Family Traditions and Discipline (Thanks for Your Support)

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Luojing." Wang Shouzhe did not want to delay any longer and let the Lu Clan suffer losses for nothing.

Besides, Lu Clan's two uncles had always treated him and his elder sister Wang Luoyi quite well. Even though they could only meet once every year or two, the Lu Clan would usually send family retainers to deliver gifts to Wang Shouzhe, Wang Luoyi, and even Wang Luomiao, the daughter of their eldest aunt Gongsun Hui.

"It's no trouble. I've eaten so much good food these past two days." Wang Luojing smiled faintly. "I'm bursting with strength I can't use up." As she spoke, she deliberately struck a pose to show how strong she was.

"Enough. You little scrawny girl, stop showing off in front of me. Let's get going." Warmth filled Wang Shouzhe's heart as he laughed. "Have a sip of Spirit Wine later and get some good sleep in the carriage."

"Fourth Brother, I'll grow up someday." Wang Luojing pouted in dissatisfaction. "Fourth Brother isn't allowed to look down on Jing'er."

"I'm not looking down on you. I wouldn't dare." Wang Shouzhe helped her into the carriage by the hand. "My Luojing is going to be a great Spirit Insect Master someday. Maybe Fourth Brother will need you to protect him. How could I possibly look down on you?"

"Then it's settled. If anyone dares bully Fourth Brother in the future, Luojing will send bugs to bite him."

"Fine, fine, whatever you say. Now go to sleep."

The carriage rolled slowly along the level road.

Wang Shouzhe rode a black steed, guarding the carriage alongside several other family retainers. There were two main routes to the Yingxiu Lu Clan: one passed through the sunny side of Dragon Ridge Mountain, while the other went around its shady side.

Naturally, they could not head toward the Shanyin Liu Clan now, so they had to take the Shanyang route.

That was also one of the main reasons Wang Shouzhe had prioritized helping the Shanyang Gongsun Clan stabilize the crisis.

Gongsun Qiang had originally wanted to see them off, but Wang Shouzhe refused. For one thing, he truly could not stand Gongsun Qiang's abysmally low emotional intelligence; for another, the Gongsun Clan was busy with disaster relief and already shorthanded.

In addition, their eldest aunt Gongsun Hui had voluntarily remained in Shanyang for the time being, saying she could keep her parents company. In truth, she understood her position; going to the Lu Clan would not have been appropriate.

As the caravan traveled on, it entered a dense forest, and the road gradually became pitted and bumpy.

Wang Shouzhe frowned slightly. "Wang Zhong, this road isn't easy to travel. How much farther until Yingxiu?"

"Family Head, this forest marks the border between Shanyang and Yingxiu. It is seven or eight li wide in total." The family retainer Wang Zhong knew the route like the back of his hand. "Once we pass through the forest, we'll reach the famous Yingxiu Lake. You haven't been to Yingxiu in several years, and before this, you always took the main road through Shanyin, so you probably aren't familiar with this side."

"Everyone, forests are usually dangerous. Stay sharp."

At his shout, the retainers all straightened up and became even more vigilant.

"Wang Zhong, is there something wrong with this forest?" Wang Shouzhe grew more alert as well. "Could there be rumors of Fierce Beasts?"

This world was no game world. Should a powerful Fierce Beast appear, it could very well cause casualties among their party.

"Family Head, at border regions like this, the Profound Martial Aristocratic Clans of Shanyang and Yingxiu take turns patrolling. Any somewhat formidable wild beasts are cleared out, much less Fierce Beasts." Wang Zhong shook his head. "It's simply that, as guard retainers, we undergo training in our daily lives. In terrain with poor visibility, we must be extra cautious. It is our duty to prepare for any eventuality."

The party traveled several more li without incident. As they passed a small stream that flowed across the road—

Suddenly!

Wang Zhong's expression changed, and he raised a hand to call for a halt.

The driver, Wang Laoshi, hurriedly stopped the carriage. The other retainers drew their weapons with ringing clangs, fully on guard.

Wang Zhong dismounted and went to a small stream by the roadside. He picked up a small scrap of cloth, and his face abruptly turned grave. Addressing the Wang Shouzhe who had come up behind him, he said, "Family Head, this scrap was cut by a sharp blade and bears traces of blood. There is also blood on the stones by this stream that was not fully wiped away."

Something really had happened.

When traveling in the wilderness, what one feared most was all manner of unforeseen incidents. Wang Shouzhe's expression turned solemn. "Wang Zhong, tell me your assessment."

"Judging by the fabric, it is gray-dyed fine cotton cloth, which is rather expensive. Ordinary tenant farmers, commoners, hunters, and the like would be reluctant to buy clothes made of such costly fabric. Even if they gritted their teeth and bought them, they would only wear them during festivals or celebrations." As a family retainer, Wang Zhong had been trained by older retainers since childhood and was quite familiar with such matters. "Therefore, this person is very likely a Profound Warrior of relatively higher status than a commoner. But his status cannot be too high either. Someone as distinguished as you, Family Head, would normally use even more expensive brocade-patterned cloth."

"So, a family retainer or an ordinary member of a Profound Martial Aristocratic Clan," Wang Shouzhe nodded. "Or perhaps an itinerant merchant."

"Itinerant merchants usually travel in groups." Wang Zhong shook his head. "Family Head, look at these footprints. They should all belong to the same person, and they lead deeper into the dense forest. Hm, it looks as though he was fleeing pursuit. Therefore, there is a strong possibility that this person is a fugitive rogue cultivator, or perhaps a traitor from some clan. He likely heard us approaching and, without even having time to conceal his tracks, hurried into the depths of the forest."

"Can we catch him?" Wang Shouzhe said sternly. "We came from Shanyang and heard nothing of any fugitive or traitor. That means this person most likely came from Yingxiu. No matter the circumstances, we should seize him first and ask questions later."

"Rest assured, Family Head." A cold gleam flashed through Wang Zhong's eyes. "This man is already injured, and in his haste he has left tracks that are difficult to conceal. I'll take two brothers and bring him back."

"Wang Yong, Wang Wu, go with him," Wang Shouzhe ordered. "Safety comes first. If the target proves difficult, call for help immediately."

"Yes, Family Head."

The three retainers accepted the order and moved out. They spread slightly apart, forming a triangular formation as they tracked and searched. Before the time it took to burn a stick of incense had passed, a miserable cry faintly rang out from deep within the forest.

Very soon, the Wang Clan's three retainers returned beside the carriage, carrying a man bound hand and foot.

"Family Head, I have not failed my mission." Wang Zhong threw the captive to the ground and cupped his hands. "This thief appears to be around the fourth level of the Qi Refining Realm. Judging from his attire, he should initially be identified as a rogue cultivator."

"Mmph, mmph, mmph~" The man's eyes were filled with terror. His mouth was stuffed and his entire body bound, so he could only struggle desperately to draw Wang Shouzhe's attention.

"Let's hear what he has to say," Wang Shouzhe instructed.

"Yes, Family Head." Wang Zhong removed the rag stuffed in his mouth.

"This young master—no, my lord." The somewhat wretched-looking middle-aged man immediately began begging bitterly. "This lowly one was merely passing through your honored lands. I have committed no crime. Please, please let me go. I have some Qian Gold on me, as well as a Profound Martial cultivation manual. Consider them this lowly one's ransom for his life."

"Whether you have committed a crime is not for you to decide." Wang Shouzhe gave Wang Zhong a gesture.

Wang Zhong quickly searched him. The man had only 5 Qian Gold, 17 Big Copper, and 56 Jiao on him. There was nothing valuable in his pack either, aside from a worn-out Profound Martial cultivation manual.

"Minor Heavenly Cycle Blood-Qi Circulation Method."

Wang Shouzhe flipped through it, his brow furrowing. This was an ordinary cultivation method. The Wang Clan's inheritance held a copy as well; it was used to lay the foundation for servants and family retainers in the early stages of cultivation. Moreover, this copy clearly had several errors and omissions.

Still, it generally fit the circumstances of an impoverished rogue cultivator. Rogue cultivators valued increasing their cultivation above all else. Whenever they got a little money, they would buy cultivation resources.

"How did you get injured?" Wang Shouzhe looked at the clearly deep blade wound on his shoulder.

"This lowly one encountered bandits." The rogue cultivator wore an honest expression. "In my panic, I fled into the forest without knowing where I was going. I had just wanted to clean the wound when I ran into you, my lord."

"You lie! This is the border between the Shanyang Gongsun Clan's territory and the Yingxiu Lu Clan's territory. What bandit would dare commit crimes here?" Wang Zhong snapped. "Confess honestly, or I'll cut off your head with one stroke."

"My lord, I've been wronged! I've been wronged!" the rogue cultivator cried miserably. "Those bandits disguise themselves as itinerant merchants. They usually specialize in preying on passing rogue cultivators. How would they dare lay hands on Profound Martial Aristocratic Clans like yours, my lord?"

"That sounds quite reasonable." Wang Shouzhe remained unmoved. "Take him to Yingxiu and ask the Lu Clan to investigate the matter. If what you say is true and you are not a criminal, then we will return your belongings and release you."

Profound Martial Aristocratic Clans more or less had their own codes of conduct. Never mind that the man had only a few Qian Gold on him—even if it had been dozens, hundreds, or even more Qian Gold, Wang Shouzhe would not randomly rob him for immediate gain, much less kill him to silence him.

This was a matter of family traditions and discipline. Once such things were done, they would bury enormous hidden dangers in the clan's values. What would the retainers and clansmen involved think? Would they develop the bloody, cruel mindset of bandits? Would their values become twisted?

Then, the next time they encountered a similar situation, killing someone to silence them and plundering their wealth would become the natural course of action, would it not?

A clan or force that put profit above all else and committed evil without restraint might run rampant for a time, but it would never remain arrogant for a lifetime.

Any Profound Martial Aristocratic Clan capable of enduring for a century, or even several centuries or a thousand years, would inevitably possess sound discipline and good traditions, a reputation and credibility worth their weight in gold, and clansmen bound by strict codes of conduct and principles.

Yet the moment Wang Shouzhe said this, the rogue cultivator's face turned ashen. He cried out miserably, "My lord, I was wrong! Please, don't take me to Yingxiu. I beg you, I have other things hidden away. As long as you let me go, they're all yours."

Thank you all for your rewards and voting support. Yesterday's vote count was quite high. Many thanks for your encouragement. As special thanks, there will be three updates today; more updates will come at noon and at five in the evening.