely patient, never tiring of tedious tasks. Over these days, Wu Feng was no longer the arrogant scholar he once was; he was more like a refined general, possessing profound wisdom and considerable skill in martial arts.

At this moment, the curtain of the carriage opened, revealing Yu Qian's calm and composed face. He chuckled and asked Wu Feng, "Feng'er, we're about to enter the capital. 'A man should go to the capital,' you said that day. How do you feel now?"

Wu Feng bowed slightly on horseback and replied, "Living in the capital is no easy feat. I'm a little nervous, but the capital is prosperous, the very heart of the imperial city, and it's time for a fierce tiger to descend the mountain."

Yu Qian said, "So you're not afraid at all. By the way, how's your training with the protective weapon your master gave you?"

Wu Feng smiled and said, "Master's ingenuity is astonishing. You even thought of using silver to forge a pair of spheres, and then using internal force to compress them to change their shape, so that they can be used as swords or knives. It can be said that one thing can be used for a hundred purposes."

Yu Qian said seriously, "Although this thing is ingenious, you must not rely on it too much. Silver is soft but not hard, tough but not strong. It is fine if you fight with an enemy in a dragon-like manner, but if the enemy attacks with force, you must not clash with it head-on."

Suddenly, a seductive female voice came from inside the carriage: "Husband! Are you underestimating the weapon I designed? Why don't you use any of the eighteen weapons, and I will only use these two silver spheres, and see who wins and who loses!"

Yu Qian smiled helplessly and turned around and said, "I'm not saying this to criticize you, but Emerald, you are one of those seven. I, your husband, am weak and powerless. How can I compare with you? I was just worried about Feng'er. How could I underestimate my wife?"

Emerald in the carriage was satisfied and said, "That's more like it. Otherwise, when we get home, I will have my sister deal with you!"

The sister Emerald mentioned was naturally Yu Qian's wife.

Yu Qian shook his head, helpless against Fei Cui's spoiled nature. He both doted on her and felt powerless to change her. He could only continue speaking to Wu Feng: "By the way, I told you before that I already have two disciples, who are my advisors. The leader of them is Lin Chi. He should be back in the capital by now. I'll let you meet him then so you can get acquainted. You'll inevitably be working together in the same department in the future."

Wu Feng cupped his hands and said, "This humble servant understands."

Yu Qian waved his hand and said, "From now on, you don't need to refer to yourself as this humble servant. You are my disciple, so just call me teacher. We can talk as equals. After returning to the capital, I will give you the official seal. The position I've arranged for you is in the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but it will be a civil post. Do you... understand my intention?"

Wu Feng replied, "This student understands. Joining the Embroidered Uniform Guard is a three-pronged strategy. Firstly, the Embroidered Uniform Guard is the most important military force in the country..." "Firstly, being close to them will be helpful for future work; secondly, the Embroidered Uniform Guard often travels within the palace, allowing access to important figures; thirdly, working in the Embroidered Uniform Guard's clerical duties will avoid offending the Eastern Depot, and one can even conspire with them in the future."

Yu Qian nodded and said, "You are a promising young man! By the way, are you engaged? Do you have someone in mind?"

Wu Feng replied, "Not yet." Yu

Qian was overjoyed upon hearing this and said, "That makes things easier. A good marriage awaits you in the future. Of course, it also depends on your wishes, but this marriage is something others wouldn't even dream of."

Wu Feng seemed to have no objection to this matter, only saying, "This student will follow the teacher's arrangements."

Yu Qian lowered the curtain and said, "Then let's discuss it again when we return to the capital."

For a moment, the area around the carriage quieted down, and the speed gradually increased, heading north. Inside the carriage, however, the voices of three women could be heard.

After spending several days together, the two clever maids, Yue Rong and Yun Xin, had also figured out Emerald's temperament. Jade was a princess from the Western Regions, where the people were free-spirited and the tribesmen were open-minded and generous. Therefore, Jade lacked the gentleness and cunning of women from the Central Plains, but was more like a chivalrous heroine, speaking her mind and never putting on airs. Jade had accompanied Yu Qian on his inspection tour, and as the only woman along the way, she had long been tired of loneliness. Thus, the three of them went from mistress and servant to sisters.

Inside the carriage, Yue Rong asked, "Sister, will we see the Emperor when we go to the capital?"

Jade was comfortably leaning against the soft pillows, while Yun Xin gently massaged her long, slender legs. The soft, fragrant flesh that many men coveted was being kneaded in Yun Xin's hands.

"Perhaps. What, you little hussy, are you trying to seduce Yu?"

The current Emperor was Zhu Qiyu. Although Jade was a princess from the Western Regions, whose country was far on the border and did not need to pay tribute to the Ming Dynasty, and she was one of the "seven," she had no sense of awe towards the Emperor. More importantly, the current emperor is only twenty-eight years old, four years younger than her, so she privately calls him "Little Yu," and Yu Qian and the emperor can do nothing about it.

Yue Rong blushed with embarrassment at Fei Cui's words, but Yun Xin interjected and teased, "Who told our young master Feng to be indifferent to women? Since she couldn't seduce him, she set her sights on someone else."

Yue Rong and Yun Xin were twins, and although Yue Rong was the elder, there was no obvious distinction between them as sisters.

Yue Rong retorted angrily, "You're going to die! You're no different yourself. I bet you're even after Wu Gui."

Yun Xin, being more lively and playful, wasn't afraid of Yue Rong's sarcasm and sneered, "Yes, Uncle Gui's body is so robust, who wouldn't like him? But I'm not like you, dreaming of becoming a concubine."

Emerald gently patted Yun Xin's red lips and said, "What a sharp-tongued little girl, aren't you afraid of making a fool of yourself? However, you two have reminded me that young Yu is young and vigorous, at the age when he's fond of women. If it weren't for her husband being a favorite of the court, he probably would have snatched me into the palace too. You two are twin sisters, two women sharing one husband. If you don't mind, I can help you."

Yue Rong and Yun Xin exchanged a glance and remained silent. After a long silence, Yue Rong finally spoke in a low voice, "Although I am a maid, I am not stupid. Sending Yun Xin and me to the palace must have been something you planned long ago. We are just servants, at your disposal. As long as we can help Young Master Feng in the future, we will have no regrets."

Emerald carefully examined Yue Rong, seemingly surprised by the little girl's intelligence. The two sisters had slightly flushed cheeks and lowered their heads like water lilies. Yue Rong was petite, with a flat chest, but her slender figure made her stand out. She seemed like she could dance in the palm of a hand. If a man held her in his arms and played with her, he would surely love her. Yun Xin was still childish, charming and cute. Her round face was full of cleverness, but her almond-shaped eyes were like a fox's allure, already possessing a captivating charm. Her breasts were just the right size, making any man want to press her against the wall and ravage her.

"Tsk tsk, I really don't know what kind of medicine my good disciple gave you, to make you so loyal. With such a loyal servant, Feng'er will surely be even more powerful in the future."

Emerald nodded repeatedly, but in her heart she was calculating.

Sitting at the other end of the carriage, Yu Qian listened to the three women's conversation, only smiling and not interrupting. Emerald's little scheme might come in handy later. Using women as a means of scheming was something he disdained to use, but with Emerald doing it for him, he was happy to watch the show.

Wu Feng, outside the carriage, seemed to have also heard the conversation inside. His lips twitched slightly, as if he was somewhat reluctant, but he quickly regained his composure. Those who achieve great things are not bound by trivialities. With lofty ambitions in his heart, he could not be attached to worldly things.

Wu Mansion in Suzhou.

Since Wu Yu left home, Wu Feng and Yun Xinyue also left one after another. Wu Lingwen passed away. In just two months, the Wu family suffered a great upheaval. Although the centipede dies but does not fall dead, it has long lost its former prestige. Now it is merely a moderately wealthy household, no longer the "philanthropic merchant" that once resounded throughout Suzhou.

Now it is early autumn in August, the fireflies of summer have long since faded, and the Wu family is much quieter at night than it was two months ago.

If it were last year, the house would have been brightly lit in preparation for the Mid-Autumn Festival. Now, the house is deserted, and the masters and servants of the Wu family have their own small gatherings.

Penglai Residence has always been deserted. With the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, the maids have all gone to the temple fair and lantern festival in groups of two or three. The Wu family is even more desolate. Penglai Residence is located in a secluded corner of the Wu family and is extremely quiet.

In the small building, He Ruoxue and Wu Gui sat facing each other at the table. A bottle of hot wine and a few small dishes.

Wu Gui poured wine for the two of them and busied himself with preparing the dishes, no longer as reserved as when he first arrived. During his conversation with He Ruoxue, Wu Gui discovered that besides her aloof nature and meticulous mind, she was actually extremely gentle and kind, her soft Wu dialect as soothing as a spring breeze.

He Ruoxue also found that, aside from being somewhat timid and lecherous, Wu Gui was a humorous and reliable man. No wonder there were no rumors of discord between Tang Danyue and him after they married; it seemed Tang Danyue also considered Wu Gui a good husband.

After they sat down and shared a drink, they began to chat while eating.

He Ruoxue said, "The Mid-Autumn Festival is the day after tomorrow. Are you really going to stay here and not spend the festival with your wife?"

Wu Gui chuckled, "Hehe, Second Madam, Penglai Residence is quite comfortable. If you don't mind this old servant's absence, please stay a couple more days. It'll be perfect for celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival with you."

He Ruoxue sighed softly, "Indeed, in the years since I married into the Wu family, only Liu'er and Yu'er have kept me company during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Now that they've left, I'm all alone."

Wu Gui comforted her, "Didn't the Song Dynasty scholar Su Shi write, 'May we all live long and share the beauty of the moon, though separated by a thousand miles'? Perhaps the eldest young master will return soon."

He Ruoxue chuckled, "Hehe, those few lines of poetry you gleaned from the fan, don't bother showing them off."

Wu Gui scratched his head, chuckling dryly, "Let's eat, let's eat..."

From inside the small building, the sounds of laughter and chewing could be heard. The candlelight cast a soft glow, making Penglai Residence a tranquil, ordinary home, a little warmer than usual.

As night fell, the maids of the Wu household returned in twos and threes. In autumn, the nights in Suzhou were cool and still.

The night watchman emerged from the He family mansion, carrying his gong and mallet, and headed towards the city gate. Since the old watchman died five years ago, the new one, though young, had an extremely loud voice, disturbing the sleep of the people with his calls. However, because he came from the He family of Suzhou, the common folk dared not complain too much.

In the center of Penglai Residence, He Ruoxue and Wu Gui stood at the doorway on the second floor. He Ruoxue pointed to the room opposite and said, "You'll stay in the opposite room tonight. Wu Lingwen used to sleep in this room. Don't dirty it; it's Yu'er and Liu'er's bridal chamber."

Wu Gui quickly replied, "Don't worry, Second Madam, I just went back and washed myself thoroughly. Why don't you check?"

He Ruoxue spat at him, "Go away, watch your mouth. It's late, go to sleep."

With that, she turned and went into her room.

Wu Gui greedily glanced at He Ruoxue's shapely buttocks. Only after the door closed did he reluctantly withdraw his gaze and enter his own quarters for the night.

Two rooms housed a man and a woman who rarely interacted. One was pure and elegant, the other a lecherous old man, vulgar and mercenary. In the slightly sweltering heat of summer, neither could sleep.

"Dry weather, be careful with fire!" The

night watchman's loud, drawn-out voice echoed from outside the Wu residence, making it even harder for He Ruoxue to fall asleep.

On the fragrant bed, He Ruoxue wore a thin white dress, covered with a soft, rain-washed sky-blue silk quilt. Her snow-white feet were tucked at the foot of the bed, revealing her jewel-like toes. Her elegant and quiet sleeping posture meant her hair wasn't disheveled, just slightly loose, adding to her allure.

She knew Wu Gui in the next room was also awake; she could feel his heavy, rapid breathing, but she wondered what he was thinking about so late at night.

"Hey, are you asleep?"

He Ruoxue suddenly asked.

The sound was barely audible, coming through the doors and windows of the two rooms. Wu Gui thought he was imagining things, but mustered his courage and asked, "Second Madam, did you call me?"

He Ruoxue's breathing became heavy, and she replied, "Yes."

Wu Gui quickly climbed out of bed, thinking his chance had come. He pushed open the door, his heart pounding. Sweat began to bead on his lower back, and his penis stirred.

"Second Madam, shall I... come in?"

He Ruoxue didn't know why she had agreed. Perhaps it was because Penglai Residence was too deserted, or perhaps the oppressive heat of July made her feel lonely. Whatever the reason, she nodded from under the covers without answering. Wu Gui took this as a yes. A moment of passion is worth a thousand pieces of gold; if he missed it, even a thousand pieces of gold couldn't bring it back.

The door opened, and Wu Gui, barefoot, his thick soles making a "thump-thump" sound as he walked towards He Ruoxue's bed.

He Ruoxue suddenly turned over and said, "Who let you come to the bedside?"

Wu Gui's courage grew day by day, and he said with a wronged smile, "Second Madam, autumn is coming, and it's still quite chilly at night..."

Halfway through his sentence, he suddenly saw He Ruoxue on the bed: her calves were slightly bent, and the thin fabric covering her upper body could not hide her pert breasts. Compared to Shen Yanlin's roundness, He Ruoxue's breasts were pert. Shen Yanlin's breasts were like inverted bowls, firm and full like steamed buns, while He Ruoxue's breasts were like bamboo shoots after rain, pink and smooth like tofu. However, He Ruoxue's nipples were a light pink, fresh in color, and of moderate size. Even through a layer of bra and a thin layer of fabric, they still exuded a shy and lovely charm.

Her waist was slender, tapering from her chest to her hips, naturally twisting into an exaggerated curve. From the side, her pert buttocks could not be completely hidden behind her, revealing half of her buttocks, which were incredibly firm. Her long legs were covered by the quilt, only half of her small feet were visible, and that was precisely what made them so alluring.

Her small feet touched the edge of the bed; unlike Shen Yanlin's plump and tender feet, He Ruoxue's feet could be described as "slender."

Her skin was smooth and luminous, her lines graceful and soft, her toes neat and beautiful, seemingly exuding the scent of water lilies.

How could Wu Gui, who had been abstinent for several days, resist such a sight? He growled, "This old servant... has offended me..."

With that, he lunged at her small feet. He Ruoxue quickly dodged, cursing, "You old lecher..."

Wu Gui, though burly, was quite agile. In a flash, he flipped onto the bed. He Ruoxue was startled by the sound of him jumping onto the bed and instinctively tried to kick him. Unexpectedly, Wu Gui reacted swiftly, using a "monkey stealing a peach" move to clamp down on the sole of He Ruoxue's foot. He Ruoxue felt a rough, itchy, and numb sensation on the sole of her foot, causing her to tremble all over, and a small warm current surged in her lower abdomen.

She tried desperately to pull her small foot away, but it wouldn't budge. Wu Gui's grip was incredibly strong; once he held onto He Ruoxue's fragrant foot, he wouldn't let go. The two sat facing each other at the head and foot of the bed, separated by a quilt. After a fierce struggle, they both stopped, breathing quietly.

"You...you're shameless! Let go of me!"

He Ruoxue was blushing and speechless, like a young girl who had been violated and was at a loss for words.

Wu Gui shamelessly said, "Second Madam's little feet are so smooth. They must be cold from not wearing shoes and socks for so long. Let this old servant warm them up for you."

With that, he began to play with her jade-like foot.

"Mmm..."

He Ruoxue let out a soft moan, angrily saying, "Who wants you to warm them up? Let go of me..."

Wu Gui completely ignored He Ruoxue's annoyance; his mind was already captivated by the tender flesh in his hands. The calluses on his palms glided over the cat-like pads of her soles, his fingers tickling from her heel to her toes, gently massaging them.

He Ruoxue felt even more embarrassed, thinking to herself: This old man is so lecherous and shameless, yet the illusion magic has no effect on him. Is

he really going to resort to violence? At this moment, Wu Gui's loving and gentle caresses disrupted He Ruoxue's thoughts. Fortunately, she was usually very calm and quickly regained her composure, suddenly saying softly, "Wu Gui, please let go. Let's talk this out."

Wu Gui had never seen He Ruoxue so gentle before, and he looked up at her face. In the moonlight, the downy hair on her face reflected the light, and from her eyes to her lips, there was a serene and soft glow. Her breath rose and fell, and the charm of a young woman and the coquettishness of a young girl blended together without seeming abrupt or contradictory.

While she was still stunned, a sly glint flashed in He Ruoxue's eyes. Wu Gui saw it at a glance, pulled her wrist into his robes, and before He Ruoxue could pull her foot away, Wu Gui held it even tighter.

"The Second Madam is quite cunning..."

Wu Gui said with a smug smile.

He Ruoxue's thoughts were seen through, but she wasn't ashamed. She pouted and didn't want to dwell on the matter of her jade feet anymore, since it wasn't the first time he had taken liberties with her.

Wu Gui didn't push his luck, but instead began to caress He Ruoxue's small feet with obvious affection, even leaning closer to her lower body, saying, "Let's talk properly, Second Madam."

He Ruoxue ignored his actions, gently leaning back against the pillow, enjoying Wu Gui's massage-like caresses, and asked, "Wu Gui, how long have you been in the Wu family?"

When asked this question, Wu Gui no longer referred to himself as "old servant," but reminisced about the past, slowly answering, "I entered the Wu family as a long-term laborer when I was six or seven years old, and it's been forty-three years now."

He Ruoxue didn't seem surprised by this answer, continuing to ask, "Don't you have any relatives? Why have you stayed in the Wu family your whole life?"

Wu Gui's hand moved from the instep to the ankle; He Ruoxue's small feet were already somewhat red, and she seemed a little... A tickle made Wu Gui's heart warm, his breathing became heavy, and he said, "I have a younger brother. Our parents died early, and we were taken in by our uncle. In the ninth year of Yongle's reign, the emperor established his grandson Zhu Zhanji as crown prince, and the whole country rejoiced. Taking advantage of this, my uncle took his family to the capital. I didn't want to leave my hometown, so my uncle took his family and my brother to the capital with him. Later, my brother, unwilling to live under someone else's roof, made a ruthless decision, entered the palace as a eunuch, recognized a eunuch named Cao as his godfather, and changed his surname to Cao."

He Ruoxue's breathing also gradually became heavy, but she seemed more concerned with the content of her conversation with Wu Gui. She continued to ask, "Then... do you brothers still correspond... ah, be gentle..."

A sudden pain came from her ankle. It turned out that Wu Gui had been too excited and had gripped her too tightly.

After being scolded by He Ruoxue, Wu Gui quickly apologized and loosened his grip. Taking advantage of the moment , He Ruoxue stretched out her long legs, sat cross-legged on the edge of the bed, and said smugly, "Hmph, keep talking."

Wu Gui's hands were suddenly empty. When he realized what was happening, He Ruoxue was already sitting upright. He could only helplessly rub his hands and reply, "Of course, he's my only brother in my life. After he entered the palace, he seems to be doing very well. He often sends me some silver, as well as delicacies and jewelry from the palace. Sometimes he also asks me to do things outside the palace. Look, that night watchman from the He family, he was the one who sent me to Suzhou five years ago to find me a job at the He family."

He Ruoxue said softly, "Five years ago... the He family, could it really be him?"

Seeing He Ruoxue talking to herself, Wu Gui asked, "Who is the Second Madam talking about?"

He Ruoxue shook her head and said, "Nothing... Wu Gui, when you usually get along with your sister-in-law, have you heard..." "Have you ever heard her talk about things from the martial arts world?"

Wu Gui thought for a moment and said, "She talks about it in her spare time, things like the four great families, mythical beasts and strange creatures, but I don't understand any of it."

He Ruoxue's eyes suddenly flashed with a mischievous light, as if she had thought of something fun, and she asked

with a smile, "Then do you want to know?" Wu Gui nodded, but then smiled lecherously, "But I'm more interested in knowing why the Second Madam was willing to marry my master."

He Ruoxue snorted and said, "Look, I've been married into the Wu family for so long, have I ever been his wife for even a day?"

Wu Gui thought for a moment, and indeed he hadn't seen Wu Lingwen stay overnight at Penglai Residence much.

He Ruoxue continued her astonishing statement: "Yu'er isn't Wu Lingwen's son either. If I hadn't been pregnant with Yu'er, I wouldn't have needed to marry into the Wu family to cover it up."

Wu Gui exclaimed in surprise, "Then Master is wearing a huge green hat! Neither of the two young masters are his biological children... This..."

He Ruoxue coughed lightly and said, "There's nothing to say about that. Let's talk about the four great families and the mythical beasts."

Seeing that He Ruoxue was quite interested, Wu Gui listened attentively.

He Ruoxue parted her cherry lips slightly: "The four great families are Tang, Song, Shen, and Qin. The Tang and Song families are both martial arts families, and my sister-in-law is from the Tang family. The Shen family are descendants of Shen Wansan, and the Qin family has always lived in the north, existing like a vassal state."

Although He Ruoxue spoke in a calm tone, Wu Gui was still dumbfounded. It was the first time he had known that his wife was a woman of such great background. However, He Ruoxue's focus didn't seem to be on describing the four great families. She didn't stop there and went straight to the legend of the mythical beasts.

"Legend has it that there are four national guardian beasts in this world, which awaken every few generations. Not all of them will appear, but once they do, they are all extraordinary and exceptionally talented."

As He Ruoxue spoke, she kept her eyes fixed on Wu Gui.

Wu Gui seemed to notice He Ruoxue's gaze, paused slightly, and a thought popped into his mind. He said, "Could it be... that Second Madam thinks I am a... a divine beast?"

He Ruoxue smiled and said, "I don't think, I'm certain. You are Xuanwu, one of the four divine beasts."

"Me? Xuanwu?"

Wu Gui said incredulously, "Hehe... Second Madam, this joke has gone too far..."

He Ruoxue ignored Wu Gui's expression and explained, "Xuanwu, the Xuanming Turtle-Snake, symbolizes protection and immortality.

Xuanwu seems to be born able to resist the influence of external forces. There are four levels of martial arts: Qi, Domain Formation, Breakthrough, and Sect Formation.

Once a Domain is formed, one can release internal energy to form a domain. Xuanwu is naturally unaffected by domains, which means that if someone with Xuanwu practices martial arts, as long as they cultivate to the Qi level, they will be able to fight against martial artists who have reached the Domain Formation and Breakthrough levels. Or rather, breaking through a domain is Xuanwu's innate domain, which is why Xuanwu cannot form a domain."

Wu Gui was completely confused by these matters of martial arts, finding them mysterious and profound, but he roughly knew that if he were truly Xuanwu, he seemed to have extremely high talent. He

never imagined that at nearly fifty years old, his life would take such a dramatic turn, and looking back on the experiences of the past two or three months, it truly felt like a dream. He had a feeling that he was being drawn into a major event, from which he couldn't extricate himself.

Wu Gui asked, "Besides Xuanwu, what other divine beasts are there?"

He Ruoxue replied, "Besides Xuanwu, there are also Qinglong, Baihu, and Zhuque. Unfortunately, your Xuanwu was developed too late, and it's difficult for it to reach the level of a true divine beast."

Wu Gui smiled indifferently, "In this life, peace is a blessing, and I don't seek great wealth or status."

He Ruoxue sneered, "Don't seek wealth or status? If you really don't seek wealth or status, why did you join forces with Shen Yanlin to seize the Wu family?"

Wu Gui's tone faltered, and he explained with a dry laugh, "Under the coercion and enticement of the First Madam, this old servant had no choice but to..."

At this point, Wu Gui's attitude changed, and he once again referred to himself as "this old servant."

He Ruoxue remained noncommittal, saying, "Fine, I don't care about these things. I ask you, if you were given a chance to go to the capital, would you still be willing to leave Suzhou?"

Wu Gui asked in confusion, "Why do you say that, Second Madam?"

He Ruoxue said, "Never mind that, just tell me if you would or not."

Wu Gui replied, "The Wu family is no longer the Wu family it once was. This old servant has lived a mediocre life. If I really had the chance, I could spend the rest of my life trying to make a name for myself in the capital."

In the darkness, He Ruoxue's lips curled up. It seemed that Xuanwu was slowly awakening, and Wu Gui was no longer a servile lackey, but was gradually developing ambition and audacity.

"Alright, it's late, you should go back... Ah..."

He Ruoxue was about to dismiss him when she suddenly tried to get up, only to find that her calves were a little numb.

"What's wrong?"

Wu Gui asked anxiously when he heard He Ruoxue's soft moan.

He Ruoxue said softly, "My legs are numb..."

"Then...then I..."

Wu Gui didn't know what to do, but dared not rashly help He Ruoxue up.

He Ruoxue hadn't expected to be in this situation; it seemed she hadn't practiced martial arts for too long, and her body was a bit rusty. She said reproachfully, "Come help me move my foot..."

Wu Gui quickly got out of bed, secretly pleased, thinking, "You should have said so sooner! Why didn't you say so sooner? You should have said so sooner, you should have..."

He walked to the bedside, lifted the covers, and found He Ruoxue with her legs bent, her brows slightly furrowed, seemingly in great discomfort.

Wu Gui reached out and touched He Ruoxue's thigh, kneading it while straightening her leg.

After a massage to improve blood circulation, He Ruoxue felt better and said, "I'm fine now..."

Hearing this, Wu Gui showed no sign of letting go, continuing to massage He Ruoxue's long legs. Because He Ruoxue was only wearing a thin one-piece dress, beneath it was bare, smooth skin. Her long legs were extremely well-proportioned, neither too thin nor too thick, with slightly bent knees, creating a beautiful curve. Extending all the way to her ankles were her bare, glistening jade feet, which Wu Gui had already touched.

Seeing that Wu Gui remained silent, He Ruoxue felt a ripple in her heart, and an ambiguous atmosphere rose within her. She whispered, "Why don't you stop?"

"Second Madam..."

Wu Gui's voice trembled.

With that, he tried to pin He Ruoxue down. He Ruoxue quickly bent her long legs and kicked Wu Gui in the chest.

"Ouch..."

Wu Gui groaned and fell to the ground.

He Ruoxue let out a soft "plop," feeling a pang of guilt; being kicked in the chest was unpleasant.

She bit her lip, seemingly about to put on another seductive act. She stretched out her long legs, slightly pulling up a thin sash to reveal half of her snow-white calf, and said, "I'll help you up..."

Wu Gui was feeling a sharp pain in his buttocks when he saw He Ruoxue's jade-like foot in front of him. Ignoring the pain, he put her toes in his mouth and began to suck on them forcefully.

"Ah... I told you to use your hands to pull, not your mouth to suck... Don't lick..."

He Ruoxue gasped, a tremor rising within her. Wu Gui's tongue was extremely agile; in the past month, he had frequently licked and sucked Shen Yanlin's small feet, honing his licking skills.

He Ruoxue tried to pull her foot away, but Wu Gui wouldn't let go. He followed her movements, climbing onto the bed and taking advantage of the situation, grabbing her calf and licking the sole of her foot with his tongue.

"Giggle, itchy..."

He Ruoxue felt a burning sensation in her foot, an intense itch. Her foot twitched, accidentally pointing her toes at Wu Gui's head, as if teasing him.

Wu Gui released his mouth, and He Ruoxue's foot was covered in his saliva. He trembled again and said, "Second Madam..."

He Ruoxue looked at him with watery eyes and said, "What do you want to do..."

Wu Gui's large hand slid from her calf to her thigh, saying, "I want to do you..."

He Ruoxue initially found this crude answer grating, but now it felt somewhat arousing. She bit her lower lip, defiantly saying, "If you can beat me, I'll let you..."

Wu Gui's heart suddenly raced, and he subconsciously blurted out, "Let me do what..."

He Ruoxue's tone shifted abruptly, saying, "Let you get lost!"

With that, she flipped over, freeing herself from Wu Gui's grasp, and giggled at the stunned Wu Gui.

Enraged, Wu Gui strode onto the swing bed, grabbed He Ruoxue's arm, and pinned her to the deck.

With her hands pinned down, her snow-white breasts became even more prominent, almost bursting out of her clothes, a deep cleavage swaying incessantly before Wu Gui's eyes. His blood boiled at the sight, and he opened his mouth, revealing yellow teeth, about to swallow that piece of flesh.

He Ruoxue was startled and struggled fiercely. Wu Gui missed his first attack and tried again, and the two began to wrestle on the bed.

He Ruoxue used her hands and feet, trying to push the beast off her. Wu Gui, however, relentlessly attacked He Ruoxue's breasts, and as they intertwined, their bodies rubbed against each other, their clothes disheveled. He Ruoxue's exposed skin revealed her fair and shapely thighs, and her upper garment was pulled open, revealing her chiseled shoulders, collarbone, and breasts, making one blush.

Wu Gui's penis was already hard as iron, constantly touching He Ruoxue's private parts. It kept bumping against her lower abdomen and inner thighs, causing He Ruoxue's lower body to involuntarily leak a little moisture.

The two entangled for a while, and He Ruoxue, after all, was a martial artist. She pushed Wu Gui down onto the bed, but Wu Gui refused to let go, pulling He Ruoxue around. He Ruoxue's upper body was now pressed against Wu Gui's chest. The soft touch on his chest gave Wu Gui immense pleasure.

The two looked at each other, their noses only inches apart, their breaths mingling. He Ruoxue, panting softly, her eyes glazed with desire, asked, "Wu Gui... are you going to rape me...?"

Wu Gui's mischievous hand released He Ruoxue's arm and began to embrace her waist, replying, "This is also the Second Madam's fault..."

He Ruoxue glared at him and said, "Where are you touching... Don't go any lower, oh..."

Wu Gui ignored He Ruoxue, his large hand moving from her waist down to her shapely buttocks, kneading them forcefully.

He Ruoxue's clothes at this moment only covered her breasts to the top of her thighs, her fragrant shoulders exposed, and her legs completely naked, pressing against the old and burly Wu Gui, the atmosphere extremely hot and stimulating.

He Ruoxue placed one hand on Wu Gui's chest, her jade hand slipping inside her clothes, her fingertips slightly curved, seemingly teasing Wu Gui. She found Wu Gui's nipple and began to tease it with her index finger.

Wu Gui groaned, not daring to show weakness, his fingers sliding down He Ruoxue's buttocks, towards her mysterious mons pubis.

He Ruoxue blushed, but didn't stop Wu Gui. She said, "If you touch me any further, I'll rip your heart out..."

Wu Gui stopped what he was doing and chuckled, "Second Madam is just trying to scare me..."

He Ruoxue's lips curved slightly, and she asked, "Is that so..."

Her jade-like hand transformed into a claw, grabbing Wu Gui's pectoral muscles.

Wu Gui suddenly felt an intense pain in his chest, even thinking that his chest was bleeding. He was terrified, knowing that He Ruoxue wasn't joking, and quickly begged for mercy, "Second Madam, please stop, I won't touch you anymore..."

He Ruoxue snorted and said contemptuously, "You have the desire, but not the courage. You have the courage, but not the ability. That's all you've got..."

Wu Gui was speechless. He Ruoxue seemed to have had enough. She sat up, pushed Wu Gui away, and lay down on the inside of the bed. The undeveloped Xuanwu lacked the imposing aura of a divine beast, leaving her somewhat uninterested. Wu Gui, after all, was unaware of his extraordinary abilities. She sighed softly and said, "I'm tired, let's sleep..."

Wu Gui, bewildered, had already lost all lust. He got up, straightened his clothes, and prepared to return to his room.

He Ruoxue asked, "Where are you going?"

Wu Gui replied matter-of-factly, "Back."

"Idiot..."

Wu Gui, flattered, quickly climbed back onto the bed, pressing himself against He Ruoxue's back. He Ruoxue, with her back to him, was completely at ease. Wu Gui, however, trembled with fear, lying on the bed, unsure what to do.

He Ruoxue suddenly turned around and asked, "Do you really want me...?"

Wu Gui nodded.

He Ruoxue's hand returned to Wu Gui's chest, saying, "When you cause chaos in the world, I might consider it..."

Chaos in the world? Wu Gui didn't understand He Ruoxue's meaning, but he realized he still had a sliver of a chance. So he decided to create chaos in the world; chaos was no excuse for instability. Slightly excited, he reached out again to touch He Ruoxue's shapely buttocks.

Her delicate hand, which had been on Wu Gui's chest, slid down to his lower abdomen, pressing against his hard penis through his trousers. He Ruoxue's face flushed, seemingly extremely shy, but her hand didn't stop. She gripped Wu Gui's penis and said fiercely, "If you move again, I'll snap it off."

Startled, Wu Gui immediately withdrew his hand. He Ruoxue released her grip, her small hand returning to Wu Gui's chest, and she closed her eyes, moving closer to him.

She continued, "Don't overthink it tonight, go to sleep."

Wu Gui remained lying on his back, not daring to move, while He Ruoxue slightly bent her knees, pressing half of her long leg onto his.

Wu Gui mustered his courage and stretched out his arm, letting He Ruoxue sleep in his embrace. He Ruoxue didn't open her eyes, but cooperatively raised her neck, the two getting closer and closer until He Ruoxue was completely pressed against Wu Gui's body. Only then did Wu Gui feel that his efforts tonight hadn't been in vain, that his trip had been worthwhile.

He stretched out his other hand, grasped He Ruoxue's soft hand, and the two embraced, falling asleep peacefully. He Ruoxue would occasionally playfully rub her toes against Wu Gui's hairy old leg, making his penis engorged with blood, yet he dared not make any move, a bittersweet experience.

"Hehe, you old lecher..."

These were He Ruoxue's last words before falling asleep.

The two then slept soundly like husband and wife in the deep night of the Wu residence.

Chapter 35: The Storm

Rises in Yingtian Prefecture, Jinling Bright Moon Tower.

After Wu Yu and Wu Hongxiu reunited, they rested for a few days before Liu'er and the others gradually became familiar with the surroundings of Mingyue Tower. Suddenly, Mingyue Tower became very popular. One day, as Wu Yu and the others were talking in their room, Yan Rou rushed in, her face beaming with joy.

"Master, your Blood Sea strategy worked!"

Yan Rou exclaimed.

Some time ago, Wu Yu retrieved the charitable funds left at the escort agency and plundered all the good wines in Jinling City, leaving only inferior, filthy products. This caused the restaurants and inns throughout Jinling City to become deserted and deserted. Only Mingyue Tower and Xuefang Pavilion were thriving, while Liufengju, another of the "Three Wonders of Jinling," was gradually showing signs of barely surviving.

Upon hearing Yan Rou's words, Wu Yu stood up with great joy and said, "Really? Then we can proceed with the next step of our plan."

Yan Rou quickly replied, "Let's not talk about it yet. Let me invite Sister Mingyue over so we can discuss it in detail."

Wu Yu also said, "Alright, but the agreement we made before—that we will only sell twenty-three jars of wine each day—must remain unchanged."

Yan Rou nodded and turned to invite Si Mingyue.

A moment later, Si Mingyue arrived as well. Seeing Wu Hongxiu, Liu'er, and the others present, she knew Wu Yu had intentionally kept them there. Without saying much, she asked directly, "What's the next step?"

Wu Yu glanced around at everyone, picked up a folding fan from the table, and said, "The next step is to dismantle Liufengju from the inside out. Now they have no wine to sell, but they still have beautiful women to maintain the situation. We should find a stranger to infiltrate Liufengju, either as a girl or a madam, to coordinate with us from the inside out. Knowing our enemy and ourselves, Liufengju will surely fall."

Si Mingyue deeply agreed and nodded, saying, "That's right. In the past, this plan would not have been feasible." "Now that they're in disarray, they're prone to making rash decisions in desperation. It would be much easier for us to find a loophole and send someone in."

Wu Hongxiu and Tang Xiao, being江湖儿女 (people of the martial arts world), couldn't understand these schemes and couldn't make sense of them. Liu'er, however, grasped the gist after a few words and asked, "Since you want someone unfamiliar, I'm afraid Young Master intends to choose one from among us?"

Wu Yuxi said happily, "As expected, Sister Liu'er understands me best."

Han Yi, upon hearing this, didn't care about anything else. He only knew that the girls at Liufengju were rumored to be the most beautiful and seductive. If he could sneak in, wouldn't he be able to get his hands on some fresh meat? So she quickly put on a charming expression and asked Wu Yu, "Mr. Wu, what do you think of me dressing up as a woman?"

Wu Yu was dumbfounded and said, "Mr. Han, please have some self-respect."

Wu Hongxiu and the others covered their mouths and laughed. Yan Rou suppressed her laughter and said, "In that case, only Miss Liu'er and Miss Hongxiu can carry out this plan. But they are not like us, down-on-our-luck girls. How can we let them go to Liufeng Residence as spies?"

Liu'er already felt guilty towards Wu Yu. Now that she had the opportunity to help Wu Yu, she didn't care about anything else and said, "It's alright, let me go. Miss, you are a noble lady, how can you take such a risk?"

Tang Xiao heard this and said anxiously, "Sister Liu'er, you..."

Wu Yu saw this but was not annoyed. After all, Liu'er was not her own. If she were not a servant, someone like Liu'er with such looks would often marry into an official family. Although her mother had already betrothed Liu'er to her, if Liu'er really met someone she liked, she should let her go.

Liu'er quickly winked at Tang Xiao, who looked helpless, his eyes filled with a pang of sadness that tugged at Liu'er's heart. She could only turn to Wu Yu and ask, "But with my plain looks, I'm afraid the Six Phoenixes Residence won't be interested."

Yan Rou interjected, "That's alright. Liu'er doesn't necessarily have to rely on her beauty. Becoming a courtesan at the Six Phoenixes Residence is perfectly acceptable. Sister Mingyue is skilled in dance, and I am skilled in the zither. With our instruction for a few days, Liu'er's talent will surely make her a courtesan excelling in both dance and music." Hearing

Yan Rou's words, everyone present felt relieved . Thus, they decided to focus their plan on Liu'er. With nothing else to do, they all dispersed. ********** ... Wu Feng, astride his horse, could see the ancient and imposing city walls in the distance, exuding a desolate aura. Several military camps were stationed outside the city, presumably the outer city's imperial guards. At the city gate stood two rows of soldiers in iron armor, tall, strong, and fierce, ten times stronger than the garrison troops of Yingtian Prefecture. Wu Feng sighed, "The capital's guards are so formidable." Yu Qian, inside the carriage, lifted the curtain and laughed, "These are merely the outer city's imperial guards, far inferior to the inner city's Imperial Guards and Embroidered Uniform Guards, not to mention the Divine Machine Battalion under Liu Guanhai and Tang Yunyuan." Wu Feng inwardly sighed, truly as expected of the capital; even before entering the city gates, he was greatly astonished. Yu Qian said to Emerald's Kunlun slaves, "Let's go, directly back to the manor." The Kunlun slaves nodded, spurring the carriage and slowly entering the city. The imperial guards outside seemed extremely familiar with them, nodding to each other and allowing them to enter without questioning. Inside the city, however, was a completely different world. Like a bustling city several times more prosperous than Suzhou, the streets were filled with vendors, shops, and restaurants, so crowded that the carriage could barely move. Wu Feng felt as if he had stepped into the Qingming Scroll. Despite his composure, he couldn't help but look around, familiarizing himself with the capital's surroundings. Along the way, the carriage was a constant flow of people and vehicles. Inside, Yue Rong and Yun Xin curiously peered out the window, occasionally letting out exclamations of surprise. After all, this was a vital city, incomparable to the tranquil city of Suzhou, and even surpassing Nanjing. After nearly half an hour, they arrived at the inner city. Not far away stood a luxurious mansion, with two large characters written in a flamboyant style on the plaque: Yu Mansion. Yu Qian, accompanied by Emerald, alighted from the carriage, and Wu Feng quickly dismounted. Yue Rong and Yun Xin followed behind, followed by Shi Gang and Li Tieshan. After Kunlun slave drove the carriage to the back gate, Yu Qian said, "Wu Feng, come with me into the mansion." Wu Feng replied, "Yes, Master." Inside the mansion, there was no extreme luxury; on the contrary, it was simple and understated, even more modest than Wu's own residence. Yu Qian was an honest and upright official, never embezzling, and his salary was entirely squandered by his two wives. As for the decorations in the house, there was no need for excessive extravagance; comfort was enough. Wu Feng secretly admired him, when suddenly he heard Yu Qian say, "Feng'er, you should rest well tonight. Tomorrow morning, come with me to the palace to meet the Emperor." Meet the Emperor? So soon? Wu Feng was somewhat surprised, but did not ask any questions, only nodding and saying, "This student understands."

As they were talking, a woman emerged from behind the screen in the hall. She was dressed in simple clothes and had a languid air about her. She appeared to be around forty years old, yet her charm remained undiminished. Although simply dressed, she exuded an air of dignified elegance, making one want to approach her yet hesitate to offend her. She had willow-leaf eyebrows, rosy lips, eyes like autumn water, and two dimples at the corners of her mouth, giving her a kind and approachable appearance, like a respected elder in the neighborhood. This woman was Yu Qian's wife, Dong Yuru. As

soon as she appeared, Emerald ran to her side, excitedly saying, "Sister, we're back! Were you alright at home all by yourself?"

Dong Yuru shook her head and smiled, "You, you've been married to your husband for several years now, yet you're still like a child."

Emerald giggled, "What's wrong with being a child in front of my sister?"

Dong Yuru affectionately patted Emerald's head. Although they shared a husband, they seemed to have no jealousy or rivalry, quite unlike the two ladies of the Wu household.

It turns out that Jade was originally a princess from the Western Regions. Forced into marriage by her father, she escaped with several Kunlun slaves. At that time, her illusion magic wasn't as advanced as it is now. After arriving in the Central Plains, she first encountered Qianxue Wuhen by chance, and the two fought for unknown reasons. Jade was injured and endured a difficult journey to the capital, nearly being killed by the Imperial Guards. Fortunately, she met Dong Yuru, who was on her way to a temple outside the city to offer incense. Dong Yuru rescued Jade and took her back to the Yu residence.

From then on, Jade lived in the Yu residence and naturally became Yu Qian's concubine. Although everyone knew Jade was Yu Qian's concubine, she was never formally married into the family. Because Yu Qian was the Junior Guardian of the court, his position was sensitive, and it was inconvenient to be too ostentatious. Taking a concubine was naturally inappropriate, so both Yu Qian and Dong Yuru felt indebted to Jade and doted on her immensely.

As they were talking, Dong Yuru noticed Wu Feng and the others beside Yu Qian and asked, "Husband, who are these people?"

Yu Qian glanced at Wu Feng, who understood and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Madam. I am Wu Feng, and I have come to the capital from Suzhou with my teacher."

Dong Yuru seemed to have heard of Wu Feng before and smiled gently, "You are Wu Feng? You are indeed a handsome young man. You must follow your teacher well in the future and serve the court."

Wu Feng respectfully replied, "I understand."

Dong Yuru nodded and then said, "You have just returned to the capital, you must be tired from your journey. Please take a bath and rest. I will have a room prepared immediately. Sister, you and your husband go and rest first, and leave the rest to me."

Emerald nodded obediently, took Yu Qian's hand, and walked towards the back of the hall, not forgetting to turn back to Wu Feng and say, "Good disciple, you can stay here with peace of mind from now on."

Wu Feng smiled back, and seeing Dong Yuru beckon, he followed her to the other side. Yue Rong and the other three also followed behind, and the Yu residence became lively for a moment.

**********

...

"Lift your butt up a little higher..."

"Miss, your dancing is wonderful!"

"Very good, really good..."

Si Mingyue was both annoyed and amused. She grabbed Wu Yu's arm and said, "Alright, get out of here. Liu'er doesn't have much time left. She's going to Liufeng Residence the day after tomorrow. Don't bother her anymore."

Before long, Wu Yu and the other two men were kicked out of the room, leaving only Si Mingyue and the other three women inside to continue practicing.

Just as they were feeling annoyed, Yuqin returned from outside. Seeing the three men beating their chests and stamping their feet, she couldn't help but laugh and said, "What's wrong? Did the Sixth Master kick you out again?"

Wu Yu was overjoyed to see Yuqin and said, "Sister Yuqin, we've been so bored these past few days. Why don't you come with us for a walk?"

Yuqin covered her mouth and said, "I think you're not bored, you're just burning with lust, aren't you? No wonder, seeing all these beautiful women at Mingyue Tower every day, with nowhere to release your pent-up desire, you must be about to die of pent-up desire."

Hearing Yuqin's bold words, Wu Yu just chuckled. He did have somewhere to release his pent-up desire, but his two brothers were all alone, so he naturally couldn't enjoy the pleasures alone. These past few days, because Wu Hongxiu and Liu'er had stayed at Mingyue Tower, Han Yi and Tang Xiao hadn't left either. Han Yi was burning with lust, while Tang Xiao watched Liu'er and Wu Yu laughing and talking, his heart filled with a jumble of jealousy, helplessness, shame, and anxiety. Hearing Yuqin's words, Han Yi could only chuckle awkwardly, looking as if his thoughts had been read. Tang Xiao, on the other hand, blushed. He was a virgin, and Yuqin had once been the object of his affections; her teasing made him blush.

Yuqin was also feeling a bit restless that night, which was why she had come to find Wu Yu. However, she hadn't expected the three of them to be together again. Not wanting to call Wu Yu away alone, she tried to find a way to send the other two away while chatting idly with them. "How about this," Yuqin suggested,

"you two go to Liufengju and Xuefangge to be customers and gather some information while you're at it. " Han Yi's eyes lit up at the suggestion, and he said, "That's a great idea! I'll go right now." Without waiting for the others to react, he scurried out the door. Wu Yu hurriedly asked, "Where are you going?" Han Yi's voice came from afar: "Liufengju!" Now, only Wu Yu and Tang Xiao remained. Tang Xiao, a newcomer to the martial world, was older than Wu Yu but had never experienced the pleasures of a woman. If Wu Yu hadn't been there, Yu Qin would have loved to have a few casual encounters with him. Tang Xiao coughed and said, "I'd better go back to my room to practice." With that, he left, head bowed. Seeing them both gone, Yu Qin winked at Wu Yu and asked, "What about you?" Wu Yu quickly took Yu Qin's hand and said, "I'll naturally keep Sister Yu Qin company and have some private conversations." With that, the two went back to their room together. As soon as they entered, they eagerly began kissing. "You rascal, you haven't even looked for me in so long… mmm…" Yu Qin complained, licking Wu Yu's lips with her tongue. Wu Yu wasn't to be outdone; his large hand covered Yu Qin's breasts, which seemed to have become even fuller in just a few days, almost rivaling Shen Yanlin's. "Busy… well…" Wu Yu said while kissing Yu Qin. Yuqin didn't say much. Her delicate hand slipped into Wu Yu's crotch, her index finger and thumb encircling his already hard penis, and she quickly began to stroke it. She had just finished her period yesterday, her breasts were naturally full, and her lower body was incredibly empty and burning with desire. "It's already so hard..." Yuqin looked at Wu Yu with seductive eyes, as if she were about to drip with moisture. Wu Yu couldn't wait any longer. He turned Yuqin around and pressed her against the door, lifting her skirt and pulling off her underpants. "Oh...you're so rough..." Yuqin deliberately moaned, her legs spreading open in cooperation, her delicate hand guiding Wu Yu's penis towards her honey hole. Wu Yu held Yuqin's slender waist, his dragon-like penis plunging deep into her already wet vagina. "Ah...so thick, it's even thicker than before...it's full..." Yuqin felt her vaginal opening being filled completely, the connection without a single gap, even making her mistakenly believe that the man behind her was Wu Gui. Wu Yuxie chuckled, "So, does Sister Yuqin prefer the coarse or the fine?"

Yuqin rolled her eyes at him and said coquettishly, "I only like yours, I don't like anyone else's, no matter how big or small... Oh, hurry up and move, it's so itchy inside..."

Wu Yu chuckled and began to thrust in and out, the sound of his lower abdomen hitting her round buttocks echoing in the room.

"Sister Yuqin is so horny, she's all wet inside..."

"It's all your fault, remember to shoot inside later... Oh, this is so heavy, it's killing me..."

The two didn't take off their clothes, and their bodies were intertwined in a deep, passionate battle. Yuqin twisted her waist and hips from time to time to meet the attacks from behind, and when she got tired of twisting, she turned back to Wu Yu for a kiss, letting him hold her slender waist and thrust into the tender flesh inside her Qingluan hole, until her pubic hair fell out and stuck to Wu Yu's testicles, incredibly lewd.

"Quick! Touch me, I'm about to come..."

Wu Yu obediently put his hand inside Yuqin's underwear, pinched her nipples, and rubbed her breasts with his palm.

Wu Yu couldn't resist touching Yu Qin's smooth skin. He turned her head and kissed her passionately.

Their tongues intertwined in the air, saliva dripping onto Yu Qin's back. The blush on her neck showed that they were both close to their climax.

"Oh, so deep, so deep... You're so amazing, give me some more... I'm coming, I'm coming, I'm going to die..."

Wu Yu also roared, and with the final thrust, he released

his pent-up semen deep into her vagina. The two lingered together for a while longer before getting up to tidy their clothes. Yu Qin didn't linger or pester Wu Yu. She simply gave him a sweet kiss and then turned away. Wu Yu couldn't help but admire Yu Qin ; she was truly a captivating beauty.

********** ...

His posture was stiff, his legs unsteady. He wore several rings on his fingers and a parrot-green silk robe with white frosting—the kind of garment Suzhou presented as tribute to the palace. This clearly indicated the old man's noble status; yet, he now treated this middle-aged man like a servant, making one wonder about the man's identity.

The man, dressed as a night watchman, was the same watchman Wu Gui had sent to the He family. He appeared to be in his early thirties, with a dignified appearance, piercing eyes, and an air of noble dominance. His cold, hard gaze bore a striking resemblance to Wu Yu.

The man said, "Tell them to hurry up, I can't wait any longer..."

The old man advised, "Master, please be patient. The Oirat are gathering troops again, seemingly preparing to invade our border. We should wait until Tang Yunyuan leaves the capital to launch his northern expedition, leaving the city vulnerable, before we can act."

The man angrily retorted, "Hmph! White Dragon Grand Commander? My good-for-nothing brother of mine likes to make a name for himself. Does he think that being appointed White Dragon Grand Commander will suppress the true dragon? Nonsense!" The old man smiled and

said, "Master, why be angry? The Azure Sky Sect has already agreed to help. We have Commander Liu and Junior Protector Yu inside, and King Tang Shen and Lord Zhang outside. We already have a 70% chance of success." Upon hearing this,

the man's expression calmed down, and he said, "King Tang? Hmph, if things really go well, what's wrong with making him a king of a different surname? The Azure Sky Sect... Yu'er is at the Azure Sky Sect now, isn't she?"

The old man said, "Indeed, young master is currently at the Bright Moon Pavilion in Jinling." The

man chuckled, "He prefers to frequent these brothels, but it's just petty stuff. Mingyue Tower... there seems to be a very special woman there..."

The old man pondered, "Yes, her name is Si Mingyue. She has a mysterious background, and even the Embroidered Uniform Guard can't find out her identity."

The man asked, "When it comes to intelligence gathering, your operation is no less capable than the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Send more men to Jinling to find out her identity. I'm worried about Yu'er being with her..."

The old man replied, "Yes, sir! As for Lord Zhang..."

The man said calmly, "You don't need to worry about her. She'll appear when needed."

The old man nodded, about to speak, when he heard the man say, "I heard your brother is causing quite a stir at the Wu residence!"

The old man was startled, knowing that the man considered the two ladies of the Wu residence as his own, and now that his brother was enjoying himself at the Wu residence, it had already angered the man before him. He gritted his teeth and whispered, "If things don't go well, Master won't dare use him in the future."

The man burst into laughter, his laughter seemingly capable of shaking the thatched hut apart: "Hahaha! You old fool! That's right, if he doesn't have any backbone, how can I trust him in the future?"

The old man felt trembling with fear, as if walking on thin ice. Seeing the man laugh, he breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Master, Mistress has arrived at Xuefang Pavilion..."

The man said happily, "Really? She's thoughtful... It's getting late, go back and have someone prepare, I'm leaving Suzhou."

The old man hurriedly knelt down to accept the order. After they finished speaking, the two left the thatched hut one after the other, as if nothing had happened.

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