Wind Rises

Wind Rises

Luoxia City.

Brocade Merchant Guild.

Though this auction had seen a minor disturbance, it had still come to a perfect close.

Li Xiufang was deeply dissatisfied with the Lin Family, not because of what Lin Qicheng had done today in attempting to undermine the Brocade Merchant Guild's rules.

Rather, it was because the Lin Family had made far too many shady moves over the years and had never been honest.

They were always testing the Brocade Merchant Guild's bottom line—or rather, testing the Li Family's bottom line.

Behind the Brocade Merchant Guild stood the Luoshui Li Family, and its influence spread throughout every corner, large and small, of Luoshui Commandery.

The Lin Family was Luoxia City's dominant lineage, unrivaled within the city. Yet ever since the Brocade Merchant Guild had established itself in Luoxia City, the situation seemed to have quietly begun to change.

Naturally, the Lin Family was unwilling to accept this, yet they feared the Li Family's strength. Thus, they put on a friendly face while engaging in dealings too shameful to see the light of day behind the scenes.

Especially this year, the Lin Family's actions had grown even bolder. They had actually built an Exquisite Treasure Tower within the city, one nearly identical in form to the Brocade Merchant Guild. One look was enough to tell that they intended to challenge the Brocade Merchant Guild head-on.

That was why the elders of her family had sent her here to hold the fort.

First, to guard against the Lin Family.

Second, because of a private motive: she had volunteered to come to Luoxia City.

Because this place was closest to Mount Qi.

She knew her elder sister had a beloved at Mount Qi, though she had never met him. She had come out this time partly because she was curious what sort of person he was, to make her sister defy the Lineage's orders, secretly pledge herself to him for life, marry him, and bear his children.

Besides, the atmosphere within the Lineage had truly been tense enough to make one unable to breathe. She had come out this time to get some air as well.

Li Xiufang recalled the youth from today. His eyes seemed somewhat like her sister's. "He came from Mount Qi..."

Knock, knock.

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

The maid lowered her head, her hands folded over her abdomen, and led a middle-aged man dressed in black fitted garments into the room.

The maid bowed to Li Xiufang. "Mistress Xiufang."

Li Xiufang asked, "How did it go?"

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

Li Xiufang sighed regretfully. "I had wanted to have him take me to Mount Qi to find someone..."

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

Li Xiufang realized she had misunderstood. A trace of astonishment crossed her face as she recalled Lu Zhaojin's youthful features. "Lin Qicheng is dead?"

The middle-aged man nodded.

Li Xiufang's willow brows drew together slightly, finding it somewhat unbelievable. "Elder Gou of the Seventh-Rank Realm was beside Lin Qicheng. That youth looked no more than sixteen. How could he possibly have killed Lin Qicheng before Elder Gou's eyes?"

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

Li Xiufang once more recalled Lu Zhaojin's eyes. "He came from Mount Qi, is a master with the sword, and is sixteen or seventeen years old. If word of this spread through Luoshui Commandery, who knows what sort of storm it would stir up."

Thinking it over carefully, her nephew whom she had never met should have been about that age as well.

Li Xiufang wanted to make contact with that youth. Even if he was not related to her as she suspected, the strength he had displayed was enough to make her want to recruit him.

Li Xiufang said to the middle-aged man, "Lu Wenxiu, don't alert him for now. Observe him further."

After thinking for a moment, she continued, "Also, Lin Qi should have received news of Lin Qicheng's death by now. He will certainly go looking for trouble with him. Protect him from the shadows. There is no need to act unless his life is in danger."

The middle-aged man nodded, clasped his fists in salute, and withdrew.

She was the only one left in the room.

Li Xiufang walked to the window and took in the sights of Luoxia City. Yet the place most worth noticing was none other than that three-story, pagoda-shaped pavilion.

That pavilion was the True Martial Division established by the imperial court.

To prevent martial wanderers from slaughtering innocents at will, the imperial court had specifically established the True Martial Division to oversee the martial world. Any who committed evil deeds or broke the law would be killed without mercy.

That youth had killed someone in Luoxia City—and Lin Qicheng, at that. People from the mountains and wilderness really were barbaric.

Li Xiufang had been in Luoxia City for a long time, yet she had never gone to Mount Qi, nor had she sent anyone to investigate it. Even she could not understand why.

The City Lord's Manor.

While Lin Qi had been discussing the Exquisite Treasure Tower with City Lord Cheng Yan, a Lin Family guard hurried into the hall alongside soldiers from the City Lord's Manor and informed Lin Qi of Lin Qicheng's death.

Lin Qi instantly flew into a furious rage. No matter how Cheng Yan tried to calm him, it was useless.

Cheng Yan said gravely, "Lin Qi, the greater picture must come first."

Lin Qi glared at him and roared, "Greater picture, my ass! Your son isn't the one who died, so of course you can stand there unmoved."

Cheng Yan had nothing to say.

Because Lin Qi was right. Since it was not his own son, he could not truly feel his pain.

Cheng Yan watched him leave and did not stop him again.

After Lin Qi returned to the Lin Family, he summoned every guard. He would definitely tear that youth into ten thousand pieces and make him understand the consequences of offending the Lin Family.

This was not merely to avenge Lin Qicheng, but also to preserve the Lin Family's prestige in Luoxia City.

Naturally, the True Martial Division had also learned of Lin Qicheng's death.

But they paid closer attention to the method used to kill Lin Qicheng.

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

Under him were one Probationary Centurion and one General Banner.

With his Late Seventh-Rank cultivation, Zhao Rong was known as one of Luoxia City's three top experts. The other two were Cheng Yan and Lin Qi.

As for the middle-aged woman at Brocade Tower, she was not counted among them, since she would not remain in Luoxia City for long and was not originally from Luoxia City.

After receiving news from the brothers patrolling the streets, General Banner An made a brief analysis and reported the intelligence he had obtained to Centurion Zhao and Probationary Centurion Chai.

Zhao Rong asked in surprise, "You're saying that the murderer who killed the Qishan County Magistrate has appeared in territory under my jurisdiction?"

General Banner An nodded. "The methods that youth used to kill Lin Qicheng and Elder Gou are very similar to the information sent from over there, so we cannot let him slip away."

Zhao Rong frowned tightly. Beneath his rough face lay an exquisitely shrewd mind. "But if that youth could kill the Qishan County Magistrate, his cultivation must not be low. At the very least, he is in the Seventh-Rank Realm. Are we a match for him?"

Probationary Centurion Chai nodded in agreement. "Centurion, you're right, but we cannot let a reward already in our grasp fly away."

He leaned close to Zhao Rong and whispered, "I heard that the Chen Family is also searching for that youth. Should we leak a little information to the Chen Family?"

Zhao Rong did not react at first. "Which Chen Family?"

Probationary Centurion Chai said, "The Chen Family of Jinshui City, Yanling Commandery."

Zhao Rong's gaze at Probationary Centurion Chai turned somewhat fierce. "Chai Youdao, are you trying to have the martial world of Luoshui Commandery curse me out?"

Probationary Centurion Chai chuckled. "I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare. But is Centurion truly willing to let such a fine opportunity pass?"

Naturally, Zhao Rong was unwilling.

That youth had killed an imperial official. He had enraged the imperial court and committed a grave taboo. If Zhao Rong could capture him and hand him over to the imperial court, perhaps he might even climb a little higher before the end of his life.

Yet Chai Youdao's suggestion left Zhao Rong conflicted for a long while. The relationship between the two commanderies was there for all to see: like water and fire colliding, they could only consume one another.

If he leaked the news to people from Yanling Commandery, it would be equivalent to offending the martial world of Luoshui Commandery. How could he possibly have peaceful days afterward?