Vast Family Business

Yan Nu thrust his spear forward, striking Mr. One-Eye.

However, the spearhead passed through, feeling as though it had only hit air.

Yan Nu channeled his True Qi, but it could only generate force, and it couldn't harm the Plague Ghost.

Mr. One-Eye glanced at Yan Nu, then at the Bronze Contract in Yan Nu's hand, and snorted coldly.

"He's a brute. Let's go," Mr. One-Eye said. He then rose into the air with the four monsters, passing through the wall and floating out of the house.

Yan Nu quickly chased him outside, but Mr. One-Eye and Four Associates had already flown far away and were nowhere to be seen.

"Damn it!"

Unable to find any trace of the Plague Ghost, Yan Nu had no choice but to return to the room.

As soon as he entered, he saw Shen Leling looking at him with a speechless expression.

He asked in confusion, "Why didn't you stop him? That ghost was about to suck the life out of that person."

"Plague Ghosts act according to the Heavenly Dao. What just happened was like a person eating, it's the way of heaven. If a cultivator were to harm him, they would suffer Heavenly Punishment," Feng Junyou said, spreading his hands.

Shen Leling added, "You weren't infected, so he wouldn't bother you. Plague Ghosts only feed on those who are sick."

Yan Nu looked at the spear in his hand. "But I couldn't even touch him."

Feng Junyou waved his hand. "Dealing with Plague Ghosts is very simple. You see, when you held up the Bronze Contract, he got scared and ran. He was afraid you were a brute who would kill him regardless of Heavenly Punishment..."

"Actually, ordinary people just need to offer incense regularly to avoid being fed on by Plague Ghosts."

"Worship the Plague God and Plague Ghosts properly, then eat and drink your fill. Most common plagues can be endured. If you can't endure it, then see a doctor and take medicine."

"Ultimately, if you have money, there's no problem."

"But the problem is, I don't have money," Yan Nu scratched his forehead and looked outside at the starving, sick citizens.

The plague was spreading throughout the city, yet the poor could only endure it. Even if they survived, they would be preyed upon by Plague Ghosts because they hadn't offered incense.

As he spoke, his gaze swept towards a luxurious mansion a hundred feet away.

One of the buildings was tall and magnificent, occupying a vast area with a majestic style. Another was built on a high platform reaching the sky, with streams and springs winding around it, exuding a clean and elegant atmosphere.

Yan Nu asked, "Which one is the Zhang family's residence?"

"They're all the Zhang family's. Their clan is large, and they have many disciples, so their residences naturally need to be grand," Feng Junyou replied.

Yan Nu's eyes lit up. "The Zhang family must be very wealthy, right?"

Shen Leling rolled her eyes. "Nonsense! You've been poor for too long and don't know what the rich are like..."

She then looked at Huang Banyun. "You're a scholar, aren't you?"

Huang Banyun pursed his lips. "Yes... My family is humble, from a Ninth-Rank Humble Family."

"How many acres of land does your family own?" Shen Leling asked again.

Huang Banyun answered honestly, "A thousand mu of barren land."

"How much?" Yan Nu looked over in shock.

When he and Grandpa farmed at Tea Mountain Fort, they only had ten mu of land, and that land belonged to the Zhang family. They had to pay heavy rent.

After Grandpa left, Yan Nu didn't even have land to farm. He spent his days doing menial labor, chopping wood, splitting water, forging iron, and repairing houses.

Huang Banyun actually considered owning a thousand mu of land as being from a poor family?

"Aren't you from a humble family?" Yan Nu re-examined Huang Banyun, who didn't look like a rich person.

Huang Banyun felt a bit ashamed. "I am indeed from a humble family."

Shen Leling chuckled. "Even humble families have a 'family status.' The lowest of status is still a 'family status.'"

"You must have some tenant farmers working the land... but your family isn't doing very well if you only have a thousand mu."

A sense of being out of touch enveloped Yan Nu. "A thousand mu isn't doing well?"

Shen Leling immediately explained, "The imperial court selects scholars based on nine ranks. Depending on the rank, scholars are granted land."

"Let's not talk about the higher ranks. The ninth rank grants a thousand mu of land... Keep in mind, this is just land granted by the court, and it's for one person alone."

"Major families themselves own a lot of good land. If their clan produces many talented individuals, and they continuously annex more land, the land under their name only increases."

Huang Banyun cupped his hands. "Brother Jiang, my family was indeed poor since childhood. It's just that my father often helped the villagers and collected very little rent. Later, he killed a local powerful figure who oppressed the people and became a fugitive. The court then reclaimed the thousand mu under his name."

"From the age of ten, I could only live off the five hundred mulberry trees and twenty mu of fish ponds passed down by my ancestors."

"This thousand mu of barren land I have now was newly granted by the court after I entered official service as an adult."

Mulberry trees and fish ponds – Yan Nu was completely bewildered.

After hearing about someone else's "poor" family background, Yan Nu finally understood how humble Grandpa's wish for ten mu of good land, a peaceful life, and self-sufficiency truly was.

In the end, Yan Nu was even more astonished. "You're still an official?"

Huang Banyun nodded. "Yes, I am the Pingyuan County Scribe, responsible for relaying documents between the Prefect and the various counties. I manage about a dozen minor clerks."

"If you're an official, why did you come here to deal with demons?" Yan Nu was very confused.

Huang Banyun looked a little embarrassed. "Uh... Although I am an official, I practice martial arts day and night. I only wish to avenge my father. Two years ago, I intended to resign from my post."

"However, after the Prefect learned of the situation, he deemed filial piety paramount and allowed me to leave. I'm on leave, still receiving my salary and provisions, and don't have to go to work."

Yan Nu found it hard to believe, his understanding of the world severely shaken.

If even Ninth-Rank Huang Banyun was like this, what about the so-called declining Zhang Family?

He lowered his head again and looked out the window at the many sick and starving commoners, and felt utterly dejected.

"Just how much money does the Zhang Family have?" His eyes reddened slightly.

Feng Junyou thought for a moment, "Sorry, I really don't know. Fifty years ago, my family alone had over 150,000 mu of fertile land and more than a hundred shops. Our family backgrounds should be similar, right?"

"That's far too little..." Shen Leling quickly shook her head. "The Zhang Family has annexed many villages over the years. Tea Mountain Fort alone has 50,000 mu of fertile land and 800 mu of mulberry groves. And the Zhang Family has eight such estates and fortified manors."

"This doesn't even include their properties within the city... Plus, with the migration of prominent clans to the south, the vacuum they left... Although the Zhang Family has declined in officialdom, their wealth has greatly increased."

"Hmm, when I was impersonating Instructor Ma, I overheard Zhang Xu say that the Zhang Family has stockpiled enough grain in the city to withstand a three-year siege, along with countless medicinal herbs, livestock, weapons, and armor."

"This is all that I know of. I don't know how much more there is."

"In any case, all aristocratic families are wealthy. No matter how much the Zhang Family has declined, they still have five hundred years of family fortune."

Yan Nu slammed his spear on the ground, "Then I'll scatter their five hundred years of family fortune!"

At noon, Huang Banyun and Yan Nu were the first to arrive at the training grounds east of the city.

Recruits were being enlisted here. Some, knowing their martial arts were crude, obediently lined up to register.

Others, wandering swordsmen, gathered around a fighting stage, their eyes fixed on the platform.

On the stage stood a young man in armor, his fists dripping with blood.

His eyes were half-open, as if he were dozing.

Martial artists continuously jumped onto the stage, attacking him with swords, spears, sabers, and halberds, but not a single one could withstand a single punch.

Some collapsed on the spot, unable to stand, and were carried off by soldiers. Others were sent flying directly off the stage by a surge of powerful force.

He defeated his opponents in ever-changing ways, much to Yan Nu's enjoyment.

Huang Banyun walked over and said in a low voice, "I've inquired. He's a talented young prodigy of the Zhang Family. At nineteen, he's reached Second Stage Body Tempering and has cultivated nearly thirty years of True Qi. He's a first-rate expert."

"As long as a wandering swordsman who comes to enlist can withstand one of his punches without losing, they can become a military officer, skipping the rank of a common soldier."

"The longer you last, the higher your military rank."

Yan Nu asked, "Oh, from the Zhang Family? Should I kill him now?"

At this moment, Feng Junyou's mouth emerged from the Bronze Contract in his embrace, "It's best not to. Our goal is to destroy the Zhang Family. We need to gather all the collateral relatives of the Zhang Family scattered across various fortified manors first, so we can capture them all in one go."

They had already agreed on a plan.

Starting with recruitment, they would first approach Zhang Feng, a clan member in charge of military power.

Then, Yan Nu would find an opportunity to secretly kill him, and Shen Leling would possess his body, attempting to control the Zhang Family's army.

After all, it was useless for Yan Nu to be powerful alone if they wanted to destroy the Zhang Family. Especially since Shen Leling and Feng Junyou were not suited for overt action, lest they incur too much debt in Dao cultivation.

Therefore, they had to aim for a swift and decisive victory, capturing everyone at once.

"Hmm, so in short, they want me to be highly regarded? Then to what extent should I fight this person?" Yan Nu frowned slightly.

Huang Banyun smiled, "A draw is fine. My strength is about the same as his... Brother, I'll go up first and set an example for you."

With that, Huang Banyun jumped onto the stage.

As he was a first-rate expert, the moment he entered the ring, the opponent opened his eyes just from his stance.

"Finally, a worthy opponent," the so-called prodigy of the Zhang Family immediately engaged Huang Banyun in a fierce battle.

The two fought on the stage with such intensity that it was hard to tell who was winning. Their intricate moves captivated the onlookers.

The many wandering swordsmen and martial artists watching from below couldn't help but cheer.

This was a duel between two first-rate experts, and they were fighting bare-handed, without weapons, which tested their control of True Qi even further.

"Good!" Yan Nu was also engrossed, finding the fight incredibly exciting!

After about fifteen minutes, Huang Banyun voluntarily stopped and cupped his hands, "Good martial arts, but there's no need to continue fighting. My skills lie with my spear."

The young man in armor also smiled slightly, "My skills lie with my sword... You are very good. Would you be willing to serve as a guest elder of the Zhang Family and enlist to serve the country?"

"If I weren't willing to serve the country, why would I come here?" Huang Banyun chuckled.

At this moment, a man in black brocade robes walked over slowly. He was Zhang Feng, the second most important figure in the Zhang Family, second only to the family head.

He clapped and said with a smile, "Good, the Zhang Family has gained another fierce general."

Huang Banyun jumped down, introduced himself, and engaged in pleasantries with Zhang Feng, creating an image of harmonious camaraderie.

The young man in armor stood on the stage, seeming to have gained energy after finally warming up. He scanned the crowd, "Who else is willing to come up and fight?"

The Bronze Contract vibrated slightly, indicating: Proceed according to the plan.

Yan Nu immediately called out, "Me!"

"Oh?" The young man in armor looked at Yan Nu expectantly. Anyone who dared to come up after Huang Banyun must be extraordinary!

Yan Nu walked onto the stage, his expression blank.

Seeing him stand there motionless for a long time, the armored youth raised an eyebrow and said, "You're quite polite. Then I won't be."

With that, he struck first, sending a palm strike towards Yan Nu.

Yan Nu raised his hand to block, but he didn't expect it to be a feint. The youth's movement flashed, and he appeared behind Yan Nu!

"What a dummy... Is that all?" The armored youth was extremely disappointed. He hadn't expected Yan Nu to have such a huge opening, to be so ridiculously weak.

He immediately followed up with a palm strike, the "Soft Palm," which landed on Yan Nu's back.

Yan Nu was hit instantly, and in that moment, he felt a surge of chilling True Qi enter his body!

And then... that was that.

This chilling True Qi was instantly flattened by forty-six thousand one hundred and seventy years of cultivation...

Even his Qi vortex spun, automatically sending back a 'small stream' of True Qi into the armored youth's body.

"What!"

"Pfft!" The youth's eyes widened, and blood poured from his eyes, mouth, nose, and ears.

His face instantly turned deathly pale. He looked at Yan Nu in disbelief before slumping to the ground with a thud.

Only then did Yan Nu turn around...

But he could only stare at the dead youth in stunned silence.

p.s: Sorry. You have no idea how many drafts I deleted. Starting from the Black Dragon incident, I deleted a massive amount of setting introductions. Originally, Yan Nu was supposed to ask where the ghost came from here, and then introduce ghosts and gods, but I decided to move that later. Shen Wuxing also, the old ghost knew he would come but didn't say, that was also moved back because there will be a large section about how powerful he is, but even if Shen Wuxing came, he would still destroy the Zhang Family.