Chapter 200

"The Divine Weapon Manor, Seven Stars Gate, and Changkong Alliance—could it be that Daoxuan Sect is also here?"

Li Rui stared at the document sent from Annan Town.

"The Divine Weapon Manor arrived in the city yesterday; the other seven sects should be here soon. I'm showing you this not so you manage them, but so you treat their people with at least some courtesy when you encounter them."

Ning Zhongtian's voice echoed in the main hall.

The commanding officers of the five squads under his command gathered together.

The imperial court's specially approved list has been issued.

Eight great sects!

The scale is not small.

And this is only the first batch; more will follow, though none will be as weighty.

Li Rui closed the gilded invitation in his hand.

These eight great sects are stronger in strength than the Anning Guard.

Each wields immense influence and has their own factions within the imperial court; ordinary government offices truly dare not provoke these titans.

They are true overlord dragons crossing the river—even their branches are not to be trifled with lightly.

The Anning Guard is the imperial army, yet these sects also have members serving in court, some holding ranks higher than Assistant Regional Commander.

They come to Qinghe out of respect for the court.

First, to suppress the Ghost Ming Sect; second, to lend prestige to the Anning Guard and make Qinghe a truly legitimate great city.

In a way, Qinghe should even thank the Ghost Ming Sect.

Without the Ghost Ming Sect, how would Qinghe's people ever witness such a spectacle? In the future, when they meet Anning officials, they can stand tall and say: "Even in Anning City, you can see the Eight Great Sects?"

But since the court and the Eight Great Sects are in a cooperative relationship, they cannot be handled as harshly as the Mingguang Sect and Qingfeng Manor once were.

Mainly because they cannot be provoked.

"Understood."

Ning Zhongtian's subordinates each nodded in affirmation.

Seeing this,

Ning Zhongtian gave Tan Hu special emphasis before dismissing everyone with satisfaction.

Li Rui had just stepped into his residence.

When he saw Wang Zhao holding a bright red wedding invitation, he blinked in slight surprise:

"Little Zhao, what's this?"

Li Rui had seen too many such invitations—they were wedding guest lists. He immediately ruled out Wang Zhao's own wedding, unless the boy was marrying a horse.

Wang Zhao gave the answer:

"Master, the Weapon Storage just delivered an invitation. It says Senior He will be marrying in three days."

"Senior He?"

Li Rui was puzzled—he was certain the current grain officer of the Dingzi Weapon Storage was surnamed Zhao.

Quickly,

he realized.

There was indeed a He in the Dingzi Weapon Storage: He Shan, the guard on the third floor.

He Shan?

Getting married?

Thinking of He Shan's icy, forbidding face, Li Rui believed a Seventh Rank cultivator like him had no shortage of women—but he never imagined He Shan would ever marry.

A novelty.

This was no less astonishing than a iron tree blooming.

"Three days from now, right?"

"Prepare some gold, silver, and jewels for women, and add two Seventh Rank spirit elixirs."

Li Rui instructed.

When he served as grain officer in the Dingzi Weapon Storage, he had gotten along well with He Shan.

Though this man was quiet and reserved, he was deeply loyal.

In life, one must not be purely utilitarian; relationships built only on profit are unreliable.

He Shan had sent this invitation because he respected Li Rui, truly treating him as a friend—so Li Rui could not be stingy.

"Yes, Master."

Wang Zhao nodded.

Li Rui's lips curled slightly—he was genuinely curious to see what kind of woman He Shan had married.

The next evening,

Li Rui had planned to attend He Shan's wedding banquet the next day. He had already inquired: He Shan had invited only Li Rui and a handful of others from the Anning Guard.

At this moment,

Ning Zhongtian knocked on his door.

"Ning boss?"

As Li Rui wondered why Ning Zhongtian was visiting so late, Ning Zhongtian gave a wry smile: "Brother Li, come with me. Jiang Lin is heading to the Tiger Cavalry to inspect Huaqing Sect and has personally requested you accompany him."

"Now?"

"Yes. Depart immediately. Tan Hu and the others are already waiting."

Li Rui sighed.

'Looks like I won't make it to Brother He's wedding.'

He told Ning Zhongtian: "Ning boss, wait a moment—I'll give a few instructions and join you."

"No problem."

Ning Zhongtian waved his hand.

Li Rui summoned his three apprentices and told them he would be leaving, then specifically instructed Liang He:

"Little He, you know He Shan. Tomorrow, take the prepared gifts and deliver them. Add one more Seventh Rank spirit elixir—don't be stingy."

Liang He nodded:

"Understood, Master."

After giving his instructions,

Li Rui followed Ning Zhongtian out the door.

When the two arrived at the western city gate of the military camp, the Tiger Cavalry was already waiting.

As Ning Zhongtian and Li Rui appeared, the riders clucked their tongues and spurred their horses into a gallop.

Clouds drifted over mountain peaks; green waters curled before the hills.

A place of divine beauty.

As the premier sect of Anning Prefecture, Huaqing Sect naturally occupied the finest land in the region.

Though in the Late Dharma Era, the concept of celestial realms and blessed lands no longer existed,

good mountains and waters still brought peace to the heart.

Clip-clop, clip-clop,

The gentle sound of hooves echoed along the forest path.

"Is this Huaqing Sect?"

From afar along the winding mountain trail, a cluster of low, ink-wash-style hills linked by a ribbon of emerald river came into view—breathtakingly beautiful.

Though Li Rui had long heard of Huaqing Sect's fame, this was his first time visiting Huashan.

Though Huaqing Sect fell under Anning Guard jurisdiction,

no Night Scout from the Anning Guard, unless utterly foolish, would ever patrol Huaqing Sect. The Anning Guard's Assistant Regional Commander was himself a Huaqing Elder—how could he patrol his own sect?

Self-inspection?

If he truly went, he'd be dismissed the moment he failed to report on time.

Ning Zhongtian and several Tiger Cavalry members were in the same situation as Li Rui.

They climbed the mountain all the way up,

and after a short while,

a vast complex of ancient, elegant buildings with blue bricks and green tiles appeared before them.

Li Rui spotted a familiar face.

Han Shaoquan stood smiling at the mountain gate: "Ladies and gentlemen, you've had a long journey."

Behind him stood several Huaqing Sect members.

They stepped forward to take the reins.

Ning Zhongtian dismounted first; Li Rui and the others followed suit.

=9+ Shu _ Ba

A Huaqing Elder stepped forward:

"I am Han Shaoquan. Jiang Lin has instructed us to welcome you here. Please inspect as you see fit—do not be formal."

Ning Zhongtian and Li Rui exchanged glances.

Inspect as we see fit?

Are you joking?

This is Jiang Lin's stronghold—if anything is uncovered, they'll be the ones who suffer.

"Investigate?"

Ning Zhongtian questioned Li Rui with his eyes.

Li Rui nodded fiercely, replying with his gaze:

"Investigate!"

Everything was understood without words.

He handed the reins to a Huaqing Sect disciple; after a few more words from Elder Han, he departed first. Han Qin seized the opportunity to step forward: "Lord Ning, Senior Li, Lord Tan, it's been a long time."

Since the last time Li Rui took them on training.

Han Qin, Jiang Yan, and the others had taken turns returning to Huaqing Sect for cultivation.

By now, it had been over a year since they last met.

"Young Han."

Ning Zhongtian looked at Han Qin and raised an eyebrow: "Broken through?"

He remembered Han Qin had been eighth-rank when in Anning Guard—only a year and change had passed, yet now he was already seventh-rank Willow Vein.

"No wonder it's Huaqing Sect."

Han Qin was still under thirty; his future was boundless.

Though martial cultivation isn't always better for being faster—some great clans trained death soldiers, ignoring foundations, and could rush to seventh-rank in just three years.

Han Qin was clearly not one of those.

"Lord Ning has sharp eyes."

Han Qin smiled slightly, composed and unreserved: "I owe it all to your care in Anning Guard."

Ning Zhongtian chuckled:

"Young Han, I dare not take credit for that."

"Gentlemen, please follow me—the lodging has been prepared."

Han Qin immediately led them through the mountain gate, and soon arrived before a quiet courtyard.

There were seven or eight small courtyards, not large.

Each house had a one-zhang-square yard.

Though not lavish, they blended seamlessly with the surroundings, embodying the Dao of naturalness.

Clearly the work of a master.

Tan Hu glanced at the moss-covered blue bricks at the door and muttered: "How much worse is this than Qingfeng Villa?"

His voice was naturally loud; Han Qin and the others all heard.

Ning Zhongtian rolled his eyes and kicked Tan Hu: "I told you you're a fool—you're really a fool! As long as you've got a place to sleep!"

But then he realized his earlier words sounded off.

Huaqing Sect was too refined; these rough men were like wild boars unable to digest fine grain.

Han Qin felt awkward.

He'd been to Qingfeng Villa too—he knew what Tan Hu meant.

But Huaqing Sect's founding ancestor was a wandering Daoist who despised luxury, so this style had been passed down ever since.

Including Ning Zhongtian, the Tiger Charge had fourteen men.

There were eight rooms.

The final arrangement: Ning Zhongtian and Li Rui each had their own room; everyone else shared two per room.

Tan Hu had no objections.

The others certainly wouldn't object either.

Evening.

The group ate vegetarian fare at Huaqing Sect.

It wasn't truly vegetarian—they had meat: stir-fried bamboo tips with a few thin slices of lean pork.

They nearly came to blows over those few meat slices.

Fairly speaking, the dish was crisp and delicious.

But it didn't suit the tastes of the Tiger Charge, men accustomed to hearty meat.

"Eating so plain—no wonder Jiang's temper is so foul."

Tan Hu muttered.

After eating,

Ning Zhongtian urged them to go into town for better food.

Was that really to improve the meals?

Li Rui didn't bother correcting him—he didn't go, so the entire courtyard was left to him alone.

Just as the hour of Xu arrived.

The sky and earth turned dim, all things hazy.

Han Qin and Jiang Yan knocked on Li Rui's door.

"Senior Li."

Li Rui opened the door, saw the two, and welcomed them in with a smile.

The three sat around a stone bench in the courtyard.

Li Rui glanced at Jiang Yan, slightly startled.

"Already cultivated qi at eighth-rank—no wonder she's Jiang Lin's only daughter."

Jiang Yan's current state meant she could enter seventh-rank anytime she wished.

That was the depth of a great sect.

A seventh-rank martial artist under twenty—just thinking of it was terrifying.

Of course, even within Huaqing Sect, Jiang Yan stood out.

And Jiang Yan's next words startled Li Rui.

"Senior, have you broken through again?!"

(End of Chapter)