Chapter Five: Brothers Reunited

Watching Young Master Li and his entourage disappear into the distance, Wang Yuanfeng finally breathed a sigh of relief.

This Young Master Li had come solely to provoke trouble. When his elder brother left two years ago, he was already a practitioner of the Dark Force; now, he had likely reached the Transforming Force. Facing Young Master Li posed no real threat. The trouble was that Li had the audacity to swagger up to their gate and start the fight himself. If his elder brother had just returned and encountered such an incident—especially one where the family’s honor was challenged, regardless of the outcome—it would have been a stain difficult to wash away.

Young Master Li’s problem wasn’t something that could be solved immediately, but sooner or later, he would leave the safety of his home. Wang Yuanfeng swore to himself that when that day came, he would never allow Li to walk away unscathed.

At this moment, Xiaocui appeared, leading her three brothers and a group of servants wielding sticks.

Wang Yuanhong spoke.
“Yuanfeng, was it Young Lord of Jiushan who came just now? Are you all right?”

He had just returned home and barely sat down when Xiaocui rushed in, breathless and flustered, exclaiming that the son of the King of Jiushan was at their gates, seeking trouble. Without a second thought, he summoned his second and third brothers to come help.

At the door, he saw only his fourth brother and four servants. Spots of blood on the ground confirmed that blood had indeed been shed.

Wang Yuanfeng studied his brother, whom he hadn’t seen in two years. He had grown much more mature, his features resolute, his gaze calm, but the concern in his eyes revealed that he was still the same elder brother. He spoke:

“I’m fine. Young Master Li somehow heard you were returning and came to flaunt his power, speaking disrespectfully of our marquisate. I wounded him in a single move, and now he’s gone.”

Wang Yuanhong immediately came forward, checking Wang Yuanfeng for injuries. Upon finding none, he said,
“When Xiaocui told me Young Master Li had come with dozens of men, I worried you’d be at a disadvantage. That’s why I brought your two brothers to help.”

“If it weren’t for the King of Jiushan’s influence, I’d have crippled him already,” Wang Yuanxing, their third brother, interjected. He was ruthless toward enemies, his brow always shadowed by a hint of sorrow, but he was good to his family.

A young man dressed as a scholar spoke up.
“We must not act rashly. The King of Jiushan’s power is at its peak; he dominates Eastern Zhou. We cannot afford to provoke him lightly. For now, it is best to remain hidden and act with prudence.”

This man bore a strong resemblance to the others—a scholarly air about him. He was the marquisate’s second son, Wang Yuanling.

Wang Yuanling was methodical, always considering matters from the perspective of self-interest. He was gentle by nature, but his strategies were exceptional; even the plan to dig tunnels beneath Wang Yuanfeng’s residence was his idea.

At this moment, Xiaocui, seeing that Wang Yuanfeng wasn’t angry, boldly jumped out and said,
“I was only worried you’d get hurt, that’s why I went to get big brother.”

“It’s all right. You were thinking of my well-being,” Wang Yuanfeng replied, glancing at her.

Though Xiaocui had lived in the marquis’s household for over five years, and the family treated her as the marquis’s illegitimate daughter, she called Wang Yuanhong ‘big brother,’ Wang Yuanling ‘second brother,’ and Wang Yuanxing ‘third brother,’ but she never called him ‘fourth brother.’

She never tattled on anyone else, but every little thing he did ended up reported by her. At first, it annoyed him, but over time, he grew indifferent. Sometimes he even suspected she had been placed by his father specifically to keep an eye on him.

When he was younger, thanks to memories of his past life, he often behaved out of step with others—an oddity that led some to suspect demonic possession and even to summon priests to exorcise him.

Then Xiaocui appeared. He realized he hadn’t truly integrated into this world yet and resolved to speak little and learn more, which made others think he had become normal.

Still, she reported his strange behaviors to his father. Eventually, he stopped caring, recognizing her concern for him, and no longer gave her a hard time.

Xiaocui, delighted, ran up and hugged his arm, shaking it as she said,
“I knew you wouldn’t be angry!”

Wang Yuanfeng ignored her display; if he showed her the slightest kindness, she would cling to him relentlessly. He turned to Wang Yuanhong,
“Big brother, let’s go inside. It’s been two years—let’s have a good chat, just us brothers.”

Wang Yuanhong smiled and said to the others,
“Very well, let’s go back.”

Wang Yuanling extended a hand,
“After you, big brother.”

As Wang Yuanhong took the lead, Wang Yuanling, as the second brother, assumed he should go next, but Wang Yuanxing strode ahead of him. Wang Yuanling shook his head and sighed.

Wang Yuanfeng, dragging the clinging Xiaocui, patted Wang Yuanling’s shoulder,
“Let’s go, second brother. Third brother never stands on ceremony. If they could beat father, I bet they’d walk in front of him too.”

Wang Yuanling laughed, gesturing,
“True enough. After you, fourth brother.”

Wang Yuanfeng thought of going first, but that would mean a lecture on politics—a prospect he dreaded most. He smiled and gestured,
“Better you go first, second brother.”

Wang Yuanling called ahead to Wang Yuanxing,
“Ah, fourth brother is the most considerate.”

Wang Yuanhong shook his head. His second brother was admirable in all respects, except for his stubborn adherence to formality, which meant little in the marquis’s household.

Even Wang Yuanxing, usually so stern, allowed himself a brief smile before suppressing it and continuing after the eldest.

Wang Yuanfeng was used to their ways and found nothing odd in it. Looking at his brothers, he felt content. Of the six brothers, two were still under ten, but their bond was strong. Having lived two lives, he felt lucky to have such brothers in this one. If anything happened to him, his brothers would be the first to stand up for him.

So long as he could live peacefully in this world, he was content. As for the path of immortality, that would depend on fate. In his past life, only a handful ever truly attained immortality—a chance less than one in a million.

Though he had inherited sword immortal techniques, even the old sword immortal who taught him had only reached the Lesser Elixir stage. After many years, he had forged just one life-bound flying sword, which could only be kept in a sword case.

Truly, those who study the Way are as numerous as cattle, but those who master it are as rare as phoenix feathers.

Following his three brothers and dragging along Xiaocui toward the household affairs hall, Wang Yuanfeng tried several times to shake her off, even using his inner strength, but she would not let go. Eventually, he gave up, glancing helplessly at the exuberant Xiaocui, and made up his mind to ask his father to keep her away from him in the future.

...

Back at his residence, Young Master Li sat in the hall, his face dark as thunder, not saying a word. None of his men dared breathe too loudly. After a long while, he waved them off.

“Leave me.”

The guards fled as if pardoned, scrambling to exit.

Once everyone had gone, Young Master Li remained alone, his expression grim. At that moment, a man dressed as a Daoist entered and said,

“Your Highness seems troubled today?”

Young Master Li was about to lash out, but seeing that it was his own kin, Li Xi, he suppressed his anger and replied,

“I didn’t expect to lose a duel to a child today.”

Li Xi considered this. Their young lord was a martial prodigy, a master of Transforming Force, unmatched in the capital save for the likes of the Marquis of Martial Peace—an immortal among men. Who could have bested him? He asked,

“Which family produced such a youth with peerless martial skill?”

Young Master Li touched the wound on his neck, his face dark,

“The fourth son of the Marquis of Martial Peace.”

Seeing his master’s expression, Li Xi understood. He had heard of the marquis’s fourth son and asked,

“That eccentric one, prone to wild talk—Wang Yuanfeng?”

“Yes, him. I never imagined the marquis would hide him so well. Everything was a facade. He’s only fourteen, and I couldn’t withstand even a single move. In a few more years, he’ll be another immortal master—perhaps even a stumbling block for us.”

Li Xi agreed that the marquis must have hidden this talent deliberately. The marquis was already an immortal master, and his sons were all gifted. Their own influence in the capital was almost complete, except for the marquis’s faction, which still opposed the King of Jiushan.

Martial immortals might not sway the tide of armies, but in assassination, few could stop them. Only Daoist protectors were immune, and their own family had but one elder surnamed Hu.

Most of the promising talents in the capital had been broken, ruined for life. Wang Yuanfeng must not be allowed to grow; otherwise, he would become a natural pillar for the marquis’s faction—a latent threat to their own. With this thought, Li Xi said,

“Should we arrange for someone to...” He drew his finger across his throat, his expression twisted.

Young Master Li considered, then replied,

“That won’t do. The Marquis’s household is heavily guarded. If anything goes wrong, it would only alert them—too risky.”

“No, Your Highness. There is a fortune-telling Daoist on the main street, a man of profound magic and vast powers, able to command spirits and ghosts. If we employ him, Wang Yuanfeng could die without a trace.”

He paused, then continued,

“Our spies report Wang Yuanfeng lives in the marquis’s outer courtyard, a remote spot separated from the outside by just one wall. Even a band of swordsmen could simply leap the wall to reach him.”

Li Xi reflected on the Daoist’s abilities; he had once employed him to kill a man who threatened to report them. The official investigation found no clues, and the body was untouched. If Wang Yuanfeng died as if by fate, with no one the wiser, that would be perfect.

He was already planning to introduce this Daoist to the young lord in a few days.

And with Wang Yuanfeng living so far from the main house, it was almost too easy—even Li Xi himself could leap the wall into his courtyard.

“But the marquis’s residence is a mighty household, warded against spirits and ghosts. How could any practitioner of the Dao manage to get inside?”