Chapter 44: Good, Wang Yuluo—what a perfect name!

At midnight, after the group had stopped for the fifth time to rest, Hongmei finally found his chance.

They had taken lodging in a mundane town, and Hongmei shared a room with Yulou.

Yuan was kept close by Wang Rongsheng.

Yulou slept deeply—he was utterly exhausted from all the traveling these past days.

Watching Yulou’s peaceful sleep, Hongmei plotted in his mind.

First kill Yulou, then use a secret technique to conceal his form, strike with full force to kill Wang Rongsheng, and after that, only Yuan the fool remains.

Yuan has a Hundred-Li Free-Flight Talisman, but Hongmei was confident he could kill him quickly before he escaped.

After killing these three, he would rush back to Qingxi Fang and flee far away with Zhong Ningyao.

The Wunan cultivation world is vast; even if the Wang Clan learned what he had done, finding him would be difficult.

The key is, if he cleans up the scene and kills everyone in this town, the Wang Clan will have no evidence!

Yet after much hesitation and calculation, Hongmei still dared not act.

The Wang Clan’s disciples are too cautious—he wasn’t sure whether Wang Rongsheng and Wang Yulou were pretending to deceive him.

Is Yulou sleeping so soundly because he has some hidden backup?

In fact, he was right: Yulou carried a mid-grade spiritual artifact belt bestowed by the clan chief; its defensive aura would automatically protect its owner—Hongmei’s ambush would be useless.

This was the very reason Yulou could sleep so soundly.

Wang Rongsheng had even less to fear from Hongmei’s ambush.

There was a vassal immortal clan’s territory nearby, yet Wang Rongsheng chose not to stay there—he picked a mundane town precisely because he had confidence.

The Wang Clan is an immortal lineage with deep heritage; though Wang Rongsheng’s cultivation base is low, his actual strength is far from insignificant.

He usually pretends to be a beginner in Qi Refining, appearing weak, yet he dares to directly sell goods to Gu Shen Sect members—not because he’s bold, but because he’s strong.

After much deliberation, under immense pressure, Hongmei ultimately dared not move.

In extreme torment, Hongmei stared fixedly at Yulou, sitting motionless the entire night.

He was about to reach Foundation Establishment; once he did, everything would change.

Just endure a little longer! Just endure a little longer!

By day, the three continued escorting Hongmei on their journey.

Along the way, Hongmei offered numerous exchange terms, trying to sway Yulou or Wang Rongsheng, but failed again.

The truth was simple: no matter how good Hongmei’s promises, he was still an outsider.

Yulou and Yuan had been raised under clan teachings and would not easily trust outsiders.

Wang Rongsheng was a seasoned Qi Refiner who could handle matters alone—he would never believe Hongmei’s lies.

When the group reached three hundred li from Wolong Fang, Wang Rongsheng halted his artifact and spoke.

“Hongmei, ahead lies Xiangshui Beach. Let’s detour.”

Xiangshui Beach was a vast marsh spanning a hundred li, surrounded by mountains; once, it had housed a sixth-rank spiritual item.

After the sixth-rank spiritual item was removed, Xiangshui Beach’s spiritual energy and veins were shattered, yet traces remained.

Under the lingering influence of spiritual energy and veins, Xiangshui Beach occasionally produced spiritual materials and items.

Thus, many rogue cultivators and bandit cultivators gathered here, seeking opportunity.

“Hahaha, fine, we’ll detour south.”

Hongmei smiled agreeably.

Wang Rongsheng, a seasoned Qi Refiner, understood Hongmei’s intentions and spoke pointedly.

“The south leads to Wumeng Mountain. Hongmei, I’m familiar with both places—I simply didn’t want to cause trouble.”

“So choose one: either Wumeng Mountain or Xiangshui Beach. I have no objection.”

Not wanting to cause trouble did not mean Wang Rongsheng feared trouble.

After all, he conducted business in Wolong Fang and had dealt with many nearby bandit cultivators—they all knew he was from the Wang Clan.

Even if Hongmei knew some bandit cultivators, Wang Rongsheng wasn’t afraid.

Wang Rongsheng knew that if bandit cultivators had to choose between Hongmei and himself, they’d prefer to aid him.

Within Hongdengzhao’s territory, the Wang Clan’s name still carried weight!

A lineage with a thousand years of heritage, having produced over twenty Foundation Establishment cultivators—do you think this is some lowly gang?

No—if the Wang Clan were lowly, then hardly anyone in this cultivation world would be human!

The Wang Clan’s caravans could travel freely across Hongdengzhao’s territory under the clan’s name—even places like Shuanglong Mountain could be entered safely.

Wang Clan disciples could easily join major Purple Mansion sects and often secured marriage alliances without difficulty.

The Wang Clan’s heritage was extraordinary; the resources Yulou and Yuan received before Foundation Establishment rivaled those given to Immortal Alliance envoys and Immortal Alliance family heirs.

More importantly, Master Danri’s master, Hongdengzhao’s Mangxiang Patriarch, was preparing to break through to Golden Core—Wang Clan’s status had soared overnight.

This was an established Foundation Establishment immortal clan closely tied to Hongdengzhao—even the Second Elder of the Purple Mansion Gu Clan couldn’t overshadow Clan Chief Wang Xianmao’s prestige!

Why was Hongmei afraid?

Because the Wang Clan could truly destroy him!

Because the Wang Clan was so powerful they issued a Hundred-Li Free-Flight Talisman to every Qi Refining clan member!

“Forget it. We’ll go north. Go north.”

Hongmei laughed nervously in reply.

He had begun to accept his fate.

He hadn’t dared act all night; his hope that bandit cultivators at Xiangshui Beach might help him was merely a final delusion before failure.

Hongmei didn’t know any bandit cultivators—he was just hoping for luck.

Relying on luck like this was proof of his utter despair.

“Go? No need to go!”

A voice of supreme authority rang out, echoing across heaven and earth.

So loud it reverberated through the entire world.

So distant that when Yulou looked toward the distant horizon, he saw nothing.

Hongmei immediately recognized who it was—his face turned deathly pale.

In that moment, he finally knew: he was finished.

A few breaths later, Yulou finally saw the arrival.

It was a pale green aura, resembling a green meteor from afar.

Riding a vibrant fruit core brimming with leaves, Wang Xianmao arrived before them in an instant.

Hovering in midair, he immediately summoned Yulou and Yuan to his side.

Beneath his feet, the fruit core rapidly grew; spiritual power surged, and over a dozen chains shot out from all angles, sealing off Hongmei’s escape routes.

“Rongsheng, well done. I told you not to forget the messenger pigeons!”

Hongmei smiled resignedly.

This was the Anbei Wang Clan?

Too cautious!

The mundane town was over a hundred li from Wolong Fang—exactly the range of a Hundred-Li Free-Flight Talisman.

Wang Rongsheng chose to rest there precisely to send a messenger pigeon.

Transmission talismans have short range, but messenger pigeons can fly a thousand li effortlessly!

He had been foolishly waiting for an opportunity—but he had never had one.

“Senior Xianmao, let me explain,” Hongmei struggled to speak.

Wang Xianmao waved his hand calmly.

“Hongmei, you shouldn’t have burned Jin Guang Pavilion—I have some ties with Master Mengbai.”

“Join the Wang Clan. Otherwise, when Master Mengbai investigates, you won’t escape death.”

Yulou guessed the Master Mengbai Wang Xianmao mentioned was the Immortal Alliance member behind Jin Guang Pavilion.

Hongmei clenched his teeth and said:

“Fine. I’ll join the Wang Clan as a guest advisor.”

He still hoped to preserve some dignity, but Wang Xianmao had no intention of granting him any.

“Change your name. From now on, you are Wang Yuluo.”

“But don’t you dare misbehave again—you understand?”

Since Wang Xianmao now held proof of Hongmei’s robbery of Jin Guang Pavilion, he intended to exploit it fully.

This dog had the audacity to try to kill Yulou and Yuan!

You’re supposed to be their master—what were you thinking?

“Good! Wang Yuluo is a wonderful name—perfect! Thank you, Senior Xianmao!”

Hongmei grinned excitedly in gratitude to Wang Xianmao.

Endure! A true man endures what others cannot, to achieve extraordinary feats!

I endure!

“Hey, still calling me ‘senior’? That’s too formal, isn’t it?”

Seeing his shamelessness, Wang Xianmao remained expressionless and pressed further.

Hongmei, how long can you endure?

“......”

Hong Mei fell silent; at this moment, his dignity had been utterly insulted.

He was at least of the same generation as Wang Rongyuan and Wang Rongwen; now, humiliated like this by Wang Xianmao, he was even expected to call him...

This is an unbearable insult!

“Yulou, what should he call me?” Wang Xianmao looked toward Yulou.

Master has already agreed to change his name; now we are truly one family.

Although Yulou was not happy, he still respected the clan chief.

“Master, from now on, when you see the clan chief, call him Clan Uncle.

Xiang Yuan and I will continue calling you Master.

We’ll each use our own terms—no trouble, right?”