An Unsolvable Grudge of Life and Death

The Wu Clan ancestral home, deep within the main hall.

"Haha, good! Good!" Many days have passed, and Wu Qiming still bears wounds, though his condition has greatly improved, allowing him to get out of bed and walk freely.

As soon as he received news of Wu Yuan.

Wu Qiming was incredibly excited and immediately summoned the Wu Clan's high-ranking members to announce the good news.

"I knew Wu Yuan, your progress would be swift, but I only dared to hope you'd enter Cloud Martial Hall next year and be heavily relied upon by the Sect in the future," Wu Qiming, uncharacteristically losing his usual composure, sighed, "Who would have thought you'd receive a special recruitment so soon!"

"Actually, for a true special recruitment, with my strength, I'd still need a bit more. It was Senior Gao Yu who valued me," Wu Yuan said humbly.

This was the explanation he had prepared beforehand.

While he wasn't afraid of assassination or kidnapping, Wu Yuan didn't want to cause trouble. He followed Gao Yu's instructions precisely, striving to conceal his talents.

Special recruitments also had levels; some barely qualified, while others possessed astonishing talent!

"Haha, that's a Sect Protector! How high is their status? To catch his eye already says everything!" Sixth Master Wu was even more excited, raising his wine cup and exclaiming, "Even if you barely qualify for special recruitment, you're still far more formidable than those Cloud Martial Hall disciples."

"Indeed!"

Wu Dongyao, refined and elegant, smiled, "The last time our Li City had a specially recruited disciple was over twenty years ago!"

Special recruitment was extremely rare in Hengyun Sect.

On average, only two to three disciples were specially recruited each year. Distributed among the prefectures, it would take twenty to thirty years for an opportunity to arise.

"Brother, you're so amazing!" His sister, Wu Yijun, excitedly held up a large chicken leg at the dining table, "But this chicken leg is even tastier."

"Hahaha!"

The Wu Clan's high-ranking members in the hall couldn't help but laugh.

Wan Qin, who rarely spoke, also smiled.

Despite facing the clan's elders, she wasn't timid at all and felt a sense of pride.

All of it was because she had given birth to a good son.

"Did you see, my dear? Yuan'er has truly grown up," Wan Qin thought silently as she watched Wu Yuan chatting and laughing with Wu Qiming and Wu Long.

Years of raising him, and this was the day she had longed for.

"Mother is very happy, and so are the Clan Leader and the others," Wu Yuan felt a warmth in his heart, his face full of smiles.

Since waking up completely and inheriting the memories of his predecessor, as time passed, Wu Yuan found himself integrating more and more into this world.

Into this home, into this family!

Cultivation always had a purpose!

"I hope to make my family and clan members' smiles as bright as they are today, forever," Wu Yuan secretly thought.

Suddenly.

"Clan Leader," Steward Fang walked in, sounding slightly hurried, "Dean Zhang from the Prefectural Sect Martial Academy is here to visit!"

The hall fell silent, and Wu Dongyao, Wu Long, Sixth Master Wu, and the others all looked towards Clan Leader Wu Qiming.

The Dean of the Martial Arts Academy?

"Clan Leader, perhaps we should excuse ourselves," Sixth Master Wu offered proactively. To the Wu Clan, the Dean of the Martial Arts Academy was an immensely important figure.

"No need! You all continue eating," Wu Qiming shook his head. "Steward Fang, please lead Dean Zhang to the study. Wu Yuan, you will accompany me to meet the Dean."

"Okay." Wu Yuan stood up.

...In the study, Wu Yuan and Wu Qiming soon waited for Zhang Da to arrive. After exchanging pleasantries, they both sat down.

"Dean Zhang, your visit is rather sudden. May I ask the reason?" Wu Qiming asked with a smile.

"Haha, Clan Leader Wu, what are you saying? Wu Yuan is a disciple of our academy, with outstanding talent, and has been favored by Protector Gao. What a joyous occasion," Zhang Da said with a chuckle. "As the Dean, I naturally must come to offer my congratulations."

"If not for the Dean's specific help and guidance, Wu Yuan wouldn't have been favored by Protector Gao, would he?" Wu Qiming smiled.

Zhang Da's eyelids twitched.

There was a barb in his words!

"Regarding the previous incident, it was my oversight," Zhang Da said with emotion. "I only considered the honor of Li City but didn't consider the larger picture of the Sect, and I misjudged Wu Yuan's martial dao talent."

"However, Wu Yuan being specially recruited is also a great joy for the Prefectural Sect Martial Academy, a glory for the academy."

"So, today, the teachers of the academy unanimously decided to reward Wu Yuan with five thousand taels of silver. We hope he continues to strive after entering Cloud Martial Hall," Zhang Da said.

As he spoke, he took out a stack of silver notes.

They were all hundred-tael notes with the 'Qunxing' mark.

"This?" Wu Qiming was initially stunned, then immediately understood Zhang Da's intention.

He felt five thousand taels was enough and looked towards Wu Yuan.

Wu Qiming knew very well that he had to respect Wu Yuan's opinion and could no longer treat him as a junior.

"Dean."

Wu Yuan smiled, "Do you know which expert annihilated the Fierce Tiger Gang?"

"I don't know. The Sect is currently investigating," Zhang Da shook his head, but inwardly he wondered why Wu Yuan brought this up.

"If the Dean knew, he must inform the Wu Clan. The Wu Clan will reward this expert handsomely," Wu Yuan said solemnly, "He has shown great kindness to my Wu Clan."

"Great kindness?" Zhang Da's eyes lit up. "Could it be that the Wu Clan knows clues about this expert?"

Wu Yuan spoke to himself, "The Fierce Tiger Gang first demanded we increase our tribute by five thousand taels this year, then they destroyed our manor south of the city, and killed many of our clansmen. The Clan Leader was even captured and taken to the Fierce Tiger Gang's stronghold! Fortunately, this mysterious expert annihilated the Fierce Tiger Gang, allowing the Clan Leader to return!"

"Look at the Clan Leader's injuries; they were sustained in the Fierce Tiger Gang's stronghold."

"Dean, tell me, should my Wu Clan not thank this expert?" Wu Yuan stared intently at Zhang Da.

That gaze made Zhang Da feel vaguely uncomfortable.

But he was a seasoned veteran. In mere seconds, he understood the deeper meaning behind Wu Yuan's words and sighed deeply for 'Xu Shouyi'.

Wu Yuan's words were very clear.

Remembering the debt owed to the mysterious expert meant not forgetting the Xu Manor's grudge. Did Zhang Da want to resolve this enmity?

Pay more money!

"The Wu Clan actually suffered such a disaster? Indeed, you should thank that mysterious expert," Zhang Da said with a face full of emotion. "In such harsh cultivation conditions, Wu Yuan, your achievements are remarkable. The Martial Arts Academy will provide you with another five thousand taels of silver!"

Zhang Da then took out a stack of silver notes.

Wu Yuan and Wu Qiming exchanged a glance and nodded slightly.

"Haha, thank you, Dean Zhang, for your great favor towards Wu Yuan," Wu Qiming picked up the conversation. "Dean, has your tea gone cold? Would you like some more?"

Dean Zhang glanced at the scalding hot tea.

Adding more would make it overflow.

Time to leave.

"Haha, no need for more tea. I suddenly remembered I have something to attend to at home, so I'll be going now," Zhang Da stood up.

"I'm not feeling well, so I can't see you out. I hope Dean Zhang understands," Wu Qiming said with an apologetic expression.

"Dean Zhang, I'll escort you out of the manor," Steward Fang appeared at the opportune moment.

Soon.

Wu Yuan and Wu Qiming watched Zhang Da leave.

"Wu Yuan, ten thousand taels of silver, isn't that a bit much?" Wu Qiming frowned. "He is the Dean of the Martial Arts Academy."

"Clan Leader, I know what I'm doing," Wu Yuan smiled.

Wu Qiming nodded slightly, still a little worried, but he couldn't say anything more.

"Wu Yuan, take this ten thousand taels of silver," Wu Qiming pointed to the silver notes on the table.

"No need!" Wu Yuan shook his head. "That esteemed Protector has already promised me that once I join the Sect, I will have a continuous supply of various cultivation resources, so I won't need money at all. Instead, after I leave and before I officially become a disciple, I won't be able to help the clan. The clan needs money more."

Does joining Cloud Martial Hall require money? Wu Yuan didn't know.

But at least.

Wu Yuan didn't lack ten thousand taels of silver right now.

"Alright, if you are specially recruited into the Sect, it's like ascending to heaven. I won't be polite with you then," Wu Qiming nodded.

"Dean Zhang came to resolve the enmity because he's worried about my future revenge," Wu Yuan said softly. "The Xu Manor should receive the news a bit later. Will they come to reconcile?"

"No!"

"Dean Zhang came to reconcile because our feud isn't to the death. It can be resolved with money," Wu Qiming shook his head directly. "The Xu Clan? Unless Xu Shouyi truly considers us Wu Clan members as fools."

"Otherwise, they won't come to reconcile over a life-and-death feud."

"The price they paid was small. Even if we agreed to reconcile, they wouldn't believe us, fearing we are merely enduring for now and will seek revenge later."

"The price to truly resolve our resentment, for example, killing that 'Xu Yuanjie' as an apology, is Xu Shouyi willing to pay?" Wu Qiming sighed.

"Kill his son?" Wu Yuan nodded slightly.

The Wu Clan lost a group of clansmen! Even the Clan Leader almost died.

What a profound enmity! How could it be easily resolved with money?

The Xu Clan must lose someone, and it must be someone of high status, to truly quell the Wu Clan's anger!

"It doesn't matter."

"As long as you are careful, at this sensitive time, Xu Shouyi, a garrison general who doesn't have absolute power, shouldn't dare to make a direct move," Wu Qiming said. "As long as you join the Sect, everything will be settled."

Wu Yuan nodded slightly.

Revenge? He already had sufficient strength. But the Fierce Tiger Gang had just been annihilated. To act again? It would be too conspicuous.

The probability of exposure would be too high.

For now, he could only let Xu Shouyi live a little longer.

"Damn it!"

"Damn it!" In a hall within the Xu Manor, everything was in disarray. Xu Shouyi, usually composed, was filled with rage in his eyes. "Damn Zhang Da, he actually refused to see me?"

"What is going on at the Martial Arts Academy today?"

"Gao Yu, a Protector of the Finance and Engineering Hall, why would he suddenly come to Li City? How did I not know in advance?"

"Wu Yuan cannot be left alive!" A chilling intent flashed in Xu Shouyi's eyes.