Volume One: Autumn Festival Chapter Thirteen: Grand Commander of the Black Flame Army

Jiang Wang lay on his rattan chair, sipping tea with great satisfaction. He had successfully sent Cai Tanggu away, leaving the man seething with hatred. Now, he was simply waiting for Cai Tanggu to return with reinforcements for his revenge.

The two cultivators in green robes were utterly stunned by Jiang Wang’s relentless tirade against Cai Tanggu. It took them a long while to regain their composure. Although the white-robed cultivator suspected that Mr. Jiang might truly have no fear of the Yuyuan Academy, wasn't this a bit too excessive in offending them? Seeing Jiang Wang not only devoid of any worry but actually brimming with delight, the white-robed cultivator found himself unable to voice the many thoughts swirling in his mind.

The old steward, who had remained out of sight from the beginning, only emerged from the manor after Cai Tanggu had departed. His expression held a trace of anxiety, but seeing his young master’s look of absolute confidence, he could only conclude that the young master had long since planned everything out—perhaps he possessed hidden trump cards of which he was unaware.

The old steward had meticulously cared for Jiang Wang since the day he was born. While Jiang Wang had spent most of his time under his watchful eye, there were inevitably moments when he slipped away. Just as when Jiang Wang used to love sneaking out of the manor, the old steward would always follow in secret, unwilling to let his master face the slightest danger, though there had indeed been a few times he failed to track him in time. He felt certain the young master must have encountered some extraordinary opportunity, and he could only pray it would not turn into something disastrous.

"Mr. Jiang, that martial artist named Feng Linghuai hides very deeply. We have yet to find any trace of him and suspect he has already left Hun City. We have decided to return to the Moonlit Tower tonight and, relying on their resources, dig three feet into the ground if we must to drag him out." The green-robed and white-robed cultivators bowed to Jiang Wang and said, "Once we have avenged ourselves, we will remain by your side to serve you. If Cai Tanggu truly returns for revenge, as long as you need us, my brother and I will be duty-bound to assist."

Although Jiang Wang felt they didn't seem to possess much skill and hadn't really helped with anything significant, he found it difficult to refuse such sincerity. He simply said, "Then take care of yourselves. I won't see you off."

After the two cultivators left, Jiang Wang turned to the old steward. "The matter regarding the Du family still needs to be investigated, but first, let Shan Qiyu recover from her injuries. Prepare plenty of high-quality medicine and ensure all the injured Black Flame soldiers are properly cared for."

The old steward nodded, then paused to consider. "If it truly was the Du family that plotted to assassinate you, this matter cannot be delayed. Perhaps the Grand Commander of the Black Flame Army should intervene personally. I believe he could resolve the Du family issue much faster, preventing any complications should Cai Tanggu return."

Jiang Wang had never met the Grand Commander of the Black Flame Army, but since the old steward spoke so highly of him, this commander must be far more formidable than Shan Qiyu, so he nodded in agreement.

...

The Du family, whose main gates had already been torn down, was currently shrouded in gloom. Du Heng had been waiting for good news of Cai Tanggu’s triumphant return, but when he finally sent men to investigate on Qixia Street, they brought back word that Cai Tanggu had already left the city.

He hadn't fought the Xunyang Marquis Manor—he had simply run away?!

Du Heng’s face turned deathly pale. *I told myself that charade shouldn't have been played; it would have been better to just stay quiet. What do I do now?* He had thought that with Cai Tanggu’s backing, he wouldn't need to fear the Marquis Manor at all, never expecting that Cai Tanggu was merely a useless poseur.

Du Zichen lay on the ground, his face equally bloodless. Though his broken leg had been bandaged, was there really no one to carry him to a room to rest? Even Su Lingyi had suffered a broken arm, so why was the entire Du family rushing around for him? Whose house was this, anyway? He suddenly regretted being so impulsive.

If Old Du knew that the Black Flame Army’s arrival had been provoked by him, it wouldn't just be a broken leg—he would likely be dead. Old Du would surely choose to uphold righteousness by destroying his own kin. With even Cai Tanggu of the Yuyuan Academy proving unreliable, who else could he count on? Go to the Xunyang Marquis Manor and kneel at Jiang Wang’s feet to beg for forgiveness? Just imagining that scene made him shake his head. He could not bear that level of humiliation.

Just then, Du Yanruo stepped out of the room where Su Lingyi was staying. Hearing that Cai Tanggu had fled, her legs went weak. How had things spiraled into such a state?

Du Heng looked at his daughter, seemingly having made up his mind, and said in a low voice, "As things stand, there is only one way."

Du Yanruo was confused; she couldn't think of any solution now. Without Instructor Cai, without the Yuyuan Academy, the Black Flame Army could trample the Du family into the dust in an instant.

"Perhaps, as I suspect, Jiang Wang is merely suffering from a wounded ego. If I can take you to apologize in person and you speak a few soft words to give him enough face, the crisis facing the Du family might be resolved." Du Heng was committed to his delusions. "After all, the so-called assassination plot is entirely groundless; how could my Du family have such fools?"

Du Zichen: "..."

Ignoring Du Zichen’s current state, Du Yanruo said with shame and anger at her father's words, "How could I do such a thing before him? Who knows how he might mock me, or if he has some excessive demands..."

Du Heng sighed. "This is the cruelty of the world. Without strength, we can only be bullied. I had hoped that because you were enrolled in the Yuyuan Academy, our family would eventually rise to power, but it seems the Yuyuan Academy is not to be relied upon either."

Du Yanruo bit her lip and remained silent, head bowed.

Du Heng pondered for a moment. "If that Jiang Wang really has any excessive demands, then at worst, we will go down together. But before that happens, we must try. The Du family cannot be destroyed just like this."

Just as Du Yanruo was on the verge of agreeing, Du Zichen’s voice cut through. "For all these years, you always speak of sister as if you dote on her to the extreme, yet in a moment of crisis, you only think of pushing her out. I never imagined you were so hypocritical."

Du Heng seemed to notice for the first time that his son, whose leg he had broken, was still there. He roared, "Cease your nonsense!"

"This is a strategy to save the Du family! What do you mean by 'pushing her out'? If you had been more capable, even if you couldn't cultivate, if you had achieved something in the path of martial arts, the Du family wouldn't be in such a passive position!" Du Heng was fuming. "Looking at your useless, incompetent self just makes me angry!"

Du Zichen sneered. "No matter what, I know I am a member of the Du family. Unlike you—back then, coveting the power of the Marquis Manor, you begged Jiang Wang to marry my sister, and then, because of the Yuyuan Academy, you couldn't wait for her to marry that man surnamed Su. I may be incompetent, but I still have my dignity, unlike you, who have none!"

Du Heng’s chest heaved violently, his eyes spitting fire. "You bastard, you’ll be the death of me!" He pulled off his waist sash, ready to strike.

Suddenly, the sound of hoofbeats echoed. Over a dozen Black Flame soldiers dismounted and marched straight into the Du residence.

"It seems we arrived just in time. Your Du family is quite lively."

The leader, though also clad in black armor, possessed a distinct aura. He was tall and burly, with a long saber hanging at his waist. He walked with the imposing momentum of a tiger, giving off an aura of fierce, murderous intent.

Du Heng recognized this man. Though he had only ever observed him from afar, he knew that Sun Qingya was the second-strongest expert under the Xunyang Marquis and had even fought against cultivators without suffering defeat. To Du Heng, who had once viewed cultivators as immortals, the fear Sun Qingya inspired was no less than that of the Marquis himself.

*He never expected this demon to still be in Hun City!*

Du Heng only needed one glance before his legs turned to jelly. "Commander... Commander Sun, there is some misunderstanding here. I was just about to go and apologize to the Young Marquis. Whatever demands he has, we will try our best to meet. Why did you need to come in person? You... please, don't come any closer!"

Watching Sun Qingya draw nearer, Du Heng collapsed to the ground.

"If it is a misunderstanding, why apologize? If you are apologizing, then there is no misunderstanding." Sun Qingya drew his blade and pointed it at Du Heng, a grim smile tugging at his lips.

"There is indeed no misunderstanding. The one who found the assassin to target Jiang Wang was me."

Du Zichen, lying on the ground, turned his head to look at the Black Flame soldiers, fixed his gaze on Sun Qingya, and said in a low voice with the tone of one prepared to die.

Sun Qingya blinked. He had just arrived and hadn't done anything yet; had the case already been solved?

Du Heng and Du Yanruo looked at Du Zichen in disbelief. Du Yanruo thought her younger brother was trying to protect her, not wanting her to be humiliated by Jiang Wang. After all, before he went to the Yuyuan Academy, Du Zichen, though a bit mischievous, had never been as unbearable as their father claimed. Du Heng, however, felt his son was simply being rebellious, putting on this heroic, self-sacrificing act just to defy him. Yet, regardless of his thoughts, this was his own son. He immediately scolded, "Wicked brat! Stop talking nonsense!" He hurried to explain to Sun Qingya that this was not the case.

Watching the drama unfold, Sun Qingya felt a flicker of interest and laughed. "But your son’s eyes are very sincere; he is not lying. Since you are so cooperative, and I am a reasonable man, the Du family may remain, but I will be taking your son and that man surnamed Su."

Du Heng cried out urgently, "You can take Su Lingyi, but you cannot take my son!"

Sun Qingya said coldly, "Then I shall hack you to death and take your son anyway."

Du Heng opened his mouth but remained silent. Witnessing this, Du Zichen felt a deep sense of disappointment.

Sun Qingya waved his hand. The Black Flame soldiers hauled Du Zichen up. They soon found the unconscious Su Lingyi and dragged him along the ground, bringing them both to Sun Qingya’s side. Without another word, Sun Qingya led his men away on horseback, taking Du Zichen and Su Lingyi with them.

Du Heng seemed to age a decade in an instant. Du Yanruo looked at her father, vowing to herself that she would rescue her brother and Senior Brother Su, no matter the cost.

Just then, Cai Tanggu suddenly appeared, frowning as he asked, "Where is Su Lingyi?"

Du Yanruo did not react with excitement, but said flatly, "He was taken to the Marquis Manor."

Cai Tanggu’s expression turned grim. He had returned specifically to take Su Lingyi away; he had not expected that Jiang Wang was truly determined to make an enemy of the Yuyuan Academy.