Observation and Countermeasures

The four traveled through the Star Dou Great Forest for a week, finally crossing the entire forest and reaching the border of the Star Luo Empire on the other side.

Over the past week, all four had gained something.

Ming Lunyu and Ma Hongjun had greatly deepened their understanding of all kinds of soul beasts. However, their shared gain had to be the little games they played every night after setting up camp.

Yet this only made Tang Fu'er and Dugu Bo even more impatient, and they could only hope day after day that Ming Lunyu would hurry up and come of age.

Seeing their hungry expressions, Ming Lunyu's mouth twitched. He thought that he needed to improve his physical condition as soon as possible, lest he... Well, that was that.

"Speaking of which, the Star Luo Empire and the Heavenly Dou Empire really don't differ much in terms of culture and language," Ming Lunyu remarked after observing several villages and towns in the Star Luo Empire.

"Perhaps because the two great empires share a common origin," Tang Fu'er explained. "In much older times, there was actually only one unified nation on the continent, which later split apart. That nation even developed a fairly advanced Soul Tool civilization, but by now, most of it has been lost. Even the history of that era is unclear—at least Tang Chen doesn't know, so neither do we."

After hearing that, Ming Lunyu did not pursue the matter any further. It did not mean much to him anyway.

Half a month later.

"That city ahead is where the Breaking Clan is currently located." Ming Lunyu pointed at the city's outline in the dusk.

"Then let's hurry up. I need to rest first—I haven't bathed in days." Ma Hongjun sniffed her arm and spoke with a disgusted expression.

"Let's go!"

The group picked up speed and finally reached the city before nightfall.

It was a medium-sized city, and it did not seem much different from cities of the same rank in the Heavenly Dou Empire.

They found an upscale hotel and grandly booked a luxurious suite.

They were soul masters, after all. Money was no concern. After being battered by wind and dust in the forest for so many days, they deserved to enjoy themselves for once.

After everyone had rested and cleaned up, the four gathered together to listen to Ming Lunyu arrange the next stage of their journey.

"Before we make contact with Yang Wudi, we need to gain a detailed understanding of him and the Breaking Clan. Our previous knowledge came from Bo'er, and Bo'er's intelligence also came through other channels, so there may be inaccuracies. We've come this time to recruit trusted subordinates, so we must consider this carefully."

"Starting tomorrow, Xiao Jun and I will form a group and gather opinions about the Breaking Clan throughout the city. Bo'er will observe the Breaking Clan's residence, while Fu'er will personally monitor Yang Wudi's every word and action."

"That's all for now. Meeting adjourned!"

Ming Lunyu made a sweeping gesture, struck a handsome pose, and announced the end of the meeting. Before he could even turn around, the three women pounced on him and dragged him into the bathroom...

The next day.

Ming Lunyu left wearing a white robe and carrying a folding fan, accompanied by Ma Hongjun, who was dressed like a delinquent girl.

Their strange pairing and exceptional looks repeatedly drew sidelong glances from passersby.

"Brother, where are we going now?"

"Let's just wander around the streets first," Ming Lunyu said casually.

In truth, their task was not particularly demanding. Dugu Bo and Tang Fu'er were the ones who needed to put in more effort.

After all, no matter what the Breaking Clan's reputation was like outside, the words and actions of its clansmen could not deceive anyone.

Reputations could be smeared by others, but behavior could truly reflect the overall character of a clan.

Holding Ma Hongjun's hand, Ming Lunyu wandered through the markets with her, occasionally paying for snacks and feeding them to her.

"Brother, look at this. Is it pretty?" Ma Hongjun tugged on Ming Lunyu and held up a pair of earrings against herself.

Ming Lunyu looked them over and found them quite pretty, so he bought them for her directly. They were not expensive, but what mattered was that she was happy.

By the end of the morning, Ma Hongjun's hands were full of all kinds of snacks. Ming Lunyu was carrying quite a few himself, intending to bring them back for Tang Fu'er and Dugu Bo.

"Have you heard? The Breaking Clan is in trouble lately!"

As they passed a stall, Ming Lunyu keenly caught the key phrase. He stopped Ma Hongjun and pretended to browse the goods while quietly pricking up his ears.

"What happened?" someone else asked.

"You don't know? The day before yesterday, someone from the Breaking Clan working security at Dragon Casino offended Earl Xiri!"

"What happened? Tell us. The people from the Breaking Clan all seem dull and taciturn. They don't look like the type to offend people."

"Exactly! But trouble has a way of finding you. Apparently, a female slave at the casino who hadn't been properly trained somehow escaped and begged that young man from the Breaking Clan for help. He stepped in—wasn't that the same as offending Earl Xiri? Dragon Casino is his business. Now Earl Xiri is extorting the Breaking Clan for fifty thousand Gold Soul Coins. If they don't pay up, he'll drive them out."

"Fifty thousand! Why doesn't he just rob them? The Breaking Clan would be lucky to produce five hundred!"

"That's the state of the world! Sigh! Our Star Luo nobles are still considered decent. If you went to Heavenly Dou, it'd be even more rotten! My great-aunt's son's cousin's uncle's younger brother went to Heavenly Dou to do business last year, and then..."

By this point, Ming Lunyu had vaguely formed an idea.

After paying for a few items, Ming Lunyu led Ma Hongjun away.

That night, the four returned to the inn and began compiling their intelligence.

"Young Master, according to my observations, most members of the Breaking Clan live very simply. They basically spend their days cultivating and sparring. Their entire clan is also obsessed with refining medicine, and the medicine they produce is quite effective. This is their main source of income. However, the Breaking Clan lacks people skilled in business, and they are straightforward and inflexible, so their business often operates at a loss."

"We monitored Yang Wudi for a day and confirmed that he is more or less as the rumors describe. He is upright, proud, values promises, and cultivates wholeheartedly. He especially loves refining medicine. But today, he met with someone called Earl Xiri. Due to some minor conflict, Earl Xiri demanded fifty thousand Gold Soul Coins from him, threatening to suppress their clan's business otherwise. Yang Wudi refused, and they parted on bad terms."

"I heard about that too." Ming Lunyu tapped the table lightly with his fingers. "All right, I roughly have an idea about how to handle this."

"Oh, right. Everyone's been busy all day. Let's eat something first."

Ming Lunyu took out all kinds of snacks he had bought while shopping from his storage Soul Tool. Since they had been kept in the storage bag, they were still hot when he took them out.

"Were these specially prepared for me? I love you, Young Master!"

Dugu Bo's soft body coiled around Ming Lunyu like a snake.

Her jade fingers, painted with green nail polish, picked up a squid skewer. She took a light bite, then pulled it away, drawing out a silvery strand before offering the remaining half to Ming Lunyu's lips.

"Young Master, ah~"

Ming Lunyu raised an eyebrow and bit down, swallowing the silver nectar clinging to the squid skewer along with it.

Dugu Bo's face flushed with suspicious redness. Her jade hands cupped her cheeks, her expression utterly entranced.

"Get lost!"

Tang Fu'er could endure no longer. Activating her martial soul, she smashed Dugu Bo into the wall with a single hammer strike, turning her into a limp puddle that slid down the wall.

"Brother~ Ah~~"

Tang Fu'er turned around while retracting her martial soul, fluttered her big eyes, and raised her head in a sugary voice.

Ming Lunyu wrapped an arm around her, picked up a grilled lamb skewer, and began feeding her.

"Nom~" Tang Fu'er happily bit off a piece, her face blooming with bliss.

"Brother, our cuteness makes you feel so healed too, right? That snake is awful. She only knows how to cling to you, Brother. Fu'er isn't like that—Fu'er only knows how to cherish Brother~~"

"Brother, now that you have a new love, you treat Xiao Jun..."

Before Ma Hongjun could put on a pitiful expression, Ming Lunyu pulled her over and stuffed a fried skewer into her mouth.

"Hiss!"

Ming Lunyu suddenly felt an intense rush of pleasure.

At some point, Dugu Bo had somehow slid over. Her crimson lips formed a circle as she swallowed it in one gulp.

"Young Master, your snack is delicious~"

The two who had been competing to feed him froze.

"You thieving cat!"

"Utterly shameless!"

Ma Hongjun and Tang Fu'er cried out anxiously.

But Ming Lunyu restrained them and took turns firing at their cherry-pink lips. At the same time, he gave Dugu Bo a meaningful look.

Dugu Bo understood. She summoned her martial soul, transforming her lower body into an emerald-green snake tail. The tail moved nimbly, wrapping around the Young Master's snack...