Seeking Help

Of course, wiping out the Kai to avenge their blood feud was an obsession for the Wen clansmen, and the very reason they kept living.

Wenlong handed everything that needed arranging over to his father. Then he turned to Shitou, Wenzhu, and the others to discuss preparations for attacking Wan Family Town.

They used the same basic approach, but devised several variations. This would leave the Kai unable to guard against every attack and inflict even heavier casualties.

Deep in the night, Wenlong moved through the Kai as though no one were there. No matter how deeply their wealth was hidden, it had nowhere to conceal itself from his Mental Power.

More money and grain fell into Wenlong's storage space. They vanished without a sound, and the Kai would never imagine, even on their deathbeds, that he possessed a storage space.

After Wenlong's repeated late-night raids with his men had stripped most of them of their wealth, more than half the Kai clansmen had moved away, fleeing to distant lands.

The number of captured Kai had long since passed a thousand. Wenlong knew when to quit while he was ahead, leaving some of them behind so he could return and harvest their wealth another time.

He also assigned experts in lightness skills to watch the Kai. If they showed any unusual activity, he would return to deal with them.

They would see whether the Kai could live with their tails tucked between their legs. Otherwise, the destruction of their entire lineage would be close at hand.

Shitou also brought the youths back to the lineage to continue practicing martial arts. Raising their strength was the foremost priority.

The Security Squad was also incorporated into the Law Enforcement Hall. The Wen youths would take turns serving in the Law Enforcement Squad, giving everyone ample time to study martial arts.

Wenlong's eldest and second maternal uncles had also opened up trade channels. Now that the Huaxia Sect had slain several martial arts experts in succession, its reputation was beginning to spread.

More and more people came to the Huaxia Sect seeking partnerships. One merchant named He Da, in particular, agreed to cooperate no matter what terms Wenlong's eldest uncle proposed.

When Wenlong heard about this, he found it highly suspicious and sent someone to investigate He Da's identity.

The report identified him as the eldest young master of the He Family, an enormously wealthy family in Brightlight City. He usually kept a very low profile and almost never appeared in public.

Even Wenlong was puzzled. His family was so wealthy, yet he had specifically sought out the Huaxia Sect for a partnership. He had even come personally to show goodwill toward the sect.

There was certainly something suspicious about it, but until He Da brought it up, they would wait and see. Wenlong instructed the clansmen to intensify their training. Improving their overall strength came first.

They also needed to run their businesses well. Their current wealth was inadequate for a powerful sect. Although they already had surplus grain, many things still required substantial financial backing.

Wenlong suggested that the Manufacturing Hall forge ordinary weapons for sale, while the Pill Hall produced medicinal liniments for bruises and sprains, as well as powders for wounds. The Secret Passage contained many such ordinary formulas.

Any of those formulas could be brought out and used to produce medicines that would rank among the finest remedies. Still, a place called the Pill Hall could hardly go without medicinal pills.

Would that not make them a laughingstock? They should also bring out a few pill formulas and refine them, creating treasures that would anchor the sect and spread its name throughout the world.

Wenlong had long since planned all of this in his heart. Only once the danger facing the Wen was removed and the sect grew powerful could they hold on to their treasures.

He Da continued to visit frequently, requesting an audience with the sect master. But where would Wen Tiancheng find the time to drink tea and chat with him?

Out of consideration for his status as a major customer, the first elder received him every time.

One day, He Da brought generous gifts and asked the sect master to accept his eleven-year-old son as a disciple. Wen Tiancheng found such earnestness hard to refuse and accepted the boy.

With He Da's extensive trading network, however, the Huaxia Sect's goods were moving like spinning wheels.

Demand outstripped supply at every workshop, and the Wen amassed a great deal of wealth.

Yet just as the Wen leadership was rejoicing in the prosperity of their workshops and their steadily growing wealth,

He Da proposed taking their cooperation a step further. As it turned out, the He Family's thriving business often faced suppression from the City Lord's Residence.

Although the family possessed considerable wealth, its martial strength had always left something to be desired. Without the expert Attendants they had hired at great expense, the City Lord's Residence might have destroyed them long ago.

Thus, when his father, the head of the He Family, heard that the Huaxia Sect's experts had easily killed their challengers, he began considering an alliance with the sect.

Now, whenever He Da went out, experts were sent to protect him. He feared that the City Lord's Residence would dispatch men to assassinate him, which was also why he had always kept such a low profile.

"According to my investigation, everyone who challenged the Huaxia Sect was sent by the City Lord's Residence. Sect Master, you understand what that means without my spelling it out." Hearing He Da's words, Wen Tiancheng raised his brows slightly but said nothing.

"Sect Master, if the Huaxia Sect helps our He Family replace the current city lord, we will offer twice the amount of tax money we pay to the imperial court. What do you think?" He Da asked respectfully.

Hearing this, Wen Tiancheng could not reach a decision immediately. "Young Master He, I still need to discuss this matter with the elders. Why not stay the night, and we will give you an answer tomorrow?"

He Da knew this was a serious matter, so it was only natural that they should discuss it. He agreed to stay and await their answer the following day.

That evening, Wen Tiancheng summoned all the elders and Wenlong to the Lineage Conference Hall to discuss He Da's request.

Everyone offered different opinions, but they reached no conclusion. Wen Tiancheng's brows knitted tighter, and his gaze involuntarily turned toward his son.

His son wore no particular expression and was merely eating the pastries on the table in silence. The sight irritated Wen Tiancheng. I called you here to discuss something important.

Yet there you sit without saying a word, thinking only of eating pastries, as though we had nothing to eat at home.

Anger rising in his heart, Wen Tiancheng slammed his palm hard onto the wooden table and looked at Wenlong. "Can't you say something?"

Wenlong jumped in fright, nearly dropping the pastry in his hand onto the floor. His own anger flared at once.

"Can't you speak properly? You scared the life out of me. If you weren't my father, I'd have beaten you up already." In his anger, Wenlong spoke without thinking.

"You unfilial son! What did you say? Say that again!" Wen Tiancheng roared.

Wenlong realized he had misspoken. His anger had muddled his head just now. He hurriedly said, "Dad, Dad, Dad, I said the wrong thing! I was wrong, I was wrong. Don't be angry."

He rushed over to rub his father's chest and soothe him. "Dad, don't be angry. I was thinking about the problem just now," he explained ingratiatingly.

Everyone had been stunned by Wenlong's words. Now, seeing him fawning over his father, they all laughed.

Seeing his son apologize, flatter him, and even help soothe his breathing, Wen Tiancheng felt most of his anger subside. "Get away from me. Tell us what you think."

Only then did Wenlong return to his seat with an embarrassed smile. He deliberately coughed once to ease some of the awkwardness.

"From what Dad just described, the City Lord's Residence never intended to befriend the Huaxia Sect. From the beginning, they wanted to test our strength with force. Since they're hostile toward us, they'll still threaten our sect if they gain powerful backing in the future."

Wenlong glanced around at everyone's reactions and saw that they all agreed.

He continued, "There's no reason we can't help the He Family replace the current City Lord's Residence. Their monetary offering is a minor matter. What the Wen needs is a friendly City Lord's Residence that will help us develop and grow stronger. That's what matters."