Ink Mountain, where the Xiao Household resided, lay some five hundred million li southwest of Central Mu City.
Ink Mountain was a vital stronghold of the Xiao Household. Outsiders were naturally barred from entering.
Song Wen had no choice but to head for Ink Wind City, a thousand li from the Xiao Household.
Ink Wind City was under the Xiao Household's control. It was no small city, and could stand shoulder to shoulder with Azure Purity City.
After arriving, Song Wen went to some trouble to gather more detailed information about Xiao Yuankui.
Xiao Yuankui was diligent enough in his cultivation, but he was hardly a recluse.
News of him abounded in Ink Wind City, so making inquiries was no difficult task.
Xiao Yuankui's fondness for beautiful women was notorious in Ink Wind City. Given his status and strength, many stunning beauties had fallen into his hands. Yet he had neither a cultivation partner nor concubines. Every woman he won over was discarded after he had toyed with her for a time.
His methods of pursuing women were formidable, too. If a woman had an unremarkable background, he used both carrots and sticks, tempting her with rare treasures or pressuring her in secret. If she had some standing, he restrained himself and put on a refined, courteous air, using "discussing the Dao and making friends" as a pretext to hound her relentlessly.
Besides his lust, Xiao Yuankui loved fighting and repaid even the smallest slight. As a member of the Xiao Household's direct line, he was accustomed to running roughshod over Ink Wind City.
For all his arrogance, though, he was not entirely without a brain.
Xiao Yuankui knew perfectly well whom he could provoke and whom he could not. He had never caused a disaster beyond repair.
"For someone