Chapter 11: Unfavorable Start

Time slipped away, and the Tianxing Sword Sect had been stationed for three days.

Over these three days, Shen Tang, besides arranging for batches of Han Ying Grass to be delivered, was so busy her wheelchair never touched the ground, leaving no time to communicate with Lu Xingzhou. She assigned housing, divided halls, arranged equipment, and supervised disciples' training—within three days, the shattered remnants of the Sword Sect visibly regained a semblance of order under her management.

Lu Xingzhou calmly cultivated pills, crafted talismans, and practiced qi, never stepping outside.

Strangely, the herbs he used for pill-making were not the Han Ying Grass specially obtained by Shen Tang—the Han Ying Grass piled like mountains in the warehouse, untouched.

An Nuo returned from inventorying the warehouse, grinning: "Shen Tang sister's repayment is sincere—so much Han Ying Grass… the plants aren't even common; she's probably bought up nearly all of Xiazhou."

Lu Xingzhou smiled faintly: "She puts in how much effort, she'll get back how much return."

An Nuo leaned out the window, propping her chin as she watched the sword qi soaring from the training ground afar, sighing: "Others' swords rise from separate peaks—it sounds so awe-inspiring. Here, they're crammed into a training yard, nothing but a small martial school."

"A remnant sect? Of course it's a small martial school."

"But some among them are strong, right?" An Nuo hesitated. "I've noticed several people with incredibly potent qi—some even at the Fifth Rank. If they attacked together, I might not even hold my ground."

Lu Xingzhou glanced at her; An Nuo realized she'd spoken out of turn and fell silent.

But Lu Xingzhou merely said calmly: "Have you ever considered why, if these people are so strong, and Shen Tang appears so frail and broken, they don't simply seize her and force her to reveal the Imperial Merchant channels—why do they play games with her instead?"

An Nuo thought a moment: "Could it be… she's even stronger?"

"Hmm… we know methods to conceal qi; others might too—it's not rare. Shen Tang's legs are broken, but if she weren't, her strength would far surpass theirs. Even now, she can protect herself. And with loyal followers beside her, those with disloyal intentions dare not act rashly."

Lu Xingzhou paused, then smiled slightly: "Also, she has one thing in common with me."

An Nuo: "Huh?"

"Like me, she stands on the surface—but the real trump card is the people around her."

An Nuo puffed out her nonexistent chest.

No one would ever guess that, in raw combat ability, the apprentice child is stronger than the master.

"So you mean… that white-haired sister is actually stronger than Shen Tang sister?"

"Mmm… she couldn't possibly be a maid. No matter what sect's technique, to turn someone's hair white and eyes blue—that's beyond what a low-level cultivator could achieve. Only someone who's pushed a certain art to its extreme could do it. At least during the Danxia Sect's charade, Miss Qingli was watching, yet even you didn't notice her. So when Shen Tang lost her legs, Miss Qingli likely surpassed her in strength."

An Nuo's puffed chest suddenly deflated.

If that's true… then the Bai Mao sister might be stronger than An Nuo…

How come, when everyone's had the same few words with Shen Tang and Miss Qingli, the master can deduce so much…

"Then the question arises…" Lu Xingzhou smiled faintly: "Now that Miss Qingli is absent, Shen Tang alone can hold her own against them. But if Shen Tang and Miss Qingli combine forces, they'd crush the entire room. So where did these people get the nerve to still plot against her? And besides… Miss Qingli's vibe doesn't fit."

An Nuo brightened slightly: "So you mean… Miss Qingli isn't from the Tianxing Sword Sect, and these people don't understand her true strength. That's why you thought it was strange before."

Lu Xingzhou beamed with satisfaction: "Finally got a brain."

An Nuo pouted, unwilling to speak.

She knew the master always tried to teach her to think more, so she could one day stand alone. But An Nuo didn't want to stand alone—it meant leaving the master.

What would happen if An Nuo left? The master would sit alone in his wheelchair…

Just thinking of it made her ache.

But An Nuo is still young; she's far from graduating. Why think so far ahead?

As the master and apprentice spoke, Lu Xingzhou's newly crafted pills emerged from the furnace. He collected them, counted them together with the two batches from previous days, and smiled: "Enough. Let's go patrol our territory."

An Nuo cheerfully pushed the wheelchair at full speed outward—she'd been cooped up in the room pill-making for days.

At this moment, inside the main hall of the Tianxing Sword Sect… no, the Shen Family Merchant's council chamber, someone was confronting Shen Tang: "Young Master Shen, you said coming to Xiazhou meant hiring a pill master to establish ourselves—we believed you. But within a day of arrival, the pill master was lured away. Even if he left, why not capture the traitor to assert authority? Why not hire another?"

Another added: "Sun Zhanglao said it from the start—that this shows your incompetence in affairs, your sluggish response. We defended you, saying you had new ideas, let's try them. Now? What's the result?"

Lu Xingzhou's advice to Shen Tang had convinced many Tianxing Sword Sect elders and managers—it silenced doubts. These past three days, the sect hurriedly produced a batch of unique sword talismans, which, kept in the pocket, slowly purified and expelled pill toxins. They expected quick sales—but reality was harsh.

The people of Xiazhou didn't feel they needed this product. After a full day of promotion, only three or five of thousands of talismans sold.

"We don't despise your current leg injury—we still honor you as our leader, hoping you recover soon. But the Tianxing Sword Sect is barely clinging to life; it cannot be led by a master utterly incapable of affairs, or it will vanish. Can you understand our meaning?"

Outside, the master and apprentice strolled leisurely; though far away, fragments of the voices drifted to their ears.

An Nuo muttered under her breath: "These past days, the sect's entire revival and discipline? All Shen sister's work. She wheels herself everywhere—I feel bad just watching. Yet these people haven't done a thing, yet dare accuse her of incompetence."

Lu Xingzhou smiled silently, choosing ground positions and directing An Nuo to dig pits and bury the newly crafted pills.

Inside, Shen Tang coldly watched the accusers, silently sneering.

Bai Chi had leaked his arrival in Xiazhou and been snatched away—she knew immediately someone inside was behind it. This traitor wasn't a defector, but clearly seeking power, sabotaging her as sect leader. There were likely many such people, but Shen Tang couldn't root them all out.

Earlier, she hadn't pursued or killed Bai Chi, nor successfully recruited a replacement pill master—many had already jumped out. But such judgments were inaccurate. Some who appeared to defend her—were they really trying to make her lose face again, so she could never recover? Others who seemed critical—were they genuinely concerned for the sect?

So these past days, she'd buried herself in internal affairs, delegating the production and sales of sword talismans—just to see how they'd act. Whether the talismans succeeded or failed was secondary; what mattered was who was earnest, who was slacking—this was what she needed to observe.

Everyone's true intent isn't revealed by what they say, but by what they do.

After these days of observation, one-third of the former Sword Sect's senior leadership didn't want her as sect leader.

More than she'd imagined, but not beyond comprehension.

As she observed coldly, someone else spoke: "Also, Lu Xingzhou is just a pill master—what good advice on sect development could he possibly offer? Shao Sect actually listens to this beardless youth? Ridiculous. Could it be… because he's good-looking?"

Shen Tang, who had remained silent through all the attacks, finally spoke: "Lu Xingzhou merely offered an idea. Whether to adopt it was our collective decision—what does it have to do with him? Blaming others for minor setbacks—is this the responsibility of a swordsman like Sun Zhanglao?"

Outside, Lu Xingzhou was constructing an array. He lifted his head at the words, his gaze momentarily stunned.

Sun Zhanglao sneered: "So now you defend him? Fine. Since we're talking about responsibility—these recent events have been a mess. Where is your responsibility as a swordsman, Shao Sect?"

Shen Tang replied coldly: "You accuse me of incompetence in affairs—but I say it's you who are incompetent. You can't even open sales for something as simple as sword talismans."

This time, not just Sun Zhanglao—other opponents burst into bitter laughter: "Do you know what you're saying? Simple? Why don't you try it yourself?"

"You don't believe me?" Shen Tang said calmly. "Then let's make a pact. I'll take personal charge of this. If I fail to open sales, I'll step down. But if I succeed—who should step down then?"

At these words, the hall fell silent, then erupted in wild delight.

To say this in front of the entire sect's senior leadership meant no turning back—this woman was young, and she'd taken the bait so easily!

Sun Zhanglao immediately said: "If the Sect Master truly opens sales, then of course we'll step down. But you must set a deadline—can't be half a year or a year from now."

Shen Tang replied coolly: "You took three days. I'll take three days too."

"A promise once made…"

"A word once spoken is past recalling."

A loyal elder on her side stamped his foot: "Sect Master, you…"

Shen Tang shook her head and said lightly, "There has to be something that convinces the masses, so let's see how this one goes. If it doesn't work, I won't be able to keep going myself."

Having spoken, she paid no heed to the varied expressions in the hall and wheeled herself to the door.

Just as she was about to push the door open, she suddenly froze.

She sensed a faint, elusive warmth diffusing from deep within the earth-veins, creeping past her calves, past her knees, as if her broken leg were being subtly nourished.

Though it was very slight and of no direct use for treatment, under such conditions over a long period, there should be a few measures more certainty of a cure in the future.

This was the same special spiritual energy she'd felt before at the Huo residence — why was she feeling it here too?

Shen Tang flung the door open and saw Lu Xingzhou not far ahead, withdrawing a hand-seal.

Spiritual energy circulated through the void; Shen Tang could sense the lines of a formation weaving through, spread across the entire dwelling.

Shen Tang could judge the formation's purpose — it stole spiritual energy from the Huo residence, and at the same time, with the unique ingenuity of Lu Xingzhou as an alchemist, added the additional effect of medicinal nourishment and gentle care, like soaking in a hot spring.

This formation's attainment is quite high… combined with his alchemy, the level of "techniques" this man commands far surpasses his cultivation — why is that?

"You did pay extra for the spiritual energy when you rented the place," Lu Xingzhou said with a gentle smile as he saw her sizing him up. "This is a service you've earned."

Shen Tang smiled as well. "In that case, since the idea was yours, shouldn't you see the advisory work through to the end?"

(End of chapter)