◎Arrival in Jiangzhou, Please Accept (Part 1)◎
Lu Jianwei sat meditating quietly in the small courtyard.
Outside the courtyard, hurried footsteps approached, followed by a knock on the gate. A voice called out, "Shopkeeper Lu, someone from the Martial Alliance is here. They want to question you."
Lu Jianwei: ???
She didn’t even know which direction the Zhou residence’s main gate faced—what could they possibly want to ask her?
What nonsense!
"If they have questions, they can come here themselves."
Zhao Jiang hesitated. "Well… alright."
Unwilling to offend either side, he returned to the main hall and carefully said, "Shopkeeper Lu is currently indisposed. Young Master Yu, would you mind stepping into the rear courtyard?"
Yu Jiansheng didn’t budge. "What indisposition?"
The hall fell silent. Zhao Jiang scrambled for an excuse, unsure how to salvage the situation, when Luo Lianhuan couldn’t hold back any longer.
"A woman has plenty of inconvenient moments—must she explain every single one to you?"
"You—!" Yu Jiansheng’s thick brows furrowed, his sharp gaze stabbing toward Luo Lianhuan like a blade.
Luo Lianhuan flinched, retreating half a step behind Elder Ge.
"Young Master Yu, since Miss Lu is indisposed, why not visit the rear courtyard? We were just about to check on our injured disciples anyway," Elder Ge mediated.
Yu Jiansheng snorted coldly and ordered Zhao Jiang, "Lead the way."
The group split up along the path—Luo Lianhuan and the others went to see Luo Sheng, while Zhao Jiang escorted Yu Jiansheng to Lu Jianwei’s courtyard.
May the heavens protect us—please don’t let Young Master Yu and Shopkeeper Lu come to blows.
Zhao Jiang silently prayed as they finally arrived outside the courtyard.
"Young Master Yu, we’re here."
Yu Jiansheng’s gaze turned icy as he surveyed the courtyard.
This is what you call 'indisposed'?"
Zhao Jiang took a closer look and gasped.
The courtyard gate stood wide open, with a group of people gathered around the stone table inside—Yan Feicang, Xue Guanhe, Tiao, Wen Zhuzhi, and A'Nai were all present.
Lu Jianwei sat at the center, lounging lazily in her chair.
No wonder Young Master Yu was furious.
Wiping sweat from his brow, Zhao Jiang hastily said, "Shopkeeper Lu, this is Young Master Yu Jiansheng from the Martial Alliance."
Lu Jianwei lifted her eyes, a faint smile on her lips. "Young Master Yu, your reputation precedes you."
"So you’re Lu Jianwei?" Yu Jiansheng strode into the courtyard, his hawk-like eyes fixed on her. "Why didn’t you come to the main hall to answer questions?"
Lu Jianwei raised an eyebrow.
Well, well. Since transmigrating here, no one had dared address her so bluntly.
This Young Master Yu was certainly… unique.
"What do you want to ask?"
Dissatisfied with her attitude, Yu Jiansheng’s expression darkened. "I’m asking you—why didn’t you come to the main hall?"
Lu Jianwei had no patience for further nonsense.
With people like this, a good beating usually solved the problem.
She glanced at Yan Feicang and said with a smile, "A Martial Alliance expert—care for a spar?"
Yan Feicang showed no interest. "A defeated opponent."
"Young Master Yan, that’s not entirely fair," A'Nai chimed in, never one to miss a chance to stir the pot. "Perhaps Young Master Yu has improved since your last duel. Maybe his sword can finally best your blade."
"Fair point." Yan Feicang stepped forward, blocking Yu Jiansheng’s line of sight, and said flatly, "After you."
Yu Jiansheng’s face had been darkening since the words "defeated opponent," and now it turned a mottled shade of fury.
"Yan Feicang, I’m here on official business, not to brawl with you. Don’t push your luck!"
"Then get on with it. Stop wasting time—ask what you need to ask." Yan Feicang might be a martial fanatic, but he wasn’t a fool.
He usually stayed silent, but that didn’t mean he was oblivious.
The Martial Alliance’s arrogance was nothing new, and Yu Jiansheng had always been full of himself. Faced with someone he deemed "weak" like Lu Jianwei, his disdain was inevitable.
But Yan Feicang owed Lu Jianwei for her guidance—he wouldn’t let this man’s arrogance go unchecked.
"Yan Feicang, you’re the top-ranked blade master. Why are you mingling with a suspect?" Yu Jiansheng sneered, his voice sharp. "Is she your lover or something?"
Xue Guanhe exploded. "You’re the suspect!"
"How laughable. Is this how the Martial Alliance conducts investigations?" A'Nai mocked. "No questions, just accusations—what’s next? Dragging her to the alliance for a public execution?"
Yan Feicang’s expression turned glacial. His blade hissed from its sheath, its cold gleam reflecting in Yu Jiansheng’s shrinking pupils. The full force of his sixth-rank pressure bore down on the younger man, forcing him back several steps.
"She’s my employer. Watch your tongue!"
Yu Jiansheng, a fifth-rank cultivator backed by the Martial Alliance, was used to strutting around the martial world like a tyrant. To be humiliated like this only stoked his resentment.
"Yan Feicang, if you want to shield her, just say so! What kind of joke is this 'employer' nonsense?"
Lu Jianwei spoke softly, "Why is it a joke?"
"How could a woman with no cultivation possibly employ Yan Feicang? Isn’t that absurd?"
Lu Jianwei couldn’t help but laugh. "Ah, yes. And how could an ordinary, powerless commoner like me possibly be a suspect? Young Master Yu, the brain is a wonderful organ—I suggest you remember to bring yours when you leave the house."
"Pfft." A'Nai burst out laughing. "Shopkeeper Lu, you’re truly one of a kind."
Xue Guanhe felt a surge of satisfaction. His shopkeeper was never one to suffer injustice silently.
Even Yan Feicang had been left speechless during their first encounter at the inn.
Lu Jianwei shifted lazily in her seat and sighed. "Such a delicate woman like me… I’m flattered Young Master Yu thinks so highly of me."
Yu Jiansheng: "…"
He realized his own contradiction. He’d spoken rashly in anger, and now she’d seized the flaw in his argument.
Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to calm down.
"Lu Jianwei, the Martial Alliance is investigating whether the martial artists killed at the Zhou family’s banquet had any enemies. We’ve confirmed that before entering Dongliu City, you stayed overnight at Yunlai Inn outside the city. The next morning, you had an altercation with the Dongliu Twin Heroes—correct?"
Lu Jianwei: "No."
"I’ve already questioned the innkeeper and checked the guest records. Don’t bother lying."
"The Twin Heroes had their precious medicine stolen. I merely helped them track down the thief and recover it—does that count as an 'altercation'?" Lu Jianwei replied evenly. "They even rewarded me handsomely for it. If you don’t believe me, check the records at Tianqi Bank in Dongliu City. Five thousand taels of silver."
"There’s that too?" A'Nai shot Xue Guanhe a glare. "Why haven’t I heard about this?"
You’ve been hiding things!
Xue Guanhe sighed inwardly. The shopkeeper had told them not to mention the details to avoid exposing the White Jade Spirit Herb Pill.
"Wait a minute," he suddenly realized, "if you really questioned the innkeeper, how could you not know what happened? We even helped the innkeeper—he wouldn’t slander us."
Yu Jiansheng choked.
"Can’t catch the real thief who had a grudge against the Twin Heroes, so you pin it on us instead?" Yan Feicang said coldly. "Pathetic."
"Yan Feicang!" Yu Jiansheng’s face burned with humiliation. "How do we know she wasn’t colluding with that thief? Otherwise, why would she use a White Jade Spirit Herb Pill to lure him back, only to let him go in the end? It was clearly an act!"
Xue Guanhe: "That’s ridiculous!"
"Ridiculous?" Yu Jiansheng’s eyes darkened. "The innkeeper said the pill was returned to the Twin Heroes. Can you produce a second one?"
Xue Guanhe: ???
Was his hearing broken, or was this man’s brain malfunctioning?
How else could he not understand a single word?
Lu Jianwei wasn’t falling for his trap. "If I produce it now, will you immediately accuse me of slaughtering the heroes and stealing the gifts from the birthday banquet?"
"The Martial Alliance must give the martial world an explanation," Yan Feicang's voice was icy. "Unable to find the real culprit, you resort to scapegoating an innocent. How admirable."
Yu Jiansheng said, "I’m merely making a reasonable deduction based on facts. How could a mere innkeeper like you possess something as precious as the White Jade Spirit Mushroom Pill? Even if it wasn’t stolen from the Zhou family’s gifts, you must have taken it from somewhere else."
"Then let me ask," Lu Jianwei countered, "how could a small innkeeper like me possibly pull off such a grand scheme?"
Yu Jiansheng sneered, "Once you’re in custody, I’ll make sure you reveal your mastermind."
"Bravo." Lu Jianwei couldn’t help but clap. "Young Hero Yu has truly enlightened me on the Martial Alliance’s exceptional investigative skills."
Xue Guanhe glared furiously, Tiao clenched a handful of poison powder, A'Nai wore a mocking smile, and even the usually mild-tempered Zhao Jiang couldn’t resist rolling his eyes.
"I’ve heard there’s a figure in the martial world known as the 'Thousand-Faced Phantom Thief,'" Wen Zhuzhi suddenly spoke up. "His lightness skills are unparalleled, and he excels at concealing his aura. The East Flow Twin Heroes are both fifth-level experts—only someone like him could steal such a treasure right under their noses."
Zhao Jiang nodded in agreement. "I’ve also heard of this legendary thief. He must be the one behind the theft. Young Hero Yu, why don’t you go catch him and question him instead?"
A'Nai scoffed. "If he could actually catch him, would he be here bullying Innkeeper Lu?"
Yu Jiansheng retorted, "They’re accomplices. Capture her, and the other will show himself."
"That’s slander!" Luo Lianhuan suddenly rushed into the courtyard, her pretty face flushed with anger. "If it weren’t for Brother Yan and Innkeeper Lu saving us that day, my senior brother and I would already be dead! When the assassins slaughtered the Zhou family, they were already far from Dongliu City. Yu Jiansheng, are you out of your mind?!"
With her backers present, Luo Lianhuan regained her usual haughty demeanor, lashing out at anyone who displeased her.
"Lianhuan, as a young lady, you mustn’t speak so crudely," Elder Ge chided gently. "Young Hero Yu is here to investigate, not to falsely accuse the innocent. Your three senior brothers also perished at the banquet—we must seek justice for them."
Luo Lianhuan lowered her head. "I understand. Young Hero Yu, they aren’t the culprits. They saved me and my senior brother from the assassins."
Logically, Yu Jiansheng should have taken the out and dropped the matter.
Yet he persisted. "Their act of saving you could very well be a ruse to cover their tracks. It doesn’t absolve them of suspicion."
Lu Jianwei raised an eyebrow. She had a vague sense that a shadow loomed over her, though its nature remained unclear for now.
She decided to stop playing by his rules.
"I see now. Young Hero Yu is so desperate to frame me because you’re shielding the real culprit. How blatant."
"What nonsense—"
Lu Jianwei narrowed her eyes. "Yan Feicang, seize him!"
A flash of blade-light intercepted Yu Jiansheng in an instant. A sixth-level expert against a fifth—Yan Feicang didn’t even need to draw his weapon to subdue him effortlessly.
"I have reason to suspect Yu Jiansheng is a spy for the assassin organization, deliberately muddying the waters to pin the blame on an innocent."
Lu Jianwei struck back swiftly, pinning the blame squarely on him.
"You’re spouting outright lies!" Yu Jiansheng roared. "Once I report this to the Alliance, you’ll regret this!"
Lu Jianwei stood with a smile, tossing a bottle to Tiao.
"Make sure he doesn’t escape. This is 'Ordinary Guest.' Force-feed him one, and keep the rest for your own research."
Tiao’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she complied. She pulled out a pill and shoved it into Yu Jiansheng’s mouth without hesitation. Within moments, his face twisted in horror as his internal energy began draining away.
"You truly are vile—"
"Tiao," Lu Jianwei cut him off, "I don’t want to hear another word from him."
Tiao’s expression remained stern, but her eyes gleamed.
"Understood."
She rummaged through her cloth pouch before producing another pill. Under Yu Jiansheng’s terrified glare, she forced it down his throat.
"Tiao, what was that?" Xue Guanhe asked curiously.
"Silencing powder."
"No wonder he’s not screaming anymore," Xue Guanhe remarked sagely.
Yu Jiansheng: "…"
Was he choosing not to scream?
He physically couldn’t!
"Innkeeper Lu," Zhao Jiang finally recovered from his shock, "forgive my bluntness, but this will likely offend the Martial Alliance."
Lu Jianwei feigned surprise. "Offend them? I’m doing them a favor by exposing a traitor in their ranks. The Martial Alliance is full of righteous heroes—they’ll be grateful, not angry."
"But—"
"Steward Zhao," Lu Jianwei smiled gently, "I appreciate your concern. I’ve overstayed my welcome here. Guanhe, pack up. We’re leaving for Jiangzhou."
Xue Guanhe scrambled to obey.
"This—this—" Zhao Jiang turned desperately to Wen Zhuzhi. "Young Master Wen, I meant no harm. Please persuade Innkeeper Lu to reconsider."
Wen Zhuzhi stroked his jade flute, his eyes warm with amusement. "Steward Zhao, thank you for your hospitality these past days. Since Dongliu City is no longer an option, I should return to South Province. A'Nai, pack our belongings."
A'Nai: So the young master plans to follow her discreetly?
Without hesitation, he replied, "At once!"
Zhao Jiang: "…"
"Innkeeper Lu!" Luo Lianhuan cried out in panic. "My senior brother’s injuries still need treatment. Can’t you help him?"
Elder Ge had already examined Luo Sheng—his internal injuries were severe. Even if they took him back to their sect, no one would dare risk the backlash to heal him.
Lu Jianwei was their last hope.
Lu Jianwei said, "Once I’ve settled in Jiangzhou, if you still wish to save him, you can find me at the Eight Directions Inn."
"Then I’ll bring my senior brother with you!"
"Lianhuan." Elder Ge held her back. "We’ll return to the sect first. Our own physicians will tend to Luo Sheng."
Despite her willfulness, Luo Lianhuan couldn’t defy her elder. Her chest tightened with frustration as she watched Yan Feicang shoulder his pack, his blade at his waist. He bound Yu Jiansheng with rope and tossed him into the carriage.
Zhao Jiang’s face was etched with worry. Had his words driven both Lu Jianwei and Wen Zhuzhi away?
"Manager, everything’s packed," Xue Guanhe announced, hopping onto the driver’s seat.
Lu Jianwei mounted her horse and turned to Zhao Jiang with a reassuring smile. "Don’t overthink it, Steward Zhao. My new venture in Jiangzhou awaits, and I’m eager to begin."
"Innkeeper Lu, safe travels." Zhao Jiang clasped his hands, his unease easing slightly.
Lu Jianwei waved and rode off.
"Innkeeper Lu, let’s travel together for a while!" A'Nai urged the carriage after her.
Xue Guanhe blinked. "I thought you were returning to South Province?"
"Our paths align for now."
"Fair enough."
The group traveled swiftly, arriving three days later at the crossroads of Anzhou, Jiangzhou, and South Province.
Here, they would part ways.
Xue Guanhe felt a pang of reluctance as he called out, "A'Nai, till we meet again!"
A'Nai laughed heartily, his carriage continuing straight toward Jiangzhou. "Who said anything about parting?"
Xue Guanhe: ???
Lu Jianwei was equally curious: "Aren't you returning to Nanzhou?"
"Since Shopkeeper Lu is opening a new branch, I must offer my congratulations." Wen Zhuzhi lifted the carriage curtain and flashed Lu Jianwei a faint smile from afar.
Lu Jianwei couldn’t help but smile back. "I suspect you’re here for the White Jade Lingzhi Elixir. Let me be clear—if you don’t have enough money, there’s no deal."
"The elixir isn’t the main point," Wen Zhuzhi sighed helplessly. "I’ve offended the Martial Alliance and seek Shopkeeper Lu’s protection."
Lu Jianwei shot him a glance. "Do you have too much money to spare?"
"Young Hero Yu already believes we’re in league. I doubt I can escape the Martial Alliance’s questioning either. I beg Shopkeeper Lu to shield me."
Inside the carriage, Yu Jiansheng: "..."
A mere woman, capable of protecting you from the Martial Alliance’s interrogation? Your legs might be weak, but is your brain broken too?
Lu Jianwei had rushed to Jiangzhou precisely to reach the inn before the Martial Alliance caught up.
The inn’s tools could only be bound to the inn itself.
She had calculated it—upgrading one tool to Level 7 required 111,111.1 taels of silver. Two would cost over 222,000 taels.
The inn’s public account held 280,000 taels, enough to upgrade both the offensive and defensive tools to Level 7.
No matter how powerful the Martial Alliance was, they wouldn’t send an eighth-level master after her, right?
However, after the upgrades, the inn’s funds would dwindle to 60,000 taels. If the Martial Alliance sent experts to attack, the remaining balance might not hold.
She turned to Wen Zhuzhi. "How does the Martial Alliance compare to the Thousand Miles Tower and the Black Wind Fort?"
"The latter two are far inferior," Wen Zhuzhi replied, then seemed to grasp her meaning. Something about it amused him, and he laughed heartily. "Shopkeeper Lu, my congratulatory gift and protection fee will not disappoint."
Lu Jianwei smiled amiably. "Good to hear."
The last time she had felt this suffocating pressure—as if fate were being rewritten—was when her family fell into ruin, leaving her buried in debt.
The Martial Alliance had numbers and masters aplenty. If not for the inn’s tools, she might already have been branded the murderer Yu Jiansheng accused her of being.
The Martial Alliance needed to placate the martial world and maintain its authority. When no culprit could be found, sacrificing an insignificant life to appease the victims’ families was their preferred solution.
A woman with no backing—who would care?
They could pin countless crimes on her, extract a "confession" under torture, and fabricate a shadowy organization behind her. Let whoever wanted revenge go after it—if they could even find it.
A brilliant scheme.
If Lu Jianwei weren’t the one caught in it, she might have applauded.
Had she lingered in Shuangxi City arguing with Yu Jiansheng, she would have sunk deeper into the quagmire.
Escaping before the Martial Alliance fully mobilized was the only way.
A day and a half later, they finally arrived at Jiangzhou City.
Jiangzhou was prosperous, its towering walls imposing, its vermilion gates freshly painted. The bustling crowd at the city entrance painted a lively, thriving scene.
In his letter, Yue Shu mentioned that the Eight Directions Inn was built in the southern district, near a long river. Opening a window would reveal the river view.
"Shopkeeper, should we head to White Crane Manor first?" Xue Guanhe suggested. "We haven’t told Yue Shu or Uncle Zhang about our arrival."
Lu Jianwei shook her head. "To the inn."
Others might be confident in her abilities, unaware of her true limits, but she wouldn’t pretend otherwise.
In novels and plays, accidents always struck at the last moment.
If the Martial Alliance reacted swiftly, they might already be in Jiangzhou.
The streets were packed, slowing the horses. Though anxious, Lu Jianwei showed no outward sign, even casually glancing at the shops lining the road.
Wen Zhuzhi lifted the carriage curtain, his gaze fixed on her back, brows slightly furrowed.
He couldn’t sense her internal energy, but he could detect her heartbeat and breathing. Amid the noisy streets, her pulse raced, her breaths slightly hurried.
"Jiangzhou is so lively!" Xue Guanhe, ever youthful, had been tense during the journey, but the vibrant market gradually lifted his spirits.
"Stop gawking. Hurry up—there’ll be plenty of time later," A'Nai urged from behind.
Xue Guanhe retorted, "Why the rush?!"
"My master has endured a long journey. His health is strained. The sooner we reach the inn, the sooner he can rest."
Xue Guanhe hastened the carriage. "Is Master Wen alright?"
"Nothing serious," Wen Zhuzhi replied. "Just a little tired."
Lu Jianwei seemed to sense something and glanced back, but the curtain fell, revealing only a fleeting glimpse of a hand.
The southern district came into view.
Lu Jianwei spotted the riverside inn—a three-story building with high, expansive walls, its main gate facing the street, the river flowing behind.
The layout was identical to the one in Fengzhou.
Her tense heart finally began to settle.
The carriage stopped before the courtyard.
The gate wasn’t locked but barred from the inside.
"Strange," Xue Guanhe hopped down. "Is someone inside?"
As soon as he spoke, the gate swung open, revealing a spirited, elderly face brimming with delight.
"Shopkeeper, you’ve arrived so quickly!"
Lu Jianwei stepped into the front courtyard, smiling in satisfaction, but before she could respond, a sudden unease gripped her.
"Xiao Ke, purchase the defensive and offensive tools—upgrade both to Level 7!" she ordered without hesitation.
Xiao Ke completed the transaction instantly.
"Defensive tool bound to Branch No. 1, upgraded to Level 7. Offensive tool bound to Branch No. 1, upgraded to Level 7."
Lu Jianwei commanded, "Everyone, inside—now."
Yan Feicang and Tiao had already entered. Xue Guanhe led the horses in, but Wen Zhuzhi and his servant, hindered by his disability, lagged outside.
Two sixth-level and three fifth-level experts approached.
They really thought highly of her!
Wen Zhuzhi descended the ramp in his wheelchair, unhurried, but was intercepted before entering.
Holding a long, narrow case in his arms, he looked at Lu Jianwei.
"Shopkeeper Lu, a 200,000-tael deal—interested?"
Lu Jianwei: "..."
Who carries that much money around?!
"Guanhe, drag Yu Jiansheng here," she snapped, sick of being cornered.
Xue Guanhe obeyed, hauling Yu Jiansheng from the carriage and tossing him onto the courtyard ground.
Yu Jiansheng, seeing his fellow disciples, wept in relief but could only mouth silent words, his voice stolen by the mute poison.
"How dare you!" The leader of the group seethed. "You disgrace our alliance’s disciple like this?!"
Lu Jianwei scoffed. "Enough talk. Fight if you’re going to."
The five exchanged glances, then charged at her, blades and swords gleaming, their combined force roaring toward her.
Lu Jianwei raised a slender, pale hand, as if summoning a gust.
Their energy crashed against an invisible wall, unable to touch her.
On the system panel, coins clattered away relentlessly.
Her heart ached at the loss. Without delay, she activated the offensive tool.
"Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!"
The five were flung back, crashing to the ground, blood spewing from their mouths.
The five: ???
Yu Jiansheng: ???
"It’s been months, yet the shopkeeper’s martial prowess has only grown sharper," Uncle Zhang praised cheerfully.
Lu Jianwei: "..."
All she could say was—the inn’s tools remained as formidable as ever.
A'Nai pushed Wen Zhuzhi into the courtyard, her face alight with wonder. "Manager Lu, that palm technique you just demonstrated—it carries a sense of returning to simplicity. What's it called?"
Lu Jianwei replied with quiet indifference, "A secret art of my own. Merely a humble display."
"Truly a masterful technique," Wen Zhuzhi said, offering a long case. "Manager Lu, please accept this."
