Everyone stared in stunned silence at Ning Wuque: "Master Luan’s master is Ning Wuque?"
"That’s impossible, right? How old is Ning Wuque? Even if he started refining medicine from the womb, he couldn't possibly surpass Master Luan."
All eyes turned to Luan Hongyi.
Luan Hongyi cleared his throat, walked straight up to Ning Wuque, bowed deeply, and said with the utmost respect: "Disciple Luan Hongyi, pays respects to Master!"
"..."
The hall fell into a dead silence. You could hear a pin drop. Everyone instinctively held their breath. Even Wan Sanqian, who had anticipated this, could not help but gasp when he saw it with his own eyes.
The person who found this the hardest to accept was Mu Yunhu. His eyes, filled with coldness and malice, were fixed on Ning Wuque as he growled in a hoarse voice: "It’s you? How could it be you? If you are Luan Hongyi’s master... then that means you knew all along that he would never take me as his disciple?"
"Congratulations, you guessed it!" Ning Wuque smiled and said. "Whether it was the Empress's map or your character, those were just excuses. The mere fact that you offended me was enough to ensure that Hongyi would never accept you."
*Thud! Thud! Thud!*
Mu Yunhu staggered back three steps, his face turning from pale to green. He felt the world spinning around him. He had thought he orchestrated everything, controlled everything—setting the trap specifically to target Ning Wuque and Mu Yunlong.
And yet... in the end, he realized that he was the clown all along.
"Actually, if you beg me now, I might consider letting Hongyi take you as a nominal disciple," Ning Wuque said, his voice calm and smiling.
To Mu Yunhu, this was a lethal blow to his pride. It was psychological warfare at its finest.
"Ning Wuque, I will never share the sky with you... Pfft!"
Mu Yunhu spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed backward.
"Yunhu!"
Ouyang Jingcheng was quick to catch him. After a brief check, he realized Mu Yunhu had merely fainted from extreme rage and breathed a sigh of relief. He glared at Ning Wuque with icy eyes: "Ning Wuque, from this day forward, the Ouyang Family will be at odds with you until the end!"
The smile vanished from Ning Wuque’s face. He narrowed his eyes and met his gaze, unflinching, saying word by word: "I’ll be waiting!"
"Good, good, good! You’ve got guts!"
Ouyang Jingcheng sneered, scooped up Mu Yunhu, and left in a huff...
***
**Chapter 29: Soul Crystal**
Inside the banquet hall, everyone had returned to their seats, but all focus remained on Ning Wuque.
If they had been confused or doubtful about how someone so young could be Luan Hongyi’s master before, seeing even Wan Sanqian defer to him had erased all their skepticism.
At the head table, Ning Wuque smiled at Mu Yunlong, who was sitting as straight and proper as a well-behaved child. Ever since Ouyang Jingcheng and Mu Yunhu had left, the lad had been quite restrained, so Ning Wuque teased him: "Yunlong, didn't you say 'wine is water' earlier? Why are you not drinking a drop now?"
Mu Yunlong’s face darkened. Previously, he hadn't known Ning Wuque’s identity and had been sitting at the secondary table where no one outranked him, so he had been unrestrained and fearless. But now... this was the head table! Not to mention Ning Wuque’s title as Luan Hongyi’s master, just the presence of Luan Hongyi and Wan Sanqian made him afraid to step out of line.
Mu Yunshang glanced at her younger brother and said, frustrated by his lack of ambition: "Look at you, trembling like a coward. Why did Mother send you to this banquet?"
Mu Yunlong blinked, then snapped back to reality. He quickly raised his glass toward Luan Hongyi: "Master Luan, I am here today representing the Southern Suppression Prince's Estate to offer my congratulations... Also, regarding my useless brother who almost disrupted the ceremony, I apologize on his behalf. I’ll finish this drink, please enjoy yours!"
Without waiting for Luan Hongyi to stand, he downed the drink in one go. Luan Hongyi, just reaching for his cup, was left speechless. He quickly finished his own drink, smiling bitterly: "You are my master's brother-in-law; by logic, I should be calling you 'Uncle.' We are family, there’s no need to be so formal..."
"Uh..." Mu Yunlong blinked, utterly bewildered. The Southern Frontier’s top alchemist calling him "Uncle"?
Ning Wuque laughed and gestured for them to sit, saying: "By seniority, Hongyi is right to call you Uncle. However, we are all practitioners; there's no need to dwell on such things. If it feels awkward, just keep calling him Master Luan, and he can call you by your name!"
"Th-then let's stick with Master Luan!" Mu Yunlong scratched his head.
Luan Hongyi felt relieved and smiled: "As the master says, I will call you Yunlong then!"
"Hm!" Mu Yunlong nodded.
Wan Sanqian had been watching with a grin, and once the titles were settled, he spoke up: "You two have finally sorted that out, so it should be my turn next!"
Luan Hongyi’s heart skipped a beat with a bad premonition, and he looked at Wan Sanqian warily: "What’s your turn?"
"Heh heh, Yunlong might be too embarrassed to be called Uncle, but I certainly am not!" Wan Sanqian looked at Luan Hongyi smugly. "Wuque calls me 'Uncle Wan,' so doesn't that make you my grand-disciple? Come on, grand-disciple, call me 'Grand-uncle' and let me hear it!"
"Get lost!" Luan Hongyi barked with a dark face. Having known Wan Sanqian for decades, they were like brothers, so he had no qualms about speaking freely.
"Wuque, control this disrespectful, unruly disciple of yours!" Wan Sanqian said to Ning Wuque, laughing.
Ning Wuque shrugged: "Uncle Wan, aren't you making things difficult for me? Let’s just keep our own separate ties, otherwise, everything will be a mess."
"Fair enough! For your sake, Wuque, I won't take advantage of this old man." Wan Sanqian feigned disappointment, then pulled a jade box from his robes and placed it before Luan Hongyi: "Old Luan, I specifically sent someone on a trip to Yanjing City just to get this gift for you!"
"Oh? What is it?" Luan Hongyi opened the box out of curiosity.
Instantly, a rich medicinal aroma filled the entire hall.
*Hiss!*
Luan Hongyi gasped, his eyes fixed on the box in disbelief: "Old Wan, isn't this gift a bit too extravagant?"
Ning Wuque saw it too—it was a ginseng root, golden from top to bottom. Judging by its shape, it was at least a thousand years old! It was worth a fortune.
"Forget it, do we really need to be this formal with each other?" Wan Sanqian waved it off.
Luan Hongyi chuckled and quickly closed the box: "Then I’ll shamelessly accept!"
Wan Sanqian rolled his eyes at him, then turned to Ning Wuque with a burning gaze: "Wuque, what did you prepare as a master? Care to let me see it?"
Ning Wuque glanced at him. He knew Wan Sanqian must have guessed it was one of the two items he bought at the Qizhen Pavilion that day. He didn't hide it and took out the soul crystal.
The moment the soul crystal appeared, everyone felt a wave of coolness wash over them, their minds becoming ethereal, filled with an indescribable sense of joy and relaxation.
"Th-th-this is a soul crystal?" Wan Sanqian’s eyes widened, and he exclaimed.
If the thousand-year ginseng was worth a fortune, the soul crystal was priceless!
Wan Sanqian examined the red-date-sized crystal and clicked his tongue: "Old Luan, being able to take Wuque as your master is the greatest blessing you’ve earned in eight lifetimes! Do you know? Five years ago, the Qizhen Pavilion in Yanjing City auctioned off a soul crystal only one-third this size, and it sold for thirty million silver taels. If yours were put up for auction, it would likely fetch over a hundred million!"
*Hiss!* Everyone gasped.
"Our Southern Frontier’s annual tax revenue is only one billion silver taels. This little thing is worth one-tenth of the region's total tax?" Mu Yunlong’s eyes went wide. He suddenly licked his lips and looked at Ning Wuque with a sycophantic grin: "Brother-in-law, look, I’m your brother-in-law, after all..."
Before he could finish, Mu Yunshang gave him a sharp flick to the forehead. Seeing her brother nursing his head in pain, she scolded: "Mu Yunlong, can you be any more shameless?"
Mu Yunlong was a fearless, iron-blooded man, but he was completely dominated by his sister’s bloodline. He had been bullied by her since childhood, yet he never dared to resist!
Seeing Mu Yunlong cowering like a quail after being scolded, Ning Wuque shook his head with a light laugh and looked at the flustered Luan Hongyi: "What are you staring at? Do you dislike the master's gift?"
"Disciple dares not, it’s just that this soul crystal is too precious..." Luan Hongyi said with a bitter smile. He realized that Ning Wuque had already entered the Spirit Refining Realm and was at the perfect stage to use the soul crystal for cultivation. Giving it to him made him feel like the crystal was burning his hands.
Ning Wuque waved his hand: "Don't worry. I gave it to you because I have something even better. Once the banquet ends today, go into full seclusion. The moment you refine it completely will be the day you break through to the fourth rank!"
"Thank you, Master! I will not fail your expectations!" Luan Hongyi nodded quickly.
Wan Sanqian spoke up: "Wuque, tell your Uncle Wan the truth—did you get this soul crystal that day?"
Ning Wuque wore a strange smile: "Uncle Wan, are you sure you want to know?"
"Stop, don't say another word. I understand!" Wan Sanqian clutched his chest with a pained expression and growled, "Those useless fools! Just watch how I deal with them when I get back!"
Ning Wuque offered a silent prayer for the treasure appraisers at the Qizhen Pavilion.
The apprenticeship banquet lasted for over three hours. Aside from the small interlude with Mu Yunhu and Ouyang Jingcheng, it was a joyous occasion for everyone. Though Mu Yunshang didn't want to return to the Southern Suppression Prince's Estate, Su Qingluan, worried about her being with Ning Wuque, had sent a carriage early to bring them back.
Ning Wuque, having had quite a bit to drink, decided to stay at Luan Hongyi’s residence. In the guest room, Luan Hongyi looked at Ning Wuque with a serious expression: "Master, I fear Ouyang Jingcheng and Mu Yunhu will not let this slide. Should I pay a visit to the Ouyang family?"
"No, just focus on refining the soul crystal. Reaching the fourth rank is what matters most!" Ning Wuque waved his hand. "It’s late, go rest."
"Disciple takes his leave!" Luan Hongyi looked at Ning Wuque, saw him close his eyes, and stepped out.
*Creak.*
Hearing the door close, Ning Wuque opened his eyes again.
"After today, news of me will spread far and wide. The people from Prince Shenwu’s Estate will likely hear of it too." Ning Wuque clenched his fists, a sharp light in his eyes as he whispered, "I must pass the city exam and qualify for the Martial Arts Imperial Examination. Only then can I hold them at bay and keep them from easily moving against me. My top priority now is to recover my Mortal Shedding Realm cultivation before the exam!"
Examinees of the Martial Arts Imperial Examination were under the protection of the imperial court. Even Prince Shenwu’s Estate would not dare to openly attack a candidate. If outsiders heard his words, it would cause an uproar. Two months to breakthrough from the first level of the Spirit Refining Realm to the Mortal Shedding Realm? It was pure fantasy. Even Ning Wuque, hailed as the top genius of the Dayan Dynasty, had spent a full year stuck in the Spirit Refining Realm back then.
"The road is long, and I am far from time to rest."
Ning Wuque closed his eyes and returned to his cultivation...
***
**Chapter 30: Undercurrents**
The next morning, at the Donglai Pavilion in Nanjiang City, the largest restaurant in the city, guests were gathered in small groups early on, discussing the news from Luan Hongyi’s mansion: "Did you hear? Master Luan’s mysterious master is actually the outcast of Prince Shenwu’s Estate, the supposedly crippled Ning Wuque!"
"No way? Even if Ning Wuque weren't crippled, he wouldn't be qualified to be Luan Hongyi’s master, right?"
"That’s where you’re wrong! Once Ning Wuque lost his status as the heir to Prince Shenwu’s Estate, his old enemies would surely send people to kill him once they learned he was in the Southern Frontier. To save his life, he must have spent a fortune to bribe Luan Hongyi. In name, he’s the master, but in reality, he’s just using Luan Hongyi’s name and status for protection!"
"I heard it’s more than that—he’s doing this to keep his engagement with Princess Yunshang!"
Similar conversations spread among all the major families and powers in the Southern Frontier. Without exception, when they learned that Luan Hongyi’s mysterious master was the outcast Ning Wuque, everyone found it hard to believe.
At the Southern Suppression Prince's Estate, Su Qingluan frowned, looking at Mu Yunshang and her brother with a serious expression: "Yunshang, tell me the truth—how did Ning Wuque get involved with Luan Hongyi? Is it really as the rumors say, that he gave Luan Hongyi many benefits just to gain his protection?"
Mu Yunshang shook her head with a bitter smile: "Mother, I’ve told you eight hundred times already. Brother Wuque didn't know Master Luan at all before. After we left the estate, we went to the Hundred Herbs Hall with Brother Wuque, and it was only after he exposed that Master Luan’s disciple, Sha Wei, was using shoddy goods that he met the Master for the first time!"
"That shouldn't be possible!" Su Qingluan rubbed her hands, bewildered. "Ning Wuque’s martial arts talent is indeed strong, but I’ve never heard of him knowing anything about medicine. Even the strongest alchemist in Prince Shenwu’s Estate is only a third-rank, just like Luan Hongyi. Even if he were to personally come to the Southern Frontier, Luan Hongyi would never take him as his master..."
Mu Yunlong, sitting nearby, said dismissively: "Mother, aren't you worrying over nothing? Ning Wuque is our brother-in-law, your son-in-law. The more impressive he is, the better you look, right? Think about it—regardless of how he became Luan Hongyi’s master, from now on, if you meet Luan Hongyi outside, he’ll have to call you 'Grand-master-mother.' Isn't that face-saving?"
Mu Yunlong nudged Mu Yunshang with his elbow. Mu Yunshang understood and nodded: "Yunlong is right. Didn't you say Ouyang Jing spent a fortune at the Hundred Herbs Hall to buy Beauty Pills just to show off in front of you? I’ll take you to the Hundred Herbs Hall later and have Hongyi personally refine a batch of Beauty Pills for you. Let’s see how Ouyang Jing acts arrogant then!"
"I want the supreme grade!" Su Qingluan said instinctively.
Mu Yunshang nodded: "Of course, if it’s not supreme, we don't want it!"
Su Qingluan beamed, but realized she had been duped by her children and her face darkened. She glared at them: "I’m done with you two..."
Meanwhile, at the Ouyang family residence, Ouyang Jing, Ouyang Jingcheng, Mu Yunhu, and Wen Guji were gathered together.
"Mother, you must find a way to avenge me!" Mu Yunhu said viciously. He had lost all face at the banquet.
Ouyang Jing’s face was ashen: "Ning Wuque, it’s always this Ning Wuque..."
Thinking of the time outside the Southern Suppression Prince's Estate when she, a concubine, was slapped dozens of times by Ning Wuque in public, and now her precious son had also been humiliated, she wanted to tear him to pieces.
"Jingcheng, did the news from Prince Shenwu’s Estate confirm that Ning Wuque’s dantian was destroyed by the Prince of Mobei?" Ouyang Jing asked.
Ouyang Jingcheng nodded bitterly: "Aunt, didn't you see the secret letter with your own eyes? Furthermore, if Ning Wuque hadn't been crippled and disowned by the Ning family, do you think he would have run all the way to the Southern Frontier?"
Everyone fell silent. Ning Wuque had been the publicly acknowledged top talent of the younger generation in the Dayan Dynasty and the clear successor to Prince Shenwu. If not for those reasons, why would he abandon his claim to the throne and flee?
"Then what about his cultivation? And how did he make Luan Hongyi take him as a master? Is it truly as the rumors say—that he paid a price Luan Hongyi found tempting, just to have him declare him a master for protection?" Ouyang Jing frowned, lost in thought.
Ouyang Jingcheng nodded, offering his theory: "There's no smoke without fire; I think the rumors are likely the truth. And if all of this is true, it explains why Ning Wuque regained his cultivation!"
"You mean Luan Hongyi cured him?" Ouyang Jing’s eyes lit up.
Ouyang Jingcheng hummed: "That is the only way it makes sense!"
The two of them arrived at this conclusion because Prince Shenwu’s Estate hadn't leaked the truth about them dividing up Ning Wuque’s Chaos Body. After all, Ning Wuque had served them well, only to end up in such a state; if that leaked, they would be disgraced. Naturally, they tried to cover it up.
"Dammit, does this Luan Hongyi really think that just because he’s a third-rank alchemist, he can look down on us?" Mu Yunhu slammed the table, furious.
To him, if Luan Hongyi hadn't accepted a bribe from Ning Wuque to heal him, he wouldn't have become a laughingstock.
Ouyang Jingcheng sighed: "In the entire Southern Frontier, he is the only third-rank alchemist. Never mind our Ouyang family, even the Prince has to treat him with respect..."
"So what if he’s a third-rank alchemist? He’s the only one in the Southern Frontier, but there’s more than one in the Dayan Dynasty!" Mu Yunhu said stubbornly.
These words suddenly hit home.
"My son is truly a dragon among men!" Ouyang Jing’s eyes shone as she looked at Ouyang Jingcheng: "Just as Yunhu said, there is more than one third-rank alchemist in the Dayan Dynasty. I recall our family has business dealings with the Huichun Pavilion in Dongxuan City, right?"