Visiting Fan City

“The truth will surface eventually. For now, just be wary of this Balance Army,” Qin Huai advised Li Shaoxiang.

They discussed a lot while standing on the peak of Nine Dragons Mountain. After a while, Qin Huai tenderly kissed Li Shaoxiang’s forehead and said his goodbyes without notifying anyone else.

“Has my brother-in-law left?” Li Buhu came rushing up the mountain, carrying two jars of good wine in his hands.

“Yes.”

“What a pity. I was hoping to have a practice match with him,” Li Buhu said, disappointed.

“Give this money to Father. Use it for the development of the Nanshan mine,” Li Shaoxiang instructed as she handed Li Buhu the money Qin Huai had given her.

“Alright.” Taking the stack of bills, Li Buhu turned to leave but then stopped and turned back. “Sis, are you sure you want to use all this money for the development of Nanshan Mine?” he asked, his voice shaking slightly.

“Hmm?” Li Shaoxiang frowned, snatching the money back from Li Buhu’s hand. “Forty million vitality pills,” she mumbled to herself, recalling Qin Huai’s earlier words.

“The generosity of kind-hearted people…It’s the equivalent of Lingjiang’s tax for a whole year. These kind people are really generous.” With a smile playing on her lips, Li Shaoxiang’s stunning beauty seemed to eclipse the world around her. “Invest all this money into the development of the ten counties. Also, gather the sect’s higher-ups. It’s time we discuss the establishment of the Ten East Green Commandery,” she ordered before striding down the mountain.

The larger the territory, the more areas there were to invest in. Lingjiang, at present, was like a carriage hurtling down a mountain road – it couldn’t afford to stop, or it would plummet into a pit of disaster. This money could be the much-needed fuel to resolve the immediate crisis.

…

Meanwhile, in Fan City County, at the governor’s manor, the governor’s son, Gui Weixing, stood nervously in the center of the hall.

“Sir, you must stand up for us,” he pleaded, his shoulders shaking. “Lingjiang’s army will reach Fan City in a few days. And the murderer who killed my father… He’s a top-tier visceral prefecture realm expert!”

At the head of the hall, a masked middle-aged man covered in intersecting black patterns sipped his tea slowly. Hearing Gui Weixing mention a peak visceral prefecture realm expert, he couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

“Hahaha… Do you know what a top-tier visceral prefecture realm expert is? How many visceral prefecture realm cultivators have you actually seen?” The middle-aged man’s face bore an expression of contempt.

“Frankly, your father was just a visceral prefecture realm expert groomed by our Sacred Heart sect,” the middle-aged man declared, undeterred by Gui Weixing’s distress. “I could defeat a guy like that single-handedly. However, the person who killed your father is indeed intriguing.”

“Likely someone from Lingjiang who made a name for themselves in Qingzhou City,” he continued. “Qingzhou City has been in turmoil recently, so it’s not surprising that some less competent folks would retreat to their hometowns to throw their weight around. They get to avoid the chaos and relish the feeling of being a big fish in a small pond.”

His smile, dripping with scorn, never left his face. He gave Gui Weixing a quick look, and the latter hurried to his side and bent down before him. “Don’t fret. When has our Sacred Heart sect ever failed?” He patted Gui Weixing’s shoulder confidently. “If that guy has the guts to show up, I’ll show him what a real visceral prefecture realm expert is.”

“Really?” A soft voice echoed in the meeting hall. action

Everyone jumped to their feet instantly. “How did you get in?” They stared at the handsome man standing quietly in the center of the hall.

“I walked in, naturally,” Qin Huai replied casually. He scanned the crowd, finally resting his gaze on the middle-aged man. “Sacred Heart sect. It’s you guys again.”

“Hmm… So you’re the one who killed the governor of Fan City County,” the middle-aged man, whose name was Lu Zifu, mused. “I didn’t expect you to be so young.”

“Wait, you’re… You’re Qin Huai, the master of the Nine Dragons sect?” Gui Weixing recognized the newcomer.

“Really?” Lu Zifu looked taken aback.

He was a top-tier expert at the second-level visceral prefecture realm, dispatched to the seemingly insignificant region of the ten counties. Yet, before he had arrived, he’d researched everything about these counties. In his view, the only person worth his attention was the young sect master of the Nine Dragons sect, Qin Huai.

Qin Huai had resolved the sect’s internal feud, defeated the Sacred Heart sect’s army led by the governor of Lingjiang and Zou Shuang, and almost single-handedly dragged the Nine Dragons sect from the brink of collapse. However, the young man had been missing for over two years.

“Breaking through to the next level in such a desolate land… You’re indeed talented,” Lu Zifu acknowledged, showing no sign of hostility or annoyance. Instead, he extended his hand to Qin Huai. “How about it? Want to join me? I can… No, the Sacred Heart sect can make you the ruler of the ten counties!”

“But, sir, you promised me…” Gui Weixing began to protest.

Pa!

With a swift slap, Lu Zifu silenced him. Gui Weixing fell to the ground, clutching his reddened cheek. He glared at Qin Huai but didn’t utter a word.

Lu Zifu didn’t spare him another glance.