Qian Shuhua dreamed of petals of exquisite beauty, where peach blossom flowers formed an ocean. Two youngsters sat side by side on the branch of a peach blossom tree. The cool breeze brought with it a faint delight while the migratory birds cooed. It was a poetic and picturesque scene. She didn’t know when but a rain of fire began to fall from the sky above. The flames rapidly ignited all the petals, set the peach blossom tree on fire, and burned the migratory birds to death. The youngers were also separated by the fire.

Wonderland turned into purgatory. Qian Shuhua wanted to cry but no tears came. She wanted to scream for help but no voice came. All that was left in her vision was a field of red.

Out of the blue.

A pair of strong yet gentle arms embraced her. Slowly, the sea of purgatory fire extinguished. The cool breeze picked up, caressing the scorched plains. Young shoots quietly sprang from the ground, gradually replacing the blazing world with a field of green. Newborn migratory birds broke out of their shells. It was to the extent that she could faintly smell an aroma wafting in the air.

It wasn’t the smell of fragrance but the smell of incense.

It was the overwhelming aroma lingering inside a Hall of Classics filled with nothing but scrolls and books.

In her dream, Qian Shuhua fell asleep while smelling this aroma.

When she woke up, the sky had completely darkened and her vision was enveloped entirely in the warm yellow candlelight. Next to her bed was a cup of warm tea and in the distance was a small medicinal stove. Ye Que sat beside the medicinal stove and every now and then, he would toss something into the pot with a concentrated expression.

“You’re up.”

Ye Que’s voice reached Qian Shuhua the moment she woke up, sounding as placid and indifferent as he did when imparting the art of spearing to her all this while. It was as if he was forever emotionless.

“How did I get home?” Qian Shuhua asked weakly. After all, she had just experienced a fierce battle.

“I carried you home. I happened to have gone to the academy as well,” Ye Que replied indifferently. After dusting off his hands, he walked to the bedside and flipped open the corner of the blanket to check her pulse. He nodded a short while later. “You’re fine. You’ll fully recover after medicating for a few days.”

Qian Shuhua propped up her body to look at Ye Que and said softly, “Thank you.”

Ye Que looked at her without saying anything.

“I won against Lin Mei’er. I used the art of spearing that you taught me and won against her with a single strike.” Qian Shuhua hurriedly explained herself after seeing his expression.

“That’s to be expected. You’re stronger than her in the first place,” Ye Que said.

“But I lost to Lin Shan. I even reported the name of our Divine Sect. I brought shame to you.” Qian Shuhua was surprisingly embarrassed, as if this was more important than winning against Lin Mei’er.

Ye Que chuckled. Subconsciously, he raised his hand to caress her hair. “It’s not shameful. Lin Shan is a Psychic Realm expert while you’ve just entered the Pre-celestial Realm recently. It’s natural for you to lose. Moreover, you don’t have to be dejected over it. Your attack wasn’t completely useless; you made a hole in Lin Shan’s left shoulder.”

After pausing for a moment, Ye Que continued, “This is already very impressive of you. After all, you’re not facing an ordinary cultivator. Lin Shan is now a formal disciple of Mount Shu and he was also using the sword skills of the number one sword sect in the world.”

Qian Shuhua fell into deep thought after listening to Ye Que’s explanation. Only then did she stopped being so tense and displayed a relieved expression on her face. From the beginning to the end, she neither asked nor complained about her injuries as if it was of little importance to her.

No voice resounded inside the room for a moment, leaving only the quiet bubbling of the concoction in the medicinal stove.

“I forgot to ask you. How was A Xiao’s coming-of-age ceremony? Did it go well?”

“He got drunk last night and completely missed the timing. He only just recovered earlier. Right now, he should be at the old man’s place.”

“He got drunk?” Qian Shuhua’s voice rose by several octaves. “Ridiculous! He dared to even miss the timing of his coming-of-age ceremony! What is he trying to do? Who did he get drunk with? Female entertainers?”

“I think he got together with the chieftains of the Divine Sect again. It happened to be the end of the month, the time when money and secret manuals are distributed. He’s very upset over this. To be fair, he wasn’t playing. He simply didn’t have a good grasp of himself.” Ye Que walked back to the medicinal stove. After observing it for a moment, he added in more medicine.

“This can’t do. I must look for him. He can’t go on like this. If he’s not even serious in cultivating, what can he hope to achieve?” Qian Shuhua was about to get off the bed.

“That’s enough. Everyone has their own aspiration. It’s best for you to focus on yourself. Lie still.” Ye Que gave Qian Shuhua his most piercing glare. “I’ll have a chat with him later.”

The ancestral hall of Qian Manor.

Old Mr. Qian reclined quietly on the rattan chair with his eyes partially closed, looking as if he was dozing off. Qian Shuxiao stood in front of him, looking indignant. Beside him was a plump man. It was Qian Shuxiao’s father, Qian Fulin.

Qian Shuxiao placed both hands on his hips and yelled, “Grandpa, I think we must remove all the weapons from the Extinctive Sword Manor House from the shelves of our shops immediately. How dare they bully my sister! I must make them pay and teach them that our Qian family isn’t an easy target!”

Old Mr. Qian said nothing. Qian Fulin, who stood nearby, said unhurriedly, “Amiability brings riches, amiability bring riches. What’s the point of fighting and killing? What benefit will we get by removing the weapons from the Extinctive Sword Manor House from our shops? You’re letting your emotions cloud your judgment!”

“Didn’t you see how they had injured my sister? That’s your biological daughter! Can you take this disgrace lying down?” Qian Shuxiao looked at his father in disbelief.

“I can.” Qian Fulin abruptly widened his eyes and said solemnly, “I’ve examined your sister’s injuries. They’re nothing, just superficial wounds. She won’t die from it.”

“Grandpa!” Qian Shuxiao directly sought help from Old Mr. Qian.

“No matter who you beg, it’s no use.” Qian Fulin lowered his voice and continued, “Second Prince had openly expressed his support for Mount Shu yesterday. The Extinctive Sword Manor House is now the Luoyang subsidiary of Mount Shu. If you remove their weapons from our shops now, wouldn’t you be openly going against Second Prince? They already dislike our family because of your aunt’s status. Do you think that we don’t have enough trouble on our hands?”

“Since Aunt is the Crown Princess, why do you even fear Second Prince?” Qian Shuxiao asked.

“We’re merchants. We can’t put all of our bargaining chips in one basket.”

“So we’re going to ask my sister to suffer?”

“That’s her obligation. There’s no such thing as being exempted from suffering. Even your mother must sacrifice for the sake of our family,” Qian Fulin said righteously.

“Well.”

“Very well.”

“You’re a good father indeed. Consider me impressed.” Qian Shuxiao snorted. “Since you won’t interfere in this matter, I’ll do it in your place. Since my sister has suffered grievances, I as her younger brother must avenge her.”

Qian Shuxiao raised his hand to stop Qian Fulin from persuading him. “Rest assured. I won’t use our men or use our family’s name. I’ll be responsible for anything that happens.”

With that, he turned around and ran out of the hall. He gave the doors of the ancestral hall a fierce push before slamming it loudly and forcefully.

Inside the ancestral hall, Old Mr. Qian slowly opened his eyes and stared at Qian Shuxiao’s back. He then directed his gaze at the nearby Qian Fulin. “Do you know why I refuse you the title of the family’s head and only allow you to manage the shops?”

Qian Fulin glanced at his father and felt a stab of anger and dread. Finally, he said in a low voice, “Since I’m the one managing the shops, it’s my word that counts. I can’t command you, but don’t tell me that I can’t command my own son.”

In a small park filled with bluish-green bamboos.

The night wind was cool and refreshing.

Qian Shuxiao didn’t enter the house, not wanting to see his sister’s current state. His heart ached for her. He sent a maid to call Ye Que out.

“I must teach that Extinctive Sword Manor House a lesson. It’s fine if they bully me but they can’t bully my sister.”

“Go and gather the chieftains of the Divine Sect then. We’ll finally see our extensive preparation pay off.”

“They’re no longer chieftains. I call them Branch Masters. I divided Luoyang City into 36 branches, with each helming one branch. They’re all selected from a martial arts competition.”

“This is a new medicine that I refined today. Find a way to put it on the black market but the one who supplies this kind of medicine must pretend to be a disciple of the Extinctive Sword Manor House. He must make it look like this medicine belongs to the Extinctive Sword Manor House.”

In the short span of an hour, 36 Branch Masters of the Divine Sect were all gathered in one place. Ye Que personally took charge of the meeting and put in order three missions.

Qian Shuxiao didn’t say a word throughout the meeting and kept his brows tightly knitted. After everyone had left, he could no longer hold himself back and said, “Brother Ye, is this the strategy that you’ve prepared? Isn’t it a little lacking?”

Ye Que glanced at him and replied, “Then what do you think we should do?”

Without even thinking, Qian Shuxiao answered, “Start a war. Have a true battle with the Extinctive Sword Manor House and break the legs of that damned Lin Shan! I’ll kill him for bullying my sister!”

Ye Que shook his head, chuckling. “Isn’t your plan the true child’s play? Start a war against the Extinctive Sword Manor House? With what? With those hooligans that we took under our wings? Most of them just started cultivating three months ago. Even the most fast-progressing of them are merely Rank 2 martial artists. What stands behind the Extinctive Sword Manor House is none other than Mount Shu. If we fight them openly, we’re essentially striking a stone with an egg.”

Glancing at the night sky, Ye Que continued, “Natural law is constant. The wilting of one flower is the blossoming of another.”

“Do you know how to make a flower wilt?”

Ye Que extended three fingers. “Cut off the leaves, cover the sun, and eliminate the roots!”

After hearing Ye Que’s words, Qian Shuxiao’s confusion deepened even further. “What does this have to do with the missions you lay out earlier?”

“Of course, it has something to do with the missions. Those missions are so we can cut off the leaves of the Extinctive Sword Manor House, cover the sun atop their heads, and eliminate the foundation that they rely on. Do you know what the most terrifying thing in the world is?”

Ye Que’s voice became low. “Food is necessary for survival but what the spiritual world fears even more is gossip.”

The Extinctive Sword Manor House was located on the suburbs of the Luoyang City. It was like a massive weapon manufacturer. Due to their large number of disciples, their daily consumption was significant.

The moment dawn ascended, the menial workers responsible for the day’s ingredients set off from the back door of the Manor House on five horse-drawn carriages. Their daily task was buying ingredients and returning to the Manor House to prepare meals.

Though they were dressed in the attire of Extinctive Sword Manor House disciples, their true identity was that of a cook.

With the cries of insects for company throughout the whole journey, the five horse-drawn carriages bearing the symbol of the Extinctive Sword Manor House sped past the city gate and arrived at the nearest morning market on Vermilion Bird Lane. Here, farmers had long set up stalls to pedal their fruits and produce.

Tian Xiaosi was recruited into the Extinctive Sword Manor House a month ago and his mentor happened to be the main cook of the kitchen. The experienced Tian Xiaosi was a sweet-talker and served the main cook like the latter was his biological father. Thus, the cushy job of procuring ingredients naturally fell to him.

Walking toward a vegetable stall, he checked the freshness of the produce with a quick glance. He nipped a small chunk off the vegetables for taste and asked, “How much are you selling this?”

The vegetable farmer raised his head to look at Tian Xiaosi. His expression didn’t change even after seeing the latter wearing clothes bearing the symbol of the Extinctive Sword Manor House. He lowered his head and said coolly, “I’m not selling.”

“What did you say?” Tian Xiaosi asked, thinking that there was something wrong with his ears.

The vegetable farmer lowered his head and repeated his words. “I said I’m not selling.”

“You set up a vegetable stall but don’t sell vegetables? What are you trying to do?” Tian Xiaosi looked confused.

“Mind your business. Either way, I’m not selling these vegetables.” The vegetable farmer continued to lower his head, not even sparing Tian Xiaosi a glance.

“Lunatic!” Tian Xiaosi muttered under his breath. He turned around to walk to the other stalls. To think a damned vegetable farmer would have such ego! Even if the farmer vegetable refused to sell him anything, there were still other farmers to buy from. Wasn’t it the act of a fool to go against money?

Tian Xiaosi was in a terrible mood after he was forced to go to another stall. He saved the small talk and directly asked, “How much are you selling these?”

The farmer glanced at Tian Xiaosi. Without even thinking, he replied, “I’m not selling.”

“Are you in cahoots with that person earlier?” Tian Xiaosi noticed that something wasn’t quite right.

“No.”

“Did I anger you?”

“No.”

“Then why are you refusing to sell me these vegetables?”

“No reason. I’m simply not selling them.”

The answers that Tian Xiaosi got out of two people were the same. They refused to sell him any vegetables, not even a single one. Utterly confused now, Tian Xiaosi asked the third vegetable farmer and received the same refusal.

“I’ll pay double the price; are you selling now?” Tian Xiaosi wondered if their Manor House had been bargaining for too low a price, causing these farmers to be upset.

“It has nothing to do with money. I’m not selling no matter how much money you’re offering.” Even after Tian Xiaosi doubled the price, the farmer still refused to sell him anything.

After making a round in the market and returning to the mouth of the Vermilion Bird Lane, the group of menial workers exchanged looks. They saw the confusion reflected in one another’s eyes.

Tian Xiaosi clutched his hair with force. “What’s going on today? Have all these people gone mad? All the stalls aren’t selling!”

The menial worker beside him frowned and added, “Si’er, it’s not that they’re not selling. They’re just not selling to us.”

An idea hit Tian Xiaosi, prompting him to ask, “Did any of you cause trouble here recently, Brothers?”

“We’re all so busy that we didn’t even have time to breathe. Aside from buying ingredients in the morning, who’d have the time to come here? We’re always together when buying ingredients. Do you think no one will know if we cause trouble?” another menial worker retorted.

“Let’s put this aside first. Since we can’t buy anything from Vermilion Bird Lane, aren’t we going somewhere else? In the vast Luoyang City, it’s not like this place is the only place that sells vegetables.”

Soon, the five horse-drawn carriages from the Extinctive Sword Manor House left the Vermilion Bird Lane and headed to another morning market in the east.

To the left of the memorial arch of the Vermilion Bird Lane was a small house, with a small stall selling wonton in front of its door. Ye Que sat at the stall quietly, the bowl of wonton placed in front of him had gone completely cool. A burly man with a scarred face sat next to him.

“Have you made your orders to your subordinates?” Ye Que said placidly while staring at the back of the horse-drawn carriages going off into the distance.

“Rest assured, Sect Leader. The 36 Branch Masters had given their orders last night. I guarantee that no member of the Extinctive Sword Manor House would be able to buy even one stalk of vegetable or one bite of food in Luoyang City,” the burly man with a scarred face said confidently.

“Don’t let even a single fish escape the net.” Ye Que glanced at the burly man.

“There absolutely won’t be. Perhaps you don’t know this; we have information on everyone who makes a living on the lanes. If someone is dishonest and resorts to trickery and stealing, his entire family will suffer the consequences. “Trust me. Not even government officials are as persuasive as we are. Besides, we didn’t ask them to kill or commit arson; we’re only asking them not to do business with a family. No one will play with their lives,” the burly man explained carefully.

“Moreover, all Branch Masters have their eyes peeled. I guarantee that this will go without a hitch.”

Since the beginning of dawn to the scorching noon, Tian Xiaosi and his group had gone to a whopping five markets but ended up not buying even a single stalk of vegetable. The pedalers all took one look at him and said, “I’m not selling.”

Five horse-drawn carriages left the Extinctive Sword Manor House empty and returned in the same state.

When noon fell, the disciples who had been busy for the entire morning rushed to the kitchen to get their food. On a typical day, the aroma of rice and dishes would already be lingering in the air at this hour. However, for some reason, there wasn’t even the smell of raw vegetables.

They entered the kitchen in confusion and found only pickled vegetables, porridge, steamed buns, and noodles in plain water.

“Noodles in plain water? Don’t they have stew? Are they kidding?!”

That afternoon, the main cook helming the kitchen of the Extinctive Sword Manor House suffered 10 lashes of the whip as per regulations. Meanwhile, the group of menial workers knelt in front of the Commandment Hall for an entire night.