Water and Fire Cannot Coexist

At noon the next day, at Great Peng Courtyard in the Zhennan Marquis Estate.

Lunch had already been served, yet Qiushui had still not come to report. A trace of displeasure rose in Su Yingluo's heart, and she ordered another personal maid to summon Qiushui.

However, half an hour later, the personal maid hurried back to report that Qiushui could not be found. Ever since Qiushui had gone out yesterday morning, she had never returned.

"Could something have happened?" A trace of disbelief surfaced in Su Yingluo's eyes.

The next moment, she immediately sent people to investigate.

By evening, Su Yingluo had received the results: Qiushui, the two Divine Treasury Realm experts sent from the Qingzhou Su Clan, and the two converted Second-Rank Spirit Beasts had all been killed by someone. They had died to the Arhat Subduing Fist.

"Did the murderer frame Pudu Mountain?" Su Yingluo asked vigilantly.

The person reporting replied, "That possibility cannot be ruled out. However, it is unlikely. The Arhat Subduing Fist is one of Pudu Mountain's renowned martial arts, and it has always been taught only to inner disciples. Should it be discovered that it was leaked to someone outside the inner sect, Pudu Mountain would immediately spare no expense to recover it, including crippling the cultivator's cultivation and severely punishing the one who taught it. Even if someone secretly learned it, they would not dare use it openly."

"The Arhat Subduing Fist is profound and all-encompassing, with numerous techniques. To cultivate it to perfection requires more than a decade of bitter effort. No one would spend over ten years cultivating a martial art they could not use in public."

"And the Arhat Subduing Fist used by the murderer had reached the perfected realm."

Su Yingluo gave a slight nod, agreeing with the analysis.

"Furthermore, we found several tiny scraps of monk robe at the scene. They were sliced off by a sword. The scraps were very small, so perhaps the murderer did not notice them either." The person reporting continued, "Based on the overall analysis of the scene, there is over a seventy percent chance that the murderer was a master from Pudu Mountain."

Su Yingluo neither confirmed nor denied it. She could not understand why Pudu Mountain would kill her people.

Though she had married the Young Lord of the Zhennan Marquis Estate, she was still the Buddha Lord's sole personally taught laywoman disciple.

She asked, "Where is Zhao Ping'an?"

The person reporting answered, "Zhao Ping'an is at Jiang Manor. Yesterday afternoon, he rode back to Jiang Manor. However, someone saw that he looked rather bedraggled upon his return. His clothes were torn in several places, and he was quite flustered. When people asked him what had happened, he refused to say a word. After that, he changed his usual habit of wandering about everywhere and remained inside Jiang Manor, practically staying in Moon Laurel Courtyard."

"However, there are no rumors in Jiang Manor that he was attacked."

"What about Jiang Shuyue?"

"Jiang Shuyue has remained in Moon Laurel Courtyard at Jiang Manor and has not gone out."

"We speculate that when Miss Qiushui found Zhao Ping'an, a master from Pudu Mountain happened to find Zhao Ping'an as well. The two sides then clashed, and Zhao Ping'an took the chance to escape on horseback."

As Su Yingluo pondered, she asked several more detailed questions before dismissing the person reporting.

She closed her eyes slightly and thought seriously for a long while, yet could not unravel the doubts within.

"I never expected that little bastard to have a shred of luck. I'll let him live a few more days for now." She could only put the matter aside temporarily.

Originally, she had planned to send Zhao Ping'an to salvation while Zhao Yingpeng was worried that Zhao Ping'an would disgrace him in Yujing. Zhao Yingpeng would not have become angry or pursued the matter.

To ensure there was no room for error, she had specifically sent a flying letter to her maternal family, the Qingzhou Su Clan, asking them to secretly dispatch two Divine Treasury Realm experts. Who would have thought they would all be lost instead, along with Qiushui? The losses were rather great.

Without Qiushui, her satisfactory maid, she feared the coming days would bring her many inconveniences.

Every uncontrollable twist had arisen because of that Imperial Decree, and hatred smoldered in her heart.

She got up and went to the cultivation courtyard to find Zhao Yingpeng.

After exchanging a few polite pleasantries like guests respecting one another, Zhao Yingpeng did not wish to waste any more cultivation time and asked directly, "Yingluo, what is it?"

"Husband, can our children not be sent to Yujing? They are cultivating well at Pudu Mountain. Suddenly interrupting that to go to some Taiwu Academy in Yujing for five years will certainly delay their cultivation," Su Yingluo pleaded.

Zhao Yingpeng shook his head and said solemnly, "This is an Imperial Decree, and the Great General of the Imperial Guards personally proclaimed it. We cannot possibly defy the decree."

"I am only worried that the children's cultivation will be affected and that they will fall behind others in the future." Su Yingluo continued, her tone carrying a faint reproach.

Zhao Yingpeng nodded in agreement, but said nothing.

Su Yingluo did not say anything further. She knew perfectly well that the Zhennan Marquis Estate could not possibly defy the decree at this stage. She merely took the chance to plant a seed of disgust toward Emperor Qian in Zhao Yingpeng, the Young Lord of the Zhennan Marquis Estate.

Another six or seven days passed, and the day to depart for the capital arrived.

That day, everyone in Jiang Manor turned out in force, forming a grand procession to send Zhao Ping'an to the Zhennan Marquis Estate.

After arriving before the gates of the Zhennan Marquis Estate, Zhao Ping'an bid farewell to Jiang Wen, Jiang Zhengtian, and the others.

Jiang Yiyi also bade farewell to Second Maternal Aunt, Jiang Zhengfa, and the others with tears shining in her eyes. She would be following Zhao Ping'an to Jade Capital Grand Martial Academy in Yujing.

Zhao Ping'an had been permitted to bring two servants with him to cultivate at Jade Capital Grand Martial Academy. While caring for the students' daily needs and doing odd jobs and errands, the servants would receive the benefit of being allowed to audit some cultivation lessons.

To countless people, these benefits for servants were an enormous boon.

After discussion, Zhao Ping'an gave one servant's position to Jiang Yiyi.

In other words, Zhao Ping'an had only one true servant: Chen Donglai.

Zhao Ping'an did not bid Jiang Shuyue farewell, because Jiang Shuyue would accompany the party to escort him to Yujing. The Imperial Guards permitted the students' families to send people along as escorts.

After saying their farewells for the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Zhao Ping'an, Jiang Yiyi, and Chen Donglai formally entered the Zhennan Marquis Estate.

Jiang Shuyue was unwilling to set foot in the Zhennan Marquis Estate again, so she waited outside for the party to emerge before following them.

Zhao Ping'an had taken only a few steps into the Zhennan Marquis Estate when a middle-aged steward approached and said coolly, "The Marquis will address all the descendants going to Jade Capital Grand Martial Academy in Valiant Departure Hall. Young Master Ping'an, please come with me immediately."

"Lead the way," Zhao Ping'an said flatly.

The middle-aged steward turned and led the way toward Valiant Departure Hall.

Valiant Departure Hall was where the descendants of the Zhennan Marquis Estate set out for the front lines to fight.

More than half an incense stick later, Zhao Ping'an followed the middle-aged steward to Valiant Departure Hall.

Valiant Departure Hall consisted of a grand hall and a large plaza before it. Before setting out on campaign, grand send-offs were held in the plaza when there were many people, while smaller groups gathered inside the hall.

This time, the Zhennan Marquis Estate's send-off was being held inside the main hall.

Zhao Ping'an entered the hall, while Jiang Yiyi and Chen Donglai were stopped outside to wait.

The moment he stepped into the hall, he immediately drew everyone's attention.

Yet after only one glance, all those gazes immediately shifted away. No one spared Zhao Ping'an another look.

The descendants of the Zhennan Marquis Estate named in this Imperial Decree were all relatively important youths, thirty-six in total. They all knew and understood one another, while Zhao Ping'an alone was a complete outsider.

They had never seen Zhao Ping'an, but that did not stop them from guessing his identity.

After a month of spreading, the list on the Imperial Decree had long circulated throughout the Zhennan Marquis Estate. Many descendants of the Zhennan Marquis Estate were dissatisfied that Zhao Ping'an was on the list as well.

Because Zhao Ping'an was not only concubine-born, but also a useless Mortal Body.

Young people were generally not given to deep thoughts. Most merely believed that only the most outstanding and most noble young descendants could go to Jade Capital Grand Martial Academy, without considering whether the Zhennan Marquis Estate was willing or not.

Thus, every youth in the hall was ashamed to be associated with Zhao Ping'an.

Zhao Ping'an did not care in the slightest about the attitudes of these youths from the Zhennan Marquis Estate. He calmly walked to an empty spot and stood there, eyes on his nose, nose on his heart, neither looking at nor listening to the people and conversations within the hall.

If he had not been under another's roof and forced to bow his head, he would not have wanted to listen to the Zhennan Marquis's so-called address at all.

Back then, when that Old Hag had forced his Mother to abort him, the Zhennan Marquis had remained silent throughout, but his presence alone showed that he agreed. He was an accomplice.

"Brother, what if that trash disgraces us every day once we reach Yujing?" Zhao Jinglian shot Zhao Ping'an a disgusted, disdainful glance and said to Zhao Zhenming, "We'll be laughed to death."

She was twelve this year and had already blossomed into a graceful young girl. She had inherited Su Yingluo's beauty, and combined with her luxurious clothes and accessories, she looked like a little fairy.

Zhao Zhenming comforted her, "Do not worry, Sister. Once we reach Yujing, I will have my ways."

"I really wish he would die!" Zhao Jinglian muttered viciously.

After waiting roughly the time it took to drink a cup of tea, the Zhennan Marquis finally arrived.

Several core figures of the Zhennan Marquis Estate arrived with him, including Young Lord Zhao Yingpeng.

When Zhao Yingpeng entered the hall, his imposing gaze swept over everyone. When his eyes passed over Zhao Zhenming and Zhao Jinglian, they paused slightly, and his stern gaze softened into affectionate kindness, even carrying two parts pride.

He was exceedingly satisfied with Zhao Zhenming and Zhao Jinglian, especially Zhao Zhenming.

Zhao Zhenming's cultivation, comprehension, and combat strength all surpassed Zhao Yingpeng's at the same age. In particular, after Zhao Zhenming opened his Essence Sea, not only had his Newly Opened Essence Sea reached Ten Thousand Feet—ten times that of an ordinary genius—but he had also formed a Primordial Sea Phenomenon: Dragon-Serpent Emerging from Divine River Diagram.

A Primordial Sea Phenomenon was incomparably wondrous. Releasing it in battle could not only amplify one's own strength, but also suppress and weaken one's enemies.

This was the mark of the most supreme monstrous genius of the Human Race!

Furthermore, Zhao Zhenming was handsome and elegant, standing like jade trees in the wind, with a noble bearing and an exceptionally fine appearance.

This was his perfect son!

Zhao Yingpeng's gaze continued to sweep across the hall. The next moment, a completely unfamiliar youth entered his sight.

He could not be called entirely unfamiliar, because the youth's handsome face bore some resemblance to Jiang Shuyue's.

He immediately knew that this was the other useless son he had never met, Zhao Ping'an.

In an instant, his gaze filled with disgust, even concealing killing intent.

It would have been fine if he had been raised like a pig in a small courtyard for his entire life. Yet because of the Imperial Decree, he had to be sent to Yujing to disgrace the family before the whole world.

Zhao Ping'an had been standing with his eyes on his nose and his nose on his heart, looking at no one. But when Zhao Yingpeng's gaze fell upon him, he sensed eyes carrying hidden killing intent fixed on him. He raised his gaze and met Zhao Yingpeng's eyes directly.

Zhao Ping'an did not know Zhao Yingpeng's appearance, but blood ties between father and son ran deep. After only one look, he guessed who it was.

Though it was the gaze of his so-called father, though it contained killing intent, Zhao Ping'an did not lower his head in fear or avert his eyes.

He met Zhao Yingpeng's gaze without yielding, determined to see clearly the enemy who had imprisoned him for twelve years.

Seeing Zhao Ping'an refuse to lower his head or avoid his gaze, Zhao Yingpeng's heart filled with even greater disgust.

He kept staring at Zhao Ping'an, his gaze full of threat, trying to force Zhao Ping'an to lower his head. Yet Zhao Ping'an simply would not lower his head or yield.

Not until he had reached the innermost part of the hall did Zhao Yingpeng fail to get his wish. He had no choice but to shift his gaze away and face all the youths who would be going to Jade Capital Grand Martial Academy.

After the youths bowed to the Zhennan Marquis and the other elders, the Zhennan Marquis began his address.

Zhao Ping'an heard the Zhennan Marquis's address without listening to it. He roughly understood that it had three main points:

First, all the youths were to remember that they were descendants of the Zhennan Marquis Estate. Their roots were in the Zhennan Marquis Estate; alive, they were people of the Zhennan Marquis Estate, and dead, they were souls of the Zhennan Marquis Estate.

Second, after arriving in Yujing, the descendants of the Zhennan Marquis Estate were to stand united, love and support one another, and win glory for the Zhennan Marquis Estate.

Third, after entering Jade Capital Grand Martial Academy, the Zhennan Marquis Estate would continue to devote resources to cultivating the youths.

After the Zhennan Marquis finished speaking, everyone was immediately issued a generous batch of Cultivation Resources: ten bottles of Superior Essence Pills, thirteen Spirit Talismans—three High-Grade Spirit Talismans and ten Mid-Grade Spirit Talismans—and Silver Notes worth fifty thousand taels.

These Cultivation Resources were worth over one hundred and fifty thousand taels of silver!

The youths lined up with delighted, excited expressions to receive these generous Cultivation Resources.

When it came to Zhao Ping'an's turn, Zhao Ping'an refused in a flat voice, "I do not want them."

He was unwilling to accept even the tiniest favor from the Zhennan Marquis Estate.

The person distributing the Cultivation Resources frowned slightly and turned to Zhao Yingpeng with an inquiring look.

Zhao Yingpeng said in a deep voice, "He is unworthy!"

The person distributing the Cultivation Resources skipped Zhao Ping'an.

Once the Cultivation Resources had been distributed, they formally left Valiant Departure Hall and set out at the Zhennan Marquis's command.

However, their true departure point was not within the Zhennan Marquis Estate, but outside the northern city gate, where the Imperial Guards and the airship awaited.

Zhao Ping'an left the Zhennan Marquis Estate with the party. Jiang Shuyue, who had been waiting outside, followed after them, though she kept her distance from the people of the Zhennan Marquis Estate.

The vast procession drew the attention of many commoners along the road. It arrived outside the northern city gate and stopped before an enormous Expedition Airship.

The Expedition Airship was a Hundred Zhang long, over twenty zhang wide, and over thirty zhang high. Its surface was covered in densely packed Talisman Patterns, while its sides bristled with all manner of powerful long-range military weapons. It looked exceedingly ferocious and terrifying.

Yujing lay in the north-central region of the Great Qian Kingdom, while White Emperor City was in the Southern Border. The two cities were separated by more than ten thousand li. The Imperial Guards could not have ridden horses to deliver the Imperial Decree to the Zhennan Marquis Estate, so they had used an Expedition Airship instead.

Moreover, it was not merely transportation—it also served as a display of intimidation, ensuring that the Zhennan Marquis Estate obediently complied with the decree.

Before boarding the airship, the Imperial Guards permitted the students to make their final farewells to their families.

After patiently and carefully advising Zhao Zhenming and Zhao Jinglian alongside Su Yingluo, Zhao Yingpeng walked over to Zhao Ping'an, ignoring Jiang Shuyue, who stood beside Zhao Ping'an.

"Once you reach Yujing, you are forbidden from claiming to be a descendant of the Zhennan Marquis Estate," he warned Zhao Ping'an coldly.

"A piece of trash should know his place and live with his tail tucked between his legs. If you dare smear my face with mud, bring shame upon the Zhennan Marquis Estate, and make a spectacle of yourself, I will not spare you! Do not blame me for punishing you without warning!"