◎Making a Fortune, Clues Emerge (Part 2)◎
A bone-chilling killing intent enveloped all of Jiangzhou City.
For those who witnessed it firsthand, the shock and terror of this night would never be forgotten.
With the power of a ninth-level Martial King temporarily bestowed upon her and the enhancement of "No Regrets for the Years," Lu Jianwei moved with blinding speed. The flash of her sword was so swift that the martial artists didn’t even feel pain before their bodies collapsed.
Their eyes widened in fear, all their unanswered questions swallowed by the silent night sky.
Five minutes.
That was the time limit Lu Jianwei had set for herself.
Five minutes as a ninth-level Martial King was more than enough to intimidate everyone present.
She stood atop the eaves, looking down at the martial artists kneeling in terror outside the inn. Her voice, disguised by a prop, came out low and hoarse.
"Surrender or die."
No one wanted to die, but no one knew how to surrender in a way that would satisfy her.
The moonlight stretched like silk, bearing witness to the suffocating silence inside and outside the inn.
"Why isn’t anyone speaking?" Lu Jianwei asked Xiao Ke inwardly. "Did I not appear strong enough?"
Xiao Ke replied, "I don’t know either."
Lu Jianwei had no choice but to raise her sword again.
The crowd trembled in despair.
Finally, someone quick-witted shouted, "I surrender! I surrender! I’ll give you all my silver! I swear I won’t resist!"
Lu Jianwei lowered her sword.
Seeing an opportunity, the others quickly followed suit, begging the inn’s staff to bind them and even requesting to be fed the "Ordinary Guest" poison before being locked in the stables.
They perfectly replicated the treatment of the six from the Martial Alliance, desperate to secure their survival.
With that settled, Lu Jianwei said no more and vanished from the eaves.
Back in her room, she immediately removed her disguise.
Five minutes of overwhelming power, two minutes waiting for their surrender—three minutes of the prop’s usage time remained, ready for next time.
She carefully stored it in her bag before changing into a fresh set of robes.
Earlier, she had appeared in black robes, wielding the "Lone Star Sword," with her appearance and voice completely altered. No one would recognize her—they would only assume the ninth-level Martial King was a senior from her sect.
Those who had narrowly escaped death rushed into the inn, terrified of being a second too late and meeting the Martial King’s blade.
As for the martial artists already inside, they lay prostrate on the ground, hearts pounding with lingering fear.
Never had they been so grateful for their luck.
Yan Feicang and the others finally snapped out of their daze, watching as the once-arrogant experts now scrambled to surrender. Their emotions were indescribably complex.
Some lit lanterns, others tied up the captives.
One of the bound warriors cautiously asked, "Aren’t you going to feed us the 'Ordinary Guest' poison?"
"Too many of you. It’d be a waste," Lu Jianwei replied casually as she descended the stairs. The lantern light cast a cold glow on her face.
Liang Shangjun’s expression was deeply conflicted.
Juggling a handful of money pouches, he said, "I was going to help you collect fines, but… Lu Jianwei, with a sect like yours, why bother earning money the hard way?"
Once a ninth-level Martial King made an appearance, who would dare oppose her?
Such a monstrous powerhouse was something only the most reclusive and supreme sects could produce.
After tonight, all the negative rumors about Lu Jianwei would vanish without a trace.
Lu Jianwei smiled. "Thank you for your kindness. My sect has its rules—I must obey."
She turned to the crowd of martial artists crammed in the courtyard.
"The only reason you’re alive is because my elder chose not to slaughter you all. Since I’m not using 'Ordinary Guest,' you won’t try to escape, will you?"
The crowd shuddered.
"Never!"
"Of course not! I haven’t even paid my fine yet!"
"Manager Lu, please have mercy!"
The pleas grew louder, grating on Lu Jianwei’s nerves. She raised a hand to silence them.
Immediate quiet fell.
These martial artists, who usually swaggered with arrogance, now behaved with unbelievable docility.
"Pay up, then leave," Lu Jianwei ordered.
They hastily stripped themselves of all valuables, presenting them along with personal seals, their hands trembling with reverence.
"Manager Lu, this token grants access to all my wealth. If I’ve hidden anything, may lightning strike me dead!"
"Manager Lu, take mine as well!"
"Manager Lu…"
She instructed Uncle Zhang, "Verify their claims at the bank at dawn. Release those who are truthful. Kill those who lie."
"Yes!"
These people were nothing but greedy hyenas. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t have spared them. But she had spent five hundred thousand taels—she needed to earn it back from them.
Killing was for intimidation.
Not killing was for profit.
The two goals didn’t contradict each other.
Three hours remained until sunrise.
To spare the nearby residents from stumbling upon a gruesome scene at daybreak, Uncle Zhang and the others went out to clean up the "battlefield."
Thirty-six had died, each with a single, precise slash across the throat—a thin red line with barely any blood spilled. The scene wasn’t excessively gory.
Yan Feicang clenched his fists, his heart still reeling.
A ninth-level Martial King stood before him like an insurmountable mountain, making him feel like an insignificant ant.
Yet, having witnessed such unstoppable power, how could he resign himself to mediocrity?
He wanted to grow stronger!
The others shared his fervor.
Xue Guanhe had always known his master’s sect was formidable, but he hadn’t grasped just how formidable—until he saw fifth and sixth-level warriors, who once carried themselves with arrogance, now begging for their lives without even a chance to scream.
Had he used up all his lifetime’s luck in becoming her disciple?
Dawn broke, and the surroundings returned to normal.
Women gathered by the river, rhythmically beating laundry, the steady thuds echoing into the inn—each strike a hammer to the captives’ hearts.
Twenty-five prisoners remained, all fifth or sixth-level experts, some even minor celebrities in the martial world.
Uncle Zhang, Yan Feicang, and Liang Shangjun recognized a few.
Lu Jianwei sat on the veranda, flipping through the "Register of Villains," but found none matching the captives.
"Strange. You’ve committed such shameless acts, yet you’re not listed here. Seems the Mystic Mirror Bureau’s records aren’t entirely reliable."
The prisoners: "…"
Yan Feicang pointed out, "Among those killed last night, a few were notorious villains."
Lu Jianwei nodded. "Good riddance."
"Manager Lu," Liang Shangjun asked eagerly, "who was that senior last night? I’ve been racking my brain, but I can’t recall any ninth-level Martial King surnamed Lu."
Ninth-level Martial Kings were few and far between, their names widely known—and none bore the surname Lu.
Lu Jianwei smiled without answering.
The less she said, the fewer holes in her story. Silence only deepened their belief.
"Not all Martial Kings leave their names behind," Yan Feicang reasoned, playing right into her hands. "Some reclusive sects have existed for centuries. It’s not unusual for their experts to remain unknown."
Liang Shangjun paused, then forced a laugh. "Fair point."
Before long, Uncle Zhang returned from the bank with a cartload of silver—all contributions from the prisoners.
"Manager, it totals five million taels."
Twenty-five people, five million taels—averaging two hundred thousand taels per person.
They were all loaded!
Lu Jianwei felt even more relieved she hadn’t chosen the inn’s defensive props. Now, this fortune belonged solely to her.
Five million taels could buy ten disguise props!
Xiao Ke cut in, "Dream on. There won’t be any more half-price deals."
"Five is still good."
"They’re limited stock."
Lu Jianwei: "…"
She instructed the system to open the mall, and indeed, the details of the disguise prop clearly stated: "Limited to three purchases."
Though slightly disappointed, she understood the reasoning.
If there were no purchase limit, as long as she had enough money, she could indefinitely disguise herself as a ninth-level Martial King, which might lead her to lose her true self.
At any rate, the five million in earnings was more than enough to ease the pain of spending on the prop!
"Let them go," she ordered.
Uncle Zhang and the others immediately untied the captives. Upon receiving their pardon, the prisoners wasted no time, activating their lightness skills to flee the inn as fast as possible.
It had been terrifying!
In just one day, the Eight Directions Inn's reputation soared once more in the martial world.
But this time, no one dared to speak ill of Lu Jianwei. Every rumor about her was filled with extravagant praise, piling lavish descriptions upon her as if she were a celestial fairy beyond mortal reach.
As for the ninth-level Martial King? Not a single word was mentioned.
Not because they didn’t want to, but because they didn’t dare—fearing that even a slightly misplaced phrase might provoke the Martial King’s overwhelming wrath.
The murderous words from that night still echoed in their ears:
"Harm my disciple, and you die."
Under the intimidation of the ninth-level Martial King, no one dared to provoke the Eight Directions Inn again. Matters like the "Polar Golden Silkworm" or the "murder suspect" had nothing to do with Lu Jianwei.
She was simply an innocent innkeeper.
Xue Guanhe chopped at the meat filling angrily. "They’re all spineless cowards who bully the weak! After throwing so much dirt at us, now they don’t even dare to say a word—just mindlessly singing praises."
"True," Yue Shu remarked, having matured considerably after recent events. "The martial world will only assume those people submitted out of fear for the Martial King’s might. Deep down, they’ll still whisper that the innkeeper relies on her sect’s elders to act without restraint."
"Why overthink it?" Liang Shangjun leaned on his broom outside the door. "A life without being wronged isn’t complete."
Xue Guanhe brandished his cleaver. "You and your wise words!"
"I’m stating facts. Once clothes are stained with mud, no matter how much you wash them, they’ll never be perfectly clean again."
Yue Shu cut to the chase. "We still need to find out who spread the rumors."
"Easier said than done." Liang Shangjun scoffed. "The reason rumors are called rumors is that you can never trace their source—"
"Innkeeper Lu!" A deep voice interrupted him.
Liang Shangjun shuddered, recalling his earlier humiliation when forced to wash off his disguise. He cautiously peeked out.
It really was Han Xiaofeng!
What was he doing here?
Uncle Zhang went to open the door and led Han Xiaofeng inside, noticing he was carrying an unconscious man in gray robes.
Instinctively, he asked, "Was a Gray Envoy injured?"
"No." Han Xiaofeng tossed the man onto the ground and bowed to Lu Jianwei. "Innkeeper Lu, does this man’s attire look familiar?"
Lu Jianwei glanced at it and smiled. "How did Envoy Han capture him?"
"The Zhou family case had some suspicious elements. Since the Martial Alliance couldn’t solve it, I set a trap, claiming we’d found the Zhou family’s 'Polar Golden Silkworm.' Unexpectedly, it lured out assassins—though we only managed to capture this one alive."
"A clever plan," Lu Jianwei praised. "But why bring him here?"
"I’ve heard of your exploits in Shuangxi City. The Gray Assassins have parasitic worms inside them, so I didn’t dare interrogate him recklessly. I kept him unconscious and brought him here, hoping you could examine whether the worms can be removed."
Lu Jianwei was indeed interested in the Blood-Eating Worms but lacked enough specimens for experimentation. Han Xiaofeng’s move aligned perfectly with her needs.
"I can’t guarantee success."
Han Xiaofeng nodded. "No matter. Just do your best."
Since the culprit behind the Zhou family case remained at large, and the rumors about Lu Jianwei hadn’t been fully cleared, extracting the assassin’s worms was crucial.
But Lu Jianwei wouldn’t act recklessly.
She needed to prepare first.
"Innkeeper Lu, I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave." Han Xiaofeng came and went like the wind.
Leaving such a critical witness at the inn? He had complete confidence in its safety.
News of the ninth-level Martial King had spread throughout the martial world. No one would dare provoke the inn anytime soon.
As he reached the courtyard gate, he suddenly turned back.
"Innkeeper Lu, the Bureau previously uncovered a lead pointing to Xia Huaigu of the Thousand Miles Tower. The slander against you was likely his doing."
Lu Jianwei raised an eyebrow.
"Do I have a grudge with him?"
Han Xiaofeng shook his head. "Unknown."
"Was Feng Yan injured because of this?"
"Yes."
"Why wasn’t this mentioned earlier?"
"At the time, the investigation was incomplete. We only had a faint lead. Xia Huaigu has profound internal strength, and his tower is heavily guarded. I was no match."
"And now? How was it confirmed?" Lu Jianwei asked curiously.
A flicker of reverence crossed Han Xiaofeng’s face before he schooled his expression.
My apologies, Innkeeper Lu. The details involve Bureau confidentiality and cannot be disclosed. The Thousand Miles Tower is no simple foe—please be cautious.
Lu Jianwei smiled. "Thank you for the warning."
After Han Xiaofeng left, Lu Jianwei threw herself into researching the gu chong (worms).
How could she extract the child parasite without alerting the mother worm?
She purchased numerous books on Gu arts (parasitic sorcery) from the mall, studying and taking notes tirelessly.
Every martial technique had its flaws. The parasitic arts were a unique form of "martial technique"—there had to be a way to counter them.
While she was in "seclusion," the martial world stirred once more.
Rumors poured in from all directions.
After the siege, the inn’s staff trained even harder, joining Lu Jianwei in "seclusion" and avoiding outings unless necessary.
Had it not been for Hong He and his son arriving with gifts, they wouldn’t have known about the latest rumors.
"The innkeeper is in seclusion, Sect Leader Hong. Please return another time," Uncle Zhang said politely. "And take your gifts back."
Hong He forced a smile. "Brother Zhang, with the Martial King senior gracing Jiangzhou City, it’s only right that I, as the leader of the Azure Dragon Gang, pay my respects."
"Unnecessary." Uncle Zhang refused firmly.
Hong He didn’t press further. The gesture alone was enough. Experts had their own temperaments—pushing further might anger the ninth-level Martial King.
After that night, he had hidden in his gang, trembling in retrospect.
Reviewing the Azure Dragon Gang’s actions since Lu Jianwei’s arrival, he could only be grateful he hadn’t been foolish enough to provoke her.
The intimidation of a ninth-level Martial King had reached even his gang. The overwhelming killing intent had terrified his men senseless.
Even he had needed days to recover before mustering the courage to visit with gifts.
"Brother Zhang, I truly shouldn’t disturb you, but…" He hesitated before whispering, "Word has it that the person who slandered Innkeeper Lu has been found."
"Oh?"
"Xia Huaigu of the Thousand Miles Tower deliberately spread rumors about the 'Polar Golden Silkworm.'" Hong He lowered his voice further. "They say the Mystic Mirror Bureau’s Commander personally took action."
"Really?" Uncle Zhang was surprised. "I heard he hadn’t intervened personally in years."
"Who knows? Maybe it’s because Xia Huaigu severely injured a Green Envoy. With his profound internal strength and the tower’s protection, Han Xiaofeng couldn’t touch him, so the Commander stepped in."
"What about the two Deputy Commanders?"
The deputy commander, being a seventh-level cultivator, could easily capture Xia Huaigu with no effort.
Hong He speculated, "Perhaps the deputy commander had other tasks and couldn’t spare the time."
"Why would Xia slander the innkeeper?" Uncle Zhang frowned. "What’s his current situation?"
"His dantian is already ruined—probably counting rats in the Mystic Mirror Bureau’s prison now. As for why he targeted Innkeeper Lu, no one knows."
Lu Jianwei raised her head from the book on gu worms, having clearly overheard the conversation outside the courtyard.
The elders of the Thousand Miles Tower had spread rumors targeting her. She didn’t believe for a second that this had nothing to do with the Tower.
There was no enmity between her and Xia Huaigu—the only grudge was with the Thousand Miles Tower, whom she had once outmaneuvered.
First, the exorbitant ransom, and second, her sheltering Yue Shu had delayed their access to clues about the treasure.
Unable to kill her openly, they resorted to luring greedy martial artists to besiege her.
With so many fifth and sixth-level fighters, they could wear her down through sheer numbers.
Xia Huaigu was merely a tool to carry out this task.
This reasoning made perfect sense, yet Lu Jianwei felt there were still loose threads.
The commander, who never intervened, had suddenly taken action—things couldn’t be this simple.
Did the "Polar Golden Silkworm" truly exist?
Was the Thousand Miles Tower simply taking advantage of the Zhou family case to smear her, or were they connected to it?
Within a day, Xia Huaigu’s confession spread throughout the martial world.
Lu Jianwei calmly ate her meal while Xue Guanhe and the others seethed with anger, cursing Xia Huaigu with every bite.
"Just because the innkeeper protected Senior Lan and ruined his plan to become deputy tower leader, he held a grudge and spread rumors to kill her by proxy?" Xue Guanhe couldn’t wrap his head around it.
Uncle Zhang said, "Lan Ling was his biggest rival—both were vying for the deputy tower leader position. If not for the innkeeper’s protection when Lan Ling was hunted by the Black Wind Fort, she might have… So Xia Huaigu blaming the innkeeper does make sense."
"To think he fabricated the 'Polar Golden Silkworm'!" Yue Shu fumed.
Liang Shangjun narrowed his peach-blossom eyes.
"The truth might not be so simple. Xia Huaigu might just be an unlucky scapegoat who happened to be caught when the Mystic Mirror Bureau’s commander intervened. Now that he’s crippled, he’s the perfect fall guy."
"That sends chills down my spine," Xue Guanhe grimaced. "If the Zhou family really had the 'Polar Golden Silkworm,' who leaked the news? If not, why did the gray-clad assassins slaughter so many people?"
Liang Shangjun smirked mockingly. "This martial world is full of darkness and bloodshed. I—"
"Enough," Lu Jianwei cut off his pessimistic rambling. "There’s still plenty of beauty in the world."
Liang Shangjun blinked his dewy eyes.
"Like what?"
"My inn’s staff are all kind and friendly."
Liang Shangjun hissed. "They’re not friendly to me."
"Really?" Lu Jianwei glanced at the others.
Uncle Zhang chuckled. "How could that be? We share meals and drinks—no bullying here."
"Oh? Then why do I get the dirtiest chores?"
Yue Shu said, "Before you came, we all took turns cleaning the stables. That’s the rule. When there’s a newcomer, you can switch tasks."
"But you set up formations in the stables—I stepped in horse dung multiple times!"
"That was Yue Shu practicing formations to protect the inn. If you accidentally stepped in it, consider it your contribution. How is that 'darkness'?" Xue Guanhe rolled his eyes.
"You’re the most biased! Every time you make snacks, I get the smallest portion."
Yan Feicang, who usually got more, felt compelled to defend himself.
"A divine thief needs to stay light. Eating too much and bulking up would ruin your agility."
Liang Shangjun: "…So you’re all ganging up on me, is that it?"
"Here." Tiao handed him a pill. "It’s sweet."
"What is it?"
"A pill to give you sweet dreams."
"……"
Liang Shangjun was on the verge of tears as he turned to Lu Jianwei. "Innkeeper Lu, I’m part of the inn’s staff too. Even if I haven’t contributed much, shouldn’t everyone show me some kindness?"
"They are being kind," Lu Jianwei smiled. "If you feel something’s unfair, just say so. I’ll make them adjust."
Liang Shangjun’s heart skipped a beat.
"No, no need."
Wuwuwu, his life was truly tragic.
After the ninth-level Martial Monarch’s display of power, Jiangzhou City fell into a lull. It wasn’t until half a month later that the bustle gradually returned.
Jiangzhou was prosperous, and martial artists loved indulging here.
For two weeks, no one dared visit, leaving local shopkeepers puzzled by the sudden drop in business.
Now, after the drought, business exploded.
The martial world had come to a realization: the Eight Directions Inn had a Martial Monarch backing it, but as long as they didn’t provoke it, it was just an inn.
An inn was there to do business—it even treated patients. As long as they made Innkeeper Lu money, she remained gentle and kind.
At last, the Eight Directions Inn welcomed "normal" guests.
Whether commoners or martial artists seeking treatment, as long as they weren’t on the blacklist, Lu Jianwei welcomed them all.
Patients came with all sorts of ailments. Lu Jianwei handled the complex cases herself, leaving the rest to Tiao.
There was still a gu worm to extract, and she didn’t have time to spare.
On the twenty-fifth day of studying the Blood-Eroding Worm, Lu Jianwei hit a wall. Leaning against the third-floor railing, she basked in the sun.
With no chores at hand, the staff practiced their martial arts.
Yue Shu squatted in the courtyard, arranging stones with glee.
In the stone formation, an ant scurried blindly, unable to find its way even though the path was right beside it.
Liang Shangjun lounged on the roof, legs crossed, watching with a scoff. "Is this all you’ve got? Toying with an ant?"
"What’s wrong with ants?" Yue Shu retorted. "They’re living creatures too. If I can trick one, I can trick a person."
"You—"
"What did you just say?" Lu Jianwei suddenly spoke. "You said you can trick an ant?"
Yue Shu beamed. "Yeah, they’re pretty easy to fool."
"That’s it!" Lu Jianwei clapped her hands, laughing. "Why didn’t I think of that? Yue Shu, you’ve helped me tremendously!"
Yue Shu didn’t fully understand but was overjoyed nonetheless.
"Glad to be of help."
Lu Jianwei hurried back to her room and flipped to the section on the Blood-Eroding Worm.
Gu worms, like ants, had no thoughts—only instincts. If she could deceive the gu worm, it would crawl out willingly.
Not only the offspring gu but also the mother gu, which could sense its presence.
All living things had instincts. The Blood-Eroding Worm’s was to seek fresh flesh and blood.
Once it parasitized a host, it wouldn’t leave unless the host died.
So the trick was to make it believe its current host’s flesh was no longer fresh.
But if the host died, the offspring gu would perish too. She couldn’t go too far, or the mother gu would sense it and drive the offspring gu straight into the heart, killing the gray-clad assassin instantly.
Whoever devised this gu was meticulous.
How to craft the perfect deception?
Lu Jianwei sank into deep thought.
Suddenly, noise erupted outside the courtyard—a carriage had arrived.
"Xue Guanhe, open the gate!"
It was A'Nai.
His voice was frantic.
