Yingxiu Lu Clan

This rogue cultivator's reaction truly caught Wang Shouzhe by surprise. His face immediately darkened. "It seems the trouble you caused in Yingxiu was no small matter."

"My lord, it was my fault. I was greedy." The rogue cultivator wept bitterly as he confessed. "A few of us were traveling merchants journeying together. When we passed through Yingxiu, we saw a wealthy merchant's household marrying off a bride. We had only meant to ask for a cup of wine before leaving, but we discovered that the dowry was exceedingly generous—over a hundred Qian Gold alone, along with two century-old ginseng roots worth a great deal. Evil thoughts took hold of us, and that night, we sneaked into the merchant's home to steal..."

As the confession unfolded, Wang Shouzhe's face grew darker and darker. These rogue cultivators had been utterly audacious. After being discovered in the act, they had even dared to murder witnesses and plunder wealth.

Fortunately, greed had caused the rogue cultivators to turn against one another, and in the end, this rogue cultivator had laughed last. Only, his luck had been terrible. While tending his wounds in a sparsely populated forest, he had run into Wang Shouzhe's group.

"My lord, as long as you swear to spare this worthless life of mine," the rogue cultivator pleaded desperately, "I am willing to reveal where the stolen goods are hidden and offer everything to you."

This rogue cultivator seemed quite familiar with the ways of certain Profound Martial Aristocratic Clans. If Wang Shouzhe swore an oath before his retainers, he certainly would not go back on his word.

Otherwise, if a dignified clan leader could casually betray even his own vows, what would those retainers think? Would they still be able to trust the clan leader's words in the future?

Wang Zhong and the other retainers also turned their gazes toward Wang Shouzhe, hope flickering in their eyes. The stolen goods were worth no small sum. If they could obtain them, it would ease the Wang Clan's shortage of funds.

After only a brief moment of thought, Wang Shouzhe swung himself onto his horse. "Take him with us and hand him over to the Yingxiu Lu Clan for disposal."

"Yes, Clan Leader." Wang Zhong hesitated only slightly before faithfully carrying out the order. He stuffed the rogue cultivator's mouth shut and threw him onto a horse, regardless of how he howled and struggled.

"Hyah!"

The driver, Wang Laoshi, cracked his whip. The carriage, drawn by two worn-out horses, rolled slowly along the rugged, muddy road.

After traveling for a short while, Wang Zhong rode up behind Wang Shouzhe and asked in a low voice, "Clan Leader, are we truly giving up that batch of stolen goods? If you are worried about dirtying your hands, this subordinate can handle it. Give me a little time, and I guarantee he will spit out the hiding place."

"Our time is precious. We have no leisure to play a treasure-hunting game with a mere rogue cultivator," Wang Shouzhe said calmly. "And Wang Zhong, as members of a Profound Martial Aristocratic Clan, we must look further ahead. There are no walls in this world that do not leak wind. If we offend the Lu Clan over this, the losses we suffer will be tenfold, a hundredfold greater than these stolen proceeds! More importantly, if we greedily embezzle stolen goods with our consciences buried and release the murderous thieves, how could we face Ancestor Zhouxuan, who opened new lands and founded our clan? And how could we face Ancestor Longyan, who guarded the clan alone for decades?"

This was a matter of clan faith. For most clans, their greatest faith was the ancestor who had founded the clan.

Wang Zhong's body shuddered. Deeply ashamed, he said, "This subordinate understands. I was blinded by profit."

"Human nature is greedy, but how one restrains greed is extremely important," Wang Shouzhe said calmly. "Take those rogue cultivators, for instance. Unable to control their greed, they joined hands to commit crimes; afterward, unable to control their greed again, they turned on each other. With such a lack of self-control and discipline, even if they escaped by luck this time, could they escape a second or third time?"

"Clan Leader, if those rogue cultivators escaped after succeeding once and never committed crimes again afterward, then would they not be fine?" Wang Yong rode over and asked.

"Such people may exist, but they must be exceedingly rare." Wang Shouzhe smiled. "Think about it: they could not resist even the first temptation, much less the second temptation after they had already tasted its sweetness. That greed would sooner or later bring about their destruction. It is not that I do not want those stolen funds. I simply dare not take them, because I fear that I too might fail to control my greed and gradually lead the clan into ruin."

The retainers all fell into deep thought, and their eyes held reverence as they looked at Wang Shouzhe.

Wang Zhong said with feeling, "Clan Leader, this subordinate has a premonition. Our Ping'an Wang Clan will surely rise in your hands."

"Hehe, your flattery may be crude, but this clan leader quite enjoys it."

"Clan Leader, I am not flattering you. I truly believe it."

"Yes, yes, Clan Leader, we believe so too." The other retainers all chimed in agreement.

Meanwhile.

Inside the carriage, Wang Luojing had long since awakened and witnessed everything she had seen and heard. Her eyes shone, yet she was also deep in thought. Being with Fourth Brother always made her feel so safe, so secure.

For no other reason than Fourth Brother alone, Luojing, Luojing, you must work hard and help bear the burden on Fourth Brother's shoulders.

Less than half an hour later.

Wang Shouzhe's group emerged from the woods and arrived upon a broad road.

The first thing that met their eyes was the vast, boundless Yingxiu Lake. The towering Dragon Ridge Mountain was reflected in its waters, dyeing the lake an inky green. Gusts of lake wind laden with moisture swept over them, carrying waves of coolness in this early summer season.

From time to time, a large fish leaped from the broad lake surface, blasting up great sprays of water. All kinds of waterfowl glided through the dense reeds.

Without question, Yingxiu Lake was not only breathtakingly beautiful but also rich in natural resources. Compared with the An River's ceaseless rapids and majestic force, Yingxiu Lake possessed more splendor and graceful delicacy.

At that moment, a group of mounted riders galloped toward them from afar, reining in before Wang Shouzhe's party.

"Whoa!"

The leader was a man in his early thirties dressed in fitted martial attire. A powerful bow was slung across his back, and a treasured saber hung at his waist. He carried an imposing air. At the sight of Wang Shouzhe, he first froze, then laughed heartily. "Zhe'er, we have not seen each other for only a few days, yet you have become far more valiant. It seems that after becoming Clan Leader, even your bearing has changed."

"Uncle, how could I trouble you to come receive me in person?" Wang Shouzhe hurriedly cupped his hands in greeting.

This man was Lu Zhengjie, the full-blooded younger brother of Wang Shouzhe's birth mother, Lu Mengxue—the pillar of the Yingxiu Lu Clan's younger generation. Though only a little over thirty, he had already reached the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining Realm. He was someone with hope of breaking through into the Spirit Platform Realm.

Not long ago, he had specifically gone to Ping'an Town to attend Wang Dingyue's funeral, so he and Wang Shouzhe had only parted ways recently.

"I did not come specially to receive you." The smile on Lu Zhengjie's face froze. "A few days ago, a band of thieves disguised as traveling merchants slaughtered seven people from a wealthy merchant's household. Following the clues, we discovered that they had fled toward Shanyang, and we are investigating the matter. I have already heard from the retainers that you came to Yingxiu. Go see your eldest uncle on your own—I have no time to accompany you back right now."

"What a coincidence." Wang Shouzhe smiled. "I have just come from Shanyang. On the way, I happened to capture a criminal. From the initial interrogation, he should belong to the same group of criminals Uncle mentioned."

"What?" Lu Zhengjie was slightly startled.

Afterward, Wang Shouzhe handed the criminal over to Lu Zhengjie and recounted the entire course of events. "I will leave the culprit to you, Uncle. However, he has already hidden the stolen goods. It would not be appropriate for me to interfere in this matter, so Uncle may send someone to interrogate him yourself."

"That certainly saves us some trouble. Lu Yi, I leave the rest to you. Recover the property as far as possible and give the surviving members of that merchant household an explanation." Lu Zhengjie gave the order, both surprised and delighted.

Profound Martial Aristocratic Clans possessed all manner of privileges in their territories, but they also bore the responsibility of protecting the commoners under their jurisdiction.

"Yes, Second Master." A man with a somewhat sinister and vicious face stepped forward, letting out a cruel grin. "This thief has quite the nerve, committing crimes on Lu Clan territory. Once he falls into my hands, I guarantee he will beg to live but be unable to, beg to die but be unable to."

Those vicious words made even Wang Shouzhe give him another look.

"Lu Yi has considerable expertise in interrogation." Lu Zhengjie smiled. "You can send a somewhat talented retainer to learn from him."

Wang Shouzhe neither agreed nor disagreed.

If they were speaking purely of interrogation, Wang Shouzhe's "knowledge" was quite extensive. He had accumulated a great deal of miscellaneous knowledge in that area; after all, modern crime dramas, spy dramas... there were far too many similar scenes, and the methods were rather scientific as well.

He did not dwell on the matter. Since the task of capturing the fugitive had been completed, Lu Zhengjie personally led Wang Shouzhe back to the Yingxiu Lu Clan's main residence.

Unlike the Shanyang Gongsun Clan, whose main residence had been built halfway up a mountain and possessed an air of impregnable security, the Yingxiu Lu Clan's main residence stood on a peninsula in Yingxiu Lake, surrounded by water on three sides and easily defended by a single man.

In terms of blood relations alone, Wang Shouzhe's connection with the Lu Clan ran deep. Naturally, he received the highest standard of hospitality here.

Before he had even entered the gates, a girl in red rushed out and plunged into Wang Shouzhe's arms. "Cousin Shouzhe, Xiaoxiao missed you so much."

Lu Xiaoxiao!

The beloved late-born daughter of the current Clan Leader, Lu Zhengxiong.

Yet before Wang Shouzhe could speak, Wang Luojing, who had been hiding behind him, suddenly grabbed his hand. "Fourth Brother, Jing'er feels a little unwell."

Unwell?

Wang Shouzhe froze, hurriedly taking her little hand and asking with concern, "Where does Luojing feel unwell? Could it be that while sleeping in the carriage, you caught..."

He had only gotten halfway through his words when he noticed that the two girls' eyes had met. Neither made the slightest effort to conceal her hostility, and sparks flew everywhere.