Wenliang Ji

"Hah!" Jiang Huaiming strode over and shoved his shoulder hard. "You brat from Southern Jiang, how dare you call me by name? Has the phrase 'young master' been eaten by dogs?"

Jiang Feng tilted his shoulder to avoid his hand, then replied with a cold and mocking tone, "That's right. As for 'young master,' wasn't he eaten by dogs?"

A snicker sounded from somewhere nearby. Jiang Huaiming shot a cold glare in that direction, and the laughter ceased at once.

Only then did Jiang Feng notice that a few people stood beside Jiang Huaiming, all of whom looked familiar—they were those favored sons of the Jiang family.

Standing among these youths was a middle-aged man, whose three long whiskers gave him an air of refinement, though his slightly hooked nose lent him a shadow of menace.

From him, Jiang Feng sensed a latent, restrained power, and instantly understood his identity.

Li Ming, an aide of Lord Fu Liu, had been sent to instruct the more gifted youths of the Jiang family to help them pass the provincial examinations.

Jiang Feng hadn't seen him before in Luming Town, but hadn't expected to encounter him here by chance.

Jiang Huaiming sized him up disdainfully and sneered, "All you can do is talk big—what use is that? I heard you ran away from Southern Jiang. Never thought you'd end up in Taicang City."

He looked Jiang Feng up and down. Jiang Feng wore practical clothes made of thick, cheap fabric—the sort commonly worn by household servants in wealthy families.

Thinking he'd figured out Jiang Feng’s status, Jiang Huaiming laughed coldly. "A member of the Jiang family working as a menial servant for others—what a disgrace to our ancestors! When I return, I’ll report to Father and have you expelled from the family!"

Jiang Feng raised his eyebrows. "By all means, Young Master. Just don’t make empty threats—see it through to the end."

This was, in all honesty, exactly what Jiang Feng wanted. He loathed the Jiang family and longed to cut all ties as soon as possible.

But to Jiang Huaiming, these words sounded like the arrogance of someone with nothing to fear.

Given his own dependence on the family, Jiang Huaiming couldn't fathom anyone wanting to leave it.

Jiang Huaiming was filled with suspicion.

Jiang Feng wasn’t born in the Jiang family of Luming Town but had been sent over from the main branch—or so Jiang Huaiming's father had told him. He also knew that although Jiang Feng hadn't undergone bloodline testing and couldn't cultivate, a few elders from the main branch still valued him.

How could a boy not yet of age, unable to cultivate, have left Southern Jiang and journeyed all the way to Taicang City?

And now, looking at him—healthy, spirited—he seemed to be doing quite well.

Had he latched on to someone powerful?

Just as Jiang Huaiming began to feel a flicker of caution, he noticed Li Ming scrutinizing Jiang Feng. Instantly, his doubts faded into a sneer. So what if he’d found a bigger patron? In Zhu Kingdom, was there any patron greater than Lord Fu Liu?

He turned to the other Jiang youths. "Jiang Feng left the family without permission. Before I left, Father told me—if I saw him, bring him back for family punishment at once. Seize him!"

He lifted his chin and looked at Jiang Feng with a cold smile.

Jiang Feng frowned and stepped back slightly, his voice icy. "Jiang Huaiming, this is Mustard Seed Pavilion. You really want to cause trouble here?"

Jiang Huaiming retorted, "So what if it is? This is a Jiang family matter—"

"Excuse me," a gentle, amiable voice interrupted, "but any matter within Mustard Seed Pavilion is a matter for the Chong family. If your family wishes to deal with private affairs, please take them elsewhere."

Li Ming, who had merely been observing, turned pale at the sight of the newcomer. "Master Wen!"

Jiang Huaiming was about to retort, but upon hearing that title, he immediately fell silent.

Master Wen? Could this be the master of Mustard Seed Pavilion himself? Why would he appear here?

Wen Liangji’s age was impossible to guess. His features were as delicate as a woman’s, long black hair cascading down his back, dressed in a finely woven robe, and his smile as warm as a spring breeze.

Though his tone was soft, when Jiang Huaiming met his gaze, he felt a chill run down his spine, as if drawn by some unseen force to Wen Liangji’s right hand.

The sleeve on his right arm was wet, and a thin trickle of blood snaked down his slender fingers, writhing as if alive.

Nonchalantly, Wen Liangji tucked his hand back into his sleeve. "Forgive me, I was just dealing with something interesting and hurried out before I could clean my hands."

The apology was so sincere it made Jiang Huaiming’s unease deepen.

That trace of fresh blood, combined with Wen Liangji’s gaze, exuded deadly intent—a sharp contrast to his gentle appearance and smile.

Wen Liangji fixed his eyes on Jiang Huaiming, enunciating each word with chilling clarity. "Those who enter Mustard Seed Pavilion abide by its rules. And the second rule is this: Whose word counts here? That’s for me to decide."

Jiang Huaiming blurted out, "And what's the first rule?"

Wen Liangji raised his right hand with a smile. "I thought that one was common knowledge. The first rule, of course, is: Any demon caught is to be killed without mercy!"

His smile vanished abruptly, and his expression darkened.

At that, the faint metallic scent of blood seemed to thicken in the air, and Wen Liangji’s overwhelming presence pressed down on Jiang Huaiming like a tide of ten thousand soldiers, as if he would be crushed flat beneath it.

He staggered back three steps, nearly collapsing to the floor.

Li Ming caught him and said in a deep voice, "Master Wen, you are a paragon among men—there’s no need to intimidate a child."

"A child?" Wen Liangji’s eyebrows arched, the feminine gentleness vanishing, replaced by a fierce, spirited aura. "In the Northern Wastes, any twenty-two-year-old still considered a child would have already ended up as a demon’s supper!"

Under his forceful presence, even Li Ming dared not meet his gaze. Yet Jiang Feng seemed completely unruffled, his attention fixed on that trickle of blood as he asked thoughtfully, "Is that demon blood?"

Wen Liangji regarded him with surprise, then softened his expression. "Indeed. Someone just turned in a bounty—two demon heads. One now hangs at the entrance, and I was examining the other."

He gestured toward Jiang Feng. "Please, come inside."

Jiang Feng cast Jiang Huaiming and the others a glance. Wen Liangji raised an eyebrow and asked, "Do you need me to deal with any trouble for you?"

Jiang Feng shook his head with a smile. "No need. Let’s go in."

The others could only watch in stunned silence as Jiang Feng followed Wen Liangji inside. With Wen Liangji leading the way, they dared not stop him, but Jiang Huaiming wracked his brain and still couldn’t fathom what connection Jiang Feng could possibly have with Mustard Seed Pavilion.

Long after they’d gone, Jiang Huaiming muttered, "Seems the patron Jiang Feng’s found is no ordinary one..."

Li Ming asked thoughtfully, "This young man is from your family?"

Jiang Huaiming nodded and explained Jiang Feng’s background.

Li Ming was surprised. "A mixed bloodline, unable to cultivate? But that boy has clearly already fused with a Heartseed—he’s an Initiate Martial Cultivator!"

Jiang Huaiming couldn’t believe it. "Impossible! Father told me many times—he was sent here precisely because he couldn’t cultivate!"

Li Ming mused, "No, even with a mixed bloodline, there’s a minuscule chance to fuse with a Heartseed. And with the right connections and secret arts, the odds improve. But according to you, he’s only been gone a few months—how could he advance so quickly..."

Jiang Huaiming said, "So, his background really isn’t simple?"

Li Ming nodded heavily. Jiang Huaiming’s eyes flickered, and he gritted his teeth. "We’ll have to look into this carefully... That boy can’t be allowed to remain!"

...

As soon as Wen Liangji appeared, Jiang Feng had a good sense of what was going on.

Wen Liangji had returned to his previous gentle and cordial self. He smiled, "Housekeeper Qiu sent out a shadow-engraving early this morning to inform us of your arrival."

Jiang Feng asked, "What did Grandpa Qiu say?"

Wen Liangji’s gaze flickered. "Housekeeper Qiu said you are an honored guest of the highest tier in the Chong family. Wherever you go, we are to treat you with utmost care."

A Sky-Tier Guest was the highest rank in the Chong family, entitled to many privileges.

For instance, to retrieve something from the Hundred Treasures Hall, an ordinary person would wait half a month; Sky-Tier Guests waited no more than five days.

On hearing this, Jiang Feng breathed a sigh of relief—he no longer had to worry about missing the provincial exams.

Moreover, the Mustard Seed Pavilion’s auctions and exhibitions required heavy deposits for invitations, but as a Sky-Tier Guest, he needed no guarantee and could attend freely.

Wen Liangji smiled. "In five days we are holding a treasured artifact release. Three Tier-Four Artifact Masters will unveil five new works. If you have time, you are welcome to attend."

Jiang Feng nodded with a smile, studying Wen Liangji with curiosity. Suddenly he asked, "Master Wen, did you come back from the Northern Wastes?"

With Qiu Jueye’s personal recommendation, Wen Liangji made no secret of it. "Correct. I was born in the Thousandfold Army. After being wounded, I transferred from the inner army to the outer forces, and eventually took up my position here at Mustard Seed Pavilion."

The Thousandfold Army’s system was highly developed. The inner army fought on the front lines in the Northern Wastes, joining forces with the Demon Suppression Army against the demon horde; the outer forces were mostly veterans who had been wounded and retired from the inner army. They protected key figures and industries of the Chong family, and the most capable could take posts within these enterprises as they wished.

Jiang Feng listened, deeply moved. "With no worries behind them, warriors can fight all the more bravely!"

Wen Liangji gave a wry smile. "On the battlefield, who has time to think about such things? When you see what the demons do, you’ll know what needs to be done. Kill more enemies, survive, and then kill some more. That’s all there is."

His expression was calm, but a glint of bloodthirst flickered in his eyes.

Jiang Feng watched him in profile for a while, then lowered his gaze.

In that moment, a thought took root in his heart.

Grow strong enough, rescue Miss from the capital—and then head to the Northern Wastes!

He wanted to see the land and the people there.

People like Hua Su, like Wen Liangji!

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