Chapter 11: A Setback in Love

Wuzhou, inside a luxurious and magnificent mansion.

Situ Dezong was sitting in the hall, and an old man with an aquiline nose was sitting opposite him, leisurely sipping tea.

"The Third Elder has come so early; he must have some good news to share," Situ Dezong said, somewhat impatiently.

Upon hearing this, the old man with the hawk-nosed nose slowly put down his teacup. "I, Blood Skull, risked exposing the identities of three Shadow Assassins and sent out all my best fighters, including myself. If we can't even handle two small fry, we might as well go back to the countryside and farm."

Situ Dezong was overjoyed upon hearing this. His fat face broke into a smile, his eyes almost squinting into slits. His large, fat belly, which was squeezed into the sandalwood chair, trembled with laughter.

"Last time during the robbery, those two good-for-nothing bastards were captured alive by Lu Zhongming, which has kept me from eating for days. I never expected that the Third Elder would remove this thorn stuck in my throat so easily. Tonight, I'm going to drink with the Third Elder until we're both drunk."

Seeing the old man with the hooked nose neither agreeing nor disagreeing, calmly sipping his tea, Situ Dezong quickly added, "Of course, since we won't leave until we're drunk, there must be beauties waiting for us. We recently took in two stunningly beautiful women, and they will serve the Third Elder tonight."

Upon hearing this, the old man with the hooked nose finally revealed a satisfied smile. "Brother, you're too kind."

Situ Dezong chuckled and said, "Third Elder, there's no need to stand on ceremony. We all work under that same lord, so we're practically family. There's no need for formalities among family. However, this incident has already raised the guard of Penglai Palace. In the future, it will be much more difficult for them to commit murder and robbery, such highly profitable activities."

With Lu Zhongming present, Penglai Palace's men dared only keep a distance from the capital on their journey, unable to even get close. They lost sight of the enemy several times along the way, and these reports from the spies greatly frustrated Situ Dezong.

The old man with the hawk-like nose said leisurely, "Brother, you've succeeded several times already, you should be content. Every piece of goods produced by Penglai Palace is of the highest quality, and you might not be able to buy them even if you have money. Just those nearly one hundred king shark skins from the last trip are enough to make three hundred sets of armor that are impervious to swords and spears, worth far more than ten thousand gold. Such a highly profitable business can't last forever. That lord instructed me before that money is not the problem, the key is to secure all the remaining goods from Penglai Palace."

Situ Dezong's spirits lifted. "Is this the lord's latest instruction?"

The old man with the hawk-nosed nose nodded and said, "Exactly. Next, you need to find a way to absorb all of Penglai Palace's shipments, no matter the price. Just tell me about all expenses. If this matter is resolved well, and the master has spoken, the twenty Dragon Blood Pills will be yours."

Situ Dezong said excitedly, "I will immediately instruct my subordinates to do it."

The Situ family has been holding onto Wuzhou for far too long.

Twenty specially made Dragon Blood Pills would be enough to boost the Situ family's strength by a whole level. He believed that in half a year, the Situ family's sphere of influence would expand another five hundred miles.

The old man with the hooked nose sat leisurely in the hall, sipping tea. Only after Situ Dezong finished his work did he casually ask, "How is the situation with the Yin-Yang Sect?"

Situ Dezong's fat face twitched a few times. "News just came last night that the Yin-Yang Young Master, leading the Black and White Demons, ambushed the Dual Cultivation Pavilion's forces ten miles outside Muzhou City. Two elders of the Southern Academy were killed and seriously injured, and the remaining twenty-odd people suffered heavy casualties, breaking through the encirclement under the leadership of the last remaining elder of the Southern Academy. Both the Black and White Demons were injured, while the Yin-Yang Young Master was unharmed and even obtained a fragment of the Dual Cultivation Manual. This Yin-Yang Young Master is so young, yet his martial arts are stronger than the former sect leader."

The old man with the hooked nose frowned upon hearing this. "The Yin-Yang Sect was only responsible for the sneak attack, so why has it turned into a life-or-death struggle with the Dual Cultivation Pavilion?"

Situ Dezong said, "This matter is quite strange. Among the Black and White Demons, the White Impermanence first attacked one of the tall and strong young men. That young man's martial arts were mediocre, yet he was surrounded by three elders of the Southern Academy. The Yin-Yang Prince noticed something amiss and distracted two of them. The Black Impermanence kept the other one occupied, and the White Impermanence then severely injured the young man. That young man was probably an important figure in the Dual Cultivation Pavilion. When the three elders of the Southern Academy saw him fall, they actually gave an order to fight to the death, which resulted in even the powerful Black and White Demons getting injured."

The old man with the hooked nose nodded, and the two talked for a while before the old man left.

In the following days, Emperor Situ Dezong ordered his servants to begin a large-scale purchase of supplies produced by Penglai Palace. However, for several days in a row, the quantity of supplies purchased was unsatisfactory, which angered Emperor Situ Dezong so much that he roared in the hall.

"You paid 30% more and this is all you got? Huh? All these years you've done are wasted! You're a bunch of good-for-nothings!"

Situ Dezong pointed at several senior stewards of the Situ family below the stage and shouted angrily.

The deacons were scolded until their faces turned red. They all lowered their heads and dared not respond, fearing that they might offend the head of the family at this moment, and that it would not be as simple as just being scolded.

"If it weren't for the head deacon finding a new source of goods, you useless fellows should all be sent to work as handymen."

Situ Dezong cursed for a while before his anger subsided. Exhausted, his fat belly swayed as he took a few breaths and told the stewards to get lost.

After taking a few sips of tea, he turned to a sturdy young man standing respectfully to the side and asked, "Zhang Hao, how is Yuan'er's martial arts training going?"

The robust young man named Zhang Hao bowed respectfully. "Young Master Yuan is exceptionally talented. At such a young age, he is skilled in both swordsmanship and spear fighting. Given time, no one in the manor will be his match."

Upon hearing this, Situ Dezong's attitude changed drastically. He laughed heartily, "Yuan'er is my son, so his extraordinary talent is inevitable. In the future, his achievements will surpass those of his father. Zhang Hao, you better do your best, and when my son becomes successful, I will not treat you unfairly."

Zhang Hao quickly bowed and said, "Thank you, Patriarch."

A hint of disdain flashed in his eyes.

During the time Zhang Hao taught Situ Yuan martial arts, he had long felt contempt, disdain, and disgust for this arrogant and domineering little devil. At only eleven or twelve years old, he was already proficient in all vices, from eating and drinking to gambling and whoring. Ironically, his father, Situ Dezong, not only didn't care about this, but was actually proud of it.

Although Zhang Hao came from a poor family, he had come into contact with some sons of high-ranking families. Most of those young masters and ladies were very well-mannered, with polite or gentle and graceful manners. Although some of them were spoiled brats, they were far less wasteful than Situ Dezong's only son.

Zhang Hao's claim of being exceptionally intelligent was actually a forced lie. Situ Yuan, true to his name, was lazy and overweight, resembling a small, round ball. For some reason, despite being only eleven or twelve years old, Situ Yuan's internal strength was almost equal to Zhang Hao's, yet his hand-to-hand combat skills were utterly terrible—a rather contradictory situation.

However, Zhang Hao was certain of one thing: Situ Yuan's internal strength was not something he had cultivated himself, but rather something he had forcibly enhanced with the help of some external force. As for how Situ Dezong had managed to infiltrate the Situ Manor over the past year, he still had no way of knowing.

Thinking of this, Zhang Hao felt increasingly heavy-hearted.

Fortunately, he had devoted himself to teaching Situ Yuan martial arts over the past year, and had at least gained Situ Dezong's trust, thus successfully infiltrating the Situ family.

Just as he was thinking about something, some people came in from outside the hall.

Upon seeing that the visitor was the Grand Steward, Situ Dezong immediately asked, "How much stock do you have?"

Chief Steward Wang Yu said with a happy expression, "I have lived up to the patriarch's expectations. This time, I have purchased two hundred king shark skins, thirty East Sea Source Pearls, sixty five-colored sea urchins, and forty pieces each of jade coral and seven-star shells. They are all here. Please check them, patriarch."

"Good, good, Steward Wang has done a great service this time, and will be richly rewarded."

Situ Dezong was so happy that his face was trembling.

When Steward Wang heard that the head of the family would reward him, he was overjoyed.

Situ Dezong personally opened the dozen or so large boxes that everyone had brought, one by one. The colorful boxes were dazzling to him. Just thinking about the rewards that the lord would bring made Situ Dezong's fat face tremble almost completely.

After dismissing the irrelevant people, Situ Dezong inquired carefully about the new source of goods.

"What did you say? The other party claims to be from the Maiden Sect, are you sure?" Situ Dezong seemed quite surprised upon hearing Steward Wang's words.

Deacon Wang replied affirmatively, "Yes, Lord, that is indeed the case."

Situ Dezong murmured, "So they are from the Maiden Sect. No wonder they can obtain the products produced by Penglai Palace on their own."

A steward inquired, "Master, this Maiden Sect is unheard of on the continent. Just who are they?"

Zhang Hao, who was standing respectfully to the side, also pricked up his ears, waiting for Situ Dezong's reply.

Situ Dezong chuckled, in a great mood, and unusually, he began to clear up the doubts of the group.

"The Maiden Sect is a sect that originated in the Tianxing Kingdom, and it's said to have a history of several hundred years. However, the sect has always been secretive, so it's not well known to outsiders. Members of the Maiden Sect are all proficient in the art of absorbing yang energy to replenish yin, and can kill someone in moments of extreme pleasure or ecstasy. It's extremely dangerous for someone without some skill to sleep with them. However, it's said that this sect was almost wiped out several decades ago, with only a few members escaping to Penglai Island, where they were taken in by the previous Penglai Palace Master. Judging from this, it seems that after several decades of recuperation, the Maiden Sect has made a comeback."

Everyone suddenly understood.

Situ Dezong asked the steward, "Who is the leader of the Maiden Sect? What is her martial arts skill?"

Steward Wang respectfully replied, "Reporting to the patriarch, their sect leader has not appeared. The person currently in charge, whom they call Miss Mingyue, is about twenty years old."

"Oh, is she beautiful?"

Upon hearing this, several deacons in the hall swallowed in unison. Deacon Wang said, "She is as beautiful as a fairy. I have never seen a woman as beautiful as her."

"Oh? Tell me, how does she compare to my two recently acquired concubines?"

Steward Wang was well aware of the patriarch's style of doing things, so he told him the truth: "The patriarch's two concubines are indeed beautiful, but compared to the celestial beauty Mingyue, they are just ordinary women."

Situ Dezong's mouth went dry. He asked, "Where is that Miss Mingyue now?"

"The Lord of the Homeland, Miss Mingyue, and her disciples have settled in the largest inn in the city, Anlai Inn."

Situ Dezong's fat eyes widened immediately: "Mingyue is now a major customer of my Situ family. How can we let such a distinguished guest rest in an inn outside? Immediately send word that I will personally invite this Miss Mingyue and her disciples to stay at my Situ family for a few days, so that I can fulfill my duty as a host."

"Get it done right away."

"Yes, sir! I'll take care of it right away!"

◇◇◇

As soon as Lin Zixuan stepped out of his shop in the bustling city center of the capital, even though it was already dark, he immediately sensed that someone was following him.

He didn't turn around, because for the past few days he had realized he was being followed. Moreover, the follower's methods were extremely skillful; the sensation was subtle and elusive. If it weren't for his recent diligent practice of the "Cultivation Divine Technique," which had greatly sharpened his senses, he would never have noticed someone behind him.

The newcomers must be Blood Skull experts skilled in stealth and concealment. Their tracking and stealth techniques were so advanced that even Lu Zhongming could be fooled. Lin Zixuan didn't want to waste his time alerting them.

If he were to reach the Refining Spirit and Returning to Emptiness realm and form a Golden Core by now, then with just a thought, no movement within a thousand feet would escape his notice. However, Lin Zixuan is still a long way from forming a Golden Core, so relying on this method to find out who is behind him is unrealistic.

However, he was not without options.

Lin Zixuan then strolled around the bustling city, leading his followers in circles. They then entered a teahouse, found a quiet spot with a panoramic view of the entire building, and leisurely sipped tea and ate snacks.

He sat there for two hours, until night had fallen. The follower dared not openly enter the teahouse. Lin Zixuan guessed that he had been lingering outside, but had not found any useful information on him. Once the faint feeling disappeared, Lin Zixuan was certain that he was gone.

So Lin Zixuan sat for a while longer before paying the bill and leaving.

When we arrived at Yumanlou, it was already past midnight.

The streets were deserted at night, and the two lanterns outside Yumanlou stood forlornly, a stark contrast to the bustling scene during the day.

Outsiders are not allowed to enter Yu Man Lou at night, but everyone inside regards him as the future master of Yu Man Lou, so they dare not be negligent in the slightest. Lin Zixuan waved away the gatekeeper behind him and strolled along the quiet gravel path.

Not far away, the elegant three-story building appeared and disappeared in the night. From the top floor, one could see the dim light shining through the window.

Lin Zixuan was somewhat surprised.

His beautiful and talented fiancée, who never liked staying up late, was still awake tonight. But that was fine, as Lin Zixuan wasn't worried about disturbing her.

Just as Lin Zixuan arrived at the entrance to the garden outside the small building, an unremarkable maid blocked his way.

"Please wait, young master. Miss is resting now. Please do not disturb her."

When Lin Zixuan returned to Yu Man Lou a few days ago, he had already met her. He knew that this maid seemed to be new and might not know much about his identity, so he said, "I am Jin'er's fiancé. I have something important to discuss with Jin'er."

I originally thought that the maid would obediently step aside.

To everyone's surprise, she replied coldly, "Regardless of the relationship between you and my young lady, once she has retired for the night, I cannot allow anyone to disturb her rest. Please leave, young master."

Even though Lin Zixuan had recovered, he couldn't help but feel angry. He frequented Yu Man Lou, and not only these servants, but even the eleven talented women who were quite famous in the capital, none of them dared to be so blind as to mess with him.

Lin Zixuan said with displeasure, "My coming to see Jin'er is a matter between her and me. Why should a servant have to interfere? On the contrary, you have no sense of responsibility as a maid. Where is Xiaolin? Tell her to come over."

Xiaolin was originally a maidservant who followed Qin Yuning. Since she was ten years old, she has been serving Sima Jin'er and taking care of her daily life. She is also the highest-ranking maidservant in Yumanlou.

"Xiaolin married into a wealthy family in Kyoto six months ago, and I am now in charge of her daily life."

Lin Zixuan immediately flew into a rage.

Although Xiaolin is Sima Jin'er's personal maid, strictly speaking, she still belongs to the Penglai Palace.

Lin Zixuan was a kind and gentle person, and Xiao Lin always received him at Yu Man Lou. She was especially kind to her young master. She had once told Lin Zixuan that she didn't like the bustling and noisy life in the capital, but hoped that after her mistress married, she could return to Penglai Palace with her. This was because she had a childhood sweetheart on Penglai Island, and they had made a promise that when Xiao Lin returned to the island, her childhood sweetheart would come to propose marriage.

Lin Zixuan smiled and readily agreed to her request.

But now he learned from the maid in front of him that Xiao Lin had quietly married into a wealthy family in the capital. No wonder he hadn't seen Xiao Lin these past few days. He had been too preoccupied with the Blood Skull incident to pay attention to anything else. This news not only shocked him but also enraged him.

Looking at the plain-looking maid in front of him, he suddenly felt that her features were so repulsive.

Lin Zixuan took a step forward, and the maid immediately blocked his way.

"Get out of here." Lin Zixuan rarely used such strong words, which showed that he could hardly contain his anger.

"I'm afraid I cannot comply. Whatever it is, young master, why not wait until tomorrow? Wouldn't that be the same?"

"I guarantee you'll be kicked out of Yu Man Lou tomorrow."

"Such matters are decided by my young lady, so there's no need for you to worry about it, young master."

The maid's behavior could only be described as outrageous. Just as Lin Zixuan was about to shake her aside, his hearing, far sharper than before, faintly heard the sound of horses snorting from the garden.

In an instant, Lin Zixuan calmed down completely.

There is a horse-drawn carriage inside the garden.

There was also a stable boy sitting on it.

The stable boy's breathing was calm and long, like a ghost disappearing into the night. In an instant, Lin Zixuan's back was completely soaked.

His anger had temporarily rendered his keen senses ineffective. Now that he had calmed down, Lin Zixuan was shocked to discover that a super master whose martial arts skills were no less than Lu Zhongming's were lurking in the garden.

What shocked him even more was that this unassuming maidservant in front of him, despite her small stature, was actually emanating faint fluctuations of internal energy.

No wonder she seemed so confident and fearless from the beginning, behaving differently from ordinary maids; it turns out she possessed exceptional martial arts skills.

Sima Jin'er's elegant little building never receives any outsiders. Sima Jin'er's greatest fame in the capital, besides her exceptional talent, lies in her unparalleled beauty. This person came in the dead of night, was welcomed by her, and even had people guard the garden entrance, forbidding anyone else from entering. In the past, Lin Zixuan would have risked his life to break in and see who this person was.

Unfortunately, Lin Zixuan is no longer the naive young man he once was.

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind. He coldly said to the maid, "For Jin'er's sake, I will settle accounts with you tomorrow."

Lin Zixuan did not return to the courtyard, but went directly to the chief steward in charge of managing the capital's industries.

The chief steward's surname is Wang. He is over sixty years old this year. He has been working for Penglai Palace since he was a teenager. He has always been loyal and has won the deep trust of the Sword Maiden.

"I apologize for disturbing the head steward's rest." Lin Zixuan said apologetically.

"Young master, you flatter this old servant. May I ask what brings you to see me so late?"

Lin Zixuan didn't waste any time and went straight to the point: "Does the Grand Steward know which family Xiaolin married in the capital?"

The head steward looked completely bewildered. "Is the young master referring to Xiaolin, the maid who serves the young mistress? When did she get married?"

Lin Zixuan listened with a very serious expression.

The head steward, upon learning from him that Xiaolin had married several months prior, found it quite strange. "Although Xiaolin is the young mistress's personal maid, she was ultimately appointed by the madam herself. The young mistress has no reason to interfere in her marriage. Even if she has married, she should have informed this old servant so that I could inform the madam, but this..."

Lin Zixuan took a deep breath: "Please, Chief Steward, help me find out where Xiaolin is as soon as possible, the sooner the better."

With the Blood Skull incident still unsolved, Lin Zixuan really didn't want to complicate matters further. However, this time it involved his beloved fiancée, and Lin Zixuan had to unravel all the mysteries as soon as possible.

The head steward's expression also turned serious, and he solemnly said, "This old servant will immediately send someone to investigate. Since Xiaolin married into a prominent family in the capital, it shouldn't be difficult to verify. We should have news before dawn."

The capital city is both very large and very small. Although Penglai Palace is an outside force, it is a highly sought-after institution within the capital's elite circles. Therefore, the Grand Steward was not exaggerating; by dawn, his subordinates had received Xiao Lin's message.

The chief steward dismissed the others and said to Lin Zixuan, "Six months ago, Xiaolin married Li Guangfu, the commander of the Imperial Guards, as a concubine. Li Guangfu's mansion is only a few streets away from here. However, Li Guangfu is very influential in the court and is said to be very arrogant. Now that Xiaolin is his concubine, it will be quite difficult for you, young master, to find her."

Lin Zixuan narrowed his handsome eyes. "Who said I was going to openly and honestly look for Xiaolin?"

The chief steward was immediately taken aback.

◇◇◇

The guards inside the Li Guangfu Marquis's residence were sparse and ordinary. Under the cover of night, Lin Zixuan easily climbed over the wall and entered the residence.

The Hou residence wasn't large, and in no time at all, Lin Zixuan had quietly found Xiaolin's room.

Li Guangfu was not in the room. When Lin Zixuan slipped into the room, a woman had just pulled back the gauze curtain and stepped off the bed. When she saw a strange man suddenly appear in the room, she was about to shout.

Lin Zixuan quickly covered her mouth in a flash, and whispered in her ear, "Xiao Lin, it's me."

The woman immediately stopped struggling.

"Young...Young Master?"

Lin Zixuan's gaze fell on her slightly protruding belly, and he whispered, "Xiaolin, tell me, is someone forcing you to get married?"

Xiaolin was taken aback at first, then slowly shook her head: "No one forced me, this is my own choice."

"But you didn't tell me this before. You said that the person you most wanted to marry was your childhood sweetheart. You two had already made a vow of eternal love, and I was a witness to it."

Xiaolin listened with her head down, silent. In the darkness, Lin Zixuan could clearly see the desolation on her face.

She didn't answer Lin Zixuan's question, but instead voiced her own doubts: "Young Master, how...how did you find Xiaolin here? This is too dangerous. Luckily, he's not here. If you want to see me, you can send someone to deliver a message and arrange to meet me at a certain place."

"I came to find you to ask you clearly whether you were forced into marriage, and whether it was because of Jin'er..."

Xiaolin immediately shook her head and said, "No, it has nothing to do with you, Miss. It was all my own choice."

Lin Zixuan instinctively felt that she was lying and unwilling to say more, so he stopped pressing her. "Then let's move on to the second question, Xiaolin. Tell me the truth, during the time I was away, did Jin'er... did Jin'er...?"

With a determined effort, Lin Zixuan finally voiced her biggest suspicion: "Has she fallen for someone else?"

A look of panic appeared on Xiaolin's face.

Lin Zixuan felt a chill run through her heart.

Although Xiaolin didn't answer, her behavior undoubtedly proved that his guess was correct. His beloved fiancée, the talented woman from the capital, Sima Jin'er, had already found another lover during his time back at Penglai Palace.

His heart felt like it was bleeding.

"Xiaolin, tell me, what exactly happened?"

Xiaolin looked flustered. "Young Master, I don't know either. Please don't pressure me, okay?"

"Xiaolin, I've never asked you for anything before, but you absolutely cannot hide this from me."

By this time, the sky was gradually brightening. Xiaolin saw the uncontrollable sadness and anger on Lin Zixuan's pale, handsome face. After a fierce struggle and hesitation, she finally softened.

"Alright, young master, I don't know much, but I'll tell you everything I do know. It's getting light, young master, you should hurry back, otherwise it will be terrible if the guards find out. Around 7:00 AM, I'll pretend to go to the shop managed by the head steward to buy something, young master, just wait there then."

Lin Zixuan nodded stiffly.