In the sixth year of the Peace Era, on the second day of the first lunar month.
Wu Zhi almost couldn’t wait to arrive at the Nanfeng Prefecture, where a major purge began within the Wu family.
“I don’t care how you used to rely on your seniority before; now you must all understand one thing: traitors to the clan will be executed without mercy!”
Amidst Wu Zhi’s furious shout, several young men with pale faces were dragged screaming from the ancestral hall. Immediately after, cries of agony rang out and then fell silent.
This scene deeply shocked many present.
Wu Zhi looked at several elderly men standing in the front row of the family members, slightly frowning: “Wu Tongtian’s family elder and his son Wu Si colluded with outsiders and leaked our military secrets. According to clan rules, they should be executed. However, considering their past contributions, their lives will be temporarily spared!”
Before anyone could catch their breath, Wu Zhi’s chilling laughter echoed once more: “However, while their deaths may be pardoned, their crimes cannot be excused. Today, I hereby strip Wu Tongtian and Wu Si of all their official positions and confiscate their properties… Rest assured, I will leave them with one house and ten mu of barren farmland, so their descendants may still attend the clan’s school and martial arts hall…”
This punishment was in fact more cruel than execution.
It also served as a warning within the clan: anyone who witnessed this family’s plight would think twice before resisting again.
“Now, I, as the head of the family, command the dissolution of the Wu clan elders’ council. What do you have to say about this?”
After dealing decisively with the traitors, Wu Zhi was full of vigor and confidence. All the Wu family members immediately chose to back down in the face of her dominance.
Through this purge, she completely consolidated her power within the Wu family, promoting a group of loyalists and further strengthening her authority.
…
“By order of the Jiedushi, we are here to capture rebels. Civilians should keep away!”
Clatter! Clatter!
With a loud shout, a group of dozens of cavalry suddenly entered a small town, surrounding the only inn.
“It’s the Nanfeng cavalry!”
Seeing these fierce and valiant horsemen, every household in the town quickly shut their doors and windows, hiding under their quilts, trembling with fear.
The unfortunate travelers and merchants staying in the inn turned deathly pale, feeling as if a great disaster was about to befall them.
“Soldiers! We are law-abiding citizens! Law-abiding citizens!”
The innkeeper had already knelt down, fearing that the soldiers might take offense and kill him on the spot, leaving him to die in vain.
Even if they survived, being arrested and thrown into prison would mean they wouldn’t be released without paying a hefty bribe.
“Sir! I am Wang San, an agent from the Xingren Department, reporting for duty!”
A thin, tall man dressed in dark clothes and straw sandals, sporting a mustache like a rat’s whiskers, stood up: “I have confirmed the location of the spies!”
“Good!”
The cavalry commander waved his hand, and immediately five or six armored soldiers stepped forward, following the thin man to surround a guest room.
“Not good! It must be the matter of Zou Liang and Wu Lie that has been discovered!”
Inside the room, a man in black stood up. He was none other than the mastermind behind Mr. Zou, the chief of the secret spies for the Ding Marquis in this area.
As soon as the sound of horse hooves had been heard, this man had become alert. Now leaning by the window, he slightly lifted a crack in the curtain to observe.
When he saw the cavalry pouring in and the dozen or so soldiers outside moving around and completely surrounding the inn, cold sweat appeared on his forehead, and despair filled his face.
The enemy was too strong, and they were now trapped like fish in a barrel, with no chance of escape.
Bang!
Footsteps approached, and the door was kicked open. Five or six heavily armored soldiers rushed in.
These were elite soldiers from the army, comparable to the personal guards of a local commander. They radiated a fierce aura and, when working together, could trouble even those below the Grandmaster level, being immune to all sorts of tricks.
Now expressionless, they drew their long sabers.
“Wait!”
The man in black gritted his teeth and immediately knelt down: “I surrender! I surrender! I am the chief of the Ding Marquis’s secret spies. I know all the details about the spies in the Chufeng and Nanfeng Prefectures!”
“Haha… I’ve long heard of Mr. Kang’s reputation. Indeed, a wise man knows when to yield!”
The cavalry commander was momentarily taken aback, then burst into laughter.
Compared to a dead man, it was far more beneficial to capture the entire intelligence network for greater merit.
“As the saying goes, a wise bird chooses its tree carefully…”
Mr. Kang replied with a bitter smile, his heart secretly bleeding.
He knew that if news of his betrayal got out, his family and clansmen in the Dingyuan Prefecture, under the grip of the Ding Marquis, would suffer greatly.
But as the saying goes, death is the hardest choice one can make!
He had always thought of himself as a chivalrous and righteous man, at the very least fighting for his loved ones to achieve the honor of a martyr. But when faced with life and death, he found that this choice was incredibly difficult!
…
In Yunping County, within the Wu family fortress.
“I’ve already taught you all the Taoist techniques of the Jade Clarity Sect. Why do you still insist on going to the sect’s mountain gate?”
Under a plum blossom tree, Wu Ming frowned as he asked.
The Jade Clarity Taoist was a sly old fox. Although a terrestrial immortal wasn’t all-knowing, and certainly couldn’t deduce his relationship with Wu Qing just by looking at Wu Qing, it was still not very pleasant.
“Taoist techniques are only one aspect… You know, younger brother, that my heart is set on the Tao. Now that I know there are blessed lands and hidden paradises in this world, how can I not go and see them?”
Wu Qing, wearing a white fox fur coat, stood timidly beneath a gnarled plum tree, her peach-like face flushed red, making her even more beautiful than the flowers.
She then reached out her jade-like hand to adjust Wu Ming’s collar: “Now that you’re grown up and married, you no longer need your elder sister’s protection…”
Her tone was filled with satisfaction, and Wu Ming felt moved and sighed inwardly.
He was moved by their sibling affection, but sighed because he was no longer the spoiled young master he used to be.
This secret would never be told to Wu Qing.
“If my elder sister is so determined, then all I can do is wish you a safe journey and hope that you will achieve great success in the Tao, becoming an immortal with eternal life equal to heaven and earth…”
Wu Ming said helplessly. In truth, this was all the result of him copying passages from the “Free and Easy Wandering” and other oddities, which Wu Qing had seen and taken an interest in.
“Flattery! But I’ll take your good wishes anyway!”
Wu Qing’s lips curved into a captivating smile. Suddenly, a red magic sword appeared, transforming into a beam of light that enveloped her entire body, vanishing like a startled dragon.
Only a lingering, flute-like melody remained in the air:
“The willows are green, the river calm;
I hear my beloved’s song on the riverbank.
The sun rises in the east, rain falls in the west;
They say it’s not clear, yet it is clear…”
“Whether there is love or not, why must it be so painful?”
Wu Ming stood silently for a long time, then sighed softly, turned around, and unknowingly found himself at his elder sister’s boudoir.
“Ahh! Master Ming!”
A graceful figure came from behind, nervously fidgeting with her skirt, bowing uncertainly. It was Li Xiuyun, her heart pounding, not knowing whether she should confess or not.
“Xiuyun, come with me!”
Wu Ming pushed open the door and saw that Wu Qing’s room was still as elegant as always, except that the painting he had made for her was gone. Given the Wu family’s current wealth and luxury, the only thing Wu Qing had taken with her was that painting.
“This place will now be under your care. You must keep everything exactly as it is, understand?”
Wu Ming suddenly said.
“Mi… understood! I will personally come every day to clean for the young lady!”
Li Xiuyun bowed slightly: “Al… also… Master Ming, Xiuyun…”
“What’s wrong with you?”
Wu Ming turned around, eyes narrowing slightly. He noticed that Li Xiuyun now had a clear mind and a pure aura, indicating that her spiritual sea had opened, and she had officially entered the rank of ordained Taoist priests. In the outside world, this was enough for her to live independently and comfortably for life.
“Nothing… nothing really. I just wanted to say, Master Ming, Xiuyun has become quite useful now!”
As Li Xiuyun looked into Wu Ming’s eyes, her face inexplicably flushed red, and she forgot everything she had meant to say.
“Yes, you are very useful! Very useful indeed!”
Wu Ming inwardly rolled his eyes: “If this silly girl really told me about the main temple matters, everything would be exposed. At least I could guess that I am also a reincarnator! No… considering this girl’s way of thinking, she’s not as sharp as Huang Ying…”
“Remember this: speak less, do more, and just make sure to come every day to clean, and that will be enough…”
Seeing Li Xiuyun in this state, Wu Ming felt a bit reluctant: “I’ve already instructed the butler, Old Wu. If you need anything or encounter any problems in the future, just go to him—he’ll take care of it for you! I’ll be leaving soon… I feel at ease leaving this place in your hands!”
An ordained Taoist priest could live comfortably in a county noble family as an esteemed guest for life.
Wu Ming thought that if others knew he was treating his maid this way, they would surely criticize him. It was time to improve her treatment a bit.
“Master Ming is leaving?”
Li Xiuyun clearly only heard the last half of what he said: “Where are you going?”
As if realizing she had been impolite, she blushed again: “I just thought, with the long and tiring journey, you might need someone to attend to you…”
“This… really isn’t necessary!”
Wu Ming was a bit embarrassed. Even though he had reformed, having servants and beautiful maids to attend to him was still an unavoidable part of being a rich young master in ancient times.
But this trip was extremely secret, related to the Blood Oath Alliance. How could he possibly bring along a trailing maid?
Wu Ming thought he wasn’t that foolish.
“I still need to say something to Wu Zhi…”
After sending off the reluctant Li Xiuyun, Wu Ming helplessly rubbed his temples: “But she’s currently busy cleansing the ranks, conducting a major purge, and replacing them with loyalists. Soon, she might even wage war against the Dingyuan Prefecture. She’s already swamped, so there shouldn’t be any major issues…”
…
Buzz!
A beam of light flashed by, and in a blink, it was dozens of zhang away, before revealing Wu Ming’s figure.
After finishing a pile of tasks, he immediately set out, determined to seize this rare opportunity to deal with the Blood Oath Alliance and other authority holders.
“E Xu actually agreed quite quickly, without much complaint…”
Wu Ming felt that their relationship was more like that of Taoist companions, sharing a sense of mutual aspirations.
However, his goal was personal transcendence, while hers was to bring peace to the world, seeking the transcendence of the entire world.
“Unfortunately, ideals are lofty, but reality is harsh. I have a feeling that even if Wu Zhi eventually subdues all the lords and unifies the Divine Land, in the end, she might still end up in a pitiful state!”
After a sigh, Wu Ming swept his spiritual sense around to confirm that no one was nearby. A strange smile appeared on his face: “It’s time!”
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