Chapter 12

Below, Jian Yao raised his head to watch this scene, and his eyes immediately turned to Gu Xiu'er, astonishment flashing in their depths.

"This girl is quite clever!"

He had long noticed that Gu Xiu'er's gaze toward his eldest young master carried an unusual hue, and had already taken precautions.

Not only him, but Zhang Yi probably also made preparations; if this girl tried to be clever and attempted to seize Zhang Jian, these two would have no burial place today.

If she directly yielded, though she might fall into the Zhang family's hands, there would still be a sliver of hope.

Especially since her mention of the Xuan Yuan Sect's Western Wind Sword Master Wang Yuanlang having considerable influence in Fengxi County, and being a renowned white-path magnate.

Perhaps out of respect for Wang Yuanlang's face, Zhang Yi might change his mind.

"Bang!"

Accompanied by a tremendous boom, Zhang Yi's hand-held Xuan Yu-colored giant palm struck solidly into Duanmu Yan, blasting him into the lower house.

Zhang Yi's figure flickered, appearing ghostlike beside Gu Xiu'er, his gaze cold and stern as he fixed it on her.

"What is Wang Yuanlang but a mere weed? I, Zhang Yi, wish to kill whom I please—do you think he can protect them?"

He slowly raised his hand, and at that moment a voice came.

"Younger brother Yi, since these two youths have already realized their fault, give them a chance—although they were in the wrong first, our Zhang family has always been kind-hearted and willing to leave a way out in all matters!"

Only then was seen in the darkness: Zhang Yi emerged under the escort of Zhang Hu.

His bearing was stern and imposing, anger not needed to radiate authority.

Zhang Jian stood beside him, his expression unchanging; he glanced at the solemn Zhang Yi and knew in his heart that although Gu Xiu'er's last words had not moved Zhang Yi, they had moved his own old father.

It seemed that this Western Wind Sword Master she mentioned carried some weight, stirring Zhang Yi's thoughts.

"Since the clan head has spoken, let these two thieves be handled by the clan head!"

At this moment, Zhang Yi's figure flashed, landing from the roof beside Zhang Jian, seeing Zhang Jian nod slightly.

Feeling the ceaseless flow of pure inner energy on Zhang Yi's body, this thread of inner energy seemed constantly to resonate with the air, distorting the surrounding aura.

Zhang Jian's heart stirred secretly.

He knew this was the unique symbol of an internal martial artist who had reached the innate stage.

The Yang Nourishing stage requires constantly strengthening one's essence, energy, and spirit with rich inner energy, bridging heaven and earth, nurturing the body with innate energy—this is the profundity of the innate stage.

Although Zhang Jian's understanding of innate profundities remains limited, he deeply recognizes the magnitude of this power.

"No wonder Jian Yao fears his uncle so much—his uncle is indeed the family's foundation, truly a trump card!"

Zhang Jian secretly sighed in his heart.

Although he has only just begun martial training, he also knows that internal martial artists at the innate stage in the jianghu are nearly that small group of 'peak masters'.

Such innate martial artists are extremely rare; only major powers with great wealth and influence can recruit one or two.

"It seems I must still train diligently—outside is indeed rather dangerous!"

This thought flashed through his heart.

"Junior Gu Xiu'er thanks the Zhang clan head on behalf of Senior Brother Duanmu for his magnanimity!"

At this moment, Gu Xiu'er slightly bowed, then hurriedly flew into the rubble heap; her jade face beneath the white gauze showed some pallor, for Duanmu Yan had been fiercely struck by Zhang Yi's final blow, his life or death uncertain, truly worrying her.

Zhang Yi's gaze fell on Zhang Yi, who at this moment slightly shook his head and said.

"Whether he lives or dies depends on his own fate!"

That final strike of his was certainly not held back.

Zhang Yi secretly shook his head, merely thinking: "Hope he doesn't die!"

His gaze fell upon the graceful Gu Xiu'er, his eyes stirring darkly.

"Surname Gu!"

At this moment, outside Fang Lin Ju, other manor tenants and patrolling household servants gradually gathered; Zhang Yi waved his hand, signaling the crowd to disperse.

At the same time, he summoned a few people to help Gu Xiu'er carry out Duanmu Yan.

At this moment, Duanmu Yan's face was as golden paper, his body covered in frost.

His breath was already extremely weak.

"Senior Brother!" Gu Xiu'er hurriedly took out her sect's secret treasure medicine from her bosom, had Duanmu Yan take it, striving to preserve his life.

The onlookers dispersed; Zhang Yi merely left Zhang Yi and Zhang Jian behind, and after discussion, decided to temporarily detain these siblings, awaiting news.

Believing that the people behind them would soon act.

……

The next day

Dawn light faint

The paper effigy shop lies west of the city; Zhang Jian brought Zhang Lu and two others, along with a squad of household servants, to the paper effigy shop to buy vermilion spirit money.

There is a Liu Family Hut nearby, surrounded by many rice, flour, and cloth shops.

The place Zhang Jian intends to go is beside a large willow tree.

Zhang Family Paper Effigy Shop.

Before the paper effigy shop, at this moment stood rows of lifelike paper effigies, cheeks peach-red, adorable and simple.

Only strangely, these paper effigies have no eyes; yet even so, they evoke a chill in people.

The paper effigy shop's owner is called Paper Man Zhang, hunched in form, hair gray-white.

Zhang Jian stepped forward and directly greeted him.

"Uncle Zhang, any new items lately?"

Paper Man Zhang surnamed Zhang, also a clansman of Zhang Jian, though not a local, but a refugee who came over twenty years ago, relying on his peerless paper-effigy skill, gradually established a foothold in Liu Family Hut.

"So it's the scholar-official elder who has arrived—please enter the shop; we've been saving things for you!"

Paper Man Zhang's voice was hoarse and raspy, yet between his brows lay a hint of kindness, as if forever bearing a smile.

"Then I'll have to take a look!"

Zhang Jian became energetic, following Paper Man Zhang to the rear hall.

From afar, a delicate red spirit shrine could be seen in the rear hall; it was unknown what deity was enshrined inside, covered from a distance by red cloth, with the scent of burning sandalwood drifting from afar.

It added a touch of liveliness to this gloomy paper craft shop.

Zhang Jian had already seen this time's new product—these were lotus palace lanterns, red and white alternating, each one exceptionally alluring and gorgeous.

Upon closer inspection, they were plump and round!

Paper Man Zhang laughed as he introduced:

"This is the Calming Lotus I just created—look at these memorial texts, they are exceptionally exquisite; I specially invited an adept from Phoenix Perch Observatory to personally compose this soul-soothing, spirit-calming scripture, which has been consecrated by the adept!"

"What use does it have?!"

"It not only soothes the departed, but also allows ancestors to protect the family, adding blessings and longevity; if the eldest young master burns these for the various forefathers of the Zhang household, they will surely shield the scholar-official elder master in passing the imperial examination to become a presented scholar!"

Zhang Jian laughed, finding Paper Man Zhang quite eloquent; he nodded and directly had Zhang Ru step forward to wrap them up, afterward having a servant step forward to settle the silver.

Seeing Zhang Jian so readily purchase these lotuses, Paper Man Zhang's smile deepened.

The group shouldered their baskets and quickly left Zhang's Paper Craft Shop.

Paper Man Zhang watched the group depart, his gaze continually fixed on Zhang Jian, flickering uncertainly, then gradually calming, as he silently continued tidying the paper figures outside the shop alone.

Before leaving, Zhang Jian glanced toward the paper craft shop, his expression showing something unusual.

For some reason, upon entering the paper craft shop this time, he distinctly felt a hint of something different from before.

This place remained as cool and shady as before, yet this time he felt a trace of yin chill, like needles piercing into the skin beneath the flesh.