Huaqing Sect

Huaqing Sect

"Honored nephews, you have come from afar. My humble dwelling truly shines with your presence."

A portly middle-aged man stood before the gates of the residence.

This man was none other than Zhu Ping, head of the Zhu Family.

Though he looked bloated and unwieldy, the Zhu Family head was a genuine martial arts expert of Clear River. Those who fought often knew that this sort of muscle wrapped in flesh was the hardest to deal with.

Back in the day, he had relied on sheer ruthlessness to gain a foothold in Clear River. It was only because he had spent these past years focused on business, with no need to fight, that his temperament had mellowed considerably.

Zhu Ping had cast aside his usual imposing manner, his smile blooming like a chrysanthemum in full flower.

How could he not be delighted?

It was not merely his son Zhu Yue who had come to the Zhu Residence today. Three geniuses of the Huaqing Sect had accompanied him. Even the county magistrate would be green with envy at such a sight.

The Zhu Family had gained immense face.

"We will be imposing on you for the next few days, Uncle Zhu."

The oldest man truly deserved to be a disciple of a great sect. His manner was flawless, making others feel as though they were bathed in a spring breeze.

"Not a bother, not a bother."

Zhu Ping laughed heartily and waved his hands again and again. He wished these Huaqing Sect disciples would stay in Clear River a while longer.

"Father."

Zhu Yue was the first to leap down from his horse.

Zhu Ping looked at his fine son with gratification, just short of declaring, "My son has the makings of a Grandmaster."

Pointing to the oldest man, Zhu Yue introduced him. "This is Senior Brother Han Qin, an eighth-rank Copper Bone Realm expert. Master often praises Senior Brother Han, saying he is bound to achieve great things in the future."

"Junior Brother Zhu, do not praise me so highly."

Han Qin chuckled.

Zhu Yue then pointed to another youngster with an honest, simple look. "This is Junior Brother Zhou Hu."

Finally, he pointed to the only girl on this visit. "This is Junior Sister Jiang Yan."

Zhu Ping nodded to each of them. "All of you are outstanding Young and Promising talents. While Yue'er is in the great sect, I must ask the three of you to take good care of him."

Han Qin's smile did not change.

Zhou Hu bashfully waved his hands.

Jiang Yan remained expressionless.

Their vastly different temperaments were apparent at a glance.

Having led the Zhu Family for many years, Zhu Ping was shrewd to the bone. He would never allow the atmosphere to grow awkward. After instructing the servants to attend to them well, he casually found an excuse to leave.

They were all young people. A man nearing forty like him forcing his way into their company would only have the opposite effect.

Zhu Yue led the three through the Zhu Residence gardens.

Zhou Hu had already been dazzled by the Zhu Family's endless pavilions and towers. "Senior Brother Zhu, your family is really rich."

Not every Huaqing Sect disciple came from a prominent household.

There were also those from humble families, like Zhou Hu.

Of course, "humble family" referred to aristocratic clans that had fallen on hard times. Ordinary households did not even qualify to call themselves humble families.

Zhu Yue's spirits immediately lifted at Zhou Hu's praise. "If Junior Brother Zhou likes it, you can stay at my home a few days longer."

Though he was surrounded by stars in Clear River, he truly amounted to nothing in the Huaqing Sect.

Now that a fellow disciple had praised him, he was naturally pleased.

The smile on Han Qin's face seemed never to fade. "Of Clear River's three great families—the Zhu, Liu, and Yang families—the Zhu Family belongs to Junior Brother Zhu. How could it not be impressive?"

The surprise on Zhou Hu's face deepened.

He had not expected the ordinarily unassuming Senior Brother Zhu to possess such an excellent family background.

Zhu Yue was almost floating from their flattery, though he still said modestly, "Senior Brother Han, you are teasing me again."

As he spoke, he unconsciously glanced at the girl beside him.

If they were comparing backgrounds, this girl had the best origins among the four.

Zhu Yue changed the subject. "Senior Brother Han, my father has a good relationship with Zhang County Magistrate of Clear River. We can have the government help us search for that traitor's whereabouts first."

"Excellent."

Han Qin readily agreed upon hearing this.

The four of them had not come to Clear River to sightsee, of course, but to hunt down a disciple who had defected from the Huaqing Sect.

Zhou Hu also looked delighted.

With the government's assistance, they would surely save a great deal of time.

The sooner they completed the mission, the sooner they could return to the Huaqing Sect and continue training.

Yes, even after becoming Huaqing Sect disciples, they could not simply hide away in the mountains and cultivate in peace forever. Disciples like Zhou Hu, unless their family wealth was sufficiently deep, could only obtain cultivation resources by completing sect missions themselves.

Martial Masters were gold-devouring beasts. Even someone as wealthy as Zhu Yue had no choice but to go out and take missions.

The Zhu Family's wealth only meant they were rich in the worldly sense. Many things could not be bought with silver.

At the Huaqing Sect, Zhu Yue had seen sights from the mountaintop. His horizons had risen ever higher, and so he returned to Clear River less and less often.

If this mission had not happened to be in Clear River, he might not have come back even after several more years.

Zhu Yue said, "That man is Ninth Rank and carries a weapon. Ordinary constables are no match for him. When the time comes, we will need to act personally."

Han Qin nodded. "Naturally."

As an eighth rank, dealing with a Ninth Rank opponent would be more than easy for him.

Zhou Hu gave a foolish grin. "Even my master praised Senior Brother Han's Fallen Blossom Sword, saying it has attained three parts of its true charm."

Han Qin's eyes lit up. "Junior Brother Zhou, is that true?"

"Of course!"

Zhou Hu said, thumping his chest.

Though the four addressed one another as senior and junior brothers, they were not disciples of the same master.

Zhou Hu's master was a renowned swordsmanship expert of the Huaqing Sect. Since even Zhou Hu's master had praised him, Han Qin was naturally delighted.

Just then, Jiang Yan, who had not spoken until now, suddenly said, "Senior Brother Zhu, your residence truly harbors crouching tigers and hidden dragons. Even a Groom is nearly Entering Rank."

At her words, the other three looked in the direction Jiang Yan was gazing, all astonished.

Only then did Zhu Yue realize that, without noticing, they had reached the stables.

The horses they had ridden earlier were being led into the stables by an old groom.

Their horses were all fine steeds worth a fortune, each more unruly than the last. Yet in the old groom's hands, they were as docile as sheep.

Zhu Yue remembered that this old groom had been with the Zhu Family for a very long time.

So long that he seemed to have been raising horses ever since Zhu Yue could first remember.

His name seemed to be... Li Rui?

"What a pity he is too old. His vital blood is withered. Forget Entering Rank—he would be fortunate just to preserve his current realm."

With a single sentence, Han Qin delivered the final verdict on Li Rui.

Fists feared the young and strong.

Martial arts cultivation did not mean the older one grew, the stronger one became. Unless one could reach Seventh Rank or above, the longer one lived, the weaker one's vital blood became, until one could only become a whetstone for the younger generation.

Zhu Yue no longer paid attention.

A groom with decent strength—before, he might have cared enough to recruit him.

But now, his heart was set wholly upon seeking the Dao.

Building up a power base was a lesser art. Zhu Yue disdained to do it.

After the four left.

Only then did Li Rui look toward their retreating backs.

Those four young men and women were unfamiliar faces, not members of the Zhu Family. Their attire was also magnificent. If he had guessed correctly, they were the distinguished guests from the Huaqing Sect the servants had mentioned.

Tsk, tsk. To enter the Huaqing Sect at such a young age.

Their futures were truly boundless.

But just as Li Rui lowered his head to continue tying the reins—

A line of small text appeared before his eyes.

Congratulations, Host, for completing the beginner storyline of the Immortal Couple achievement—Meeting.