Chapter 100: World Three [14]

For her little disciple’s birthday, Jing Ke, as her Master, naturally had to show her appreciation.

However, Jing Ke didn’t choose any fancy ornaments or jewelry. Instead, she gifted her the unassuming Eighteen Weapons. Not only did Luo Yuezhu get a higher quality sword, but she also unlocked the other seventeen weapons.

Jing Ke’s requirement for her little disciple was simple: she didn’t demand mastery of all eighteen weapons, but she had to at least understand the basic forms of the eighteen common weapons. This way, when encountering enemies wielding different arms, she wouldn’t be caught off guard right from the start.

Spoiling a child is never a good thing, so on the day of her little disciple’s birthday, Jing Ke only demonstrated the use of the other weapons, giving her a general concept first.

The relationship between the Devil Sect and the Martial Arts Alliance hadn’t eased because of the Spring Festival and Lantern Festival. Instead, it grew increasingly fierce, forcing the Imperial Court to abandon its position as a passive observer. The Court dispatched experts from the Four Seas Pavilion to assist the Martial Arts Alliance, hoping to drive the Devil Sect out of the Central Plains as quickly as possible.

Peace Offering City’s position was somewhat awkward. Just as Head Constable Liu had worried, if the conflict between the Devil Sect and the Martial Arts Alliance escalated, Peace Offering City might become collateral damage, an innocent fish caught in the disaster.

But as time passed day by day, Head Constable Liu found that his fears didn’t seem to materialize. It was as if the people from the Devil Sect and the Martial Arts Alliance deliberately avoided Peace Offering City; neither side actively stirred up trouble there.

This strange atmosphere stretched from before the new year until June of the following year. Only after the height of summer arrived did the friction between the Devil Sect and the Martial Arts Alliance gradually lessen.

Although the Four Seas Pavilion had lost quite a few members, it also absorbed many new forces, turning elite disciples from many small sects into members of the Four Seas Pavilion.

The friction and conflict between the three powers didn’t distract Jing Ke. Over those six months, she remained a strict teacher demanding results from her disciple. Not only did her little disciple’s Inner Energy achieve some small success, her Lightness Skill also became slightly better than the average martial artist’s.

To give the simplest example: the Gatekeeper and Servant Boy who could exchange a few blows with Luo Yuezhu while armed before the new year could barely last five moves after she began cultivating Inner Strength.

If it were now, and if she weren’t worried about injuring them by using too much force, Luo Yuezhu could subdue both of them simultaneously in a single move.

This kind of progress was actually very obvious. If it were an ordinary person, it might take years of hard effort.

But Luo Yuezhu didn’t have many chances to interact with martial artists of average talent. The person she knew best was her own Master.

And as for Jing Ke’s strength, there’s no need for further detail; she was already at the ceiling, an existence at the very top.

So Luo Yuezhu didn’t think she was impressive at all. So what if she could take down many ordinary people in one move? That was still too far behind her Master. She still had to work hard for nineteen more years!

–

Jing Ke originally planned to take some time to bring her little disciple back to the Sect Grounds. Her little disciple’s Internal Cultivation Method had smoothly broken through to the 2nd Layer, and some of the medicines stored in the Armory that could enhance Internal Energy Cultivation could almost be given to her little disciple.

Leaving those sorts of things too long only made their medicinal potency slowly fade. Better to feed them to her little disciple sooner and let her become Number One in the World.

“Master, are you going to take me traveling to other places?” Luo Yuezhu asked upon hearing this. “Are we leaving Peace Offering City?”

“More or less. Staying cooped up and doing things behind closed doors isn’t good for accumulating practical combat experience. Going out and walking around, you’ll meet all kinds of people. You can use them to practice and gain some experience roaming the Jianghu.”

Jing Ke didn’t deny it. In the eyes of ordinary citizens, Peace Offering City was already a large town, but to Jing Ke, it was still lacking. It didn’t compare to the prosperity and luxury of the Capital City, nor the wealth and abundance of the Jiangnan hubs.

Especially since there were basically no major sect garrisons in Peace Offering City. Compared to actual sects, the so-called martial artists in Peace Offering City were more like a group of people without backing who banded together and unified under a sect name.

“Master, can we wait until September to leave? I want to stay in Peace Offering City for three more months,” Luo Yuezhu said.

“Hmm? You don’t like traveling in the summer?” Jing Ke asked.

Luo Yuezhu shook her head. “I… I want to wait until after Mother and the others’ death anniversary is over before leaving.”

Upon hearing her little disciple’s words, Jing Ke finally realized. According to the current customs of this era, after a direct family member passed away, the family had to observe a mourning period.

Under the Former Dynasty, it was three years, but after the new dynasty was established, the rule of three years of mourning was changed to one year by the third Emperor.

“Alright, then we’ll depart in September. That leaves you some time to arrange the matters at the residence,” Jing Ke said, reaching out to rub her little disciple’s head.

Her little disciple had grown a bit taller since the new year, now almost reaching her shoulder. Continuing like this, she might really become as tall as her Master.

–

From June to September, there were still three full months.

After the friction between the Devil Sect and the Martial Arts Alliance subsided, Jing Ke noticed more unfamiliar faces appearing in Peace Offering City. These people either carried swords and sabers or walked with light, brisk steps—clearly, they were all trained fighters.

Peace Offering City shouldn’t have anything valuable enough to simultaneously attract the Devil Sect and the Martial Arts Alliance, right? Could they be coming for her?

A highly probable guess surfaced in Jing Ke’s mind. She didn’t want to see this happen.

So, upon spotting the familiar Yin Honglian on the main street, she directly transmitted her voice to the other, asking her to meet in a private booth at the tea house.

Receiving the voice transmission, Yin Honglian was initially quite happy. Jing Ke voluntarily contacting her meant their relationship was still decent.

But thinking about how Ye Wenxin from the Martial Arts Alliance was still persistently chasing her, her mood soured considerably.

Ye Wenxin’s martial arts cultivation wasn’t inferior to Yin Honglian’s. In a direct confrontation without using petty tricks, Yin Honglian couldn’t beat her.

This led to Yin Honglian being unable to shake off Ye Wenxin. She could only, knowing she had a tail, come to the tea house booth Jing Ke had designated.

“Jing Ke, let me state this upfront: I had no intention of revealing your whereabouts, but I have a tail following me that I can’t shake off,” Yin Honglian confessed her situation before she even sat down.

“I know. Is she from the Martial Arts Alliance?” Jing Ke asked.

“Yes, the one following me is Ye Wenxin. She’s the Personal Disciple of the Martial Arts Alliance Chief, and the youngest Hall Master of Vermilion Bird Hall. Many people think she might become the Martial Arts Alliance Chief in ten or twenty years.”

After hearing the words “I know” from Jing Ke’s mouth, Yin Honglian immediately relaxed. She quickly sat down and took the initiative to pour herself a pot of tea.

“Why is she following you? Or rather, what does she want to get from you?” Jing Ke asked.

Yin Honglian shook her head. “I don’t know. A long time ago, I already handed over the corresponding antidote to her. Her Junior Brother Yu’s injuries are almost fully healed. I don’t owe her anything now.”

“Then why did you come to Peace Offering City again? Just to deliver something to me, or do you want to get something from me?” Jing Ke directly asked the question she cared about.

“Jing Ke, don’t misunderstand. I consider you a good friend. I’m here purely because I heard some rumors from the Martial Arts Alliance side, so I came to join the excitement,” Yin Honglian said with a smile.

What other purpose could Yin Honglian have for coming to Peace Offering City? Of course, it was to get closer to Jing Ke and try to persuade her to join the Devil Sect.

“What about Lin Yuxiu? Has he breathed his last yet?” Jing Ke naturally didn’t believe Yin Honglian’s words.

A Devil Sect Left Protector and a Hall Master of Vermilion Bird Hall from the Martial Arts Alliance—both of these individuals had significant backgrounds. How could they possibly waste their time in a useless place?

“No, the Martial Arts Alliance Chief is using top-quality ginseng and other medicinal herbs to keep Lin Yuxiu hanging on. He shouldn’t die for the next few years.” Yin Honglian sniffed the tea’s aroma and took a very perfunctory sip.

“If I’m treating, how about we go to Phoenix Cry Tower next time? The wine there is much better than the tea here,” Yin Honglian seriously suggested. “If you’re worried about your little disciple, you can bring her along too.”

Jing Ke’s face darkened. “Have you forgotten what your Right Protector did last year?”

Yin Honglian froze for a moment upon hearing this, only realizing Jing Ke’s meaning after a good pause. She immediately sat up straight and apologized, “Sorry, that was my oversight.”

“It’s lucky you only slipped up like this once in front of me.” Jing Ke put down her teacup. “Tell me honestly, besides you and Ye Wenxin behind you, are there any other notable figures in Peace Offering City?”

“Elders from the Martial Arts Alliance might have come here in disguise. I’m not too clear on the specifics. Over the past half-year or so, the nails we planted in the Martial Arts Alliance have all been rooted out,” Yin Honglian said.

“My previous invitation still stands. If you, Master and disciple, are willing to visit, the Cult Leader and I will certainly treat you both as honored guests, ensuring no irrelevant people disturb you,” Yin Honglian said, attempting to offer more benefits to persuade Jing Ke.

But before she could finish, the door to the booth was knocked on.

“Heroine Jing, I am Ye Wenxin of the Martial Arts Alliance. I wonder if Heroine Jing would be willing to meet with me.” Ye Wenxin, who had followed, asked from outside the door.

Jing Ke raised an eyebrow slightly. Seeing the smile on Yin Honglian’s face stiffen, she felt the urge to watch a show.

“So it’s Heroine Ye. I’ve long heard of your great name. Why don’t you come in and chat with us?” Jing Ke said, not rejecting Ye Wenxin’s request.

Thus, the two people originally in the booth became three, and the atmosphere grew subtle.

Ye Wenxin appeared young, likely no more than three years older or younger than Yin Honglian. She wore a simple, elegant blue-green robe, with no fancy ornaments on her head, her hair simply held up by a plain wooden hairpin.

Compared to the casually seated, offhand demeanor of Yin Honglian, Ye Wenxin seemed extremely particular about rules and propriety.

However, after a few brief pleasantries, she also, on behalf of the Martial Arts Alliance, offered quite good conditions, inviting Jing Ke and Luo Yuezhu to come to Yangzhou.

“If Heroine Jing is willing, the Martial Arts Alliance is prepared to offer the position of Elder. Secret manuals and cultivation methods within our Armory are also open for both of you to choose from freely,” Ye Wenxin said. Her offered terms seemed quite good as well.

Jing Ke responded with a noncommittal “Oh,” then asked a question she cared more about: “I have a grudge against Lin Yuxiu. If I want to kill him, will you stop me?”

Hearing this question, Ye Wenxin thought for a moment. “Is Heroine Jing considering this because Lin Yuxiu once stole a great treasure from your sect?”

“More or less. An ungrateful wretch like that deserves to die,” Jing Ke said in a flat tone.

There were some things she hadn’t told her little disciple, but that didn’t mean Jing Ke didn’t know them.

For instance, Lin Yuxiu had indeed spent a period as a homeless beggar, and he had indeed been taken in by the Luo family for a while.

At that time, her little disciple was still young, so she had no impression of Lin Yuxiu, who had only stayed at their home for three months.

But Little Mu, who was older, remembered it very clearly. She knew her master had taken in a fairly good-looking half-grown child, changing his lowly name to Lin Su, intending to train him as an assistant for the young master.

Unfortunately, this Lin Su had little ability but immense ambition. After being cleaned up and made presentable, he set his sights on the Young Mistress, wanting to rise from servant to master and become the son-in-law of the Luo Residence.

The Young Mistress had already begun taking over the family business by then and naturally wouldn’t be moved by someone with no particular skill. So she refused him very bluntly and transferred him to work in one of the shops.

Little Mu wasn’t entirely sure of the specifics of what Lin Su did, but after the Young Mistress transferred him away, she never saw that person again.

Lin Su, Lin Yuxiu. Connecting the existing clues, it was easy to guess they were the same person.

As for why he changed his name, it was probably to sever ties with the Luo family while harboring the intention of starting anew, reinventing himself.

And when infiltrating the Devil Sect as an Inside Agent, he clearly revealed that the Luo Residence in Peace Offering City had shown him kindness. There was no evidence now to prove he did this intentionally. But likewise, there was no evidence showing that Lin Yuxiu did all this unintentionally.

This kind of thing, which was terrible to hear and affected one’s mood deeply, Jing Ke hadn’t revealed even half a word to her little disciple. But she had always remembered it herself. That was why she cared so much about Lin Yuxiu’s situation.

But Ye Wenxin seemed completely unaware of this matter. One was the Hall Master of Vermilion Bird Hall, the other the Deputy Hall Master of Azure Dragon Hall. They really didn’t have much time to meet normally.

“Let me add some information,” Yin Honglian drawled. “When Lin Yuxiu was an Inside Agent in the Devil Sect, he frequently brought up the story of how Squire Luo saved him. Everyone who was on good terms with him knew about this.”

“Lin Yuxiu is neither a fool, nor was he forced to be an Inside Agent in the Devil Sect. He should know very well that his actions would anger us. Under such circumstances, to keep mentioning the Luo family’s kindness to him…”

Yin Honglian stopped at just the right moment, letting out a derisive snort, leaving the possibilities for Ye Wenxin to guess and contemplate.

Ye Wenxin frowned. “We were unaware of this matter. If it is true, I will petition my Master to hand Lin Yuxiu over to you two for judgment.”

Clearly, Ye Wenxin also highly disapproved of such ungrateful behavior and directly stated the Martial Arts Alliance’s stance.

“Heroine Jing, if you are willing to come settle with us, I would risk half my life to bring you Lin Yuxiu’s head,” Yin Honglian added.

“Heroine Jing, the Martial Arts Alliance has been continuously tracking the Devil Sect Right Protector’s whereabouts. Once we have news, I am willing to provide it to you, Heroine Jing, free of charge, at the earliest possible moment.” Ye Wenxin was rule-abiding, but not rigid. She quickly thought of a way to counter the Devil Sect.

The Martial Arts Alliance indeed had Lin Yuxiu, who had a grudge against Jing Ke. But the Devil Sect was no better. The Devil Sect Right Protector was the enemy of Jing Ke’s precious disciple; a blood feud stood between them.

Hearing Ye Wenxin mention the Right Protector, Yin Honglian couldn’t help but glare at her, inwardly cursing her for being despicable and shameless.

“Everyone knows the Right Protector’s methods and conduct. I believe the chief culprit is still Lin Yuxiu. The fact that your Martial Arts Alliance could let someone like that become a Deputy Hall Master speaks volumes,” Yin Honglian said bluntly.

“The Martial Arts Alliance is busy with many affairs; occasional oversights are unavoidable. We are willing to do our utmost to make amends for our mistakes. If Heroine Jing is willing, the Martial Arts Alliance will deliver Lin Yuxiu to you with both hands,” Ye Wenxin said calmly.