The Masses Each Face Their Own Tribulation

Chu Ning's pupils contracted slightly as he abruptly turned to look at her, his voice low. "You think they deserve to die?"

Xie Mingli cast him a sidelong glance and met his eyes, her gaze calm and unruffled. "The masses each face their own tribulation."

Chu Ning narrowed his eyes and let out a cold laugh. "Only someone who has never suffered hardship could say something like that."

She said softly, "The reason they ended up in such a state is mostly their own laziness and lack of ambition. Some have even behaved improperly."

"You were born a high-and-mighty member of Marquis Wu's Estate, so of course you think the world is simply like this." His voice was extremely soft, yet carried a trace of coldness.

Xie Mingli cast another sidelong glance and was about to speak when Chu Ning slowly raised his hand and lifted the carriage curtain, exposing the misery in the street before her eyes.

A beggar huddled in the corner. His mother lay in a pool of blood, already breathless, while the patrolling soldiers indifferently wiped the blood from their long blades.

Chu Ning slowly turned his head and looked straight at Xie Mingli, sneering. "Were they born destined to live like this?"

Xie Mingli remained as composed as ever. "The world is like this. Everyone must take responsibility for their own choices. If they were diligent enough, they would not have ended up this way."

"Diligent?" Chu Ning scoffed. "Do you know how many people beneath this prosperity have been driven into desperate straits? Usury, taxes, corvée labor, military service—they were stripped of any chance to rise above their circumstances from the moment they were born."

Xie Mingli's brows drew together slightly. "Even so, these are necessary measures for maintaining the nation's stability. Without them, who would build the city walls and reclaim the wastelands?"

"So they should suffer for generations?" Chu Ning's voice was low, a trace of coldness showing in his eyes. "Should their suffering be ignored as a matter of course?"

"I told you, the masses each face their own tribulation. I am no exception."

Xie Mingli smiled faintly, her voice gentle yet carrying an unquestionable force. "You are too idealistic. Compared with the entire world, an individual's suffering is no more than a single grain in the vast sea."

Chu Ning's gaze turned cold. "A single grain in the vast sea? But what if that suffering fell upon you?"

Her smile did not change. Her fingertips gently brushed the Cold Marrow Pendant at her waist, its icy-blue radiance reflected in her eyes, calm as still water. "If it fell upon me, then it would be fate's trial."

She paused, and her tone softened. "Young Master Chu, if you truly want to change something, why not stand higher and see a broader world?"

"You want me to join Marquis Wu's Estate?" Chu Ning scoffed, his gaze sharp as a blade.

"Marquis Wu's Estate is not a shelter for just anyone." Xie Mingli tilted her head slightly and said softly, "What we want are people with ability. And you happen to fit the bill."

He naturally knew what Xie Mingli intended. Marquis Wu's Estate would never recruit an unknown nobody for no reason. They wanted useful talent, and the fact that Xie Mingli had taken the initiative so readily meant that he had already drawn their attention.

Chu Ning slowly raised his eyes and looked straight at her. "Unfortunately, I don't like being bound."

"Bound?" Xie Mingli smiled lightly. Her gaze was like an ancient well, without the slightest ripple. "True experts are never bound. They learn to harness the storm."

Chu Ning scoffed and rose to his feet, looking down at her. "Then let's settle it at the Azure Cloud Arena."

"You needn't refuse so hastily." Xie Mingli tilted her head slightly and gazed at Chu Ning. "Once you step onto the Azure Cloud Arena, you'll understand. Without protection, how far can you go on your own?"

The carriage finally stopped before Marquis Wu's Estate's outer residence.

Chu Ning lifted the curtain, his gaze tightening slightly.

The vermilion gates towered high. Two rows of black-armored guards stood motionless before them like statues, their spears gleaming coldly. The Bi'an Beast Patterns on their armor were so lifelike that they seemed ready to leap out and devour someone at any moment.

Looking farther inside, nine tiers of bluestone steps wound upward, each step inlaid with a solid piece of South Sea Sunken Star Stone.

Chu Ning slowly clenched his fists.

This was not the first time he had seen a powerful family's residence, but this estate possessed a sense of oppressive might greater than anywhere he had seen before.

The aura of power silently seeped into every brick and tile here.

Chu Ning's gaze fell on the signboard above the gate. Three large characters were written upon it—"Marquis Wu's Estate."

Just as Chu Ning was looking around, a middle-aged man in a brocade robe walked over at an unhurried pace. His gaze fell on Xie Mingli, and he cupped his hands slightly in respect.

"Miss, you've finally returned."

This man was Qin Henian, the head steward of Marquis Wu's Estate.

Xie Mingli nodded lightly. "We ran into several groups of bandits on the way and were delayed for a while."

"How audacious! Which bandits dared provoke Marquis Wu's Estate?"

Qin Henian attentively watched Xie Mingli's every movement. Suddenly, his eyes shifted slightly toward Chu Ning, a trace of scrutiny flashing within them as he asked indifferently, "And this is?"

Qin Henian's voice was even, but his gaze was like an invisible blade slowly gouging over Chu Ning's body.

Xie Mingli's expression did not change as she said calmly, "Young Master Chu is my... honored guest."

This time, Qin Henian did not respond at once.

After a brief silence, the corner of his mouth twitched slightly. "Honored guest?"

His gaze deepened as he slowly swept it over the plain Rusty Saber hanging at Chu Ning's waist and the longbow on his back, finally landing on the boots caked with dust. A trace of imperceptible contempt flashed through his eyes.

"Miss, your status is noble. It would be best to exercise more caution about those around you." Qin Henian smiled slightly. His tone remained respectful, yet carried an unmistakable warning.

"If this 'honored guest' has an unknown background, I'm afraid it would damage Marquis Wu's Estate's dignity."

Upon hearing this, several servants standing nearby immediately revealed looks of disdain and began whispering among themselves—

"This brat? He thinks he's worthy?"

"Just a Tenth-rank Martial Artist, and he wants to attach himself to Marquis Wu's Estate?"

"Look at his poor, shabby appearance. Maybe he wants to rely on the young lady's influence to establish himself in the prefectural city..."

Chu Ning watched everything before him, his gaze lowering slightly as his palm slowly tightened.

This was not the first time he had witnessed the arrogance of the powerful, but this time, he would not give way.

The next moment, the Rusty Saber shot through the air.

"Smack!"

Everyone was startled. When they came to their senses, they saw that the servant who had just mocked Chu Ning was already kneeling on the bluestone ground, his forehead pressed into the gap between the carved bricks, his teeth clenched tight and his face deathly pale.

Qin Henian's expression shifted slightly as he said in a low voice, "Young Master Chu, what do you mean by this?"

"Nothing." Chu Ning spoke indifferently as the bamboo saber slowly returned to its sheath, his voice devoid of the slightest emotion. "I merely saw that everyone was curious about my identity, so I offered a small reminder."

He smiled faintly, a trace of chill showing between his brows. "You'll all learn my identity sooner or later."

Xie Mingli watched quietly from the side. The corners of her lips curled slightly, and a meaningful smile flashed through her eyes.

This man... is even more interesting than she imagined.

Xie Mingli's brows drew together slightly as she raised a hand.

The people who had been whispering moments earlier instantly fell silent, not daring to say another word.

Her tone was calm, yet left no room for argument. "Young Master Chu has saved me several times. He is my honored guest. You needn't say anything more."

Everyone was startled, and their gazes toward Chu Ning held several more traces of wariness.

Qin Henian was stunned as well. He then nodded slightly and said respectfully, "Since the young lady has said so, then Young Master Chu is welcome to enter the estate and rest."

Xie Mingli smiled lightly and turned her gaze toward Chu Ning. "Young Master, please."