Wu Family's Third Young Master

Heaven Dou City, Wu Family.

After returning to the family, Wu Qinan immediately questioned the family Steward.

"Has anyone in the family run away from home or gone missing in recent years?"

Court affairs kept Wu Qinan busy. Though he was the Family Head, he rarely involved himself in household matters.

Today, when he saw Wu Qi, he had felt that the other man looked familiar. Yet he was certain he had never seen him within the family.

The Steward, Wu Zhongzhi, immediately pulled up the records and replied, "Family Head, when disciples go out to train, how could there be none who go missing?"

"Over the past ten years, around a dozen family disciples have gone missing."

Anyone with eyes could tell that those on the missing list had most likely already perished.

"Only this many?" Wu Qinan asked.

He recognized everyone on the list, and Wu Qi was clearly not among them.

As for Wu Qi, he had always been one of the Family Outcasts. No one cared whether he lived or died.

However, as long as he was alive, he could collect a share of resources from the family every month.

From childhood to adulthood, those resources had never made it into Wu Qi's hands. Even though he had been missing for six years, his resources were still distributed as usual. As for whose pockets they ended up in, that was unknown.

After receiving a definite answer, Wu Qinan nodded thoughtfully and did not ask further.

Yet he could not let the matter go. He decided to arrange for someone to test him.

Inside the Tea House, Qiangu Changkong eagerly analyzed Xue Qinghe's speculation.

"Brother Wu, there's obviously something fishy going on here. Look—"

Wu Qi smiled helplessly and raised a hand, signaling him to shut up. "Why are you always thinking in terms of conspiracies? Would a real conspiracy let you discover it? Taking ten thousand steps back, if a conspiracy is discovered, is it still a conspiracy?"

"Stop thinking about all this nonsense every day. Read more books. Don't get fooled without even realizing it. If this matter really has something to do with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, at most they're serving as bait to cover for certain people behind the scenes."

Qiangu Changkong blinked. After thinking it over, he found the words reasonable. "For someone to make the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect willingly provide cover, they must have quite the background. It seems like we can't afford to offend them."

Wu Qi rubbed his forehead. "I tell you to read more, but you insist on riding pigs. Does this have anything to do with you?"

After receiving a negative answer, he said irritably, "Since it doesn't, why are you getting involved?"

"Even if it was an assignment from His Highness the Crown Prince, can't you just go through the motions? A gentleman does not stand beneath a crumbling wall. Understand?"

"That makes sense!" Qiangu Changkong said thoughtfully.

Wu Qi said no more.

He had never intended to genuinely investigate the matter on this trip to Suotuo City.

Within Heaven Dou City, he needed to keep a sufficiently low profile. He absolutely could not go to a place as chaotic as the Great Soul Arena.

But once they reached Suotuo City, things would be different. It was merely a grain-producing city, and few major powers stationed personnel there long-term.

The Suotuo City Great Soul Arena would be their best place to train, and they would not easily attract the attention of the major powers there.

After all, when they set out, Worship Hall had given them a training objective—the Golden Battle Soul Badge of the Great Soul Arena.

Actual combat had always been the fastest and most effective way to increase one's strength. Wu Qi's performance during his training in Death Canyon had been outstanding, but that did not mean he intended to stop improving because of it!

Within the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Upon learning that Ning Rongrong had ridden a horse through the busy streets, Ning Fengzhi was exceptionally furious.

With the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's capabilities, even if Ning Rongrong had killed someone in the street, they could have settled it. But that was not what Ning Fengzhi wanted.

As the future successor of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, a willful and violent temperament could not lead the sect further into the future.

Do not forget that Ning Rongrong herself was merely a Support-Type Soul Master.

One could be a thief for a thousand days, but one could not guard against thieves for a thousand days.

Ning Fengzhi did not want to see her make enemies everywhere for the sect, leaving the entire family in a state of panic.

A long rattan switch lashed across Ning Rongrong's palm, splitting the skin and leaving a bloody welt!

"Rongrong, how many times have I told you not to cause trouble in the city? The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is now the wealthiest sect on the continent. Do you know how many pairs of eyes are watching us?"

"They aren't just waiting to laugh at us. They want our lives too! Handing them leverage like this—are you tired of living?"

Ning Fengzhi's words were not alarmist.

The continent had been peaceful for more than a decade, yet Undercurrents stirred beneath the surface.

Under Bibi Dong's leadership, Spirit Hall had grown increasingly domineering in its actions.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's future circumstances were far from promising. What Ning Rongrong had done today could very well become the fuse that ignited the sect's future calamity.

After all, no one could guarantee that among those Ning Rongrong had injured, there would not be someone who would one day shake the world.

Ning Rongrong's face was full of grievance.

She had clearly been cheated by the merchant when she bought that horse, then someone had pulled her from it and scraped open her knee.

To her, today had been utterly miserable.

At the side, Sword Bone Douluo hurriedly tried to persuade him. "Fengzhi, Rongrong didn't do it on purpose. We can give the injured parties generous compensation when the time comes, and this matter will pass."

Ning Fengzhi looked helpless. "Uncle Jian, Uncle Gu, you've spoiled Rongrong too much."

With no one to whom she could speak of her grievance, Ning Rongrong became even more determined to flee the sect.

After leaving the Tea House, a group blocked Wu Qi's path.

Wu Qi recognized the three at the front. They were the Wu Family's three direct descendants: Wu Hao, Wu Shu, and Wu Qin, known as the Wu Family's Third Young Masters.

Wu Qi's expression was cold as he said indifferently, "The Wu Family's Third Young Masters. What do you want?"

The eldest of the three—Wu Hao—held his head high with an arrogant expression. "Since you know who we are, why didn't you come pay your respects after arriving in Heaven Dou City?"

Wu Shu snorted. "Looks to me like he simply doesn't respect us three brothers at all. Brothers, what do you think we should do?"

The Henchmen behind them echoed one another. "Teach him a lesson!"

Wu Qi folded his arms over his chest and watched the scene coldly.

He had expected the Wu Family to contact him, but he had not expected it to happen so quickly.

Still, in his memory, the Wu Family's Third Young Masters were not Profligate Sons.

As the family's direct heirs and future inheritors of the noble title, Wu Qinan had been extremely strict in raising them.

Seven years ago, Wu Hao had injured a fellow student at Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

Wu Qi did not know the details, but the next day, several whip marks had appeared across Wu Hao's back.

Moreover, the three were acting far too exaggeratedly. This was probably Wu Qinan's arrangement to test him.

"If you want a fight, we'll accompany you to the end!"

Qiangu Changkong did not know anything about the Wu Family. He thought they were Ning Rongrong's lackeys, here to seek revenge.

The matter had started because of him. There was no reason for him to back down.

Wu Qin strode forward with exaggerated steps. "Who the hell do you think you are? Get lost!"

A vicious gleam appeared in Qiangu Changkong's eyes as the Coiling Dragon Staff appeared in his hand.

The Wu Family's Third Young Masters were, on average, level-twenty-five Soul Grand Masters. He was strong enough to beat all three of them down.

Wu Qi did not allow the situation to escalate. He pressed down Qiangu Changkong's arm and said blandly, "Speak. Who sent you?"

"Remember, you only have one chance to speak. Don't waste it on nonsense, or the person behind you is destined to be disappointed!"

"Besides, His Highness the Crown Prince's fury is not something the three of you can bear."