Chapter 27: You are a member of the Wu Family

The Taizi Fu is the center of the empire's power struggles, and all major factions have arranged for personnel to be stationed in front of the Taizi Fu to scout for intelligence.

Wu Qi and Qiangu Changkong were invited into the Taizi Fu by Xue Qinghe; many factions are already secretly investigating their identities and backgrounds.

To prevent their family members from offending people they cannot afford to provoke, various nobles have already posted portraits of the two of them within their estates.

Wu Hao and the other two wore dazed expressions, inevitably falling into self-doubt.

Could it be that we didn't act like spoiled brats?

Their performance would be indistinguishable to the average person, but Wu Qi understood the Wu Family too well.

Before long, a deep, resonant voice rang out from behind the crowd.

"Do not make things difficult for them; it is this Marquis who wishes to see you."

The three men's lackeys hurriedly cleared a path; Wu Qinan lightly twirled a jade bead in his left hand, his right hand behind his back, and stepped through the crowd.

"Greetings, Lord Marquis."

As a Spirit Master, one does not need to kneel when meeting a noble, but the proper etiquette must still be observed.

Qiangu Changkong offered a salute with reluctance, then turned and retreated to the side.

"Father, he—" Wu Hao wanted to find an excuse for his failure, but was glared back into silence.

Wu Qinan waved his hand, and the three young masters of the Wu Family left with their men without looking back.

He did not act arrogant, saying in a gentle tone: "Little friend, may we move to another place? This Marquis feels you look somewhat familiar; perhaps we might even be relatives."

Wu Qi responded calmly, "It would be a great honor for this youngster to be a relative of Lord Marquis."

"But it is a pity, I fear I must disappoint Lord Marquis; this youngster was merely born in a small city, how could I possibly climb such a high branch."

Wu Qinan detected the dissatisfaction in his words and smiled it off, "Shall we not have a proper chat? Who knows, perhaps we really are relatives?"

Wu Qi had no need to evade; having already made a clean break with the Wu Family, he certainly would not be fooled by the other party's few words.

Turning his head, he whispered a few words into Qiangu Changkong's ear, then left with the man.

In a teahouse.

Just moments ago, Wu Qinan had been secretly observing every move Wu Qi made.

Faced with spoiled brats coming to his door, the other party had remained calm and composed, proving there was a backer behind him. The rumors were likely true: Wu Qi had gained the appreciation of the Crown Prince, Xue Qinghe.

Yet, the indifference and disgust in the other party's eyes were baffling.

The possibility of developing hostility upon a first meeting was very low; furthermore, the fact that the other party could accurately gauge the temperaments of Wu Hao and the others clearly showed he understood the Wu Family very well.

How could Wu Qinan not know of the dirty dealings within his own family?

Therefore, he suspected that Wu Qi himself originated from the Wu Family but had been forced to leave due to being ostracized and suppressed.

"You are a member of the Wu Family!" Wu Qinan probed.

Clap, clap, clap~

Wu Qi applauded, "Is Lord Marquis just here to tell me a story?"

"I must say, this story is indeed very attractive. But Lord Marquis, you cannot conclude that I come from the Marquis's estate based solely on my surname, can you?"

"Don't forget, there are quite a few people in this world with the surname Xue."

That Wu Qinan could rise in rank through military merit and possess such meticulous powers of observation was chilling. It was no wonder he could discern the flow of battle and achieve such illustrious military feats.

"Oh? Could it be that this Marquis has overthought it? Little friend, why not tell me where you were born?"

The only cities on the Douluo Dalu that Wu Qi was familiar with were Tiandou City and Wuhun Cheng; however, from reading novels in his past life, he also had some understanding of Nuoding City and Suotuo City through the text.

"I was born in a city on the edge of the empire—Nuoding City. It is just a small city; I imagine Lord Marquis has never heard of it."

As it happened, two years ago, Wu Qinan had led his troops past Nuoding City and had some knowledge of the place.

Immediately, he asked about several things within Nuoding City.

Wu Qi answered fluently, causing the speculation in his heart to crumble.

In a remote border city, unless it was one's birthplace, no one would deliberately pay attention to the situation inside.

Yet Wu Qi spoke with such authority that Wu Qinan did not doubt the truth of it.

"It seems this Marquis has indeed overthought it. Little friend, please feel free to go."

Wu Qi did not linger and took his leave.

Wu Qinan glanced at his retreating back and couldn't help but mutter: "If he is not a member of the Wu Family, why is there a sense of familiarity?"

Having temporarily dispelled Wu Qinan's suspicions, Wu Qi and Qiangu Changkong purchased sufficient supplies and, three days later, took a carriage toward Suotuo City.

Inside the carriage, Qiangu Changkong couldn't help but complain: "Rumors are so powerful; as soon as this carriage firm heard we were going to Suotuo City, the price immediately doubled."

Wu Qi did not offer an explanation, but he knew the reason clearly.

On the Douluo Dalu, the importance of public opinion is often overlooked.

The rumors in the city had made a large number of nobles and merchants want to visit Suotuo City; supply and demand determined the price, and since there were only so many carriages available, the price naturally rose as more people went.

However, Wu Qi would not spend money in vain; using the map in his hand, he set his destination as a city near Suotuo City, which happened to be on the way to Suotuo City.

Although the distance was longer, the cost of renting the carriage was much cheaper.

This matter could not be revealed to the driver; they would simply get off midway when they reached Suotuo City.

In Tiandou City.

Ning Rongrong had already solidified her determination to run away from home; before leaving, she went to the Taizi Fu, intending to say a brief goodbye to Wu Qi.

Learning of Wu Qi's destination from Xue Qinghe, she could not help but feel secretly delighted.

In this way, they would be able to meet in Suotuo City.

Without Ning Fengzhi's overprotection, she could interact with whomever she wanted!

Next, Ning Rongrong found someone to provide cover, successfully shook off the guards sent by Ning Fengzhi, and boarded a carriage heading to Suotuo City.

Only, she did not know that the driver was a secret guard sent by Ning Fengzhi!

As the daughter of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi would certainly have made proper arrangements for her running away from home alone.

Otherwise, should she be taken hostage, it would be an absolute disaster for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

In the carriage, the coachman spoke kindly to Ning Rongrong, "Young Miss, you are traveling far away alone; did your family not arrange for any experts to accompany you?"

Having left home, Ning Rongrong had raised her guard and did not answer according to the coachman's words.

"Old gentleman, what fun places are there in Suotuo City? This young lady is going there for the first time."

Ning Fengzhi had already instructed the coachman about this matter, so with Ning Rongrong taking the initiative to ask, it saved him the trouble of wasting his breath.

"It is not that this old man is boasting, but I am very familiar with everything in Suotuo City. Young Miss, at your age, you must have just graduated from a Primary Soul Master Academy, right?"

"There is a decent academy in Suotuo City; if you decide to settle down in Suotuo City, going to that academy would be a good choice."

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had already secretly investigated the background of Shrek Academy.

The coachman brought out the set of self-aggrandizing rhetoric used by Flender, successfully piquing Ning Rongrong's interest.

Ning Rongrong was a genius of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and she naturally wanted to see the geniuses of the continent for herself.

Subtly and gradually, she had entered the "trap" carefully set by Ning Fengzhi, yet she still felt fortunate to have escaped the clutches of the sect.

(End of this chapter)