Wind Rises

Chapter 29: Wind Rises

Luoxia City.

Brocade Merchant Guild.

Although there was a hiccup during the auction, it concluded perfectly.

Li Xiufang was very displeased with the Lin Family. It wasn't because of Lin Qicheng's actions today, which disrupted the rules of the Brocade Merchant Guild.

It was because, over the years, the Lin Family had been making many sneaky and dishonest moves.

They were constantly probing the bottom line of her Brocade Merchant Guild, or rather, the bottom line of her Li Family.

The Brocade Merchant Guild was backed by the Luoshui Li Family and had a presence in every corner of Luoshui Commandery, big and small.

The Lin Family was the sole dominant power in Luoxia City, but ever since the Brocade Merchant Guild established itself here, the situation had subtly begun to change.

Naturally, the Lin Family was unwilling to accept this, but they also feared the power of the Li Family. Thus, they feigned friendliness while engaging in shady dealings behind the scenes that couldn't see the light of day.

Especially this year, the Lin Family's actions had become even bolder. They had actually built an Exquisite Treasure Tower within the city, its structure remarkably similar to the Brocade Merchant Guild's. It was obvious they intended to challenge the Brocade Merchant Guild.

This was why she had been assigned by her elders to oversee things here.

Firstly, to guard against the Lin Family.

Secondly, driven by personal reasons, she had volunteered to come to Luoxia City.

This was because it was the closest to Mount Qi.

She knew her elder sister had a beloved in Mount Qi, but she had never met him. This trip was also out of curiosity to find out who this person was, that he could make her sister defy the family's orders, secretly pledge herself to him, and even have children.

Furthermore, the family atmosphere had become quite tense, making it suffocating. She had also come out to get some fresh air.

Li Xiufang thought of the young man from today, feeling that his eyes bore a resemblance to her sister's. "He came from Mount Qi..."

Knock, knock.

Li Xiufang withdrew her wandering thoughts. "Come in."

A servant girl, head bowed and hands clasped at her abdomen, led a middle-aged man in black fitted clothing into the room.

The servant girl bowed to Li Xiufang, "Mistress Xiufang."

Li Xiufang asked, "How is it?"

The middle-aged man spoke, "He's dead."

Li Xiufang sighed with some regret, "I was hoping to find him to guide me to Mount Qi to find someone..."

The middle-aged man continued, "Lin Qicheng is dead."

Li Xiufang realized she had misunderstood and her expression flickered with surprise. She recalled Lu Zhaojin's youthful face. "Lin Qicheng is dead?"

The middle-aged man nodded.

Li Xiufang's delicate eyebrows furrowed. She found it somewhat unbelievable, "But Lin Qicheng had Elder Gou, a Seventh-Rank Realm expert, by his side. That young man looked no older than sixteen. How could he possibly kill Lin Qicheng right in front of Elder Gou?"

What the middle-aged man said next was an even bigger bombshell. "Elder Gou is also dead. That young man is also Seventh-Rank Realm, and a master swordsman."

Li Xiufang's mind flashed back to Lu Zhaojin's eyes. "Came from Mount Qi, a master swordsman, and only sixteen or seventeen years old. If this news spreads in Luoshui Commandery, who knows what kind of storm it will stir up."

Thinking carefully, her unseen nephew should be around the same age.

Li Xiufang wanted to try and connect with that young man. Even if he wasn't related in the way she suspected, his displayed strength alone was enough to make her consider recruiting him.

Li Xiufang said to the middle-aged man, "Lu Wenxiu, do not alert him for now. Observe him carefully."

She pondered for a moment, then added, "Also, Lin Qi should have received the news of Lin Qicheng's death by now. He'll surely go looking for trouble with that young man. You protect him from the shadows. It won't be too late to intervene if his life is in danger."

The middle-aged man nodded, bowed with clasped hands, and withdrew.

She was left alone in the room.

Li Xiufang walked to the window, taking in the scenery of Luoxia City. However, the most noteworthy place was undoubtedly the three-story, tower-like pavilion.

Because that pavilion housed the True Martial Division established by the imperial dynasty.

To prevent martial artists from harming the innocent, the imperial dynasty established the True Martial Division to monitor martial artists. Any who committed crimes would be executed without mercy.

That young man killed someone in Luoxia City, and Lin Qicheng at that. Such wild people from the mountains were truly uncivilized.

Li Xiufang had been in Luoxia City for a long time, but she had never been to Mount Qi, nor had she sent anyone to investigate. She herself couldn't understand why.

City Lord's Manor.

Lin Qi, who was discussing matters concerning the Exquisite Treasure Tower with City Lord Cheng Yan, was approached by Lin Family guards accompanying City Lord's Manor soldiers. They rushed into the hall and delivered the news of Lin Qicheng's death to Lin Qi.

Lin Qi immediately flew into a rage, and no amount of calming from Cheng Yan had any effect.

Cheng Yan said sternly, "Lin Qi, the overall situation is paramount."

Lin Qi glared at him and shouted, "What overall situation! It's not your son who died, so you're naturally indifferent."

Cheng Yan had nothing to say.

Because Lin Qi was right. If it wasn't his own son, he couldn't empathize.

Cheng Yan watched him leave and didn't stop him any further.

After Lin Qi returned to the Lin Family, he summoned all his guards. He was determined to tear that young man to shreds and make him understand the consequences of offending the Lin Family.

This was not just to avenge Lin Qicheng, but also to maintain the Lin Family's authority in Luoxia City.

The True Martial Division naturally also knew about Lin Qicheng's death.

However, they were more interested in the method used to kill Lin Qicheng.

Zhao Rong was one of the Centurions stationed at the True Martial Division in Luoxia City.

He had a Probationary Centurion and a General Banner under his command.

With his cultivation at the Late Seventh-Rank, Zhao Rong was known as one of the three top experts in Luoxia City, the other two being Cheng Yan and Lin Qi.

As for the middle-aged woman from the Brocade Merchant Guild, she wasn't counted among them, as she wouldn't be staying in Luoxia City for long and wasn't originally from there.

General Banner An received the news from the patrolling brothers. After a brief analysis, he shared the intelligence he had gathered with Centurion Zhao and Probationary Centurion Chai.

Zhao Rong exclaimed in surprise, "Are you saying the murderer of the Qishan County Magistrate has appeared within my jurisdiction?"

General Banner An nodded and said, "The way that young man killed Lin Qicheng and Elder Gou is very similar to the information we received from that area, so we can't let him go."

Zhao Rong frowned deeply. Despite his rough appearance, he had a discerning mind. "But if that young man could kill the Qishan County Magistrate, his cultivation must be considerable. At least Seventh-Rank Realm. Are we a match for him?"

Probationary Centurion Chai echoed his agreement, "Centurion is right. But we also can't let such a good reward slip through our fingers."

He leaned closer to Zhao Rong and whispered, "I heard that people from the Chen Family are also looking for that young man. Should we perhaps leak some information to the Chen Family?"

Zhao Rong didn't immediately grasp what he meant. "Which Chen Family?"

Probationary Centurion Chai replied, "The Chen Family from Jinshui City in Yanling Commandery."

Zhao Rong looked at Probationary Centurion Chai with a hint of fierceness in his eyes. "Chai Youdao, do you want me to be cursed by the martial artists of Luoshui Commandery?"

Probationary Centurion Chai chuckled. "I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare. But is Centurion willing to let such a great opportunity pass by just like that?"

Zhao Rong naturally was unwilling.

The young man had murdered an official appointed by the court, a grave offense that had angered the dynasty. If he could capture him and hand him over to the imperial court, perhaps he could climb a few rungs on the ladder within his lifetime.

However, thinking about the method Chai Youdao had just proposed made Zhao Rong hesitate for a long time. After all, the relationship between the two commanderies was plain to see, like fire and water colliding, only to dissolve each other.

So, if he were to leak the information to people from Yanling Commandery, it would be equivalent to offending the martial artists of Luoshui Commandery. Then, how could he possibly live in peace in the future?