Chapter 103: Farewell, Senior Brother of Tianyi Men

The three pushed open the door and saw a man dressed in white martial attire.

The man bowed and smiled: “Tianyi Men, Ling Zhongsheng.”

Li Lin and the others also gave their names.

After listening, Ling Zhongsheng smiled: “Regarding the matter of Zhao Xunshou, if you three have come to lend support, state your terms—we Tianyi Men accept. If not, please clarify, so we may rest easy.”

He stood calmly, waiting for an answer.

Su Huafang smiled and bowed: “We are not here to lend support—only to check on a friend’s condition.”

“Then there’s no issue. Thank you for your understanding, and I hope you enjoy your time in Jincheng.”

With that, the Tianyi Men disciple departed.

Bai Liwei couldn’t help sighing: “Tianyi Men has a certain righteous bearing.”

“A sect with centuries of heritage naturally has its own ways,” Su Huafang said, pausing before continuing: “Truthfully, Zhao Xunshou’s own condition isn’t dire—it’s more a matter of life’s unpredictability.”

“How so?” Bai Liwei asked.

Under the curious gazes of the other two, Su Huafang recounted what he had learned.

Zhao Hao’s leniency and indulgence toward the girl stemmed from a simple reason: her father, Zhao Hao’s uncle, had once saved his life.

The story was not complicated—just a melodramatic tale common among powerful families.

When Zhao Hao was young, his mother died under mysterious circumstances, and the killer was never found.

His uncle’s family had always treated him well, but as he grew older, a scheming relative close to him sowed discord, convincing him his mother had been murdered by his uncle to secretly seize Zhao family wealth.

Zhao Hao, then not clever, buried his hatred deep and trained fiercely, until one day the schemer persuaded him to lure his uncle to a secluded place, claiming it was to help him exact revenge. Zhao Hao happily complied.

But the ambushers intended to kill them both.

The uncle, pierced by multiple blades, still fought desperately to drag Zhao Hao out of the trap. Before dying, he did not blame Zhao Hao—he smiled happily, saying Zhao Hao’s safety was the greatest fortune, and he could now rest peacefully to meet his elder sister.

Thus, this became an unshakable burden in Zhao Hao’s heart, his obsession.

His uncle’s family was his eternal guilt.

After hearing this, Bai Zhiwei sighed.

Li Lin also felt Zhao Hao’s fate was tragic, and suddenly thought of a question: “Doesn’t Zhao Young Master have an uncle-in-law serving as Registrar in Jincheng? Why doesn’t he intervene?”

If this were a county registrar, his power would be limited.

But Jincheng is a prefecture… being Registrar here carries a very different weight.

His authority is immense; ordinary martial sects dare not offend him lightly.

“How to put it… he is indeed an uncle-in-law, but their relationship is poor. The Registrar takes no interest in Zhao family affairs,” Su Huafang said with deep feeling: “Zhao family now rests entirely on Zhao Hao’s shoulders.”

In other words, Zhao Hao might invoke his uncle-in-law’s name to intimidate others, but the latter is merely a figurehead.

Even so, it has granted Zhao Hao many opportunities.

Bai Liwei couldn’t help asking: “What of his father?”

“Five years after his mother’s mysterious death, his father fell ill from grief and passed away as well. His aunt and cousin are his only remaining kin.”

Bai Liwei’s expression changed, and he slapped himself hard.

Li Lin finally understood why the Zhao residence felt so desolate—it was because of this.

Su Huafang sighed softly: “This is precisely why the County Magistrate sent us here… If something happens, we’re to stand by Zhao Hao’s side. If necessary, we may even invoke his name.”

Li Lin said: “What are your plans now?”

“Tianyi Men isn’t unreasonable… Their willingness to gamble with you proves it. No matter how grave the matter, they’re willing to give you a chance,” Su Huafang said: “Perhaps we can find another way.”

“Could we trade a scripture for some of their elixirs?”

Su Huafang said: “Perhaps.”

“Then let’s try,” Bai Liwei smiled.

The three went to the marketplace and bought some random items as gifts, then arrived outside Tianyi Men.

Tianyi Men, with centuries of heritage, owned a vast plot of land in Jincheng.

Roughly three hundred mu in area.

Beyond the central sect hall, the surrounding lands held numerous enterprises.

Wine shops, rice stores, general goods stalls, and more.

To support over a hundred martial cultivators of Tianyi Men.

Thus, entering this district, one sensed that shopkeepers and passersby all bore traces of martial skill.

These people were, in some way, connected to Tianyi Men.

At the gate, Su Huafang bowed and stated their purpose to the gatekeeper.

Soon, the three were invited inside and brought to a side hall.

Though Hunting Spirits held considerable status among commoners, to martial folk, they were merely…

A group of “shadow-walkers.”

Su Huafang expected to meet no higher than an inner-disciple.

But the person who arrived carried far greater weight.

“Tianyi Men’s senior disciple, An Xin,” said the man in white martial attire, bowing with a smile, then turning to Li Lin: “Li Xunshou, we meet again.”

Su Huafang and Bai Liwei stared at Li Lin in surprise.

Li Lin bowed and smiled: “Young Master An, my apologies for the disturbance.”

Hot tea was served. An Xin sat across from them and asked with a smile: “You’ve come regarding Zhao Xunshou’s matter?”

“Yes,” Su Huafang nodded.

“You too wish to… place a bet on the duel?”

Su Huafang waved his hand: “Hunting Spirits excel only against apparitions. Compared to martial cultivators, we are vastly inferior.”

This was true—under normal circumstances, Hunting Spirits could not defeat martial cultivators.

An Xin smiled: “Senior, you are too modest.”

“We wish to trade a scripture for a few elixirs.”

“Oh?” An Xin pondered, then said: “That’s possible. But what scripture do you propose to trade?”

Su Huafang thought a moment: “My Golden Thread Silver Bell Art—how does that suit you?”

An Xin shook his head: “The Golden Thread Silver Bell Art of the Thief of Fragrance is indeed famous, but it conflicts with our sect’s core methods.”

Su Huafang bowed, sighing helplessly.

In truth, they simply didn’t value it—only phrased it politely.

Bai Liwei said: “I have the Lone Wild Goose Twin Reflection Blades—what do you think, Young Master An?”

“Our sect specializes in sword techniques.”

Li Lin said: “What of the Thunder Strike Spell?”

An Xin’s eyebrows lifted: “That’s intriguing… but thunder arts are exceedingly difficult to master. I fear even if we acquired it, few in Tianyi Men could cultivate it.”

Su Huafang smiled: “Young Master An, you are too modest. Tianyi Men is brimming with talent.”

An Xin shook his head: “I am the senior disciple—I dare not claim I could master thunder arts. Others would stand no chance. As for my master and uncles… they are elderly, their meridians already set. To switch to thunder arts now would be nearly impossible.”

At this, Li Lin added: “I will add annotations. Every step, every posture, written clearly.”

“Truly?”

An Xin rose abruptly.

Core doctrine is core doctrine; scripture is scripture.

Though many confuse them, fundamentally, a core doctrine with the author’s annotations is a scripture.

Compared to core doctrine alone, a scripture drastically lowers the difficulty of learning.

(End of Chapter)