Chapter 39

"Should I put these empty bottles aside?"

'Why is he looking at me like that...?'

It was a strangely unpleasant gaze, but Ye Yun, who had never hidden his innate talent, had never seen such a look before and failed to realize that it was a glare as if he were a fool.

"Yes, we'll set those aside. Take good care of these jars and don't send them to the merchant."

"Understood."

As the young servant nodded indifferently, Dan Mulin stroked his cheek with the back of her hand.

It was as if she were cherishing a very young and small animal, but since they were about the same height, Dan Mulin had to stretch her hand further.

The young servant, who had maintained an expressionless demeanor throughout, softened his expression slightly at that moment.

"Shall we start after breakfast? I've been busy checking how much we've received since dawn..."

Ye Yun, to be honest, wanted to finish these tasks for Dan Mulin quickly and discuss martial arts, but his stomach growled, so he nodded.

* * *

It was a cold and clear morning.

The day of the duel between Lian and Jin Zongxia arrived, and people gathered outside the estate, making a lot of noise.

'White... burned to ashes.'

They had even climbed a mountain on the way. It was because the spiritual energy was running low.

'I never thought there would be a day when my spiritual energy would run low.'

Thinking back to his past life, where he had suffered so much from lack of spiritual energy that he eventually died, he felt a bit resentful.

'If I had known then...'

Lian stopped making such futile assumptions.

For some reason, he had been given another chance, and since he was doing well now, it was a good thing.

'I agreed to settle the accounts at the end of this month.'

Usually, they settled accounts quarterly, but Mansong Merchant said the amount would be too large this time and suggested settling this month.

Thinking about the amount of money that would be involved, it was both thrilling and terrifying.

'At this rate, I need to make at least another month’s worth.'

The past week had been a grueling lesson in what it meant to be a part of the production process.

'...I shouldn’t be having a duel with Jin Family Manor right now.'

He still had to make and deliver Qinglian Water. Lian felt a bit regretful but shook off the thought.

'Now that it’s come to this, I have to spar with Jin Family Manor today and definitely discuss swordsmanship with Daoist Ye Yun...'

Lian had been busy, and Ye Yun, who had promised to help him study after his work was done, had also been a part of the medicine shop's production process for the past week.

In fact, Lian had felt embarrassed and tried to send him away several times, but Ye Yun was stubborn, and Tai Xu Zhenren had also laughed and said he should try this, so he ended up laboring.

Since they were all working together, Ye Yun couldn’t ask Lian any questions, and now, after a week, he was determined to repay him today.

"But it’s really noisy."

"People are gathering from all over. It’s an interesting event, and even Mansong Merchant is here."

Hua Lun replied.

It was just a children's duel, but in Hangzhou, where there had been no major events for several years, this was a big deal.

How else could Jian Yanzhao, from Mansong Merchant, have rushed over upon hearing the news?

"How could he come when he’s so busy?"

"It seems he really entrusted the Qinglian Water business to Jian Zhanggui."

There was only one Chief Manager in the merchant, Jian Yanzhao, and only one Manager with the surname Jian.

Only Jian Weiwen, who had been involved in the merchant from the bottom up, was called Chief Manager. Jian Weizheng had been quite injured from a fall on the road not long ago.

"Wouldn’t it be a big problem if I lose this duel?"

"So what if you lose?"

In fact, a week ago, he had been a bit nervous, but after seeing Mount Tai, a small hill didn’t seem so difficult.

'After working so hard for a week, other things don’t seem so significant...'

Surviving and eating were more important than winning or losing in martial arts, and how could one become a great person by being overly concerned with victories and defeats?

"Ooh..."

"If you lose this time, you can win next time."

"If I win this time?"

"You have to win again. You have to crush them."

Lian clenched his fist. Hua Lun chuckled.

'Jin Family Manor...'

Hangzhou, in Zhejiang Province, with the Grand Canal, the Yangtze River, and the beautiful West Lake, has never lacked a regional hegemon.

Until about twenty years ago, the Dan Mu Family had held that position, but with their decline, the rapidly rising new force was Jin Family Manor.

Jin Family Manor was famous for its soft and graceful Jin Wu Dao technique.

However, despite its reputation, Jin Family Manor was known in Hangzhou for its cruel methods.

Especially after the death of Dan Mu Xiancheng, the eldest son of the Dan Mu Family, in a duel with the current head of Jin Family Manor.

Dan Mu Xiancheng, from a young age, had shown such talent that everyone expected him to become the best in the world in Hangzhou.

He had joined a war to protect Hangzhou from the Blood Demon Valley, even though he was not yet of age.

The Blood Demon Valley had targeted a temple where a treasure of the Mahatian Sect was hidden, a temple that even the Mahatian Sect didn’t know existed.

While the Mahatian Sect was rushing from thousands of miles away, Dan Mu Xiancheng and the White Way Alliance protected it.

Even if it belonged to the Mahatian Sect, they couldn’t let it fall into the hands of the Blood Demon Valley.

However, the Mahatian Sect was a step too late, and the White Way Alliance clashed with the Blood Demon Valley, paying the price for the Mahatian Sect. Dan Mu Xiancheng, a star, was extinguished.

Some said that the Mahatian Sect’s participation in the war gave meaning to the sacrifice, but no one dared to say such things in Zhejiang.

Dan Mu Xiancheng couldn’t shake off the injuries he sustained then, and the current head of Jin Family Manor, knowing this, challenged him to a duel and killed him!

Many people still remembered that duel. It was the kind of story gossips love.

Lian’s eyes darkened. The people from Jin Family Manor entered the Dan Mu Family estate with stern faces.

Lian glanced to the side. His mother, Wei Zhiqing, and grandfather, Dan Mu Tianji, were tight-lipped.

But they didn’t seem to be looking at their son’s and husband’s murderer with hatred.

'Mother...?'

It wasn’t the right place to write a letter, so Lian discreetly glanced at the ground. Words floated up on the ground.

Jin Jigé

Trait: Focused / Like an active volcano / Competitive / Twin Birds

Jin Wu Dao: 10 stars

Jin Wu Shen Gong: 7 stars

Liu Yong Bu: 9 stars

Talent and Five Elements: Medium-Medium

Concern: Why am I back here? / How to resolve my son’s accident?

Advice: Lower your mental barriers and have a conversation. It might help clear up long-standing misunderstandings.

Jin Zongxia

Trait: Focused / A sprout growing in the shade

Jin Wu Dao: 3 stars

Jin Wu Shen Gong: 1 star

Liu Yong Bu: 2 stars

Talent and Five Elements: Medium-High

Concern: I will clear my father’s name!

Advice: Sprouts grow better in the sunlight.

'Huh? This duel isn’t the doing of the head of Jin Family Manor?'

He thought it was a move by Jin Family Manor against him, but it seemed to be Jin Zongxia acting on his own.

'Clear my father’s name?'

However, even if there were misunderstandings between them, resolving them would have to wait until after the duel.

"It’s been a while... to see you."

Jin Jigé greeted Dan Mu Tianji.

Lian noticed a hint of confusion in his voice, specifically in the way he looked at him.

Dan Mu Tianji replied, waving his sleeve.

"It seems you’ve been well, Head of Jin Family Manor."

It was a short greeting, both for acquaintances in the martial world and for enemies, but neither cared.

Jin Jigé shifted his gaze from Lian and said,

"My son has been practicing swordsmanship lately, and since there’s no one his age to match him, he came here. I should thank you for accepting him."

Dan Mu Tianji’s eyebrows twitched. Jin Zongxia also looked like he had something to say but closed his mouth at his father’s gesture.

"Sharing knowledge is a duty and a right. As you know."

For a moment, Jin Jigé’s face turned red and then slowly calmed down. But the quiet dust rising from under his feet couldn’t be stopped.

"Why don’t we show this teaching to everyone who’s interested?"

He suggested opening the estate gates and holding the children’s duel among the spectators, who were already gathered outside the walls.

As Dan Mu Tianji’s eyebrows shot up, Lian spoke up.

"Sure!"

"Lian."

Wei Zhiqing, standing a bit behind, quietly called Lian. Lian smiled at her, assuring her it was fine.

Lian actually welcomed the idea of a larger audience.

Jin Jigé stared at Lian and then twisted his lips into a sneer.