Volume One: The Autumn Festival, Chapter Thirty-Nine: The Rong Family of Lüpu

Xunyang Marquis Manor, Qixia Street.

Looking at Venerable Luo, the old steward’s expression was incredibly solemn as he said in a low voice, "The 'old acquaintance' you spoke of... it turns out to be you."

"Tong Ji, when I first met you, you were still a lad, but now you have become this. Truly, time spares no one," Venerable Luo said with a sigh, appearing quite nostalgic.

The old steward asked, "What is the meaning of the Venerable’s visit?"

Venerable Luo smiled. "Old friends reuniting—why so cold? Come to think of it, when the Marquis was born, I even held him. I even offered you guidance in martial arts; in a way, I am half a teacher to you."

The old steward remained silent, then bowed respectfully and said, "Then, what is the meaning of the Venerable’s visit?"

Venerable Luo narrowed his eyes. "Naturally, to pay a visit to the Marquis."

The old steward frowned. "The Marquis is no longer with us."

Venerable Luo’s expression shifted dramatically. "What happened? Why did I hear nothing of this?"

The old steward watched him, unsure if the man was genuinely ignorant or merely feigning it, and said coolly, "That was many years ago."

Venerable Luo swayed slightly, his voice filled with grief. "I have been stationed at the Kutan Martial God Shrine, and with so many pressing matters, I never found the opportunity to visit him. To think that we are now separated by the heavens and the earth... he lived a bitter life since childhood, and yet he has departed before me. It is truly a tragedy for a white-haired man to bury a black-haired one."

Seeing that Venerable Luo’s sorrow did not seem feigned, the old steward’s expression softened. He said quietly, "My condolences, Venerable. Life and death are beyond one's control. Cultivators seek immortality, but where does true immortality exist?"

Venerable Luo wiped away his tears. "Take me to pay my respects."

The old steward hesitated. "The Marquis’s remains are not here, nor is there a spirit tablet."

Venerable Luo furrowed his brows. "How can that be? Is there some hidden secret?"

The old steward replied, "This is a private matter of the Marquis’s manor; there is no need to trouble the Venerable."

Venerable Luo said sternly, "That is pure folly! If the Marquis was murdered, how could it be none of my business?"

The old steward remained silent. There was indeed a hidden secret, but he would not trust anyone with it, not even Venerable Luo.

Seeing his demeanor, Venerable Luo pondered for a moment and asked, "Did the Marquis leave behind any heirs?"

The old steward nodded. "The young Marquis is in the manor."

Venerable Luo stepped straight into the manor. The old steward paused for a moment before following. The man in the goose-yellow robes trailed behind them. Once he actually entered the manor, he noticed that the decor was quite extravagant, with precious items visible everywhere.

Arriving at the courtyard where Jiang Wang resided, Venerable Luo looked at the sickly man lying on the rattan chair and exclaimed in surprise, "That is the young Marquis?"

The man in the goose-yellow robes took a look and laughed, "If he hadn't moved a few times, I would have thought he was a corpse."

Venerable Luo glared at him upon hearing this.

The old steward said, "The Venerable’s subordinates lack any sense of decorum. If he continues to spout such nonsense, I shall teach him a lesson on the Venerable’s behalf."

Venerable Luo restrained the man in the goose-yellow robes with a look and said to the old steward, "The Rong family of Lüpu are a prominent house, and being young, they are a bit arrogant, but they are truly kind-hearted and have no ill intentions. Do not be angry; I will discipline him when we return."

The Rong family of Lüpu was considered a family of warriors, loyal to the Martial God Shrine. The old steward despised those who relied on power to act recklessly, but he said nothing further at the moment.

Venerable Luo approached the rattan chair and looked at the remarkably handsome Jiang Wang. He smiled, "Indeed, a worthy son of the Marquis. You have inherited all the strengths of your parents. I fear there is no other man as handsome as you in the entire Sui Kingdom."

Jiang Wang raised his eyes and said casually, "Is the old gentleman the old acquaintance of my father?"

Before Venerable Luo could speak, the man in the goose-yellow robes jumped out again. "The Venerable is before you—not rising to offer a salute is one thing, but why is your attitude so lax?"

Jiang Wang glanced at him and said, "What business is that of yours?"

This infuriated the man in the goose-yellow robes.

Venerable Luo’s face darkened. Since arriving at the manor, this was the second time he had glared at the man. Being of advanced age, he felt his eyes growing sore.

"It is of no consequence. I am an elder, and the young Marquis is like my own grandson. What does it matter whether you salute or not?"

Venerable Luo waved his sleeve to dismiss the man, then looked at Jiang Wang with a smile. "Now that you are the head of the house and will inherit the title of Marquis, you will hold significant power in the Sui Kingdom. I see your body is weak, and you have neither cultivated nor trained in martial arts. Upon hearing the news of the Marquis, I am filled with guilt. I must teach you well. Are you willing to learn martial arts from me?"

Jiang Wang arched an eyebrow. "Are you very strong?"

Venerable Luo laughed heartily. "I can only say that in all of Kutan, apart from the Sword God, his disciples, and the libationer of the Yuyuan Academy, and counting that old stubborn mule at the Qingxuan Bureau, there is no one stronger than me."

Jiang Wang thought to himself that he wasn't that strong then—if you exclude that many people, is there even any point in ranking? However, since he was a martial artist, his eyes brightened slightly. Sun Qingya had already come to the manor to teach Xiaoyu martial arts, and the Venerable Luo before him was certainly much stronger than Sun Qingya.

He said, "I have no intention of learning martial arts, but my maid has excellent aptitude. Could the old gentleman teach her?"

The smile on Venerable Luo’s face froze.

The man in the goose-yellow robes jumped out again at the perfect moment. "What are you thinking? The Venerable wants to teach you martial arts; you should be grateful! You actually want the Venerable to teach a lowly maid? Who do you think you are insulting?"

This time, Venerable Luo did not stop him. After all, his words were quite accurate. How could he, a dignified Venerable of the Martial God Shrine, teach a maid martial arts?

Jiang Wang’s expression slowly darkened. If nothing else, the word "lowly" had already touched his temper. Although he could not currently utilize the power of his divine kingdom, the Night-Wandering God had mostly recovered. Just as he was about to act, he saw Sun Qingya and Xiaoyu approaching.

"Young Master, Xiaoyu’s talent is indeed extraordinary. I only taught her for two hours, and she has already broken through her realm again."

Sun Qingya was very excited; he had never seen a martial artist with aptitude like Xiaoyu’s. It wasn't just breaking into the peak of the second realm; she had already sent Qi flowing through her limbs and bones, achieving a result only possible for a third-realm martial artist. To put it more exaggeratedly, Xiaoyu could beat a hundred martial artists of her own realm.

Ignoring the atmosphere entirely, Sun Qingya continued, "Though I hate to admit it, I have nothing left to teach her. Now, she simply needs to consolidate her foundation step-by-step and refine her True Qi. Such things cannot be helped by outsiders."

Jiang Wang set aside his anger for the moment and looked at Xiaoyu with great delight. "As expected of my Chief Maid, you are truly excellent."

Xiaoyu lowered her head in shyness. For her cold, aloof face to show such a gesture was a bit strange, but to Jiang Wang, it seemed all the more adorable.

Venerable Luo’s gaze fell upon Xiaoyu, his expression shifting to shock. She truly possessed the perfect bones for martial arts! Hearing Sun Qingya’s words, he was certain Xiaoyu’s realm was not high, but she had already stepped into the stage of refining True Qi. Such aptitude was simply unfathomable.

Venerable Luo immediately said to Jiang Wang, "Young Marquis, I agree! I am willing to teach her martial arts!"

Jiang Wang frowned. "But I am no longer willing."

Venerable Luo’s face stiffened.

The man in the goose-yellow robes said indignantly, "You are ungrateful! The Venerable is willing to teach her—it is a blessing that would take lifetimes of good fortune to earn, and you dare to refuse?!"

"Shut your mouth!" Venerable Luo was furious at this man who caused more trouble than he was worth.

Jiang Wang said coldly, "I will find a better teacher for Xiaoyu. This kind of 'blessing' is not worth having."

Venerable Luo said, "Do not act out of spite. This boy is a bit arrogant, but we must not hinder Xiaoyu’s potential. Moreover, since I am the one teaching her, and I am an elder to your father, I will naturally do my utmost."

Even so, once Jiang Wang’s temper was ignited, it could not be easily extinguished. He said in a low voice, "Then let this person who speaks filth kneel and apologize to Xiaoyu."

Xiaoyu was bewildered; she did not even know what had happened.

The man in the goose-yellow robes was incensed with shame. "I am the direct heir of the Rong family of Lüpu and a second-rank attendant of the Kutan Martial God Shrine! To ask me to kneel and apologize to a lowly maid—this is utterly preposterous!"

Jiang Wang’s expression grew even darker. This was the second time. As the saying goes, "things do not happen a third time." His fury was already rising in his throat.

Venerable Luo remained expressionless. It was clearly very difficult to make Rong Yulu kneel and apologize, but he was indeed very pleased by Xiaoyu’s exceptional aptitude, so he decided to stand aside and let the young people resolve it themselves.

Jiang Wang looked at Sun Qingya, who understood his intent.

Sun Qingya walked straight toward Rong Yulu, clenching his hands until his knuckles cracked. Venerable Luo arched an eyebrow but remained indifferent.

Rong Yulu sneered. "What, you want to fight? Then I’ll play along."

He drew the sword hanging at his waist, his martial aura surging—it was only a notch weaker than Feng Linghuai’s. Sun Qingya carried no weapon; he lunged at Rong Yulu with his bare hands, like a fierce tiger descending a mountain, his momentum imposing.

With his arm muscles tensed, he blocked the sword strike from Rong Yulu with his bare hands—such was the fearsome physique of a martial artist. However, Rong Yulu was a fourth-realm martial artist after all, and he possessed a sharp blade. Though the first strike did not break Sun Qingya’s defense, it left a clear mark. If he took a few more blows relying purely on his physique, there would be a limit.

Therefore, Sun Qingya intended to end the fight quickly.

Blocking another strike from Rong Yulu, Sun Qingya’s left palm shot toward his throat. He seized the man by the neck, lifted him into the air, and slammed him heavily onto the ground. The excruciating pain in his throat left Rong Yulu gasping for air. No matter how much he kicked and punched, he could not move Sun Qingya, who remained as immovable as a mountain.

"Some 'Rong family of Lüpu'... truly absurd. A total waste."

Sun Qingya gripped Rong Yulu’s neck, looking down at him, and mocked him casually.

Jiang Wang clapped his hands. "Brother Sun is truly fierce!"

Seeing this scene, Venerable Luo understood. Although he did not recognize Sun Qingya, he was certainly a formidable general of the Black Flame Army, and his martial realm had reached the peak of the fourth realm. In the Sui Kingdom, while martial artists who had reached the Grandmaster realm were not exactly rare, there were not many of them either. Sun Qingya was likely only one opportunity away from ascending to that level.