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"We’re here..."

Lumings led the way, and a group of people arrived at a river mouth to the southwest, where they saw a huge iron chain securing a fairly sizable cargo ship!

Though the ship was not as spectacular as the current Jiangnan three-masted ships, it was certainly a large vessel capable of holding upwards of three hundred people. Upon seeing the ship, Zhou Hanyang immediately smiled, "Duke of Qin has made thorough preparations indeed."

Lumings indifferently said, "Although the southwest side of Nanming Prefecture is by the river, the terrain is too poor for easy transport after shipping goods here, which is why the main ports are in the north. Most of the time, this place quietly moves contraband. The mist incident wiped out nearly everyone around, and with Nanming Prefecture reopening, I estimated no one would be here—and indeed, there isn’t.

This proves that Chen Qing is not very familiar with the terrain of Jiangnan and certainly not a member of the hidden Jiangnan families we hypothesized earlier. "

"What does the Duke of Qin think, then?" asked the Provincial Governor curiously.

"Most likely... a youngster who stumbled upon some stroke of luck," Lumings narrowed his eyes. "The object he has must be related to the ancients."

Perhaps... it has something to do with the Dragon Palace.

With this thought, Lumings’s heart grew even more fervent!

"Duke of Qin." Just as everyone was discussing, an untimely cold voice interrupted them.

Zhou Hanyang looked over and instantly felt a headache coming on. It was Mu Hongqing.

Frankly, he was now most concerned about Mu Hongqing causing trouble.

Although Mu Hongqing had made some excessive remarks in the past without Duke of Qin taking umbrage, this only showed the Duke’s magnanimity.

But even the most patient of men have their limits, and should he be provoked too far, Zhou Hanyang had no idea how he would break up the fight.

"Is there something you need?" Lumings still looked at Mu Hongqing placidly, as if he would never get angry.

"Duke of Qin, you have been hiding within Chen Qing’s forces for so long without being discovered. You must not have joined any Divine Path Sect, right?"

Lumings shook his head, "No... Chen Qing’s influence seems chaotic, but that miraculous Divine Path Sect has every industry well-organized. I dare not easily brand myself with the mark of that sect, as I believe Chen Qing could monitor everyone at any time through it."

"Then how did you get your ship?" Mu Hongqing asked somberly. "As I understand, within Chen Qing’s forces, one can only make money by joining a certain sect. Sea merchants worship the Sea God, farmers worship the Mountain God, joining the army means worshipping the War God, and those who join the Yin Yang Academy have to recognize Chen Qing as their master. You can’t escape Chen Qing’s scrutiny without joining a sect, and with the Divine Path Sect’s restriction, how did you, the penniless Duke of Qin, manage to get such a large ship? "

When Lumings was being calculated against, he went about alone, certainly without bringing a hoard of gold and silver. Moreover, according to what his disciples had told him about the peculiarities of Jiangnan, gold and silver were not very valuable there.

Lumings was momentarily taken aback, not expecting the other party to care about this matter. Avoiding their gaze, his heart inexplicably skipped a beat as he indifferently said, "A friend helped..."

"A friend?" Mu Hongqing laughed, "You said earlier that Duke Qi had joined Chen Qing’s forces. You wouldn’t dare to contact Duke Qi, and I doubt you would dare to ask some fair-weather friends in Jiangnan for a favor. With your cautious nature, it’s unlikely.

Let me guess... You were injured and in trouble, but still had the ability to protect yourself in Yunzhou.

To be safe, you mingled among the refugees, and because you’re good-looking and quite capable in martial arts, a widow with a child took a liking to you. .."

"Shut up!!!" Lumings swiftly turned to Mu Hongqing, his eyes cold for the first time!

Zhou Hanyang and the Provincial Governor broke into a cold sweat, with Zhou Hanyang quickly stepping forward to mediate. He first addressed Lumings, "Duke of Qin, please calm down..." Then he turned to glare at Mu Hongqing, "What nonsense are you spouting?"

"Nonsense?" Mu Hongqing scoffed coldly. "Duke of Qin has been guarding that sachet on his belt like a treasure for days, with patterns that are clearly child’s play on it. Is that so hard to guess..."

Before he could finish, Mu Hongqing’s voice stopped abruptly as he was lifted by the throat!

Zhou Hanyang jumped in shock; though he verbally scolded Mu Hongqing, he had been protecting him and was caught off guard by the speed with which Duke of Qin bypassed him. He couldn’t react at all!

If it had been an attack on him just now, he felt sure he wouldn’t have had any reaction, completely like a lamb to the slaughter.

Is this the gap between the Premier Duke and myself?

"Do not flaunt your cleverness," Lumings warned coldly as he looked at Mu Hongqing. "Had it been useful, you would not have failed to protect your sister back then."

Boom!

An aura of malevolence erupted as Mu Hongqing unleashed a very ominous power, engulfing both men, and his presence turned as ghastly as an Evil Ghost, his gaze searing into Lumings as though he wanted to rip him apart and devour him alive.

Is this Mu Hongqing’s Technique?

Zhou Hanyang did not dare approach now. It was his first time seeing it, although he had heard of it before—a very dangerous Technique.

The Yin Yang Academy had strictly ordered Mu Hongqing not to use it in crowded places, which is why even during the siege of the living corpses, Mu Hongqing only dared to use basic foundational techniques.

This eerie power that seeped into the marrow caused Zhou Hanyang to instinctively step back, even though he was several meters away.

Do you want to perish together? Lumings sneered, "Are you worthy?"

"Duke!!!" Zhou Hanyang roared angrily, "Don’t do this!!"

Lumings paused slightly but ended up not taking action. With a casual flick, he threw Mu Hongqing away. His hand was now surrounded by a sinister black gas, a corrosive power gnawing at flesh and blood.

With a snort, Lumings circulated his energy and shook it off effortlessly, the black gas flung away.

"No matter how troublesome the Technique, if the strength is insufficient, it’s all an illusion!" Lumings looked coldly at Mu Hongqing, who was thrown to the ground, coughing up blood. "You still have a long way to go!"

"A long way to go?" Mu Hongqing sneered, clutching his chest, "With your great strength, does it mean you can protect everyone? You’re the same, Lumings, just like twenty years ago, that mother and daughter... they couldn’t survive!!"

Lumings: "...."

"Stop talking!" Zhou Hanyang quickly stepped forward, and this time, he got close to Mu Hongqing, eyeing Lumings warily.

Lumings didn’t speak. Clearly, Zhou Hanyang was on Mu Hongqing’s side. It looked like Mu Hongqing had gained some recognition over this period.

As he saw Mu Hongqing’s mocking gaze, Lumings eventually looked away...

And seeing Lumings look away, Mu Hongqing’s smile became even more scornful.

Just like that... exactly like twenty years ago!

In his memories, his talent had been too outstanding, and his father, who was the foremost noble of the land, to prevent his main wife from harming him, handed him over to the Great Sorcerer, Mister Zhou, for training.

That year... he was only fourteen when he left his family to roam the world with the famous Great Sorcerer.

He remembered what that man told him, to learn his skills properly so that, when he returned, he could truly protect his mother and sister.

But when he came back, there was nothing left.

His mother had been turned into a Beauty Vase, and his sister, even more cruelly, had been transformed into a human plant, rooted among the flowers, linked to them by a vicious technique...

From that moment he knew that the mistress of the Duke of Qin’s Residence was his target for vengeance, and that man called Lumings... was not his father at all!

How pitiful, and who knows which mother and daughter are about to become the newest additions to the mistress’s collection...

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Yunzhou...

"Yun Niang..." An elderly woman was sitting inside a tea house, rambling on and on to the beautiful woman who was packing up her stand.

"I really don’t understand what you’re thinking.

That Di Dahuh is a relative of General Di Yun, renowned in the War God Army, commanding hundreds from the Warrior Army.

Such a brave man, and so many young girls in Yunzhou are pining for him, yet he has eyes only for you.

He even had me come over to propose marriage on his behalf, and you still refuse. "

"You just said it yourself, what’s his status? And mine?" The proprietress said with a smile, "I’m a widow with a child to care for. How could I be a match for such a young general? You said he’s five years younger than me; does that seem appropriate to you?"

"What’s inappropriate about it?" The old lady grumbled, "He came to propose himself!"

"That’s just a young man lusting after a woman.

.." The proprietress gave the other a glance, "Right now he’s full of youthful vigor, attracted to my looks, but beauty fades quickly. In a few years, once I become old and lose my looks, won’t he regret it?

With his status, even in another ten years, there’ll be plenty of women wanting to marry him.

But what about me? If I get jilted this time, who else could I possibly marry? Old Liu from next door?"

"You, girl!" The elderly woman glared at her, "Finding all these excuses, I think... you just can’t let go of that layabout!"

Many people knew about the proprietress supporting a layabout, especially now under Lord Chen’s jurisdiction where anyone willing to work could live well. The fact that there were still men sponging off women was baffling to most; they couldn’t fathom what Yun Niang saw in him.

"Alright, you’ve helped me refuse his proposal; I’ll bring you some rice dumplings tomorrow."

"Am I short of your dumplings?" The old woman huffed and got up to leave. As she reached the doorway, she sighed and said, "Yun Niang, I know you’re smart. Even if this young general isn’t suitable, you need to find someone reliable. You can’t wait for that type of man who plays with women!"

Without waiting for the proprietress to respond, she walked out the door.

The proprietress watched her go, a hint of sadness flickering in her eyes.

"Mother..." A sweet voice came from upstairs, and a doughy little girl came down the steps, "Did that scary old lady leave?"

"Nonsense!" The proprietress scolded, smacking the little girl’s head, "How was she scary?"

"Ow..." The girl covered her head, looking aggrieved.

"How did your studies go?" the proprietress eyed her sternly.

"I finished them..." The girl pulled out a book from behind her back, "I can do all these arithmetic problems now. Mother, do I really have to go to that academy?"

"What’s wrong with going there?" said the proprietress, "That teacher from Yunzhou said it himself, Yin Yang Academy doesn’t care about lineage. As long as you pass the exam, tuition is free, and they provide room and board. With such an opportunity, why wouldn’t you give it a shot?

You’re young, and in this world, there aren’t many chances for women to stand out.

You’ve got talent for Art Calculation; you can’t miss out on this rare chance.

Maybe one day you’ll be as impressive as Master Meng.

When that time comes, those who want to marry you will be breaking down the door! "

"Eh? Hehehe, really?" The girl covered her face, a dreamy smile on her lips, drooling a bit - god knows what she was imagining...

The proprietress couldn’t help but laugh, giving her another smack on the head.

"Mother’s lying..." The girl stuck out her tongue and ran off, "You just want to go see Uncle Lu!"

"You... what nonsense are you spouting? Stop right there!"

"Hehehehe!" The girl nimbly ran back upstairs.

All that was left was the proprietress, standing there, fuming, "This girl is becoming more and more insolent."

But after a while, her attention shifted to the jade tablet the man had left her.

"This heartless wretch, just thinking of abandoning me and my daughter? Not so easily..."