The Zhu family residence was easy to find. It was the largest and most imposing estate in the entire village. As for Jiang Che and Geng Dabiao, clad in armor and mounted on tall horses, the townsfolk along the road chose to ignore them.
No—what Jiang Che saw in their eyes was numbness.
A short while later, Jiang Che and the other man arrived at the Zhu family gates. They tied their horses to the stone lions outside, and Geng Dabiao stepped forward to knock on the vermilion-red doors.
"You are...?"
An old man answered the door. His face was covered in wrinkles as he squinted at the two of them. Vaguely, several people could be seen behind the gate holding torches aloft.
Jiang Che got straight to the point, producing the token Zhu Sheng had given him.
"By Captain Zhu's order, I have an urgent matter to discuss with Madam."
The old man accepted the token and examined it carefully. Once he had confirmed it was genuine, he returned it to Jiang Che.
"Please wait here, sir. I will inform Madam."
"Thank you."
Jiang Che cupped his hands.
Before long, the Zhu family gates opened once more, and the old man said to Jiang Che,
"Madam is in the study at the moment. Please follow me, sir."
Following the old steward, Jiang Che and Geng Dabiao entered Zhu Manor. Compared to the outside, the interior was even more extravagantly luxurious. There were ponds, artificial hills, and servants and maidservants everywhere one looked.
Its lavishness was plain for all to see.
Jiang Che, however, paid it no mind.
Whether Zhu Sheng was greedy for money had nothing to do with him. In fact, he even hoped the man was a corrupt official, for that would make it easier for him to maneuver matters in the future.
Geng Dabiao was left outside the study while Jiang Che pushed open the door alone.
The room was antique and elegant, with shelves crammed full of books. Before the writing desk sat a graceful, well-proportioned beautiful woman with her hair pinned up.
She had bright eyes, white teeth, and a gentle, captivating air.
When she saw Jiang Che enter, the beautiful woman hurriedly stood, anxiety appearing on her face as she asked,
"Has something happened to my husband, for him to send you here so late at night?"
Jiang Che took out the token and handed it to her along with the letter.
"Madam, do not be afraid. I am Jiang Che, Deputy Commander under Captain Zhu. Captain Zhu sent me here to escort you and your family to reside in Yanggu County."
The beautiful woman frowned as she accepted the letter. After quickly reading it, the worry on her face finally faded, replaced by a smile.
"So my husband is being transferred to Yanggu County to serve as county commandant. Hehe... I was worrying for nothing."
"Madam's caution is only proper."
Though the woman was beautiful, Jiang Che did not overstep. Aside from his initial appraisal, his gaze remained lowered. At present, he did not have the qualifications to act recklessly.
"Then I must trouble Commander Jiang. I will have people begin making preparations at once. How about we set out within the next couple of days?" Madam Zhu asked with a warm smile.
"Everything shall be according to Madam's instructions."
Jiang Che cupped his hands.
"Mother, what happened? I heard Father sent someone?"
While the two were speaking, the study door was pushed open, and a young girl in a goose-yellow palace dress rushed inside. Jiang Che turned to examine her. She did resemble Zhu Sheng somewhat, though in terms of beauty, she fell short of Madam Zhu.
"How unbecoming, rushing about so recklessly!"
Madam Zhu's brows furrowed slightly.
The girl in yellow paid no heed. She walked over to Jiang Che and looked him over. When she saw his face clearly, she seemed somewhat disappointed. Raising her chin, she casually asked,
"What is your name? Why did my father send you?"
Jiang Che did not answer, instead looking toward the beautiful woman.
"Qing'er, do not be rude. This is Commander Jiang Che. Your father has been transferred to Yanggu County as county commandant, and Commander Jiang has come to escort us." Madam Zhu immediately reprimanded her with a stern expression.
"Commander? How old are you to already be a commander?"
Zhu Qingqing was somewhat unconvinced.
"Deputy commander."
Jiang Che smiled at her.
"Oh, so you are only a deputy commander. That's what I thought. But I'm doing perfectly well here. I'm not going to Yanggu County." Zhu Qingqing curled her lips.
"Madam, please make your preparations first. Jiang will wait outside Zhu Family Fort. If anything arises, simply send someone to inform me." Jiang Che did not care about his attitude toward a woman whose milk had barely dried from her lips.
Nor would he humble himself and beg her to go. After cupping his hands toward Madam Zhu, he turned and left.
After Jiang Che departed, Madam Zhu frowned.
"Nonsense! Commander Jiang is your father's subordinate no matter what. How could you be so discourteous?"
"Mother, you said it yourself—he is Father's subordinate. Do I need to treat a subordinate with courtesy? Besides, I didn't even do anything to him. Aren't you making a mountain out of a molehill?"
Zhu Qingqing looked utterly unconcerned.
"Your father said in his letter that although this Jiang Che came from humble origins, his aptitude is exceptional. He intends to bring the two of you together..."
"Stop right there! Has Father gone mad? He wants to marry me off to some insignificant deputy commander? In your dreams! I won't marry him!" Zhu Qingqing's eyes widened as she immediately refused.
"Qing'er, you are already seventeen. It is time for you to marry."
Madam Zhu looked troubled. The Zhu family's line was thin. She had only one son and one daughter, and neither gave her any peace of mind. Zhu Qingqing in particular relied on her family's status to run wild through Zhu Family Fort, developing a temperament that looked down on everyone.
It gave both her and her husband a terrible headache.
"Even if I am to marry, I must marry a man of ability, looks, and family standing. This Jiang Che looks ordinary at best. I don't fancy him." Zhu Qingqing's eyes shifted as she continued,
"Mother, you just said Jiang Che came from humble origins. What does his family do?"
"Your father said in his letter that he seems to have come from a family of fishermen." Madam Zhu recalled the letter's contents.
"No wonder he reeks of fish. In any case, there is no way I would ever marry a fisherman. If you want to marry him, marry him yourself." Zhu Qingqing gave a light snort and raised her chin.
"You wretched girl, what nonsense are you saying?" Madam Zhu's face reddened as she smacked Zhu Qingqing.
"That is what I mean, anyway. Neither you nor Father should think of forcing me."
Madam Zhu frowned slightly.
"You are still young and do not understand. It is precisely because he is of low birth that our family can easily keep him under control. If he marries you, he would never dare mistreat you, much less take a concubine."
"Wouldn't that make him a son-in-law? Forget it. If I marry, I will marry a great hero. Someone like him is not worthy of me."
Madam Zhu looked at her spoiled, overbearing daughter and let out a soft sigh.
"Fine, fine. Since you are unwilling, I will inform your father. But even so, you must not show your disgust in front of Jiang Che. Do you understand?"
"Why? Do I need to mind him?"
"He is your father's subordinate after all. Leave him some face, and he will be willing to serve loyally. This is the way of controlling subordinates," Madam Zhu lectured.
"Got it, got it." Zhu Qingqing waved her hand, not taking any of it in.
"It is late. Go back and rest well tonight. Tomorrow, start packing your things. Do not make your father wait anxiously."
"We'll talk about it tomorrow."
The book's title has been changed to "Everyone Has Already Sacrificed Their Way Through—Who Still Bitterly Cultivates Martial Arts?"
Sorry for the inconvenience caused. An extra chapter has been added as thanks for everyone's support.