Since their identities had been exposed, Uncle Zhang and Yue Shu no longer concealed themselves.
At noon, Wei Liu went downstairs alone for lunch.
She had heard about the three Mystic Mirror Envoys arriving the previous night but paid them little mind.
Jianghu factions had never been fond of associating with the Mystic Mirror Bureau, though they sometimes had no choice but to yield to the Commander’s martial prowess.
When she noticed Niu Qiang at the dining table, she didn’t ask questions.
Midway through the meal, Uncle Zhang suddenly inquired, "Miss Wei, when will the master of your manor arrive?"
Wei Liu’s heart skipped a beat.
Was this a confession in the making?
She instinctively glanced at Lu Jianwei, who remained engrossed in her meal, feigning deafness.
Yan Feicang, however, chimed in, "What manor master?"
He had been too busy training with his blade to grasp the situation.
Wei Liu sighed inwardly—how enviable it was to be as carefree as the great swordsman Yan.
"I am a disciple of Leisurely Cloud Manor. My master is its lord."
"Oh." Yan Feicang buried himself back in his meal.
"……"
"Miss Wei," Uncle Zhang urged, "The culprit behind White Crane Manor’s massacre remains at large. To avoid endangering Master Song, Yue Shu and I would rather you write back, saying we appreciate the gesture but must decline."
"My master and the late lord of White Crane Manor were close friends. He cannot bear to see you two wandering adrift, especially when the murderer is still unknown. The manor should offer you shelter precisely for that reason," Wei Liu replied helplessly. "This is my master’s command."
"White Crane Manor?" Yan Feicang looked up again. "You’re from White Crane Manor?"
Yue Shu nodded. "My father was its lord."
"Oh." Yan Feicang swallowed another mouthful. "Then you two are lucky to be alive."
"……"
Niu Qiang didn’t even dare lift his chopsticks anymore.
He was just a simple villager—he had no interest in these Jianghu secrets.
"Miss Wei, you may not know this, but rumors are spreading across the martial world," Uncle Zhang said gravely. "They claim White Crane Manor was destroyed because of a treasure map. Whoever finds it will obtain not only gold and jewels but also a miraculous cure-all."
Wei Liu was stunned. "How could that be?!"
"Preposterous," Yan Feicang scoffed. "If such a treasure existed, White Crane Manor would’ve found it long ago. Why would it linger until now and let outsiders catch wind of it?"
"But the Jianghu crowd believes it," Uncle Zhang sighed.
Lu Jianwei set down her bowl and chopsticks, smiling faintly.
"In a few days, this inn might welcome guests from all corners of the land. Let’s all stay sharp and strive to uphold its fine reputation."
Everyone: "……"
That afternoon, Tao Yang and the Mystic Mirror Envoys returned to the inn after delivering their letters, only to freeze in shock upon learning that Uncle Zhang and Yue Shu had revealed their identities.
It was all so sudden.
But they soon understood why.
The White Crane Manor massacre had initially drawn little attention, and few had actively sought news of Yue Shu.
To prevent leaks and protect them from the "culprit’s" pursuit, Master Song had secretly dispatched people to track the duo.
Even after the Mystic Mirror Bureau took over the case, they refrained from publicizing updates to Jianghu circles.
The case might have faded quietly into obscurity—until Lü Cao’s pair somehow caught wind of it and attempted to abduct Yue Shu and Uncle Zhang.
Having suffered a humiliating defeat at the inn, they decided to stir chaos by spreading false rumors, reveling in the turmoil.
Of course, whether Lü Cao’s duo were truly behind the rumors remained unconfirmed—for now, it was merely Lu Jianwei’s speculation.
Both the Leisurely Cloud Manor disciples and the three Mystic Mirror Envoys wanted to take Uncle Zhang and Yue Shu away.
Had the rumors not surfaced, the two sides would have settled things through combat, letting the outcome decide the duo’s fate.
But now, the situation had spiraled out of control.
With news of the treasure map spreading, factions were already mobilizing. Neither group could guarantee the duo’s safety under such relentless pursuit.
If the "culprit" seized this chance to eliminate them, the consequences would be catastrophic.
All they could do was wait in tense stalemate.
Whenever Tao Yang and the Azure-clothed Envoy crossed paths, the air between them grew taut as if on the verge of tearing, battle-ready tension simmering beneath.
Meanwhile, Lu Jianwei had cleared a small plot of land outside the inn’s walls for Niu Qiang to grow vegetables and flowers, promising generous rewards if he succeeded, regardless of the results.
Having visited the inn multiple times, Niu Qiang had grown familiar with its residents and no longer found these Jianghu figures intimidating.
To him, Manager Lu was a gentlewoman who loved dressing up and basking in the sun; Young Master Xue was a skilled cook; Uncle Zhang was kindly and warm; Yue Shu was innocent and guileless; and Swordsman Yan had an odd passion for chopping firewood.
The other five guests seemed somewhat aloof, but that was understandable—they were, after all, temporary lodgers.
Three days later, Niu Qiang arrived with a donkey cart carrying a large barrel of fertilizer.
"Manager Lu, this is compost made by the villagers. It smells foul—I’m afraid it might offend your senses."
Lu Jianwei asked, "Is this fertilizer hard to come by?"
"Not exactly, but it takes time and effort," Niu Qiang answered honestly. "This barrel is just leftover stock from the villagers. Fresh compost needs months to mature."
After a brief pause, Lu Jianwei said, "I’d like to purchase some from your village."
"Oh no, no need! This stuff isn’t worth much," Niu Qiang hastily waved his hands.
"Ask them first."
Realizing he shouldn’t deny his fellow villagers potential earnings, Niu Qiang agreed.
Transforming barren land into fertile soil required not just the right fertilizer but also expertise in cultivation.
With the autumn harvest over and villagers idle, many offered suggestions under Niu Qiang’s lead, eager to earn extra coin.
Several seasoned farmers shared invaluable advice, all of which Lu Jianwei rewarded generously.
That evening, after finishing his work, Niu Qiang bid farewell to Lu Jianwei and the others.
Lu Jianwei cautioned him, "Don’t come back for a while. The inn will be crowded soon, and I don’t want you caught in the crossfire."
Understanding the gravity, Niu Qiang nodded fervently, touched by her concern.
Manager Lu wasn’t like other Jianghu folk at all.
As dusk settled, Lu Jianwei leaned against the third-floor railing, gazing into the distance.
Wei Liu approached quietly.
"Elder Sister Lu, why are you so fixated on farming? The inn isn’t short on supplies. Why bother with this?"
"The land outside looks barren and lifeless. Imagine opening the window to endless greenery or a sea of blossoms—wouldn’t that be beautiful?"
"You’re right." Wei Liu pondered, already envisioning the scene. "If it comes true, I’ll stay here often. You’d better not grow tired of me."
Lu Jianwei smiled softly. "I’d be delighted."
"Elder Sister Lu," Wei Liu suddenly gripped her wrist tightly, "What if everyone comes for the treasure map? What will happen to you? To Uncle Zhang and Yue Shu?"
Lu Jianwei turned to her. The young woman’s almond eyes shimmered with worry.
"Nothing will happen," she replied. "Don’t forget—Swordsman Yan is here."
With a top-tier martial artist guarding the premises, who would dare cause trouble?
But Wei Liu countered, "Even the mightiest elephant falls to an army of ants."
No matter how strong Jianghu experts were, none dared defy imperial troops. The principle of "many ants can devour an elephant" was universally understood.
Yan Feicang was just one man, and his loyalty to the inn wasn’t absolute—he had no obligation to die for it.
He could leave anytime.
And if he did, the inn would be defenseless.
Wei Liu shuddered at the thought of what might befall Lu Jianwei then.
Lu Jianwei patted her hand, calm as ever.
"Don’t worry. Get some rest tonight."
The system map encompassed the entire territory of the Qi Dynasty, with countless green dots densely scattered across the landscape, spanning dozens of miles in every direction.
From all sides, they swarmed forth like a relentless tide.
