Having reached a safe place, Zhu Ju calmed himself and replayed the entire fight in his mind.

’A Magician’s methods are strange and unpredictable, but they all stem from the same principles. As long as my Physical Body and Divine Soul are strong enough, I have nothing to fear.’

’With my current strength, a Magician is no match for me in close quarters. But I wonder about the methods of a Mage?’

’Mages can use their Divine Thought to channel the Power of Heaven and Earth, similar to an Innate Qi Refiner. I likely wouldn’t be a match for one.’

’So poor!’

Zhu Ju laid out the items he had looted from the bodies of Granny Niu and her two companions, shaking his head speechlessly.

Between the three of them, only the Black-Clothed Man carried five pieces of Spirit Jade. The other two didn’t even have any silver taels.

And there were no Cultivation Technique Secret Manuals.

Then again, it made sense.

When you were out robbing people, life and death were uncertain, so of course they would only carry what was essential.

Even the Spirit Jade on the Black-Clothed Man was probably just something he brought along to buy things at the Marketplace.

Still, it wasn’t a complete loss.

The Jade Hairpin!

Having been refined by Granny Niu for many years, it wasn’t quite a Magical Artifact, but it had gained an Armor-Piercing ability.

Wielded with the Object Controlling Technique, it could even strike an Inner Qi Expert if they were caught off guard.

And several Spirit Talismans.

Two Divine Movement Talismans, one Vajra Talisman, and four Exorcism Talismans.

Come to think of it, Huo Yan had used a Vajra Talisman back then. Unfortunately, it hadn’t been very effective against the Mixed Element Without Extremity.

’Talisman Paper...’

Zhu Ju stroked the coarse paper, his gaze lingering on the complex runes as he grew thoughtful.

’These look familiar... they’re a bit like the runes from the Blood-Stealing Curse.’

’I wonder what they do. There are so few Spirit Talismans, and they’re single-use. Otherwise, I’d have to test one or two.’

’These are the methods of an Immortal Family!’

Compared to ’Martial Arts,’ techniques like Magic and Spirit Talismans were a much better fit for his mental image of a true Cultivator.

A cane, a few dying Gu Insects, and some unidentified Beast Hide barely counted as spoils.

All that fighting for such meager spoils.

But at least it gave him a better understanding of where his strength stood in this new place.

*

*

*

「Zhu Mansion.」

Hex Yufu rose early, assigning servants to sweep the courtyards, cooks to prepare meals, and maids to wash the clothes.

Once all the arrangements were in place, she strolled about, double-checking everything.

"HUP!"

"HAH!"

Ma Xun was in the Martial Arts Arena, honing his Martial Arts. He was shirtless despite the encroaching autumn chill, his shouts echoing without pause.

His Saber Technique grew more masterful by the day. At its peak, he was nothing but a blur of flashing steel, his form completely invisible.

"Sister Yufu."

Seeing Hex Yufu approach, Ma Xun stopped his practice and greeted her.

"Good morning!"

"Morning." Hex Yufu rubbed her temples, a weary look on her face.

"Did you hear? Someone else was killed in the city yesterday. This time, it was a member of the Patrol Team."

"Things are getting more and more chaotic!"

"What?" Ma Xun looked shocked.

"How can that be?"

"I know." Hex Yufu frowned.

"The major families in the city are all pitching in, and experts have come from the Prefecture City. It shouldn’t be that hard to take down a single Black Tiger Wu Chun."

"But now..."

"So much time has passed, and not only is that Wu Chun still at large, but more and more people in the city are dying."

’This can’t go on!’

Everyone in the county was on edge. If things stayed this tense for too long, something was bound to snap.

Besides, with business at a standstill and everyone too afraid to go outside, it was slowly becoming a question of survival.

"Don’t worry, Sister Yufu." Seeing her troubled expression, Ma Xun said,

"We have experts from the Prefecture City here. No matter how chaotic the city gets, it won’t reach us."

"The experts from the Prefecture City don’t care about the lives of ordinary people," Hex Yufu replied, shaking her head.

"Otherwise, they would have acted by now."

"But..."

"I’m not too worried, though. After all, we have you, don’t we?" 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"Me?" Ma Xun waved his hands frantically.

"I’m not good enough. Besides, I have to protect the Young Master. I’m afraid I won’t be able to look after you, Sister Yufu."

"Hah..." Hex Yufu rolled her eyes.

"With the Young Master’s strength, does he really need you to protect him?"

"I know the Young Master is powerful, but... but I’m his guard," Ma Xun said, his face flushing.

"Before he died, my master taught me to protect the Young Master at all costs, even my own life. I remember his words every single moment."

"So loyal," Hex Yufu said with a shrug.

"But it seems you don’t understand your position in this household."

Just then.

A maidservant approached.

"Young Master Ma Xun, the Young Master summons you."

"Oh!"

Ma Xun acknowledged the summons, excused himself to Hex Yufu, and threw on a shirt before heading for the main building where Zhu Ju resided.

"Sigh."

Watching his retreating back, Hex Yufu shook her head gently.

’Have you ever seen a guard who the maids call ’Young Master’? What kind of guard gets to walk around the mansion as freely as you do?’

’The Young Master is too cold and aloof; he’s not someone you can rely on for comfort. Only a warm-hearted person like you can make others feel safe.’

’Ma Xun...’

’You can’t let me down.’

......

"Young Master."

Ma Xun bowed at the door.

"You sent for me."

"Come in." Zhu Ju was seated cross-legged before an apothecary brazier. When Ma Xun entered, he picked up a letter from beside him and handed it over.

"The county has been chaotic lately, and it looks like things will stay that way for a while. I need you to make a trip to the Prefecture City in the next few days. Give this letter to my sister and don’t come back until peace has been restored here."

"Young Master," Ma Xun said, taking the letter out of reflex before freezing.

"If I go, what will you do?"

"I’ll be leaving as well," Zhu Ju said.

"A letter from the Prefecture City says the Blood Flood Dragon Bandits have appeared nearby. Leping County is very likely to be their next target."

"Even without all the chaos in the city, I’d still be heading to the Prefecture City to lay low."

"But not right now. The people from San Fen Hall are still around, so I can’t leave just yet."

"Young Master..." Ma Xun clenched his jaw and said in a low voice,

"You can have someone else deliver the letter. I can stay and protect you... I can still be useful."

He knew, of course, that Zhu Ju was sending him to the Prefecture City for his own safety, but he was a guard.

What kind of guard abandons his master to flee?

A frustrating anger welled up inside him. Veins bulged on his forehead, and he had to fight the urge to roar in frustration.

"Ma Xun."

Zhu Ju stared at the brazier, his voice slow and measured.

"Elder Qin watched me grow up. Though we were master and servant in name, in reality, we were family."

"And you are his only disciple."

He couldn’t let anything happen to Elder Qin’s only disciple.

THUD! Ma Xun dropped to his knees. "Young Master," he said loudly,

"I am your guard, too! Master said my purpose in life is to protect you."

"I know I’m not strong enough, but... but I will never retreat!"

"Get up." Zhu Ju shook his head.

"I know you’re loyal. How could I not? Otherwise, Elder Qin would never have valued you so highly."

"But you know as well as I do that I don’t need your protection."

"Let’s do this."

He stroked his chin and said slowly,

"I don’t need your help here, but my sister’s child doesn’t have anyone trustworthy to look after them."

"Elder Qin watched me grow up. Why don’t you follow in your master’s footsteps and help me look after my sister’s child?"

?

Ma Xun looked up, his expression shifting rapidly.

After a long moment.

He lowered his head once more and said in a low voice,

"Rest assured, Young Master. I will take good care of the Young Miss’s child. I won’t let them suffer the slightest grievance."

"Good." A smile touched Zhu Ju’s lips as he patted Ma Xun’s shoulder.

"You can take a few people with you when you leave the city. You can decide who to bring. Go on, now."

"Yes."

Ma Xun acknowledged and slowly withdrew.

The herbs churned in the brazier, filling the room with thick smoke. Obscured within the haze, Zhu Ju’s expression flickered between thoughts.

Wan Shuai had come to see him not long ago. He’d said that to prevent the Blood Flood Dragon Bandits from wreaking havoc, Leping County was about to be sealed off.

It was a joint decision made by San Fen Hall and the Celestial Yu Gang.

When the time came.

No one would be allowed to enter or leave!

’This is strange.’

The city was already in chaos. Instead of taking action to resolve the situation, the experts from San Fen Hall had chosen to seal the city.

Wasn’t that just adding fuel to the fire?

’What exactly did that ’Elder Jiangg’ mean when he said the time wasn’t right?’

’What opportune moment could they possibly be waiting for?’

Thankfully, it wasn’t all bad news.

Black Tiger Wu Chun had been ambushed and seriously injured at the Leng Mansion. He shouldn’t be coming to cause trouble anytime soon.

’Perfect!’

Looking at the Demon Beast Flesh tumbling in the brazier, Zhu Ju’s expression softened.

’While I have the time, I can focus on increasing my strength. I wonder if I can break through to the realm of Inner Qi Release.’