Chapter 151: The Past of Wensong

Ning Qian felt a trace of doubt, but seeing the smile on his master's face, he suppressed it and asked, "When shall we set out, Master?"

"We will depart as soon as your Uncle Mu comes out of seclusion. For this trip, the inner sect disciples participating must be at least at the eighth layer of Qi Refining, and all will ride second-rank flying spirit beasts. As for the disciples remaining behind to guard East Wood City, each shall be granted a top-tier first-rank spirit artifact; you can go collect them from your Junior Sister Linke." Jiang Yan calculated carefully as he made the arrangements for Ning Qian.

Having received Jiang Yan's command, Ning Qian bowed respectfully and withdrew. At the thought of East Wood City, his face beamed with excitement. Lately, several junior brothers at the ninth layer of Qi Refining had been asking him for top-tier first-rank spirit artifacts, and now their master was satisfying all their wishes at once. Stationed in East Wood City, he wondered if his master would leave him behind to take charge of all affairs there.

"Does Senior Brother intend to leave Junior Brother Mu behind to guard East Wood City all by himself? Won't manpower be a bit insufficient?" Tang Wan asked gently, holding Yunying in her arms. With her back to the rising sun, her pretty face was gilded with a brilliant golden hue, radiating a warmth that made Jiang Yan momentarily dazed.

Jiang Yan took a few steps forward, patted Yunying's small head, and replied with a tone full of confidence, "Just an East Wood City—it's not worth our Huashan Sect leaving many people behind there. If it were Tianyue City, where the South Heaven Sword Sect resides, it might be worth my while to leave another junior brother behind. Well, Junior Sister, you should go back and rest as well. You will be coming along to East Wood City in a few days. The grudges of our master must be avenged sooner or later, and those bastards from the Golden Flame Sect have had enough leisure. It's time to make them regret their actions."

...

In the sky not far outside East Wood City, a procession of four massive Sky-Crossing Cranes flew through the air, gliding slowly toward the city.

On the first Sky-Crossing Crane, Ning Qian stood right at the front, with Yin Ling'er standing closely beside Jiang Yan. Behind Yin Ling'er sat several white-robed Huashan disciples, including Senior Brother Wen. Dressed uniformly in white with spirit artifacts strapped to their backs, these disciples looked sharp and ready.

On the back of the second Sky-Crossing Crane sat Jiang Yan, Tang Wan, Yunying, and Mu Yun.

The third and fourth Sky-Crossing Cranes were completely filled with Huashan disciples, led respectively by Sun Yang and Zisu.

Seeing the grand city in the distance, Yin Ling'er tugged at Ning Qian's sleeve and cried out excitedly, "Eldest Senior Brother, Eldest Senior Brother! That's East Wood City! It's huge!"

A warm smile graced Ning Qian's face. He placed his hand on the crane's neck to adjust its heading from time to time, glanced affectionately at Yin Ling'er, and said gently, "Yes, Junior Sister, this is East Wood City. From now on, it will be an outpost for our Huashan Sect. Some of our junior brothers and sisters will be stationed right here. Do you see that tall mountain to the west of the city? That will be a branch stronghold of our Huashan Sect in the future."

The disciple surnamed Wen walked over to Yin Ling'er's side. Seeing her delicate hand clutching Ning Qian's sleeve, a flash of envy crossed his eyes, though it vanished instantly. He wasn't surprised at all that Junior Sister Yin Ling'er fancied Ning Qian. Throughout the entire Huashan Sect—aside from the senior sisters originating from the Purple-Robed Gate—which female disciple didn't secretly harbor a crush on their dashing Eldest Senior Brother? With his demeanor mirroring the sect leader's, his identical attire, and his gentle, smiling face, he was an irresistible heartthrob to all the female disciples of Huashan.

"Eldest Senior Brother, isn't this place the territory of the fourth-rank Xihe Sword Sect? Could it be that our Huashan Sect is about to become a fourth-rank sect?" The disciple surnamed Wen asked curiously, casting a glance at East Wood City in the distance.

Ning Qian looked back at him and smiled. "Junior Brother Wensong, you are right. Our Huashan Sect has already replaced and superseded the Xihe Sword Sect. From now on, the entire East Wood Region belongs to Huashan!"

A surge of joy suddenly bloomed on Wensong's face, and he asked with pleasant surprise, "What about the Golden Flame Sect then, Eldest Senior Brother? Does the Golden Flame Sect fall under our jurisdiction too?"

Noticing the joyous expression on Wensong's face, Ning Qian guessed there must be a story behind it. Handing over the steering responsibility to Yin Ling'er nearby, he pulled Wensong aside to sit down and carefully inquired about the reason for his delight.

Ning Qian was well-informed about Wensong's background. Originally an outer disciple of the Tianshan Sect hailing from Linqing Prefecture, Wensong's duties there had been limited to serving tea, pouring water, and sweeping the mountain gates. Later, after joining the Huashan Sect, he was taught the Thick Earth Art. Within a mere year, aided by the sect's special auxiliary cultivation functions, Wensong advanced to the eighth layer of Qi Refining, becoming a relatively outstanding figure among the newly initiated disciples, which earned him a fortunate selection by Jiang Yan for this mission.

"Eldest Senior Brother, Wensong is from Linqing Prefecture. Now that our sect has advanced to a fourth-rank sect, I suppose those third-rank sects wouldn't dare disrespect your prestige. Wensong begs you to help me retrieve some people from the Golden Flame Sect, Eldest Senior Brother!" A look of bitter sorrow appeared on Wensong's face as he spoke to Jiang Yan with deep emotion.

The smile slowly faded from Ning Qian's face, and he said solemnly, "Speak your mind, Junior Brother. If it is within my power, I will surely do my utmost to help you. If it is beyond me, I will beg Master on your behalf."

Wensong fell to his knees, his voice choking with sobs. "Thank you, Eldest Senior Brother! Junior brother thanks you from the bottom of my heart!"

Reaching out to help Wensong up, Ning Qian smiled and said, "We are brothers of the same sect, what are you thanking me for? Since you call me Eldest Senior Brother, your matters are naturally my matters. Tell me the whole story from beginning to end, so that when I petition the Sect Master, I'll have grounds to justify it."

Seeing Wensong kneeling before Ning Qian, the other brothers and sisters on the crane gathered around. Hearing what Ning Qian had said, they chimed in to encourage Wensong.

"Rest assured, Junior Brother Wen! Whatever the Eldest Senior Brother promises is as good as done!"

"Senior Brother Wen, who doesn't know that our Eldest Senior Brother is generous and righteous? He has money when you need money, and manpower when you need people. How could you doubt him?"

"Senior Brother Wen, even if the heavens are falling, the Eldest Senior Brother can handle it. What's the use of crying?"

Wensong wiped the tear tracks from his face and recounted the origins of his family tragedy.

He had originally been the second son of the Wen family, a wealthy merchant clan in Linqing Prefecture. His family was well-to-do, with his father being an ordinary merchant in the prefecture. His eldest brother, Wenfeng, was a typical profligate young master—peeking at widows' doors by night and harassing innocent women by day, committing minor evils constantly, though never daring to cross the line into heinous crimes. Wensong also had a younger sister named Wenying, who was blessed with exceptional beauty. Tragically, the catastrophe that befell the Wen family stemmed entirely from this very beauty.

In a world where secular power fell far short of immortal might, the will of immortals far surpassed secular imperial authority. Although major sects refrained from meddling in mortal politics due to the karmic cycles of the heavenly Dao, smaller sects that had not yet glimpsed heavenly secrets harbored no such scruples.

The Golden Flame Sect was the sole third-rank sect in Linqing Prefecture. Because its sect master, Xie Wenyuan, was lacking in cultivation realm and had no understanding of heavenly merit and virtue, he exercised zero restraint over his disciples as they ran amok in Linqing Prefecture, bullying the populace and harassing women.

For reasons unknown, Xie Bolun, the young master of the Golden Flame Sect, took a fancy to the naturally beautiful Wenying. He bluntly declared that as long as Wenying shared his bed, the Wen family's shop would receive his personal protection. Wensong's father, an honest man, dared not anger Xie Bolun, yet he was equally unwilling to surrender his daughter to a notorious villain from the Golden Flame Sect—even if that villain was an immortal.

After being rejected repeatedly, Xie Bolun flew into a rage and directly abducted Wenying to the Golden Flame Sect. Unyielding to the end, Wenying possessed a resolute spirit; to avoid being defiled by Xie Bolun, she took a pair of scissors and ruthlessly slashed her own face, disfiguring her natural beauty.

Naturally, Xie Bolun lost interest in a disfigured Wenying. However, having never been thwarted in the Golden Flame Sect, his fury knew no bounds. He had the entire Wen family—including Wenying—arrested and thrown into the spirit stone mines, casting down a harsh decree that the Wen family members would serve as slaves there for generations.

Fortunately, Wensong had already joined the Tianshan Sect by then. Xie Bolun seemingly looked down on such an insignificant character and neglected to send anyone to drag Wensong into the Golden Flame Sect as well, which ultimately paved the way for his later entry into the Huashan Sect.

Looking up at Ning Qian, Wensong wore a pleading expression as he said, "Wensong begs Eldest Senior Brother to save my father, eldest brother, and younger sister! I am willing to be smashed to pieces to repay your immense kindness, Eldest Senior Brother."

Ning Qian glanced down at East Wood City below, a cold and sinister smile curling the corners of his mouth. He spoke with icy determination, "A fine Xie Bolun, and a fine Golden Flame Sect! Junior Brother Wen, your matter is in my hands. I guarantee that within a few days, you will be reunited with your family."