No More Grievances

After another five days on the road, Zhang Yu and his group finally arrived in Southern Azure City.

Southern Azure City, Chu Family.

Zhang Yu and the others were arranged to stay in the Chu Family's quietest courtyard—Listening Rain Pavilion.

In the main courtyard, Chu Qingwen and her father, Chu Chengye, were having a discussion about the Chu Family's future.

"Father, Zhang Yu is a peerless genius. Our Chu Family must seize this opportunity."

"To stake all of the Chu Family's resources on this young man is too risky. Even if I agree, your Second Uncle and Third Uncle will not." A thoughtful expression appeared on Chu Chengye's face.

"Then split the family. Stake all the resources of our eldest branch on him. Father, the Western Desolate Continent is growing increasingly chaotic. The wealthier we are, the more danger we face. If we cannot transform into a martial family, then every coin we earn now will become a death warrant in the near future," Chu Qingwen said.

"Do you truly think so highly of that young man?" Chu Chengye asked, staring into his daughter's eyes.

Chu Qingwen nodded with utmost certainty. "Father, you know my ability. I have a mysterious premonition, and it tells me that Zhang Yu is the Chu Family's only chance to transform."

Hearing his daughter say this, Chu Chengye fell silent. His brows were tightly furrowed as he weighed the gains and losses, the pros and cons, and how to balance the interests of every side.

After thinking for about the time it took to drink half a cup of tea, Chu Chengye finally made his decision. "Then let us do this. Transfer ten thousand taels of gold from our eldest branch's private accounts and send it to him. I will do everything in my power to gather the medicinal ingredients for the prescription. Isn't he going to Boundless City? Give him our Chu Family's second-entry courtyard in Boundless City as well."

The Chu Family's business was spread throughout the Great Chu Empire, and they also had a branch store in Boundless City dedicated to purchasing medicinal herbs.

"Father, why not keep him in Southern Azure City?" Chu Qingwen asked in confusion.

"See for yourself. I just had someone investigate. His wanted notice has already reached Southern Azure City. You did not know, did you? He slaughtered everyone in an entire gang, not even sparing the children. If not for your claim of having a premonition, I would never support such a vicious man." Chu Chengye handed his daughter an official wanted notice.

Listening Rain Pavilion, the guest courtyard.

Zhang Yu looked at his system panel.

[Iron Shirt: Beginner (17/100)]

[Master-Disciple Points: 32]

Sixteen days, two Master-Disciple Points a day, for a total of thirty-two points.

Niu Mancang had provided him with sixteen points of Iron Shirt proficiency and had already reached the beginner level in Iron Shirt.

Li Yue, meanwhile, had provided only one point of Iron Shirt proficiency. Even now, she had yet to reach the beginner level in Iron Shirt.

Their aptitude for Iron Shirt was worlds apart.

Li Yue could no longer cultivate Iron Shirt. After all, she was a girl. Once the Chu Family sent over the second-rate Clearwind Smoke-Transformation Scripture, he planned to have Li Yue switch to cultivating that technique.

The Clearwind Smoke-Transformation Scripture included the Clearwind Stance Art and breathing method, Clearwind Steps, and Clearwind Palm. It was a complete set of second-rate cultivation techniques that could be cultivated all the way to Transformative Force.

I need to find a third disciple as soon as possible, Zhang Yu thought to himself.

One disciple meant one Master-Disciple Point every day. This concerned his cultivation.

Unfortunately, he had yet to encounter another peerless prospect.

That evening, Chu Chengye hosted a banquet for Zhang Yu and the others. The following morning, Chu Qingwen came to Zhang Yu's room with several items.

A handwritten copy of the Clearwind Smoke-Transformation Scripture, ten hundred-year blood ginseng roots, the deed to a second-entry courtyard in Boundless City, and a voucher personally written by Chu Chengye for ten thousand taels of gold.

With this voucher, gold could be withdrawn from any Chu Family branch store until the full ten thousand taels had been collected.

Zhang Yu looked at the items before him, his brows slightly furrowed. "This is what you called the Chu Family's full support?"

"Master, this is only part of it. My father has already mobilized all the Chu Family's branch stores to search for Fire Spirit Crystals. There will definitely be news within a month." Chu Qingwen bowed as she spoke.

"Fine. We will leave the city this afternoon, so we do not bring trouble upon your Chu Family."

"Master..."

Zhang Yu waved a hand, cutting Chu Qingwen off. "When we entered the city, I saw the official wanted notice at the gate."

"Master, I am sorry. Our Chu Family is merely a merchant family. There is only so much we can do." Chu Qingwen lowered her head.

"You will remain at home. Once all the ingredients for the prescription are gathered, send them to Boundless City," Zhang Yu said.

Hearing this, Chu Qingwen dropped to her knees with a thud and began to cry. "Master, do you not want me anymore? I... sob..."

Seeing Chu Qingwen weeping like pear blossoms drenched by rain gave Zhang Yu a splitting headache. Even before he had transmigrated, he could not stand seeing women cry, much less a devastating beauty capable of toppling kingdoms.

"Enough, stop crying. If you want to follow me, then follow me."

"Thank you, Master!" Chu Qingwen burst into a smile through her tears, like a flower blooming after the rain. Zhang Yu was briefly stunned.

"I heard Eldest Uncle copied out our Chu Family's Clearwind Smoke-Transformation Scripture and gave it to some villain." A young man dressed like a pampered son barged into Listening Rain Pavilion, shouting in the courtyard.

Hearing her cousin Chu Chao's voice, Chu Qingwen's expression changed instantly. "Master, I will handle this."

"Let's go out and take a look together." Zhang Yu rose and walked out of the room.

There stood a youth in fine clothes, his eyes arrogant and disdainful, shouting in the courtyard.

"Chu Chao, shut your mouth!" Chu Qingwen walked up to Chu Chao and shouted.

"Cousin, you have not even married out yet, and you are already giving the family's things to some pretty boy?" Chu Chao glanced at Zhang Yu and spoke provocatively.

"You..." Chu Qingwen's face flushed crimson with anger.

Slap!

The next instant, a palm suddenly appeared out of nowhere and struck Chu Chao across the face with a sharp smack. The force was so great that it sent him spinning three times on the spot before he crashed to the ground.

Half his face had swollen, and he spat three teeth from his mouth.

"You... you dare hit me?" Chu Chao sat on the ground, disbelief written across his face.

"I am disciplining you on your father's behalf. Watch your mouth. Say one more word of nonsense, and I will cut out your tongue." Zhang Yu stared at him coldly.

Chu Chao wanted to say more, but when he saw Zhang Yu's indifferent gaze and remembered that the wanted notice said the other man had even killed children, he ultimately did not dare utter another word.

Soon after, Zhang Yu led Li Yue, Niu Mancang, and the others away from the Chu Family.

"Master, back at the Chu Family, you slapped Chu Chao so hard he did not dare make a sound. That felt so satisfying." Li Yue looked at Zhang Yu with admiration.

"Master, we took the Chu Family's things, then beat one of their descendants. Isn't that... not very good?" Niu Mancang asked timidly.

Although he had already reached the beginner level in Iron Shirt, deep down he still thought like a commoner from the lowest rung of society.

"Mancang, remember this. Aside from protecting the people we care about, the purpose of practicing martial arts is to ensure that we do not suffer grievances. If we had endured it just now, would we not have practiced martial arts for nothing? Besides, these things were originally the escort fee the Chu Family should have paid," Zhang Yu said.

"Master, I understand." Niu Mancang bowed in reply.

Though he was thirty-one years old, he was extremely respectful before Zhang Yu.

"I have already asked Chu Yuewen to prepare one hundred packets of body-nourishing medicine specially for Iron Shirt. Once we reach Boundless City, you must cultivate diligently alongside medicinal baths. Reach major accomplishment in Iron Shirt as soon as possible and become a martial artist."

"Yes, Master. I will work desperately hard." Niu Mancang's gaze became resolute. He wanted revenge.

For that, he was willing to stake everything.