chsdbacks Chapter 103: Entering the City
Chapter 103: Entering the City
Nangong Fugui
The direct descendant of the Nangong family has mediocre talent. Relying on his parents' pampering, he spends his days eating, drinking, and having fun. He neither covets beautiful women nor pursues improvement in his cultivation, but he loves money the most!
He was busy planning one last autumn outing with his friends, since autumn was almost over.
But then a newly recruited lackey told him that the two women living in the Nangong family were hiding valuable treasures!
Nangong Fugui's thoughts were immediately piqued.
Neatly arranged courtyards,
Most of the crowd's attention was focused on the chubby Nangong Fugui. He rubbed his protruding belly, his small eyes fixed on the tip of the broken red sword that Fu Huiying was controlling.
"What a treasure... Even the blood and qi of the Skin Tempering Realm can be used to control it to kill enemies from a distance! If I can get my hands on it, the old man will stop scolding me for not doing my proper job..." He clicked his tongue in amazement.
As Lu Wanrou's reprimand spread, the onlookers who heard the name "Xiao Ling'er" all glanced at the two women a few more times.
Xie Feng wore a fawning smile, but his words carried a threat as he spoke to Lu Wanrou:
"Miss Xiao left Lanjiang City yesterday. This is the Nangong family. Does the Third Young Master have to put in the shoes of outsiders when he wants to get things done? You've been eating and living in the Nangong family for so long for free, and now you just want to walk away?"
Seeing the angry looks in the two women's eyes, Xie Feng felt a surge of pleasure.
Hmph, for the past two weeks, he's been coming to the door every day and sending messengers, but he hasn't even been able to get the door opened!
Do you really think you're still the former matriarch of the Nangong family? Looking down on Xie Feng? I was originally planning to slowly wear you down, waiting for an opportunity to strike. Since you want to leave the Nangong family, then don't blame me for being ruthless!
He had previously sent a message through his maid, but it went unanswered. Having no other option, he went to inquire about Lu Wanrou and Fu Huiying's background. To his astonishment, he discovered they were connected to "Ghost Blade" Zhang Ping!
This news overjoyed Xie Feng. Zhang Ping was supposedly dead on the Ghost River battlefield! Didn't that mean they'd lost their backer?
The cultivation techniques and treasures left behind by Zhang Ping are still there!
He immediately sided with Nangong Fugui and suggested that the Third Young Master seize all the belongings of the two women!
As for what happens next... without money and treasures to rely on, he has plenty of ways to capture those two mere Skin Refining Realm women!
Thinking of this, Xie Feng felt a surge of pleasure, and the corners of his mouth twitched involuntarily.
Beside him, Nangong Fugui pulled out a fan from somewhere and pretended to wave it a couple of times.
The two of them standing together looked exactly like a spoiled brat with a wicked servant.
The two women trembled with anger. They had known all along that Xie Feng harbored ill intentions and had been avoiding him because they were living under the roof of the Nangong family and didn't want to cause trouble.
Xiao Ling'er came a couple of days ago, and they mentioned that they were going to the Prince of Nan's mansion, but they didn't set a specific date. I didn't expect Xiao Ling'er to act so quickly.
Fu Huiying's face turned ashen as she quickly scanned her surroundings.
Faces, some mocking, some greedy, were openly displayed towards them. The martial artists brought by Nangong Fugui were all at the Body Refinement Realm, their aura radiating outwards without restraint.
She and Lu Wanrou were only at the Skin Tempering Realm. If the other party really tried to snatch it, they wouldn't be able to stop them at all.
Having made her way from small towns to Lanjiang City, Fu Huiying spent most of her time as the wife of the martial arts school's owner, but she was insightful and could see the current situation clearly.
"Sister Rou, give the things to them." Fu Huiying suppressed her anger and said to Lu Wanrou in a low voice.
"But..." Lu Wanrou bit her lip, her face full of resentment. But looking at the people around her who were eyeing her covetously, she finally gritted her teeth and threw the package she was carrying at them.
Nangong Fugui's eyes lit up. He casually tossed aside his fan and caught the package.
"Haha, so sensible!"
He couldn't wait to unpack the package and take out all the contents at once.
A wooden box, a thin black chain about a meter long, and a small money bag containing some banknotes.
Nangong Fugui opened the wooden box and found it contained a cultivation manual. He immediately pulled it out and looked at the large characters on the cover.
"Rotation Divine Skill? Haha! There's even a technique! We've struck it rich! Xie Feng, you're something else! Well done!" Nangong Fugui's chubby face broke into a big smile when he saw the technique, and he patted Xie Feng's shoulder with satisfaction.
"Hehe, this is all thanks to your great fortune, Third Young Master. But, the broken sword tip is the real treasure."
Xie Feng smiled obsequiously, subtly guiding the conversation. The sword tip was quite powerful; if it wasn't stopped, the two women would have some leverage after they left.
"Heh, ignorant. This is a cultivation technique used by martial arts masters. Even those with poor aptitude have a chance to improve quickly with it." Nangong Fugui clapped his hands as he held the book, in a very good mood.
"But you're right, that sword tip must be left behind too!"
......
The two traveled day and night, arriving in Lanjiang City early the next morning.
Looking at the still towering city wall before him, Zhang Ping exhaled a breath of stale air, "We're back again."
"Brother Zhang, I have important matters to attend to, but I will certainly take good care of this coffin for you. If you need any help in the city, you can find me at the Demon Exorcism Bureau."
At the city gate, Xu Rulin clasped his hands in a fist salute, then led his horse away.
Although he disapproved of Zhang Ping's choice last night, he was not a rigid or pedantic person. Remembering his master's instructions, he maintained a polite attitude towards Zhang Ping throughout the journey.
"it is good."
Zhang Ping waved to Xu Rulin, then paused as he strode toward a less crowded city gate.
Bringing the mahogany coffin into the city would be inconvenient, so he left a hidden trap on it: the poisonous mist emanating from the dragon's flesh and blood inside was deadly. Entrusting it to Xu Rulin for the time being was fine.
He revealed his cultivation level and cut in line to enter the city.
As Zhang Ping rode his horse down the main street, he immediately sensed something was wrong.
There were many unfamiliar martial artists on the streets, and their qi and blood fluctuations were generally a level stronger than before. Although martial artists at the Refining Realm were not exactly everywhere, one could always catch a glimpse of one or two as one scanned the streets and alleys.
Zhang Ping frowned slightly.
Soon, he arrived at the location of the Lu residence from his memory.
Before the vermilion gate, Zhang Ping reined in his horse, looked up at the brand-new characters "Li Mansion" on the lintel, and his face instantly darkened.
"What are you doing!" On either side of the gate, two servants with the cultivation level of the Skin Tempering Realm saw Zhang Ping riding his horse and stopping in front of the gate. Since there was no fluctuation of blood energy on his body, they assumed he was an ordinary person and shouted at him sternly.
Zhang Ping's eyes were icy cold, and his internal energy suddenly erupted!
"ah--"
The overwhelming aura instantly crushed the pitiful vitality of the gatekeepers, who screamed in fright and collapsed to the ground.
The man who had just questioned her was even sweating from his crotch, and a foul odor emanated from him.
"M-Master...we were blind just now..." The two trembled like leaves, stammering as they tried to explain.
Zhang Ping had no patience for their nonsense and said coldly:
"Where are the Lu family members who used to live here?"
The Lu family was Lu Wanrou's only hope; she had worked so hard to build it up, and there was absolutely no way she would sell the Lu family on her own initiative! How did it become the Li family?
"The Lu family...this..." Upon hearing this, the two servants knew something was wrong.
One of them, with a mournful face, mustered up great courage and scrambled into the mansion to deliver the message.
Seeing this, Zhang Ping's face grew even colder.
Suddenly, he turned his head, his gaze shooting like lightning towards the entrance of a small alley a hundred meters away.
"come out!"
With a shout, Zhang Ping grabbed out of the air with his large hand!
A figure cried out in alarm as he was forcibly pulled out of his body by his own flesh and blood, falling awkwardly in front of Zhang Ping's horse. He lay on the ground, panting heavily, his face filled with terror.
"Lu Yu?"
Zhang Ping was somewhat surprised to see the face on the ground, which was almost unrecognizable due to its disguise.
Lu Yu was still in shock. He had caught a glimpse of Zhang Ping at the alley entrance and could hardly believe his eyes.
A few days ago, rumors were circulating everywhere that "Ghost Blade" Zhang Ping had died on the Ghost Heaven River battlefield.
The Lu family lost its backer and fell apart! Who would have thought that Zhang Ping would actually come back alive!
"Cough...cough!" Lu Yu swallowed the metallic taste in his throat and, without the slightest delay, quickly recounted what had happened during this period.
As Zhang Ping listened, the murderous intent on his face grew stronger.
The pitch-black blood energy surged upwards like smoke from a wolf's beacon! A terrifying aura instantly enveloped an area of several hundred meters in radius!
In the distance, someone saw the black column of energy shooting straight into the sky and immediately cried out in alarm:
"Look! What's that!"