Ambition

Chapter 14: Ambition

Niu Hang was heading down the mountain back to Qishan County.

Lu Zhaojin was going in the opposite direction.

Lu Zhaojin watched his receding figure for a long time before finally looking away, preparing to find a secluded spot to improve his cultivation. This would give him more confidence in destroying the Zhang and Zhao families, and in finding his previous self's father.

He hadn't expected Niu Hang to be from Luoshui Commandery.

Lu Zhaojin had thought Niu Hang was from somewhere outside Qishan County, but still within the Qishan region.

Mount Qi lay between Luoshui Commandery and Yanling Commandery, stretching for hundreds of miles, like a not-so-obvious dividing line.

The former Mount Qi was actually quite lively. Martial artists from both commanderies would travel upstream like rivers in search of precious herbs, their figures filling the mountains and plains.

This was also why the precious herbs on Mount Qi had been depleted and no longer grew, leaving only those with short growth cycles but little value.

Later, it seemed, because of a Blood Ginseng, martial artists from both commanderies fought fiercely over it, resulting in countless casualties, like water and fire merging, an unending conflict.

If the Imperial Dynasty hadn't intervened forcefully to stop it, Mount Qi would likely have been dyed blood red, a scene of brutal carnage.

Eventually, the Mount Qi region became a buffer zone for the martial artists of the two commanderies. Many years passed, and the grudges between the martial artists of the two commanderies still existed, but it was forgotten, becoming a wilderness. Those who came from this place were called "people of the wilderness," earning them ridicule.

The governors of the two commanderies had not intervened to mediate, and they paid no attention to Mount Qi, so County Magistrate Zhao Huaishui was the highest-ranking official here.

Martial artists born in Mount Qi were extremely dissatisfied with the attitude of the people from the two commanderies, who took everything and then blamed them. They even harbored resentment towards the Imperial Dynasty.

Zhao Huaishui was an official of the Imperial Dynasty, so they weren't fond of him. If Zhao Huaishui wasn't a Seventh Rank martial artist, even with his title as County Magistrate, he wouldn't have an easy time in Qishan County.

Zhao Huaishui was aware of their thoughts, so he didn't interfere much in many matters, fearing he'd do thankless work and instead anger those martial artists.

They dared to disregard Imperial Dynasty laws, killing people at the slightest disagreement. At worst, they could flee into the deep mountains and old forests. They seemed heroic and unrestrained, but in reality, they were fools who didn't consider the consequences. When disaster struck, they would cry to the heavens, more afraid of death than anyone.

Zhao Huaishui couldn't manage it before, but now he had to, especially after hearing some whispers from above.

The Imperial Dynasty felt that the governors of the two major commanderies were unwilling to govern Mount Qi, and their handling of that past incident was indeed biased. Therefore, they decided to separate Mount Qi and establish it as Qishan Commandery.

This could be considered acknowledging the status of the martial artists of Mount Qi, allowing them to leave Mount Qi without being called "people of the wilderness."

However, reorganizing Mount Qi and establishing it as Qishan Commandery was not the Imperial Dynasty's true objective. The real goal was to curb the Dingshan Sect.

Because of the affairs of the two commanderies, the Imperial Dynasty had lost credibility in Mount Qi, leading these martial artists to become more attached to martial arts factions.

As a local force in Mount Qi, the Dingshan Sect naturally gave the martial artists of Mount Qi a greater sense of belonging. This also led to a saying in Mount Qi: an imperial edict issued by the Imperial Dynasty might not be as effective as a casual remark from the Dingshan Sect.

This showed the Dingshan Sect's status in Mount Qi.

The Imperial Dynasty would not allow such a situation to occur, so it planned to rectify Mount Qi.

Therefore, after Mount Qi was changed to Qishan Commandery, the position of Governor became Zhao Huaishui's ambition. However, according to the intentions from above, the county seat was to be located in Shiqiao Town, not Qishan County.

This was because Shiqiao Town was adjacent to the Qi River and already had a dock. It was just waiting for the Imperial Dynasty's order to be issued, for the town to be upgraded to a city, and that dock would become an important hub for trade and transportation.

In contrast, Qishan County's geographical location was indeed inferior to Shiqiao Town, and its subsequent economic development was not as guaranteed as Shiqiao Town's, so it was regretfully excluded.

This filled Zhao Huaishui with resentment. He had worked hard for Mount Qi for over twenty years, and even during the most difficult times, he had never considered giving up.

Yet, with just a few words from above, the position of Governor was given to someone else. The recent actions of the Zhang family also made him quite suspicious. Could Xu Huan be the new Governor of Qishan Commandery?

County Office, Study.

Zhao Huaishui looked at the character "power" he had written a few days prior, and then thought of what Lu Zhaojin was about to do. A look of satisfaction filled his eyes, and he couldn't help but murmur, "Let's see how many more days he can jump around..."

A knock sounded on the door. "Enter."

The butler brought in a person completely wrapped in a black robe.

The person removed their hood, revealing Captain Liu's face. He clasped his hands together and said, "County Magistrate."

Zhao Huaishui asked, "How is it?"

Captain Liu said gravely, "Lu Zhaojin's cultivation is improving too quickly. I fear I don't have the confidence to kill him."

Captain Liu's realm was mid-Eighth Rank. He had been more than 90% sure of capturing Lu Zhaojin before, but after the battle in Mount Qi, he had become thoroughly timid and dared not provoke him.

He recounted everything that had happened in Mount Qi to Zhao Huaishui, which made Zhao Huaishui quite serious. "You're saying he killed a disciple of the Dingshan Sect? And Zhang Jiao of the Zhang family?"

Captain Liu nodded. "That's right."

Zhao Huaishui's eyes lit up. "Then this will be easier to handle."

He said earnestly, "This child must not be allowed to live, but he cannot die by my hand. After all, he saved my daughter. If I move against him, it would be repaying kindness with enmity, and how would the martial artists view me then?"

Zhao Huaishui instructed Captain Liu to secretly deliver these two pieces of news to the Dingshan Sect and the Zhang family in Shiqiao Town. "I just didn't expect it. My nephew is also so deeply hidden. At such a young age, he already has late Eighth Rank cultivation."

His eyes were filled with jealousy and resentment. "Heaven truly favors Zhao Yuanshan!"

Captain Liu remained silent, standing there quietly.

Zhao Huaishui harbored resentment because of Zhao Jinzhi and didn't treat Captain Liu with any pleasantness. "Why are you still standing here? Hurry up and do as I said."

Captain Liu cupped his hands and withdrew.

Zhao Huaishui actually regretted not being able to win over Lu Zhaojin, but since things had come to this, further regret was useless. Since he had taken the wrong step, he would correct it.

Zhao Huaishui would not let his nephew off either. Anyone who stood in his way of becoming Governor deserved to die!

Outside the door, Zhao Nuanyu's voice could be heard. "Daddy, I just saw Uncle Liu coming out of your study. Did something happen?"

Zhao Nuanyu walked into the study, dressed in an apricot-colored shirt and skirt adorned with flowers. Gone was the heroic aura she possessed when wearing her usual fitted attire, replaced by the gentle elegance of a young lady.

However, her injuries had not yet fully healed, her lips were still somewhat pale, and a white bandage wrapped around her shoulder, stained with a bit of blood.

Zhao Huaishui composed his slightly contorted expression, putting on his usual warm and welcoming smile. His gaze towards Zhao Nuanyu was filled with concern. "Nuanyu, your injuries haven't healed yet, and you shouldn't be moving around. Avoid reopening the wound, or you might end up with a scar, which would be unsightly."

Zhao Nuanyu didn't seem to care about that. "As a child of the martial world, a few scars are nothing."

Zhao Huaishui actually didn't want Zhao Nuanyu to get involved in the martial world. He knew it was a treacherous place, no less complicated than the world of officials. "Nuanyu, let me ask you, if in the future I have a conflict with that Lu Zhaojin and must take action, whose side would you be on?"

Zhao Nuanyu looked at him in surprise. "Father, what are you saying?"

She continued, "Lu Zhaojin and I only met by chance. I repaid his life-saving grace in that ruined temple with two martial arts techniques. There's no other connection between us, so why would I help him?"

Zhao Huaishui breathed a sigh of relief and said something Zhao Nuanyu didn't understand, "That's good..."

He was afraid his daughter wasn't clear-headed, like in those folk tales where a life-saving kindness leads to a marriage proposal or the development of romantic feelings.

Otherwise... no, he had already taken a stance against Lu Zhaojin. If Zhao Nuanyu were caught in the middle, it would be even more painful for her.

Zhao Nuanyu was his only daughter, whom he doted on since childhood. He had great hopes for her future, expecting her to marry into a prominent family in the capital and escape this remote, impoverished place.

However, plans don't always go as expected. If he could become the Prefect of Qishan Commandery, then it wouldn't be him trying to marry up.

They chatted about family matters, and finally, Zhao Nuanyu used her injuries as an excuse to return to her room to rest, ending the conversation.

As Zhao Nuanyu walked back to the separate courtyard, Xiao Liu supported her. Zhao Nuanyu suddenly said, "Xiao Liu, what do you think of Master?"

Xiao Liu was surprised by the question. "Master is definitely the best master! He's very good to us servants, never scolding or beating us..."

Zhao Nuanyu interrupted her. "What if Master is just pretending?"

Xiao Liu thought for a moment and said earnestly, "Then Xiao Liu hopes he'll keep pretending forever."

Zhao Nuanyu looked at her, unsure of how to respond, and didn't say anything more, only letting out a sigh.