CRD 03

Chapter 3 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

“Cough, cough!”

Murong Shuijing, who had been coughing violently in the field for a while, brought a neatly folded towel to her mouth.

“Cough! Hack!”

After catching her breath a few times, she looked down at the towel.

The bloodstains on it looked like red ink scattered on the snow.

She quietly looked at the towel for a moment, then folded it neatly, wiped her mouth a few times, and placed it back where it had been.

Taking a sip of the now-cooled medicinal tea, Murong Shuijing turned her attention back to the documents.

Some time passed.

“Lady of the family, it’s Chief Officer Shi.”

“Come in.”

The door to the family head’s office opened, and Shi Xiong entered.

“I apologize for disturbing you during work. I have a report…”

“Before that, you need to correct something.”

“Huh? Ah!”

Shi Xiong bowed once more.

“My apologies, Acting Lady of the family.”

Murong Shuijing nodded with a stern expression.

“I’ve told you several times—I am acting head of the main family. Don’t forget that.”

“I will remember.”

Though he said so, Murong Shuijing knew how smart and capable Shi Xiong was.

He had deliberately addressed her as the head, implying that it was now acceptable for her to take over the family. Of course, she had no such intention.

“What brings you here?”

A small shadow crossed Shi Xiong’s face.

“We received word from the Great Dragon Ironworks that they plan to terminate their dealings with the main family.”

“I see.”

Despite the shock, Murong Shuijing remained composed.

Her pale, frail body seemed as fragile as a willow branch swaying in the breeze. Yet, there was an authority in her presence that could not be defied—likely due to her calm and cold demeanor.

“They will send 500 taels of silver as per the contract termination clause,” Shi Xiong continued.

“When will they send it?”

“They didn’t specify, but the contract states it must be within forty-five days after termination. So it should arrive within that time frame.”

As he spoke, Shi Xiong recalled the former owner of the Great Dragon Ironworks. That man would casually suggest writing a vague deadline, thinking it didn’t matter. Shi Xiong, however, always set the term strictly at forty-five days. Careless clauses like that always led to regret.

Fortunately—or unfortunately—they would at least send the compensation within forty-five days.

“Forty-five days, huh…”

“Is something bothering you?”

“Cutting ties without reason likely means they have someone else to deal with, and they’ll need a solid backer.”

“Do you have an idea who it might be?”

“Probably the Ten Sword Sect or the Hong Sword Clan.”

The Ten Sword Sect and the Hong Sword Clan were among the top martial powers near Wuhuan in Hubei.

The Hong Sword Clan was a martial family like the Murong Family, and the Ten Sword Sect, though more of a sect, was run almost like a family business.

“They’ve made deals with several ironworks already. It’s unlikely they’d need the Great Dragon Ironworks too,” Shi Xiong said, looking at Murong Shuijing with anticipation. He wanted to see her response.

Murong Shuijing satisfied his expectation.

“Most affairs in the martial world happen under the surface. While this relationship was bound to end eventually, the timing makes me uneasy.”

“I see.”

“They’d likely ally with an organization worth more than 500 taels of silver.”

Shi Xiong smiled faintly. He greatly respected her insight. Though she lacked extensive martial experience, her innate intelligence and perceptiveness made her more than capable of leading a family.

“Then we should start looking for another ironworks partner.”

“Yes, but…”

“Nothing suitable?”

“Not at the moment.”

“Since the main family doesn’t have many martial guards anyway, we should manage for now. Let’s start searching.”

Even as she spoke of what could be a disastrous situation, her voice did not waver.

Shi Xiong felt a twinge of pity.

If the previous head were still alive…

Murong Shuijing was exceptionally talented. Had the previous head not passed away so quickly, she might have been able to fully utilize her abilities.

It’s useless to dwell on the past…

Shi Xiong’s expression showed slight regret.

I’ve gotten old, I guess.

When he was young, back when the Murong Family rose again in Liaoning, he didn’t care much for the past. The present and future were what mattered.

Yet now, with age—or perhaps due to the situation—he couldn’t help but wonder about the “what ifs.”

“Any other reports?”

“Oh… well…”

Seeing Shi Xiong’s embarrassed expression, Murong Shuijing knew the real reason he had come.

“The Hubei Late-Stage Martial Arts Tournament has been moved up by more than three months from the original date.”

For the first time, Murong Shuijing’s expression changed, though only slightly, as she frowned.

“Why?”

“Due to heavy flooding this summer, civilian casualties were unusually severe. The righteous martial factions poured significant manpower and resources into relief efforts.”

“What does that have to do with advancing the martial tournament?”

“…It’s supposedly to boost morale among the Hubei people.”

It was a ridiculous excuse. On the surface, it seemed the martial world ruled everything, but the imperial palace and officials still governed this land.

And the number of actual martial practitioners was less than a tenth of the population. The so-called superhuman skills were insignificant compared to the ordinary people who truly ruled the land.

Morale boosting? Ultimately, it was just a flimsy excuse used by the organizers.

“The hosting sect was the Wudang Sect, right?”

“Yes.”

“Seems they have some trouble on their hands.”

“I can’t say for certain.”

Murong Shuijing nodded after a brief moment of thought.

“Alright. Then the tournament will be in a month, in Wuhuan.”

“Yes.”

“I understand.”

Shi Xiong asked cautiously, “Lady of the family… might you…”

“We’ll discuss that part later, shall we?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

Shi Xiong smiled, as reliable as ever.

“You flatter me.”

Murong Shuijing looked at him for a moment.

Though in his mid-forties approaching fifty, Shi Xiong’s eyes were clear and deep. His hair was graying and his face lined, but his neat appearance could earn him recognition as a scholar of a prestigious family anywhere.

Without Shi Xiong, the family might have collapsed long ago.

Though she wanted to bow in gratitude every day, it wasn’t that simple.

“I shall take my leave.”

“Very well. Ah, wait a moment.”

Murong Shuijing asked casually, “What about Fei?”

“Master hasn’t returned yet.”

“I see.”

A trace of concern flickered across her otherwise cold face. But it was brief.

“Thank you for your effort. If time permits, let’s have dinner together later.”

“Very well.”

After Shi Xiong left the office, Murong Shuijing sighed while organizing the documents.

This isn’t easy.

“So…”

Murong Tian’s voice was gloomy, utterly stunned.

“So… it turns out Murong Tian is actually from the Huyan Clan… and has been renamed Huyan Tian?”

He was too confused even to speak properly.

Silently observing him, Zhang Jiu spoke hesitantly.

“Rather than being renamed, it’s more like reclaiming the correct name, isn’t it?”

Murong Tian could barely process this nonsense.

Who are these Huyan people?!

Even as a former martial alliance leader who had access to all information, he had never heard of the Huyan family.

A newly established clan? Can a newly formed martial family really replace the surname of a former alliance leader?

Something about this didn’t add up.

Staring blankly into space, Murong Tian snapped his fingers.

Could it be that I’ve fallen into an illusion formation? Or even another world?

There were ancient formations capable of creating illusions so real that even legendary masters couldn’t detect them.

But that’s impossible…

Logically, one would need to be alive to be trapped in such a formation, right? I died cleanly.

And I’m not weak enough for any formation to affect me.

Even in this frail body, he possessed martial techniques from his family that rendered him nearly invincible to most formations and secret arts. He had even been able to defeat a Demon Shape practitioner with incomplete techniques.

If so, he must truly be in a world similar yet different from his own.

Murong Tian coldly asked, “Huyan Clan… are they based in Liaoning?”

Zhang Jiu hiccupped before answering.

“Y-Yes. The Huyan family is said to be the ruling power in Liaoning today.”

Grrr.

His teeth clenched instinctively.

“What? Did our main family get chased out by those Huyans? Huh?”

“I-I don’t know that part either,” Zhang Jiu stammered.

Murong Tian controlled his anger through deep breaths. Even without martial techniques, it was hard to remain calm. Anyone would be furious if, twenty years in the future, their family ended up like this.

Clatter!

He kicked a wooden box and gestured to Zhang Jiu.

“Get up.”

“Yes, sir!”

Every movement Zhang Jiu made felt like his bones might break, yet the fear induced by this scrawny young master was incomparable.

“Do you know where the main family is?”

“You mean the Murong family?”

“You keep asking twice!”

“Huff! My apologies! I know!”

“Good.”

In the end, the only way to know was to see for himself.

Murong Tian calmed his mind.

Maybe my brother is still alive.

During his harsh childhood as an illegitimate child, the one person who treated him like family had been his brother—so kind that he almost missed becoming head of the family.

Twenty years… it’s entirely possible he’s alive.

Though uneasy, he decided to think positively.

“Guide us immediately.”

“Yes! But… what about Zhang San?”

“Who cares, you idiot! Want me to knock you out again?”

“Huff! No! Please follow me!”

Thus, the two left the street and headed toward the Murong family.

People they passed were shocked at their appearance, but neither paid any attention.

While trailing behind Zhang Jiu, Murong Tian suddenly gasped and asked,

“By the way, you said your name is Zhang Jiu?”

“Yes.”

“Right, Jiu… how much do I owe you?”