Ask-Dao City - Qian Family

Ask-Dao City lies at the southern side of Twin Sword Peak, the entry gate to the Xuanyun Sword Sect.

If one does not fly through the air, descending from the outer sect of the Xuanyun Sword Sect requires passing Morning Sun Peak, crossing the Sky Bridge to Twin Sword Peak, traversing Double Blade Summit, and descending thirty-three thousand three hundred stone steps.

At the very bottom of those stone steps lies "Ask-Dao."

Though called Ask-Dao City, its history stretches back over a thousand years. It was not founded by the Xuanyun Sword Sect; before their rise, it was already a great city of ten million people.

After the Xuanyun Sword Sect grew and flourished, the current Sect Leader Lei Qingyang led the entire sect to develop "Ask-Dao." A ten-thousand-mile straight road connected thousands of mountains and rivers, gathering scattered people like falling stars. Both cultivators and mortals dwelled in this city, and within a few short decades, the incoming population also reached ten million.

The city is divided into nine wards, laid out like a chessboard.

The eastern second ward is the artisan district, where ironworks, woodworking, porcelain workshops, and the like gather.

The western second ward is the merchant market. Brothels, taverns, mundane goods, cultivator shops—a dazzling array of everything. All transactions require "Dao Silver."

Dao Silver is not printed by any city institution, nor is it produced by the Xuanyun Sword Sect. It is the common currency of the human race on the Boundless Continent. More on that later.

To the south are five wards. Four are residential for common folk, with houses of green tiles and white walls. Except for official buildings like those for surveillance and security, nothing may exceed six zhang in height.

The remaining ward is a gathering place for various small sects and mundane martial arts schools, and it also houses the Xuanyun Sword Sect's external office.

Sects have their peaks, halls, and pavilions.

Cities also have their great clans.

As a city of nearly half a billion people, the number of ancient noble families and newly risen wealthy houses is naturally countless.

The Qian Family is one such ancient clan, rooted and grown in Ask-Dao City.

They occupy a hundred mu of land, with jade eaves and carved railings. Eight vermilion gates are imposing and ostentatious, all wide open. Before each gate sits a pair of ten-foot-tall lacquered auspicious beast stone statues. The servants coming and going are also brightly dressed and exude an impressive air.

"So this is the family you're betrothed to? Quite the spectacle."

Chen Xian looked up at the lacquered gold plaque on the gate—Qian Estate—and sighed with genuine feeling.

In the past, he wouldn't have dared to step into a manor like this.

But now, he not only had to go in, but also to break off the engagement. Just thinking about it was thrilling.

"What's so spectacular? They're just landlords who suck people's blood and eat their flesh."

Shangguan Hongyue curled her lip. She was naive, but she wasn't stupid.

The dirty, underhanded dealings in the mortal world were no less than those in the cultivation world.

"Thumbs up."

Chen Xian gave Shangguan Hongyue a thumbs up. To realize this at only seventeen or eighteen was pretty good.

"Let's go in. You've already notified the deacon in charge of witnessing this, right?"

"I did. Deacon Huang said he'd be here soon."

The two of them talked as they walked inside.

The Qian Family servant at the gate saw strangers approaching and took the initiative to ask.

"May I ask who you two are?"

There was no imagined arrogance or rudeness. The servant's tone and attitude were very polite.

"Xuanyun Sword Sect."

Shangguan Hongyue showed her disciple token.

The servant glanced at the token and immediately recognized its authenticity. The stewards had trained them well in identifying identities.

"So you are honored guests! Please, come in!"

He didn't even ask the purpose of Chen Xian and Shangguan Hongyue's visit, but directly led them into the estate.

Inside the Qian Estate was even more impressive.

Rockeries and flowing water, green bamboo and dragon carp reflecting each other's splendor—Chen Xian's eyes were darting everywhere, unable to take it all in.

Shangguan Hongyue, however, looked straight ahead, showing no interest in any of it.

Chen Xian glanced at her and saw a hint of nervousness on her face.

The servant led them past the ceremonial gate, through a long corridor, and stopped in front of the hall door. He said with a smile, "Please, go in. Steward Li is inside. Whatever business you have, just tell Steward Li. This one will take his leave."

"These Qian Family servants are the real deal!"

Watching the robust servant leave, Chen Xian sighed again.

"These servants have all trained in martial arts. With bronze skin and iron bones, and inner force hidden within, in a one-on-one fight, old man, you might not even be a match for them right now!"

Shangguan Hongyue winked at Chen Xian.

"Hmph! You underestimate this old man! I wouldn't deign to fight these mortals."

Chen Xian was unconvinced. He didn't believe a servant trained in mundane martial arts could withstand a strike from his lifebound Sword Qi.

"Hee~"

Watching the old man act so tsundere, Shangguan Hongyue laughed until her eyes narrowed into slits.

"Oh my, Miss Shangguan, why have you come? Why not come in?"

As the two were discussing, a lean middle-aged man with a large black mole on his cheekbone and a pair of drooping mustache whiskers came out from the main hall.

"You recognize me?"

Shangguan Hongyue frowned. She had only visited the Qian Family a few times and didn't recall ever seeing this steward before.

"Of course I do! In seven days, it will be the engagement day for Miss Shangguan and the Sixth Young Master. Everyone above the rank of steward in the manor has already memorized your appearance."

"This Humble One is Li Youde! May I ask who this gentleman beside you is?"

Li Youde rubbed his palms together, smiling warmly as he looked at Chen Xian beside her.

His mind raced as he began to analyze.

This old man had white hair and a white beard, with kind brows and kind eyes, his figure like that of a crane—he seemed somewhat extraordinary.

But he couldn't tell what cultivation level he was at.

He practiced mortal martial arts and couldn't see the cultivation of those who cultivated the sacred path.

Shangguan Hongyue had no desire to respond to his enthusiasm and only said flatly, "An elder of my sect, my grand-uncle master."

Li Youde's heart jolted sharply: "Even Shangguan Hongyue has to call him grand-uncle master? What kind of seniority is that? His seniority must be even higher than the sect master of the Xuanyun Sword Sect, right?"

"Such a great figure! I'll immediately send someone to inform the family head. Please wait in this flower hall for a moment!"

Li Youde immediately judged that this was not someone he could handle. He hurriedly called over a nearby servant: "Quick, go inform the family head and the Sixth Young Master at once—Miss Shangguan and a venerable elder from the Xuanyun Sword Sect have arrived!"

The servant bowed his head and ran out.

Li Youde originally wanted to have a servant serve tea, but after thinking it over, he decided to brew and pour the tea himself.

He couldn't afford even the slightest negligence in this matter.

"May I ask what business the venerable elder has here?" Li Youde respectfully poured freshly brewed hot tea for Chen Xian, probing tentatively.

Looking at the teacup set before him, Chen Xian suddenly thought of the Hundred Spirit Flower Fruit Tea he had just drunk and, on a whim, asked, "Can this tea prolong life?"

"Ah?" Li Youde's eyes went wide as he froze, but he quickly caught on—the venerable elder was turning his nose up at the tea leaves!

As expected of a venerable elder from the Xuanyun Sword Sect—he could tell at a glance that these were mere mortal tea leaves.

"I'll go fetch the Shou'er Tea right away!"

He clasped his hands and hurriedly walked toward the inner hall.

"You old fool, what are you doing?" Shangguan glared at Chen Xian. She was blushing on his behalf!

They were here to break off the engagement, and Chen Xian was asking for premium tea to drink!

"Uh..."

Chen Xian wanted to explain that he had just spoken without thinking, but it seemed useless to explain, so he just smiled awkwardly.

"Today, the two of us are here to break off the engagement. Don't mess this up, Grand-Uncle Master, I'm begging you!"

Shangguan Hongyue quickly reminded him.

Chen Xian's expression turned serious: "Don't worry, Little Yue'er! Grand-Uncle Master guarantees the mission will be accomplished!"

Shangguan Hongyue rolled her eyes at him. This old man could be quite serious sometimes, but at other times he was like an old child—she really had no idea what was going on in that dry, shriveled head of his.

They didn't wait long. Just as Li Youde had finished steeping the Shou'er Tea, a middle-aged man with a brisk, forceful stride arrived from outside.

Shangguan Hongyue leaned close to Chen Xian's ear and whispered, "This is the Qian Family head, Qian Yue!"