Spirit Ruin, Sword Coffin, Blind Swordsman

Whoosh!

The youths returned to the residence on their swords while complaining. The guard at the entrance smiled and greeted them.

“Wow, Li Pei, just getting back now?”

Li Pei cursed, clearly in a foul mood. “Don’t even ask. Those three bastards ran off, and we have no clue where they went. They vanished into thin air! We searched the whole damn day and came up empty.”

The guard burst out laughing. “You’re not the only one. Everyone who came back today said the same thing. Let me see your jade slip, then go wash up.”

Li Guanqi’s heart skipped a beat. He scratched his head sheepishly. “Ah, Brother… I had a bout of diarrhea this morning. I forgot my jade slip in the rush. I’ll go grab it and bring it right back, yeah?”

The guard’s smile faded. He straightened from his lazy lean against the wall, one hand moving to the knife at his waist. His tone turned cold. “Li Pei, we usually get along and all, but you know there are rules I can’t bend.”

“Li Pei” flinched, then grabbed the skin of his own face and yanked, glaring at the man. “Do I look like one of those bastards to you? Go ahead, tug on my skin and see for yourself. All day long, it’s ‘Big Brother this, Big Brother that,’ yet now you’re switching up on me over a damn jade slip? I was planning to bring you and a few others to the Phoenix Brothel once I wrapped this job up.”

The guard didn’t hesitate. He stepped forward and pulled at Li Pei’s chin a few times, but nothing happened. And with the mention of the brothel, his face relaxed into an awkward grin. “Sigh, Brother, I’m just doing my job for the master… I know you just forgot. Just show it to me before my shift is over, and this matter will be closed.”

Li Pei turned and went inside, huffing, “That’s more like it. Wait for me, I’ll go get it!”As he walked deeper into the residence, many people nodded in greeting. Passing a servant girl, she smiled sweetly and cooed, “Leader Li… just got back? Why haven’t you come see me these past few days?”

Then, she wrapped her arms around him and squeezed.

Li Pei looked at her large frame, plump as a pig fattened for slaughter. Suppressing his discomfort, he forced a smile. “I’ve been exhausted these past couple of days. Let me wrap up my work, and I’ll come by for a proper visit!”

Then he slipped away in a flash.

Li Guanqi suppressed his disgust. He really gets with someone like that? No wonder the guy at the gate was so excited when I mentioned the Phoenix Brothel. Pretty women must be a rare sight around here.

He had seen this building on the map and randomly remembered it.

He’d remembered this place from the map, which he’d made a mental note of while considering whether to settle in Lingchang City or somewhere nearby. After all, it was one of two cities where he could “cultivate amongst mortal distractions.” He hadn’t expected that casual knowledge would come in handy.

The real Li Pei had mentioned their living quarters were at the far end of the estate.

As for the jade slip, he truly had forgotten it…

He passed many pavilions and buildings, even crossing a small bridge over a stream. The place was indeed huge, and it took him considerable effort to find the location the person had described.

When he finally pushed open the door, he found a group of men sprawled on the ground. They looked up and greeted him.

“Brother Li, where have you been? Why weren’t you with us?”

Li Guanqi made a serious face. “Fuck off. Why would I tell a bunch of single men my whereabouts?”

He smirked meaningfully. To his surprise, the others smirked back just as knowingly.

He froze, then said, “No way…. You guys… Oh!”

One of them tossed him a jade slip. “Brother Li, could you keep your jade slip with you? It’s been bugging me all morning.”

Li Guanqi laughed, caught the jade slip, and headed back out. He still had to show it to the guard. Without that, his cover would blow wide open, and that would throw a wrench in everything that followed.

As expected, the guard was still waiting for him. When he saw the jade slip, he took a few casual glances before handing it back.

Then, Li Guanqi boldly returned to his quarters and lay next to his enemies.

That night, about eighteen men slept on the floor of the quarters. They were all Foundation Building Realm cultivators trained by Fang Yishan.

But since no one had dared provoke the Great Wind Mountain Residence in recent years, these new recruits had grown lazy and complacent.

Meanwhile, in the main pavilion, Fang Yishan was still seething over the news of Fang Hao’s murder in their own port. He paced and raged while his cousin Fang Zhongnan sat nearby, stone-faced and silent.

The other people present were all senior members of the clan.

Boom!

A wine jug exploded.

Fang Yishan cried, “A bunch of useless idiots! It’s been a whole day, and they’ve found nothing! They’re all leeches leeching off our coffers! Kill them all tomorrow!”

A white-haired old man said, “Yishan, losing your temper won’t help. Why don’t we think about who these people could be?”

To his surprise, Fang Yishan turned and roared, “Shut your mouth!”

Fang Zhongnan frowned. He took a sip of spirit tea and said, “Eldest Cousin, that’s a little much. That’s my father and your second uncle you’re talking to. Show some respect.”

Fang Zhongnan had a gentle demeanor and straight features. His warm smile gave him an easygoing air. In contrast, Fang Yishan looked harsh and hawkish, with sharp cheekbones, a hooked nose, and a lean frame. He wore dark blue robes that billowed with his fury.

Fang Yishan glared at Fang Zhongnan. “Second Cousin, this better not have anything to do with you.”

Then, he turned to look at the old man who had fallen silent. “If it is… I will skin you alive!”

Fang Zhongnan smiled and shrugged, then rose from his seat and walked out of the hall. “You know what you’ve been doing these days. Maybe someone’s finally knocking at your door?”

Fang Yishan squinted and snickered. “You’re saying they sent two early Golden Core Realm brats to deal with us? If so, they’re underestimating me.”

Fang Zhongnan shook his head and chuckled, then pushed the door open to leave.

Snore… Snore…

Back in the quarters, Li Guanqi slowly opened his eyes. Snores filled the room. He quietly slipped out of bed. Just as he opened the door halfway, a whisper startled him. “Brother Li… Where are you going?”

Li Guanqi turned. It was the same youth who’d handed him the jade slip earlier.

“Taking a piss!” Li Guanqi replied.

“Oh, me too. Let’s go.”

The youth pulled on some clothes and walked to the door. With no good excuse to shake him off, Li Guanqi went along. It would be better for someone who knew the layout to lead the way anyway.

Li Guanqi saw many patrol teams making rounds.

So far, he’d counted at least sixty Foundation Building guards stationed across the estate. The clan’s strength was not to be taken lightly.

They arrived at a bathroom soon after. Through its narrow window, Li Guanqi spotted a brightly lit courtyard.

Trickle…

The youth beside him muttered, “Weird… Second Master’s still up? He usually sleeps early.”

Li Guanqi’s heart skipped a beat. Second Master? Is he referring to Fang Yishan’s cousin?