Chapter 157: 157 Deceiving Zhu Yaluan and Placing Her Under House Arrest, Liu Qingmei Grows Suspicious

Ning Mu's expression turned cold.

Undeniably, he had to admit that the other party was quite right.

If Liu Qingmei's strength were still at the minor accomplishment of a Grandmaster, then using human wave tactics could indeed wipe out Ningyang Stronghold! After all, there were not many people in Ningyang Stronghold who could fight.

The hundreds of refugees who had followed were almost all ordinary people who had never cultivated.

But now, it was different.

Liu Qingmei was not only not a minor Grandmaster, but her Cultivation Points were astonishing; she was a dignified True Human Realm powerhouse! And there was also Liuli, a Half-step Divine Origin Realm, a reserve True Person about to step into the Divine Origin Realm!

Strictly speaking, she was a quasi-True Person.

Even after adding the system's Cultivation Points and advancing, her strength would likely be quite a bit higher than Liu Qingmei's! Besides that, he himself was also at the Inner Profound Realm.

Plus Yang Yanqiu, who was also at the Inner Profound Realm, and Wei Youqing, the Imperial Academy Libationer behind him.

What could they use to fill that gap?

Heh.

Ning Mu sneered, immediately raised his spear, and thrust it straight toward Wu Yuxiao.

Although Wu Yuxiao was the noble Young Stronghold Master of Yunxiao Stronghold, his strength was more than a realm lower than Ning Mu's; how could he possibly withstand this extremely swift, rage-filled spear strike? Eek! In an instant.

Wu Yuxiao's face turned deathly pale.

Facing this spear, even though he had several people protecting him, he still felt there was nowhere to hide.

This feeling... it was as if he had been locked onto.

No matter how he dodged, the final result was already clear in his heart!

Aside from death, there was no other way! "You brat, how dare you!"

"Xiao'er, look out!"

And just as Ning Mu thrust his spear.

Above the stronghold gate.

Zhu Yaluan, who was in the center commanding the formation, saw her expression change drastically.

This sudden shift in the situation had happened too fast for her to react.

When Ning Mu appeared riding the old driver, she realized that the main force of Ningyang Mountain had arrived.

Truly worthy of being a strange beast.

In just one encounter, they had lost over a dozen men.

And immediately after, the appearance of Liu Qingmei, Liuli, and Yang Yanqiu left her completely horrified!

What kind of strength was this? With just a flick of a sleeve and a wave of a Whisk, they fell in droves like harvested leeks. Although most were not severely injured, such strength was truly terrifying! It could be called a human weapon!

She herself could definitely not do this! Just as Zhu Yaluan was shocked, realizing she had miscalculated the strength of this Ningyang Stronghold.

The next moment, she noticed Liu Qingmei, alone with a sword, killing her way through the Yunxiao Stronghold's team; a bloody path appeared before her eyes.

Zhu Yaluan's heart tightened.

This person was likely that former mistress of Cangjian Villa, Liu Qingmei! But this level of strength exceeded her own by far.

She was definitely not a Grandmaster!

But things had reached this point, and there was little time left for her to consider the consequences.

She had to intervene personally, otherwise, Yunxiao Stronghold would suffer heavy losses.

Even the Eighth Stronghold Master, at the perfection of the Inner Profound Realm, had died in one move under this woman's sword, without even a chance to dodge.

One had to know, that was an Inner Profound Realm perfection martial artist, about to enter the Sitting-in-Reflection stage and become a Grandmaster! Gone in a single encounter? Had this Liu Qingmei been hiding her skills all along, only revealing her true strength now?

This was at least the Divine Origin Realm! Thinking this, Zhu Yaluan immediately soared into the air and rushed toward Liu Qingmei.

But before she could meet and engage Liu Qingmei in battle.

She caught a glimpse from the corner of her eye that a complication had arisen where her son, Wu Yuxiao, was!

The youth riding the strange beast was thrusting his spear tip straight forward, clearly intending to take her son's life!

Eek! Zhu Yaluan was extremely anxious.

"Xiao'er, look out!"

Her figure turned sharply in mid-air, ignoring the lives of the lackeys on the drill ground, as she sped toward Wu Yuxiao, shouting loudly while simultaneously surging with her full Cultivation Points.

A powerful force of cultivation surged within her body.

Her footsteps were swift.

But from where she was, she could not possibly reach in time to stop Ning Mu's spear.

Almost subconsciously.

She raised the long whip in her hand and slashed toward the fiery red long spear, which was extremely dazzling in the night.

A stream of air, almost solid, was unleashed from beneath her whip.

Clang—the air current collided with the Ten Thousand Might Flame Dragon Spear, emitting a crisp cry.

Ning Mu's eyes changed.

The momentum of the long spear in his hand lessened slightly, shifting directly to pierce obliquely into Wu Yuxiao's right shoulder blade.

His strength was not weak either.

Although Zhu Yaluan had attacked in a rage with the power of a Grandmaster, at such a distance, that seemingly fierce blow, landing on the spear tip, did not cause much delay.

But for an ordinary person, Zhu Yaluan's whip strike would have been enough to take their life!

"Ah... you bastard!"

The terrified Wu Yuxiao was jolted awake by the sharp pain; clutching his wound, his expression flickering with lingering fear and grievance, he hurriedly shrank back into the crowd.

"Audacious! How dare you harm my son!"

Seeing that the long spear had still pierced Wu Yuxiao's shoulder, and from Zhu Yaluan's perspective, it looked almost exactly at the heart, her expression changed drastically, filled with shock and rage! She only had this one son! This was the only flesh and blood her husband had left behind!

He had just turned nineteen, the very prime of his youth; he had yet to take a wife or have children, yet to experience this vast and beautiful land—was he to perish here just like this? With a roar of rage, Zhu Yaluan's eyes split, and she once again drove her Cultivation Points.

Her entire person was like the wind, arriving in an instant.

The next moment, she flicked her sleeve violently, directly pushing aside the crowd in front of Wu Yuxiao, and then personally supported him.

"Xiao'er!"

"How are you!"

Seeing that the wound was only in the shoulder blade, Zhu Yaluan breathed a sigh of relief.

At the same time.

Having slaughtered her way through the drill ground, majestic and cold, with killing intent thick in the air, Liu Qingmei also arrived right after Zhu Yaluan.

Having just asked two questions, before she could even react, Zhu Yaluan's expression changed abruptly.

She looked down.

She saw that on her shoulder, there was a sword hilt radiating a cold glint, still dripping with blood, and wreathed in purple light.

"Surrender and I will spare your life; if you resist, this seat will uproot Yunxiao Stronghold entirely!"

Liu Qingmei's icy voice struck Zhu Yaluan's ears.

Zhu Yaluan's expression stiffened, her face turning leaden. She flicked her hand, and the long whip coiled around her waist. She then had someone support Wu Yuxiao and turned her head to look at Liu Qingmei.

"You are not at the Grandmaster level of cultivation!"

"Divine Origin Realm?"

"This Wuji... Heaven-tier?"

Zhu Yaluan stared fixedly at Liu Qingmei, her gaze filled with a touch of surprise and deep, intense fear.

Based on the strength Liu Qingmei had displayed, it was far more than just the early stage of the Divine Origin Realm; her techniques and Wuji were likely extraordinary as well.

That was why Zhu Yaluan was staring at the purple-glowing sword on her shoulder.

Liu Qingmei raised an eyebrow slightly, a smile playing on her lips.

She did not pay any attention to Zhu Yaluan.

Instead, her gaze shifted to Ning Mu, and she asked with concern, "Husband, are you alright?"

Ning Mu put away his spear, took a look at Zhu Yaluan, feeling quite struck by her beauty, and nodded to Liu Qingmei, saying, "I am fine!"

It surprised him somewhat that although Wu Yuxiao was such a grown man, his mother looked so young.

He had always assumed that a woman capable of managing a Mountain Stronghold as large as Yunxiao Stronghold would naturally possess a heroic spirit, but beyond that, he feared she would be a fierce and terrifying virago; he had not expected a graceful and beautiful woman.

Liu Qingmei breathed a sigh of relief.

Only then did she turn her gaze to Zhu Yaluan and say, "Tell your people to stop!"

Zhu Yaluan looked back.

She looked toward the drill ground under the night sky.

Then, she looked at Liu Qingmei with a strange expression.

In truth, there was no need for her to say anything at this moment; the people of Yunxiao Stronghold had long since been scared out of their wits.

The Eighth Stronghold Master, whose strength was outstanding—at the peak of the Inner Profound Realm and about to be ranked as a Grandmaster—had died under Liu Qingmei's sword just like a leek.

And now, the Great Stronghold Mistress and her son had been captured.

How could they still have the courage to resist! Although this Ningyang Stronghold did not have many men, the combat power that had appeared was, without exception, among the top experts in the martial arts world, and there were even exotic beasts assisting them.

Such strength had long since far exceeded that of an ordinary Mountain Stronghold.

Even an ordinary sect would likely be unable to withstand such combat power fighting with all its might!...

【Notification: You have a new mission!】

While escorting Zhu Yaluan and the other high-ranking members of Yunxiao Stronghold to the main hall, Liu Qingmei received a new mission.

Inside the main hall.

It was brightly lit.

Chunzhi and the maidservants lit the candles.

Then they withdrew one after another.

In the corner of the drill ground below the high platform outside the hall, apart from the few people cleaning up the corpses, the entire group of invading bandits from Yunxiao Stronghold had been captured; the vast majority of them had been severely wounded the moment Liu Qingmei and Liuli appeared.

The accompanying medics of Yunxiao Stronghold were sweating profusely, unable to treat them all!

Especially since they had to take extra care of the Young Stronghold Master Wu Yuxiao, who had been wounded in the shoulder, making their manpower even more stretched!

Zhou Nanbiao, An Xiaoxi, Wang Dalong, and the others led their subordinates, standing in strict formation to guard against these hundreds of bandits. In this battle, Wang Dalong, who was responsible for patrolling the mountain, had suffered significant injuries and had already finished applying medicine to his wounds.

On the high platform.

Yang Yanqiu, Yuhuan, and others were also watching from there, guarding against any unforeseen circumstances.

In the hall.

The high-ranking members of the two Mountain Strongholds were seated.

Ning Mu sat in the seat of honor.

Liu Qingmei and Zhu Yaluan sat on the steps to the left and right.

Further down were the leaders from both strongholds.

Tong Yuyue and Huang Yutang of Ningyang Stronghold, and others.

The Fifth Stronghold Master Zhao Pu and Commander Sun Zhengqiang of Yunxiao Stronghold, and others.

"Stronghold Master Zhu, we have established ourselves here with no intention of contention, seeking only stability. Stronghold Master Zhu sent a letter just a few days ago, yet today you took advantage of my lack of preparation to launch a surprise attack. For what reason?" Ning Mu rested his elbows on the armrests, stroked his chin, and looked at Zhu Yaluan.

Zhu Yaluan's brows knit slightly; she knew that there was no way to avenge the Sixth now.

The strength of Ningyang Stronghold was beyond imagination.

Who could have thought that a small bandit Mountain Stronghold would actually have a True Person expert sitting in command? And not just one! Not only could she not avenge the Sixth, but a new grudge had been added.

Even the Eighth Stronghold Master met his end here.

Yunxiao Stronghold suffered over a hundred deaths, with countless others severely wounded.

This time, it can be said that their Original Qi was severely damaged.

They can only think of a way to leave first, and then plot slowly later.

"I apologize. Previously, the Sixth Stronghold Master of my Yunxiao Stronghold died by your hand. Such a deep grudge must naturally be avenged. Now that you are the knife and chopping board and I am the fish and meat, how this should be settled is up to Stronghold Master Ning to decide." Zhu Yaluan knitted her brows, looking at Ning Mu; her eyes, filled with heroic spirit, radiated anxiety.

As she spoke, her gaze glanced at Liu Qingmei opposite her.

"Heh, up to me to decide..."

Ning Mu raised an eyebrow, looked at Zhu Yaluan with deep meaning, and a cold sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth as he hinted: "Does Stronghold Master Zhu intend to collude with the Zhenwu Army after leaving the mountain stronghold, and then slaughter us for revenge when the Zhenwu Army crosses the border?"

Gasp! The previously calm Zhu Yaluan was startled upon hearing this, even standing up with a jolt, looking at Ning Mu in inexplicable shock.

Clearly.

She did not expect that Ning Mu would know such a confidential matter. She indeed had this thought.

According to her agreement with General Mi Zhao of the Chu Kingdom's Zhenwu Army, in at most one year, all of this would turn to dust. This was also the reason why she wanted to take the Gu Family into her pocket—solely to forge weapons for Yunxiao Stronghold! She needed a large quantity of weapons and manpower.

Manpower was secondary; in this world, everything is lacking, except for refugees.

But weapons and armor were of the utmost importance.

Only with sufficient weapons and armor could even the weakest refugees, when armed with quick-success military formation manuals and the army's quick-success Martial Arts, exert a certain level of strength!

Only then could she have a certain degree of bargaining power in future dealings with Mi Zhao of the Chu Kingdom.

It was just that this matter was so secret.

Even within Yunxiao Stronghold, no more than five people knew of this. How could Ning Mu, the Stronghold Master of Ningyang Stronghold, be so clear about it!

And seeing Zhu Yaluan's reaction, the smile at the corner of Ning Mu's mouth could not help but widen.

He knew he had guessed correctly! Because just now, he had seen those few turncoats in the crowd.

The thought of Yunxiao Stronghold colluding with the Zhenwu Army solidified completely in his mind.

It was just that he was not sure if it was Zhu Yaluan's subordinates acting behind her back, or if Zhu Yaluan herself was involved.

And seeing Zhu Yaluan's reaction at this moment, he knew that the collusion with the Chu Kingdom's Zhenwu Army was likely done by Zhu Yaluan herself.

This was also why he did not let Wei Youqing come to the main hall.

If Wei Youqing knew, she would likely immediately send a flying letter to Jixia Academy.

That would be too boring.

He still wanted to use this matter to secure the greatest benefits for Ningyang Stronghold.

"You, how do you know about this!"

"No, could it be that you are a spy sent by the official authorities of Qi?"

"That's not right either. I have inquired; you were originally always at Ye Fu, you shouldn't be a person of the Imperial Court... Are you from the Chu Kingdom?"

For a moment, Zhu Yaluan's mind raced, staring at Ning Mu and guessing wildly.

Even when she was captured, she had been calm and composed, without the slightest panic, and even said it was up to Ning Mu to decide.

But now that this matter was exposed, she was completely panicked! Colluding with an enemy country, spying on national military intelligence, and even intending to subvert—such an earth-shattering matter, once exposed, would absolutely bring about a tsunami-like destruction.

If the news leaked and the Imperial Court found out.

If Jixia Academy sent people or the Zhenwu Division stepped in, I fear that by then, even the grass on the mountain would die eight times over! Jixia Academy is the Sacred Land that protects the nation.

The Zhenwu Division oversees all affairs of the Jianghu.

Turning to banditry, occupying a mountain to act as king, or robbing on the road—they can still turn a blind eye to such petty troubles.

But if there is a hint of rebellion, even the slightest intention, it will be met with their extreme retaliation!

This is why Great Qi, having been established for over a thousand years and trapped in its final days for several hundred, still stands deep-rooted and unfallen.

Various natural and man-made disasters, various heavy taxes and levies.

Great families stand above the heads of all living beings, exploiting them to the limit; officials collude with major clans; Jianghu families and parasites of the Imperial Court—all kinds of shackles press down on the heads of the people.

The common people at the bottom are in a precarious state just to survive.

Has no one ever thought of rebelling? Surely there are!

It is just that high-end combat power is almost entirely monopolized by the Imperial Court.

Even if the common people are full of grievances and rise up in rebellion, they are nothing more than grasshoppers in autumn, unable to last long!

Just in the last two years, in Nansui Prefecture in the southwest, a major sect that rose rapidly based on its teachings rose up in rebellion, only to be suppressed by the Imperial Court with force. Now, the remnants of this group have fallen apart, hiding in the mountains at the border of the Qi and Zhou kingdoms in the southwest, lingering on without coming out.

The Imperial Court's Zhenwu Division has a unit that is rumored to have been stationed near Nansui Prefecture, ready to wipe them out completely at any time!

Watching Zhu Yaluan's reaction, the smile on the corner of Ning Mu's mouth never faded.

And Liu Qingmei opposite him was full of astonishment.

Clearly, she did not expect that such a major event was involved in this.

How did her husband know that this Zhu Yaluan was colluding with the Chu Kingdom's Zhenwu Army?

"Who Ning is does not matter."

"Stronghold Master Zhu's collusion with the Zhenwu Army, I think it is likely not just a simple exchange; after all, simple exchanges do not require spying on military intelligence."

Ning Mu raised his eyebrows, continuing to add to the stakes, making Zhu Yaluan believe he was well-versed in the inside story.

Then he smiled indifferently and said: "Actually, my meaning is very simple. Ningyang Stronghold needs to develop, but I have no intention of contending with you all. During this period, I hope Stronghold Master Zhu will stay in my Ningyang Stronghold. Everyone else can return. Of course, Stronghold Master Zhu can still remotely manage the affairs of the stronghold; Ning will never interfere in the affairs of Yunxiao Stronghold. This is also for self-preservation. I believe Stronghold Master Zhu can understand!"

"Of course, if Stronghold Master Zhu does not agree, then Ning has no other choice but to kill!"

Ning Mu shrugged, then leaned back on the tiger-skin chair, quietly waiting for Zhu Yaluan's choice.

He needed manpower, and he also needed territory.

It is not that he cannot slaughter Yunxiao Stronghold.

With Liu Qingmei, Liuli, and his own strength, he could now fully accomplish it; after all, the other side only has one Grandmaster, and she is currently under control.

However, doing so would inevitably earn a reputation for exterminating everyone, and at the same time, it might offend the Chu Kingdom's Zhenwu Army, inviting great trouble.

Instead, placing Zhu Yaluan under house arrest at Ningyang Stronghold and suppressing her cultivation power would allow for remote control of Yunxiao Stronghold.

In this way, it would be much more moderate.

Perhaps there might even be an opportunity in the future to bring all of Yunxiao Stronghold into the fold.

With hundreds of martial artists, such a large stronghold, combined with the high-end combat power of Ningyang Stronghold, could fully serve as a foundation for establishing a career!

And at this moment, after hearing Ning Mu's proposed handling.

Liu Qingmei suddenly remembered the task she had just accepted and immediately opened the System Interface silently to check it.

【Task One: With the might of a True Person, intimidate the Yunxiao Stronghold Stronghold Master Zhu Yaluan, and use the Poison Pill 'Jieshu Shixin Pill' to control and place her under house arrest until she has completely lost all hostility, only then may you provide her with the antidote! During the period of house arrest, you must guide her step by step, taking her for your own use, and adding bricks and tiles to the great cause of the Host's Xia Lu, Ning Mu!】

【Task successful, reward 2000 Cultivation Points, 200 Heroic Couple Points!】

【Task Items: Poison Pill 'Jieshu Shixin Pill', antidote 'Huanxin Pill', grand antidote 'Jieshu Huanxin Pill'!】

Note. Jieshu Shixin Pill: Can be used to suppress the target's Cultivation Points, lowering their cultivation by two realms, and every ten days, they will suffer the pain of ten thousand swords biting the heart! At the same time, it causes them to gradually lose their concern and attachment to the person they care about most in their heart, eventually leading to a state of indifference.

Huanxin Pill: Can relieve the ten-day cycle of the pain of ten thousand swords biting the heart caused by the aforementioned 'Jieshu Shixin Pill'! Jieshu Huanxin Pill: Can completely remove the effect of lowering cultivation caused by the aforementioned 'Jieshu Shixin Pill', and cause their thoughts to return to normal, but established sentiments cannot be restored! (Explanation: After the target's most cared-for person has been affected by the Jieshu Shixin Pill, upon taking this pill, the target's mind will not be able to return to the past; their thoughts will be normal, but they will be unable to recover their former sentiments!)

Seeing this task, Liu Qingmei's eyes lit up.

Subconsciously, she cast her gaze toward Ning Mu.

How could her husband's arrangement be so similar to the system task? But thinking about it carefully, this currently seems to be the best method.

It is not that she cannot be killed.

But after killing her, the evil reputation would be widespread; if one wants to develop and establish a sect in the future, other Grandmasters would hear of such past events and feel insecure, so how would they be willing to submit? When three people claim there is a tiger, others will not care whether there was a grudge or not.

They would only feel that even Grandmaster martial artists are killed on a whim, and there is absolutely no sense of security to speak of!

Even the Imperial Court treats martial artists above the Grandmaster level with great favor.

Unless it is a matter of rebellion, minor grudges are all lightly set aside.

But Zhu Yaluan cannot be let go either.

Once released, she would sooner or later pose a threat to Ningyang Stronghold.

Undoubtedly.

Her husband's method of handling this is, at least for now, the optimal solution!

It must be a coincidence!

Liu Qingmei laughed in her heart, secretly calling herself neurotic.

How could such a heavenly object as the system be related to her husband?

She was thinking too much.

Zhu Yaluan's expression suddenly stiffened, and she stood frozen in place, torn between heaven and man; upon that face full of heroic spirit, indignation, unwillingness, and the grievance of having to submit lingered.

After thinking for a long time.

For the sake of the big picture, she could only sigh in the end and sat back down on the chair, dejected and forlorn.

(End of chapter)