Mo Li

"Does Zhennan Wang have the confidence to deal with Murong Xiong?" Xu Qingchen's words were spoken lightly, but they carried an entirely different weight in Zhennan Wang's ears.

Martial arts masters might seem insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but when it came to someone of Murong Xiong's caliber, it was impossible not to feel wary. Even if one held every advantage, if such a master were to fight to the death, few in this world could withstand it. The higher one's status, the more they valued their life—naturally, Zhennan Wang had no intention of leaving such a massive threat unchecked.

He aspired to unify the realm and eradicate Mo Liufang's descendants, but if he were to die at the hands of a mere martial artist, all his ambitions would come to nothing.

"Qingchen Gongzi has persuaded Ling Tiehan to act... By the way, Ling Tiehan shares a close friendship with both Qingchen Gongzi and Prince Ding," Zhennan Wang said solemnly.

Xu Qingchen smiled faintly. "Friendship is one thing, business is another. I won’t hide it from Wang Ye—this trip was merely a detour on my way from Nanzhao. I haven’t brought many men from the northwest. However, since I can convince Ling Gezhu to act, I can also command the King of Hell Pavilion at will. This time... I’m afraid the King of Hell Pavilion will bear the brunt of the effort. For Wang Ye to concede ten percent of the profits is hardly excessive."

Zhennan Wang was left speechless. What sounded like a trivial ten percent to Xu Qingchen amounted to hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of taels of silver for him. As he gazed at the white-robed young master sitting before him, serene as the moon and refreshing as a breeze, Zhennan Wang once again felt something lodged in his chest—something he couldn’t spit out or swallow down.

"This prince doesn’t understand why Qingchen Gongzi insists on targeting the Murong family. Objectively speaking... their existence isn’t without benefits for the northwest, is it?" Zhennan Wang asked. As long as the Murong family remained, the northwest’s economy would never catch up to Great Chu’s. Compared to Great Chu’s flourishing diversity, Western Liang’s monopoly under the Murong family had persisted for far too long.

Xu Qingchen took a sip of tea and sighed softly. "I did consider cooperating with the Murong family, but alas... some people are too blind to recognize the times. If the Murong family can become a threat to Western Liang now, who’s to say they won’t one day threaten Prince Ding’s Estate?"

After a long silence, Zhennan Wang bowed slightly. "This prince understands. We’ll proceed as Qingchen Gongzi suggests. If there’s anything you need from me, simply send word through Teng Feng."

Lei Tengfeng understood that his father intended to entrust this matter to him. Nodding, he cupped his hands toward Xu Qingchen. "I humbly ask for Qingchen Gongzi’s guidance."

Xu Qingchen smiled faintly. "The Crown Prince is too kind."

Not long after Zhennan Wang and his son departed, Ling Tiehan drifted in through the half-open window. Smirking at Xu Qingchen, he said, "Rare indeed for Qingchen Gongzi to think of this lord. It seems my efforts to befriend you back then weren’t in vain. If I had a few more friends like you, I wouldn’t have to worry about feeding that bunch of fools in my sect."

Xu Qingchen lifted his gaze with a smile. "So, Ling Gezhu agrees?"

Ling Tiehan nodded. "Of course I agree. Why wouldn’t I agree to such a good deal? This one job could sustain the King of Hell Pavilion for three to five years without another. Though... you’ve become quite generous this time. I thought you’d at least demand an equal split with Lei Zhenting."Xu Qingchen said, "Western Liang is, after all, Zhennan Wang's territory. Pushing too hard will only lead to losing everything. Getting three-tenths of the profit without any investment is already quite good—asking for more would only invite resentment."

Ling Tiehan frowned and said, "This time, you've practically helped Lei Zhenting. He's been wanting to move against the Murong family for a long time. Aren't you afraid that once he recovers, he'll turn his sights on you? Western Liang may have an empty treasury now, but once he regains his footing, even Prince Ding's Estate's million-strong army might not withstand it."

No matter how valiant and skilled in battle Prince Ding's Estate was, it couldn't escape the disadvantages of its small size and barren land. Worse, it was sandwiched between three major powers: the wealthiest Great Chu couldn't be attacked, the Northern Rong to the north were of little use even if conquered—not to mention their fierce nature, incomparable to Great Chu's refined scholars—and Western Liang was watching covetously. Although the northwest had been well-governed in recent years, most people still viewed its future with concern.

Xu Qingchen elegantly skimmed the tea leaves floating on the water's surface with the cup lid and chuckled softly. "Destroying things is easy, but rebuilding... that's a different matter entirely. If Lei Zhenting thinks that toppling the Murong family will revive Western Liang's commerce, he's in for a disappointment. While he may gain a large sum for military expenses, within at least three to five years, Western Liang will only grow poorer than before."

Undermining the Murong family meant shaking Western Liang's entire economy. No genius, no matter how brilliant, could restore it in less than three to five years. Moreover, the nobility of this era rarely paid much attention to merchants unless they were short on funds, and those well-versed in finance were even rarer. If Zhennan Wang believed that removing the Murong family would bring smooth governance and prosperity, it only proved he had never studied economics himself.

It seemed that occasionally listening to Li'er's chatter had its benefits. At the very least, some of the perspectives she raised were things even someone as astute as Qingchen Gongzi had never considered. Thinking of the confident and cheerful woman who had once spoken so eloquently in his study, a faint smile appeared on Xu Qingchen's face.

Ling Tiehan remained silent for a long while before sighing. "I thought you were scheming against the Murong family, but it seems you're actually targeting Lei Zhenting." Indeed, though the Murong family was known as the wealthiest, no one had ever fully calculated the true depth of Prince Ding's Estate's resources. Even if they weren't as rich as the Murong family, the fact that they could sustain the Mo Family Army of hundreds of thousands under generations of suppression by the Chu imperial family suggested their reserves were hardly lacking. Facing such an opponent, Lei Zhenting could only count himself unlucky.

"You people think too much. I can't be bothered with such things. Just send someone to inform me when it's time to act," Ling Tiehan muttered. His lifelong pursuit was the pinnacle of martial arts, and he had little interest in the intrigues of the jianghu or the imperial court. Even the King of Hell Pavilion was more a responsibility than anything else. Naturally, Xu Qingchen's convoluted schemes only gave him a headache. With an amused nod, Xu Qingchen watched as Ling Tiehan exited through the window, leaving the room in silence once more.Since Xu Qingchen left the Murong family that day, he had not responded to any of their messages. The new rankings for the martial arts contest in the Martial Arts Tournament had also been announced, but this time, the results were somewhat awkward. The reason was simple—two of the top four masters from the previous two tournaments were still alive, and though only two attended this year's event, neither took the stage to compete. Thus, the younger generation of experts couldn’t directly claim the title of the top master. In the end, the much-hyped Martial Arts Tournament concluded rather anticlimactically.

At first, the Murong family patiently waited for Xu Qingchen’s reply. After all, he hadn’t left Ancheng after the tournament, and it was only natural that Qingchen Gongzi would need time to consider something as significant as marriage into their family. However, they soon began to sense that something was amiss.

In more distant regions, things remained quiet, but closer to Ancheng, reports trickled in—businesses everywhere seemed to be encountering problems. Among the interference was not only the meddling of the Xiling Emperor but also faint traces of influence from Great Chu—or rather, Prince Ding’s Estate. The Murong family head thought of that white-robed figure who had stood so composed and serene in their grand hall, and his expression darkened further.

This was only the beginning. When the Murong family discovered that their businesses in Great Chu, Nanzhao, and the northwest were simultaneously collapsing—shops either shutting down, being forcibly closed, or outright confiscated—the family head finally grasped the immense power wielded by that refined and seemingly untouchable man.

"Damn it! Has that Xu brat lost his mind?!" In the Murong family study, Murong Xiong roared in fury as he read the reports brought by his nephew. Behind her grandfather, Murong Mingyan stood with tear-streaked cheeks. She had never imagined that Xu Qingchen would go so far as to target the Murong family just to avoid marrying her. "Send the order!" Murong Xiong bellowed. "I want Prince Ding’s Estate to be unable to purchase a single piece of iron ore in the northwest!"

The Murong family head gave a bitter laugh. "News just arrived—there are iron mines within the northwest itself. Moreover… Prince Ding’s Estate now trades not only with neighboring nations but also with distant Western Regions kingdoms. The attacks on our shops in the northwest began even before the Martial Arts Tournament. It seems… Xu Qingchen came with ill intentions from the start." Murong Xiong could only gasp in rage. "How much has the family lost?"

"All our assets outside Xiling are gone."

The Murong family’s foundation lay in Xiling. Though they had holdings elsewhere, they weren’t substantial enough to truly impact the local economies, making them easy targets. In fact, the fall of Murong businesses might even be celebrated by domestic merchants. "Even within Xiling, the losses are severe. Not only are Zhennan Wang and the officials suppressing us, but many private merchants have also begun attacking us."

The Murong family monopolized most of Xiling’s commerce, naturally earning them countless enemies. Murong Xiong sneered. "If they want to fight, let them see just how deep the Murong family’s coffers run!" The family’s wealth wasn’t limited to their public businesses—centuries of accumulated gold and silver alone could crush anyone who dared oppose them.The Murong family head hesitated, "Uncle, this might not be appropriate. Wouldn't this give Zhennan Wang a legitimate reason to interfere?" If conflicts between merchants escalated to the point of affecting ordinary citizens, Zhennan Wang could directly send troops to wipe out the Murong family without anyone raising objections. Murong Xiong also frowned. He had trained in martial arts since childhood and was not well-versed in politics or business.

As the two were deep in thought, a servant came to report, "Family Head, a young master named Ren Qining requests an audience." The Murong family head frowned, "Ren Qining? Who is that?" Murong Xiong, however, had some recollection, "The one who won first place in the Martial Arts Contest. His martial talent is quite good. It's a pity he's still young—if he were ten years older, he might surpass Ling Tiehan and Lei Zhenting." The Murong family head had no interest in Ren Qining's martial prowess. Even someone as skilled as Murong Xiong was helpless in the face of the Murong family's current predicament. "What does he want?"

The servant replied, "Young Master Ren says he can help the family head resolve the current deadlock."

The Murong family head paused and glanced at Murong Xiong. Murong Xiong narrowed his aged eyes slightly and said, "Invite him in."

Not far from the Murong estate, atop a lush and verdant tree, two people sat leisurely on a branch, watching the gates of the Murong residence in the distance.

"A Li, what do you think Ren Qining is here for at this time?" Mo Xiuyao asked curiously.

Ye Li shook her head—she wasn’t omniscient, how could she know such details? Mo Xiuyao sighed dramatically, "We agreed this was supposed to be a leisurely outing, yet somehow I feel more exhausted than usual."

Ye Li leaned against him, smiling. "Isn’t it because that one doesn’t know martial arts? Even with shadow guards protecting him, you know how formidable Murong Xiong is. What if he suddenly turns hostile? No matter how brilliant Elder Brother is, what use would it be?"

If Xu Qingchen were to face Murong Xiong directly, and Murong Xiong was determined to kill him, even Xu Qingchen’s unparalleled intellect would be useless. Against absolute strength, no strategy could prevail.

Mo Xiuyao sighed and looked down at Ye Li. "You’re right, A Li. Now that Ren Qining is involved, we really can’t leave." The odds were already fifty-fifty if Zhennan Wang and Ling Tiehan joined forces against Murong Xiong. With the addition of the enigmatic Ren Qining, the outcome became even more uncertain. Mo Xiuyao didn’t care about others or the fate of the Murong family, but they had to ensure Xu Qingchen’s safety at the very least. "I’ll go in and take a look."

Ye Li grabbed his arm. "Murong Xiong’s martial arts far surpass yours—don’t take unnecessary risks." Mo Xiuyao smiled, gently brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "Don’t worry. Even if I’m discovered and can’t win, do you really think I can’t escape?" Ye Li frowned, her gaze intense. "Be careful."

Mo Xiuyao nodded, released her, and silently slipped past the guards at the gate, making his way into the Murong estate.

In the study at that moment, Ren Qining stood with a leisurely smile, fanning himself with an elegant folding fan, exuding an air of effortless charm as he regarded the three men before him."Who exactly are you, and what brings you here?" The head of the Murong family coldly eyed the scholarly-looking man before him, who wore a gentle smile. Deep down, he knew this man was different from someone like Qingchen Gongzi, a true scholar. This man's martial prowess ranked first among the rising stars of the martial world.

Ren Qining smiled and said, "My surname is Ren, Ren Qining. Greetings to the head of the Murong family, Elder Murong." Murong Xiong snorted coldly, causing Ren Qining to feel a sudden surge of energy in his chest, nearly knocking him off his feet. Though inwardly shocked by Murong Xiong's profound inner energy, Ren Qining remained composed on the surface, smiling as he praised, "Elder Murong truly lives up to his reputation as a master. This junior is deeply impressed."

Murong Xiong sneered, well aware that Ren Qining was subtly reminding him not to bully the younger generation with his martial prowess. "Young Master Ren, surely you didn’t come to the Murong family just to flatter an old man like me?"

Ren Qining smiled, glancing at Murong Mingyan beside him before replying, "To be frank, I’ve come to propose marriage to Miss Murong."

"Marriage?!" All three in the study were stunned, but Murong Xiong was the first to recover, scoffing, "And what makes you think I would agree to marry Mingyan to you?" Ren Qining tapped his palm idly with a folding fan and said slowly, "At this point… is there anyone else willing to marry Miss Murong?"

"Outrageous!" Murong Xiong roared in anger.

Unfazed, Ren Qining chuckled, "Elder Murong, please don’t be angry. Though my words may sound harsh, you cannot deny their truth. The Murong family is vast and powerful, and few are worthy of marrying Miss Murong. You must have noticed Qingchen Gongzi’s stance these past few days, and Ling Gezhu likely sides with him as well. Or… does the Murong family intend to marry Miss Murong into the Great Chu?"

Given Murong Mingyan’s status, even if she entered the palace, she would at best become an Imperial Concubine. Above her would be the Imperial Concubine and the Empress, not to mention that the Great Chu had no shortage of wealth. The importance of the Murong family in Emperor Chu’s eyes would then be questionable. The Murong family might end up losing both their only daughter and their vast fortune.

"And do you think you’re worthy of marrying Mingyan?" Murong Xiong glared at him coldly.

Ren Qining smirked. "Though I may not rival the Murong family’s wealth, I do have some capability and resources of my own." Murong Xiong scoffed dismissively. Neither in the martial world nor the imperial court had he ever heard of the name Ren Qining, nor was there any influential family with the surname Ren. How dare an unknown upstart be so arrogant? Noticing Murong Xiong’s contempt, Ren Qining remained unperturbed. Smiling, he said, "Elder Murong, how about giving this junior a few pointers?"

Before Murong Xiong could mock Ren Qining’s overconfidence, a gust of energy surged from Ren Qining’s sleeve toward the head of the Murong family, who had no martial training. Startled by the sudden attack, the head of the family couldn’t react in time. Standing nearby, Murong Mingyan gritted her teeth, pulling a dagger from her sleeve and lunging at Ren Qining. With a faint smile, Ren Qining deftly disarmed her with a flick of his fingers, effortlessly taking the dagger from her grasp.This move was indeed ingenious, but if young masters like Ling Tiehan or Mo Xiuyao had been present, they might not have been able to discern anything. However, Murong Xiong was different. Fifty years ago, he was already the world's top martial artist, and his experience naturally far surpassed that of Mo Xiuyao and Ling Tiehan's generation. Murong Xiong's expression changed as he stared at Ren Qining and said, "Wild Goose Finger! What is your relation to the Lin family?"

Ren Qining gave a slight bow and smiled. "This junior's surname is Lin, given name Yuan. My grandfather's surname was Lin, given name Fuqin. I believe you must have heard of him."

"You're Lin Yuan?! That's impossible... Lin Yuan isn't..." The Murong family's business spanned the world, and so did their sources of information. Murong Xiong had long taken notice of Lin Yuan—even earlier than Mo Xiuyao had. However, the reason he noticed Lin Yuan was different from Mo Xiuyao and the others.

What Mo Xiuyao and the rest of the world noticed was Lin Yuan's identity as the last descendant of the previous dynasty, while Murong Xiong noticed him because he had a grandfather named Lin Fuqin. Few in the martial world or the imperial court remembered Lin Fuqin now, but Murong Xiong recalled him as a peerless master like himself. The only difference was that Lin Fuqin had never truly made a name for himself in the martial world. Sometimes, Murong Xiong even wondered whether he could have claimed the title of the world's top martial artist back then if Lin Fuqin had also competed for it.

A trace of disdain flickered across Ren Qining's brow. "Tan Jizhi? Just some insignificant trash. What does he amount to?"