Chapter 82: A Sword Across the Gate

"You mean to say, after finally obtaining the information and paying a price to arrange for Shen Nanqi to bring you along with Ye Qingyu on that operation, you... didn't speak a single word to her?"

Fang Zehou settled back into his chair, his expression unreadable.

Fang Heling stood ramrod straight. "Ye Qingyu, with her noble lineage, regards all beneath her. From start to finish, she kept herself apart. Your son believes, rather than deliberately intrude and risk her displeasure, it was better to remain silent. While this might not leave her with any impression, at the very least, it preserves the goodwill of having fought side-by-side."

"Do you realize," Fang Zehou's voice was flat, "that with just a single word from Ye Qingyu, our enterprises in Yun State could expand a hundredfold?"

"And so," Fang Heling replied calmly, "with just a single word from her, she could completely sever the trade routes that you, Father, have painstakingly established in Yun State."

Fang Zehou did not contradict him. "Gongfeng Li is already prepared. Go train with him."

Fang Heling turned and departed. It was only after his son's visibly thinner frame had disappeared from view that a faint smile touched Fang Zehou's lips.

"My son... he has grown!"

***

At the Three-Point Fragrance Tower, Zhu Weiwai had booked the entire floor and drank alone. Though in a brothel, he held not a single girl in his arms. Gauze-clad beauties danced and sang on a raised platform, while the Xin Jin Spear, renowned throughout Zhuang State, rested against his table. His eyes held a slight haze of drink, lost in thoughts unknown. He drank and savored the performance.

It was at this moment that Jiang Wang ascended the stairs, a noticeable pause in his step. He had expected someone as extreme and flamboyant as Zhu Weiwai, upon entering the Three-Point Fragrance Tower, to be surrounded by beauties, indulging in excess. He had not anticipated this solitary drinking and appreciation of the dance.

Upon seeing Jiang Wang, an uninvited guest, Zhu Weiwai's eyebrows lifted, and without a word, his imposing aura surged.

"Senior Brother Zhu," Jiang Wang addressed him directly, "I have come unbidden, and it is indeed because I have a matter to beg your assistance with."

Zhu Weiwai drained his cup, a playful look in his eyes. "Why would you think I would help you?" He neither inquired about the matter nor why Jiang Wang sought him out. For he truly did not care. In this Qinghe County, there were few things that truly mattered to him.

Jiang Wang stated, "Because you are the Senior Brother of the Fenglin City Dao Academy, and I am Jiang Wang of the Fenglin City Dao Academy." Jiang Wang made no mention of their camaraderie during the battle against Xiong Wen, for they both understood the truth: he, Jiang Wang, had benefited in that exchange, and Zhu Weiwai owed him nothing.

Zhu Weiwai smiled. "You wish to imply you are a worthy investment? Do you believe I need to invest in a newly entered inner sect disciple like yourself?"

Jiang Wang felt no shame at being underestimated, for the current Zhu Weiwai indeed possessed such standing. He merely said, "The second reason is that Lin Zhengren's actions are truly vexing. Senior Brother Zhu is occupied with important affairs and disinclined to concern yourself with such trifles. But it is not beyond my ability to go and make him uncomfortable."

Zhu Weiwai offered no comment, reaching out to pat his long spear. "Do you know this spear?"

"The radiance of the Xin Jin Spear is something this Junior Brother will never forget in this lifetime."

"For the first thirty years, it was merely an unremarkable piece of decaying wood, lying within the forest. A woodcutter retrieved it for firewood, yet it burned for thirty years and still did not turn to ash. Later, a renowned craftsman heard of it and purchased it for ten thousand gold, adding extraterrestrial iron to forge it into a long spear. This is the origin of the Xin Jin Spear." Zhu Weiwai asked, "What thoughts arise after hearing this tale?"

"I am thinking," Jiang Wang sighed, "that the woodcutter who obtained ten thousand gold must have met with misfortune. He suddenly possessed the wealth of ten thousand gold, yet lacked the strength to retain it."

Zhu Weiwai smiled. "Come, drink."

***

On the third day of the first month of winter, a small boat descended the Green Willow River and entered the Qing River, passing through the water gate into Wangjiang City. Since Zhu Weiwai had single-handedly subdued the city, the city guards had become particularly vigilant towards vessels from Fenglin City.

There were three figures on this small boat: Jiang Wang, Ling He, and Zhao Rucheng. He was indeed venturing into conflict this time, and naturally, his two sworn brothers had to follow. If not for Du Yehu being far away in Jiujiang City and out of contact, he would not have been absent from this. An An had been entrusted to Huang Azhan's care, leaving Jiang Wang free of such worries.

Among the three, Jiang Wang had already laid his foundation and was in the process of constructing his second Dao Whirl with the aid of the Star River Dao Whirl. Naturally, this astonishing speed was only relative to the time taken to build his first Dao Whirl. Currently, Jiang Wang could perform up to four pulse attacks per day without adversely affecting his body, and the Star River Dao Whirl automatically generated nine Dao Yuan daily. At this rate, he would require no more than a month to complete his second Dao Whirl.

Furthermore, besides Zhao Rucheng who was still in the pulse-opening stage, Ling He had also successfully laid his foundation. He had opened his pulse on the nineteenth of September and completed his foundation on the second day of the first month of winter, just one day before their departure. Ordinary cultivators of the Dao Meridian with true spirits, utilizing the Returning Yuan Array Diagram for foundation laying, had a speed limit of completing it within forty-one days. And Ling He represented the extreme speed for foundation laying with such ordinary talent. This meant that his cultivation had not slackened for a single day, and he had not failed to circulate his Dao Yuan even once! This solid and terrifying foundation, reflected in combat power, meant that even though he had just laid his foundation, he was no less than an ordinary foundation-laying cultivator.

The three brothers entered the city and went directly to the small courtyard where Lin Zhengren and Song Ruyi resided. The information regarding this location was not difficult to obtain, and indeed, as Jiang Wang had anticipated, the courtyard was empty, devoid of any occupants. Song Ruyi's death was recorded as suicide in the official documents of Wangjiang City's yamen. However, there was no record of the ownership of the dowry she had brought, nor the reason for her suicide. Jiang Wang, as a disciple of the Dao Academy, was able to access this information.

Ling He and Jiang Wang questioned the neighbors about the relationship between Song Ruyi and Lin Zhengren on a daily basis, but these individuals remained silent – which in itself spoke volumes. Although the circumstances were peculiar, the Lin family was the foremost power in Wangjiang City, and if no one pursued the matter, it would simply be closed. But there is no wall that does not allow for the passage of wind.

Zhao Rucheng went out for a stroll, and upon his return, he had gathered all the relevant news. How Lin Zhengren had become the Lin family's manager for medicinal materials, how he had become penniless and relocated to this two-courtyard dwelling. On the day Song Ruyi committed suicide, they had a fierce argument...

Things were already undeniably clear; Lin Zhengren was certainly not blameless in Song Ruyi's death. Lin Zhengren was not at the courtyard, so he was naturally within the Lin family's ancestral lands.

***

To the east of Wangjiang City, a vast expanse was entirely allocated to the Lin family. A towering archway guarded the entrance, creating a city within a city. At this moment, Jiang Wang and his two companions stood before this city within a city.

"Halt!" Two guards of the Lin family stood before the archway, their gazes sharp.

"I am seeking Lin Zhengren," Jiang Wang stated.

"He is not here!"

"Is that so? Then I shall enter and see for myself."

The guards were incensed. "The Lin family's ancestral lands, are you to enter at your leisure?"

Zhao Rucheng sneered. "My legs belong to this Grandpa; are you to stop them?"

The two sides were on the verge of conflict, the atmosphere charged with tension.

"Jiang Wang, think carefully!" A familiar figure emerged from within the ancestral lands, a smug sneer on his face. "Trespassing upon the Lin family's ancestral lands is considered a declaration of war against the Lin family; it will not end until one side is annihilated! The Dao Academy will not protect you!"

Who else could it be but Lin Zhengli?

"So the Lin family's ancestral lands are not to be trespassed upon? If that is the case..." Jiang Wang smiled inexplicably.

"Then you..."

He raised his eyebrows and drew his sword! A brilliant sword light flashed before him, carving an incredibly thin, yet incredibly deep fissure upon the ground.

"Then no one is permitted to leave!"

The foremost family of Wangjiang City, the Lin family. Was blocked at their gates by a single sword stroke.